Latest news
PLANNING TO PAVE OVER YOUR FRONT GARDEN?
From October you will have to apply for planning permission to pay impermeable paving in your front garden. But anything that allows water to trickle through – gravel, permeable pavers and grass paving systems is allowed without consultation. This is because water will soak through the ground to refill underground aquifers, but it flows off solid paving into street drains. During heavy rainfall this is increasingly overloading the sewerage system and is a major cause of flash flooding. The RHS has published a leaflet called Front Gardens, full of advice on how to create drain-friendly off-street parking. Go to www.rhs.org.uk/learning/research/gardeningmatters/index.asp to download it.
NEW COUNCILLORS
We have two new councillors to replace Peter French and James Carter, who both stepped down earlier this year: Joy Frascinella (jfrascinella@talk21.com) and Angela Kilmartin.
Joy Frascinella works in London as a PR consultant. She moved to Mistley 18 months ago, having fallen in love with the area after discovering it on-line. She lives in the Stour View Avenue development.
Joy has joined the parish council to help make sure that Mistley keeps its integrity as a charming and historic village. She is also interested in promoting initiatives that support local wildlife and woodland, as well as ensuring there are facilities to occupy local children, including teenagers. You can contact Joy on 01206 391 824 or jfrascinella@talk21.com.
Angela, 66, is a classical singer and health writer, who was born in Essex and has lived in Mistley for six years. She is chairman of the Barley Stores residents association and volunteers for Harwich Home Start and Mission to Seafarers, and is interested in health, music programmes for schools and the encouragement of church music. Her current goal is "to return The Mistley Walls to their beauty as a village amenity for all to enjoy". Angela can be contacted on 01206 391651 or angela.kilmartin@dial.pipex.com
SPEEDING
There is increasing concern about speeding in Mistley, especially among residents on the High Street and Harwich Road. You can do your bit by volunteering for free speed gun training. For one or two hours a week you work with another person monitoring speeds in another parish. Two people from that parish would then monitor speeding hot spots for us, at the times we know it is most likely to happen.
The police contact the owners of speeding vehicles and will target and take action against repeat offenders. Drivers given a Section 59 warning can have their vehicles confiscated if they are caught again, and will have to pay over £150 to have their vehicle returned.
If you are interested in finding out more, leave a message on 01206 395555 or ring direct on 07980 904851. Or visit the station on New Road (at the junction with Oxford Road) Co11 2AQ Mon Tues Wed Fri 9am-12 .30 Thurs 4-8.30pm
DOG FOULING
This can now be reported directly to Tendring District Council which has powers to take action. Visit https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/TendringDC/Environment/Rubbish+Waste+and+Recycling to submit a waste crusader form online and you'll get a response within two days. You can also use it to report fly-tipping and abandoned vehicle.
FURZE HILL ALLOTMENTS
Land agents acting for the owners of the Furze Hill allotment land have contacted the council with the news that they are seeking planning permission to build up to 40 houses on the site. The council is now paying all back rent owed since the owner refused to receive it some years ago, in order to establish continued use of the site.
