FEBRUARY 2001

PARTY WALL ETC ACT 1996

I received the following letter from one of our members which maybe of interest to readers of this newsletter:-

"Residents may not be aware of their rights under this act which applies not only building work being carried out on a party wall between two properties but also when a new property is being built within a certain distance from an existing property and the foundations will go deeper than those of the existing building. The act is long and involved but the basis of it is that no work should be started without the written consent of the neighbouring property owner. It seems that the planning department of the Council does not inform you of your rights and builders do not always comply with the act by advising of their intentions before commencing work. Full details of the act can be obtained at www.hmso.gov.uk.acts1996." Readers would be well advised to seek expert opinion before trying to use the provisions of this act in any local disagreement.

POSTAL SERVICE

Another letter from a reader presenting his solution to the late delivery of post:-

"The problem of overpressure on the Postal service is really quite bogus and the solution is in our own hands. Dump the junk mail! If only half the people served by our sorting office registered with Mail Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ not to receive any more unsolicited mail the Post Office could get on with their real job of delivering the letters we do want. Consequently our Council Tax would not have to be frittered away with the cost of carting off all those credit card offers and other daily irritations."

Good idea! Unfortunately the cost of postage would undoubtedly increase because, I am told, the income from delivering junk mail offsets, to some extent, the cost of delivering the mail we do want. Perhaps it is a price some people would be willing to pay.

ROAD REPS REQUIRED.

Attention please all members living in the NORSEY VIEW DRIVE area. A road rep is required to deliver the newsletter to 58 houses in Norsey View Drive. This opportunity is open to anyone who wishes to discover if his or her legs still work and can manage a half-hour stroll once a month. First person to call John Adkins on 624298 gets the job!

Another road rep is required to deliver the newsletter to 41 houses in THE RISING. All people wanting to increase their physical stamina and endurance and also meet interesting people should contact Jo Evans on 659823.

BILLERICAY TOWN COUNCIL – PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

If you live, work or go to school in the Billericay Town area and have recently taken a photograph of an event in Billericay why not enter the competition, win a prize and see your photograph in print in the next edition of the Town guide. There are three categories, prizes of £50, £30 and £20 in each category. Closing date 31 March 2001. For entry forms and more information contact the Town Clerk on 01277 625732.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

We are very grateful to the businesses and traders listed below who gave so generously to our Christmas Lights Appeal, also to the residents who supported our flag day and those who made individual donations.

BILLERICAY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

May I introduce ourselves? We are your own local, gardening club which was formed over a century ago. No doubt its founders were an august body of gentlemen who regularly visited the botanical gardens at Kew and on their return instructed their head gardeners on the latest developments in plant propagation. Now, things are rather different. We have a monthly evening meeting at the Day Centre with an illustrated talk on some aspect of gardening. Plants are usually on sale at very reasonable prices and advice on most gardening problems always available.

If you have thought of visiting Hampton Court Flower Shows come to our February meeting when the speaker will give an illustrated tour of these events. Our meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 8.00pm. Come along and try us. As a visitor you will be most welcome. Telephone 01277 651447 for more details.

A tip for February. Poinsettias are among the more showy pot plants at this time of the year. Unfortunately they are not among the easiest to maintain in good condition. They will enjoy a well lit warm spot away from draughts. If possible place the pot in a larger container filled with moist peat but avoid over watering. The brightly coloured bracts should be a feature for several months. Like pot chrysanthemums poinsettias are chemically dwarfed, if they are kept for next year they will be taller and straggly. Remember they do not like cold or draughty conditions. If you came from Mexico neither would you.

BILLERICAY CHORAL SOCIETY

The Billericay Choral Society thanks all those who attended their Christmas Concert with Great Burstead Church Choir on Friday 8 December. The concert raised £949.94 for the Basildon Hospital Association for Renal Patients. This sum has been added to the £79.90 collected by the choir carol singing in The Walk on the two subsequent Saturdays 9 and 16 December together with the money collected at other carol singing venues and the Fun Night. A cheque for £1,154 will be presented to the Basildon Hospital Association for Renal Patients. Thank you all very much for your support. Billericay Choral Society will be celebrating its 30 Anniversary this year. If you enjoy singing and would like to join us come along to one of our Tuesday evening rehearsals at 8.00pm in the Mayflower Hall in Chapel Street. A warm welcome awaits you.

STOCK DRAMA GROUP

Stock Drama Group wish to thank everyone for supporting the November production "A TOUCH OF DANGER". A record number of tickets were sold making the whole event a great success, your kind comments after the shows were much appreciated. Watch out for our next production in May 2001 when we hope for your loyal support once again.

SATURDAY 10 MARCH – QUIZ NIGHT – 7.30pm to 11.00pm - The Day Centre, Chantry Way – in aid of Billericay Out Of School Scheme (BOSS). Fish/Chicken and Chips Supper. Bring your own drinks.

Tickets £6.00 available from Rosemary 16, Glenside, Billericay. Telephone 01277 657623 evenings.

SATURDAY 3 MARCH - THE NATIONAL CHILDBIRTH TRUST - BASILDON AND DISTRICT BRANCH RAIL AND TABLE TOP SALE – 10.00am to 12.00pm, at Laindon Play Centre, Worthing Road, Laindon. To book a table/rail please ‘phone Frances on 01277 633060.

MONDAY 12 MARCH – BILLERICAY CERAMIC CIRCLE – 7.30pm in the Day Centre, Chantry Way. A lecture by the Curator of the Derby China Museum entitled "Derby Artists and Their Backgrounds" Admission £3.00. Non-members welcome.

FRIDAY 9 MARCH – BILLERICY RECORDED MUSIC SOCIETY – 8.00pm THE FOLD, LAINDON ROAD, BILLERICAY. An evening of music:-

The Society meets at 8.00pm on Friday evenings at The Fold 7, Laindon Road, Billericay

FOLK at the RISING SUN, BILLERICAY – Last Thursday of each month at 8.30pm, except December. Contact Clive Hammond on 01277 622793

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY:

Cheques for trips organised by the BILLERICAY TWINNING ASSOCIATION should be made payable to BTA and sent to T & M Stansfield at 174 Perry Street, Billericay, CM12 0NX . Tel No 623519.

Cheques for trips organised by the BILLERICAY DISTRICT RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION should be made payable to BDRA and sent to D & B Osborn at 22 Raven Lane, Billericay CM12 0JA. Tel No 626287.

THE RESIDENT is published by Billericay District Residents' Association Editor - Trevor Stansfield, 174 Perry Sreet, Billericay, Essex CM12 0NX. Tel: 623519 E-mail:vice.chairman@bdra.org
 Printed by New Realm Design, Fortune Works, Wash Road, Laindon, Basildon, Essex

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