Step forward Steve Godwin, who has been formally adopted as the official Town Crier for the town following the recentWivenhoe Town Council meeting. Steve’s immediate task will be to help open the WTC Jubilee events, taking place from 11am on the 4th June at the KGV.
If the three and a half hours of the peeling of the St Mary’s bells don’t wake you up, then Steve’s first civic occasion certainly will.
The role of the Town Crier has a fascinating local history. Butler (still *the* hyperlocal Bible for these parts) documents how the introduction of the telephone exchange at 88 High Street at the turn of the Century effectively put the Town Crier out of a proper job.
Previous callings to announce:
“Lost, stolen or strayed - a Sailors bag belonging to one of the crew of the Yatch Valfreyia. Whoever will take the same to 1 Blood Ally, will be handsomely rewarded”
…were long lost with the new technology.
Same as it ever was. Sort of.
Paul Brown was the last local man to hold the role in Wivenhoe, a regular feature on Regatta Days and Crabbing on the Quay. This is a role that Steve Godwin will now be able to take on board, and carry on the long tradition of using oratory skills to make public announcements.
Proposing the motion to appoint Steve as the Town Crier, Cllr Bob Needham commented:
“Paul Brown ceased his activities as voluntary Town Crier some time ago. He deposited his regalia with me and requested that I search for a suitable replacement. I can say that a suitable replacement has been found amongst our midst.
Steve Godwin has expressed a desire to take up this role. In fact Steve accepted an invitation to appear at the City of Ely Town Criers Championship last weekend in the capacity of the benchmark crier. He performed extremely well and earned accolades from all present. I have no doubt that he could capably represent Wivenhoe.”
Wise words from a man who is no stranger to the art of Town Crying [?] himself - Cllr Needham is of course the official Town Crier of Sunny Colch, and has been known to pick up the odd international award over recent years.
And so now we have a young Padawan to Bob’s Obi Wan Kenobi.
HEAR YE! HEAR YE!
Your clones are very impressive, you must be very proud, as a wise man once remarked.
A toss up on Sunday between an afternoon spent on the settee watching the Trent Bridge Test, or a trip down to Rectory Road for the Wivenhoe Town Sunday XI at home to St Osyth. We didn’t move to these North Essex estuary wilds to relive former Trent Bridge glories. Five pints of shandy and a lifetime ban from the Family Stand back in the Fair City (sort of) won’t be repeated down at Rectory Road.
Honest.
If you choose Sky Sports over village cricket on a sun drenched Sunday afternoon then something is seriously wrong. And so @AnnaJCowen and I carted the settee off to Rectory Road and set up the TV on the boundary.
Only joking. That’s what the iPad is for, high tech Comrades.
Arriving fashionably late, we found our friends from St Osyth on 85-2 in the 23rd over. How did we know this? Well looky, looky here - Wivenhoe have installed a flashy new electronic scoreboard in the far corner of the ground over the winter months.
Well I never.
I was half expecting to see scantily clad cheerleaders and a grown man wearing a silly mascot costume come the tea break. The B & Q garden chairs around the boundary would suffice.
A strategic position was taken up, with the sun bleaching the side of my face that May Fair missed out on the day before. It meant that half of the wicket was a blind spot for me, but it’s all about the suntan, dahhhling.
Hefty wood was being waved about mid-wicket by St Osyth. Combined with the fast pitch and you just knew that something was going to give.
It did - the scoreboard went on a go slow.
Whoops.
A few tech teething problems, and nothing to do with my iPad bluetooth connection that could control the scoreboard. Probably. It’s gonna be a fun summer season down at Rectory Road…
But where’s there’s heavy slogging, there a boundary boy waiting with a steady hand. Top catch, fella, leaving the visitors on 108-3.
I think.
Forty boundary winks later and the game (and scoreboard) had moved on to 161-7, with three overs remaining when I woke up. St Osyth went in for the tea interval on 170, a target certainly achievable by Wivenhoe, and if not, then there was always a bit of bluetooth scoreboard assistance to see the home side through.
“Who’s the bowler?”
…came the shout from the score box as St Osyth took to the field after the break.
“Bean”
…came back the answer.
He certainly ran like him.
The Wivenhoe openers batted as though the scoreboard could only be increased in increments of four. Which possibly isn’t too far away from the truth.
Bare chests and tobacco was the warm-up routine in front of the home pavilion. I like your style, Sir.
The run rate slowed down fifteen overs in as St Osyth put a break on the boundaries with some tight bowling. The pace of the game changed, and the boundary activity went a little bonkers:
“Daddy, what are we doing?”
“…we’re looking for the bullet.”
Blimey.
A victory for the Wivenhoe Sunday XI was never really in any doubt, scoreboard malfunction or not. A slog of a six from the esteemed Director of Cricket saw the home side through.
Back at base and the fag end of play in the Trent Bridge Test wasn’t nearly half as fun. I needed another five pints of shandy just to see me through the final few overs.
To the King George V Playing Field! …on Saturday afternoon for a leisurely, quiet Wivenhoe weekend: walking around the empty spaces, observing the changing of the seasons and then possibly some al fresco naturist yoga balanced on the brow of the skateboard park. Make sure that you oil your ball bearings.
Only joking.
Empty spaces are there to fill, the transition from spring to summer is a chest beating rallying call to come out and play; naked yoga gives you grass in your groins.
Hurrah then for the Wivenhoe May Fair 2012 - six hours of community building, all with the rather ACE soundtrack of music from Sunny Colch and the surrounds. THIS is what it means to take a hyperlocal holiday.
The May Fair confirms that a community is only as strong as the citizens who step forward to organise. Much, much work goes into May Fair. In return a community gets to come together for one afternoon of the year in the sun, shake hands and say, woh, what we have here folks is something rather special.
Awww.
Wanna see my naked restorative pose?
Which most certainly *wasn’t* a question that I posed to the very good @SgtLouMiddleton, our midday friendly face of May Fair greeting down at the lower gates of the KGV. My lunchtime stubble granted me ease of passage without a check on ID. There was no booze in the bag anyway - I get HIGH on vibes, kids.
Which was also the case for some of the *ahem* younger folk attending May Fair. A very polite operation was put in place by Sgt Lou and the police. A crate of Special Brew isn’t really a wise idea for a yet to start shaving kid of Sunny Colch.
“I’ll look after that for you,”
…were the wise words from the preventative policing.
TOP work, community policing at its best.
The whole site had been made into a safe environment to enable the best May Fair experience for all. Wivenhoe Woods ‘aint a great location for free love, mannnnnn. All those creepy crawlies get up the wrong cracks. A smart move in fencing off the fauna of Wivenhoe.
An early stroll around the site, and some familiar and new faces were found. Sam King, local filmmaker extraordinaire was already set up with his unique time-lapse approach to documenting events and telling stories. I felt a fraud flashing away with the SLR - the poor chap had probably been on site since 4am.
Looking forward to the results, Sir…
The Big Tissue was the gag that kept on giving.
And again - Big Tissue?
ACE.
With May Fair ([arguably] having its roots in radicalism and all things of the Left, what the chuffers was the Labour party doing in attendance? Only joking, Comrades. It was charming to see Cllr’s Liddy, Young et al, doing a fine service with the non-political practice of selling Labour cakes.
Made with the blood, sweat and tears of the oppressed proletariat, was a point that I posed to the m’Comrades.
“Actually, no. I made them at home in the kitchen.”
Whoops.
SANDINISTA with yer soufflé, Comrades.
And then just after midday. May Fair 2012 was officially open with the playing of the National Anthem.
Blimey.
Jubilee Weekend hadn’t come a week early to Wivenhoe, but the brilliant Jay and the Friend (a sorta Jay and Silent Bob for Sunny Colch) serenaded the site with the ode to the Old Lady. This was the King George V Playing Field, after all.
The set soon relaxed, and Jay Nicholls (and the friend) were a class opening act, wigs ‘n all.
And so the pattern for the afternoon was in motion. With May Fair spread out across three stages - Tree, Sunrise and Open Mic - punters had plenty to see, much mileage to walk and only six hours in which to fit it all in.
A wander up to the Open Mic stage and Jules Everest was singing songs about ASBOS in the style of ABBA (damn keyboard.) Something tells you that sadly the same won’t be heard later on in the evening at Eurovision.
The Band of Fools over on Sunrise were only living up to one half of their name. A collective of quality musicians, for sure - most certainly not fools.
Instead we had a remarkably tight, yet somehow loose ragtag of accordion, violin, bouzouki, trumpet, double bass & cajon. All Made in Wivenhoe as well.
Back on the Tree Stage and Brainstorm Wednesday were showcasing the more thoughtful singer-songwriter style that can be found within Wivenhoe. Long since established as favourites at The Greyhound and elsewhere, the step up to the big space of the KGV was made with ease. They’ll be headlining Wembley by Christmas. Which won’t be anywhere near as good as May Fair.
Exit stage left, enter stage right.
This was the moment that many at May Fair had come along to see with the much love that the town has for local heroes Hobo Chang. Has there ever been a band more suited perfectly for playing May Fair?
A tight rhythm section, a lead guitar that transcends styles and… a front woman that isn’t exactly shy about coming forward. And no wonder either with a voice like that. Fiona sounds the way that she looks. Which is unique, welcoming and ever so slightly naughty.
This was the first mass May fair mosh moment. The C’mon!!!! cry went out, and the kids came down to the front. Some to dance, some to snog, but most to simply smile. If you aren’t feeling happy when listening to Hobo Chang then you may as well bugger off back to base.
A little bit of Snake Oil up at Sunrise, and then the summons came from Madam Mayor, Cllr Penny Kraft of Wivenhoe Town Council (who most definitely *isn’t* a snake oil type sales person.)
The conversation covered the merits of Birmingham (not bad, but it ‘aint Wivenhoe) as well as the effort made by Madam Mayor in meeting the request from the May Fair Committee to come dressed in 70′s style clothing.
At least we think Madam Mayor had made the effort…
Time to dress down back over on the Tree Stage. Shoes and socks off - it’s only Animal Noise.
Hurrah!
Some bands you just need to make that connection with; you need to remove any barriers between you and the artistic muse. You need to allow the spirit of creativity to flow upwards and free your polluted inner soul of all the s*** that hits you during the working week.
Animal Noise politely request that you remove your shoes and socks, and allow the beats and the bellowing from the three-piece to synchronise as their set hits crescendo.
ACE.
Wanna see my naked yoga, boys?
Having played the Colchester Free Festival last summer, and now May Fair, this might be one of the last occasions that we get to see Animal Noise demonstrating the healing power of communal noise making for free in a North Essex field.
Where are we going, boys?
To the Toppermost of the Poppermost, Johnny.
Better believe it.
A slight come down was needed, and thankfully Sunrise provided this with Sleeper Cell. Don’t be fooled by the name - no time for forty winks, but instead the incredible musicianship of two men. No surprises that Jay Nicholls was involved once again.
The set included the most delightful cover of Everybody’s Talking, which somehow just made perfect sense as the sun shined across the Colne Valley and May Fair was the centre of the hyperlocal universe.
Love those metaphorical contradictions. May Fair sorta does that to you, folks.
Having marched up to the top of the hill, time to march back down again. Another hyperlocal hero in Lou Terry was putting in an incredibly brave performance on the Tree Stage. Singing about matters of love and y’know, understanding, can’t be easy. Especially so for a Wivenhoe teenager that talks more sense than most in the town.
He must be doing something right - Lou’s personal fan club came out in force to support the move from the appearance on the Sunrise Stage last year. With a slot alongside Jeffrey Lewis [blimey] up at The Lakeside next week, Lou Terry is another Wivenhoe act that looks like turning an eye elsewhere.
A short wait for the set change over, and back by popular return - both online and offline - looky, looky here: it’s only the superb Sonic Manipulator and his digital bag of bleeps and body popping. Some of the lyrics may *or may not* have required the bleep-ometer, but the little ankle biters of Wivenhoe loved the man wearing a tinfoil suit on the hottest day of the year.
Surfquake finished things off on the Tree Stage - well they did for the hyperlocal blogger who had a date back at base feeding the bonkers cat. Close yer eyes, take in that aroma of the Colne and you could almost be in Hawaii as the surf ‘n space cadet sound carried across the KGV.
And so that was May Fair 2012 - how was it for you?
A HUGE thank you to the May Fair Committee who have worked their sweaty bollocks off ever since May Fair 2011 came to a close. The planning was absolutely perfect, with a friendly, family festival back in the town. Quite an achievement and one that needs to be recognsied.
A good start would be the clean up of the KGV at 10am on Sunday.
The Planning Committee at Colchester Borough Council granted unanimously on Thursday evening the application by the University of Essex for a multi-story car park on a site close to the existing Sports Centre. Conditional to the agreement is that £250,000 of Section 106 money that was put aside for the Knowledge Gateway, will now be borrowed to fund a cycling path between the University and Wivenhoe.
Even after an hour of debate at the Town Hall, confusion remained amongst some councillors. The apolitical CBC Planning Officer had to remind the Committee just prior to voting that they weren’t deciding upon planning permission to build the car park. Instead the decision being made was to agree in principle to press ahead with the legal process, prior to planning permission being formally granted.
The meeting started with the Planning Officer explaining the background for the application:
“The first planning application was refused. In the intervening period we have held further negotiations with the University. We are now recommending that this application be approved.
The main change is in the structure. It is important that is was strengthened and planted into the ground. There is also a relocation so that some green space is left between the car park and the Sports Centre.
The reason that we are now recommending this application is because of overspill from Car Park A. We agree with the applicant that there is a need for additional spaces. As part of the recommendation, a link will be provided between campus and the University. We have secured the necessary funds.”
“I have been running Cycling Champion schemes in Colchester for three years now. We have got 3,000 local people cycling, many of them for the first time. This is a real achievement.
This application goes against CBC policy. Colchester has set the standard in encouraging cycling. We are one of only 19 towns with cycling status. We would like to see a transport assessment and the University’s Travel Plan being made more robust. The Wivenhoe link needs to be completed before the process of shifting traffic management.”
Andrew Nightingale, the Estates Manager at the University spoke in favour of the application:
“More misinformation about this application has been shared than any other that the University has put forward in the past twenty years. Your Planning Officers understand how we function. The University has addressed your concerns. In the past 20 years there has been no increase in car park provision. £250,000 is available for Wivenhoe immediately.”
Also speaking in favour of the application was Cllr Julie Young, the ward councillor for nearby St Andrew’s, as well as the local representative on Essex County Council:
“The last time that I was speaking at Planning was for the University’s Meadows accommodation. You will remember that not a single car park space was included. If you look at the wider community, this has been an issue for me at St Andrew’s. Students and staff park in roads. This application needs to be looked at in the context of other developments such as the Meadows and Quays accommodation.
Wivenhoe wants a cycling link. This is too expensive to deliver. The new budget for Colchester from Essex County Council is £1m. Can I access this for the cycle path? No I can’t.”
The twelve members of the Planning Committee were then given the opportunity to ask questions to the Planning Officer, as well as to make observations ahead of the vote.
Cllr Jon Manning, the ward councillor for Wivenhoe Cross stated:
“I get phone calls from residents saying that students are parked outside their houses. We need a car park. My issue is about access to it. Throwing cyclists towards the car park will only lead to conflict.
I would like to see the Boundary Road barriers being moved towards the top of the road. This would encourage more people to cycle. It would act as a deterrent for Wivenhoe staff or students to drive in, as they would then have to go round in a long circle down Clingoe Hill. I would like to see a deferment on this application until we can sort out the University’s Travel Plan.”
Cllr Peter Chillingworth added:
“Time has moved on. The University has a huge number of students. The overspill is unsightly and dangerous. This proposal addresses it. Multi-story buildings are never pretty.
I have concern about the Travel Plan. Twice as many permits are granted.”
Cllr Nick Barlow seeked clarification from the Planning Officer over a number of issues:
“What timescale will it take for the green wall to grow? Where does the cycle path finish - Boundary Road or on campus? When will the Knowledge Gateway S106 money be paid back?”
Questions asked, questions answered. Sort of.
The green wall will establish itself over time. The S106 money is a legal requirement to be paid back. The Travel Plan can be revised to make sure that it is robust enough.
Cllr Steve Ford of Wivenhoe Quay drew upon his hyperlocal knowledge of the area:
“Cyclists leaving Wivenhoe need all the help that they can get. We have got to design an environment that will let cyclists do this. Is the cycle path on our wish list, or are we going to guarantee that this will happen?”
Cllr Manning once again called for a deferment:
“The University is a seven day operation. The safety of cyclists has to be paramount. This is why I am calling for a deferment.”
It was only at this point that the Planning Officer seemed to clarify exactly what the Planning Committee was voting upon. Planning Permission to build wouldn’t be granted at this meeting. What was being decided was the process to press ahead with the legal agreement.
The application went to the vote, and despite suggestions of a deferment, it was passed unanimously 12:0 in favour of the University.
*pssst* - wanna know about the Wivenhoe Society? Nope - not a trouser-rolling secret society that sacrifices virgins around Midsummer. That happens over in Alresford, apparently.
But speaking of the changing of the seasons, and yep - it’s only the Spring Newsletter from the lovely folk of the Wivenhoe Society. And rather splendid it is too.
Content is king, blah blah blah, as was once the mantra back in the day job sometime around, oooh, 1996. It sorta still remains true. Fine work then in Ellie Sangwine-Shirley for stepping forward to edit the Newsletter for the next two issues.
Carrying on the work established by Moira Collet, the Newsletter remains a highly readable mixture comprising of essential updates on planning matters, events previews / reviews and diary dates taking us all the way through until the next post-Christmas knees up (that’s a knees up as in frolicking around with much gay abandon in the William Loveless Hall [where else?] and *not* a knees up involving a trouser-rolling secret society that sacrifices virgins around Midsummer. And good luck with finding them over in Alresford.)
Incoming Chair Dave Harrison introduces the Newsletter with thanks to the outgoing Chair, Tom Roberts. One in, one out, as is the strict door policy with all the best clubs:
“I would like to thank Tom for his term (+1) as Chairman. He will be a hard act to follow.”
We then have the familiar cry for new stewards to steer the good ship WivSoc. Ideally six more Comrades are required to attend monthly committee meetings. It’s a very civil, social and sometimes gloriously silly affair. You get to offer opinion and collaboration on projects that have a very real impact around the town.
Trousers rolled up, and an email over here should grant you the warm WivSoc welcome.
Editor Ellie adds a bit more meat to the bone, so to speak, about exactly what is required for the editorial role. Ideas, inspiration and finger touch-typing should suffice. Plus the call goes out for the contribution of any photographs of hyperlocal happenings that could be featured in future publications.
In Planning News: Controversy and Car Parks should suffice.
We all know about the St John Ambulance Hall situation. No point in picking over the bones of a corpse that has already been ravaged.
Jane Black then updates with developments regarding the University’s current application to build a multi-story car park besides the sports centre along Boundary Road.
This is an ever-changing situation. The latest update is that the esteemed members of the Colchester Borough Council Planning Committee will hear the application this Thursday. The apolitical recommendation to the political committee is to pass the plans.
I’ve blogged before about the back scratching involved in this application. Allow us to build a new car park that will encourage cars into the area, and we will give you the dosh for a bicycle path between the town and Wivenhoe Park, appears to be the University’s stance.
WivSoc is blessed to have someone such as Jane Black offering to source and evaluate the implications of any hyperlocal planning applications. It is a forever rolling requirement, and one that requires diligence, technical understanding and objectivity.
Jane Black brings all three of these qualities to the top table.
Commenting on the car park application, Jane states:
“There are arguments for and against additional parking. The Society objected to the application on grounds of location. Access to the additional parking would be via the road leading from the A133 to Wivenhoe. We fear that there would be congestion and delays at rush hour with extra traffic turning into Boundary Road.”
Its odds on that the application will be passed on Thursday, given the £250k S106 wonga offered to appease the locals. It is great that WivSoc can still keep an objective analysis when it comes to such grand schemes.
In more positive planning news and Wivenhoe now has “a little list.” Actually it’s a lot more than that. Jane updates with info on the Townscape Forum, which was formally adopted by CBC back in March:
“The Wivenhoe Townscape Forum produced a list of 78 buildings and open spaces which are not recognised by English Heritage but which are of landscape or architectural or historic value.”
The value of the list is that these locations will not receive extra consideration, should they ever become the subject of a planning application.
Quite separate, but also quite connected is the new list that WivSoc now hopes to draw up. This is in relation to incoming legislation that gives a heads up to any hyperlocal organisation should a building or location of community asset value become available.
Jane adds:
“If the owner of the listed asset then wants to sell it there is a moratorium period which during which the asset cannot be sold.”
Should current owners Essex County Council decide that it wishes to offload the asset, rather than allowing a free for all scrambles with the free market (as was the case across the road…) then there is scope for a community group to start bidding ahead of the private sector.
Recent And Upcoming Events covers the WivSoc AGM (390 members on the books, Committee Musical Chairs and an ACE talk on Witchcraft by Dr Alison Rowlands) as well as the Spring WivSoc Riverbank Cleanup (which definitely was a trouser-rolling experience. Didn’t find no virgins, mind.)
Open Gardens is eagerly anticipated within the Newsletter pages - and with goodreason; Radio Wivenhoe meanwhile is also given the full multi-media treatment with decent plugs for all the ways that you can access the hyperlocal content of the Voice of the Colne.
Future WivSoc Committee meetings get the call to arms - non-Committee members are made to feel most welcome. Wednesday 23rd May is the next date, 7:30pm in the splendour that is The Nottage.
And so with a back page stuffed full of Diary Dates, and that’s about yer lot from WivSoc for spring. Fine folk working with little resources or reward. It’s not all about planning, but without the objective eyes of reason then all the parties that then take place wouldn’t have anywhere to be held.
To the Town Council Offices! …on Monday evening for Mayor Making - nothing to do with paper mache representations of your favourite Wivenhoe Town Council members made out of old scrunched up copies of The Gazette, and then being painted with comedy moustaches. Nope, the actual act of witnessing a new Mayor, Escort [steady] and Deputy Mayor being sworn in.
Sweary, sweary words would go here, etc.
But definitely *not* in need of a soap based mouthwash is the new Mayor of Wivenhoe, Cllr Penny Kraft. Cllr’s Fran Richards and Brian Sinclair nominated and seconded, and the vote was carried unanimously.
Phew. And relax.
But not before the business of introducing the Mayoral Escort for the year. Mayor Kraft will have the pleasure of being escorted to civic functions with the interchangable (and very pleasant) company of TWO Escorts, one male and one female.
How very Wivenhoe.
Mayor Kraft congratulated the outgoing Mayor Needham, observing:
“You and Audrey have represented the town incredibly well over the past twelve months.”
Hear, hear.
Over here actually for the election of a Deputy. Cllr Richards and Cllr Neil Lodge proposed and seconded Cllr Andrea Vaughan for the role. Another unanimous vote, and a not very objective analysis that Andrea will be absolutely ACE for Wivenhoe when her time comes to get blinged up next May.
Being Mayor Making, the administrative side of the next twelve months was then put in place. A game of Hyperlocal Musical Chairs was played out in the chamber, with the various committee and committee heads being divvied up.
Mayor Kraft tackled the agenda with the haste of a lady that knows what time the next bus departs from outside the Co-op. Carry on at this pace Madam, and the Mayoral year should see the re-building of the Engine Shed, a new Health Centre for Wivenhoe and the eradication of potholes and dog pooh throughout the town.
Which would put our Borough councillors out of a job.
Ah - speaking of which: It’s only Reports From our Borough Councillors:
Up first on the Borough’s Got Talent [steady] was Cllr Julie Young, our representative at Essex County Council. No dancing dog-routine, buy my tail was wagging in anticipation of the delights to come:
“There have been a few changes at County Hall in the past month. Cabinet positions have been switched. Tracey [Fast Car] Chapman is no longer the portfolio holder for Transport. Derrick Louis has taken over. He is very responsive.”
Not a back seat driver then.
“I have met with resident along Alresford Road once again regarding the December traffic accident. I have asked the Community Payback Team to cut back the foliage close to the school. Sadly we recently had another near miss. I’m afraid that there hasn’t been much progress on changing the road infrastructure.”
But what of the bain of a councillor’s main activity?
We’re talking about potholes, Comrades…
“There were a couple of very deep pot holes along Park Road and by the Co-op. I am pleased to say that these have now been filled in.”
…and just in time for the local elections, as my rather cheeky company for the evening in the civic chamber whispered in my ear.
Naughty, naughty, Madam.
But what about B.S?
*not* Bull ****, although then again…
We’re talkin’ about the Big Society of course, Comrades. You know that the times they are a changin’ when you hear a member of the local Labour party praising the flagship failed policy of the Blue Rinse lot:
“Applications are now open for the next round of funding.”
For all the ‘there’s no such thing as Big Society’ [clever] comments, the dosh is doing some rather decent things right here on the ground in Wivenhoe. Moving Image has been successful in putting in a pitch for a high tech projector. In it to win it, etc.
“If the Planning Committee makes the right decision on Thursday, £250,000 will cover the cost of the cycle path.”
Having formally opposed the application, blank faces filled the WTC civic table.
No worries. What we need right is a smile and a reliable woolen jumper. All the better if both elements can be combined.
See where we’re heading here?
Ah - it’s only the good Cllr Steve Ford of Wivenhoe Quay ward:
“I would like to congratulate Bob and Audrey for the past year as the Mayor and Escort. They should be proud of how they have represented our community so well. The Mayoral responsibilities have been passed on to two of the finest in our community.”
Or should that be three?
It’s a Wivenhoe thing…
Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee - that’s Cllr Ford:
“I have been asked about appeals for planning applications.”
Oh Lordy…
“I would like to confirm that anyone wishing to appeal against a recent decision has six months since the date of the original hearing.”
But what of the future packaged up as the past? The Town Council office on Monday evening saw the welcome return of a very familiar face to the civic chamber, warmly welcomed by all and full of optimism for the task ahead.
Nope - not another WTC appearance by Mr Mule, but the return of Cllr Cyril Liddy, now one of the ward counicllors for the Quay. Commenting upon the Mayor Making, Cllr Liddy added:
“This year will be every bit as successful as six years ago. I would like to thank Bob Needham - your year has been by and large successful.”
Oh.
“I would also like to thank Bob for a gentlemanly local election campaign. I thank Anne Quarrie as well for the eight years of service that she has put in behind the scenes. I hope to sit on the Standards and Finance & Scrutiny Panel at the borough council.”
Phew - rock ‘n roll. Nice one Cyril, etc.
The re-appearance of Cllr Liddy can now guarantee at least one hyperlocal matter will be back on the agenda at the monthly WTC meetings. We are walking in the presence of the country’s leading expert on the developments over the plans to get village green status for the land by Millfields School.
Cllr Vaughan asked for an update.
Over to you, maestro:
“I wish I knew myself…”
Whoops. More to come in the weeks ahead.
A supplementary question was followed up the Deputy Mayor:
“Can we put the Millfields School land AND the St John Ambulance Building back on the Townscape Forum, now that planning permission has been turned down?”
It was unsure whom this question was aimed, but a unanimous YES came back from around the WTC top table.
It was quite an assembled array of political talent at WTC on Monday evening. As well as the Village Green Guru, we were also blessed with the fine company of the man who had challenged for the Leadership of the local LibDem party only an hour earlier.
Blimey.
Cllr Jon Manning of the Cross came back from the corridors of power (or not, as it turned out) to update WTC over his recent ward activity:
“I would like to congratulate Penny and Andrea, as well as Bob for a fine year.”
Tears of joy were almost visible. Unlike around Broomgrove, apparently:
“I have had reports of flooding around Broomgrove on 3rd May. I raised this and an engineer arrived. He told me that he couldn’t see the problem. This is now being chased…”
The rivers run deep towards the top of the town, especially so over the University’s planning application for the multi-story car park.
Cllr Manning commented:
“On the issue of the cycle path – this is not new money that the University is going to fund the project with. I have an issue around traffic management. What happens to the cyclists when they leave the cycle path and then enter Boundary Road and meet the increase in traffic from the car park?”
A good question, and one that was well put.
Before the three ward councillors buggered off to rid the town of potholes and dog pooh, we had confirmation that the cross-ward Working for Wivenhoe arrangement will remain. This means that any S106 wonga will be divvied up around the town, irrespective of wards and wherever deemed necessary.
Righto. Heads down, and time to rattle through the rest of the WTC hyperlocal agenda, just in time for a sweet sherry come the close to toast the new Mayor and her delightful two Escorts.
Planning…
Cllr Sinclair confirmed that there are a few issues regarding the public car park down at Cook’s. “Liquid and spills,” and more importantly the responsibility for these, should they appear, has yet to be addressed.
A polite reminder was made by Cllr Sinclair that funds would be required soon from Finance for a canoe rack down at the dinghy park, which is almost complete - and almost full up, from what I hear…
As for the Health Centre?
“No update.”
Cllr Needham confirmed that there is now interest in the front of the building of the old police houses along the High Street, now owned by WTC. It is also hoped that the car park can be rented out, once the May Fair folk have finished using this for storage next week. Inside the properties and the water has been re-connected. Electricity should follow soon.
The alarm bell ringing Right to Buy issue was also raised by Cllr Needham - ‘cos it would be a little unfortunate to take on the ownership of two of the assets in the community, only to find that the sitting tenants then have the right to buy from WTC.
The matter is being addressed…
Totally off-topic, and totally off the agenda (which kinda fits in with the point being made…) - Cllr Sinclair wanted it to be known publicly for the first time that the Best Vaule Committee is no more.
So it is. ‘Ere’s your money back and a couple of holiday vouchers…
Not so much a dead committee, but one that has served its purpose. Best Value was aka the *real* WTC meeting by some. Debated behind closed doors, policy was *possibly* formed here, before being rubber-stamped in public a couple of days later.
Not no more. It’s all out in the open. No peeping out from the back of the sofa - careful what you might see, Comrades.
The vote on this passed, with ten councillors voting in favour, and Cllr Lodge objecting.
Working Parties…
The Communty Bus is back from the Communty Bus Hospital.
Hurrah!
There is a working party at Wivenhoe Woods on the morning of 27th May - a fine way to work off your May Fair hangover from the day before. 10am in the Roasabelle Avenue car park, all welcome…
In Jubilee News: not long now.
The WTC endorsed Jubilee Ale has arrived.
Chin chin.
Brewed locally and bottled up with WTC labels, this will be delivered to… a certain councillor’s house later on in the week. Watch out for it on eBay, Comrades.
Meanwhile the Jubilee medals have been delivered ahead of the athletics events for the little ankle biters. And bloody lovely they look too (medals, not the little ankle biters.)
Plus don’t forget the dogs. How charming of the Pet Shop Girls down at the Business Centre to very kindly provide some dog biscuit prizes for the Dog Show. It is assumed that these are for the four-legged friends, and not the owners.
With civic sherry just waiting to be sipped, the agenda raced ahead. An incredibly impressive £6,951 was the fine total raise by the outgoing Mr Mayor for local groups. This has all been re-distributed locally.
Lovely.
NOW HEAR THIS: Wivenhoe has a new Town Crier. Welcome to Steve Godwin, who will be ringing his big bell over the course of the Jubilee weekend around the town. A wonderful addition, Sir, and a future blog post waiting to happen…
Which could also possibly be the case for Birmingham.
Blimey.
You know that times are tight and that when the annual WTC Christmas Trip to fancy foreign climes is being reorgansied to head for Brum this year. Bye bye Belgium, hello the Black Country (ish) - yep we’re heading off to the Birmingham Christmas Fair come December.
A very special treat on Sunday lunchtime with a very kind invite to come along to the working party for the work in progress that is the Wivenhoe Jubilee Jigsaw.
The status of the shared project is about to change - *shhh* this was the first time that all the individual parts have been assembled together in the old working shed down at the foot of Alma Street. Thankfully none of the pieces were missing…
As a recap, the Wivenhoe Jubilee Jigsaw is a wonderful community imitative to help the town leave a permanent reminder of the celebrations for Brenda’s big day on 4th June. Some might say legacy; I prefer the term collaboration.
This project has seen a genuine coming together, both online and offline, of individuals and groups from all four corners of Wivenhoe and everything else in the middle. As the jigsaw concept suggests, the aim has been for representatives to take ownership of their hyper hyperlocal patch, and then produce a representation that will become a sum of the parts.
The jigsaw itself will be formally revealed on Jubilee Day as part of the Wivenhoe Town Councilcelebrations being organised on the KGV. The scheduled start time for piecing it all together is 1pm, with hopefully some much deserved words of praise from the incoming Mayor Kraft.
The long-term future for the project is to hopefully leave the jigsaw on permanent display in a prominent place within the town. Those nice folk at the Co-op are proving to be very… co-operative.
Which is really what this entire project has been all about. Tremendous praise and credit must go to Marika Footring, who first came up with the idea, and then had the energy and vision to see it through. This was very much the feeling I found when seeing the individual jigsaw-ees joining together for the first time on Sunday lunchtime.
The project is unique to Wivenhoe, and so are the representations in the artwork. No hard or fast rules were set - if you want to celebrate something in your hyper hyperlocal patch then this was the opportunity to step forward and to leave a… legacy.
All of the names of the folk who have volunteered their time to work on the Jubilee jigsaw will also be named in the WTC time capsule that will be buried on Brenda’s Big Day. It is hoped that the physical jigsaw itself will survive for as long as the time capsule remains an underground reminder of the way we were in the summer of 2012.
Look closely at some of the detail, and hopefully you will see a little bit of yourself. The joining together of the Jubilee Jigsaw wasn’t quite the end of the project, but hopefully the start of something much longer lasting.
