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The West Mersea Appraisal and Town Plan 2009 (this is a PDF file, if it doesn't open download reader) FIND all the information you would normally have to search for, all in one place. ~ West Mersea is a town of close to 7,000 folk, situated at the western end of Mersea Island. We're joined to the mainland by a causeway called The Strood, but twice a day when the tide is 'in', we are a real island. Best to carry a Tide Timetable so as not to be stuck on the wrong side. ~ ~ You can find us in North Eastern corner of Essex - at the point where the Blackwater Estuary joins the Colne River - and the North Sea - we're 10 miles south of Colchester - Britains oldest recorded town and earliest Roman capital known as CAMULODUNUM ~ |
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| We have all the latest on what the Town Council is up to - and a lot more besides .... WHATS ON IN MERSEA? CLICK ON TO OUR "EVENTS" PAGE FOR AN UP TO DATE DIARY OF LOCAL EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS FOR A FULL LIST OF EVERY CLUB AND ORGANISATION ON THE ISLAND PLUS CONTACTS CLICK ON TO "COMMUNITY" IS THE TIDE OVER? Click on this link to take you to a webcam of THE STROOD so you can see in "real time" the state of the tide and any queues of traffic. www.stroodcam.co.uk |
A Winklebrig at West Mersea |
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The NEXT FULL COUNCIL MEETING will be held on 9th July - a Finance/Planning Public question time Public Question Time is between 7 and 7.15 pm LATEST COUNCIL NEWS NEW MAYOR West Mersea Town Council's new Mayor for the year 2009/2010 will be Mayor, Cllr Peter Clements MBE The Deputy Mayor for the year will be Cllr John May BMX TRACK Work has now started on the new BMX track at the Glebe extension field - the boys who designed it will be testing out the jumps as they are constructed. NEW NUCLEAR BUILD AT BRADWELL Bradwell is one of the 11 sites short listed by Energy Sec. Ed Milliband to provide part of the "low carbon future for Britain". A new nuclear reactor ar Bradwell could create up to 600 jobs Local campaigning group Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group - BANNG attacked these plans stating "a toxic behomoth would be a dreadful legacy to leave our children and grandchildren". Nominations for these potential new nuclear power stations have now been submitted to Government - there will then be a period of a month for the public to provide initial comments. The Government will assess each site to decide if it meets a number of criteria. Sites judged to be suitable will be listed on the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement. This will be published for consultation so that everyone can have their say for more details log on to www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk Please note - Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group - B.A.N.N.G. are now active on the island - their new website is - www.banng.org.uk LAND SOLD FOR NEW NUCLEAR BUILD Land on the Dengie Peninsular adjacent to the old Bradwell Power Station has recently been auctioned off (along with other nuclear land sites in North Wales and Gloucestershire). It has been reported that EDF Energy paid £160million for the land at Bradwell. The Nuclear Decommissioning authority has now raised almost £400 million to help clean up former nuclear sites - more than was expected information can be obtained by telephoning the LIFT team on 01206 286884 or by visiting www.northeastessex.nhs.uk COUNCILLOR STEVEN VINCE HAS PREPARED A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE BROWN FIELD SITES FOR THE NEW SURGERY Cllr Vince presented this list to the Council which was then sent to Realise Health and CBC Planning Dept. Yet another (ideal) brownfield site has recently come to light. Cllrs Vince, Urquhart, Wargent have presented the Primary Care Trust with plenty of alternatives to the Legion Field LATEST ON SURGERY SITES NEW BROWNFIELD SITE (18th May) A new brownfield site has recently been suggested to the PCT for a new surgery - Underwoods Garage in Kingsland Road. However - there seem to be some problems - we await more definite information. COUNCIL CUTBACKS SINK BATHING RAFTS ! BUT WE HAVE ENLISTED LOCAL HELP At the meeting of the Beach Working Group Colchester Borough Council announced that, as part of financial cut backs imposed, there will be no bathing rafts on the main beach this summer - this is to avoid the cost of placing them on moorings and recovering them at the end of the season. HOWEVER - Mersea Town Council has offered to take on the management of the bathing rafts. We have been offered help by local oysterman in placing the rafts in and out of the river - and we will store them at the Glebe. Costings have now been finalised AND THE RAFTS WERE PUT IN THE WATER JUST BEFORE THE WHITSUN WEEKEND LEASES FOR SCHOOL FIELD AND GARDENS RENEWED The Town Council have now signed new leases both the School Gardens and the School field - this now leaves the way open to turning this area into a proper public park - how far we can go with this will depend on funding. What happens on the adjoining - Legion field - will also have some bearing on the whole RECENT PLANNING OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO RESIDENTS DEMOLITION OF WORKSHOP AND REPLACED WITH THREE COMMERCIAL LOCK UP UNITS AND THREE 2 BED APARTMENTS TO FIRST FLOOR - 128 COAST ROAD The Town Council have recommended refusal be granted in respect of this application for the following reasons 1. Change of use from "light industry" to "residential" would lead to a loss of badly needed boat storage/working facilities. The island needs more industrial facilities to maintain local employment. 2. Inadequate parking and access facilities which would lead to highway difficulties 3. Out of keeping with the area - the area being light industrial (the plan is also contrary to the Local Development Framework) Colchester Borough Council have now also REFUSED this development PLANS FOR THE PROPOSED NEW SURGERY AN OFFER HAS NOW BEEN MADE FOR THE LAND We have just heard (19th June) that the Primary Care Trust - Lift Committee have approached the Mersea School with a definite monetary offer for the Legion Field - this is now under discussion by the School Governer A blueprint of the building had been prepared and put before the PCT for discussion. New plans wILL include the facilities presently provided at the existing clinic in Barfield Road (which will close) The surgery will be an H shaped two storey building with eight consulting rooms - reception in centre. The clinic and reception on the ground floor. However - since the last meeting the Dentists have decided that they no longer wish to be included in these plans therefore the footprint will be smaller on first floor level. The preferred site for this surgery will be the Legion Field in Barfield Road - but this is by no means a foregone conclusion - the land must be de designated from open space to development land. Also - as this is school playing field permission for development must be sought from central government If the surgery and its car park are built on the Legion Field they will cover more than half the field It is anticipated that planning application will be submitted by the end of this year - with the new medical centre operational by October 2010. So far (May 10th) the Council have not received any Planning Application for the Clinic Site Queries - contact - NHS North East Essex - Freepost NAT 21857 - Clacton on Sea - Essex CO15 4 BR below - pictures from the 1980's army band plays on the Legion Field before a Football Match former Mayor Tony Bermingham - salutes the band |
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| NEW DISABLED VIEWING PLATFORMS - THANKS TO BEACH WORKING GROUP The new disabled viewing platforms are now in place along Victoria Esplanade - one at the top near the flowerboat and one at the bottom of the main car park - this will mean that disabled people will be able to reach the beach area more easily - an access ramp will be constructed from the main car park. Two of the groynes below the main car park HAVE also being repaired. The cost of this project will be paid for out of an "SPD" i.e. a Supplementary Planning Document which requires that developers who create new residential units make a financial contrubution to recreational facilities in West Mersea. the planning "gain" in this particular case arises from the"Victory Mews" development in Victory Road. It has taken us two years to get the money "ring fenced" for Mersea and we are grateful to Borough Officer Steve Collis for his help. The prime movers in this project were members of the Beach Working Group Click here for information about British Energy - Bradwell INCREASE IN COUNCIL PRECEPT - 2008 - 2009 The Council have approved the yearly budget for 2009/10. It was accepted that an increase in the Precept was inevitable given the high inflation pressures currently expected. The resultant requirement for the Precept totalled £184k an increase over the last year of 5% - it was noted that this would result in an increase to the individual ratepayer of about £2.90 per annum. BURIAL CHARGE INCREASES - 2009 The Council have reluctantly agreed to increase burial charges for Firs Road and Feldy Wood cemetaries by 4% - to meet increasing costs. See under SERVICES for more details DECLINE IN WATER QUALITY FOR MERSEA Concerns have been raised about levels of pollution in the water quality of the Estuary off Mersea's shoreline West Mersea Beach has been relegated from a "recommended" to a "basic pass" Statistics were based on bathing water tests carried out by the Environment Agency from May to September 2008 when Britain had the seventh wettest summer on record - and it is reckoned that it might be due to pollution running off the land and into the sea through storm drains. Water quality records are kept at the Council Offices in Melrose Road PARKING PROBLEMS IN VICTORY ROAD Firstly - the point should be made that alterations to parking restrictions always take a considerable time to organise due to the nature of the process involved. However, Essex County Council have now said that a formal notice will appear in the Colchester Evening Gazette on 4th June concerning the parking problems in Victory Road. This will give anyone interested a three week period in which to make objections If objections are received further consultations will take place If no objections are received a second notice will be placed in the press to confirm that a traffic order has been made and council workers will be instructed to mark out the road accordingly Current proposals are to alternate the waiting restrictions on each side of the road. A previous proposal was to restrict parking on on side only which would have encouraged increased speed COUNCIL DONATIONS - UNDER SECTION 137 West Mersea Town Council have made contributions to the following groups Seafood Festival 2009 - £600 Beach Club 2009 - £100 Carnival 2009 - £250 |
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new disabled platform victoria esplanade |
| mersea moorings |
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| BRADWELL LEAKS UNCHECKED FOR DECADES Bradwell Power Station is said by the Environment Agency to be responsible for allowing radioactive liquids to seep from a sump into the ground for 14 years - from 1990 to 2004. Lawyers working for the Environment Agency are alleging 11 breaches of radioactive waste disposal laws. The cocktail of tritium, caesium cobalt and americium was not discovered until the twin reactors were decommissioned. Magnox deny they are responsible - the leaks pre date Magnox and ocurred when the government run Central Electricty Generating Board had control of the site. Bradwell has been earmarked for a potential site for a new nuclear plant. The old Bradwell Reactors ceased production several years ago and the site is currently being dismantled by US Company - Energy Solutions. A spokesman for Energy Solutions said "we are part of the solution not part of the problem". After a little publicised Trial against Magnox at Chelmsford Crown Court lasting five weeks Magnox was found guilty of five offences relating to unauthorised discharges from a sump - the liquid leaked into the ground "because of a combination of poor original design and a lack of any routine inspection and maintenance" FINES TOTAL £400,000 Feb 18th - Magnox has now been fined £250,000 and ordered to pay £150,000 costs to the Environment Agency - the judge did accept that the leakage was "limited" and there was no risk to the surrounding farmland or the river. The Environment Agency stated that "our prosecution sends a clear message to the nuclear industry that we require the highest standards of operation". |
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The New Glebe fields looking south now being used for Sunday football matches |
| TENNIS COURTS - AT GLEBE - TOTAL REFURBISHMENT AND PROPER GRASS COURTS The Council are to properly install LAWN TENNIS COURTS at The Glebe including perimeter fencing etc - the money for this has come from an "Awards for All" Grant of £10,000 plus £8000 bid for by this Council from the Parish Grant fund As part of the same project a SMART new changing room and toilet building has now been put in place next to the present tennis pavilion ALLOTMENTS The proposed site for allotments on the corner of Dawes Lane has been sold - to a higher bidder The Council now propose to go ahead with a new allotment site at Mortimers Farm in East Road. This is a four acre site which will hold approximately 39 plots plus 12 half size plots. Each full size plot is about 30 by 10 yards - each half plot is about 15 by 10 yards with a 9 foot path between rows of plots for access. There is plenty of room for car parking and drop off point. At the present time there are 53 people who require allotments in Mersea. The rent per allotment per year has yet to be decided - the Council will discuss this with the allotment association VILLAGE GREEN The Town Council are pleased to announce that after a seven year battle to secure the future of the Youth Field our application for "Village Green Status" on this field has been WON! It should be noted that though the Village Green designation has now been signed and delivered - there is still no proper access to it - the grassy side entrance next to the Legion belongs to the school who have control OVER IT. Access through the School Gardens is subject to the gate being locked (abiding by the terms of the Lease) at certain times - the only proper access open at all times is through the path at Oyster Close BACKGROUND TO VILLAGE GREEN APPLICATION ON SCHOOL FIELD The School or Youth field was one of the few remaining green spaces in the town and many locals and the Council feared that the land would become a car park or a housing development. A campaign to secure village green status was launched by the Council seven years ago. Following a public enquiry in April the Inspector ruled that the land could now be registered as a village green -to be enjoyed by all the people of Mersea. The Council opes to turn the whole area into a public park for future generations. The Council (and more particularly previous ex Mayors and Councillors who no longer serve on our Council - who both instigated and dealt with this matter over a long period) had to make some tough decisions along this journey, especially in terms of finance - and we would like to thank them publically. We would also like to emphasise that this victory would not have been possible but for the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquiry to make a statement to the effect that they had used this field "as of right" since childhood and it is thanks to the following that the field was saved:- Nicholas Mussett - Stephen D'Wit - Sylvia Wargent - Karen Capon - Donald Proctor - Susan Wargent - Ruth Woodley - Robert Lee - Nicholas Hines - David Tucker - David Bragg - Stephen Vince - Sylvia Vince - Len Harvey - Trevor Vince - Moyia Clark PUBLIC TOILETS PROPOSED CHANGES TO TOILETS ON THE ESPLANADE HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR THE PRESENT TIME NEW PAVILION FOR THE GLEBE |
| A rough idea as to what the new Pavilion at the Glebe will look like! |
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| CRICKET CLUB NEW PRACTICE FACILITIES,/b> West Mersea Cricket Club managed to secure a £16,000 grant from the Essex Community Initiative Fund and are now able to offer much improved practice facilities at The Glebe. Work on the new practice nets began in February and are now in regular use by the Club's qualified coaches for both junior and adult members. THE PROPOSAL TO REMOVE FLOOD SIRENS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR THE TIME BEING The next Flood Siren Test in Mersea will be held on 9th September 2009 - at 11 am YOUTH POD Essex County Council have agreed in principle to allow the Town Council to site a "Youth Pod" on the School Gardens (Barfield Road) subject to obtaining planning permission and any other permission associated with this facility and subject to agreement with neighbouring properties FUNDING IT NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE YOUTH POD However - the Council will need to discuss the siting of the POD There are concerns that properties nearby and opposite may have some objections o the Youth Pod especially if it attracts large numbers of youths and cause "youth nuisance". If sufficient complaints were to be received Essex reserve the right to terminate the agreement for this facility However - it should be noted that most towns and villages not too far from Mersea already have youth pods and they seem to work quite well. TOWN COUNCIL BACKS "KEEP THOMAS LORD AUDLEY CAMPAIGN" The Town Council have backed the majority of parents on Mersea Island in their campaign to keep Thomas Lord Audley School open. In particular the Council deplores the whole idea of closing Thomas Lord Audley since it is the only secondary school south of Colchester and nearest to Mersea. Thomas Lord Audley School has had its problems in the past but has now vastly improved with GCSE results this year higher than ever in its history - and expectations of doing even better next year. It has a dedicated staff and strong Headship and this Council supports it entirely. The Mayor on behalf of the Council has written to Lord Hanningfield expressing the Council's views. Since writing the above it seems that Essex County Council Cabinet have agreed to push ahead with proposals to SHUT - Thomas Lord Audley- Alderman Blaxill and Sir Charles Lucas - there are, apparently not enought young people to fill all three schools UPDATE The Cabinet of Essex County Council have recommended a second round of consultations be undertaken with the specific option of closing Thomas Lord Audley and the other two schools with effect from 31st August 2014. This re organisation is dependent upon Government funding being released to the County Council in the near future. However local MP Bob Russell points to a 96% opposition to the plan and stated that the bid to stop these radical proposals from going ahead was far from over! 10 May 2009 - SINCE WRITING THE ABOVE A FURTHER PLAN AS BEEN PUT FORWARD TO MAKE TLA AND STANWAY A COMBINED SITE FOUNDATION SCHOOL - WE WILL WATCH WITH INTEREST POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN MERSEA As from 1st September 2009 the cost to the Town Council for providing Police Community Support Officers for the island has recently increased. The forecast average cost for a PCSO 2009/10 is estimated to be £30,514 per officer. Consequently the 50% contribution for match funding councils will be £15,257 an increase of £2,350 per annum. The cost to the Council for three officers is £45,771 |
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| DOGGY MATTERS Did you know that it is an offence to allow your dog to foul a public area? £50 fixed penalty fines will be issued without warning to anyone not using a poop scoop - as required by law If you know of anyone who is allowing their dog to foul public areas or when and where they usually walk their dog please inform the Animal Warden Free poop scoop bags are available from Angel Court Reception High Street - Colchester or from your Parish/Town Council NEW RULES FOR DOGS AND OWNERS AT GLEBE Reports in the Press have implied that dogs will be allowed on all of the Glebe this is entirely wrong. "Dogs will be allowed in the car park area on leads but on no account are dogs to be allowed on any of the pitches" Dogs must be kept under control at all times at The Glebe. There will also be dog bins provided DOG FOULING ON THE BEACH New dog fouling laws with instant fines are now in force on the beach and elsewhere - our PCSO's are empowered to carry out the procedures for imposing these fines. £50 fixed penalty fines will be issued without warning to anyone not using a poop scoop as required by law. The Borough have recommended that dogs be kept on leads during the summer season from 10am to 5pm - the Town Council think that this would be unenforceable and have informed the Borough that they recommend that dogs be "kept under control at all times" DOG POO BAGS are now available from the Council Offices in Melrose Road £1 for 100 doggy bags RUBBISH BAGS AND CONTAINERS FOR ALL LARGE WHITE GARDEN BAGS PLEASE NOTE we now have more of these bags available to the public in our office in Melrose Road BUT THEY WILL NOW COST £3.20 EACH. You can take your worn White garden bags to Angel Court in Colchester who will replace them - but we do not have the facilities to take them in our Melrose Road offices FREE RECYCLING CONTAINERS Green Boxes - Green recycling containers to residents are free. Customers are entitled to 1 green box, 1 roll of clear sacks during the year, they can pick up or order an additional roll from the Council Offices Melrose Road Mersea. BLACK PLASTIC BAGS Black Refuse Bags will be delivered to West Mersea houses on the 4th May onwards COMPOST BINS Compost Bins are available from the Borough at a cost of £17 by calling 0845 077 0757 |
DROP IN RECORDED CRIME FIGURES COME AND MEET YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PANEL - or NAP PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES for further details click on to SERVICES tag PRINCE ALBERT ROAD TO BE MADE UP AT LAST That Prince Albert Road between its junction with Oakwood Avenue and Queen Anne Road is not to the satisfaction of Essex County Council The County Council hereby resolves that the said street be sewered, levelled, paved, metalled, flagged, channelled, made good and lighted and subject to the private street works code the expenses incurred by the said Council in executing those works shall be apportioned between the premises fronting the street Local residents have asked that in view of the above proposals that the priorities for the junction be re considered WINDFARM ON GUNFLEET SANDS "DONG ENERGY" Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Project The first turbine was installed on March 31st 2009 - an important milestone marking the construction of the first of the fifteen sites awarded by The Crown Estates. ("DONG" are based on Denmark) The installation of 48 turbines on the Gunfleet Sands off Clacton is due to be fully operational by 2010. Each turbine is 129 metres high (420 feet) -just over twice the height of Nelson's column - and they will be seen clearly from Mersea. The turbine clearance from the lower blade to sea level is 22 metres at Medium High Water Mark. A 500 metre safety zone has been established around the Gunfleet and yachts are advised to keep well clear except in an emergency - the safety zone is marked with buoys. Submarine Power Cables will connect each turbine to the next and then to the shore at Holland on Sea via an offshore sub station. Numerous tugs, barges and fast powerboats carrying staff will be transiting to the site from Brightlingsea and could be found at anchor near to the mouth of the river Colne ADDITIONAL TREE PLANTING FOR WILLOUGHBY It was agreed to plant additional trees in the south eastern corner of Willoughby Car Park VILLAGE APPRAISAL COMMITTEE The Village Appraisal is now available to read on this website - see above Tributes were paid to Alan Fletcher who sadly died recently, for the time and effort he put in - not only on the Village Appraisal - but also through his efforts in trying to get the Oakwood Avenue link road resurrected MORE ON PLANS FOR NEW NUCLEAR BUILD AT BRADWELL British EnergY became part of EDF on 5th January 2009. EDF believe that the land adjacent to the existing nuclear power station at Bradwell is a good site for a new nuclear power station boosting the local economy and provide hundreds of permanent new jobs over the next 60 years International environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning and others have been working behind the scenes over the last eighteen months to understand the effects of a new nuclear power station on the local area. Royal Haskonings project manager has stated that among the key issues at Bradwell are the impacts of cooling water system on the Estuary and the transport of materials and personnel for the construction of the power station. EUROPEAN PRESSURISED WATER REACTOR The design EDF are proposing for a new Reactor at Bradwell is the European Pressurised REActor (EPR) similar to the one being built at Flamanville in Normandy - France. for further information contact website www.british-energy.com/newbuild |
Dabchicks Cadets Sailing evening June 2009 |
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NEW FENCING FOR FIRS ROAD CEMETERY MEALS ON WHEELS The Council and the Football Clubs are becoming increasing concerned about the amount of dog mess on the Glebe pitches - this has to be cleared up before a game can be played. PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG OFF THE GLEBE SEA DEFENCES -NEW PLANNING LAWS RECYCLING CALENDARS
PROPOSED NEW WAITING RESTRICTIONS POLICE NIGHT TIME PATROLS RUBBISH COLLECTION WARNING AND TENNIS CLUB Reluctantly the Council have agreed to increase rental charges for the above groups by 4% |
| WINTER FUEL BILLS - FOOD FOR THOUGHT BRITISH ENERGY TAKEN OVER BY FRENCH COMPANY On 5th January 2009 - EDF - Electricite de France - the worlds biggest producer of nuclear energy took over the British Energy Group. This was at the price of £12bn and included the land that comes with the deal. British Energy owned seven vacant sites around Britan all alongside ageing or redundant nuclear power stations (including Bradwell). EDF is state owned meaning that arguably the French government now have more control over energy prices in this country than our own government??? |
Kitesurfing on the Blackwater Estuary |
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| LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELDS The following article appeared in the January edition of Private Eye |
~ Off for a night shift ~ |
Website Writer and Co-Ordinator ~ Cllr Sylvia Wargent e mail direct - sylvia.wargent@googlemail.com website you can contact Council Secretary - Carol Byrne - at the Council offices in Melrose Road who will ensure that your queries are dealt with Monday to Friday. - 10 Melrose Road - West Mersea. CO5 8JD E Mail - WESTMERSEATC@aol.com Tel 01206 382128 for the content of external Internet sites. |
West Mersea Colchester Essex, CO5 8JD Telephone and Fax 01206 382128 E-mail: westmerseatc@aol.com Back to top of page |