Radiotherapy – Have Your Say

We have been asked to circulate the following:

Proposed expansion of services to provide radiotherapy in Essex

I am writing on behalf of the primary care trusts in the Essex Cancer Network to invite feedback on current proposals to expand radiotherapy in Essex. The attached discussion document explains the proposals and a feedback form is also attached for your written views. You can submit your views online, if you prefer, by using the following link:

www.midessex.nhs.uk/radiotherapydiscussiondocument

Within the document attached, you will find further details on how to have your say including dates and venues of drop-in sessions and discussion workshops being held in Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea. Contact details are included should you wish to arrange a separate meeting for your group or organisation.

The PCTs wish to consider the proposals for expansion with full knowledge of the views of local people. We have distributed the discussion document and feedback form to a wide range of people. Please could you help us to reach as many people as possible by distributing to others in your organisation and to anyone who would be interested in taking part in this discussion.

We look forward to listening to your views.

Yours sincerely 
Sheila Bremner 
Chief Executive, north Essex PCT cluster and Chair of the Essex Cancer Network 
On behalf of NHS Mid Essex, NHS North East Essex, NHS South East Essex and NHS South West Essex

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Reservoir News Update

res-update-mar11The Parish Council has been awarded a grant from the project’s Community Fund to help improve the Parish Council website and to incorporate up-to-the-minute Reservoir Development news within it, so keep checking on www.winstred100.org for more updates as we invest this money.  To find out more about how the project is progressing and how wildlife is being affected, you can download the project’s quarterly newsletter here or read the following précis.

Following a period of bad weather with exceptional snow and rain, the predicetd finish date for the project has been put back a couple of months since some ‘critical path’ tasks were unable to be completed.  Nevertheless, work has now resumed all over the site including the new section of the B1026 and ballast extraction at Rye Farm pit together with clay extraction at Blind Knights borrow pit.  More material is being carted to the main dam, by the Layer/Abberton Road, as this becomes wider and taller.

The temporary off-take pumps will soon be working to pump the water to the treatment works, this will enable the old pump building to be altered so that various vital bits are not underwater when the level goes up.  The causeway on the B1026 will soon have a large hole in it (hopefully not in the lane that the traffic is using) so that the culvert under the road can be strengthened. Soon some of the concrete facing of this causeway will be removed allowing the whole thing to be widened.

The pipeline that will help supply the enlarged reservoir is being put in place very soon.  They are starting at the Layer Church and Wormingford ends simultaneously and, using the wonders of modern mapping, will meet by the A12.

This winter there have been more birds than expected using the reservoir, including a rare Water Rail (RSPB estimate less than 1,400 breeding pairs in the UK).  Others seen include Bewick’s swans, smew, goosander , gadwall, goldeneye, pochard, black-tailed godwit, curlew, lapwing, redshank, snipe, a turnstone, a bearded tit and bittern.

 

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Peldon Metal Thefts

Partially stolen road sign
Read more by clicking link on left
There has been an increase in metal thefts in the area recently including a number of recorded incidents in the Peldon area. Local police encourage everyone to take appropriate security measures.  They would also be grateful if any sightings of suspicious persons and vehicles (index numbers if possible) can be passed to the local neighbourhood policing team.

A little web research quickly shows that metal thieves are not only targetting obvious sources such as roof leading and copper lightning rods, but also less obvious sources such as telephone cables, road signs and bus shelters.  The picture shows a partially stolen road sign near Writtle – the report it comes from is worth a read.

Please call the Mersea police mobile 07966 197 265 or 0300 333 4444 non emergency with any information or concerns.

PCSO 70220 ADAM RYDER

WEST MERSEA NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING TEAM.

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Work together to combat flytipping

Fly-tipping in a stream
Fly-tipping by road or water-side is unsightly and harmful to wildlife
Colchester Borough Council and Essex Police need residents’ help to crack down on fly-tipping in the local area.

Rural areas around Colchester have suffered significant amounts of fly-tipped refuse and waste, which is dumped illegally and is spoiling the environment.

Although fly-tipping in Colchester has declined in the past year, outlying areas have remained hotspots for such activity, and is something that both the Police and the Council are working hard to tackle and enforce.

Residents are encouraged to be vigilant and inform the Council of any fly-tipping in their area, or to report any suspicion of fly-tipping activity.

We are now also asking for members of the public to take details of any vehicles, particularly tipper and flatbed lorries, carrying waste and to report them immediately to the council on the number below,  please include the type of waste being carried, time, day, date, registration and ideally any person(s) seen at the time.

Although the act of fly-tipping may not be witnessed, the Council is still able to investigate any reports of vehicles carrying waste, ascertaining if the owners have the correct and legal paperwork in place to do this.

Any person identified carrying waste illegally may be issued with a £300 fixed penalty notice or prosecuted which carries a maximum fine on conviction of £5000.

Dumping waste where it is not allowed, or allowing others to do so, is a criminal offence. You could face a very large fine or even be sent to prison if you fly-tip waste on land that does not have a license to receive it. It not only drains resources provided by the council in order to clean it up but has been responsible for several near misses with vehicles nearly ending up in ditches on the dark back roads trying to avoid it.

If you are hiring someone to dispose of waste on your behalf, check that the company or person you give waste to have a license to carry it – if the waste is dumped illegally, you could still be liable for prosecution. Protect your environment and help us to take action.

From Shane Taylor Colchester Borough Council Street Services, “Colchester Borough Council will not tolerate this eyesore. I strongly encourage residents to find out how to dispose of your waste correctly, as well as help us take action on fly-tippers by being vigilant and reporting any incidences of fly-tipping in your community.”

Local Police Officers will be looking for potential carriers and suspicions of fly-tipping activity, but it is hoped that through residents’ reports and noted activity, the Council and the Police can develop an intelligence system to spot potential patterns in fly-tipping activity in the Borough.

To report any incidences of fly-tipping in your community, contact (01206) 282700 or email [email protected].

To contact Pc Mel Wilson – 07966 197 404

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PC Minutes 8th March 2011

WINSTRED HUNDRED PARISH COUNCIL

Peldon   Great Wigborough   Little Wigborough   Salcott   Virley

Draft minutes of the meeting of Winstred Hundred Parish Council held at Peldon Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8th March 2011.

Present: Les Lapwood, Phil Gladwin, Jinny Gale, Jane Banks, Charles Dymond, Nicky Ellis, Lynne Simmons, John Walker, Nettie Knill Jones, Andrew Ellis, Mel Wilson (Police), Jim Leask (CBC), and 2 members of the public

Apologies for absence: Kevin Bentley

Welcome: Mel Wilson and Jim Leask were welcomed to the meeting by the chairman

Minutes of the last meeting were agreed by all and signed by the chairman

Police: Mel reported of 3 thefts in Peldon and stressed the need to secure homes particularly the back door as often this is not as secure as the front door and therefore used more often by burglars.

Fly tipping is a huge problem at the moment and we are all encouraged to keep an eye out for vehicles that may be carrying builders’ rubble or other waste matter and if possible safely remember and take down the registration number, time of day and date to report to Shane Taylor at CBC on 01206 282700 who will check out if they have an appropriate licence for carrying this kind of waste material.

Speed checks continue to be regularly carried out in our villages.

Borough Councillors had requested a lower reduction in the parish grant and to be spread over 3 years but to no avail.  Pot holes are now being mended quickly when reported.  A certain retrospective planning application has been agreed even though it differed from an original application because CBC would not feel that they would win an appeal.

Public-Have Your Say: Potholes in St Ives Road were requested for attention.

Stones outside a property were mentioned again but it was explained that many people do this and although strictly speaking it is usually outside their property it does help to keep verges from being spoilt from passing vehicles.

Declarations of Interest: None

  1. Connecting Colchester – Presentation from Jim Leask, CBC Senior Enterprise Officer was informative and enjoyable and many questions were put to him.  It is hoped to have everyone’s broadband speed to a reasonable level of 40-50 mega bites by 2013.  Big internet providing companies such as BT and Virgin Media have been approached and encouraged to invest in this project to enable all rural areas to be reached, although establishing a need in areas is important. Further developments will take place in the next couple of months.
  2. The Way We Work Responsibility Share prepared paper was discussed briefly and will be considered at length for more opinions and ideas in the next couple of weeks.  The main object of this is to allocate particular responsibilities or tasks of the council’s work to one or in some cases two councillors in order to spread the workload that at present often falls to the same people for everything. For example, who attends certain meetings and have a substitute is one of these areas and Les will go with Phil to the next Reservoir Liaison Meeting.  Les and Charles will possibly oversee both of the play areas maintenance work and a budget will be a main and important topic for someone.
  3. Emergency Planning Meeting was attended by several parish councillors.  Future meetings will be in the form of role playing with regard to actual possible emergency occurrences and interacting with other parish councils.
  4. CALC meeting was attended and other parish councils and clerks will be consulted to establish whether they have the same view of these meetings as we have.
  5. Great Wigborough telephone box disconnection is being dealt with by the prospective buyer. BT is proving hard to deal with and they are the ones that have to sanction the disconnection.
  6. Abberton Reservoir meeting and/or Community Fund – the meeting is next week and they will be voting on all applications for the fund.
  7. Salcott crossroads bus shelter alterations – we are waiting for delivery of the timber which is being provided by the manufacturer.
  8. Little Wigborough salt box safe return – we thank Christine for spotting it and Rob and Andrew for returning it.
  9. Planning Process – our agreed process needs to be tidied up.  Training and a visit from a CBC Planning Officer will be followed up.
  10. Actions and Reminders List – was updated.

Planning:

110232 Proposal: Reinstatement of previous solid floor construction across ground floor at Moor Farm, Colchester Road, Peldon

102560 Proposal: Retrospective application for amendments to agricultural building and loose material covering farm track at Beckton House Farm, Barnhall Road, Salcott

110220 Proposal: 2 storey side and part rear extension at Wayside Cottage, Colchester Road, Virley

110288 Proposal: Installation of photo voltaic system on farm building at Virley Hall Farm, Mill Lane, Virley

110105 Proposal: Garage extension at Hall Barn, Peldon Road, Peldon

Notice of Planning Decisions:

102623 Proposal: Variation of Condition 1 granted under permission 072151. To permit the use for sale and packaging tape, bubble wrap and stock boxes and the manufacture of bespoke cardboard boxes. The building to be occupied by 24/7 Boxes and Packaging at Hosplant Ltd Building 4, St Ives Farm, Peldon – Permission Granted

102366 Proposal: Double storey side extension and front porch (resubmission of application 091543) at 2 Fourreleet Cottages, Whitehouse Hill, Salcott – Permission Granted

102628 Proposal: Replacement dwelling house ( resubmission of planning application 101612) at The Grove, Maldon Road, Great Wigborough – Permission Granted

Finances:

101595 David J Kingabywebsite maintenance and support                               £300.00

101596 R S Pullen – clerk’s fee for March                                                         £353.53

The next meeting will be held at Salcott Village Hall on Tues 12th April 2011 at 7.30pm

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NEW 2011/12 Recycling Calendar out now

As in previous years Colchester residents are now receiving a copy of the new 2011/12 recycling calendar in the post with their Council Tax bill.  This year deliveries will be made between 9 and 18 March.  The recycling calendar applies from April 2011 onwards unless you use communal recycling and rubbish bins.  Please look out for your calendar and help Colchester recycle even more this year. The Calendar includes information on:

  • what you can recycle in blue and green weeks
  • when and how to put your recycling out for collection
  • the enhanced garden waste collection of up to 8 sacks from 1 November 2011 

Visit www.colchester.gov.uk/recycling for information and online services to help you reduce, reuse and recycle your rubbish, home compost and much more.   Alternatively email [email protected] or phone 01206 282700.  The Recycling Calendar can be viewed online where you can print replacement copies.  It is also available at a range of outlets across the borough including the Customer Service Centre on Colchester High Street.  You can also go online to find information on when rolls of recycling and rubbish bags will be delivered to households (except to flats with communal bins), and find where to get more recycling boxes, bags and sacks.

For collection news, handy tips and local events register online for the Recycling and Waste E-Newsletter and ‘like‘ Recycle for Colchester on facebook

Thank you for recycling your rubbish!

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PAWS – March Wildlife Report

barry kaufmann-wright 38 members and 10 visitors attended our meeting in February when we welcomed back Barry Kaufmann-Wright to talk to us about his passion for Wildlife Photography. Barry showed us a small selection of his 4000+ slides taken over 35 years.  Barry’s love of wildlife goes back to his late teens when he worked with Gerald Durrell at Jersey Zoo. Over the years he has worked in the Police Force, his last role as a Wildlife Crime Officer and now currently works for Natural England and DEFRA.  He had wonderful slides of various birds including robins, wrens, dunnocks, kestrels, owls and eagles and wildlife from foxes, badgers, red squirrels, polecats to a unique white red deer (the only one in the U.K.)   He also showed us slides of glorious bluebells, a variety of orchids and butterflies. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I’m sure he will be invited back another time so we can hear one of his other interesting talks. 

Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on April 26th when Mr. Brian Curtois is going to talk to us about his “30 years with the BBC”.  Membership again is full but visitors are very welcome at a cost of £3.50.

If you would like any further information about P.A.W.S. please ring any of us on any of the following numbers. Alice 01206 735510, Jane 01206 735004, Julia 01206 735053 or Sue 01206 735212.

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Peldon Village Hall Update

pvh-new-designsThe Peldon Village Hall Management Committee have recently been awarded a further £15,000 of grant funding towards the new Village Hall project.  To find out more about the hall, the renewal project and to see the designs of the proposed new building (thumbnails on right) check out their webpage on this site.  Also remember to keep your eyes open for fund-raising events listed on our home page event calendar.

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Affordable Housing Review

w100-property-survey

The Housing Needs Survey report published after surveys and interviews in September 2010 is now available to read by clicking the link above. This report was prepared by the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) following several discussions with Winstred Hundred Parish Council and surveys in each of the three communities within the Parish.  Parish Councillors have no access to the information contained on individual survey questionnaires.

A closed workshop will take place towards the end of March 2011 to give Councillors an opportunity to explore together the mass of data contained in the report and to decide whether they feel the recommendations made by RCCE are valid conclusions based on that data.

Unless the workshop throws up unforeseen problems the subject of Affordable Housing will be on the Agenda for the Parish Council meeting to be held at 19:30 on 12th April 2011 in Salcott Village Hall.   Following our usual practice there will be an opportunity then for members of the public to ask questions and comment.  The Council will then decide whether to support in principle the recommendations of the report.

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Police Update – January 2011

sx-pol-newsBirch and Layer

Birch and Layer is part of the Essex Police Colchester district and covers the Parishs of Birch, Layer Breton, Heckfordbridge, Hardys Green, Smythes Green, Layer De La Haye, Messing, Salcott and The Wigboroughs.

Crime recorded for the Winstree area has seen roughly a 13% decrease compared to this time last year.

Winstree is still a very safe place to live and PC Mel Wislson is sure it will continue to drop.

The main crime for the rural areas continues to be Burglary to out buildings and sheds, PC Mel Wilson would like to remind people to look at their security at home particularly to these areas as things such as bikes, power tools etc are expensive to replace.  If you make it hard for the criminals to access your shed they are more likely to move on than bother with yours, these crimes normally only take minutes or seconds to commit.

PC Mel Wilson would also like to remind people that if they see a person or vehicle acting suspiciously to take as much detail as possible such as index plates, colour, description of people and direction of travel and call police immediately. We would rather come out to a false alarm than not be called at all.

OIL THEFT

With the present climate of rising fuel charges and spate of cold weather we have seen an increase in the amount of recorded thefts of oil from properties in the Colchester area particularly the rural villages. Please review your security regarding this, if advice is needed please do not hesitate to contact PC Mel Wilson.

If you have any information which is not an emergency please contact PC Mel Wilson on 07966 197404.

Neighbourhood Action Panel

  • 4th May 2011 19:00 – 20:00
  • The Old Crown Public House, Lodge Road, Messing, Colchester

sx-watchEssex Watch Administrators communicate crime information between watch schemes, the Neighbourhood Policing Teams, the extended policing family and volunteer groups.

If you have information about a crime please contact your Neighbourhood Policing Teams on one of the relevant numbers above or contact Barbara Knott, Essex Watch Administrator , Essex Police, Eastern Division / Colchester , 0300 3334444 ext 10619, mobile 07814672340, [email protected].

For further information www.essex.police.uk/essexwatch

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