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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Billericay Town Council
The annual meeting of the Town Council was held at the Coach House, Crown
Yard on 28th April, despite the local paper stating that the Coach House
(Town Hall) is in Tye Common Road! What do they know that we don’t?
Councillor Jim Devlin, Chair of the Town Council, stated in his report on the last year’s activities that the Town Council was taking over control and responsibility for running the Day Centre in Chantry Way, where we hold our monthly meetings. So watch this space in-case there are any changes to our venue.
There is talk of refurbishment of the site. This may involve a lot of repairs or just changes to the space available within the Day Centre. The Town Clerk and staff: Deborah and Dianne may move here.
Billericay Society would like the Town Council to connect the pseudo-drain, in the car-park, to a real drain so that the car-park does not flood every time it rains. A barrier of some type, to reserve the parking area for members, would also be useful. We hope these changes do not result in an increase in our rent of the hall, or to the effectiveness of the central heating system and caretaker.
Cllr. Devlin also stated that the Town Council had voted to keep the precept for Billericay residents the same as last year. The precept is the portion of your council tax that goes to Town Council. This amount has been held for the last seven years. So our thanks go to them.
Essex Policing
During the meeting a talk on the impact of budget cuts on local policing
was given by Detective Superintendent Stuart Hooper, Basildon District
Superintendent Commander. If you wonder where the physical police presence
is – it is in space – cyber space. The absence of police on
the ground does not mean a lack of police activity in the area. Police
now communicate, monitor and control situations using digital technology:
Essex Community Messaging Systems and Twitter. So tweet if you need help.
More details and domain addresses can be found on the Town Council website:
www.billericay towncouncil.gov.uk
Det. Supt. Hooper stated that they have to make an annual saving of £35 million and that some 1200 incidents per day with 100 arrests per day were reported. Perhaps we could have some of the government ring-fenced foreign aid. He did encourage neighbourhood policing, to help handle the 13% increase in local crime. Rather than encouraging any vigilante activity he preferred the ‘active citizen’ approach within the community. He agreed that there should be more PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) and special constables. He mentioned that shops with red phone logos were places of refuge in an emergency to support vulnerable people with learning difficulties. The Minutes of this public council meeting are on the Billericay Town Council’s website:
Local Town Plan
I have included a copy of the Society’s submission to Basildon Borough
Council in response to their request for our comments on the Local plan.
I trust you also took this opportunity to make your opinions heard.
Basildon Borough Draft Local Plan
The following comments on the local plan are by the Billericay Society
(BS) and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Essex (CPRE):
1) BS and CPRE: Opposes any proposed use of or redefinition of Green Belt
land for housing developments or other urban use. Before any new housing
is considered building should be carried out on already approved development
sites by developers who are holding land for their benefit.
2) No housing should be built until suitable infrastructure, roads, medical
facilities, schools and shops are specifically identified and approved
funding is in place.
3) What is the build specification for these proposed housing schemes?
We already have had too many bungalows rebuilt as five bedroom houses,
for ‘buy-to-let’.
4) Will sufficient housing be available, with suitable specification and
pricing, for the ‘older demographic’ housing needs within
the local area?
5) The proposed southern relief road should start at the A176 Laindon
Road roundabout.
6) The use of land west of Tye Common Road should not disrupt the existing
sports facilities.
7) We oppose any building on land considered a flood risk.
8) Impact on areas in close proximity to ecological areas such as SSSI
to be minimal.
9) Are first time buyers being considered in the building and house pricing?
10) The law does not allow a slip road to be laid across the Queen Elizabeth
II Field.
11) Better drainage is needed to stop build-up of rainwater on the roundabout
at the junction of Sun Street and Laindon Road.
12) Commuter train overcrowding needs to be resolved before any increase
in population.
Thank you for your attention to these comments, for and on behalf of the
Billericay Society.
Beacon Ceremony
Doug Smith, our vice-chairman, and I were invited, with our wives, to
the reception to commemorate the 90th Birthday of the Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II and the Lighting of the Billericay Beacon Ceremony. During
the reception I was surprised to find that I am one of the five people
nominated for ‘Billericay Citizen of the Year 2016’. I thank
those who put my name forward. I was nominated: for services to the Billericay
Society and for preservation of Billericay’s heritage. The worthy
winner was Mr Phil Norton for organising the Billericay Street Pastors
and his work in getting two defibrillators installed in the High Street.
The other nominees were: Hillary Alltimes, Rose Novis and Ken Tout. Phil
Norton had the honour of lighting the beacon in front of those who had
come out to witness the ceremony, one of many others lit across the British
Isles.
Committee Meetings
The committee meeting held on 31st March reviewed the financial report
given in the AGM balance sheet. The new newsletter format and printing
has been well received. It is considered to be worth the extra cost involved
with the inclusion of colour pictures. Some members have found that they
cannot receive the newsletter in the new format. A printed copy can be
obtained by contacting Lesley on 656527.
It was also agreed to limit the raffle prizes at the Wednesday social evening meetings to four better quality items.
The committee was pleased to support activities to safeguard Burghstead Lodge for the community to see our Sun Corner seats mentioned and illustrated in the Norsey Wood magazine. These seats also came in useful during the beacon lighting ceremony. A ‘Story of Billericay’ exhibition, expanding on our eighty year exhibition has been proposed. On the night of 23/24 September 1916, L32 crashed in Billericay. Sylvia Kent has contacted the son of Lieutenant Sowery, who shot down Zeppelin L32, and is proposing a commemoration service and exhibition.
The Society commented on the renovations to Link House, 56/70 High Street, at present shrouded in scaffolding. Some changes were made to get approval for the planning application.
The walking group is planning more local walks to monitor the footpaths and the Green Belt area around the town. Walkers are asked to inform the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) officer, Bob Reeves, of any trouble spots. It would also be great help if some dog walkers joined the Society. If the Green Belt goes we will have to walk on concrete.
The Billericay history website, www.billericay history.org.uk would like
to have your photographs and memories of Billericay. Recent anecdotes
of Billericay incidents would also be appreciated. They can be copied
by the History Group in Billericay Library between 10:30 and 12:30 on
the second Monday of each month.
David Bremner
Chairman, Billericay Society
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
On behalf of the Billericay Society I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Billericay District Residents Association on its 90th anniversary. Long may it continue in its common aim with our Society to preserve the heritage of Billericay for the future. I also intend to write to them, on behalf of the Society, regarding their proposed time capsule linked to this anniversary. A capsule containing predictions of what the town will be like when the Residents Association celebrates its centenary is to be sealed. The object of the exercise being an attempt to predict how changed the town will be and to see how these changes vary from those predicted.
OUR WALK FROM ALTHORNE
Due to quite a lot of wind and rain during the winter our walks were hit
and miss events. Our walk from Althorne was due to take place at the end
of March, in fact the day after Easter. Again the odds were against us
and the walk was delayed until Tuesday 5th April.
The day turned out to be really nice warm. So we set off for the Three
Horseshoe and met with eight other walkers, making eleven in all, including
my granddaughter Ella. We set off and walked along until we reached the
road leading down to the River Crouch and then we proceeded to walk along
its banks. The air felt really fresh after all the rain so everyone seemed
bright and breezy.
After a while we turned back towards Althorne and walked along the edge
of farmers’ fields until we reached the main road again. We then
took the opportunity to visit the local church. Unfortunately it was locked
so we were only able to view it from the outside. Then it was back to
the pub where we met some other walkers who joined us for lunch. The food
was very good and quite cheap. Then it was goodbye to the walkers till
the next walk or society meeting.So if you feel like joining us, even
for a single walk, please do. All our walks are listed in the society
newsletter. Only requirements are good walking shoes and a happy disposition.
Doug Smith
Vice Chairman
A ROYAL OCCASION
On a very pleasant evening on the 21st April Her Majesty the Queen celebrated
her 90th Birthday and our community came out to honour her in a special
way, by lighting the Beacon at Sun Corner. The Billericay Air Cadets 2393
Squadron performed a guard of honour at the Beacon lighting and very smart
they looked.
The honour of lighting the Beacon was given to a special member of our community called the Citizen of the year the person given this honour was a man called Phil Norton who is a Billericay Street Pastor who raised the money for the two defibrillators that we now have in Billericay. There were other nominees, one of which was Billericay Society`s very own (very surprised) David Bremner, for all his hard work in preserving the Town’s Heritage. This event was well attended and it was great to see so many people all together celebrating our Sovereign’s birthday.
ELIZABETH COTTAGE
The more observant of you will have noticed the three notices placed by
the door of Elizabeth Cottage. All notices are the same from the legal
department at Basildon Council. The notices were put up roundabout the
29th February. They have given the owners or owner, Mr Mikiko Mayumi Bucheli,
(a nice English name) 21 days to cough up £28.628.08, which is what
Basildon Council spent on protecting the roof etc. (I will not be employing
them to do my roof) anyway the 21 days are now up. Those of you who read
the Enquirer may have read my article regarding the problems in finding
out what was going to happen after the 21 days are up. It seems another
three months will pass before any action will take place, no rush then.
Basildon Council stands as much chance of getting that money back as I
have of winning the lottery. Elizabeth Cottage is not a listed building,
but that horrible block of flats in Basildon town square is. Well, if
they can list that heap of concrete they can list our cottage which is
considerably older.
Bob Reeves
Eighty Years and Counting
He said he was from Billericay,
When stopped by a man with an aim,
To ask a question quite tricky,
‘How on earth did your town get its name?’
‘I haven’t the slightest’, he answered.
‘Yet the town’s very old so to speak,
The Billericay Society, of great notoriety,
Might just have the answer you seek’.
‘I’ve seen them’, his questioner uttered,
‘Although they tried hard to appease,
But they’ve done a great deal for the townsfolk
Much of which nobody sees’.
‘They’re eighty years old, so they tell me
And have kept a close eye on the town,
Ensuring that everything’s done right,
Local standard’s kept up, never down’.
‘You can join for a quite small subscription,
They meet in an off-High Street hall,
Where everyone’s kind and inviting,
And they make you feel part of it all’.
Tony Beard
SOCIAL SCENE
Our Social Secretary, Marion, continues to provide an interesting selection
for our Wednesday evening socials.
For those of us of a certain age, following the AGM in March Mike Brown provided a very entertaining talk on entertainment in the last war. In addition to recorded ‘snapshots’ of wartime BBC radio broadcasts and records he also brought an interesting selection of period advertising material and programmes. There was only enough time for him to present part of his talk, so there is scope for a return visit.
For the April meeting Steve Willoughby warned us of scams that can affect our computers if we ignored computer security. This was followed in May by a talk on amusing recollections of forty years secondary school teaching by Brian Carline.
Carol Harris will speak on the ill-fated Ernest Shackleton Endurance expedition to the Antarctic 100 years ago in June. While Barry Kaufman-Wright will tell of life as a wildlife police officer for the July meeting. As usual there will not be a meeting in August. Following a well-deserved break for the committee Jeff Page returns for another presentation in September, this time on Essex diarists.
WALKS
In addition to the Althorne walk the Society walkers have also set off from Fobbing, taken a new walk from Galleywood and followed the Blackwater estuary, retuning along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation to Heybridge. Here two Thames barges, formally used by Sadds for transporting timber, are sinking in the mud.
They have also visited Terling Place from Fuller Street, Hylands Park
in the rain and the new Thameside Nature Park near Mucking. Here a direction
indicator tells us avocets find their way over 7000miles from Africa,
while unfortunately, some members have difficulty getting there from Billericay.
Programme
Close to the date of the walk, check with the chairman, or our website,
for any changes. Before setting out please check the walks listing and
note the walk starting point. Most walks start at 10:00am and may cross
stiles. Suitable clothing should be worn. Footwear should reflect the
weather conditions and the state of the ground. No dogs please. If you
use a pub car park please at least have a drink, if only a soft one. All
walks are led by a member of the Committee.
A new walk on the 6th July in Chelmsford takes in its three central parks: Admirals, West and Central and a little known small nature reserve. Being based on parks over made-up footpaths no stiles or mud is guaranteed. Also, if you are feeling adventurous, leave your boots behind.
David Bremner will lead a High Street walk on Sunday
26th June, departing at 2.00pm from Billericay Station.
7th June, Fryerning, Viper CM4 0PT, 01277 352010.
21st June Ramsden Heath, Fox & Hounds CM11 1PW, 01268 711625.
5th July, Chelmsford, Black Bull CM1 2XB, 01245 698344. The Black Bull is on the outskirts of Chelmsford, on the right-hand side of the Roxwell Road (A1060).
19th July, Battlesbridge, Barge Inn SS11 7RE, 01268 732622.
2nd August, Chipping Ongar, Two Brewers CM5 9HD, 01277 362445.
16th August, Sandon, Crown CM2 7SH, 01245 477164.
30th August, West Hanningfield, Three Compasses CM2 UQ, 01245 400447
13th September, Mill Green, Fryerning, Cricketers CM4 0JD, 01277 352400.
27th September: Willingale GR 597076, park in the Village Hall car park. CM5 0QS. Lunch at the Black Bull, Dunmow Road, Fyfield, CM5 0NN, 01277 899225.
11th October: Thorndon Park South, park at the Halfway House, GR 633894, 01277 811235.
25th October: Great Waltham, Rose & Crown CM3 1AG, GR 701130, 01245 360359.
8th November: Margaretting Tye, park at the White Hart, CM4 9JX, 01277 840478, GR 684011.
22nd November: Wat Tyler Country Park, SS16 4UH. Park near the café, 01268 550088, GR 738865