onionbagblog

Midweek downtown, and so it must be a Committee Meeting with the good folk of the Wivenhoe Society. Except I’m not a committee member. No worries - a very kind invite to come along as an interested observer, and there I was, sitting around the top table at The Nottage and noting how the inner workings of WivSoc rotate.

Truth be told and there wasn’t a great deal of gossip. Actually, there wasn’t any gossip - just a small (ish) but passionate committee of locals, talking through current developments within the town, and trying to come up with solutions or suggestions.

Once again I found myself at the heart of the #bigsociety; once again those involved were thankfully operating apolitically, and all for the love of the community in which they live. The #bigsociety has always been around us. It’s such a shame that those who understand it the least have now hijacked this concept of community.

But anyway - The Nottage on a Wednesday night.

Each time I enter the hallowed walls of the Nottage and I have nothing but complete homage. This is a building where the history doesn’t just drip off the walls - it comes out and greets you, reminding you of the proud history of shipbuilding within Wivenhoe.

The WivSoc Committee took up position on the top table, accompanied by the constant (but reassuring) bang bang of the boat building down below. Come eight in the evening and the industrial back beats were joined by the sweet sound of the Wednesday evening bell ringers practise session.

Only in Wivenhoe…

It was rather wonderful to be invited to observe how WivSoc operates. Essentially this is an organisation that at the heart of its constitution has the aim to keep a watchful and supportive eye over the town.

We started off with some feedback from Councillor Needham, coming out of the Wivenhoe Town Council meeting that took place the previous Monday. I’m finding that something of a familiar theme is the opening / closing of Queens Road, which once was an issue that our good Councillor friends have been thinking about much of late.

Cllr Needham reported back on a recent site visit with the developers for Cook’s Shipyard. Although traffic was encountered around East Street and Alma Street, the conclusion from WTC, and the developers, is that there is no scope to re-open Queens Road.

Moving swiftly on…

The feedback from Cllr Needham also included various cost saving measures, as no doubt faced by local councils throughout the land. The current one-to-one escort of SEN pupils within Wivenhoe en route to school is looking at being reduced. Colchester Borough Council is also carrying out an audit of the sums involved in keeping the Philip Road Centre a going concern.

Potholes meanwhile are something of a political hot potato. Wivenhoe seems to fare no better, or no worse, than most areas following the December freeze. Station Road was identified as being something of a problem area. There is also a part of Park Road where potholes now appear to be the norm. Essex County Council is currently putting together a strategy to repair these.

The much talked about dedicated cycleway to the University has also been keeping our good councillors busy of late. This has now become a competitive process, with the budget to put this in place continuing to head northwards - £600k is the latest figure, with the bulk of the bill arising from compensation from the farmer over the land, as well as re-routing utility services.

The budget suggestion is to simply upgrade the public footpath across the field that currently takes you towards the University. By pure coincidence, @AnnaJCowen and I walked across this at the weekend. We were puffing and panting midway through the field. I don’t think my Moulton would cope with the steep incline.

CBC Cllr Steve Ford has been working to help the elderly folk at Britannia Court that have recently had heating problems. A positive outcome appears to have been reached, with CBC agreeing to offer help with the payment of bills.

The final update from Cllr Needham to WivSoc centred on the Speed Catch training sessions. This is an initiative that is being sponsored by WTC, to try and keep Wivenhoe a safe place for all to commute within. Elmstead Road has been identified as one location. WTC is currently on the look out for other areas that might benefit.

Something of a busy night for Cllr Needham, who then had to disappear for further local civic meetings. Someone should make that man the Mayor one day, donctha know…

WivSoc continued apace, with a very healthy Treasurer’s report. The balance books are looking so good, that a rather generous donation to Wivenhoe in Bloom is being considered. I felt it not appropriate to ask for a grant to help re-seed by back lawn.

Updates from our fine Secretary followed. WivSoc has heard from our friends up the road at The University, trying to once again generate local interest and participation in the Knowledge Gateway meeting scheduled to take place on Friday 28th, 7pm at The Nottage.

Yep - that’s right: just as the weekend has kicked in, and with a bottle of bolly on the go and Eastenders soon to start, the University couldn’t have chosen a more inconsiderate time to tell Wivenhoe folk of how the planned feeder route into Clinghoe Hill is going to cause even further congestion.

Not quite in Knowledge Gateway territory, but the clearing of Ferry Marsh is an issue that WivSoc has also been busy corresponding with various organisations. Concern was raised that the Environment Agency has made something of a mess of Ferry Marsh with the recent structural work to the sea wall.

WivSoc has been reassured by the Agency that this is only the first part of the planned work. Now that the landscape has been cleared, the plan if for the walkway to be resurfaced, and for the natural habitat to be encouraged to grow once again.

And relax…

But not for long - here comes Planning.

Oh Lordy.

Surprise was raised that nothing official has surfaced as yet regarding the proposed re-development of Rowhedge Wharf. One to keep a friendly local eye out for. Alterations are also apparently in place for the Royal British Legion. Few details are available, but WivSoc was broadly supportive of any help that the building needed.

And finally we came to the Station Master’s House, and the input from the highly energetic Transition Town Wivenhoe. Once again, the view from WivSoc was one of support and enthusiasm. The momentum of the group was recognised as one that can only be good for the town. Plans were made to partner TTW, and to encourage the members to participate in WivSoc’s Open Gardens event.

And that was about your lot. As an interested (and invited) observer, I thought it only good etiquette to observe how booze then follows these meetings along the Quay at the British Legion.

WivSoc is an ever-evolving organisation, and can only really reflect the views of those in the community that decide to join and participate. If you have any issues or suggestions as to how to make Wivenhoe an even better place to live or work, then joining WivSoc has to be the way ahead.

#bigsociety and booze?

Blimey.