This section of the website contains village and club news as well as news from the Parish Council and Borough Councillors. If you have news to contribute please contact the parish clerk.
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall meeting room on Tuesday 9th July 2024 at 7.30pm
Present: Roger Pittock, Clare Lauwerys, Jinny Gale (chair), Netty Knill Jones, Liz Davidson, Rober Davidson, City Cllr Andrew Ellis
Apologies for absence: Catherine Sprott, Phil Gladwin, City Cllr Martin Parsons, County and City Cllr Kevin Bentley
The minutes of June 2024 meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman
City Councillor Report: Enforcement matters are being addressed. Locality and S106 funds are available for suitable projects. Matters from the public comments below will be looked into.
Public-Have Your Say: A Salcott resident has complained about the buses that travel past Salcott crossroads and into Colchester being cancelled and with no warning as this resident does not have internet access. A parish councillor has offered to help with notification from the internet when possible.
There had also been a complaint about very smelly and smoky bonfires. Therefore, we request that residents who have bonfires show consideration to their neighbours.
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough on Tuesday 11th June 2024 at 7.30pm
Present: Phil Gladwin, Clare Lauwerys, Liz Davidson (chair), Catherine Sprott, Netty Knill Jones, Roger Pittock, City Cllr Martin Parsons, County and City Cllr Kevin Bentley
Apologies for absence: Jinny Gale, Robert Davidson, City Cllr Andrew Ellis
The minutes of May 2024 meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman
City Councillor Report: the clear refuse bags will be delivered to all households in July. Owing to the forthcoming general election other matters have taken a side step.
County Cllr Report: Pot holes and other road repairs are gradually getting done but the weather is not helping. Various funds are up for grabs for suitable projects.
Speed improvement measures are in the pipeline but take time to be implemented with certain legalities to be considered.
Public-Have Your Say: None
Declarations of Interest: None
Playgrounds and Playing Fields are in good order. The Community Group contract paperwork is being dealt with and they will resume work when they have their supervisory staffing levels back to normal.
Website – next month for an update owing to absence
Colchester City Council Local Plan – the visit from the Local Plan team, which including a drive-round our villages, was considered to be beneficial as we were able to point out various issues, on-going enforcement matters and other points of interest, such as our narrow roads, lack of facilities etc that the officers would not necessarily otherwise know about in any detail.
Communications/Facebook – next month
New Financial Regulations – were discuss and changes appropriate to our requirements were agreed. The document is now ready for the website. Thanks to Clare for her work on this.
Himalayan Balsam on Salcott Creek – thanks were expressed to the local volunteers who carried out some strimming. Clearance of this invasive weed is the responsibility of the Environmental Agency who have assured up that the contract works to pull this all up will take place shortly. Thanks were expressed to a Salcott resident for her persistence in following this up with EA. Thanks were also expressed to the good natured local who carried out strimming at the Salcott crossroads. This is the responsibility of ECC but it is growing very quickly this year owing to the weather making visibility very difficult but hopefully will be addressed in due course by ECC.
Actions and Reminder List – updated
Planning Decisions:
240843
Agricultural Determination Proposal: To determine if prior approval is required for erection of a building for agricultural or forestry use at Peldon Hall Farm, Church Road, Peldon- Prior Approval Required (Approved)
232177
Proposal: The project aims to enhance a 15-hectare area of lowland wet at Old Hall Marches – Approve conditional
232879 (& LB 232880)
Proposal: Solar panels and air source heat pump at Green Farm, Church View, The Street, Salcott – Approve conditional
Finances: Schedule for May 2024 payments:
R S Pullen – clerk’s salary – June
£600.00
Tree & Lawn Company Ltd. – Salcott grass cuts
£354.00
RCCE – Housing Survey
£461.57
The Wigborough Community Group – church hire
£35.00
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 9th July 2024 at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall meeting room. There will be no meeting in August. September meeting will be at Salcott Village Hall on Tuesday 10th.
The Parish Council would like to request that property owners cut back their roadside hedges. Visibility is poor in many places at present causing road safety issues.
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Salcott Village Hall on Tuesday 14th May 2024 at 7.30pm
Present: Roger Pittock, Liz Davidson, Clare Lauwerys, Jinny Gale (chair), Phil Gladwin, Catherine Sprott, Netty Knill Jones
Apologies for absence: Robert Davidson, Martin Parsons
The Annual Parish Assembly
Everyone was welcomed to the meeting and no-one spoke at this time
Annual Council Meeting (AGM)
Present: as above and County Cllr Kevin Bentley
Election of Officers: It was proposed, seconded and all agreed for Jinny to continue as chairman for this next year, it was proposed, seconded and all agreed for Liz to continue as vice-chairman for this next year, it was proposed, seconded and all agreed for the clerk to continue as Responsible Financial Officer for this next year. Declaration of Acceptance of Office forms were duly completed and signed.
Parish Council’s Annual Report: was circulated before the meeting and will be displayed on the usual communication platforms.
Financial Report: it was noted that we had normal spending for the year with no unexpected outgoings, any substantial projects were paid for with grant money and/or Locality Budget money leaving us with a comfortable amount in the bank.
Continued membership to EALC, NALC, CALC, SLCC, RCCE was agreed by all
Ordinary Council Meeting
The minutes of the April 2024 meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman
County and Borough Councillor Report: Cllr Bentley was congratulated for winning the latest election and he expressed pleasure in dealing with us as a parish council.
Locality Budgets are open for applications again as are ECC CIF Grants.
The winter has been the wettest for years hence the very poor condition of some of the roads but gradually these are being dealt with and new teams will be designated to one area for a week to address all the defects. Reporting potholes etc. to the parish council or on the ECC Highways website is encouraged so that areas in need of urgent repairs can be identified more quickly.
Certain local problems were brought to Kevin’s attention which he will try to address.
The data gathered from the speed strips installed at Great Wigborough to identify the need for the 30mph limit to be extended qualified for this to take place and extra buffers of a 40mph limit both ends will be included in the project. The 40mph limit from The Rose to The Strood has also been applied for.
Public-Have Your Say: None
Declarations of Interest: None
Playgrounds and Playing Fields – both playgrounds and fields are in good order. The Community Group Documents were discussed and agreed by all to be standard wording for this type of contract and contact details will be confirmed with them and signed accordingly. It is hoped that the group will resume work for us when their organising staff levels permit.
Audit Return and Associated Compliances AGAR Part 2 2023/24: the finance summary and internal audit were noted and accepted, the Certificate of Exemption, Annual Governance Statement and Accounting Statement were agreed by all and signed by the chairman and Clerk/RFO.
Affordable Housing Survey – no further conclusions other than that workers in the villages may be included, if possible, next time we carry out a survey.
Website – new style website is nearly finished.
Speed Assessment Strips – as above in Councillor Report, excellent result.
Communications/Facebook – further progress made.
Request from Salcott Church – donation for churchyard upkeep – after much discussion, bearing in mind thatwe have not budgeted for this and we also have to consider that there are 4 churches in our villages therefore making this very costly, it was agreed by all that, with regret, we will not donate to the upkeep of the churchyards.
Peldon & Wigboroughs Community Hall Board of Trustees – it was agreed by all that Liz and Phil remain as the parish council representatives.
Actions and Reminder List – updated, to note that the parish council is meeting with CCC Local Plan Team to discuss the particular features of our villages.
Planning Applications:
240843
Agricultural Determination Proposal: To determine if prior approval is required for erection of a building for agricultural or forestry use at Peldon Hall Farm
Finances: Schedule for May 2024 payments:
R S Pullen – clerk’s salary – May
£600.00
Tree & Lawn Company Ltd. – Salcott grass cuts
£252.00
Peldon & Wigs Community Hall – meeting room hire
£22.00
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 11th June 2024 at 7.30pm, at St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough
9th July 2024 meeting will be at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall meeting room. There will be no meeting held in August
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
A meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council will be held at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall meeting room on Tuesday 9th April 2024 at 7.30pm to which the Councillors are summoned to attend.
Apologies for absence: To confirm minutes of the March 2024 meeting: County and City Councillor Reports: Public-Have Your Say: Declarations of Interest:
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough on Tuesday 12th March 2024 at 7.30pm
Present: John Walker, Roger Pittock, Phil Gladwin, Clare Lauwerys, Jinny Gale (chair), Catherine Sprott, Netty Knill Jones, Liz Davidson, Robert Davidson, Kevin Bentley
Apologies for absence: None
The minutes of the February 2024 meeting were confirmedand agreed by all and signed by the chairman
County Councillor Report: Flooding is a major issue at present with the constant rainfall and ditches are being cleared when land is owned by ECC. Other land owners are reminded of their responsibilities to clear all their roadside ditches.
The new county budget will provide dedicated gangs to address all issues in a certain area for a week. Extra funding will be provided for this from next month.
Ride London will be going through Essex again and so many of the pot holes will be filled before the event.
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
A meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council will be held at St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough on Tuesday 12th March 2024 at 7.30pm to which the Councillors are summoned to attend.
Apologies for absence: To confirm minutes of the February 2024 meeting: County and City Councillor Reports: Public-Have Your Say: Declarations of Interest:
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
A meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council will be held at St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough on Tuesday 12th December 2023 at 7.30pm to which the Councillors are summoned to attend.
Apologies for absence: To confirm minutes of the November 2023 meeting: County and City Councillor Reports: Public-Have Your Say: Declarations of Interest:
Items for Discussion
1. Playgrounds and Playing Fields
Reports on both play areas and fields and hedges
Decision required: Any matters that need attention?
2. Moss Hay Footpath
Concerns for side growth and ground surface to discuss
3. Affordable Housing Survey
To note, documentation will be distributed in January
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
A meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council will be held at Salcott Village Hall on Tuesday 14th November 2023 at 7.30pm to which the Councillors are summoned to attend.
Apologies for absence: To confirm minutes of the October 2023 meeting: County and City Councillor Reports: Public-Have Your Say: Declarations of Interest:
Items for Discussion
1. Playgrounds and Playing Fields
Reports on both play areas and fields and hedges
Annual Inspection Report and subsequent items to be addressed
Discuss ideas for Locality spend
Decision required: Any matters that need immediate attention?
2. Affordable Housing Survey – timetable of events
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall, meeting room on Tuesday 10th October 2023 at 7.30pm
Present: Roger Pittock, Phil Gladwin, Jinny Gale (chair), John Walker, Netty Knill Jones, Catherine Sprott, Liz Davidson, Robert Davidson
CCs: Andrew Ellis, Carl Powling
Apologies for absence: Clare Lauwerys, Kevin Bentley
The minutes of the September 2023 meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman
City Councillor Reports: S106 monies is available for suitable projects.
Garden Waste – the freeservice is ending on 18th December and residents who wish to continue having collections need to join a new scheme which involves paying £35 per bin, up to a maximum of four bins per household, as a once off start-up fee and thereafter £55 per year for the service to continue. The service will be free for the first three months after joining and the joining fee (but not the annual service fee) will be waived for those receiving Local Council tax Support at the time of applying to join. Go to CCC website colchester.gov.uk for more details.
Public-Have Your Say: Overgrown vegetation at Salcott crossroads was mentioned and advised that it is hoped CCC will be verge cutting in due course as per normal and or local farmers may assist when not so busy with ploughing etc.
Declarations of Interest: None
Playgrounds and Playing Fields are in good order and small jobs have and will be attended to.
Affordable Housing Survey – having agreed their text we will get this moving forward with RCCE with deadlines to be decided.
St Nicholas Church – the proposals were agreed by all but we will add that access to the graveyard by all family and friends of those buried there should be included.
CCC Planning Session- report following attendance was given plus slides from CCC. The PC will look into adopting the independent planning literature supplied by Planning Jungle Ltd (www.planningjungle.com) as a simpler way of keeping abreast of planning changes.
Actions and Reminder List – updated, Mill Lane bus shelter is in the hands of our insurers for replacement. A footpath in Peldon has been dealt with thanks to an adjacent land owner and will also be attended to by ECC in due course. We continue to be indebted to Eric Coan for maintaining the grass on the Peldon triangle, in what has been a difficult year for farmers weather wise.
Planning Applications:
232134
Proposal: Garage conversion at Chubbins, Church Road, Peldon
232177
Proposal: Enhancement of area at field at Old Hall Marshes, RSPB
Enforcement Appeal 098467
against decision re vehicle access breach at The Lilacs, Wigborough Road, Peldon
232310
Proposal: Single storey outbuilding at Hillside Farm, Colchester Road, Great Wigborough
232326
Proposal: Demolition of existing structure and the erection of an ancillary annexe at Lovedowns Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott
Planning Decisions:
Appeal Ref: APP/A1530/W /22/3309924
at Nightingale Farm, School Lane, Great Wigborough – Dismissed
231470
Proposal: Additional storey to existing bungalow at rear of property at North View, The Street, Salcott – Approve conditional
321889
Proposal: Demolition of agricultural building and erection of replacement at Little Doves Day Nursery, Lower Road, Peldon – Approve conditional
231193
Proposal: Erection of a replacement purpose built commercial building at Kemps Farm, Mersea Road, Peldon – Approve conditional
231943
Proposal: Erection of 3-bay garage at Lovedowns Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott – Approve conditional
Finances: scheduled October payments:
R S Pullen – clerk’s salary – October
£550.00
Tree & Lawn Co. – Salcott grass cut
£126.00
PKF Littlejohn LLP – audit
£252.00
Tree & Lawn Co. – Salcott grass cut
£126.00
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 14th November 2023 at 7.30pm at Salcott Village Hall
Peldon Great Wigborough Little Wigborough Salcott Virley
Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough on Tuesday 12th September 2023 at 7.30pm.
Present: Robert Davidson, Roger Pittock, Netty Knill Jones, Clare Lauwerys, Liz Davidson, Jinny Gale (chair), Kevin Bentley and 4 members of the public
Apologies for absence: Catherine Sprott, Phil Gladwin, John Walker
The minutes of the July 2023 meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman
County Councillor Report: Essex County Council is reassessing its waste strategy; collections, disposals etc are to be streamlined, information on the matter is on ECC website. Inspections for RAAC in schools and other public buildings have taken place and only one school, two libraries and a car park have had to be closed for the necessary work to take place.
City Councillor Report: Colchester City Council is struggling financially and certain services will need to be cut or reduced. Clear plastic sacks are out for delivery now.
Public-Have Your Say: There was a complaint about the untidiness of the green triangle at Peldon which will be followed up accordingly. Item 1 below was discussed at length.
Declarations of Interest: Robert and Liz Davidson for planning application 231889 and Roger Pittock for 231470.
Salcott Speed Meeting was organised and attended by Salcott and Virley residents. It was established that certain sections of The Street were suffering from speeding vehicles and the lack of pavements, narrow sections and parked cars made it very difficult to walk along there safely. Suggestions from the parish council were sought and ideas to help the situation were discussed and a suggestion of setting up a meeting in the village hall with a County or City Councillor to establish what can or cannot be achieved would be a good start. Also, the Turf Farm will be consulted for their assistance as garden businesses picking up turf in the mornings are thought to be one of the problems.
Playgrounds and Playing Fields are in good order, missing caps on a play item were fitted and rust on a pedal of the rower will be attended to.Thanks were expressed to Rob for strimming round the Peldon playground area.
RCCE Affordable Housing Survey, accompanying letter and publication article; we agreed to proceed with finalising the details of the various pieces of text and arranging dates with RCCE.
Actions and Reminder List – updated and to note Little Wigborough village sign is being repainted having been dried out and repaired; following a meeting with ECC Highways a survey on speeding through Great Wigborough will be carried out which will determine if lengthening the 30 mph limit section is warranted; the weeds on the banks of Salcott creek have been reported to the Environmental Agency and they are due to carry out clearance work in the creek in October; the Moss Hay footpath fence will be repaired by Colchester Homes in due course.
Planning Applications:
231582
Proposal: Demolition of existing conservatory and reception of a rear single storey link extension at Glebelands, The Street, Salcott
231627
Proposal: Two storey outbuilding at Hillside Cottage, Colchester Road, Great Wigborough
231889
Proposal: Demolition of agricultural building for Class E(f) Day Nursery at Little Doves Day Nursery, Lower Road, Peldon
231470
Proposal: Additional storey to existing bungalow at rear of property at North View, The Street, Salcott
231943
Proposal: Erection of 3-bay garage at Lovedowns, Barnhall Road, Salcott
232037
Proposal: New access to field at Land south of Barnahll Road, Salcott
232105
Proposal: Retrospective change of use of farmyard for sales of fencing and timber supplies at Fourways Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott.
231857
Proposal: To build an office at the bottom of the garden to accommodate home working at Mill Cottage, The Street, Salcott
Planning Decisions:
231554
Proposal: Application for prior Approval – Required- Approved at Sampsons Farm, Sampsons lane, Peldon
230286 (&LB 230552)
Proposal: Conversion of outbuilding to accommodate vehicle at Green Farm, Church View, The Street, Salcott – Approved conditional
231464
Proposal: Application for Lawful Development Certificate for Existing Use at Paynes Farm House, Colchester Road, Virley – Approved
231657
Proposal: Prior Approval Required (Approved) for conversion of agricultural building to flexible use at Kemps Farm, Mersea Road, Peldon
Finances: Paid in August 2023 payments:
R S Pullen – clerk’s salary – August
£550.00
Fresh Air Fitness – adult gym bike
£908.98
CALC – subs
£35.00
Tree & Lawn Co. – Salcott grass cuts
£252.00
Scheduled September 2023 payments:
R S Pullen – clerk’s salary – September
£550.00
Kevin Harris – Salcott crossroads bus shelter
£402.00
Tree & Lawn Co. – Salcott grass cut and collect
£192.00
Sutcliffe Play – nut covers
£21.84
The Wigborough Community Group – church hire
£35.00
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 10th October 2023 at 7.30pm at Peldon and Wigboroughs Community Hall, meeting room
