Letter

Essex Police warn of increase in thefts from doorsteps

Thefts from a doorstep are when a parcel that has been delivered to your home or business address is stolen from where it was left by the delivery driver.

This is a growing trend across the country, as thieves take advantage of the opportunity to steal unattended parcels.

Essex Police advise that one way to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of doorstep theft is by installing a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system.

For more advice on steps you can take to help secure your belongings, protect yourself and prevent becoming a victim of crime visit www.essex.police.uk/cp

#SecureProtectPrevent

Letter Dear Editor,

North Weald Village Hall Car Park

I am writing as a trustee of the Village Hall Charity regarding the condition of the road leading to and through the Village Hall car park. I must first apologise to the hirers of the hall for the condition of the road. During 2019 the Village Hall paid out nearly £6,000 for road repairs in the car park, money that we could ill afford andfor which we now understand may not have beenwholly our responsibility.

In January this year we requested from the Parish Council, funds to assist with further road repairs. The Parish Council have taken legal advice and advise us that they have no responsibility for the roadway and it is also now our understanding that the Village Hall also may not have total responsibility for the costs.

We are advised that the responsibility for repairing the road may be that of all users of the roadway.

The owners of the roadare the Peer Group. Investigations are being made of the legal position and it is hoped that this matter may be resolved as soon as possible.

I would again remind car park users that this is a private car park for use by hirers of the Village Hall, apart from those spaces allocated to the Parish Council and that no responsibility is accepted for any damage caused.

Roger Smith, Trustee, North Weald Village Hall Charity.

YOUR LOCAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Like so many other groups and societies, North Weald Bassett Preservation Society is struggling to find enough interested people to help run the Society and secure its future. Over the years many people have served on the committee and have ‘done their bit’. We are very grateful for their hard work and are now hoping that others will come and join us to take the Preservation Society forward. The Society came into being 48 years ago when David Lodge was approached by the Epping Society to form a similar society in North Weald. He got an interested group together and a public meeting was called. A leaflet was sent round the village and part of it read: ‘It is hoped that the meeting will result in bringing together those who are interested in caring for the rural and historical nature of the neighbourhood.’

Since its formation, the society has helped to save and get many buildings listed for their special architectural or historic interest; has ensured Rights of Way have been protected and helped to create new ones. Trees have been planted and others protected with T.P.O’s (Tree Preservation Orders). We have responded to numerous planning applications and when necessary, have worked closely with the Parish Council and the West Essex Ramblers. Our members have enjoyed illustrated talks and country rambles. We also organise Litter Picking events.

If you think you could help to continue this work and wish to know more with a view of becoming a member and perhaps joining the committee, please come along and have a chat at our special drop-in session on Monday evening 19th July from 8 to 9pm at the Methodist Church Hall. If you are interested but cannot make this date you are welcome to e-mail our secretary christinem.deacon1@ntlworld.com for more details.

Footnote. If you have ever gone out with your Map or GPS to find a new walk and instead have found a broken bridge; no waymarkers or a way through a field of corn and are driven to report the problems or, you find a well defined walk and it gives you pleasure, then you are the person we are looking for to assist our long standing R.o.W. representative who is gradually having to hang up her walking boots!

Specialising in plastering, external rendering and K rend

EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY UPDATE

Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our volunteers and small number of paid staff, we have been able to reintroduce both steam and diesel services slightly earlier than expected. During July we expect to see Peppa Pig and Dinosaurs, in August PAW Patrol pay us a visit. Steam and Diesel Galas are scheduled for September. A full list of what we have available in the coming months can be found at www.eorailway.co.uk I thought you might be interested in a recent report from our volunteer Permanent Way Team: At last summer is here! The Permanent Way team are getting back on the track and the warmer weather is welcome. The track gauge, used to measure track levels, sent us to various parts of the track to do some jacking and packing. This was started outside North Weald on No 1 and No 2 roads. We hired in some mechanical Robel hand-tampers which speeded up the packing enormously and saved a lot of hard work and time. We commenced with raising and packing the roads from the North Weald crossing to the points. We then proceeded to the end of No 1 platform and jacked and packed to near Kiln Road bridge. This improved the track to a satisfactory level and we tested it using a 100-ton diesel! The next job was the recommencement of fishplate greasing from Blake Hall station towards Ongar. Some days the group were managing 400 metres, and one day we greased 600 metres. That completes 5.6 km of track from North Weald to Ongar. Now begins the problem of cleaning our hi-vis clothing, the colour currently shows more black than orange! We wonder how long it will be before we begin greasing to the Epping boundary.

Using the Robel hand-tampers Fishplate greasing Photos: John Wilsdon

The drainage channels that were dug out in March to improve the flow of water were inspected. At long last, after a dry April, we had enough rain in May to assess the work. The hard work of digging has paid off and water is flowing freely along the channels and emptying to the ponds as it should and not going on the track bed.

Just before we opened in May, a track patrol was carried out along the whole line to ascertain any future work after a long shutdown and wet winter. After the patrols, we then set about correcting some of the defects found. The Railway took delivery of 300 new sleepers which are gradually being introduced into the track. Sleeper changing will now continue on various sections of the line where required. If you are interested in joining this lively team, please contact membership@eorailway.co.uk Adult membership costs just £20 per year and that includes four copies of our 44-page magazine, Mixed Traffic.

If you would like to receive a complimentary copy of Mixed Traffic to learn more about the Railway, please send an email to me at mixedtraffic@eorailway.co.uk containing your postal address and please mention North Weald Village Life.

Robert Good Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society