onionbagblog

Late February and it seems that spring has finally sprung out in the estuary wilds. I say finally, but I fear my impatience for all the fawn and flora is down to being a first timer when it comes to countryside living.

Spring back on the mean streets of South London sometimes meant that the roads were swept; if you were lucky then a solitary weed might poke through by your front door, watered by the urine of the street drinkers in the early hours.

Nice.

And so ever since our ambition of actually owning a garden became a reality, I have been waiting for the change of season in Wivenhoe, and the chance to observe on a daily basis the changing landscape around me.

Out down towards the front, and sadly any of this new sign of seasonal life seems to have been curtailed by the un-environmental Environment Agency. Closer to home however and our little patch is presenting us with hidden surprises popping up to say hello.

We have been incredibly fortunate to inherit a wonderful, mature and manageable garden. We’ve only lost one tree so far due to our green-fingered incompetence.

Whoops.

I personally planted some cheapo B & Q bulbs back in November, just before that bleak midwinter bedded in for the season. I wasn’t too optimistic of any action, but the shoots are now starting to poke through.

What is really wonderful however are the hidden surprises left behind by the very generous previous owners. Not knowing of the whereabouts of any under soil little surprises, we are waking each morning to find new spring plants emerging out of the winter gloom.

The plan is very much to see what this spring and summer months presents us with. We can then start planning properly next autumn, looking beyond a pleasant garden to hopefully a vegetable patch as well.

But until then, it is a time to explore and appreciate all that is green and good around us in Wivenhoe.

Thursday night is social night in Wivenhoe and the surrounds - or so it would seem, with an itinerary of entertainment that would stretch the imagination of even the most social of butterflies. Or even bored bloggers.

Blimey.

With the good folk of the May Fair Committee holding an open source meeting to plan for the merriment later in the year, the Funny Farm continuing its fine run of form up at the cricket club, and even Poetry Wivenhoe proving that there’s more to words at The Greyhound than simply ordering your next pint.

Oh - and to top it all, there was a Neighborhood Watch Meeting at the Town Council Offices.

The crazy world of rock ‘n roll, etc.

Spoilt for choice, and I took my social interests out of town. You scoundrel! You bounder!

Steady the buffers. I wasn’t turning my back on this fine parish, simply taking the 19:32 out of Wivenhoe Station for the monthly Creative in Colchester meetup at the ace @15QueenStreet.

As a social member, then I was keen to explore further the social elements of the ever-growing hub of connected locals centred around @15QueenStreet. Although this is most definitely *not* a mini-bar event, oh no Sireee, no, no, no… but I was rather hoping for some booze as well.

I wasn’t disappointed. On the creative front and it was great to catch up with @tinysketchbook, @15percentkidney, @coolcolchester, @madebysplendid, @LeePugh10, firstsiteHannah, ColchCircleMag, HESAIDtalent and not forgetting @Singyamatokun & creativecoop for making it all happen. Plus heads up to the top soulful tunes being spun by the rather cool CantCutCarwyn.

What is great about these events is the informality, which is then matched with a purpose. Sure, you socialise around the room and talk about collaboration and co-operation to help promote Colchester. But you need action to back all of this up.

Which is why shortly before 9pm, @marcde_ath called the crowd of creatives up to the board room for a couple of presentations and planning from some local folk operating out of Colchester.

First up we had the excellent @hiddendingbats. This is a collective in every true sense, with one half of the partnership firmly bedded down in Wivenhoe. Lauren and Phil are fresh design graduates out of the Colchester Institute. The way in which they promote their work enables them to come across as experienced pros.

Copyright: Hidden Dingbat Collective.

With a portfolio that already includes @firstsite, Colchester Free Festival and Wivenhoe’s very own Moving Image, the Dingbats are a collective that have firmly established themselves on the local design map.

What was wonderful to hear however was the plans for the next phase. We all need to pay the bills, and the Dingbats work incredibly hard to do this during the week. At the @15QueenStreet social though they outlined an ambitious plan to put in place genuine co-operation for Colchester based creatives.

The idea is to to stage a series of weekend camps @15QueenStreet. The Collective brings together anyone that can offer a skill - design, developers, networkers, video artists, audio specialists - even bloggers.

Blimey.

With no client to please outside of the working week, the team identifies a possible project, priority or even problem that has a local agenda. We then explore how our various skills can build a solution, be it digitally or using more traditional media.

It may lead to a commercial enterprise; it may simply lead to a fun way to spend the weekend with like-minded individuals who are working off the many hands mantra. With events such as the Colchester Free Festival almost coming on to the horizon once again, this seems like an ace way in which to move forward.

You can contact the Dingbats on twitter, or email them over here. No dates have yet to be set; no skills base or experience will be turned away. Beer and pizza will probably also be involved.

A round of applause in the boardroom, and then the floor was handed over to Black Box Press, to proudly showcase some of the beautiful books that the not for profit platform has been helping to put together over the past couple of years.

Having purchased a Risograph GR3770 printing machine, it was refreshing to hear how this more traditional approach to design and creativity totally overlooks the digital landscape.

This doesn’t mean that Black Box Press is living in the past - the online presence is still there. But there is recognition that design needn’t be digital, and judging by the order books, there is still definitely a market for this elegant way of spreading a message.

It reminded me very much have the iconic EP and album covers put out by Crass in the early ’80s. Part of the message is contained in the process of design and production, an operation in itself that is a labour of love.

Back downstairs in the non mini-bar, and the socialising carried on. Keeping with the not for profit theme, I handed over a bottle of Wivenhoe Sloe Gin to help liven up the spirits. I couldn’t wait to get rid of the rank concoction to be honest.

I had a great catch up with @firstsitehannah over the progress of the flagship arts space for the east of England - it was all very encouraging. The Colchester Circle magazine folk were on fine form and full of ideas for the town. I even managed a rather tired and emotional (apologies) conversation with the inspiration behind walkies. Oh - and an ace idea from @creativecoop to help promote the Wivenhoe Forum at the May Fair.

So yeah - I may have missed out on the #hyperlocal Wivenhoe action for the evening, but a quick trip into town filled me with enthusiasm to hopefully put ideas into place back at base.

Many, many thanks to all @15QueenStreet for being so encouraging and supportive as I find my feet in my new patch. This is an incredibly welcoming crowd, genuinely keen to collaborate and exchange ideas with other locals keen to promote all that is good in Colchester.

The next Creative in Colchester meet up is on 31st March. Best start bottling that sloe gin.

Chin chin.

If it’s Wednesday Week then it must mean that it’s time for a meeting of the lovely Wivenhoe Society committee in the library upstairs at the Nottage.

Hurrah!

Not that I officially sit at the top table for the local group that has Wivenhoe, its heritage and its future at its heart - simply that I have been very kindly invited to come along to the meetings as an interested observer. I think that’s a polite way of putting that I’m a nosey parker.

With kitten commitments eating into my early evening (update: we have litter tray lift off. Oh Lordy…) no surprises that I was running slightly late as I headed quayside.

No worries - the first agenda item was a report on the most recent Wivenhoe Town Council meeting that took place on Monday. Our fine man from the Council was double-booked (and possibly double-parked) and so we had a read out of the minutes from the fine Chair.

It was an interesting blow-by-blow account of potholes, police station sell-offs and public convenience refurbishment updates. It was also a repeat performance for me, and so I wasn’t going to be taken in by any cliffhanger.

Mr Mayor‘s bike left unlocked outside The Greyhound, you say? It ‘aint gonna be a happy ending, fella.

Sticking with WTC, and WivSoc heard how our local councillors are a little cash strapped right now. Not in a personal sense - although there’s no dosh to be made out of volunteering for civic service - but as a consequences of the cuts coming our way via Colchester Borough Council and beyond.

The consequences for WivSoc are all connected to the Colne clean up on the 10th April. Breaking tradition, and WTC has asked for a small payment to cover the cost of two employees to help take away all the crap that has sadly found its way by the banks of the Colne.

A ‘friendly and constructive conversation’ followed. I’m no kiss and teller: in fact I’m lucky if I ever get to reach the kissing stage. But I’m breaking no confidences is stating that the balance sheet of the WivSoc probably can’t stretch to TWO groundsmen, Sunday overtime et al.

At a wider level, this opens up very real questions about who actually holds the responsibility for looking after the Colne: CBC? WTC? WivSoc? *shhh* Dave’s #bigsociety?

Blimey.

It’s all about doing your bit, and helping out wherever and whenever you can. We are blessed in Wivenhoe to have wonderful organisations such as The Hub youth club and Transition Town Wivenhoe, both of whom have very kindly offered to lend some helping hands on the big day of the riverbank clean up.

The river is sadly looking a right old mess heading out towards the Hythe. Time allowing and I sometimes stop to pick up the odd can. Many hands make light work. Two WTC groundsmen may make light work, but they will also lighten the load on the WivSoc bank account.

Speaking of which, I’m playing my cards closer to my chest than a 44FF gifted young lady who is holding all the aces: Yep - it’s only the WivSoc Treasurer’s Report.

A small amount of money has been made from selling calendars. Costs have occurred in printing out the Newsletter up at University, plus the very kind donation from WivSoc to Wivenhoe in Bloom (£200 seeing as though you ask. I think the tight lipped 44FF gifted young lady has just undone a singular bra strap.)

The Secretary’s Report confirmed that the speaker at the WivSoc AGM in April will be the Director of Colchester Arts Centre. This is an ace choice of guest, with three decades of sex, drugs and rock’n roll to tell tall tales of. Oh - and Fairport Convention.

Other AGM plans are now all in place. Most importantly these include the news that Dave Harrison, the Wivenhoe Wine Toaster Extraordinaire is well on the case. Or even the cases.

Chin Chin.

Perhaps the most important part of the evening was the monthly analysis of planning applications. Wivenhoe is full (so said the man who has just moved in…) Even minor alterations can have an impact upon the local infrastructure.

The application for a block of flats along Rectory Road has been withdrawn. WivSoc welcomes this, taking the view that the original plans were cramp and ill conceived.

But the real biggie when it comes to proposed new buildings right now is all about that other lot over the river. The planning application has now been formally submitted for the redevelopment of Rowhedge Warf. It seems that our near neighbours are about to go through what Wivenhoe went through over the past two decades with the residential opening up of the waterfront.

With the original application for 300 new builds being thrown out by CBC, the developers have now come back with a proposal for 170 new homes on the site of the empty wharf.

Don’t be fooled by the reduction - this is the application for only the first stage. Today’s Cook’s Phase 3 is the future Phase 3 for our friends at Rowhedge. A total of 250 new builds is believed to be the aim of the developer.

And so what interest is all of this to WivSoc? Well… that beautiful scenic waterfront view just as the sun is setting over West Quay could look drastically different in a decade from now.

The derelict wharf ‘aint exactly a beauty spot right now, but the opportunity is there to guide and advise as to what might take its place, and help keep the Colne a scenic place in which to live around.

The newly submitted plans seem to suggest that an access road will be built right along the Rowhedge waterfront. On a practical level this allows more property to be tightly packed in.

WivSoc takes the view that the increase in traffic levels, and subsequent noise, are sufficient reasons to oppose this. An access road behind the first row of houses, similar to West Quay, would seem more sensible.

The new set of plans has dropped the proposal for a series of tall residential properties. Two and a half storey is now the average height, with a single flagship taller property as the centerpiece, designed to mirror the splendor of our own St Mary’s.

Good luck on that one.

And so the Rowhedge redevelopment seems inevitable, and if put in place sensibly, most certainly an improvement on the current abandoned wharf. But there’s a huge gulf between local sensibilities and the balance sheet of a corporate developer.

Moving on…

A domestic planning application for Belle Vue Road was briefly touched upon. I have a personal policy of publicly not passing any judgment on non-commercial planning applications - there but for the grace of God, ‘n all that twaddle. Did I mention the plans for a skyscraper extension to our back garden?

Concluding the planning update and the application for Cedric’s Bus Garage has been withdrawn. No reason has been stated. CBC has turned down the planning application for a care home for special needs kids on Cracknall Close, up towards Broomgorve.

Planning sorted, time for some Front of House hospitality. We’re talking in particular here the annual competition to see who can tart up their two up, two down best with hanging baskets and other fauna and flora. Excitement is building within WivSoc (seriously) with the publicity, prizes and judges being organised.

A request was then considered from WTC for a call of interest in helping to put together plans for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the town next year. WivSoc collectively may be supportive of the Monarchy, but then again WivSoc *may not* be collectively supportive of the Monarchy. Either way, no official Royalist response is being sent back to the Town Council offices.

On the Social front and a quick read of the officer’s report suggests that WivSoc is one wild abandon of a social party, with an occasional eye on planning applications.

Possibly.

Bookings are already coming in for the November Craft Fair (phew - rock ‘n roll.) A serious fiscal debate then followed, regarding the raising of the entry price from 20p to 50p. It is under such circumstances that revolutions take hold.

The fine Wivenhoe Folk Club and Transition Town Wivenhoe group have both been offered free stalls for the WivSoc Fun Day on 10th September. The rather excellent Judith Chalmers popular combo band has been booked once again for the Post Christmas Party on 7th January.

The NAP minutes were then up for discussion. Once again, I refer my honorable friend to the answer I gave some three weeks ago.

And finally, Any Other Business - always the best part of any local meeting, and the one time when I feel like taking to my feet for a spot of stand up.

But there wasn’t much to laugh about when we went over the escalation during the past month of the blatant vandalism of the Colne vegetation by the Environment Agency. This is an area that was discussed in mild terms last month when the signs first went up.

What has happened in-between has been well documented. There’s one hell of a difference between the posting of some A4 signs along the Colne, and the complete destruction of the once wonderful area of natural beauty.

With spring finally starting to shoot through along the estuary, the one uplifting thought to come out of the very depressing debate was the hint of some guerilla gardening taking place by the Colne.

Cripes.

And then a final, final item agenda, which seems to have slipped into our little local patch almost undetected. Heads up the good folk of the Queens Road Resident’s Association who were very early on the case in highlighting the proposed waste dump site across the river at Fingringhoe Wick.

What is up for grabs here is essentially landfill:

“Thames and Colne have a plan to import and process waste at Ballast Quay. Part of the company’s plans for the expansion of four quarry sites in Fingringhoe involves the import and processing of inert waste material to infill the quarry sites. Processing of the waste will take place at Ballast Quay.”

A huge variety of materials are proposed to be part of the project. This includes plastic and other non-biogradable items. Where this leaves the long-term plan of flooding the marsh remains to be seen.

Of more immediate concern is the 24/7 schedule for the operation. The noise of the mechanical machinery will travel around 1km in distance - easily within reach of the residential accommodation down by Wivenhoe Quay. It is also expected to be a light pollutant as well.

As this is a business proposal and not a residential property development, it seems that the usual channels for alerting and consulting with local residents has passed by under the radar. WivSoc is going to urgently raise the matter with Essex County Councillor Julie Young, and Bernard Jenkin MP.

And so that was WivSoc for another month. With issues covering major commercial and residential development, down to the cost of entering the Craft Fair. The agenda reflects the diverse issues currently taking place around the town, and likewise the need for a diverse range of local representation.

Once again, I feel guided to point you in the direction of the membership page on the WivSoc website. If you join up rather prompt, you might just be in time for the AGM, the debate and… the booze.

Chin chin.

Move to the estuary wilds and you’ll end up blogging all about bloody kittens, was the claim from the South London doubters ahead of the Great Escape.

Nah - not me. Cats are for pussies. I still walk it like I talk it, Comrades.

Ah - lookey here: it’s only Murphie, the simply adorable kitten.

Ahhh…

Whoops.

So yeah, Saturday morning and @AnnaJCowen and I headed off to Colchester Cat Rescue to hopefully find a new friend. The sanctuary on the edge of Ardleigh is simply an ace place. The original owner has recently passed away, leaving a legacy of looking after, and hopefully re-homing, the lost cats of Colchester.

We were rightfully vetted in every sense, with postcode checks, a comprehensive questionnaire (why do you want a cat - um, cos they iz funny?) and then a pairing up policy that was just perfect for our needs.

We were introduced to half a dozen of the little darlings. It’s not a beauty contest, as I reminded @AnnaJCowen, with memories of our own Colchester blind date from over two decades ago.

It would have been easier if we were given no choice, rather than be love torn between two cats in particular. Big Boy Jerry was a right bruiser. A white beast that roams his territory, taking no crap from other neighboring cats. But with the (lovely) unwelcome guest still occasionally sniffing around, Jerry would have kicked off the Wivenhoe Cat Wars.

Which left us falling instantly for Murphie, the black and white little lost kitten. She was altogether a very different story - an unloved cat that has no confidence, having had a horrendous start to her short life so far.

Thrown over the Cat Rescue fence in a carrier with a ‘look after this cat’ note (ffs) - Murphie shied away from us as we ventured into her pen and cautiously approached.

She is the kind of cat that is difficult to re-home, simply because she is unable to give much attention back. It was for this very reason that we asked if we could try and help her out.

Not technically a kitten at just under three years old, little Murphie still has a lot to learn. She is quite a challenge to try and regain her trust in humans. Thankfully we have the time and home space to try and help her out.

True to form, the early hours were indeed tough. Murphie stayed in her cat carrier for just under ten hours, only poking her nose out late in the evening for a brief stretch.

We closed the door in her safe room overnight, confident that we had taken every precaution to limit any possible trouble spots and areas of safety concern. Come Sunday morning and we had lost little Murphie.

I looked around the room, but there was no sign. My mind raced through all forms of fanciful theories - escaping through the letterbox? Cat kidnap? Spontaneous combustion?

It seems that we had overlooked the small matter of the unblocked fireplace.

Oh Lordy.

A rather panicky Sunday morning followed, trying to tempt Murphie down and prevent her from climbing any further. Some very kind help and advice via twitter, and shortly after lunch, she came sniffing down for some food.

Tremendous progress has been over the past forty-eight hours since. Murphie is out of her safe room, and happy to explore the rest of the house. She has become trustful of us, even advancing to jumping up to sit on our lap - which is all rather handy when you have eight hours of cricket a day to watch for the next six weeks.

The pattern of sleeping during the day, and being active early evening fits in perfectly with my working from home routine. I can ramble on to her, with a half-crooked ear taking it all in, before rolling over and begging for a belly stroke - Murphie, not me.

And so a blog all about kittens, you say? Remind me - why did I think going down the dog route was the way ahead when planning the Great Escape?

Meowww…

To the Town Council office on Monday evening for the monthly meeting of the Wivenhoe Town Council.

Cripes.

Relax, m’South London Comrades - WTC is largely apolitical, comprising of locally elected representatives who have the best interests of the town at heart.

Unlike, um…

Democracy and representation appears to be alive and well within Wivenhoe. Eight of our fine councillors were in attendance, with apologies from the absent three.

Perhaps even more poignant was the appearance of seven locals in the public galley (random chairs scattered around the room) and a couple of local Colchester Borough Councillors to provide updates for their patch.

This was the first meeting of WTC since the blatant act of vandalism by the Environment Agency on the vegetatation of the banks of the Colne. Mr Mayor, Brian Sinclair, was aware of the public interest and moved this item to the top of the agenda.

Mr Mayor, explaining the position of WTC on the Colne clearance, read out a brief statement:

“We have had lots of phone calls and conversations since the work started. Wivenhoe Town Council empathises with the feelings of residents who are deeply angered and upset with the Environment Agency.

We were aware that the work was planned, but no actual start date was given. Local information was limited to A4 sized posters appearing by the site. We have made enquiries with the Environment Agency about the work. This is part of a national policy.

If any residents which to take the matter further, we have provided some information slips [reproduced below...] There is nothing else that we can do as a town council - we have done all that we can.”

The welcome information slip states:

Dear Resident,

WTC are aware and concerned about the distress caused by the rapid clearance of the sea walls. We are unable to stop this national policy but if you width to complain to the EA, the contact is 01473 706 100, [email protected]

A quick click and a rational email explaining your concerns, and hopefully the strength of local opposition regarding the destruction of our natural beauty will be registered.

But for some within the meeting, the statement from WTC didn’t go far enough. Up stepped a local resident to address the council, and to explain some revealing background information that has emerged through dealing with the EA staff on site.

“The notices put up by the EA were not specific to Wivenhoe. The same notices have been posted at scores of places all over East Anglia. In the case of Wivenhoe the reasons offered by the EA for the vegetation clearance turn out to be spurious. There’s no problem with rabbits, and the supposedly troublesome roots are still in the ground. There’s no problem with inspections – the inspectors have already graded the different sections of the seawall, in drawing up the Shoreline Management Plan. And there’s no risk to people and property upriver – that’s what the Barrier is for, to protect us from a repeat of the 1953 flood tide – and downriver, the possible future flooding of the grazing marsh has already been planned for, as part of the policy of managed retreat.

So, what’s the real reason for the vegetation clearance?

Nick Purdie [EA official] says: Our ultimate aim is to reduce all the vegetation to short grass – even long grasses are a problem because they mask bare earth - and it’s ‘bare earth’ which makes seawalls vulnerable in the event of over-topping by a tidal surge.

So this policy is all about planning for a worst-case scenario – which may be fine when there’s a risk to people and property – but doesn’t make sense downriver, in the event of a major flood, when flooding the grazing marsh would actually be necessary to absorb the pressure of the tide.

Mr Purdie also stressed how serious they are about achieving this objective of reducing the flora on seawalls to a monoculture. They’re currently experimenting at specific locations in Alresford, Brightlingsea and elsewhere with intensive regimes of repeated cutting: twice or three times a year. And they’re developing new technologies to do this, pioneering mechanical strimmers attached to diggers, which can do the job better than humans.

There’s a lot of controversy throughout East Anglia surrounding the Environment Agency’s policy on flood defences, (mainly to do with coastal erosion and managed retreat). One of the main complaints is the Agency’s repeated failure to notify and consult. Local Essex and Suffolk MPs like Therese Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) John Whittingdale (Maldon) and Priti Patel (Witham) are well aware of this. I think it’s worth people writing, if they feel strongly about this, to Bernard Jenkin.

Our case is a strong one:

It’s about the democratic deficit – the shocking lack of consultation.

It’s about bureaucratic arrogance – the policy being applied to Wivenhoe is inappropriate and incoherent.

And it’s about cost. The EA are spending £750,000 on this.

Where people and property are not at risk, it’s the needs of local residents and wildlife which should take precedence over the schemes of bureaucrats.”

Blimey.

This was a damning report to WTC, delivered with great passion and eloquence. It appears too late for any action to prevent this first wave of destruction. I would wager that the Environment Agency is not in for such an easy ride when they next return to the banks of the Colne, bent on yet further environmental destruction.

In support of WTC, Mr Mayor recognised the concerns of the local resident, and asked for a copy of the fine speech to fully take on the local concerns.

The rest of the WTC meeting was always then going to be routine, if indeed debate about Cook’s, the Wivenhoe Woodwork Party and Mr Mayor’s stolen civic bicycle (blimey) can ever be described as routine.

But first, here are some words from the big boys and girls of Colchester Borough Council. I rather liked the approach of Wivenhoe residents having speaking rights ahead of our CBC friends.

Councillor Cory of Wivenhoe Cross ward addressed the meeting first:

“I have mainly been dealing with parking complaints. Students are usually to blame. I approach this problem methodologically. If cars are parked illegally then I contact the police. If it is inconsiderate parking then I attach a small flyer.

Potholes [aha!] are currently the bain of my life. The large hole by The Flag has now been filled in. Sadly it has now opened up again. I will keep on reporting this to Highways until it is fixed. I have asked why the CBC gritting policy doesn’t include estates and pavements.

There was an ASBO issue in my ward. I have been working closely with PCSO Neville, who has carried out some wonderful work to help resolve this. There are some drainage issues up towards Broomgrove. Anglia Water has been informed.”

Taking a walk downtown (and depending on your geographical point of view, either going upmarket or slumming it…) and next up was Councillor Quarrie of Wivenhoe Quay ward:

“We have just had the full budget meeting at CBC. We [the Conservative group] wanted to reduce the annual £150,000 funding for local councils. Sadly this was voted out.”

A written report from Councillor Julie Young of Essex County Council (so many layers of the political onion to peel away here in Wivenhoe) was then read out by Mr Mayor:

“With the failure of the pedestrian crossing by the Co-op to reach any conclusion, I have successfully lobbied for a new bus shelter to be built with the funds.

I am happy to report that no libraries will be closing in Essex. There will be reduced opening hours for some libraries, although Wivenhoe doesn’t appear to be affected.

The transport subsidy for parents whose children attend Faith schools will be reduced. This will impact on Wivenhoe parents who send their children to the Catholic school in Colchester. Families on low income will still receive support.

The full budget for Essex County Council is being set this week. Women’s Refuge and Alcoholics Anonymous look like having funding being withdrawn. We are making slow progress [arf!] with the 20mph speed zone for Wivenhoe.”

With the WTC meeting now racing through the agenda, hopes were high of catching the second half of the West Ham match back at base. Feedback was then provided on the various sub-committees that comprise WTC. You’d be hard pressed to find a better named committee anywhere in the land that can compete with out very own Wivenhoe Woodwork Party - oh yes…

A report on public transport produced great excitement (steady the buffers) with news of the new bus stops in Colchester. Amazingly the Wivenhoe bus stops are actually correct for once.

Questions were raised about whom is liasing with the fine May Fair folk regarding the traffic flow on the big day. Mr Mayor confirmed that a meeting is planned for later this week.

Other transport issues were then discussed, but sadly the Fog of Politics got in the way. A bit of CBC politico gossiping between our borough council friends in-between WTC contributions, and I couldn’t catch all of the details (transport matters - *not* CBC chitter chatter.)

No worries. On to Planning.

Oh Lordy…

Councillor Cyril Liddy updated WTC with recent applications. Changes to the front of the Royal British Legion have been submitted (supported by the good folk of WivSoc) as well as “various miscellaneous domestic applications.”

Of greater interest however is the continuing saga of Cook’s Shipyard. Councillor Liddy confirmed:

“The developer is now ready to move forward and wants to know when we can sign the lease. This is in the hands of the solicitors - we’re not actually ready yet.”

It seems that the developer has made a change to the original planning application regarding the five polyfunctional [urgh!] units. A change of use from A1 to A3 has been put forward. CBC has no objections. Once again the Fog of Politics prevented me from hearing further.

The Personnel Committee confirmed that WTC’s wonderful litter picker, Ray, has announced his plans for a well-deserved retirement. Mr Mayor praised Ray and his work with the highest regard, adding, “he will be impossible to replace.”

Hear, hear. It seems that everywhere I go around the town, Ray is always present. Has this man be cloned?

The Finance and Admin Committee reported that the WTC budget has been re-affirmed. Speaking of penny-pinching, with the imminent move of our local police team to the fire station, it was also confirmed that the WTC policy is to try and keep the old buildings in public use. Discussions are taking place as to how WTC can acquire them.

The Best Value Committee (not quite the best committee title, but close…) reported on the plan for WTC to purchase some basic IT equipment for planning purposes. This will allow submissions to be projected on to the wall, rather than shuffling around paper copies.

Still with us?

It was around this stage of the evening that I was in need of a comfort break. And with perfect timing, it’s only an update from the Working Party on the refurbishment of the ladies loos at the William Loveless Hall.

Oh Lordy.

Pleased to report that the marbled halls of female sanitary (um…) are on time and budget. A grand opening is expected in time for Mr Mayor’s Charity Ball next month. Hurrah!

Trumping the Best Value and the toilet updates was of course the Wivenhoe Woodwork Party. Nope - not a late night carpentry lock in at The Station, but valuable updates regarding the upkeep of Wivenhoe Wood. The bark (ouch) is worse than the bite - all is well within Wivenhoe Wood.

It was then wonderful to hear the highest praise coming the way of Wivenhoe youth facilities, and in particular, the re-launched Hub down at the Phillip Road Centre.

Tuesday evenings were reported as being a tremendous success. WTC credited the individuals involved, for growing such a fantastic facility out of so few resources. It was also noted on record how pleased WTC is to see a return of the Wivenhoe Youth Council. Mr Mayor is keen to involve this body in more formal visits to the Town Council offices.

A request has been from members of the Hub to extend the skateboard facilities at KGV. This is currently being considered by WTC.

Community Safety reported that crime in Wivenhoe is currently on the up.

Wwwwwwhat…?

Sleep safely at night my friends - all crime is bad crime, but don’t believe the hard data. Mr Mayor’s proud civic bicycle (re-cycled from a council skip, donchta know….) was only half-inched right outside The Greyhound.

The Scoundrels!

Councillor Penny Kraft fed back on the latest NAP meeting - more (much more over here...)

Finance then reported on the sale of some chairs from the William Loveless Hall. I think this is Dave’s #bigsociety in action, right on our Wivenhoe doorstep.

On Administration matters, plans are pressing ahead to abolish the Cross and Quay distinctions for WTC matters. This will not affect the CBC wards. With an increased workload, the plan is also to raise the number of (unpaid) WTC councillor’s from eleven to thirteen.

Did someone say an election is around the corner…?

And finally, back to Highways, which always seems to be something of a hot potato around Wivenhoe. Elmstead Road is due to close for essential gasworks for a period of five weeks. This will cover roughly the stretch from The Flag up to the football club.

The advance planning and publicity by the gas utility was praised by WTC as an example of how outside agencies *can* work successfully in partnership with local representatives and residents.

I think that’s the nearest that WTC will come to having a dig at the Environment Agency. Meanwhile, the diggers down at the Colne edge ever closer towards the old Crab ‘n Winkle line…

A couple of quotes coming my way via the Wivenhoe Forum:

“I have today written to the Environment Agency to formally object to the destructive work taking place along the sea wall from Wivenhoe Sailing Club to Alresford Creek. I suppose it’s probably too late to do anything about it but feel I must object to the lack of local consultation and publicity about the scale and extent of these works.”

As a bit of a busy body Wivenhoe local, I wasn’t even aware that the work being carried out by the Environment Agency was taking place out towards Alresford Creek. My daily commute takes me in the opposite direction, heading for the Hythe.

It’s a shame that it has taken such a heartbreaking issue as the vandalism of the sea wall, but yeah - hopefully the Wivenhoe Forum is now finding a use and a shared purpose.

Some more quotes on the same subject:

“I have spoken to Wivenhoe Town Council who received a letter from the Environment Agency in August 2010. I’ve seen nothing locally about these works.”

This is exactly what I had in mind when setting up the Wivenhoe Forum towards the tail end of last year. Having an engaged local community, sharing in dialogue and hopefully co-operation, can only benefit the town as a place to live and work. All information is good.

“An explanation of why this work is being done by the Environment Agency has been posted on the Wivenhoe website.”

This came from user gene, who is also responsible for running the most excellent Wivenhoe Encyclopedia (many thanks for the link, btw.) I have found this online volume of local knowledge invaluable since planning the Great Escape. It is formally linked with Wivenhoe Town Council. I prefer my independence…

Plus as comprehensive as the Encyclopedia may be (and it truly is a source of great knowledge) there isn’t the functionality for locals to talk together online. Once again - this is precisely what I had in mind when putting together the Wivenhoe Forum.

“Personally I am very disappointed that Wivenhoe Town Council was made aware of these works in August 2010 by the EA but that this information has not filtered through to the population of the Town.”

To which the response was:

“I have passed your comment to the Town Council.”

Ace.

Proper hyperlocal online communication that is being channeled in the right direction. Many thanks to the users involved for helping this process to work.

I then received a very kind comment to m’blog, from a non-Wivenhoe resident, stating:

“After a long drawn out decision – initially inspired by a Guardian Let’s Move article in 2007 – the time has come to house-hunt and school-hunt in Wivenhoe. It is very exciting but with two primary age children and a Liverpool street commuter the over subscribed schools and the crazy train fares are a little scary.

It was good to find this forum.”

Ahhh - lovely. It was good to see that the reach of the Wivenhoe Forum is also starting to spread outside of the town. This was another reason behind the initial idea - helping to promote Wivenhoe from within to the outside.

The Wivenhoe Forum is still only under two months old. My problem is that I’m far too impatient. I actually have higher daily traffic to m’blog than to the forum right now. Ironically this is actually up on the Lambeth levels from back in the day. Must be something about the content, Comrades.

In terms of membership, the Wivenhoe Forum is now up to seventy registered users. Not all are active of course, plus we have about half that number of lurkers each day. Online dialogue and co-operation is only ever any good if you can get a greater number of conversations started.

I’m still loath to go out there and start pimping out the forum around the town. But I’ve been encouraged as to how an issue such as the Colne clearance has acted as a springboard to realise the possibilities that this form of online contact can create.

Oh - and I personally managed to pass on an unwanted chair via the forum.

Cripes.

Onwards.

Some diary dates from Christian and the team at the fine eating establishment that is Jardine on the corner of the High Street and Belle Vue Road. A fantastic range of events has been put in place for the coming month, proving that it’s not all about the fine cuisine, fantastic though it is…

First off we have Fishy Tales on Sunday 27th February at 7pm:

“Dr. Leanne Hepburn, Marine Biologist at Essex University, will be talking about sustainability and how market demands have affected fish stocks. Enjoy our special five mini course tasting menu whilst learning about alternatives to look for when eating at home and in restaurants.”

What a wonderful meeting of the mind and menu, with a Wivenhoe splash of locality added in as well. Entrance is £20, which seems like fine value for money for a five mini course meal.

Moving on and on Monday 7th March there is a private viewing to welcome artist Lee Thomas to Jardine. I say private viewing, but a polite email expressing an interest to the very good @JoJoColchester should gain you entry.

And then to start the weekend on Friday 18th March, there will be a Meet the Author evening with Richard Zilmer, talking about his latest novel, The Warsaw Anagrams. As some background reading:

“Richard’s eight novels, The Angelic Darkness, Unholy Ghost, The Search for Sana, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Seventh Gate and the new The Warsaw Anagrams, have been translated into more than 20 languages and have been bestsellers in 15 countries, including the USA, Britain, Portugal, Brazil and Italy. He has won the Prix Alberto Benveniste in 2009 and the 1998 Herodotus Award.”

And now he’s coming to Wivenhoe.

Wonderful.

Admission to this event is free. However spaces are very limited and can be reserved confirming your interest calling 01206 820390.

And so there we have it - something fishy, something artistic and something literary. Which all sounds like the perfect approach for Wivenhoe entertainment.

I told you it’s not all about the nosh…