Parish Plan now Available Online

Issue 1 of the new Parish plan has now been published on the village website. To read a copy and find out more about how the village might change in future check the main website out by clicking here. The plan first of all documents the current position of the village and then investigates priorities in a number of development areas including:

• Social & Community
• Environment
• Public Amenities
• Shops & Facilities
• Housing & Planning
• Community, Safety & Crime
• Transport
• Democracy & Council Services
  

The Parish Council are now in the process of adopting this plan.

Nearly £900 raised for RNLI

The organiser of the Lifeboat collection in the village would like to thank everyone who helped to raise £896. Colchester District total was £8,484.54.

(Pictured is Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat in action)

BHYFC - Under 9's - Tiptree Minors 5-a-side

The second of our summer tournaments saw us enter 2 Under 9s teams into the Tiptree 5-a-side tournament.  In 2007 we had entered one team only as a pre-cursor to our first season as Bergholt Heath, and had won the U8s age group. This season, as all the boys were available, we decided to keep them all happy by having 2 squads of 6 – drafting in a couple of extra players to supplement our normal squad of 10.

Luckily the two teams were drawn in separate groups and both managed to get through into the semi finals.  By luck, as both finished second we were also kept apart in the semi finals (winners of each group playing the runners up in the other). The first team lost in their semi final but the second managed to win and ensure we had a Bergholt Heath team in the final for the second year running.  They went on to play the team the others had lost to in their semi final, running out 2-1 winners having gone a goal down, Matthew James scoring the winner!

Historic Vehicle Rally - 26-27 July 2008

It is the 25th anniversary show this Saturday and Sunday taking place in the fields off Nayland Road in the village beginning at 10am both days. Free Country and Western Concert Saturday evening starting at 7.30pm with refreshments and bar available. Car parking free. Further information 01206 271253.

BYG - getting into gear

The Bergholt Youth Group is getting into action for the benefit of all young West Bergholt citizens. They have recently issued a questionnaire to all young people to find out what they wanted and have now analysed the results and are ready to discuss them with other youngsters. Doing this in style they have arranged for the Essex Youth Bus to visit the Orpen Hall on Friday 18th July at 5:30pm where they will be pleased to discuss the results. The bus will also be offering free hot dogs and drinks.

To find out more you can contact BYG by email at bergholtyouthforum@live.co.uk

Community First Responders On Recruitment Drive!

The village's Community First Responders (CFRs) met last night at their monthly meeting to discuss the months past events and to plan their new PR and recruitment campaign. Although not much interest from adults was gained from the stall at the recent Village Fayre, the quiz was enjoyable and there was a generous donation which the CFRs gratefully received. However the main concern is that, with unfilled gaps in the rota, the group could be missing life-saving calls; therefore one of their aims for the second half of the year is to double their numbers by Christmas and to get the rota fully covered.

Could You Do It?
Many people in the Village think they don’t have time to be a CFR but what they don’t realise is that they can be ‘on call’ whilst still going about their business in the Village. In fact the rota for the coming month is nearly 70% full in the overnight shift as many of the volunteers have the phone on whilst they are asleep and are willing to jump in the car and attend a call should there be ‘a shout.’ The group want to promote the flexibility and the ease of being a CFR and will be asking the village to liken being a volunteer to being in the RNLI, i.e. you are willing to be called but you don’t have to sit in by the phone you can get on with your life! More information will be coming out in and around the village in the coming months, but should anyone want more information they can contact Annie Neish the village co-ordinator on 240469 or come along to a meeting. The meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 50 New Church Road.

RCCE Best Kept Village Competition

Vying against 60 contenders West Bergholt were anxious to find the outcome of the Annual Best Kept Village competition at a ceremony in Little Waltham on Wednesday 9th July. Winning the Class 2 competition (population 2500-5000) the village was clearly in contention and whilst not taking the main award was delighted to win a 'podium place' with 3rd overall to add to its class win.

Nick Shuttleworth, executive director of the Rural Community Council of Essex, said villages are fighting back in challenging times.

“Our judges were enormously impressed by the standard of entries this year and by the range of activities going on in these communities,” he said. “Behind the attractive façades there are a lot of pressures on our rural communities, such as the closure of rural post offices. There is so much in our villages which has to be done by volunteers and people of all ages appear to be getting involved. We are seeing that our rural communities are a very resilient and enterprising lot.”

Rural Community Council of Essex is a registered charity which promotes community projects throughout rural Essex and acts as a voice for rural people on key issues. Further information from Nick Shuttleworth on 0844 4773938 or e-mail; nick.shuttleworth@essexrcc.org.uk