WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Salcott Village Hall on Tuesday 11th March 2025 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs Catherine Sprott, Netty Knill Jones, Roger Pittock, Jinny Gale (chair), Clare Lauwerys, Phil Gladwin, Liz Davidson, Robert Davidson, City Cllr Andrew Ellis, County Cllr Kevin Bentley, 2 vacancy applicants and 2 members of the public.
Apologies for absence: City Cllr Martin Parsons
The minutes of February 2025 meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman.
City Councillor Report: The Colchester Local Plan members will be meeting soon to discuss a delay on signing off the Plan, caused by an inadequate infrastructure audit. As a result, the consultation period due about now will be delayed, perhaps to as late as November. The Parish Council is exploring options to make earlier comments. Residents will be kept informed on progress.
Council tax is due to increase just short of 3%.
County Councillor Report: County and Government levels have been discussing and negotiating at length the Devolution and Local Government reorganisation which will provide new unitary councils with an elected Mayor for each who would have greater access directly to Government. It is hoped to streamline local governments and this would, in turn, enable parish councils to carry out small local jobs a lot sooner.
Public-Have Your Say: Residents came to express their concern with regard to the dangers at Salcott crossroads, the junction with Barnhall Road and Colchester Road. Accidents happen frequently at this black spot and the parish council has, for many years, requested that something should be done about it. We have been told that the accidents are not serious enough to fit the criteria for a reduced speed limit or any other traffic calming measure. A list of all accidents, particularly when the police have attended, will be collated in a bid to strengthen our resolve to get some action on this.
Declarations of Interest: Phil for Item 5
- Playgrounds and Playing Fields – both playgrounds and fields are in good order, repair work at Moss Hay is scheduled to take place this week. Rubber chips for Salcott will be ordered in May. Grass cutting will take place soon when no frosts are in the forecast.
- CCC Draft Local Plan – as above
- LGR/Devolution – as above
- Buses – the parish council has written to Hedingham’s and councillors about the poor services we are getting. A list of days and times when buses do not perform as they should will be collected to strengthen the case to get things improved. See below.
- Parish Councillor Vacancy (Peldon Ward) – having received two applications and with both candidates in attendance interviews were carried out and a decision was made.
- Tree Project – has now progressed with suitable trees ordered and delivery will take place soon.
- Website – on-going project- no update
- Actions and Reminder List – updated
Planning Applications and Decisions:
| 250309 | Proposal: Two single storey side extension at Willow Cottage, Colchester Road, Virley |
| 250017 | Decision Proposal: Retrospective replacement windows to front and side elevation at Rowses Farm, Maldon Road, Great Wigborough – Approve conditional |
Schedule of payments for March 2025
| R S Pullen – clerk’s salary | £702.00 |
| R S Pullen – Wel Medical – defib pads | £143.88 |
| R S Pullen – expenses, paper, ink, repair bits, etc. | £219.87 |
| R Davidson & Son – Moss Hay grass cuts | £720.00 |
| R J Playle – hedge cutting | £72.00 |
| Original Landscape Design – trees | £188.82 |
| RCCE subscription | £61.80 |
| Peldon and Wigs Community Hall – hire | £22.00 |
