1
EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes
Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee Meeting
on Thursday 16
th
October 2025 at 8.00 pm
The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt
PRESENT
Joan Miller
Nigel Roberts,
Ricky Allen
Michael Hockley
Graeme Woodcock
John Price
OPEN PUBLIC SESSION –
There were no members of the public present.
1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST –
There were no declarations of interests.
3. MINUTES –
Subject to a correction on item 14.1 that the vote was actually 5 in favour and one against to ask for
parking restrictions in the layby on Hadleigh Road, the minutes of the RFF Committee meeting dated
17
th
July 2025, were a correct record.
4. MATTERS ARISING/UPDATES –
Regarding item 14.1 (layby on Hadleigh Road) It was suggested that the Clerk should write to SCC
to ask for parking restrictions to be provided.
5. FOOTPATH WARDEN
JP reported that Mr Mark Duncan is interested in becoming a footpath warden. Mark is already a
footpath warden for Natural Landscapes.
6. WHITEHORSE ROAD SID CAMERA
This item is still waiting on the SCC Liaison Engineer, Melanie Hall, to come back on the latest
proposal for a location for the SID camera (by the telegraph pole outside the social club on the
other side of the road).
7. SPEED REDUCTION OUTSIDE SCHOOL
NR reported on the recent history as follows;
Things have moved on with the Heath Road project, or rather backwards.
The consultant PJA have produced a couple of iterations and submitted these to SCC on 19
th
August. They have to speak to them regarding; Road Safety Audit, Design report, Design
information, results of survey and drawings.
2
On the 5
th
September Mr Wayne Saunders responded with a surprising email stating that we need
to get a formal agreement from the PC and complete a formal application.
PJA replied on 9
th
September reminding SCC that we were supposed to be working together. PJA
sent another follow up email on 22
nd
September.
On 3
rd
October SCC sent a reply saying “sorry for the delay”, but essentially the email said the
same as the earlier email of 5
th
September, apart from some “helpful” bullet points.
Earlier today (16
th
Oct 2025) JM and NR had a meeting with PJA and agreed the PC will respond
(PJA have done everything they were asked to do). JM and NR agreed to work out funding and NR
has drafted a response for Joan as Chair to respond to SCC.
We continue to instruct PJA to act on our behalf and now want to find a way to move this forward.
We have agreed to move towards the detail design stage, subject to agreeing the plans in
principle.
The PC would be the developer under section 278 (Section 278 is where the developer funds work
on an existing highway, The work is carried out by the Highway Authority but would receive
“contributions towards the highway works by persons deriving special benefit from them”. Section
106 agreements are not part the Highways Act, but are legal agreements between a Planning
Authority and a developer to ensure certain extra works relating to a development are undertaken.)
It is hoped that SCC will have funds.
NR has asked for a ball-park cost figure.
So the next step is the letter from the PC to be signed by Joan.
8. UPDATE ON B1070 MILL ROAD AND TOUCHEY HILL
JP received an email from SCC Cabinet Councillor Paul West on 1
st
October 2025. It was a
sympathetic email about Mill Road and Touchey Hill, but contained no encouragement that we
might have a project to put right any of the problems with the roads.
It was suggested in a discussion that JP should invite Paul West to walk the roads. GW said
that a good time would be 4-15 in the afternoon when schoolchildren can be seen walking on
straight Road towards East End.
9. Flatford Lane Flooding
SCC found a broken highway drainpipe and all the repair work appears to have been done.
The forthcoming winter will tell us if it has been done properly.
10. DOG BINS
The new dog bin on Fox Hall Field has not been emptied yet, Graham White to be asked to
pursue.
Messrs Hills have not responded regarding a dog bin on their estate. Joan to chase..
11. VILLAGE BENCHES
Regarding “Chatty Benches” letters were sent to the Coop and Red Lion, no one has responded.
With respect to our “older benches” it was agreed unanimously to obtain and fix “Chatty Bench”
signs. (£60 to £80 each. Agreed stainless steel estimated total £220)
12. CYCLEWAY TO MANNINGTREE
Nothing further to report.
3
13. WOODGATES ROAD/QUINTONS CORNER
The issue is a report from a resident of speeding and difficultly for drivers to enter Woodgates
Road from the “even” numbered part of Quintons Close.
JP said he had inspected the location and there is an existing visibility splay, but it is substandard.
It would not be possible to enlarge this splay because a property is in the way.
JM suggested that SCC might close Woodgates Road to traffic from the A12. Perhaps sleeping
policemen might help, but the idea was not well received by the Committee.
14. CHARGING POINTS
SCC’s plan to put electric vehicle charging points in existing car parking spaces in Foxhall Fields
has not been well received. We are waiting for Sallie Davies to report back because these sites are
Babergh DC not SCC.
The question was asked where should we have EV charging points? To which the answer is we do
not know, perhaps we should look for other options and offer these.
15. VILLAGE CENTRE CAR PARK
In respect of the unexpected increase in the water costs and the fact that Anglian Water had not
been reading the water meter, NR suggested that if they haven’t been reading the meter, they
should wipe the debt. This should be put to the Clerk to action.
MH said that the work to “refurbish the water pipework” should reduce future water use.
16. URGENT COMMUNICATIONS
There were no urgent communications.
17. DATE OF NEXT RFF COMMITTEE MEETING 22/01/2021
There will be a budget meeting later in the year, date to be announced.
Meeting closed at 9-40 pm