Boxted Village Website

Village News and Events

in Boxted and Langham

Boxted walks

It may be a bit muddy for some at the moment, but you can plan ahead and seek out walks using the PROW interactive map. The scene above shows walk 125-35 which runs between Boxted and Langham

The ECC PROW interactive map can be found at:
https://www.essexhighways.org/getting-around/public-rights-of-way/prow-interactive-map.aspx

AONB monthly update

Download the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty monthly update for December 2020 here

Look out for information on:

• The role of designated landscapes in the farmer support during the agriculture transition period in the build up to new Environmental land Management scheme
• News of 4 small grants secured by AONB team for environmental, wildlife and access projects
• Changes in the AONB team (and future opportunities via Government’s ‘Kickstart’ programme to help young people at risk of long term employment
• The AONB Partnership’s view on EDF Energy’s consultation on changes to its proposals for Sizewell C
• A poetry prize connected to the national AONB network (all 46 of them)

AONBs: Our National Landscapes

• Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project
  t: 01394 445225 m: 07971 909649 dd 01394 445222 w: dedhamvalestourvalley.org

• Coast & Heaths AONB
  t: 01394 445225 m: 07971 909649 dd 01394 445222 w: suffolkcoastandheaths.org

If you’re out walking and you spot problem you feel needs reporting, you can take photos and upload them to the Essex Highways website at https://beta.essexhighways.org/tell-us . You can report on:

From the archive …

Boxted Village Stores seen pictured in 1982.

Photo courtesy of Peter Gant, past resident.

The book: Boxted, Portrait of an English Village, says of the stores:

“In 1901 the telegraph office opened in Boxted Post Office in Straight Road next to Speeds house. Josiah Briggs ran the Post Office with a flourishing grocery business and bakery. The bakehouse lay behind the Post Office. The bakery died with Mr Briggs but the Post Office continued for many years under the direction of Mrs Mable Garwood”

Current residents can remember Mrs Garwood and then a Mrs Jerrard during the fifties.

The Post Office re-located at a later date to a shop at The Cross.

The building is now a private home (below).

Church services

Gathered Services are currently restricted due to Covid-19 but a weekly service is streamed via Zoom.

Please email lwb.wb.gh.parishes@gmail.com to request details of the zoom link; a recording of the service is available from Sunday afternoon at the following link:
https://lb-churches.co.uk/streamed-services/
Download the services booklet here

Volunteers needed!

Stephen Whybrow is seeking volunteers to help co-ordinate the fund-raising effort for this year. He writes:

“As we are all aware Langham with Boxted Church Finances have been badly hit by the pandemic. Traditional fundraising events will not be practicable for some months, so we will be launching two online fundraising initiatives which can be supported from home. However we will still need a raft of volunteers to participate!”

The two initiatives are

1) eBay Sales of unwanted items

This was run with great success by Patsy Ann Maggs as part of the St Peter’s Tower fundraising so we know it works. Patsy Ann has agreed to mastermind the initiative again and will handle all the eBay offers and the dispatch/collection of the sold items. However success will depend on having a flow of items to sell throughout 2021.in addition to identifying items which you no longer have use for and are prepared to donate we are looking for a group of ten or more volunteers who are prepared to ask their friends, families and neighbours for similar donations. Guidance will be prepared as to the sort of items which will sell and which we are looking for and also those items which will not and which we should avoid.

2) Virtual Plant Sale

Over the years plant sales have been a productive means of raising funds and with the ever growing interest in gardening and the growing cost of plants this is likely to continue. Although much remains to be worked out the essence of the ideas is that volunteers will contribute plants from their gardens and that these will be offered for sale on a website at very attractive prices. I am looking for lots of volunteers to contribute plants in 2021, a couple of volunteers to help with the planning and coordination and someone to set up and manage a website!

“Please please help Patsy Ann and myself succeed with these Covid safe fundraisings.”

You can contact Stephen on 01206 272773 / 07801749575 or email stephenwhybrow@msn.com

Boxted bridge – more facts …

… about George Double (1840-1916)

Thanks to British Newspaper Archive we have discovered another fascinating detail in the life of George Double (1840-1916), builder of Boxted bridge.

In 1879 Double built the 146 foot swing bridge over the River Blyth, Suffolk, for the Southwold Railway Company. The bridge, an engineering feat which featured a pivoting span to allow boats to pass, connected the 8 3/4 mile narrow gauge (3 ft)..

Read the full update here.

To sign the petition to repair Boxted Bridge click here .

In brief …

Your quick reference guide to newsletter regulars.

Mobile library

The following dates have been advertised on the Essex Libraries website for the mobile library:

• 14 January 2021
• 04 February 2021
• 25 February 2021

Van will be at Boxted Village Hall car park between 10.10am and10.40am. To keep up to date with any changes please visit the Mobile Library Service website

Councillor wanted

Are you interested in getting involved in grass roots decisions and making a real difference to your community? If so, and you meet the eligibility criteria1, why not consider standing for co-option onto Boxted Parish Council? We currently have a vacancy and are looking for a Councillor that will work to improve the Parish.

If you are interested please write (no more than 250 words) explaining who you are, why you would like to join the council, aspects of the community that are of particular interest and what qualities, skills and expertise would you bring.

Applications should be emailed to boxtedparishcouncil@gmail.com

The position is not paid but full training is provided.

It will take a few hours of your time each month and you need to commit to being available for Parish Council meeting which take place on the second Wednesday evening of each month.

Closing Date for applications is Wednesday 6th January 2021.

Call for Sites for Local Needs Homes

In December 2019, Boxted Parish Council supported a parish wide housing needs survey (posted to every household) by an independent Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) from the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE). This survey identified that there is a need for a small number of homes for local people in Boxted and the Parish Council and RCCE are exploring how a small scheme of around seven affordable homes for local people could be brought forward. This may include a range and combination of one-bedroom flats to 3-bedroom homes, depending on the needs of local people.

‘Local’ generally means a person who is;

• Currently resident in the parish
• Was previously resident in the parish
• Is permanently employed in the parish
• Is connected by close family still living in the parish

As a result of the evidence gathered, the Parish Council are keen to pursue a ‘Rural Exception Site’. These schemes are built on land which would not usually be allocated by the planning authority for housing but can be considered for affordable housing to meet a proven local need. These must be sites that are contiguous with or adjacent to existing village settlement boundaries.

The aim of affordable housing is to provide homes for people who cannot afford to buy or rent a home on the open market. The term includes rented and affordable home ownership. New affordable homes help sustain communities by offering local families, couples and single people the chance to stay living in the place where they have strong connections. This can be those who aspire to their first / independent home or those who wish to downsize.

The proposed homes will be for rent and shared ownership sale and can never be sold on the open market, remaining as homes only for locals forever. The Parish Council is currently looking at possible suitable sites in the Parish and there will be full Consultation on any proposals.

We would also like to hear from Landowners who might have a suitable site for an affordable housing proposal. Ideally, it would be a site of around one acre in size. As this is an exception site for local people, the land does not hold the same value as ‘normal’ or open market development. It is often put forward to support local needs would be at an exception site rate or in some cases, land is gifted as a legacy to the Community by landowners who wish to support such projects.

Please submit details of your site to the Parish Council Clerk ( boxtedparishcouncil@gmail.com ) – Deadline Wednesday 6th January 2021.

From 4 November, Thursday opening times for the Post Office at the Langham Community Shop will change to the afternoon, from 12.30 to 4.00 pm.

Monday opening times remain the same at 9.00 am to 12.30 pm.

Remember that this service is still available online. Michael Smith at Colchester Borough Council is still offering digital support via a remote service. See the Council’s webpage or, for further information.

• Colchester 01206 282 452/ Clacton 01255 686497
• Email: Digitalaccesssupport@colchester.gov.uk

Useful links:

Boxted Parish Council
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Village Website
Boxted Neighbourhood Plan
Boxted Primary School
Boxted British Legion

Copyright © 2021 Boxted Village Website, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
newsandevents@boxted.org.uk

Newsletter editor: Angela McLauchlan : Design and layout: Shirley Szymanek