Tag Archives: Mile End Lib Dems

Issues in Mile End

With the school holidays now here, there are low level issues going on in Mile End keeping the team busy.

These include dealing with low level anti-social behaviour where residents face disturbances from children causing issues in our neighbourhood. This can be noise, leaving litter around, swearing or slightly more serious matters.

All issues must be reported to the police at the time of the incident and this can be done via 101, in an emergency 999 or via the Essex Police website.

If you have an issue you’d like to discuss please do get in touch with the team.

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!”

Your Mile End survey responses

We have been out knocking on thousands of doors in our area getting your views and feedback on Mile End.

Your priorities include the NHS (we fight for better pay & recruitment).
Climate change (we press Government to keep their promises. And do
all we can, from installing heat pumps & insulation, to tree planting)
Education and schools (where we press for better funding, a Personal
Education and Skills Account to help later life learning and
more apprenticeships). We also help schools directly with
grants towards gardens and forest schools and help with planners).

Locally you like what we do (thank you!) but ask we continue to chase the
County Council over road repairs and to help tackle litter. We do of course!

Trinity school update!

Great news that after a sustained campaign and lots of pressure from your Lib Dem team the Trinity school design plans have at last been lodged! Parents and pupils were let down by the Department for Education and their builders. But we now are underway.

David King and Martin Goss have met with DfE, and David has engaged Essex County Council and the Gilberd, to ensure everyone does all they can to deliver the new school at Chesterwell to the latest opening date of September 23. That will be tight. Contingency plans are being worked up.

But we will do all we can to ensure plans are passed in Colchester as swiftly as possible. And that DfE deliver to time. We will continue to chase and keep the pressure on all parties.

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.

Mill Road traffic calming

We are still chasing Essex County Council to see what other suggestions they have for traffic calming on Mill Road. Currently a temporary one year 20 MPH speed limit is being considered for the stretch of road from Brinkley Grove Roundabout all the way to the Northern Approach Road junction. We will keep you updated on progress.

Our litter heroes

During lockdown and more recently there has been issues over the increase in litter being dropped around the ward. Dropping litter is an offence and can incur a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100. We have requested fines are increased to £150.

Our thanks to our Neighbourhoods team and all those residents who have undertaken litter picks or picked up litter on their walks.

Also thanks to our existing and new Litter Warriors who have volunteered to do regular litter picks. If you or your family would like to become Litter Warriors please let one of us know and we will provide you with the equipment.

Traveller incursions

Following two further traveller incursions in Mile End,
Cllr Coleman requested all potential sites be made secure
and asked the portfolio holder to look at additional measures.

This could include a borough wide ban as in Harlow or a transit site to
stop other sites being used with subsequent issues.

As trespass is not a criminal offence but a civil one the council or land
owner must apply to the court for an eviction notice. This normally
takes around 10 days.

Police can use their powers to evict if criminal behaviour is reported,
such as last summer on the rugby club site.

We will continue to push for a long term strategy to stop such
incursions.

Chesterwell planning application amendment affecting Mile End Road

We want to ensure you are aware of a modification request for the planning conditions set on the original Mersea Homes planning application for the Chesterwell development.

Bartholomew Court which is currently a dead end was always designed to be a bus access only route for the Chesterwell development which would access onto Mile End Road. Mersea Homes have submitted a change to this so the route can also be used by traffic from up to 160 houses on the southern end of the Chesterwell development.

The bus route would still use this access point and it also means access to the 160 houses would also be from this access point too.

We have said to Mersea Homes they must install electronic rising bollards for the bus access point so that it cannot be accessed by the majority of the Chesterwell development traffic should this change be approved.

It would be advisable to add your comments to this requested change and ensure your views are submitted. Please visit www.colchester.gov.uk/planning and search for application number 183077.

If we can be of any further help please do not hesitate to contact any member of the team or call 07912 396335.