News • Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council

New Council Committee Members

John Hudson — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:05:06 +0000

DRAFT - New Parish Committees 9 May 2012

Parish Election Results

John Hudson — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:54:39 +0000

Stansted South

Stansted North

Parish Council Elections...

Tudor Owen — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:43:07 +0000

...will be held on May 3rd. But you knew that! Polling cards have been delivered to all those eligible to vote.

There are FOUR polling stations now. Six councillors for the north ward and nine for the south are to be elected.

Nominations are below...

Community Speedwatch...

Tudor Owen — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:04:31 +0000

As many of you may have seen, our Community Speed Watch volunteers have been active around the village on several occasions.

The photograph shows one group on their first outing towards the end of March. We hope that everyone will regard this as a welcome initiative to help reduce speed in our village.

As many of you may have seen, our Community Speed Watch volunteers have been active around the village on several occasions.
The photograph shows one group on their first outing towards the end of March. We hope that everyone will regard this as a welcome initiative to help reduce speed in our village.

The Windmill...

Tudor Owen — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:32:35 +0000

What has been happening at the mill? Many will have noticed that once again it has ben stuck in one position for some time. In fact, until recently, the cap hasn't moved since before last christmas when the worm stuck fast against the brickwork around the curb.

The last 'fix' had reset the worm fractionaly closer to the mill to give it more purchase and stop it from forcing itself away from the curb. But alas! It was to close and stuck on the brickwork above the top window.

To make things worse the sails were now facing north and so subject to tail winding more often from the prevailing southwesterlies. The resulting extra pressure on the shutters has caused the contol rods to bow.

A fix is in hand for all these problems. With help from Tony Wellings Richard Thomas and William Frogley the cap was manualy turned around 180 degrees where the shutters and rods will be more easily accessible.

All being well it should be turning again by the spring

What has been happening at the mill?
Many will have noticed that once again it has been stuck in one position for some time. In fact, until recently, the cap hadn't moved since before last christmas when the worm stuck fast against the brickwork around the curb. The last 'fix' had reset the worm fractionaly closer to the mill to give it more purchase and stop it from forcing itself away from the curb. But alas! It was too close and stuck on the brickwork above the top window.

To make things worse the sails were now facing north and so subject to tail winding more often from the prevailing south-westerlies. The resulting extra pressure on the shutters has caused the contol rods to bow. A fix is in hand for all these problems. With help from Tony Wellings, Richard Thomas and William Frogley the cap was manualy turned around 180 degrees where the shutters and rods will be more easily accessible.

All being well it should be turning again by the spring.

April update... Sadly all is now not well. One of the legs of the cradle holding the worm has cracked and needs replacing. It will take a little longer to get things moving.

Take a look at the Windmill's facebook page for regular updates.

Community Plan ......

Tudor Owen — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:14:27 +0000

After many months of writing, editing and checking by a group of hard working volunteers, our Community Plan has now been published! A copy will be delivered to each home, shop and office, hopefully before Christmas. It is available to download from this website as a PDF and additional copies can be obtained from the Parish Council offices.
May we take this opportunity to wish all our parishioners a Happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Annual Fireworks....

Tudor Owen — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:45:22 +0000

Yes, it is nearly that time of year again. Please ensure that you have the date of our Bonfire and Firework Night event in your diaries. Last year’s event was very well supported and this year should be even better as we have increased the budget available to spend on the fireworks. The venue, as usual, is Elms Farm on Church Road, but entry is via the roadway under the Gatehouse on Church Road and not through the main farm entrance.

The gates open at 6.30 pm. Entry charge is £4 adults, £2 children (under 5’s go free) or £10 family ticket (two adults and two children). The bonfire will be lit at 7 pm and the firework display will start at 7.30 pm. Whilst we are happy for people to bring their own sparklers along, please do remember that this is a HORSE’S FIELD. Nasty injuries can occur from the metal sticks if dropped on the ground, so please take the sticks home with you or use the bins provided by the refreshment tent to dispose of them.

If you have any clean (no metal) wood to donate for the bonfire, please contact the Clerk as soon as possible.

The Windmill Fete...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:08:28 +0000

... Teddy bears flew, pop guns popped and china smashed on a mostly fine bank holiday Monday as this annual village event was enjoyed by all those who turned out to make it a successful day.

A few spots of rain at lunchtime gave way to a fine afternoon. The Bric-a-brac, bouncy castle, and of course the cakes, were as popular as ever and many enjoyed a Hot Dog or two from the BBQ as they took in the many stalls on Windmill Field. Tours of the renovated windmill were also on offer and many saw the sails turning in the breeze.

Many thanks to all those who attended and to all the helpers and sponsors that made this year's fete a success.

Kerbside Textile Recycling...

Tudor Owen — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:59:08 +0000

... will begin soon.

From the District Council:

"We are pleased to inform you that a trial of kerbside textiles recycling will be commencing across the district shortly. Some of you may have already received recycling bags and an explanatory leaflet. If you haven’t yet received this it should be arriving shortly.

The trial is being run in partnership between Essex Textiles and Uttlesford District Council and will run for 1 year as agreed by the Environment Committee in November last year.

Essex Textiles are offering two services to residents. Those residents living in urban areas will receive a fortnightly collection of textiles on the same day as their recycling collection, and those resident living in more rural areas will receive a “call and collect” service, whereby they can call Essex Textiles if they have any items for recycling and book a collection.

The bags will be collected by Essex Textiles in their own vehicles which will be fully liveried with the Essex Textiles logo.

Any residents who have problems with missed collections, or do not receive bags or a leaflet should contact Essex Textiles on their free phone number: 0800 787 9071

This new service will be an improvement to the waste and recycling services offered to residents and will help the authority to improve on the already excellent recycling and composting rate of 55% which was achieved in 2010/11."

Annual Parish Meeting....

Tudor Owen — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:37:20 +0000

...will take place on wednesday 11th May.

Litter Picked...

Tudor Owen — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:32:35 +0000

... last weekend, the 5th and 6th of March.
As part of Uttlesford District Council's clean-up campaign - they provided all the gear - a group of eager volunteers turned up on Saturday and Sunday last to try and improve the village scene so often blighted by careless litterbugs.

This isn't something that need be restricted to last weekend!

ANOTHER EXHIBITION FOR ELMS FARM...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:33:22 +0000

...On Saturday 26 February, the Gemmill family will unveil the proposals for development on the sensitive site at Elms Farm. The exhibition will be at Crafton Green between 9 am – 4 pm. Please let the Gemmill family and the Council have your views.

UPDATE: The proposals are available to download as a pdf... part A Part B Questionnaire

CLEAN UP THE VILLAGE...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:29:42 +0000

........... litter remains a problem so please give some time if possible on the mornings of 5th & 6th March (10 am each day).

Meet at Crafton Green to clear litter from Lime Kiln Lane, Pennington Lane and Church Road.

...litter remains a problem so please give some time if possible on the mornings of 5th & 6th March (10 am each day).

Meet at Crafton Green to clear litter from Lime Kiln Lane, Pennington Lane and Church Road.

So, it's Lower Street...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:38:16 +0000

... Or is it?
At the public meeting on Monday the PCT outlined their plans for the health centre. Their preferred location is the Castle garage site in Lower street, although they have taken up the option on the land at Forest Hall and will continue with both projects in parallel. The developers will have until the end of the year to show significant progress on plans for the Lower street site or the PCT will proceed at Forest Hall.

Whichever path is taken, Stansted should have a new health centre by the end of 2012.

Your Parish Council Chairman, Geoffrey Sell, writes...

NHS West Essex announced tonight at a public meeting that their preferred site for our much needed health centre is that of Castle Sportscars, Lower Street, Stansted. The existing car sales business would relocate to Parsonage Farm Industrial Estate.

They have made it clear to the developers of the Lower Street site that they expect to see substantial progress made by the end of this year. This would include, for example, submitting a planning application to the District Council. If progress is not made then they would commit resources to develop the Foresthall Park site at Walson Way. It was stressed that time was now short and that real progress had to be made. West Essex Primary Care Trust is due to be abolished in 2013.

The health centre would include the surgery, clinic and an NHS Dentist. Mr Abdul-Ghani, who was in the audience, currently practices at Saffron Walden Community Hospital.

If all goes well with the Lower Street site then work would commence in 2011 with completion by 2013. One concern is the highway implications of development on this site. It is envisaged that traffic movements to the health centre would be up to 400 per day. The developers also want to have a combination of retail and residential space on this site.

NB There will be a public exhibition of the proposals for the re-development of the Castle Lotus site on 27 January. This does include the plans for the new health centre. It will be run by the developers and held at the site, and run from 11am - 8pm.

Update...

14 February 2011 ................ awaiting the submission of a planning application following the exhibition of proposals on

27 January.

14 February 2011 ................ awaiting the submission of a planning application following the exhibition of proposals on 27 January.

Negotiations still on-going.

..... no done deal.

The West Essex Primary Care Trust and the developers are still in negotiations particularly over rental terms. Even assuming agreement and a planning application, there are still significant uncertainties over the pre-letting of the retail space and the issues of access and highways. A quick resolution is needed to ensure that the parish obtains the new health facilities so badly needed.

The Health Centre...

Tudor Owen — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:44:09 +0000

... again!
The PCT will be holding a public meeting to discuss the Health Centre on Monday 18th October, 7pm, at the Mountfitchet Maths and Computing College.

Nearly Gone...

Tudor Owen — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:54:15 +0000

...but not quite.
The rest of the willow will be removed on the contractor's second visit - in case you were wondering - which shouldn't be too distant an event.

The fountain triangle will be renovated and a replacement found for the willow.

Conservation Day at the Brook...

Tudor Owen — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:53:22 +0000

... Last Sunday 12th September saw a bunch of volunteers clean up a section in Water Lane near the Scout Hut.

Councillor Jo Freeman writes...

If you go down to the Brook today

You’re in for a big surprise,

If you go down to the Brook today

It’s a place you may not recognise........

Because gathered there were quite a few

In Water Lane to give you a clue

There for the Conservation Day Clean Up!

Cllr Jo Freeman, Mike Byrne along with fellow scout leaders & scouts worked alongside the BTCV certainly didn’t have time for a picnic on Sunday 12th Sept 10 – the programme of works put in place was to cover much needed pruning & clearing back of shrubbery enough to fill 2 skips. The weather on the day was dry & sunny which made it altogether ideal. Although there is still more to do it is now more attractive & safe to walk.

If you go down to the Brook today
You’re in for a big surprise,
If you go down to the Brook today
It’s a place you may not recognise........
Because gathered there were quite a few
In Water Lane to give you a clue
There for the Conservation Day Clean Up!

Cllr Jo Freeman, Mike Byrne along with fellow scout leaders & scouts working alongside the BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers), certainly didn’t have time for a picnic on Sunday 12th Sept 10 – the programme of works put in place was to cover much needed pruning & clearing back of shrubbery enough to fill 2 skips. The weather on the day was dry & sunny which made it altogether ideal. Although there is still more to do it is now more attractive & safe to walk.

The Willow...

Tudor Owen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:53:46 +0000

...will be felled at the end of next week. Around September 10th. There may be some traffic disruption, but it's hoped to keep this to a minimum.

Last weekend a windy Sunday brought down a branch from the tree which turned out to be rotten to the core, so the demise of this village landmark should be seen as timely and wise. In due course the fountain area will be tidied up and a replacement for the willow sought.

The Health Centre...

Tudor Owen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:53:12 +0000

... the saga continues.

Yes, that's Rochford's; or Foresthall park as it's now known, and it could be the location of the long promised health centre after all. At a recent meeting between the Primary Care Trust and local interested parties chaired by your Parish Council leader Geoffrey Sell, the PCT announced that it had failed to agree terms with the owner of a central site it had been looking at for the last eighteen months.

There will be a meeting of the Parish Council to discuss the location of the health centre on Wednesday 21st July 2010 at 7.30pm.

Geoffrey explains the current situation:

For many residents of Stansted and surrounding villages their health care is met by the

Doctors' practice located in St John’s Road. It has been recognised for many years that

the building is unsuitable for the provision of medical facilities fit for the 21st century as

the property is cramped and does not comply with disability discrimination legislation.

The landlord of the property has also made it clear that he wants the practice to find

alternative accommodation.

The question we now face is not 'do we need comprehensive medical facilities for our

growing population' but where should they be located?

NHS West Essex Primary Care Trust, the body responsible for the delivery of our

medical care, has had the task of finding suitable premises big enough to accommodate

both the clinic currently at Crafton Green and the Doctors' surgery. Bigger premises will

enable the practice to offer facilities such as blood tests for which patients currently have

to travel to Herts & Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford. The Primary Care Trust also

plans to offer the services of a NHS Dentist which, at the moment, the village lacks.

As part of the planning conditions for the development of Foresthall Park, Uttlesford

District Council negotiated a Section 106 Agreement with the developers. This included

the provision of land for a health centre.

The former Chief Executive of the Primary Care Trust attended a public meeting in May

2008 where he explained that long running negotiations for a site in Cambridge Road,

Stansted, had not been fruitful. The Trust intended to develop the site at Foresthall Park.

The announcement was met with considerable opposition from many residents who were

concerned about the loss of medical facilities from a central village site. The majority of

respondents to the Parish Plan questionnaire of last year also supported this view, so the

Parish Council asked the PCT to look again at other central sites before they made their

decision. This the PCT undertook and spent most of 2009 and the first six months of

2010 investigating a central site for the new health centre. However, at a recent meeting

chaired by myself, the Chief Executive of the PCT explained that they had now drawn a

line under negotiations for this site as they had failed to reach an agreement with the

landlord.

The PCT has now been given a series of questions drawn up by the Parish Council to

which they have been asked to respond by the 12th July. We want to satisfy ourselves that

the PCT has fully evaluated all the options.

We understand the strong feelings about the location of the new health centre and we

know that many residents are concerned about moving other key community facilities,

such as St Mary’s Primary School, to Foresthall Park. However, the PCT has spent years

looking for a central village health centre site and it's time that progress was made.

There will be a meeting of the Parish Council to discuss the location of the health centre

on Wednesday 21st July 2010 at 7.30pm. The venue will be Stansted Day Centre,

Crafton Green, where parishioners have the opportunity of addressing the Council in the

public participation session at the start of the meeting.

We should stress that the Parish Council, although a consultee and a stakeholder, is not

the decision maker. All we can do is reflect the views of the village as a whole and make

representations to that effect.

When the PCT decides upon its location, with or without the Parish Council’s agreement,

a planning application will have to be submitted to Uttlesford District Council.

For many residents of Stansted and surrounding villages their health care is met by the Doctors' practice located in St John’s Road. It has been recognised for many years that the building is unsuitable for the provision of medical facilities fit for the 21st century as the property is cramped and does not comply with disability discrimination legislation. The landlord of the property has also made it clear that he wants the practice to find alternative accommodation.

The question we now face is not 'do we need comprehensive medical facilities for our growing population' but where should they be located?

NHS West Essex Primary Care Trust, the body responsible for the delivery of our medical care, has had the task of finding suitable premises big enough to accommodate both the clinic currently at Crafton Green and the Doctors' surgery. Bigger premises will enable the practice to offer facilities such as blood tests for which patients currently have to travel to Herts & Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford. The Primary Care Trust also plans to offer the services of an NHS Dentist which, at the moment, the village lacks.

As part of the planning conditions for the development of Foresthall Park, Uttlesford District Council negotiated a Section 106 Agreement with the developers. This included the provision of land for a health centre.

The former Chief Executive of the Primary Care Trust attended a public meeting in May 2008 where he explained that long running negotiations for a site in Cambridge Road, Stansted, had not been fruitful. The Trust intended to develop the site at Foresthall Park. The announcement was met with considerable opposition from many residents who were concerned about the loss of medical facilities from a central village site. The majority of respondents to the Parish Plan questionnaire of last year also supported this view, so the Parish Council asked the PCT to look again at other central sites before they made their decision. This the PCT undertook and spent most of 2009 and the first six months of 2010 investigating a central site for the new health centre. However, at a recent meeting chaired by myself, the Chief Executive of the PCT explained that they had now drawn a line under negotiations for this site as they had failed to reach an agreement with the landowner.

The PCT has now been given a series of questions drawn up by the Parish Council to which they have been asked to respond by the 12th July. We want to satisfy ourselves that the PCT has fully evaluated all the options.

We understand the strong feelings about the location of the new health centre and we know that many residents are concerned about moving other key community facilities, such as St Mary’s Primary School, to Foresthall Park. However, the PCT has spent years looking for a central village health centre site and it's time that progress was made.

There will be a meeting of the Parish Council to discuss the location of the health centre on Wednesday 21st July 2010 at 7.30pm. The venue will be Stansted Day Centre, Crafton Green, where parishioners have the opportunity of addressing the Council in the public participation session at the start of the meeting.

We should stress that the Parish Council, although a consultee and a stakeholder, is not the decision maker. All we can do is reflect the views of the village as a whole and make representations to that effect.

When the PCT decides upon its location, with or without the Parish Council’s agreement, a planning application will have to be submitted to Uttlesford District Council.

Comments?

St. Mary's Meeting....

Tudor Owen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:53:00 +0000

...1st July
Stakeholders are invited to attend an exhibition at the School between 3.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, 1^st July 2010, where there will be an opportunity to view the plans that have been prepared. Officers from Essex County Council, the architectural design team and representatives from the School will be on hand to discuss the proposals.

Statutory Notice: St Mary’s C of E Foundation Primary School

Exhibition and Presentation - St Mary’s CE Foundation Primary School, St. John's Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8JP

On 17 June 2010, Essex County Council published a Statutory Notice to enlarge St Mary’s CE Foundation Primary School, to be achieved through the relocation of the School to a new site at Rochford Nurseries.

At 6.30pm, Councillor Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education & the 2012 Games, will attend the exhibition to give a presentation about his decision to proceed with the publication of the Statutory Proposals, to answer questions from those present and also to hear their views. Anyone with an interest in this matter is welcome to attend both the exhibition and presentation.

...

David Mason

School Organisation and Planning

The Restoration of the Windmill....

Tudor Owen — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:09:52 +0000

...is very nearly finished!

By the middle of next week the contractors, 'IJP Owlsworth', will have handed the site back to the village after five months hard work. You may have noticed the sails facing the Rec' this week, something that hasn't been seen for over a hundred years.

The Mill will be open to visitors at the end of May and there will be some sort of reopening 'bash' in June.

The Health Centre...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:12:34 +0000

... still hasn't been built. Indeed the PCT still haven't applied for planning permission, a fact that concerned a number of residents at the Annual Parish Meeting at the Free Church on the 24th March.
So what progress has been made? It seems negotiations are still ongoing between the PCT, developer and landowner, held up by efforts to agree on the type of lease. It takes eighteen months from planning to completion so any new services are still some way off.

Update... June 2010... They couldn't agree on the lease... back to square one!

Comments?

It's that time again...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:35:15 +0000

Along with The Link magazine all households should have received the papers for use at the Annual Parish Meeting which describe the work of the Council, a financial Review and future objectives.

In addition there will be a presentation relating to the Parish Plan and the recent questionnaire as well as an exhibition in the lobby on re-equipping and developing the play areas following discussions with manufacturers and after site visits.

Along with The Link magazine all households should have received the papers for use at the Annual Parish Meeting which describe the work of the Council, a financial Review and future objectives. In addition there will be a presentation relating to the Parish Plan and the recent questionnaire as well as an exhibition in the lobby on re-equipping and developing the play areas following discussions with manufacturers and after site visits.

Agenda

New Parking Restrictions...

Tudor Owen — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:30:44 +0000

... are proposed at the junction of Long Croft and Rainsford road, near the entrance of Bentfield Primary School. At school run times this area gets quite congested making it less safe for those on foot and often obstructing the bus service.

The notice can be seen here, which also includes other changes at Bentfield Causeway.

You have until the 26th February to give your thoughts on these proposals to the County Council.

Comment

"Eyesores...

Tudor Owen — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:02:18 +0000

... Are knocking nearby trade - council". Said a headline in the Saffron Walden Reporter this week.

Your council is concerned that buildings that continue to be left empty in the village are falling into disrepair and are damaging to the economic vitality of the village. The Three Colts public house and ex B&R carpets shop on Cambridge road are both becoming eyesores and if left to decay further may well end up like that other well known 'dangerous structure', Mont House in High Lane.

There is not a lot the Parish or District Councils can do about empty commercial properties except appeal to the landlord, so the Parish council has written to the owner of these properties to ask about his intentions and offer its assistance.

And Now...

Tudor Owen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:45:49 +0000

...the end is near! The 'Fountain Willow' will be felled soon.

You may remember that after its last inspection the Willow tree was reported as being in a bad way - in need of some attention and surgery to a limb.

Well, it seems that removing the dangerous limb would destabilise the whole structure, making the tree surgeons already consulted reluctant to attend to the Willow. Arboriculturalist Dr David Brown has clarified his report's recommendation that the tree be removed and reluctantly the council has had to agree that this local landmark should be felled. 'If the tree were to be retained it would be for a short period, ... not be as attractive as it is now' and would 'have an increasing failure risk attached to it'.

Dr Brown's report can be found here.
And the notice of intent here

The fountain and 'island' are due to be renovated soon and a replacement sought for the Willow.

The Total Filling Station...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:11:58 +0000

... site on Cambridge road could be developed for residential flats or 'units' as they are referred to in a recent planning application.
The filling station operator was not given an option to extend the lease on the site beyond 2010, the owner preferring to develop the site. They intend to demolish the garage and erect 14 2 bed dwellings in its place.

The application can be viewed here: UTT/1441/09/FUL

It will go to the District Council development committee on the 10th February. The report is here.

Update....

Uttlesford District Council rejected the proposals unanimously.

See this story here in the Saffron Walden Reporter.

Ray Woodcock raised a petition against the proposals with 327 names which he presented to the development control committee with this statement.

This is unlikely to be the end of these proposals so keep an eye out for an appeal or a revised application.

Comment?

As Another One Bites the Dust....

Oliver Treend — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:14:26 +0000

... the amenity value of trees in the village is further diminished. Despite many of the valuable and useful trees in the village being subject to tree preservation orders (TPOs) they are steadily and relentlessly being felled.

Of course they grow and and can endanger nearby buildings or block someone's precious sunlight - they become sick and structurally unsound or perhaps they're in the wrong place when a site is to be developed. But in the end they are victims of an expanding village that enjoys the rural open feeling they give, but can't always overcome the bureaucracy and health and safety issues that they cause in a more urbanised environment.

TPOs across the county have been revoked by ECC as responsibility for them passes to the District council who have to survey all the trees before reissuing them.

Keep an eye on your local trees and report any threats to their future. Remember they need to be looked after and not neglected so report any problems as well as attacks with chainsaws, which, incidentally, are more often than not quite legitimate. If you want to carry out any work on a tree with a TPO make sure you contact the district council first to seek permission.

Comment?

Bentfield Pond....

Tudor Owen — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:19:34 +0000

... is once again given some attention by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers who made it for the third year in a row, aided by a few councillors on what turned out to be a sunny Sunday. The project is now complete for the time being and the Pond restored to a much healthier state. More...

The Windmill Works...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:58:10 +0000

... have at last begun as the contractors, IJP, moved on site last Monday 2nd November. The works, which include repointing the brickwork, removing the cap and repainting the sails, should be completed early in the new year when we will see the cap turn the sails into the wind for the first time in one hundred years.
The first task was to arrange for BT to divert three telephone cables around the Mill to allow some working room for the cranes that will take off the sails and cap.

The Annual Fireworks...

Tudor Owen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:44:53 +0000

... And bonfire at Elms Farm.

ELMS FARM, CHURCH ROAD, ENTRANCE VIA ARCHWAY COTTAGE

GATES OPEN 6.30 pm,BONFIRE 7.00 pm

FIREWORK DISPLAY 7.30 pm

ADULTS £3, CHILDREN £1

REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE

WEAR WELLIES

TAKE SPARKLER STICKS HOME AS THIS IS A HORSE FIELD

If you can offer wood for the bonfire, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01279 813214

7th NOVEMBER

The Mile Iron....

Tudor Owen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:48:24 +0000

.... Has been renovated! You may have noticed it gleaming in the sun at the Cambridge road Chapel hill junction oposite the Fountain. Originally placed near the fountain It's been in it's current position for quite some time and and been looking a little rusty - it's a solid lump of iron - until spotted by milestone enthusiast John Nicholls of the Milestone Society. He and his colleagues make it their business to revivie as many of these small pieces of history as they possibly can.

The Mile Stone Society have a website wher you can contact John if you know of any lonely and forgotten waymarkers or milestones. Their stated aim is: to identify, record, research and interpret for the public benefit the milestones and other waymarkers of the British Isles.

The public convenience...

Tudor Owen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:05:29 +0000

...comes at a price! The 'superloo' in the Lower Street car park costs the district council £25,000 a year to maintain which, at a time when local authorities are feeling the squeeze and looking for cuts, makes it and others a potential target. Locked into a long lease they are unlikely to be able to close this necessary convenience which only attracts spent pennies to the tune of 20% of its outgoings, so are likely instead to ask the Parish if they'd like to foot the bill for the Loo.

Should the Parish pay?

It's a sign of tough choices ahead and just another in a stream of services, such as PCSOs, youth services and street lighting, that that should be financed at district and county level, being pushed onto the Parish - or face loosing them. The Parish does it's best to stretch the precept to these undoubtedly worthwhile services, but at a time when the village is set to grow significantly it's resources will be at the limit and obligations such as play equipment for our public spaces are left to be funded by grants and charitable subscriptions - if we're lucky.

It's an old dillema, cuts or higher taxes? And as relevant to us at the most local level as it is at the centre of central government.

The MUGA opens...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:10:01 +0000

...At last. The new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) facility on Mountfitchet Green was officially opened on July 18th. Anyone in the village can use it for five-aside, tennis, basket ball or netball.

At the Windmill Fete...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:31:57 +0000

... The 'teddy bear parachuting' saw a minor mishap as George's most favourite thing in the world managed to get his 'chute snagged halfway up the Mill. After bravely clinging on for most of the Bank Holiday afternoon the intrepid bear was helped down to a nearby window with the aid of a very long stick, and reunited with his relieved owner.

The fête was a great success raising nearly £2500 to help maintain the soon to be renovated Mill. On completion of the works in the spring of 2010 the cap will be able to face into the wind and the sails turn properly as they did in 1910 when the Mill was last used. The project was made possible by an English Heritage grant and much fundraising and donations over several years.

Information about the Mill can be found here.

The Fountain Willow...

Tudor Owen — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:09:48 +0000

... at the junction of Chapel Hill and Cambridge road is due for the chop!
"At the end of its useful life", according to consultant arborialist David Brown, it will eventually have to be removed.

As a well known landmark and of some amenity to the village the Parish Council believes it should do what it can to maintain the willow as long as is reasonably possible, unless or until it becomes a danger. At the moment it looks like one limb needs to be removed and the crown reduced. Quotes are being sought, but what the tree may look like after major work remains to be seen.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000