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To the Town Council Offices! …on Monday evening for the September meeting of Wivenhoe Town Council. After the August sabbatical, batteries were re-charged, the WTC stash of Werther’s Originals was be replenished and the road ahead is a smooth one, yes?

Um…

POTHOLES.

Predictably we kicked off with a game of Pothole Top Trumps.

Matters Arising from the previous minutes was the opportunity for Cllr Bob Needham to ask about his request of any other Town or Parish Councils in the County taking a DIY approach to pothole fixing, in the absence of any perceived urgency from Essex County Council.

The response was an emphatic NO, leading Cllr Needham to suggest that WTC looks into pothole repairs ahead of the winter months, and then invoicing ECC for the work carried out.

Talk about Best Value Committee, etc.

Mayor Penny Kraft chipped in:

“The pothole at The Nook has been repaired today - it looks awful. We have received comments from residents about the Quayside area. It looks like a patchwork quilt.”

Don’t even talk about the ACE Quay Quilters, Comrades…

Smiling Cllr Steve Ford played his key card, stating that potholes at Spring Chase and Vanessa Drive have been “ringed.” Cllr Brian Sinclair put on his best poker face and declared that Woodland Way has been fixed. Meanwhile Cllr Jon Manning tried to trump the meeting with his “Heath Road has been done” mention.

Personally I’ve got a WHOPPER just south of the Co-op.

There - that’s filled you in.

Sticking with the structural (sort of) and Cllr Sinclair added another question from the Matters Arising:

“Colchester Borough Council is dragging its heels on the on the community assets list. This is a very important issue in view of the Localism Act. The Borough Council needs to get its act together.”

Indeed it does. Day Job Hat on and the deadline for coming up with a hyperlocal list of community assets is fast approaching. There’s a Day Job project waiting to be chased down at Colchester Town Hall coming up…

But less haste when it comes to the 20mph speed limit for Lower Wivenhoe.

Cllr Julie Young of ECC commented:

“This has been battered back and forth between the borough and the county. There is huge public support for this. Essex County Council is intransient in moving forward. We have still not had official confirmation that the 20mph speed limit is up and running.”

But never mind the Boy Racers, what of the busses?

Cllr Young helpfully explained to some of the more mature members of WTC that a new website has been rolled out to help with bus pass applications:

canigetapass.org.uk

noyoubloodywellcant.com is currently in development.

Cllr Neil Lodge of WTC was then keen to question Cllr Young about the back scratching over the University’s multi-storey car park planning permission, and the sweetener that is the cycle path between the Fire Station and campus.

Cllr Lodge asked:

“The cycle path is paid for with Section 106 money I understand?”

To which Cllr Young responded:

“Sort of.”

Which wasn’t quite an On Yer Bike response, but you get the idea.

Cllr Lodge added:

“If it is then this is a disappointment. Section 106 money is for the community. Is this just another way in which the University can spend our money?”

Cllr Young clarified:

“I have an extensive wish list for Wivenhoe. We have a very limited pot of money. I could see the cycle path never getting funded. I met with Andrew Nightingale and asked how we could deliver this. I told him that I was only prepared to give my backing for the car park if we had the money for the cycle path. There is a bit of a jiggery pokery.”

If you look up jiggery pokery in an online thesaurus and you *may* get the suggestion of back scratching.

But the bicycle path between Town and Gown still isn’t a smooth ride.

Cllr Young added:

“There is a bit of money still to be found - we haven’t got the money to build it yet.”

But ultimately everything comes back to POTHOLES. Smiling Cllr Steve Ford updated WTC with his work over the past couple of months:

“Cllr Cyril Liddy and I are going to walk EVERY road in Wivenhoe and report on potholes and intruding bushes. We will report back to Wivenhoe Town Council with our findings.”

Smiling Cllr Ford also added that CBC is waiting for guidance from central government about the relaxation of planning applications, the possibility of the medical profession having a say in licensing as well as a pledge to chase the officers over the missing asset transfer list.

One possible inclusion on the list is the land opposite Millfields School. And whaddya know - cometh the agenda item, cometh the Village Green Guru.

It’s only Cllr Cyril Liddy of CBC - hurrah!

“Work is progressing with the village green status for the land. We are hoping to have this completed by the end of the year. Wivenhoe Youth Football Club and Tempest Football Club have submitted section 106 requests. We are also taking suggestions from residents on the Localism Budget.”

This refers to the £2k sweetener put up by the local LibDem party ahead of the elections back in May. Every ward councillor has the sum to spend in their ward as they best see fit. It’s not quite a political football [aha!] but Labour’s Cllr Liddy is seeking suggestions for the Quay ward.

Back up at the Cross and Cllr Jon Manning told the meeting about the woes towards the top of Wivenhoe:

“I’ve got the usual dog fouling issues.”

Blimey.

“I have been looking at ways to spend the Localism Budget by talking to dog owners. We are looking at where new dog bins could be located.”

Also looking at locations is Peter Kay, the Public Transport Representative for WTC:

“A new bus stop will appear at Queen Street in Colchester once the old bus station closes. This should serve the 61 and 62.”

Cllr Lodge raised the question of “bus turf wars” taking place around Sunny Colch. It seems that rival operators are not sticking to the timetable to try and pick up extra passengers along the route.

Back in Wivenhoe and congestion is also an issue down at Quayside it seems. Cllr Andrea Vaughan explained how a recent site visit from ECC Highways helped to clarify the situation with regards clutter along the Quay.

Cllr Sinclair added:

“The Quay is a public byway that is open to traffic. Enough is enough when it comes to the clutter. We have asked Highways not to go in heavy handed, but we are glad to have the backing.”

Double yellow lines along the front are one possibility being explored.

Passing space for the congestion along The Avenue is also being considered.

And good luck with that one, folks.

Sticking with The Avenue and Cllr Vaughan raised the issue of the gates that have appeared at the Ten Acres development:

“We queried if the gates were on the original application and it seems that they were. It could be a problem if large vehicles try and back up along The Avenue to enter the site.”

Busy, busy it seems - which is certainly the case down at Cook’s and the WTC administered Dinghy Park. Cllr Kevin Read explained how the facility is over-subscribed with twenty-five residents having already shown an interest.

Hyperlocal bloggers also showed an interest in the update over the proposed new Health Centre. No waiting list here one would hope, and sadly no hyperlocal news to share either.

Cllr Sinclair said:

“This us a very delicate situation,”

…before Madam Mayor moved that the matter be discussed behind closed doors.

If your name’s not down…

Now would be a good opportunity for any hyperlocal blogger to take a leak at the nearby William Loveless Hall [where else?] - good timing to syphon the python as well with work having started on the refurbishment of the Gents.

Betcha it cost more than a penny.

A grand opening is planned by the great and good of WTC. Here’s where the big knobs hang out, etc.

Madam Mayor was keen to emphasise that £45,000 has been saved from the public purse since 2006 at the Loveless Hall through the successful applications for various grants.

The Community Opportunities Group reported back on S106 applications from Wivenhoe Scouts and Guides, as well from the Methodist Church. Madam Mayor gave a brief run through of her busy summer, including the acceptance of a cheque for £1,500 from Wiv Soc for the Jubilee / Wildlife Garden [depending on who you speak to...]

The peace and tranquility of the proposed community green space is a world away from what Madam Mayor has recently been getting up to on a Friday night as part of her civic duties.

NAP raced through the agenda with Speed Watch once again dominating. The volunteers have not been able to be out as much as planned, due to the success of the scheme in the area. Alresford has set up a similar scheme and the tech kit is shared.

And finally it seems that the forms have been signed to transfer the licence for events at the KGV over from Don Quinn to WTC. Consent has been given and all that is required now is the writing of a cheque.

Best make sure it’s not part of wonga heading our way from up at the University.