On Thursday 11^th May 2023, the Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr. Sue Dobson unveiled the newly renamed sign ‘The John Galley Memorial Ground’ in Boreham.

The Recreation Ground was renamed by Boreham Parish Council in tribute to the late Mayor John Galley, who sadly passed away in October 2022 after a period of illness. John Galley was regarded with huge fondness in Boreham, where he served as a Parish Councillor for more than 30 years and was first elected to represent the area as a Borough Councillor back in 2000.

The unveiling event was attended by John’s wife, Jackie, and his son and daughter.

We are pleased to announce that the Boreham Heritage Map and self guided tour is now available to download.  The heritage trail highlights some locations of interest in Boreham

Click on the thumbnail below to download a copy of the map…

Boreham Essex Heritage Trail

A12 Widening -December 2021 Update

National Highways have published (November 2021) supplementary proposals for the A12 widening which contains their response to the earlier Public Consultation of June 2021. Comments must be received before mid-night, next Sunday the 19^th of December.  Given the timing, the practical way to view the proposals now, is on-line  at: www.nationalhighways.co.uk/A12

Regrettably, our responses to the earlier consultation exercise have been rejected other than a proposed new speed limit for Main Road / B1137; we assume “new” means “reduced”.

The strategic aim of A12 widening is to take “long distance traffic off the local roads and put it back on the A12 where it belongs”. We totally support this aim. However, National Highways have not explained how achieving this aim results in estimated, massive increases in traffic for Boreham:

The am peak traffic on Main Road is estimated to increase by 34% but this is now shown as  with a the qualification of “Main Road, west of Boreham”.  An explanation for the introduction of this qualification would have been useful.   

National Highways’ did not publish that the June 2021 proposals would increase am peak traffic on Plantation Road by 50%.  No data is available for November proposals.

Our response to the November proposals will:

Welcome the new speed limits, assuming these are reductions.

State keeping Junction 20a open would certainly reduce the huge increases in traffic in Boreham.

State the traffic increases are totally unacceptable.

Only someone who has never turned into or from Plantation Road could propose a scheme that increases Main Road traffic by 34% and Plantation Road by 50%. Neither can they have envisaged the impact on Church Road when Plantation Road is jammed.

Record that once again, neither drop-in events nor explanatory booklets have been provided in Boreham. By contrast drop-in events have been held in Hatfield Peverel, Messing and Witham; Booklets are available from such diverse locations as Hatfield Peverel library, The Old Crown in Messing, Oak Stores in Rivenhall and St Mary’s Church in Easthorpe. It is easy to communicate good news. Bad news, as is the case for Boreham, seems to be difficult to communicate. Accordingly, we will request National Highways to organise a public meeting in Boreham and invite our elected representatives, from Parish Councillor to Member of Parliament. Given their estimated impact upon Boreham, frankly, it’s the least they should do.

We ask that you support our objections and reiterate your own concerns – no later than Sunday 19^th December 2021 – by responding using one of the following methods:

On-line via the Response Form at nationalhighways.co.uk/A12 https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/a12chelmsford-to-a120-widening-consultation-nov21/consultation/intro/

E-mail – A12chelmsfordA120wide@highwaysengland.co.uk.

Write to FREEPOST A12 WIDENING

“Please find below a further update in relation to the Community Governance Review.

The proposed draft recommendations were approved by Full Council on 22^nd September for further consultation.  The further consultation period is open until Tuesday 30^th November 2021 and responses can be provided through the Council’s website in the community governance review area or using the link below:-

https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/cgr

Of course, the draft recommendations are not final decisions and the Council welcomes and encourages as many residents, interested parties and public bodies as possible to provide their views and feedback through the consultation process.

The website has details of all draft recommendations and online forms by area. Each online form is tailored to the draft recommendations for each particular area. However, all the website forms also have a final question where anyone who wishes to respond to draft recommendations in further areas can provide details rather than completing a further separate form.   They will simply need to specify the area to which their comments relate.

It would be helpful if every parish/town council or parish meeting provides its formal view in relation to the draft recommendations through the  consultation process. Whilst we recognise this will not always be the case,  it would be helpful to do so even if this is to confirm that a parish agrees with the draft recommendation. Individual councillors (as well as residents and other organisations) can also provide their views if they wish.

We will shortly be providing bespoke leaflets or letters to households in particular areas where more substantial changes are being consulted upon (for example where changes to the parish boundary are proposed). Whilst not all households will receive a leaflet or letter they will be able to respond through the website in any event.

Whilst some responses will be fairly simple to complete we know this will not always be the case. Should you wish to respond in relation to boundary or other more complicated proposals it would be helpful if you provide as much detail as possible, including a map where necessary.  If this is the case for your parish response please feel free to email Electoral.Register@chelmsford.gov.uk with any maps or supplementary detail (making it clear if this links with an online response already provided). All consultation responses through the website or otherwise must be received on or before 30^th November 2021 if those representations are to be considered in the review.

Next stages of the review are also set out on the website. This includes reporting to the Governance Committee which is scheduled to meet on 2/2/22 to consider final review recommendations and Full Council on 23/2/22 when a final decision will be made. All parishes are provided with agendas for these meetings and this will include publication of any consultation responses.