Tag Archives: Anne Turrell

Reporting crime

Mile End and more widely Colchester is an extremely safe place but as with any community or City we always do need to be vigilant and report anything which we think is out of the ordinary.

Too many times crimes or suspicious activities remain unreported and instead people put them on Facebook or social media. This might be good to alert local neighbours but it does nothing to actually report the crime.

An example in Colchester being when over 28 sheds were broken into one evening and although it made it to social media, the Police only had one reported incident so didn’t treat it as a serious break in!

Please do report all non-emergency crimes on 101 or in an emergency 999. You can also report crimes online at the Essex Police website.

The more crime is reported, the better it is to reflect true statistics and ensure police effort is concentrated in those areas that need it! If you don’t report a crime, this could be the difference between the data showing an issue or not!

A big thank you from Ness!

Thank you so much to the 1,624 Mile End residents who voted for Venessa so that she can continue her hard work on behalf of everyone living here. Venessa told us after her incredible win:

“It is an honour to be elected in Mile End this year, and thanks so much to all the residents who have put their faith in me. Thanks to Phil Coleman, David King and Martin Goss, of course, for all their continuing hard work. I am already hearing a lot from residents about various concerns and will work hard to support all residents of Mile End.”

10 ways to reduce waste in our Colchester Community

10 ways to reduce waste in our Colchester Community

1. Have you heard of plogging? It was first coined to mean picking up litter as you run. You don’t have to run, of course – maybe you could pick up litter on your regular dog walk. It’s still plogging, your community will be grateful and you’ll get some time outside in the process. Join running Colchester – it’s free! Find them on Facebook here. Even if you’re not a runner, there are opportunities to get involved volunteering as well.

2. If you’d like your own litter picking equipment you can get it free by emailing Shrubend@colchester.gov.uk with your name and address and use the subject ‘Litter warriors’ and you’ll get a kit delivered.

3. Go to refill stores to get consumables and possibly save money too! Buying in bulk will save on packaging anyway, but if you take your own containers, you can help save the planet even further. Shops in Colchester: An Ethical Life, Colcheco, Home Kitchen, and probably more….

4. Plan your vegetable garden now. What can you grow instead of buy? We have lots of nurseries available to us to buy seeds from: FillPots, Poplar Nurseries, and other smaller ones too. You only need a small space to plant some runner beans for example.

5. Always have a reusable water bottle / insulated coffee mug. Ask coffee shops to use your own mug – some are already allowing this such as local Co-op stores.

6. Steel, aluminium, PET plastics, paper and glass are the most efficient to recycle in that order – opt for these options rather than any other plastics. Look for PET recyclable symbols.

7. Keep up the good work recycling household waste! Colchester was voted as one of the most recycling conscious towns in England! Amazing!! Contact your local councillors if you have any issues or feedback regarding recycling. Our Team.

8. Compost for your new vegetable patch. Did you know as much as 25% of the items in your rubbish could potentially be removed from the waste stream and composted in your back garden? Your fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, grass clippings and leaves can all be composted. Depending on the conditions, you may have compost in 3 to 12 months to use in your garden. You’ll save on fertilizers and if you grow your own vegetables, you’ll likely see improved yields.

9. Buy second hand and donate used goods. Facebook marketplace is a fabulous resource – not only do you not have to package things up like you do on ebay, but people come to you and collect the items. Facebook Marketplace is intended to be a local marketplace. This will save on trips to the tip for larger items too.

10. Store some shopping bags in your car to minimise buying more. If you find you have too many in your cupboard under the stairs, you can either take them back to any superstore, or you can give them to the Foodbank along with any other in-date consumables. Check with Foodbank for the items they require most.

Northern Approach Road bus lane work commences January 2023

𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 (𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔)

The proposals for Colchester’s new Rapid Transit System (RTS) across the borough will start to come to fruition from the week commencing 16th January when Colchester and Essex Councils begin work on the scheme.

This phase of the RTS will implement a segregated bus lane from/to the A12 from/to the centre (and eventually beyond) and will also see a segregated cycle lane and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as green spacing. The initial works will prepare for this first phase. There will be traffic management in place during this period up until end of February (not closures), although this is limited to 10am-3pm to avoid peak travel time.

The mature trees along the NAR (yellow storage side) will mostly be removed with the promise of some being replaced and some of the mature trees being replanted.

Click below for full details of the plans

https://www.essexhighways.org/highway-schemes-and-developments/highway-schemes/multi-district-schemes/a120-a133-link-and-rapid-transit

https://d0cs.colchester.gov.uk/Publisher/mvc/listDocuments?identifier=DC&ref=222144

Keeping safe during fireworks season

Fireworks are an important time of year which is marked on many family calendars. It is always recommended to go to properly organised displays such as that held at Castle Park by King Cole Kittens or those organised at local schools such as the excellent display at Heathlands in West Bergholt.

It is not recommended or permitted to have random fire work displays in public open spaces, playgrounds or parks. Should an accident happen the person letting off fire works in a public place is liable and therefore not insured. The council certainly won’t be picking up the tab for someone’s carelessness. Nine times out of ten people leave all the fire work litter behind as well!

Please do not let off fire works in any of our parks or open spaces.

A big thank you from Cllr David King

“A BIG THANK YOU!” said David King following his successful re-election on May 5th 2022. The Tory vote collapsed even further to a record low!

The results were:

David King (Lib Dem) 1,885 (66.3%) – up 1% on 2021
Tory 447 (15.7%) – down 3.2% on 2021
Labour 350 (12.3%) – up 1.5% on 2021
Green 163 (5.7%) – up 1.1% on 2021

David said “I am honoured to be re-elected again for a second term of four years to serve the great area of Mile End – where I live and work for all the community. It’s very humbling to achieve such a result!”

Shepherd Drive sign replaced

Small things matter, including correcting accidental damage caused by others.

For some reason an HGV delivering to the local Coop store on Nayland Road,
decided to take a wrong turn into Dickenson Road in August 2021, which
is a very narrow 20mph zone.

Martin Goss got onto the East of England Coop and after being pushed from pillar to post was eventually given details of the Manchester Coop who deliver for East of England Coop.

Martin said “I got the right contact after numerous emails and being pushed from pillar to post but tenacity pays off! The Coop insurers paid Colchester Council for a new sign and repair work where the verge was also badly damaged.

It has taken 5 months to sort this out but I am pleased to say the massive hole left and damaged sign have been repaired and rightly at nil cost to the taxpayer.

Residents are delighted with the new sign and repair.”

Mill Road youth shelter

Due to anti social behaviour at the Mill Road youth shelter, which has included
the smoking and dealing of drugs and late night noise, the sides to the shelter
have been removed to help discourage this behaviour.

The situation will be closely monitored and the police are aware of the issues.
If you witness or are concerned about any anti-social behaviour then please let us know.

Trinity School latest

The new Trinity School for Chesterwell is running late. We know delay and
disruption is a worry and have been working closely with the Gilberd and
Trinity Schools to reduce the impact and to keep parents up to date.

David and Martin have pressed the Department for Education hard to minimise
the delays and to keep parents informed.

We have been assured the new school will have to happen for September 2023. David will update when we have more news.

Turner Rise Mcdonalds

The Turner Rise Mcdonalds planning application was recently approved by the Planning Committee at Colchester Council.

We spoke against the plan on various grounds including transport and the
impact it would have on the area at peak times. Unfortunately Tory controlled
Essex County Council signed off the traffic assessment submitted with the
application which included traffic modelling for a Retail Park in Croydon!

Dunelm Mill also objected at the last minute citing the Retail Park in Croydon
where they also have a store was smaller than Turner Rise and the Mcdonalds
store they were comparing it too was also smaller!

The store will be built and open in 2022.

Now the store is approved we need to ensure the impact on the area including extra litter is minimised.