It is nearly the end of October and as I write this article for the November issue of the newsletter preparations are well in hand for the Association once again to provide decorative lighting in the High Street for Christmas. Already many letters have been written to the businesses and traders in the town seeking their financial support and additionally we have organised a Flag Day for Saturday 14 November when residents of the town can make their own contribution. This year the installation will be carried out by a local business, Chantry Electrical Services of Billericay, with most of the work being done in the twilight hours thus keeping the effect on traffic to a minimum.
The lights enhance the appearance of the High Street at Christmas and are an essential part of the Town's Xmas Fun Night organised by the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower, which this year will take place on Wednesday 9 December, imagine the event without them! How long will it be before the residents of other towns come to Billericay to see the lights and enjoy the atmosphere of a truly vibrant town? The Association does really work hard to promote a community spirit, engender pride in the town and has the interests of the residents at heart therefore we ask for the support of everyone to achieve our objectives. Donations should be sent to A Evans, 11 Porchester Road, Billericay, CM12 0UQ.
The next five-year Management Plan for Norsey Wood contains the schedule of coppice work that is needed to ensure the health of the timber and wildlife into the next millenium. Coppicing, as most people now understand, is a traditional way of managing woodland and has given rise to a unique diversity of plant and animal species. The trouble is that although everyone wants to see a healthy woodland, many people are unprepared for the short term effects.
Coppicing is a high impact operation - chainsaws buzzing, heavy machinery rumbling, trees falling - and there is always a mess to clear up. Surprising, then, that if the work is carried out at the right time of the year and with the correct equipment, the only creatures which suffer are we humans. The inconvenience and noise and the perception that things are being irrevocably altered for the relatively short period of our lifetimes. We can't help it - we are a very shorted sighted species.
Nature, however, operates in a very different time frame. Sympathetically coppiced woodlands recover very quickly, to reveal an enhanced variety of wildlife for several years before the canopy starts to close over and shade out the regrowth. The overall benefit to the woodland as a whole may not be recognised for many generations. We are managing valuable habitats like Norsey Wood for the wildlife and people of today - of course we are - but the work is designed to ensure that our children and their successive generations have something worth conserving.
The coppicing operation this year is scheduled for October and November, although the most likely start date is 20 November, and will concentrate on the area between Outwood Common Road and the Easy Access Trail. It is a prominent part of the reserve, easily seen from both the road and the footpath. It is quite a large area too - nearly six acres, but the size of the block is determined by the need to get this part of the woodland into shape.
I would request all members of the Norsey Woods Society to help us make this very necessary operation go as smoothly as possible by supporting the Warden and the Council. Let others know why we are carrying out this work. There will be Council press releases on the subject but inevitably many people will not see or read them. English Nature and English Heritage have both approved the coppice-management for Norsey Wood. The benefits to wildlife are not the only reasons for why it is vital that the work be carried out. A little tolerance and understanding on the part of the users of the reserve, and faith in the knowledge and expertise of the management, will contribute enormously to the success of the operation.
BILLERICAY PARKING - At the Billericay Area Committee meeting held on 10 September members considered a detailed report reviewing the effect of current on-street parking restrictions in Billericay and resolved that:-
1) Residents of Abbots Ride, The Chase, High Meadow, Hillside Road, Hillside Close, Langemore Way, Martin Close, Parkside, Prower Close, South Ridge and West Croft be consulted to determine the extent of the deferred parking restrictions to be implemented in their roads and that the results of the consultations be reported to the next meeting of this committee.
2) That informal consultations be carried out and reported to the next meeting of this committee, to make a Traffic Regulation Order prohibiting parking at any time at some junctions and elsewhere for one hour, Mondays to Saturdays, in the following roads - Horace Road, Headley Road, Hillhouse Drive, Abbey Road, Bootham Road, Gilmore Rise, Romney Road, Rushdene Road, Tye Common Road and Station Road.
3) That informal consultations be carried out to make a 24 hour Clearway Order, including footways and verges and a 7.00am to 7.00pm bus stop Clearway Order on the A129 Southend Road from Fairview to Hickstars Lane and on the A176 from Southend Road to Kennel Lane.
4) That the residents of Burghstead Close be advised of the Chief Constable's objection to the proposed access restriction and that they be invited to reconsider the proposed one hour restriction.
It appears that the consultations are not complete so the results will not be considered until the Area Committee meeting to be held 14 January 1999. Notice of the consultations will be posted in and around the areas involved.
CRUNCH TIME - The Crunch will be visiting the following locations between the hours of 9.00am and 12.00pm noon:-
|
Little Burstead Car Park |
28 November |
19 December |
27 February |
|
Radford Crescent Car Park |
12 December |
30 January |
13 March |
Bring along your garden refuse and general rubbish. Not suitable for oil, paint and other waste liquids.
Because I completely forgot to mention, in last month's newsletter, the fact that we needed more road reps. I have only just been allowed out of the "Sin Bin" to write this issue. I lie. I have been away on holiday. Nevertheless we desperately need people whose life lacks that certain something, who yearn for a life on the edge, who have to be consistently challenged, both physically and mentally, and at the same time want to achieve a degree of fitness usually only achieved by dedicated athletes. If this is you then look no further. The life of a Resident's road rep will satisfy your needs. I think. We would like you to deliver the newsletter to -
37 houses in Western Road and another person to deliver to 19 houses in Gainsborough Close. Please contact Jo Evans on 01277 659823.
Now for the ultimate endurance test, a stamina sapping experience of the utmost satisfaction - delivering The Resident to 69 houses in Porchester Road, Montpelier Close and York Road. If there are two volunteers the round can be split. Please contact Margaret Stansfield on 01277 623519.
BILLERICAY SOCIETY - EVENING WALKS during the summer were well supported by the public, thanks to publicity in The Resident, particularly the visit to Remus Horse Sanctuary when well over £70.00 was donated. The hat-collections on other evenings amounted to nearly £70.00 part of which went to Mill Meadows Society and the remainder towards the Conservation Centre to be built at Hanningfield Reservoir by Essex Wildlife Trust.
Billericay Choral Society with the Great Burstead Church Choir will be singing parts of The Messiah and Carols For All at 7.45pm on Friday 11 December in Great Burstead Church.
Tickets are £4.00 and £2.50 concessions and are available from Storyteller Bookshop and members of both choirs. All proceeds will go to The Anvil Trust.
Due to popular demand the Billericay Centre of the British Red Cross will be holding another one day "Basic First-aid" course for the public on Saturday 14 November 1998 from 9.00am to 4.30pm. It will cover bandaging, burns, minor incidents in the home, resuscitation, the recovery position and much more. It will be held in the Red Cross Hall, to the right of the Fire Station, Laindon Road, Billericay. Places are strictly limited and must be pre-booked. For further information, or to book your place please telephone Eve Fautley on 01277 622123. We look forward to welcoming you.
SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER at 7.30pm - THE THIRD EDGE THEATRE COMPANY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOLD presents "WARTIME TEACAKE" at The Fold 72, Laindon Road, Billericay. An informal evening of monologues, poetry and other pieces to commemerate Remembrance Day. Tickets can be obtained from The Fold, 01277 659286, and cost £4.00 for members of the BAA, £5.00 for non-members and include a glass of wine and nibbles.
FRIDAY/SATURDAY - 20/21 NOVEMBER - 10.00am to 5.00pm. Buttsbury Art Society Arts Exhibition. Watercolours, Oil Paintings and Pastels by local artists. Admission and parking free.
SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER - 5.00pm and 8.00pm. - "WE GOT RHYTHM". Neville Dickie and Mike Goetz return to The Fold with a dazzingly dexterous performance of jazz on two pianos. Be sure to book early. Two performances. Tickets 5.00pm - £7.50 (members £6.50), 8.00pm - £9.50 (members £8.50).
SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER - 11.00am to 4.00pm - CHRISTMAS CRAFT MARKET. Another opportunity to find those unique gifts from talented local craftspeople. Free admission and parking.
SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER - 2.00PM AND 4.00PM - CHILDRENS EVENT - "LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD" an almost traditional Children's pantomime performed by PLASTERCAST. Tickets £3.00 Children, £4.00 Adults.
Cards For Good Causes Limited is wholly owned by The 1959 Group of Charities, a non profit multi-charity organisation run by charities to benefit charities. They will be opening a Charity Christmas Card Shop in :-
BILLERICAY LIBRARY
from
October 24 to December 18
Monday to Saturday—10.00am - 4.00pm
Closed on Thursdays
ACCIDENT REDUCTION SCHEME - The junction of the A129 London Road with Mountnessing Road is to be altered to improve road safety. Work is scheduled to commence in November and last for three weeks.
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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