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You may prefer the photographic evidence in the blog post below, but for me, the official heralding that spring has arrived around these estuary parts is the publishing of the spring edition of Wivenhoe News.

Hurrah!

Town and Uni Clash Over Proposed Road is the lead story. With a byline of *ahem* Jason Cobb (blimey!) the news piece documents the recent lively Nottage meeting about @Uni_of_Essex’s Knowledge Gateway, and the traffic disruption is will cause those travelling in from the Tendring Peninsula.

The front page is shared with a photo of a very dashing young man about town. Workers of Wivenhoe features the rather charming Mark Andras and his local building business. I hear the good man builds rather decent kitchen extensions…

The Editorial lead describes the recent Environment Agency work as:

“Napalm-like treatment of the sea wall.”

Peter Kennedy pens a moving piece on page 3 all about the recent floods suffered by our Wivenhoe namesakes centred on Wivenhoe Dam in Australia. For all the recent CO7 woes regarding the vandalism by the Environment Agency, such devastation Down Under brings home the message about the importance of protection.

Back down to local matters, and if you want to define Wivenhoe, then ‘sitting somewhere between Theydon Bois and Hatfield Peverel‘ would suffice. Not geographically correct of course, but fine work with Wivenhoe News being sandwiched between the two locations, in proudly picking up the silver place in the 2010 Essex Community Magazine Awards.

In anticipation of Lifeboat Week (6th - 11th June,) Jane Hughes writes about The First Lifeboat: Henry Greathead’s Original. The as ever excellent Arts News wraps up Christmas Presence, the Denis Wirth-Miller retrospective at the Minories, recent events up at The Lakeside (“…no longer as austere and drab“) Moving Image (hurrah!) Jardine (hurrah! hurrah!) and even the Hub (hurrah! hurrah! hur… oh - you get the idea.)

David Williams reviews a selection of CD’s that are available at Wivenhoe Bookshop, and then there is a brief para all about the rather bizarre arrival of Sinterklaas down at the Quay in December (which incidentally I have deliberately chosen not to blog about. Having been asked why by a number of sources, then I will add the diplomatic answer of finding it all rather surreal for 2010.)

Moving on…

Nottage News reports on the buildings update for our fine nautical place of heritage. The Film Club is mentioned, as well as looking ahead to the annual Summer Exhibition.

Ian Valentine then updates on the state of the local bell ringers.

Blimey.

Anyone living in lower Wivenhoe will no doubt testify that the men and women of bells are indeed in fine form, what with the weekly Wednesday evening rehearsals, and the peeling out of a quick chorus shortly before 10am on a Sunday morning.

Ding dong. Get in there.

Restoring the Royal British Legion reports on the good news of a planning application and possible listed status having been submitted. A decision is due later in March.

The fine work of the locally based ADP Theatre receives a positive write up on page 12, as well as reviews of recent events at St Mary’s, such as the Cavendish Consort and The Odd Tale of Odstock.

The wonderful Wivenhoe panto gets the star treatment overleaf (“Energetic! Hilarious! Charismatic!“) as well as a quick plug for Oklahoma being performed by the Wivenhoe Gilbert & Sullivan Society from 15th - 19th March at the Loveless Hall.

Plans for the May Fair are mentioned on page 14, as well as a call for ideas and inspiration for the fascinating Off the Rails project down at The Station. The brilliant Bookshop updates on the forthcoming Philosophers course, the Reading Group (now staged within the splendour of Jardine) and the branching out of the Bookshop to stage intimate live music. All accounts suggest that Fiona Harman’s Drum performance was the perfect start to this recent venture.

Wivenhoe in Bloom and Open Gardens take a green-fingered approach overleaf. With spring finally having settled in these parts, the time is almost here to proudly show us what you’ve got. Anyone interest in a half-seeded lawn?

Wivenhoe Allotments ponder the woe of the extreme winter, whilst the fine Richard Allen, Wivenhoe’s Bird Watcher Supreme, writes of his good fortune during the cold snap in being able to spot fifteen waxwings down by the Colne - and the exact location for this rather rare appearance? Um… in the bushes that have now been bulldozed by the Environmental Agency.

Whoops.

Coppicing with the Wivenhoe Woods Working Party is explained, as well as a fascinating write up of the fungi forage that took place in Wivenhoe Wood during the autumn.

The centre page diary events are as packed as ever (and soon to be shamelessly added to the Wivenhoe Forum diary…)

Early 80′s events centred on Wivenhoe Port, and in particular, a plausible tale of smuggling and intervention by the Belgium Old Bill, are written with the perfect prose from Bill Ellis on page 22.

The Circumnavigation of St Barba of Mersea by Peter Goldsmith continues the maritime theme. The ace Transition Town Wivenhoe provide an update, alongside the equally ace Wivenhoe Pets (Murphie settling in rather well, thank you very much.) Some online bore then bangs on about the Wivenhoe Forum (whaddya mean, you *still* haven’t joined, blah blah blah…)

The View From the High Street with Tom Roberts looks back on past Wivenhoe winters, making comparisons with the snow of 2010, and explaining rather helpfully some of the urban myths about clearing the snow away yourself.

Bernard Jenkin MP uses his column to try and explain the abolition of PCT’s, as well as pressing the case for a cleaner Colne. Mr Mayor Brian Sinclair explains WTC matters, covering the closure of the police station, Cook’s Shipyard progress (slow…) the new Medical Centre (stationary) and the continuation of the closure of Queens Road.

LibDem Colchester Borough Councillor Mark Cory (Wivenhoe Cross ward) uses his column as an election launch ahead of voting this May. Meanwhile Labour’s Councillor Steve Ford adds his views on the closure of Clingoe Hill and the Knowledge Gateway. Plus any local Cllr column wouldn’t complete without the mention of potholes.

Essex County Councillor Julie Young keeps up the familiar local themes - Knowledge Gateway, Queens Road, potholes - as well as the ongoing debate about making Station Road a 20mph zone.

Speaking of our friends up at the University, the Essex Book Festival, the recent Ofsted report on the Nursery and the Town and Gown Dinner conclude events centred around Boundary Road and beyond.

Obituaries are provided for David Adams and Gerry Oliver.

News From Our Schools uplifts the mood, with ample enthusiasm for our young folk. Millfields School has a Young Reporters theme, encouraging pupils to pen pieces all about recent news around the school community. The recent performance by a selection of Millfields pupils at a prestigious concert at the O2 is rightfully celebrated.

Broomgrove are equally enthusiastic about the community ethos of both the Junior and Infant school. News of the Colne Community School May Fair (15th May) is also mentioned.

WivSoc reports back on recent committee meetings, mainly covering planning, as well as a call to arms for more active local involvement. The incredibly community spirited Ellie Gornall writes about The Hub, Wivenhoe’s fantastic facility for young folk around the town.

Emma Cameron’s Vivid Gaze exhibition at Jardine is reviewed, as well as Guy Taplin’s recent retrospective as the Messum’s. “Wivenhoe’s alchemist of driftwood” is a fine working title for one to trade under.

Finally and Flying the Flag for Wivenhoe Folk Club reports on the successful move of the fine folkies up the road to The Flag for the monthly music sessions.

Wivenhoe News is sold at the Co-op, Crossways, the Post Office, Bryans Newsagents and the lovely Wivenhoe Bookshop.

The copy deadline for the next issue of Wivenhoe News is 1st May.

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.

Slightly off the pace with this one, but blimey - it’s only The Wivenhoe Society Newsletter, Winter 2011.

Hurrah!

You wait a whole month for one esteemed local publication packed full of intrigue and developments, and then along come three all at once. The Chronicle, the Town Council Newsletter and now WivSoc.

What I like about Wivenhoe and the #hyperlocal media within is that there is broadly a consensus. Sure, issues such as the clogged up Clingoe Hill are going to divide (or even unite) but The Chronicle, the Town Council and WivSoc are concerned with the same positive agenda, and offering similar pragmatic solutions.

But first of all - how about a picture showing some men waving handkerchiefs and skipping around Black Buoy Hill?

Blimey.

The front pic for WivSoc this Winter features the wonderful Boxing Day Morris Men of Colchester, entertaining the boozers of the Black Buoy. Or maybe it was the other way round?

Moving on, and the Message from the Chair - the good Tom Roberts - reads as a call to arms for more local support of WivSoc:

“Our committee is much smaller than it should be. In short, we need more of our large membership to volunteer to help run the Society or it will cease to function.”

A good starting point would be to attend the AGM at The Nottage on 30th March. Get a feel for the fine work being undertaken, and then think about what you have to offer Wivenhoe, rather than what Wivenhoe can offer you as some great world leader no doubt once said.

The Chair’s introduction piece then addresses planning. The proposal to build one 3-bedroom, three 4-bedroom and four 5-bedroom houses at Ten Acres takes on a rational approach. The WivSoc view is one of pragmatism, recognising:

“Your average developer would have applied for - and probably got - permission to build a far greater number of homes on the site, but this plan is very sensitive to the site and minimises the loss of trees.”

A “great disappointment” is observed at the plan to build nine houses on the patch of grass in front of the undertakers (cripes) on Rectory Road, with the “bland design” being noted.

Tellingly (and wisely) the Chair concludes:

“It is odd that we can increase the population fourfold, with all that implies in vastly increased council tax revenue, yet when it is finally acknowledged that a new health centre is needed, the funding is not there to buy residential land for it, so it has to go on agricultural land on the edge of the town!”

Jane Black that adds her considerable experience in where and how to comment upon planning applications within Wivenhoe. Your first port of call should be over here… Similar advice was recently given in the Town Council Newsletter.

The excellent Annual Wine Tasting evening, held at the Congregational Hall last November, is then given a write up by the good Dave Harrison. Memories are slightly hazy; there’s logic in documenting your life online, dontcha know…

The WivSoc Post-Christmas Party also gets a short piece (perhaps *too* small, given the grand nature of the evening at the Loveless Hall.) Many thanks to Jean Coverley for the excellent food, as well as showing good editorial judgement in not publishing a picture of some dodgy bloke wearing a pair of braces.

The Uni_of_Essex Knowledge Gateway is then given over to some background reading, with the piece being written before the rather ‘lively’ local meeting down at The Nottage. I hear a whisper that the meeting has made the front page of the next issue of Wivenhoe News (um, blessed by local media, aren’t we?)

Councillor Robert Needham has penned a moving piece all about Wivenhoe’s Men of Trafalgar. This is a wonderful piece of local research, and is certainly worthy of a read [happy to re-publish online, if an electronic copy comes my way...]

Looking Forward to Spring Flowers is all about, um, looking forward to spring flowers. Hurrah! Aren’t we all?

“Wivenhoe in Bloom have successfully planted over 3,000 crocuses in the greensward on either side of Rosabelle Avenue and by the bus stop on the High Street, as well as 500 scilla in the boats outside the William Loveless Hall, on the corner of De Vere Lane and other sites in the village.”

Cripes.

Better luck with the budding than I have had with my 70 dodgy daffodil bulbs from B & Q.

The ace Off the Rails writes a piece on p.8, all about the Vintage Mobile Cinema Bus at the station on 6th February. If you’re reading this whilst the online ink is still fresh, then you may just make the cinematic spectacular.

The Parish Paths Partnership updates with news of recent work, including finance woes from both local and national government, and speculation that this project would be just perfect for the #bigsociety.

Some young charlatan around town waffles on overleaf, all about Introducing the Wivenhoe Forum.

Oh Lordy.

We’ve just past the fifty-membership mark. If you sign up over here, then I promise to think seriously about taking part in the Boxing Day Morris Dancing come next Christmas.

The good folk of Transition Town Wivenhoe report back from the excellent work currently in progress to obtain a twenty-five year lease for the Station Master’s House from Network Rail. The Town Council puts in a call for ideas to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and then that lot over at the Brightlingsea Society also get a big up.

And finally…

Save the most important until last: Membership of the Wivenhoe Society is £8 for a family or couple (love the idea of encouraging courting…) or £5 for a single person. Reduced rates of £6 and £3 for those without an income.

It’s not all about membership and joining however. This is just the first step to having an active role in the way local issues are handled around Wivenhoe. The social scene is rather wonderful as well.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Wivenhoe Society, although not a committee member. All views expressed within this blog post are mine alone, and not that of the committee, or the Society in general.

Woh - where to start with @Uni_of_Essex‘s Knowledge Gateway project and the projected impact that the flagship programme will have upon Wivenhoe residents?

Well…

The Nottage on a Friday night would be a good start. Having bundled a previous public meeting through inadequate advertising, the Estate Management team of our academic friends from up the road called Round 2.

Almost two hours later after a hostile dialogue between Town and Gown, some form of mediation was realised when Wivenhoe’s Mr Mayor, Brian Sinclair, summed up the mood at the meeting by stating:

“We are not against the University. We recognise the contribution that you make towards the town. Wivenhoe however is deeply concerned about the construction work involved for the Knowledge Gateway.

Oh the irony in the centre piece of the project being a Conflict and Resolution Centre…

In the blue corner representing the University were Andrew Nightingale, the Director of Estate Management, and his colleague, Andrew Heyward, the Knowledge Gateway Project Officer.

A two-thirds full floor was seated at the Nottage - not bad for a Friday night, and with many familiar local friendly faces including Wivenhoe Town Councillors Robert Needham and Penny Kraft, Colchester Borough Councillor Steve Ford and Essex County Councillor Julie Young.

The Knowledge Gateway is defined by the University as:

“The new home for social and scientific research and business space in Colchester.”

But not in Wivenhoe, I note.

Wivenhoe locals are defining the project as the road junction feeding into the already congested Clinghoe Hill.

Planning for the project was passed in 2005. Clearance of the site leading down to the Colne is already underway. Work on the highly contentious slip road will start in April of this year, lasting a total of seven weeks. The Knowledge Gateway itself has a completion date of five years from now.

Andrew Nightingale opened the meeting, stating:

“We are not use to presentations. We are very much campus contained. The University is conscientious however of the impact that this will have on the community. We apologise for the poor advertising for the first meeting. This is NOT a consultation though. We already have planning permission.”

Andrew then outlined some of the finer detail of the scheme. The Knowledge Gateway is not all about the pursuit of academic excellence. There is also the slight matter of making money from the project.

Roughly a quarter of the site has been put aside for private residential accommodation. The University is selling on the freehold to a developer, with 400,000 square feet of commercial space also contained within the plans.

But new builds and new businesses need some entry point to get into the homes and office space. The Tesco end of Boundary Road will be blocked off, and a new road will be built to feed into the site.

Before Wivenhoe locals start to get excited about an alternative route into Colchester, no surprises to discover that once again, this will be a private road. The barriers from Boundary Road will be replicated in the new development, only allowing University traffic and public transport to pass through.

So where does this leaves Wivenhoe locals wanting a route into the Greenstead and Tesco roundabouts? Ah, that will be everyone’s favourite commute of choice, Clinghoe Hill…

With congestion during the rush hour already making the journey from Colchester Road down to Greenstead a half hour (ish) hell (ish) experience, if you were a transport planner then common sense would suggest not to add further to this existing congestion problem.

Plans were shown at The Nottage on Friday evening for… a new slip road towards the top of Clinghoe Hill, built purely for the purpose of allowing University traffic to flow into the Knowledge Gateway. The University Estate staff tried to sell this flawed thinking to Wivenhoe folk as a safety argument:

“This well help students to cross Clinghoe Hill safely,” said Andrew Nightingale. “The new junction will provide a safe crossing from the Greenstead Estate.”

It was around this point in the evening when the usually mild-mannered and tolerant folk of Wivenhoe turned the heat up on our academic neighbours:

“There already is a safe crossing,” came the cry from the floor. “The students are too stupid to use it.”

Ouch.

If the long-term imposition of extra traffic on our one route out of Wivenhoe wasn’t bad enough, the construction process looks like cutting off Wivenhoe, with no adequate commuting route into Colchester.

The seven-week period starting in April of this year will reduce Clinghoe Hill to a solitary lane. Andrew Nightingale outlined the alternative transport options:

“Wivenhoe is well served by public busses. There is a car share scheme, and it is possible to walk into Colchester along the Wivenhoe Trail.”

It’s extremely picturesque, ‘n all that, even with the Knowledge Gateway being built right behind you - but walking for forty-five minutes or so each day into Colchester? You’ve got to be one hell of a nature lover to walk it like you talk it.

The meeting was then handed over to Martin Mason from the Highways Agency at Essex County Council. With the University pitch to try and sell the project to Wivenhoe complete, now was the time for the nuts and bolts of transport to be addressed.

“The original option to access the Knowledge Gateway was a roundabout. Following some fatalities, we then asked the University to re-visit the access solutions.”

“Why don’t you build a bridge for the students to cross?” came the cry from the floor.

“People don’t like using them. They are lazy and like the quickest route.”

As was then pointed out from the floor, for the nation’s next leaders to be playing a game of cat and mouse across Clinghoe Hill, doesn’t exactly inspire you with confidence for the future.

Mayor Brian Sinclair then addressed the meeting, stating the opposition that he has encountered for the construction work whilst talking to Wivenhoe locals around the town:

“Greenstead roundabout was perfect when it was first opened. The congestion problem only came later when Tesco’s opened. The pedestrian controlled crossings means that students simply press a button and the traffic comes to a standstill.

I respect the overall development and support the Knowledge Gateway. Our feeling on Wivenhoe Town Council however is that the decision was made with no local consultation with the road users of the entire Tendring peninsula. This new proposed junction is simply crazy.”

Questions from the floor were then invited, and unlike the pace of traffic along Clinghoe Hill, they came in thick and fast:

“Why isn’t Boundary Road being used to access the Knowledge Gateway”

“…the planning application didn’t stack up.”

“It didn’t stack up for who?”

No answer was given.

Councillor Penny Kraft asked:

“Have you actually spoken to local residents? The problem is the controlled pedestrian crossing. If you install another one as proposed, this is going to cause immense problems.”

“…we do listen to local residents,” came the reply.

Councillor Robert Needham enquired:

“Is this the final option?”

“…yep.”

“Who didn’t the figures stack up for with regards using Boundary Road?”

“Boundary Road would be a bomb,” was the answer.

Councillor Steve Ford then intervened, drawing upon his knowledge sitting on the Planning Committee at Colchester Borough Council:

“I would like to share some knowledge as to how these decisions are made. The developers carry out the projection of the traffic flow for this type of project. They obviously have a very prejudicial interest.”

Boundary Road once again dominated, with a question from the floor asking why Wivenhoe locals can’t use Boundary Road during the seven-week construction period.

“Boundary Road is… scheduled for roadworks during April to June.”

Which as pointed out from the floor, simply blows apart the suggestion that Wivenhoe folk can rely upon public transport during the construction period. Best dig out those walking boots, I say.

It was at this stage of the meeting that the weekend was starting to kick in, the sound of which was starting to drift in from the Rose and Crown nearby.

We ended with some degree of optimism. Mayor Sinclair once again praised the University and its broad objectives and benefits that it brings to Wivenhoe. There was plenty of broad agreement from the floor. Two thousand jobs are to be created as part of the project. The price to pay for this however is road congestion,

And so having sat through the two hour meeting, I have to come out with the disclaimer of, um… I don’t actually drive. As a non-user of Clinghoe Hill, I can only speculate as to the frustration this brings to regular commuters. You have my sympathy.

My own personal observation is the surrender of green space down by the Wivenhoe Trail. I am alarmed that this was granted planning permission with such ease. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

It’s enough to make you want to stay within Wivenhoe.

Be careful for what you wish for, folks.

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.

The third annual Wivenhoe Fireworks, organised by the fine folk from the Wivenhoe Open Racing Club, took place down at the Quay on Saturday evening. Free entrance resulted in a capacity crowd packed out across the front. Collection buckets enabled locals to show their appreciation, with all money raised going towards the building fund for the Royal British Legion and the Essex Air Ambulance..

Many local businesses also supported the event, including the Wivenhoe Bookshop and the Rose and Crown. Once again the location of the quayside boozer turned out to be the perfect business plan. Queues were four deep before the first banger was launched shortly after 8pm. Hip flasks from home also appeared to be a popular option…

The firework display itself was simply stunning. I wasn’t expecting the grand scale of the display, which lasted just over fifteen minutes in duration. Like a DJ set, the trick is to build up the anticipation, and then finish with a big, um, bang.

Wivenhoe locals weren’t disappointed. This was an extremely slick, professional and near perfect way in which to stage fireworks. The location of the launcher on the Rowhedge side of the Colne added a safe, and *shhh* romantic element. With the quayside illuminated for the evening, even @AnnaJCowen got a little over friendly as we ooh-ed and ahh-ed the evening away.

With many other local firework displays taking place next weekend (Elmstead Market next Saturday,) the back to front approach of mixing up Bonfire Night with Halloween has served Wivenhoe well. The ghoulish fancy dress theme saw some stunning costumes from the kids. It wasn’t clear if some of the adults were in fancy dress or not…

And so some time shortly after 8:15, the smoke cleared across the Colne, and the Nottage PA system pumped out the rather appropriate Smoke Across the Water. The beautiful clear North Essex skies once again opened up, with an array of stars providing the backdrop.

Yer man from the Open racing Club thanked Wivenhoe for supporting the event, and added with tremendous efficiency, that the fireworks will return back down to the Quay on October 29, 2011.

Time to start stocking up on that hip flask…

Many, many thanks to the Open Racing Club for a stunning display. Well done to the locals businesses for also supporting the occasion.

This looks like a hell of a lot of fun down at Wivenhoe Quay during Halloween weekend:

We seemed to be fortunately spoilt with an abundance of cinema options in Wivenhoe right now. Moving Image is working wonders at the Phillip Road Centre each weekend, as well as a weekly screening up at the Lakeside Theatre on Monday evenings. The Film Club continues to thrive at The Nottage, and now the fine folk of Transition Town Wivenhoe are offering their resources with the bicycle powered cinema.

I know that later in the evening, the good Martin Newell and chums are also offering a Halloween ghost themed story telling session at The Greyhound. Probably best not to walk through the old churchyard en route from the Quay to the pint quaffing.

Ghostbusters, The Greyhound - it’s all good stuff. It gets you out of the house on Halloween evening, and gives you an excuse not to be a party pooper when the trick or treat kids come a calling.