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White Colne

Parish Council

White Colne

Easter Egg Hunt

Join us on the Meadows on Sunday March 16th for an Easter Egg Hunt, with kite flying and family games. The hunt will start at 10.30am and finish at midday. Meet at the pavilion on site. Hot drinks, biscuits and “hot” cross buns will be available at the pavilion for your refreshment.

This is a free event so please support us by giving generously to our donations box. All proceeds in aid of the Meadows maintenance fund.

Everyone is welcome, so bring the children, grandchildren – the whole family..

Jane Taylor

Community Orchard

We were delighted to see that the recent BBC programme Gardeners World, was mainly devoted to Monty Don describing the benefits of planting and maintaining community orchards. Our own orchard on Gosses will contain 12 local heritage trees and we hope in time an “Orchard” group will be formed to help maintain this special area.

Church News

Easter Services.

Good Friday Friday 21st March 2 pm Service of Reflection

Easter Sunday 23rd March 11.30am Holy Communion

The Annual Vestry Meeting and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Wednesday 23rd April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. All are welcome to attend this Annual Meeting.

Christopher White Thomson

Green Waste Collection

The vehicle will wait from 1210 to 1240 pm at the Village Hall on Saturdays as follows:

8th March, 5th April, 3rd May, 14th June,

12th July, 9th August,13th September

11th October

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Burglary at Whites Farm, 1724 hours, Monday, 25th February

Two suspects removed a plastic honesty pot containing money from the yard at Whites Farm.

Descriptions: Both male, white, European, aged 18/19 years, one dark haired and one blond.

Please contact Braintree Police 01376 551312 if you have any information.

Sue Norris 223104

Bottle Banks

When you have disposed of your bottles in the banks please take the bags/boxes you have used to carry your bottles to the bank home with you. The area is only a recycling point for bottles and glass and since other items are not routinely collected the unpleasant task of clearing the area either falls to other volunteers in the village or in extreme circumstances a visit from the Braintree District Council 'Clean Team,' all at ratepayers expense. The fly-tippers who regularly abuse this facility are also reminded that they face prosecution and a hefty fine if they are caught

Dog owners.

Anti-social behaviour

Dog mess is once again becoming a problem around the village hall, along the chase and on the meadows. The majority of dog owners are being let down by a few owners who do not clean up after dogs. The Parish Council is concerned about the welfare and safety of all users of our public spaces and provide dog poo bags and bins for use by dog owners. We would therefore ask all dog owners to take a responsible attitude and clear up after their dog. If you witness someone not doing so please either politely remind them of their responsibilities or inform a member of the Parish Council.

The 50 Club

The 50 club operates as a mini lottery in the village. You are invited to buy a number for 50p per month. This number is then put in a hat with the other numbers and 5 numbers are drawn out. The First prize is £25; there are three £10 prizes and a £5 prize. You are able o have as many numbers as you like.

The funds raised are used to support the village hall. Many of the grants that have been secured to improve the hall have been successful because we are able to match fund or provide some of our own funds. This is largely thanks to the 50 Club.

We would urge all new and existing members of the club to help the volunteers who run it by making annual cash payments or set up an annual standing order.

If you would like to join the 50 club please contact Jean or Colin Armstrong on 221811.

50 Club Winners:

January - R Gourlay £25, M Cammock £10, H Amerio £10, Helen Black £10, Joscelin Watt £5,

February - H Halls £25, J Arnold £10, C Starling £10, S Newman £10, P Keen £5

Dear Residents

Spring is here and heralded by the daffodils on the village green, a signal for the various groups in the village to become more active. One of the first to pick up the challenge was the History group who organised a very interesting presentation in the village hall on March 5th. This not to say that our band of hard working volunteers have been in hibernation. I would encourage everyone in the village to visit the village hall and see the new kitchen which is now ideal for catering for parties and events.

Our next village event will be the Easter Egg Hunt, organised by the Meadows group, which I hope you will be able to attend. More details below.

Finally, I am delighted to announce despite the effect of inflation, the Parish Council has agreed this year’s budget and approved holding the precept at last year’s rate.

Kevin Nolan, Chairman

Easter Egg Hunt

Join us on the Meadows on Sunday March 16th for an Easter egg hunt, with kite flying and family games. The hunt will start at 10.30am and finish at midday. Meet at the pavilion on site. Hot drinks, biscuits and “hot” cross buns will be available at the pavilion for your refreshment.

This is a free event so please support us by giving generously to our donations box. All proceeds in aid of the Meadows maintenance fund.

Everyone is welcome, so bring the children, grandchildren – the whole family..

Jane Taylor

Community Orchard

I would like to thank everybody involved for making all these events a success and I look forward to the coming year in White Colne.

Kind Regards

Kevin Nolan, Chairman

Parish News March 2008

Sticky Fingers Parent and Toddler Group

Calling all Mums and Dads with pre-school children (0 to 4 yrs)………

Are you looking for somewhere to meet new friends for both you and your children? If so, come along to Sticky Fingers. Sticky Fingers is a friendly Parent and Toddler group which meets every Wednesday at White Colne Village Hall from 10am to 12.30noon. Activities include toys to suit all ages, a messy table for older ones and summer outings.

For more information tel Nicola Smith 01787 220108 or just turn up

Recent events in the Village Hall

A wine tasting evening organised by David and Mary Gilbert from Earls Colne

raised over £500 for the Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity in January.

The kitchen refurbishment is now complete and awaiting bookings. Please contact Jean Armstrong on 221811 or Peter Norris on 223104 to view the new facilities

from PC Nigel Horne

Three Colnes Neighbourhood Action Panel

I am hoping to recruit some good folk to be part of the Three Colnes Ward Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP). This is part of the Government's Community Policing.

Normal, ordinary residents are needed to help decide on our Policing Priorities every two months or so. It will involve a meeting every two months(ish) lasting about an hour whereby the NAP members will discuss the concerns of the residents over problems, issues etc that effect their communities (these will be given to them by the Police). It's the Governments way of involving local people in the prioritising of local Policing, Does that makes sense, I hope so.? I only need two or three people from your area.

They can contact me at Halstead Police Station 01787 472451

Can you help?

Mencap are looking for people in the Braintree area who would like the opportunity to open their home to someone with a learning disability, offering them care and support, as part of their family. The Essex Adult Placement Scheme is a new venture between Essex County Council, Mencap, and the Guideposts Trust.

Dyan, an existing Adult Placement Carer, was clear of the benefits to both people with a learning disability and Adult Placement Carers themselves. “It allows me to work from home and gives me the opportunity to encourage independence and personal growth in others”. Adult Placement Carers receive payment for the accommodation and support they provide. Guidance, training and support is given to enable the carer to succeed in their role. Interested? Please call 01376 519450