In case you missed the door to door public consultation that has been taking place (26th and 27th October) in preparation for the Community Day of Action on 24th November, there is another way of making your concerns heard...This is from Sonia Carr, Senior Community Initiatives Officer, Colchester Borough Council & Safer Colchester Partnership:-

"Over the past two days, my council and police colleagues have been carrying out a ‘door to door’ consultation to complete a short questionnaire, establishing whether there are any issues affecting the local community. Apologies if you were not available to complete the questionnaire, however, the questionnaire can be accessed via the Colchester Borough Council website: www.colchester.gov.uk/cdoa and click onto the survey link."

More on the Community Day of Action, taking place in Wivenhoe this Thursday.

Cllr Ford told Wivenhoe Town Council last night that this is the 11th day of action in the borough - Wivenhoe has to date produced the highest response rate from residents during the door knocking campaign.

The top five issues reported by residents, in order of priority are:

1. parking

2. speeding

3. dog fouling

4. overgrowing trees and bushes

5. litter.

Wasn't impressed with the chap who knocked on my door, I said there was not many issues around here, but said the council keeps ignoring the request to fill a hole in the pavement by my front path which I and my family has tripped over once in a while.

This chap just ignored me when I brought this up.

Maybe a fall and a no win/no fee is in order to make them listen.

My day off Thursday, I shall miss all the fun.

Although I have booked in for a trim and colour at Headfirst so maybe I will get to see 90 uniformed people wandering around Wivenhoe.

These seems to be rather encouraging. So far I've spotted a couple of PCSO's walking the rounds, a graffiti team in action and around a dozen or volunteers cleaning up the Trail and the banks of the Colne.

Any others?

Dog wardens asking about and trying to find the lady with the small dog who is dragged along while pooing....

Ah, the things they already knew about local criminality.

Last night the fire engine was here clearing a drain out which was good to see.

Someone filled the pothole outside my house with bark and dirt! Like that going to last long!

Shame as I spoke to Mark Cory and one of the highways chaps last night and was hopeful that a bit of tar would be dropped into it.

Mobile office by the Co-op, staff asking if you know of any unemployed people, because they've got relevant information...

Nice to see a team along Broad Lane clearing litter along the roadside.

I assume you mean by the football ground in Elmstead Rd.

Broad Lane is on left on the next set of bends on the B1027 Brightlingsea Rd towards Arlesford. Tiny access road to a couple of houses.

Yes I do. I've only driven along the road a few hundred times... not enough yet to have actually noticed what the name of it actually is...

Talking of potholes... a friend fell over in the dark after tripping on a large chasm on the pavement outside the Council Offices vehicle entrance.  Luckily she didn't break any bones... but next time... who knows! I  reported it to to the Highways Dept at the beginning of the week!  Watch this space... or hole!!!!

They might fill it in with some dirt from the nearby flowerbed. :D

Be fair...the Day of Action wasn't about potholes: that's ECC.
Be interesting to see the evaluation report - from both sides.

The Outcomes document has now been circulated for the Day of Action by Colchester Borough Council. It is detailed, but provides great feedback on the work that took place around the town last Thursday.

A Junior Speed Watch campaign was put in place by Year 6 pupils at Broomgrove. Twenty five speeding motorists were stopped along Rectory Road:

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COLCHESTER COMMUNITY DAY OF ACTION No: 10

Thursday 24th November 2011 @ Wivenhoe (Cross & Quay Wards)

SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES

Colchester’s tenth Community Day of Action took place in Wivenhoe on, Thursday 24th November 2011 with over 15 organisations participating in the event.

Those agencies participating / attending included:

Broomgrove School

Colchester Borough Council*

Colchester Borough Homes

Colchester Community Safety Partnership

Citizens Advice Bureau

Environment Agency

Essex Blood Runners

Essex County Council Education Welfare Services

Essex Fire & Rescue Service

Essex Police (including Local Policing Team, 7 Traffic

Police Teams, Crime Reduction and Business Watch)

Essex Probation Community Payback Scheme

Essex Trading Standards

Open Road

Safer Colchester Project Team

University of Essex

Wivenhoe Town Council

Top 3 issues affecting local residents and how these were tackled / resolved:

Wivenhoe residents were asked to identify the top 3 issues affecting their quality of life (via a public consultation prior to the Day of Action) and operations/activities/services were put in place during the Community Day of Action to tackle these issues… results below:

1. Parking (45.5%)

Joint CBC & Police Enforcement operations took place to target parking, resulting in 2 Penalty Charge Notices being issued

Joint patrols to be carried out during Safer Colchester Project

2. Speeding (34.5%)

Essex Police Traffic Unit conducted an enforcement operation to target speeding by carrying out speed checks in 3 locations

25 drivers stopped for speeding on Rectory Road as part of the Junior Speed Watch scheme run by the Safer Colchester Project Team working with Year 6 pupils from Broomgrove School

Further speed checks to be carried out during Safer Colchester Project

3. Dog Fouling (25.4%)

New dog fouling bin purchased and installed (a 1st for Community Day of Action!)

Over 100 dog owners approached to promote responsible dog ownership

2000 dog fouling bags issued

CBC Animal Warden engaged with local schools to educate pupils on dog fouling

Further education / leaflet drops to be carried out during Safer Colchester Project

Clean up campaign:

An extensive clean up of the area was carried out, resulting in the following:

3 new litter bins purchased and installed (a 1st for Community Day of Action!)

5 tonnes of rubbish removed by 4 CBC mechanical sweepers

1.5 tonnes of rubbish removed by CBC manual litter picks

10 areas of graffiti cleared by CBC Graffiti Force

Additional litter picks carried out by Essex Probation Community Payback Team, University of Essex Student Volunteers and Wivenhoe Town Council

Clean up of Car Park area in High Street (including removal of litter, weeding and re-painting) carried out by Colchester Borough Homes and Colchester Borough Council

Further outcomes from the CDOA event include:

2 abandoned vehicles issued with notices

19 residents sought fire home safety advice from Essex Fire & Rescue Service

27 residents sought crime reduction advice from the Essex Police Mobile Community Engagement Office

Truancy sweep carried out by Education Welfare Service

Various operations carried out by Essex Trading Standards including checks on local traders in relation to pricing of goods and  3 stores visited in relation to the Challenge 25 campaign (of which 1 signed up to the scheme)

8 businesses signed up to the Essex Police Business Watch Scheme, with a further 30 approached and advised of the Scheme

3 Farms visited and offered advice on the Essex Police Farm Watch Scheme

Representatives available from CBC and Citizens Advice Bureau to offer local residents advice on benefits, employment, how to pay council tax, healthy lifestyles, helpline service, recycling, waste management, anti-social behaviour, home insulation and welfare rights

Volunteers from Essex Blood Runners charity available to promote their service

Media coverage:

Media coverage was provided by The Gazette, Essex County Standard, East Anglian Daily Times and Heart Radio.