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ALL ABOUT US WEST MERSEA TOWN COUNCIL IS ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN YEARS OLD THIS YEAR - 2011 |
WEST MERSEA TOWN COUNCIL Town and Parish Councils are the oldest and the first tier of local government - at grass roots level - and therefore (we think) in the best position to promote the interests of local people. We do our best to be non political - all our Councillors (so far) have stood for election as INDEPENDENTS. We like to think that our Council is run by people with a social conscience rather than a political motive. WE do our best to serve the people of Mersea! We try to make a difference! Town Councillors do not receive any payment (other than off island travel expenses) and offer their time voluntarily for the benefit of the community. Elections Annual General Meeting The Town Meeting Meetings What do we do? Committees
How Is It All Paid for? |
| MATTERS THAT COME UNDER THE REMIT OF A TOWN COUNCIL Car Parking Cycle Parking Public Lighting - limited only Christmas Lights - The Town Council may, if it wishes. light an Open Space or provide decorative (e.g.Christmas) lighting Public Rights of Way Public Footways Public Bridleways Signage Public Seats Public Shelters Postal and Telephone Facilities(under special circumstances only) Public Conveniences - sometimes Public Litter Bins Allotments Sports and Recreation Facilities including - sports pitches - swimming pools - tennis courts - golf courses - riding schools - camp sites - bowling greens - gliding - boating and fishing facilities - places where food - drink and tobacco may be bought and parking places Roadside Verges (in certain cases only) Open Spaces and Village Greens Commons Public Halls and Sports Pavilions Indoor Recreation Public Clocks Supporting local Entertainments - Arts and Tourism Cemeteries Byelaws War Memorials The Council may erect flagpoles by the highway - written consent of the highway authority is needed Local Councils may provide entertainments of any kind and facilities for dancing - they can also maintain bands and orchestras and support local arts and crafts and can set aside any part of their parks for these purposes Mortuaries (if required by Secretary of State in emergencies) Maintenance of Closed Churchyards Parochial Charities Water - Drainage - Sewerage and Highways (though these are more often the responsibility of the Borough Council |
| THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES, LAND AND PREMISES ARE EITHER OWNED, LEASED OR COME UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF WEST MERSEA TOWN COUNCIL Meals on Wheels Service Coast Road boardwalk across St Peters Meadow Flowerboat at the Esplanande Flowerboats at the Glebe corner The Glebe Pavilion The Council Depot in Rushmere Close Public desk facility at Melrose Road Offices Melrose Road offices and Council Chamber Administration of burial records Council website and newsletter Feldy Cemetery Firs Road Cemetery Barfield Road Cemetery St Peter's Well Meadow School Gardens (leased) Sensory Garden - Melrose corner Glebe Playing Fields Glebe Playing Fields extension (leased) Town Hard - Coast Road Broomhills Greensward Youth Field - registered village green - maintain (owned by Essex County Council) St Peter's Well itself Reymead Wood, Meadow and Pond Monkey Beach Allotments at Mortimers Farm, East Road (leased) |
All Meetings are held on Thursday evenings - 7pm for 7.15pm 2012 5TH January 26th January 15th February 8th March 29th March 19th April 10th May - AGM 24th May |
West Mersea Town Council's Mayor for the year 2011/2012 is Mayor, Cllr John May The Deputy Mayor for the year is Cllr Nolly Urquhart ~~~ A new Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected, by the Council, annually at the AGM ~~~ COUNCILLORS West Mersea Town Council has 9 Councillors who serve for four years before seeking re-election ~~~ Currently serving councillors are listed below Mayor, Cllr John May Cllr Noelle Urquhart Cllr Beverley Perkins Cllr Eric Straughan Cllr Alan Mogridge Cllr Wendy Bixby Cllr Belinda Cross Cllr Peter Clements Cllr Sylvia Wargent and created six sub committees which include Councillors and co-opted Residents with an interest the subject in question. |
| OPEN SPACES - THE SIX ACRE STANDARD The Town Council are concerned about the lack of recreational space in West Mersea. Open space in a village is subject to the "six acre standard" as recommended by the guidelines of the Playing Fields Association - and as applied by Colchester Borough Council. Under current planning guidelines West Mersea should have approximately 42 acres - if the 7 acres per 1000 of population is applied West Mersea, at the present time (if the guidelines are applied strictly) only has about 10 to 12 acres. This excludes areas such as the Mersea School Field (sometimes known as The Legion Field) as it is not available for public use. It also excludes the 15 acres available at the new East Road development (Wellhouse). The Council has asked Colchester what mechanism is available to purchase additional land either compulsorily or otherwise - in order to raise the amount of recreational land to acceptable levels. This is becoming increasingly important given the recent initiative for the preservation of green areas - and this Council believe that it should be built into the Local Development Framework. |
| VILLAGE APPRAISAL What is a Village Appraisal? In short a Village Appraisal is a survey of a community, looking at all aspects of local life in order to arrive at a consensus of what it is that local people think are the most pressing issues. The object is to gather facts and opinions from local residents on all manner of subjects such as housing, roads, amenities, business, tourism etc in order to arrive at a consensus view. A final brochure outlining the above issues has been published. The following people were elected as Officers for the Village Appraisal Chairman - Peter Clements Treasurer - Viv Barclay Secretary - Dave Tucker The Village Appraisal has now been completed - copies can be obtained from the Council offices in Melrose Road - and can also be viewed on this website - please see HOME PAGE |
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BATHING RAFTS Most of the bathing rafts moored off the beach in summer were made by Cllr Stephen Vince pictured here with former Mayor - Cllr Patricia Stewart and young friends and the rafts when first built and prior to "first launch". Bathing rafts now come under the control of the Town Council and are brought in from their moorings each autumn by local Oystermen |
| DOG FOULING IN WEST MERSEA Dog Fouling in West Mersea Did you know that it is an offence to allow your dog to foul a public area £50 fixed penalties 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. Colchester Borough Council asked the Town Council to give their opinion on whether dogs should be kept on leads between 10am and 5pm during on the beach during the summer season however, the Town Council did not fully agree with this and instead recommended that dogs should be "kept under control at all times" And not annoy other beach users in any way HELP US KEEP WEST MERSEA FREE FROM DOG FOULING |
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| HAVING YOUR SAY AT TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS IN MERSEA You are welcome to come along to any West Mersea Town Council Meeting to "Have Your Say" on any subject relevant to the Council. Our Council Meetings are held on Thursday evenings approximately every six weeks. A list of dates are available on this website. Proceedings start at 7pm sharp - fifteen minutes at the beginning of each meeting is allowed specifically for members of the public to voice their opinions on planning matters or anything else they may wish to "get off their chest" - the subject must come within the remit of the Council. Once the meeting proper begins at 7.15pm the public are no longer allowed to speak unless especially asked to do so by the Mayor - who will adjourn the meeting temporarily You are welcome to stay and listen to the Council proceedings or you can leave at 7.15pm. If you wish to stay and leave at some time during the meeting itself we would request that - in order to reduce disruption - you do so as quietly and if possible between Agenda items. Thank you. |
| HAVING YOUR SAY at COLCHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS Colchester Borough Council would like you to a part in decision making! You can Have Your Say at any meeting of the Borough Council. You can Have Your Say on a specific issue being discussed at a meeting, or on a general issue which that meeting would normally deal with. Your comments must be relevant to the work of the meeting All CBC meetings are open to the public, except those parts where confidential matters are being discussed. These are few and are usually dealt with at the end of the meeting. You will be asked to leave before these are discussed. When and where are meetings held? Most meetings are held at the Town Hall in the High Street Colchester starting at 6pm. You are welcome to attend any of these meetings. Dates and times are shown on posters at council offices and in local libraries, and on the council's website Agendas for meetings are available at council offices - local libraries and on the website How can I have my say? When you arrive at the meeting please tell a member of staff collecting names what you want to speak about. They will explain what will happen and show you to the public seating area When the meeting has started the Chairman will call your name and invite you to Have Your Say! You may be asked to sit at the main table or at the table at the front of the public seating area marked "Have Your Say Speakers Only". There will be a microphone for you to use which is operated by depressing the green button When it is your turn to speak you will have up to three minutes to get your view across. For best effect you should aim to make your views very concise and short. Your comments must be relevant to the work of the meeting. You will be timed and a bell will be rung after two minutes to let you know you have one minute left. A second bell will be rung at the end of three minutes When you have finished speaking a Councillor may ask you one question and if this happens you will have another minute to give your answer. A bell will be rung at the end of the minute and at this point you should return to your seat. You will not be able to have a discussion with the Councillors Who will respond to my statement? If it is possible to give you a response at the meeting, the Chairman will invite an officer, or portfolio holder or another Councillor to respond. The panel may decide to ask for further information and for the matter to be discussed at a future meeting What can I say at the meeting? You can Have Your Say on a specific issue being discussed at the meeting, or on a general issue which that meeting normally deals with. With the exception of a petition you will not be allowed to hand around written or photographic material The Chairman may disallow or terminate any public participation which is inappropriate, abusive, indecent, discriminatory, frivolous, irrelevant or otherwise unacceptable. Planning Committee The arrangements for Have Your Say at Planning Committee meetings are slightly different. One supporter and one objector only can speak on each application. If more than one objector wishes to speak on an application you must agree among you which person will represent you, otherwise no one will be allowed to speak on that particular item. You may not hand around written or photographic material. Members of the Planning Committee are not allowed to ask questions of speakers. Further information about the arrangements for Planning Committee is available on request from Richard Clifford on 01206 507 832 Licensing Committee The law does not allow you to Have Your Say on issues such as public entertainment licenses, hackney carriage licenses and door registration schemes which are bound by legal requirements for inviting public objections Further information about the arrangements for Licensing Committee is available on request from Sarah White on 01206 282 241 Petitions If a number of people feel strongly about an issue over which the council has some control you may wish to present a petition. A petition may be presented at any meeting of the council. A petition is defined as "A clear statement of your point of view supported by one or more co-signatories". HOW TO CONTACT THEM Write to: Amanda Chidgey Committee and Civic Service Manager Colchester Borough Council PO Box 884, Town Hall, Colchester, CO1 1FR Tel: 01206 282 222 E-mail: committee.services@colchester.gov.uk Website: www.colchester.gov.uk Back to top of page |
| HIRING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER When it is not being used for Council business West Mersea Town Council - Council Chamber - can be hired out to small local groups. The Chamber can seat up to 40 people. The cost is £15 per evening. For more details please contact the Council Offices |
| THE ANNUAL CIVIC SERVICE The Annual Town Council Civic Service is held once a year in the autumn at the Parish Church. It is followed by a buffet and reception (at Mersea Museum). The reception is by invitation of the Mayor and the Council - invitations are sent to local people and leaders of community groups who the Mayor and the Council consider to have made a contribution to the wellbeing of West Mersea and its residents. The list is not the same every year as the Mayor also invites according to his own interests and concerns. The service is attended by dignitaries - Mayors from nearby villages - our local MP - representatives from the Police Force - Lifeboat and Fire Station. and the Lord Lt. of Essex who represents the Queen on civic occasions. The Queen is head of government and the Town Council - albeit at a humble level -is part of government The primary purpose of the Civic Service is to ask for God's blessing and guidance on the work we do as a Council. |
| THE TOWN HARD The Town Hard is part of the much larger area known locally as Stonehill Hard - situated directly opposite Stonehill House and the old Lifeboat Station. Thie concreted area here comes under the authority of the Town Council. It is a Free Boat Launching Area Mersea is one of the last Free Ports on the East Coast - where no harbour dues are payable to a Harbour Master. How long this will last we do not know - but we are trying to keep it free for the foreseeable future. The Council periodically recharge the mud beyond the concrete apron with stone aggregate - to make boat launching easier. You may park here for as long as it takes to unload your boat from your trailer and launch it. You must then leave the area free for use by others, please take your boat trailer away with you - don't leave it on the concrete apron, the shingle or the mud. Please keep a pathway clear to enable everyone to too launch their boats - thank you. Do not park permanently on the Town Hard THIS IS A LAUNCH AND GO AREA ONLY |
| PARISH CHURCH CEMETERY MAINTENANCE It is the duty of a Town or Parish Council to maintain redundant cemeteries in their town or village. In the case of our own Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul most of this maintenance is carried out by the church people themselves as they prefer it this way - but we do make a substantial contribution to the ongoing maintenance. |
| CODE OF PRACTICE FOR BONFIRES Contrary to popular belief there are no specific controls - such as permitted times - over the lighting of bonfires to burn garden waste. However - if the smoke your bonfire produces causes a nuisance you may be liable to legal action either by the Council or the people that you affect The following are guidelines to the public on bonfires given by Colchester Borough Council Keep number of bonfires to minimum and burn only dry garden refuse Consult your neighbours before lighting a bonfire and seek their agreement Do not light a bonfire when weather conditions will cause problems - smoke hangs in the air on damp - windless days and in the evening around sunset Site the bonfire in a safe place - away from neighbours property - not near buildings, fences - hedges - trees Do not light a fire when smoke will blow over neighbours property - or over roads Do not use flammable liquids such as petrol - paraffyn or metholated spirit Keep bonfire under supervision at all times(br> Ensure that it is extinguished completely before you leave it Keep hosepipe or buckets handy There are no times when bonfires are permitted opr forbidden. It is more important to take account of your neighbours activities - e.g. washing on line - open windows - sitting in garden - decorating Environmental Protection Act 1990 It is an offence to cause the emission of smoke which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance to other people Clean Air Act 1993 - Section 2 It is often an offence merely to burn material that produces dark smoke e.g. tyres, rubber, oil, plastics and foam. In this case nobody has to be affected by smoke. |
| SPEED LIMITS ON THE RIVER A Speed limit exists throughout the entire River Blackwater which restricts the speed of all vessels to 8 knot within 25 metres of the shore. This area is marked by bouys. This byelaw also prevents access to the saltmarsh - oyster layings and other such habitats. Fines will be imposed. |
| PLANNING MATTERS New developments "Affordable Housing" must now cover at least 35% of all new developments "Housing Density" the acceptable density at the present time is 30 houses per hectare |
LEASE ON NEW GLEBE EXTENSION West Mersea Town Council and Colchester Borough Council have agreed the conditions of the lease for the new Glebe extension playing fields and reached a final agreement with the Borough legal department. Colchester Borough Council will own the land but West Mersea Town Council will hold it on a 99 year lease. |
| DOGGY MATTERS 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 DOG POO BAGS Dog poo bags are available from the Council Offices Melrose Road, West Mersea at a cost of £1.30 per 100 Dog poop scoop bags are also available from Angel Court - Reception - High Street - Colchester 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. |
| A VILLAGE GREEN AT LAST After a seven year battle the Town Council have managed to secure the Youth Field (to the rear of the School Gardens) as a "Village Green". 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 "YOUTH" 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 OWNERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL FIELD TO PASS TO THE TOWN COUNCIL The Schoold field (to the rear of the School Gardens) was originally owned by Essex County Council Education Dept but had been leased to the Town Council since 1989. Essex County Council has now been handed over to the Town Council who hope eventually to turn it into a proper public park (funds permitting!) |
| ELECTIONS Elections for the Town Council are held every four years By- elections are held if required by 10 electors. If no by election is required the Council must fill the vacancy by co-option. In the six months before an election the Council need not co-opt additional councillors - if it so chooses West Mersea Town Council has just nine Councillors Qualifications of Candidates He or she must be over 21 years of age Be a British Subject - Commonwealth Citizen or Citizen of the Irish Republic Has - during the whole of the 12 months before he was nominated - occupied land as tenant or owner in the parish - or has resided within 3 miles of it or had his principal or only place of work in the parish Disqualification A Person is Disqualified from being a Councillor if he:- 1. Holds a paid office under the council 2. Is bankrupt (until annulment - discharge with certificate or 5 years after ordinary discharge) or composes with his creditors (until 5 years after annulment or payment in full) 3. Has been convicted during the past five years and sentenced to not less than three months imprisonment - whether or not suspended - without the option of a fine |
| THE TOWN MEETING Is held in April each year - the date to be announced nearer the time On these occasions the Mayor gives his annual re- port and the Town Clerk his financial report, the meeting is then open to the public. The Meeting begins at 7pm and is a chance for residents to ask questions about all current Council issues |
| HOUSEBOATS - PLANNING GUIDANCE Any house boat which has been in situ for ten years will be immune from enforcement action relating to gangways etc. likewise for any new houseboat, providing it is "not significantly bigger" than the one it is replacing Planning Applications for infrastructure to support existng houseboats (ie those which have been in place for less than ten years) including jetties, sheds platforms and fences, and for those replacement houseboats or houseboat alterations considered to result in material alterations, will be considered on the basis of their scale and impact on the surrounding amenity, environment and landscape |
| PURDAH During the four weeks before a general election the Town Council is obliged to go into a period of time known as "Purdah". Purdah is the name given to the period of time prior to an election and starts from the Publication of Notice of Elections. During this time there are limitations on publicity and information that councils can issue affecting the Council’s area. This is to ensure that they cannot be perceived as seeking to influence public opinion. From this time until after the election there should be no reference to individual Councillors or to the election itself and there should not be another newsletter until the month after the election The Town Council must remain neutral during the election period. |
| DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Town and Parish Councils are entirely voluntary, all Council- lors are unpaid, they serve to maintain or better the lot of fellow residents in the fairest way possible to the majority. Should an item appear on the Agenda at any meeting in which a Councillor has an inter- est or personal relationship, they declare their interest and do not debate or vote. |
MEALS ON WHEELS |
| ALLOTMENTS The West Mersea Town Council Allotment project has cost the Council approximately £2000n We are pleased to see that the Allotments are being well used. Background to Allotments An £8000 grant became available under an SPD (planning gain) and thanks to efforts by Ward Councillor John Bouckley and resident Ian Clarke, the new Allotments, to the north of Mortimer's Farm, East Road, were put in place. We have obtained a 15 year lease from owners John and Mary Crisp for 4 acres of land. The Town Council have spent a further £10,000 on parking, fencing, dipping tanks etc to complete the project plus an extra amount for resurfacing the car park. The site holds approximately 80 plots some of which are half size and some quarter size. There is currently a waiting list for allotments please contact the Council for details. 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. The rent per allotment per year has been decided at £100 for a full size plot.. The Town Council and the new Allotment Association have agreed and signed a Management Agreement. Small sheds are allowed - as long as they are not placed on concrete bases. The site incorporates a hard surfaced entrance and water dipping tanks. A larger communal log cabin is planned for the future. |
| BMX TRACK A group of boys - Charlie Fisher, Max Rampling, Tom Eyers and Tom Ashmore all pupils or former pupils of Thomas Lord Audley School successfully gained a grant of £8000 from Essex County Council Youth Capital Fund. The boys also won the Colchester Youth Awards community improvement prize of £500 supported by the Essex County Standard. Plans were then made to create a BMX dirt track on the new Glebe extension field behind Well House Green. A new fence and hedge have been put in place. |
| FOOTPATH FP 7 COMPLETES THE ROUND THE ISLAND FOOTPATH ROUTE The Council have worked with Natural England, Rights of Way officers, local landowners and Colchester Councillor Robert Davidson to join up the "missing link" from our "Round the Island footpath". Cllr Davidson has allowed a permissive route to cross his land to enable walkers to get from the Strood to Footpath FP7 just east of Maydays Farm. New signs have been erected together with a bridge joining the designated path to the top of the seawall. |
| THE HAZARDS OF OVERHANGING HEDGES Does your garden back on to a public footpath? Do you keep your hedges trimmed and not let them hang over the footpath? Spiky briars can damage the skin and more particularly, the eyes. Mud on the edge of paths can prove very slippery. Please keep your hedges cut back from public footpaths - thank you. If you are unable to do this yourself - please contact the Council Offices in Melrose Road for help. |
West Mersea Colchester Essex, CO5 8JD Telephone and Fax 01206 382128 E-mail: westmerseatc@aol.com Back to top of page |