Brownies raise money for LEPRA

1st West Bergholt Brownies recently turned a badge challenge into a fund-raising opportunity.

In performing to  family and friends in order to win their Entertainers Badges they raised a wonderful sum of £120.00 for LEPRA (a Colchester-based charity specialising in fighting diseases of poverty principally in the 3rd world) .

Well done girls!

Be heard - Colchester services survey

CBC Survey - Sample page

Colchester Borough Council has launched a Customer Service Survey to understand why residents access Council Services in the way that they do. From 11th July the Council begun to gather customer feedback to ensure it is providing the right services at the right location. Customers visiting the Customer Service Centre, High Street will be asked to take the opportunity to have their say, by participating in the survey and shaping the future delivery of Council services. The Customer Service Survey asks:

• Why customers prefer to visit the CBC offices rather than use the phone or email and
• Where they have travelled from and what mode of travel they use when they come into town to visit CBC.
• Whether they would prefer to access Council Services within their local community from locations such as library or Parish Council premises.

Cllr Beverley Oxford, Portfolio Holder for Customers, said: “The Council is committed to providing excellent customer service to residents and the business community, and wants to future proof its services so that we can ensure we are providing customer service in a format and location that meets our customers changing needs. “Residents’ views are very important in helping us to shape the future of Council services. Complete our customer survey and communicate your priorities and needs to the Council.”

Customers can also complete the survey online at www.colchester.gov.uk/customersurvey until 2 September 2011. Following the 2 September we will collate and consider responses as part of the first stage of the Council’s customer services consultation.

Essex Police 101 & other updates

From July 1st, Essex Police becomes one of the first forces to switch to the new, national, police non-emergency 101 telephone number (replacing 0300 333 4444).  You can use this number if you need to contact Essex Police about any non-emergency crime issue, to contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, to seek crime prevention or personal safety advice, contact your nearest police station or to speak to us about any other non-emergency issue.

Please be assured that the emergency 999 number remains. unchanged and should continue be used if you have an emergency

Essex Police is currently undergoing a major change programme in order to save money, whilst continuing to provide a first class service to the public, and has already begun to make positive changes. The views of those who visit, live or work in Essex are extremely important to Essex Police and Essex Police Authority to enable them to take this programme forward and they would therefore be grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to answer the questions in their public on-line survey.  To do this, please go to www.essex.police.uk/authority and click on the Reform Survey link which will take you into the survey, or go directly to www.surveymonkey.com/s/7GSFLG5. This public survey is open to everyone and they are committed to seeking the views of as many people across Essex as they can and hope representation will be wide and varied. So, if you know of someone who you think might be interested in having their say and making a difference in their community, could you please take a moment to pass these details on to them and ask them to do the same with their contacts?

Gardening - Beeleigh Update

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens

An historical and peaceful retreat of three acres of riverside gardens in a delightful setting dating from the 13th century was enjoyed by 32 members of teh west Bergholt Gardeners Association on their July evening visit to Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon.  The original abbey was founded in 1180 for white robed canons of the strict Premonstratensian order.  The energetic commitment to Beeleigh by the owners and their staff was reflected in the splendid show of English old roses; mixed borders; cottage garden; wild flower meadow; river walk; vegetable and fruit production and water features.

Interested in visiting the gardens? They are next open on 8 & 22 July; 5 & 19 August and 2 & 30 September 10.30am to 4.30pm – entry £4. Refreshments available/ free parking. Information available on http://visitmaldon.co.uk/beeleigh-abbey/ - telephone: 07779 223321.

For details on the Gardener's Association's meetings and outings contact Valerie Lofthouse, Chair: tel. 01206 855450 - valerielofthouse1@hotmail.co.uk or Terry Claydon, Treasurer: tel. 01206 242124 - terryclaydon@aol.com.

Summer Wildlife Walk at Hillhouse Wood

Joe Firmin and Philip Smith will lead this walk starting at the Old Church at 10am on 10th July.  Being in and near the wood the walk offers a chance to see butterflies (including whiteletter hairstreaks), dragonflies, damselflies and other colourful insects, as well as summer wildflowers and resident birds.