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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 |
The NEXT COUNCIL MEETING will be held on 28th JANUARY 2010 Public Question Time is between 7 and 7.15 pm TOWN MAYOR West Mersea Town Council's Mayor for the year 2009/2010 is Mayor, Cllr Peter Clements MBE The Deputy Mayor for the year is Cllr John May ~~~ A new Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected, by the Council, annually ~~~ COUNCILLORS West Mersea Town Council has 9 Councillors who serve for four years before seeking re-election and although you may not hear much about some of them - rest assured they all work hard behind the scenes on many and varied projects ~~~ The currently serving councillors are listed below Mayor, Cllr Peter Clements Cllr John May Cllr Alan Mogridge Cllr Noelle Urquhart Cllr Sylvia Wargent Cllr William KImberley Cllr Mervyn Rutter Cllr Stephen Vince Cllr Mary Hargreaves ~~~ and created six sub committees which include Councillors and co-opted Residents with an interest the subject in question. LATEST COUNCIL NEWS As a starting point for this project Mayor Peter Clements has arranged a Public Meeting on MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY - 7.30 PM AT WEST MERSEA PARISH CHURCH HALL There will be An introduction by Mayor Peter Clements Thoughts about Twinning by Dr. Richard Doyle Information by Mr Issa Tahham on Pilgrimage Tours Further thoughts from The Right Revd. Morgan Bishop of Colchester General discussion For Peter Clements views on this subject see below PUBLIC MEETING HELD AT MICA ON 10TH DECEMBER 2009 The Government is currently consulting on its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement - NPS In December 2009 about 100 people attended a meeting to discuss a potential site for a new nuclear power station at Bradwell An exhibition giving information about Bradwell's assessment was also on view Despite considered and intelligent questions fielded by the local audience this was largely a PR exercise - the consultation period ends on February 22nd GOOD NEWS - PROPOSED NEW SURGERY BACK ON TRACK The Town Council have been informed by the Primary Care Trust/ LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) Initiative that they now looking to provide a new medical centre on farmland off Colchester Road/field opposite Mill Road this would include a re-alignment of the traffic system at this junction Preparations will begin in earnest shortly, with a view to submitting detailed plans by January 2010. This project needs to move forward swiftly to comply with the Government's funding timetable The ground Plans for the surgery will be exactly the same as the surgery Plans first proposed and put on public display earlier this year. The site will cover 1.3 acres including car parking, be two storeys high and near a bus stop. We understand that Highways (so far) have no objections to the location. The new surgery which will include physiotherapy, podiatry and mother and baby sessions - services currently provided by the clinic in Barfield Road which will be closed. Work on the actual building could begin by next summer. N.B. Earlier proposals for a medical centre on the Legion Field in Barfield Road had to be aborted when the British Legion voted against giving access to the NHS across its land. However, it must be said that there were several problematical planning issues concerning this particular site that had not been properly addressed by Realise Health - and it would be unfair to put the blame for the failure of the Legion Field location entirely on the British Legion. NEW SUB COMMITTEE - MONITOR NUCLEAR MATTERS AT BRADWELL The Town Council have formed a new Bradwell Monitoring Subcommittee Their remit is to discuss and consider the impact on our island community and environment of further decommissioning at the old station and the possible building of a new nuclear power station. As mentioned above NECC - the Department of Energy and Climate Change held a public meeting in Mersea in December on this subject. At that meeting our Committee put forward a list of concerns about new build at Bradwell and its subsequent impact on Mersea Island on behalf of West MERSEA Town Council. We have now heard from DECC but are dissatisfied with their reply and intend to re-submit our original concerns in time for the 22nd February deadline. To read these concerns click on to COMMUNITY and BRADWELL NEWSl PARKING CHARGES FOR ESPLANADE CAR PARKS? see below M.O.D.SHOEBURYNESS WEAPONS TESTING - FORTHCOMING ACTIVITY ALERT see below |
| "MERSEA LIGHTS UP" Christmas 2009 All thanks, of course to Eric Straughan - alias "Elf and Safety" Shetland Ponies instead of reinder |
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INCREASE IN COUNCIL PRECEPT Due to the fact that the Town Council need to purchase a new Pick-Up Truck and new Plant we have duly asked for a 2% increase in our Council Precept. Hopefully, no other unnecessary expenses will be incurred and there will be no increases in staff wages this year FIRST ELECTRICTY GENERATED FROM GUNFLEET WINDFARM Danish Company Dong Energy's first generation of electricity took place on August 20th 2009 at the Gunfleet Sands offshore windfarm. The 48 wind turbine Gunfleet Sands project will eventually generate enough clean renewable energy for approximately 120,000 households. The windfarm will reach full capacity by 2010 POLLARDING OF TREES ON ST PETERS MEADOW St Peter's Well Meadow is part owned by the Town Council and is a SSSI -Site of Special Scientific Interest - managed in accordance with guidelines set down by Natural England. These guidelines are there to protect wildlife and geographical areas from pollution and development and to support plants and animals that find it more difficult to survive in the wider countryside. In order to ensure this level of protection all the trees along Coast Road are protected by Tree Preservation Orders and are subject to a pollarding routine on a three year cycle. This is to ensure that the trees are secure and well rooted. The area opposite Rosebank flats is scheduled to be pollarded this autumn. LEASES FOR SCHOOL FIELD AND GARDENS RENEWED The Town Council have now signed new leases both the School Gardens and the School field - this leaves the way open to turning this area into a proper public park - how far we can go with this will depend on funding. CHANGES IN SCHOOL GARDENS Moves have been put forward by the Environment (Parks and Open Spaces) Committee to fill in the pond and replace it with a paved "Labyrinth" with seating. The pond is very difficult to maintain in its present state with overhanging trees. The Council have applied for part of the Parish Grant to carry out this work 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 was 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. The Town Council would like to thank Borough Officer - Steve Collis for all his work on this project. Other prime movers on this matter were members of the Beach Working Group BURIAL CHARGE INCREASES - 2009/10 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 - 2009 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 COUNCIL DONATIONS - UNDER SECTION 137 This year West Mersea Town Council have made contributions to the following groups Seafood Festival 2009 - £600/Beach Club 2009 - £100/ Carnival 2009 - £250 - Lights Up £80 |
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| TENNIS COURTS - AT GLEBE - TOTAL REFURBISHMENT AND PROPER GRASS COURTS The Council have now installed LAWN TENNIS COURTS at The Glebe including perimeter fencing etc - the money for this has come from an "Awards for All" Lottery Grant of £10,000 plus £8000 bid for by this Council from the Parish Grant fund We would like to thank Cllr Vince for all his hard work on this project As part of the same project a SMART new changing room and toilet building has been put in place next to the present tennis pavilion. There are now three entrances along the (eastern end) Glebe hedge into the new Glebe fields ALLOTMENTS An on site party was held by the Allotment Association to celebrate the opening of the new West Mersea Allotments. The Allotments are situated at the Mortimers Farm site off East Road. This four acre site holds approximately 53 plots some of which are half size plots and some even quarter size plots. There is now a waiting list for allotments in Mersea! Each full size plot 30 by 10 yards - each half plot is about 15 by 10 yards with a 9 foot path between rows of plots. There will be plenty of room for car parking plus a drop off point. The rent per allotment per year has been decided at £100. The Town Council and the new Allotment Association have agreed and signed a Management Agreement Thanks to Cllr John Bouckley and Ian Clarke £8000 will become available under an SPD (planning gain) agreement - to improve the site - setting out the access, further fencing, dipping tanks etc etc. PUBLIC TOILETS PROPOSED CHANGES TO TOILETS ON THE ESPLANADE HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR THE PRESENT TIME NEW PAVILION FOR THE GLEBE |
A Winklebrig at West Mersea |
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BEACH WORKING GROUP DECISIONS ***** CRICKET CLUB NEW PRACTICE FACILITIES PROPOSED YOUTH POD TOWN COUNCIL BACKS "KEEP THOMAS LORD AUDLEY CAMPAIGN" CHANGES TO PLANNING ON BACKLAND DEVELOPMENT |
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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. Next summer there will also be street wardens who will have powers to deal with breaches of dog fouling laws. The Borough have recommended that dogs be kept on leads along the Esplanade Beach during the summer season. 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 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 SERVICES PRINCE ALBERT ROAD - WORK HAS BEGUN! |
Dabchicks Cadets Sailing evening June 2009 |
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| LATE SCHOOL BUSES FROM TLA Thanks to Cllr Clements efforts a new school bus route will now run from School to home at 4.30pm for (possibly) three afternoons a week for the remainder of this academic year. This will enable pupils to take advantage of after school clubs without worrying about transport. The buses have now begun operating 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 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% LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK GUIDELINES GUIDELINES ON HOUSEBOATS The Borough contains areas of houseboat development at West Mersea These small scale developments are accepted as part of the character of this location However, any further extension of houseboat development would be considered to have an unacceptable impact on this sensitive coastal area GUIDELINES ON HOLIDAY PARKS Extensions to Coopers Beach and Waldegraves have come forward as a result of public consultation - with detailed comments on financial contributions to highway and access improvements GUIDELINES ON MERSEA's COASTAL AREAS Proposals for development and change of use on the landward and seaward side of Coast Road will be expected to enhance the existing traditional maritime character of the Waterside Area of Special Character and its role as a major yachting, fishing and boating centre. Proposals which result in the development of existing undeveloped areas of foreshore will be refused COUNCIL CUTBACKS SINK BATHING RAFTS ! BUT LOCAL OYSTERMEN COME TO THE RESCUE At the meeting of the Beach Working Group Colchester Borough Council announced that, as part of financial cut backs imposed, there would be no bathing rafts on the main beach for summer 2009 - this was to avoid the cost of placing them on moorings and recovering them at the end of the season. HOWEVER - Mersea Town Council has now offered to take on the management of the bathing rafts. We have been offered help by local oysterman (Richard Haward and Alan Bird) in placing the rafts in and out of the river - The Council will store and paint them at the Glebe during the winter months. . |
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Barges at rest |
| POTENTIAL CYCLE PATH FROM MERSEA TO COLCHESTER NO IT'S NOT JUST A PIPE DREAM The Town Council Footpaths, Footways and Cycle Paths Committee have been quietly working with Parish Councils beside the Mersea Road to put a proper cycle path all the way from Mersea to Colchester. Only part of this path will follow the current B road much will go through nearby farmland. Most of the Councils have shown great interested and land owners have been very co-operative. Funding is also being explored and looks quite hopeful. The scheme is still in the early stages - will update shortly |
| NEW NUCLEAR BUILD AT BRADWELL - AN OVERVIEW 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 time 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. In a recent TV interview Mr Milliband declared that if Bradwell B were to be built it would not be completed until 2018 at the earliest! for more details on this matter log on to www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group - B.A.N.N.G. BANG are a citizen based organisation based on Mersea Island. It has supporters who are pro-nuclear and who are anti-nuclear and some who are not sure where they stand. What unites them is a belief that Bradwell, for very good reasons, is a totally unsuitable site for a new mega nuclear power station and high level waste dump. Website www.banng.org.uk WINTER FUEL BILLS - FOOD FOR THOUGHT FLOWERBOATS AT THE GLEBE AND THE ESPLANADE |
TO TWIN WITH BETHLEHEM On the Friday evening they attended a civic reception in Bethlehem Town Hall at the invitation of the Deputy Mayor and Council. The Deputy Mayor gave a welcoming speach in perfect English. There are 22,000 people living in Bethlehem of which 30% are Christian and 29% are unemployed. Afterwards, Peter thought it might be appropriate to shake the hand of the Deputy Mayor and give him the good wishes of the people of Mersea Island. The result of the following friendly conversation was an invitation to Mersea Island to twin with Bethlehem. Peter was lost for words and thanked him for his touching offer. His name is George Sa'edah and you can find out about him on the website www.bethlehem-city.org. Peter would like to ask the people of Mersea Island and all the leaders of the churches in Mersea to think about this offer and ask yourselves if you could support it - perhaps some of your congregation would care to step forward and join a special Twinning Committee to carry things forward. The Councils of both East and West Mersea will do whatever they can to support the move - but it needs to come from your hearts first Bethlehem is twinned with some 40 odd cities and towns in the world - only Glasgow is twinned in the UK Peter sees our roll as emissaries and perhaps fund raisers or perhaps just persuading Islanders to visit. There is, of course, a lot more to say about this but space prevents any further details West Mersea Town Council - Mayor, Cllr Peter Clements would like to hear your views. |
| RECYCLING Please check your copy of the recycling guide and calendar for a reminder of what is collected in each week and bank holiday arrangements. • Residents who need additional clear sacks can collect them for free from a range of locations. Download your copy of the recycling guide and find the list of locations stocking clear sacks by visiting www.colchester.gov.uk/recycling. • Alternatively both are available from the Customer Service Centre, Angel Court High Street, Colchester, email recycling@colchester.gov.uk or phone 01206 282700. |
~ Off for a night shift ~ |
Webmasters Cllr Sylvia Wargent and Cllr Noelle Urquhart 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 |