Press and Media Coverage (most recent first)
Parish News March 2007 Issue Page 3
(Parish News is published monthly and distributed free to every house in the villages of Birch, Layer Breton and Layer Marney)
Birch Parish Council - Press Release
At the Council Meeting on 5th February the following matters were discussed:
. . . . . .
Cllr P Crowe confirmed that planning applications for the proposed extension to Birch Pit and the St Peter's developments had not yet been submitted to Colchester Borough Council Planning Department but he will continue to monitor the situation.
( ... other items of business)
Parish News February 2007 Issue Page 4
Birch Parish Council - Press Release
The following items were discussed at the Parish Council Meeting on 8th January 2007
. . . . . .
Cllr Peter Crowe reported that … . The Planning Department are still in consultation with the builders about the proposed development of St Peter's Church … .
( ... other items of business)
Parish News December 2006 Issue Page 2
Birch Parish Council - Press Release
The following items were discussed at the Parish Council Meeting on 6th November 2006
. . . . . .
Cllr Peter Crowe reported that Planning applications for the proposed extension to Birch Pit and St Peter's development have not yet been submitted to Colchester Borough Council but the developers were still in consultation with the Planning Department about St Peter's.
( ... other items of business)
Parish News December 2006 Issue Page 3
The Proposed Developments at St Peter's Church Birch
The Layer Breton with Birch Parochial Church Council has considered the above proposals as far as they are currently known. It considers that the plans are in three distinct parts which each merit individual consideration. The views of the Church Council are as follows:
The Church Building: The Church has been declared redundant and is now the responsibility of the Diocese of Chelmsford and the Church Commissioners. The Church Council has no influence over the future of the Church Building.
The Enabling Development: This development is a secular matter and not within the responsibility of the Church authority or the Church Council. It is a matter for consideration by the civil authority.
The Churchyard: The Church Council are concerned that whatever the future of the Church the burial ground should be maintained with reverence and dignity as the final resting place for parishioners. They do not wish that its essential character should be changed. When the developers submit their detailed planning application any likely effect on the burial ground will be apparent. It is then that any detailed plans will be considered in detail by the Church Council who will comment accordingly.
(See News page for comment on the above statement.)
Birch Parish Council Website (www.birchpc.org.uk) November 2006
Item 16 of the minutes of the Birch Parish Council meeting held on 4th September 2006
16 St.Peters Development.
Letters from New Hall Properties(Courtland) and the Diocese were read to the assembled audience.
Cllr. Crowe stated that he was on a previous committee of the Spire Trust, many years ago, with discovery that the Spire was split from top to bottom and was not a viable proposition.
Resident Mr Carr spoke about his campaign to stop the development of the Church and explained that the percentage figures, quoted by Courtland Properties, showing that the majority of residents who attended the meeting (written comments of those who attended the consultation meeting on 19th May 2006), 45% were in favour and 35% against with 20% non-committal equated to only 14 people in favour. There were more than that attending the meeting this evening and they were most definitely against the proposed development.
Cllr. Bentley advised that any objections should be made on planning issues only.
If the Church was to be demolished most people felt that the area should be converted into a Memorial Garden rather than the development proposed.
The Parish Council felt that an approach to Essex University to conduct a independent survey of Residents feelings would be acceptable.
Essex County Standard Friday September 15, 2006 Page 42
Birch and Layer Breton - Parish Council
The following items were discussed at the parish meeting on September 4th:
The meeting was attended by many residents, who aired their concerns about the proposed development of St Peter's Church and the extension to Birch Pit.
Mr Carr put forward some very interesting points in response to correspondence received from both Courtland Properties and the Diocese of Chelmsford, with an overwhelming 'no' to the proposed development, with the main recommendation that the church be demolished, converting the existing area into a memorial garden.
The parish council would like many more residents to voice their opinions by writing to the chairman as the developers appear to be of the view that the majority of residents agree with their proposals.
( ... other items of business)
Birch Parish Council Website (www.birchpc.org.uk) September 2006
Extract from Item 3 of the minutes of the Birch Parish Council meeting held on 17th July 2006
3. Report from Borough Councillors
Planning dept will be arranging an onsite visit, with all concerned, to discuss the proposed development at St. Peters Church.
Cllr Crowe, who was on the previous committee for the proposed development of the Church, with the knowledge obtained about the very poor condition of the interior and the spire was unable to understand how such a proposed development would be viable.
Cllr K Bentley, contacted Peter Martin M.P. responsible for such developments requesting that he attend a meeting about the development but he refused on the grounds that a responsible person had already attended a meeting.
Both Cllr Bentley and Cllr P Crowe promised their full support for any decisions made by the Parish Council.
Essex County Standard Friday June 16, 2006 Page 38
Parish Council
The following items were discussed at the parish meeting on June 5th:
Representatives from Courtland Properties presented their proposals for the development of St Peter's Church from two other enabling housing developments to the parish council and a packed hall.
Residents were able to question Courtland about the developments. The overall opinion was that it was not a saving of the church and that they would rather see it be demolished than used as a lever to build in an area of farmland that the planning department would not normally allow.
The parish council invited people to write to them with their reasons to accept or object to such developments should planning approval be sought for this development.
( ... other items of business)
Parish News July 2006 Issue Page 2
(Parish News is published monthly and distributed free to every house in the villages of Birch, Layer Breton and Layer Marney)
Birch Parish Council - Press Release
The following items were discussed at the Parish Meeting on 5th June 2006
Representatives from Courtland Properties (Birch) Ltd. presented their proposals for the development of St Peter's Church and 2 other enabling housing developments, to The Parish Council and a packed hall of Residents.
After the presentation Residents were able to question Courtland about the developments.
The overall opinion of the gathered residents was that it was not a saving of the church and that they would rather see it be demolished than used as a lever to build in an area of farm land that the Planning department normally would not allow.
The Parish Council invites you to write to them with your reasons to accept or object to such developments should Planning Approval be sought for this development.
( ... other items of business)
Birch Parish Council Website (www.birchpc.org.uk) July 2006
Item 7 of the minutes of the Birch Parish Council meeting held on 5th June 2006
7. St Peters Development
This issue was promoted to first on the agenda due to the visit of the developers.
Representatives of Courtland Properties (Birch) Ltd. presented the meeting with their proposals for the development of St Peters Church and 2 enabling housing developments. The many Residents in attendance were able to voice their opinions and objections directly to the proposed developer.
There were many questions and objections. The choice being the proposed saving of the fabric of the church and its conversion to luxury flats and 1 development at the top of Orpens Hill of 4 properties and 10 beside the Village Hall or no development and the church being demolished. The result of a show of hands was an overwhelming vote for no development and the demolition of the church as it was felt that for many a year various professional opinions had advised that it was almost impossible to restore and it would only be profit to the developers and no benefit to the Residents of Birch.
Even though the church developments would be sold a Spire Trust would be set up and possibly the residents of Birch would be asked to contribute.
Mr Richard Carr proceeded to give a lengthy speech covering everybody's concerns about the proposed development.
During this debate Parish Councillor Mrs C Cottrell entered the hall at 7.50pm but she was not asked to declare her interest.