In Touch/ Parish report January 2022
East Bergholt.
Just when we thought it was safe to go outside, along comes another version of Covid, this one
called Omicron. At the time of writing all the increases in precautions are just that precautions. Until
we know what effect we can expect form this variant being sensible and taking basic precautions is
the recommended approach. Hopefully the results form South Africa mainly with younger people
show only relatively mild symptoms but with our ageing population, care is the byword.
Boosters are being offered more widely and I encourage all residents to get jabbed. It sometimes
seems like we are being used as a pin cushion, I have had seven jabs in the last 12 months, but I am
not leaking and hopefully they will all work.
The Christmas Waste calendars are out and it should be noted that they go through to the end of
January so take notice of them or you bin could be missed.
Both the seasonal and the annual calendars are available on the councils web site.
The council is promoting tree planting as part of its environmental credits as well as contributing to
HM The Queens Green Canopy project for the Jubilee. Sometimes it seems that council departments
do not talk as in Planning we are always seeing trees removed and hedgerows taken out with the
glib assumption that there will be replanting but it takes often hundreds of years for the replanting
to mature and contribute to the carbon capture that is such an important part of all environmental
approaches. We must be ADDING to the tree and hedge populations so that we can offset the
concrete surfacing that all development creates.
On the positive side Parishes can apply for Free trees guards and stakes as well as hedging plants to
put on public land but they are responsible for maintaining them.
On the infrastructure front, National Highways have completed their consultation on potential
improvements to the Copdock junction. Unfortunately nothing is guaranteed and if it is approved it
will be included in the 2025 -2030 spending round. Don’t hold your breath and take care if using the
junction as the number of accidents appears to be increasing. It would also be nice if Essex County
could do something about the potholes under the bridge at Mannningtree unless they are trying to
make us all use the level crossing.
The Big developments in East Bergholt appear to be starting but it appears it is mainly “enough
action to keep the approval alive” as we continue to hear about shortages of building materials and
skilled labour! Unfortunately for the younger generation, the costs of materials continue to rise and
that along with demand will inevitably mean that house prices will continue to rise.
Finally I hope that you have had a safe Christmas, enjoying the company of family and I wish you all a
very Happy and Safe New Year.

Cllr John Hinton
East Bergholt Ward
Tel: 01026 298309