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Just when you’re left scratching your head and wondering whatever happened to the Big Society, something warm and much more worthy arrives through your letterbox – yep, it’s only the Autumn Newsletter from the Wivenhoe Society.

Hurrah!

Any esteemed publication that can boast a front-page photo of Medieval Dancing at the Church Ale has to be all right by me. Wiv Soc’s splash is a world away (or even a delayed 9:23 into Liverpool Street away) from the Fleet Street impending doom of financial meltdown and footballer’s sex lives.

Give me a middle-aged maiden wearing a medieval gown any day.

“Mid-September saw the first staging of a new event in the Wivenhoe calendar – the St Mary’s Church Ale. This was not, as some Colcestrians mistakenly believed, a beer festival in a church.”

Whoops.

More fool the mistaken Colcestirans.

Chin chin.

The Message from the Chair continues with an uplifting message, suggesting that there is no such thing as Big Society, simply like-minded community folk that have always found time to help out, irrespective of any misguided political packaging:

“I used to be surprised by the number of people who turned out to help with our riverbank clean-ups. For some years now they have been organised twice a year and still people come in their droves. On 2nd October there were certainly well over 40 pickers.”

Mr Chair comments however that all of this organisation doesn’t just happen over half a shandy in The Greyhound. Wiv Soc will soon be looking to recruit a Newsletter Editor, a Membership Secretary and a Chair.

Joan Sawyer writes about the Wivenhoe Townscape Forum, the project that intends to capture a list of local landmarks that hold an architectural, historical or cultural value. Papa’s Chip Shop would fit the requirements perfectly for me.

“On Saturday 1st October at the William Loveless Hall [where else?] the group held an open consultation day. About fifty visitors attended, telling us about their house or discussing the project in general. The next stage will be a reassessment of the records in the light of comments made.”

On a similar historical and cultural hyperlocal theme, Moira Collett reflects upon the new blue plaque that was unveiled at Rose Cottage, which used to be Joan Hickson’s home.

For all the wine tasting evenings, Christmas parties and craft fairs, planning and development matters remains some of the core work that is carried out by Wiv Soc. This becomes clear upon reading the excellent explanation by Jane Black on the implications of the Draft National Planning Framework:

“Comments in the press have suggested that the framework would provide a charter for developers to build on green field sites. It is not clear that the proposals do this. The greatest danger of overdevelopment would seem to arise where there is no Local Plan in place as the default. 70% of local planning authorities do not have an approved plan – Colchester does, but our neighbour Tendring, does not.”

Ouch.

That will explain the CBC concern over the proposed 3,000 new homes that our friends from Tendring seem keen to support just outside of the Greenstead.

In a similar Get Orrrf My Land development, the ongoing anti-love triangle between Wivenhoe Town Council, Elmstead Parish Council and Jenny Moody Properties updates over the love child that is the public land opposite Millfields School.

But anyway – what about the wine tasting evenings, Christmas parties and craft fairs, I hear you ask?

“Since the last Newsletter the main events have been the annual Fun Day, held in St Mary’s churchyard in September and the Autumn riverbank cleanup in October. The Fun Day went well, and made a healthy contribution to the Society’s coffers. In addition there was a lunchtime garden party for people who opened their gardens for the Open Gardens weekend.”

Just as greatly appreciated as the opening up of the private gardens is the perceived threat to the public gardens that make up the shoreline around these North Essex estuary parts. Roger Mainwood pens a highly informative analysis of the current and future plans of the Environment Agency.

A summary of the argument would be unfair to what is such a well-considered piece of work.

But anyway:

“In Essex the land is already sinking. The Shoreline Management Plan is an attempt to look ahead to see how best to face these challenges.”

Three “epochs” are apparently covered. I knew that all my time spent in Room 6.343 up at the University’s Sociology department with Mr Marx would come in handy some day.

“The proposal for epoch 1 is to hold the line until 2025… This will mean a continuation of the bush clearance work that has taken place along the sea wall.

After 2025, in epoch 2, the proposal for the Wivenhoe marshes area is to do managed realignment by breach of the existing defence, while continuing flood defence to the railway line. This means that the marshland that you see on your left as you walk towards Alresford Creek from the Sailing Club will be converted to new salt marsh.”

Epoch 3 interestingly occurs from 2055 to 2105. I am reminded that Mr Marx wisely instructed me that each epoch created a new invention that would lead to its downfall.

Man the lifeboats!

Writing in his capacity as a member of the Wivenhoe Community Trust, Brian Sinclair updates with recent developments over the St John’s Ambulance Hall along Chapel Lane:

“When Pru Green’s application to demolish the hall in Chapel Lane to create a building plot was announced, it came as a shock to many people in Wivenhoe. The sudden emergence of the Wivenhoe Community Trust and the pledged donations to try and purchase the hall was a response to the application.

Comments regarding saving the building probably had little effect on the way the decision was reached by Colchester Borough Council’s Planning Committee. The refusal of the application to demolish the hall was based purely on planning considerations. The Committee debated for a good before voting two in favour and ten against.”

As an aside – or maybe not – the Planning Committee also rather disappointingly voted along party political lines, with the two Tories supporting the application.

But anyway – Brian continues:

“Our group is a mix mainly of new donors, plus two members of the former Engine Shed Project. Over 80% of money required is for purchase is coming from private individual donations. Once purchased, the Old Chapel will be held in trust for the community. The aims of the Trust are to create a meeting place for:

Those who play a part in Wivenhoe’s many active groups: art and drama, dance and music;

exhibitions and lectures;

those who wish to showcase their art and craft

those that have a special interest in Wivenhoe’s history;

young parents and their families;

University students;

anyone who wishes to start a new organisation which would fit our aims.

With the planning application to demolish the historic Chapel now refused, emphasis and expectation is certainly in the hands of the Wivenhoe Community Trust. I wish them well.

The Autumn Newsletter from the Wivenhoe Society then concludes with some parish notices – news of a prestigious award for Mayor Needham from the Rotary Club of Colchester Trinity, biogs of the Committee members and dates for your diary:

Craft Fair (12th November) Wine Tasting evening (18th November) and Post Christmas Party (7th January.)

Not so much Big Society but Busy Society.

And Wivenhoe is all the better for it.