onionbagblog

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.

listen to ‘#Wivenhoe #Wittertainment with @wivmovingimage’ on Audioboo

A question then came from Cllr Sinclair of WTC, asking for clarification on the University’s multi-story car park planning application that is due to be heard by the Borough’s Planning Committee this Thursday.

Cllr Young commented:

“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.

Bring your own sick bag.

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 Council celebrations 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.

Lovely.

listen to ‘How the #Wivenhoe @JubileeJigsaw was made (mainly with @marikafootring…) #hyperlocal #community’ on Audioboo

And so I’m kinda Open Garden-ed out. But in a nice way. Two days of trudging around the town, renewing friendships and finding new ones. Anyone wanting to get a feel for what life is truly like in Wivenhoe could do no better than a weekend of Open Gardens.

Sunday saw similar ramblings to Saturday, but with our trip taking us north of the Co-op. There’s life up there - who knew?

Both schools were also taken in. Hugh credit to Mr Charming Deputy Head at Millfields. The week after SATS and the Y6 teacher spent his weekend… explaining to adults how the Millfields garden grows.

Lovely, lovely Sir.

Likewise over at Broomgrove. The treat of a guided tour of the garden by an incredibly confident and competent Y6 young lady speaks volumes for the ethos of the school. The gardens were half decent as well.

Elsewhere and we experienced cream scones (superb,) chickens and a request to road test a hammock.

Job’s a good ‘un.

Not much else to say - that back garden won’t water itself donchtaknow (although most definitely not with a hosepipe. Oh no, not round here…)

Many, many thanks to St Mary’s and Wiv Soc for such a splendid weekend. And of course to all the charming garden owners who so very kindly welcomed us into their private patches, taking great joy in showcasing what they had to offer.

Weather woes? In Wivenhoe?

You ‘aint gonna rain on our parade…

Full flickr feed.

To St Mary’s! And the High Street! Via Spindrift Way! …on Saturday: in fact To half of bloody Wivenhoe! …as the ACE Open Gardens weekend engulfed the town once again.

I’ve blogged before about how Open Garden Weekend is the personal highlight in my hyperlocal Wivenhoe social calendar. Superbly organised by both St Mary’s and the Wivenhoe Society, the entire weekend is given over to having a gander around the back passages of your friendly neignbours.

Funds are raised for St Mary’s and Wiv Soc’s chosen deserving hyperlocal cause. But more importantly, the incredible amount of trust handed over in allowing folk to look around your own private space, breeds a better sense of community and co-operation.

Thirty gardens in total took place in Wivenhoe Open Gardens 2012. These included many new locations from last year. Ambitious plans to divvy up both days were long since lost by many folk.

It’s not a race, and after those first few nervous approaches when you wander into someone’s garden, the conversation just flows. Before you know it and it’s time for an early evening recuperation at The Greyhound.

Chin chin.

Dubbed by *some* as RHS Wivenhoe [aha!] Open Gardens 2012 was a washout waiting to happen. The Wivenhoe weather woes of April almost led to Opens Gardens being best viewed by boat, somewhere slightly above Station Road.

But cometh Open Gardens weekend, cometh the conditions to provide a hyperlocal climate that allowed the lushness of the green foliage to forget about the dark clouds of late. Like last year, it was a gamble to stage the event in May. The traditional English summer garden may be a month or so away from full bloom, but roses are for Alan Titchmarsh groupies.

Um, over here, Sir…

But to approach Open Gardens with the aim of only being interested in the herbaceous borders is the wrong attitude.

It’s all about the social.

Gardens are simply the medium in which to get-together, gossip and generally get to know a little more about the community in which you live. I emerged from the first day of Open Garden-ing with a better understanding of choral music, the capacity to eat cake at every stop and even the healing power of a green space.

Betcha you wouldn’t get any of that from pottering around in isolation down the garden shed. Now go and wash your hands…

Ideas seemed to flow out of the many conversations. The incredibly kind hosts are only too keen to explain more about what they have achieved, and to offer help about how to transfer these skills to your own garden.

Walking from top to bottom, left to right, and tips are also exchanged en route by the many programme clasping Open Garden participants.

Pssst! Have you ticked off the hidden delights of the secret garden at number 34? It’s like Babylon comes to Broadfileds. Smile nicely and you may just get some sponge cake down by the garden shed.

And so what of the limited gardens that I got to take in on Day 1 of Open Gardens 2012? A plan was hatched, but the hyperlocal chat got in the way of the route. Which is how it should be, really.

The delightful In Accord started us off with a fine half hour serenade at St Mary’s. The local four piece sang songs full of the optimism for May, setting the scene for the sights of the afternoon ahead.

Garden No.1 didn’t disappoint. We returned to Clifton Terrace, the surprise scene for the absolute highlight of Open Gardens twelve months previous. What should be an assuming slope that simply backs onto the railway line reveals the absolute genius in Wivenhoe gardening.

Lovingly layered out with a series of steps, the space is used to create five gardens in one. You walk down each layer to find a slight variation on the planting theme. The suntrap that is Station Road (seriously) captures those rays to make this simply the best garden in Wivenhoe.

The trundling of trains out towards the back almost adds the sense of a miniature railway at the foot of your garden. Well, it does if you squint, anyway.

It’s not a competition (oh no…) but this Clifton Terrace masterpiece picks up the order of merit from m’blog.

So there.

Transition Town Wivenhoe was once again able to deliver with the ACE Station Master’s Garden. This is the very definition of a practical, working community garden. An otherwise dead patch of land has been handed over to a passionate group that is producing right here in Wivenhoe.

We were encouraged to help ourselves during the daily commute - the veg is there for all to share. Plus *shhh* I hear that the Community Supported Agriculture project up at nearby Bennison Farm is almost ready to start offering shares.

A return to another favourite along Spindrift Way then followed. It was great to see the front of house veg planting to capture the sun was working once again. We very much liked the champagne and strawberries touch, Madam.

One of the finds for 2012 was the very kind offer of the opening up of a private patch along The Folly and out towards the muddy banks of the Colne. Such a grand garden - how great to have access to look around an area that you wouldn’t normally get to see.

The traditional Wivenhoe Quayside landscape is a familiar view. To gain a slightly different view added more understanding to the experience. Plus the photographs from the pre-barrier days when the Folly was flooded was an extra insight.

A short walk out towards Walter Radcliffe Way and we encountered our first whale tooth.

Cripes.

A new development courtyard has been completely transformed into a Colne themed homage to the immediate hyperlocal surroundings. A sail was suspended to add sun cover, and all around were remnants recovered from the Colne. This was where art and creativity meets garden space.

I hear that the garden inherited from the owner’s previous property is half-decent as well…

A final mention for the transformation of the space just off the High Street, with a prayer garden promoting Love, Faith and Hope was in place. Which seems like a suitable ideal in which to promote Wivenhoe Open Gardens.

Away from the main map and there was something of a fringe festival for Open Gardens to take in as well this year. A central High Street location was selling off plants that had been kindly donated to Wiv Soc. Business was as brisk at the No.62 bus heading down the High Street.

St Mary’s also staged a display of the miniature gardens superbly created by some of the younger folk in the town. Seeing the excitement of the little ankle biters in finding that they has been awarded an order of merit was an added Awww… moment for Open Gardens.

Plus don’t forget the random pop up cafes that sprung up around many of the private gardens. As if opening up public access wasn’t good enough, supplying tea and cake just shows how much goodness can come out of gardening.

Wivenhoe Open Gardens continues around the town on Sunday. Programmes priced at £4 should be available from 80 the High Street, as well as up at Toad Hall. The personal plan is to now go from bottom up.

Continue where you left off overnight.

Nice.

Full flickr feed.

To the Congregational Hall! …on Saturday morning to stock up on all the great and good that you get from sewing the seeds of love. Sounds Saucy, Madam? Just wait until you see the size of the sausages that I picked up at the monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market.

But of course meat doesn’t grow on trees. I’ve learnt this much already. An unashamed monthly purchase from the ACE bargain bin beside the Primrose Pork stall, and even the part-time veggie within wanted to devour some RAW meat.

A fiver for five portions of the best burgers ‘n bangers from the lovely, lovely Great Bentley based farm. Saturday night is SAUSAGE TIME around these parts, from now until, well, until the next monthly Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market.

This was something of an even more social occasion within the Congregational Hall. No one is going to claim that the back room is the epicentre of networking where deals are thrashed out over a cappuccino - and thank the chuffers for that.

But the appearance of the Transition Cafe, set up by the good folk of Transition Town Wivenhoe, did make for the perfect place in which to make a few more hyperlocal connections. It gave the morning a more laid back feel. No in / out for your sausage time, but a more sedate space in which to stay and have a chat.

The local traders appreciated the footfall, the produce didn’t step on anyone else’s toes. Being TTW the carrot cakes et al were all loving hand-knitted at home, and then transported to the Cafe du Congregational Hall by foot.

We think.

Rosie and Nadia were as charming as ever (especially when faced with a MEAT fixated man thrusting his microphone in their face.)

Ta, ladies.

listen to ‘Transition Cafe at #Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market with @TransitionWiv’ on Audioboo

A bag of carrots and a bag of onions completed the purchase. You need to two veg to go with your RAW meat, Madam.

Where’s the soap?

Oh yes - don’t forget the now monthly stock up on the delightful fragrance that is a bar of lavender, lovingly made by those lovely people from the Colne Soap Makers. This is proving to be something of a hyperlocal find in our household. Even the best bar that Mr Sainsbury can hand deliver, soon slithers away after one under the arms wash ‘n wipe.

You get quality in a Colne bar, which rather conveniently seems to last the monthly duration timed in with the Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market. Disclaimer: that nice Delhi Man Mike also stocks Colne Soap bars. Disclaimer Disclaimer: Anne and Christian from Colne Soap Makers are speaking @15QueenStreet next month.

Best get scrubbed up.

But first, some MEAT.

Easy, tiger.

How best to celebrate Brenda’s Diamond Jubilee? By reading a copy of The Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Chronicle of course, Comrades. Yep, another month, another hand delivered [hurrah!] copy of the Esteemed Organ of Truth and Justice.

And whaddya know - Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is the front page lead:

“To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at Wivenhoe there will be a party in the park on the KGV on Monday 4th June. Official opening of the events will be by the Mayor of Wivenhoe, Penny Kraft, 11:10am.”

The very decent Mayor of Wivenhoe [in waiting...] runs an incredibly tight ship. 11:10 means 11:10, not a minute before or a minute after. Set your St Mary’s ding dong bells by it, Comrades, rather helpfully being peeled from early on in the morning.

Betcha Brenda will be able to hear them from Buckingham Palace.

The Wivenhoe good news continues on p.2, with the snazzy headline of:

The Wivenhoe May Fair, Offering Something for Everyone

It really is quite wonderful that the likes of a brass band prom, a teddy bear hunt and a dog show can take place on the very same site that Animal Noise will be encouraging bare foot behaviour as the soundtrack to their Sunny Colch meets the spirit of Ibiza ’88 soundtrack

…the bare foot behaviour of the spirit of Ibiza ’88 will be witnessed at May Fair, and not at Brenda’s big birthday bash a week later.

Phew. Glad we cleared that one up.

Equally exciting, but hopefully without the bare foot element is the news that the much mooted Brightlingsea to Sunny Colch ferry service is soon to start:

New Ferry Service for the River Colne

“A new ferry service on the Colne between Brightlingsea, Wivenhoe, Rowhedge and Colchester is to be introduced next month. The intention for this service is to improve links between these riverside communities by providing an alternative occasional and novel transport service, and to promote the river Colne as a valuable local amenity and leisure source.”

Scoop Scarpenter goes on to explain how the new service will not compete with the existing Wivenhoe and Rowhedge Ferry; passengers won’t be able to travel from one side of the Colne to the other whenever the current service is in operation.

Dogs and bicycles are both welcome on board.

Woof woof, chapeau!

Which might also have been the phrase uttered by some of our local political parties following the results of the Colchester Borough Council local elections that took place at the start of the month.

Scoop reports:

Labour and Liberal Democrats Enjoy Electoral Success

Who, what, where, why, when etc…

Labour’s Cyril Liddy won in the Quay, taking the Tory held seat; the LibDem’s Jon Manning retained his Cross seat. This was quite a decent hyperlocal campaign on the whole.

CLICHE KLAXON: the winner was democracy. An impressive 42% turnout was recorded for the Quay ward - the highest in the whole of the borough. The Quay was the only ward out of the twenty to change hands. Same as it ever was (sort of) around the cabinet table at CBC.

You know what you’re getting with a headline of:

Jacqui’s Paintings are Brilliantly Unique

Nice.

“A creative, colourful and full of fantasy art exhibition is running at the Wivenhoe Gallery until 19th May. The paintings are all the work of local artist Jacquie Boyd and are in watercolours, acrylics, pastels and inks.”

Well worth a look before the weekend. Brilliantly unique indeed, and representing a hint of mid-summer freshness in these drought testing weeks of late.

Which must mean that it is almost time for the battle cry of anyone for tennis?

Tennis Club Grows in Popularity

“The Wivenhoe Tennis Club continues to grow in popularity and strength and has recently submitted a planning application to Colchester Borough Council for a new clubhouse. If all goes well, the club hopes to have the clubhouse operational by the end of the summer.”

I’ll drink a Robinson’s Barely Water to that.

Chin chin.

Scoop adds how four teams have been entered into the Colchester and District Tennis League, as well as news of the Open Tournament being staged at Broad Lane on 24th June.

Club coach Jamie Bird has also been recognised for his hyperlocal work, having just picked up an award for Outstanding Work in Development from the Lawn Tennis Association.

A club - and clubhouse - on the up.

ACE, etc.

Parish notices cover the WEA Turner and Beethoven session (NOT a US label import collaboration between Tina and yer man Ludwig, but a one day session at the Congregational Hall on the Romantic period,) the Folk Club at The Flag on 7th June (sadly no Tina Turner here, either) and news of the Jubilee / Wildlife Garden (depending on who you talk to…) at the back of the WTC offices.

So yeah, start as you mean to carry on, Comrades. Everything begins and ends with Brenda over the next few weeks. Bring out the bunting and the Special Brew.

Chin chin.

And so what has changed in the re-submitted planning application [PDF] by the University of Essex to build a multi-story car park, that has led the apolitical planning officers of Colchester Borough Council to recommend that the controversial scheme gets the go ahead when the Planning Committee next meets on 24th May?

Well…

The number of parking spaces has been reduced.

By two.

Yep - from 779 in the original application that was pulled from the agenda last month at the last moment, to 777.

On yer bike, etc.

Oh ye cycling sustainability cynic. There’s actually a little more meat in the re-submitted application that has given the Boundary Road multi-deck carbuncle the green light. Dig a little deeper, scratch a little more in a touchy feely way, and you can see how planning matters are all a matter of compromise.

Well, almost nearly all…

There’s the small matter of £250k heading the way of Wivenhoe, via University Section 106 funding from the Knowledge Gateway. The locals will get a much needed cycle path between the town’s Fire Station and the University, under the proviso that the car park gets the Planning Committee’s seal of approval.

A positive move, for sure, but one wonders what is the need for a cycle path, now that the University is making it oh so very easy to park your car on campus?

Cllr Julie Young of St Andrew’s ward helped to broker the deal, and is keen to take the credit for the back scratching compromise:

“This is excellent for Wivenhoe, the cycle link has been wanted for so long, hopefully consent will be given for the car park and the money will be released, this is something I brokered between planning and the University.”

Sure, cycle paths need to be paid for, and when you are a local authority that is facing up to implementing cuts from the top down, sadly cycling is very low down on the agenda. But building a car park as the means to an end to providing cycling provision is like saying vote LibDem so that you don’t get the Tory bogeyman.

Oh, hang on…

It doesn’t tackle the core of the problem, namely the increasing number of cars on the road around the campus, something that the University is doing little to address. This is a view that is shared by Wivenhoe Town Council.

In a scathing submission to the apolitical planning officers, WTC argued:

“It will affect an overload on traffic routes, produce congestion on roads and have the effect of a reduction in the University’s support of the use of buses, which in term may cause a very good public transport system to be reduced, or even lost.

The proposal encourages car use. The University should instead be promoting cycling, as per their 1995 strategy in which their future plans were to reduce dependency on car usage by promoting cycling and installing a railway halt.

The proposal does not explain how the building of the car park will enhance sustainable transport.”

And so that will be a NO from WTC, then.

Objections have also been received from Colchester Cycling Campaign, C-Bus and the Wivenhoe Society - y’know, the kind of groups that you would want to have on board if you were trying to promote bicycling within the borough.

The esteemed members of the CBC Planning Committee will be meeting on 24th June, 6pm at the Town Hall to make a decision on the application. Bicycle lock up provision is available along the High Street.

Disclaimer: I am rather keen on bicycling.

You don’t say.

Chapeau!

#ridecolchester, blah blah blah, but probably not around Boundary Road, once this behemoth of a carbuncle in praise of the car industry is built.

Oh – a bit of balance: the University is staging a Green Fair on campus on Thursday. Car parking might be a bit of an issue, Comrades.