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The village of Birch lies about four and a half miles south west of Colchester in the county of Essex. The civil parish of Birch comes within the administrative area of the Borough of Colchester.
On this site you will find information about Birch Parish Council, its Councillors, meetings, the Parish boundary (with maps) and Policies & Procedures.
As a service to the local community, you will find here also information about local organisations, activities and amenities for which the Parish Council is not responsible and for which it cannot, therefore, accept any liability.
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Parish Council Meeting held on 4th June 2013
A Press Release, summarising matters discussed at the meeting held on 4th June, is available on the Meetings page of this website.
Next Parish Council Meeting - 2nd July 2013
The next Birch Parish Council meeting is to be held on Tuesday 2nd July 2013 at 7-30pm, in Birch Memorial Hall.
Year End Report - for the Year to 31st March 2013
A report on the concerns and activities of Birch Parish Council during the year ending 31st March 2013 can be viewed on the page Year End Report.
Superfast Essex Broadband
Local residents who suffer poor broadband (internet) speeds will be pleased to learn about Superfast Essex: Essex, Southend and Thurrock's rural broadband project. A presentation on the project was given at the meeting of Birch Parish Council on 5th March. A total of around £26 million is to be invested in the broadband infrastructure of Essex, half of which will be public sector money: £6.5 million being provided by Essex County Council and £6.5 million from central government.
Key aims of the project are to ensure (1) that by 2015 everyone will get access to basic, 2Megabits per second (Mbps), broadband - this basic level of speed allows one computer or device in a household to access the internet, carry out on-line services and tasks; banking, road fund licence renewal etc. and will allow streaming of videos and other on-line content. (2Mbps is the absolute minimum and the project requires that the supplier rolls out 8Mbps universally by 2018.) And (2) that by 2015 at least 90% of Essex will gain access to Superfast broadband. Superfast broadband allows several users to be on-line simultaneously, downloading content, playing games or researching schoolwork. Currently, about 60% of premises have access to Superfast Broadband. In cities and towns it is commonplace. In more remote places like smaller towns and villages, it currently isn’t and it is in these areas that the majority of the investment will be made.
Where and when the roll out is phased is dependent, in part, on responses to the Make the Connection campaign. Local residents can improve the chances of us getting faster broadband in this area sooner by registering, and encouraging others to register, their interest for superfast broadband. This can be done very easily on the website of www.superfastessex.org which also has more information on the project. Information received from those who register will decide which areas of Essex will receive the upgrade first, so it is important that everyone in this area pledges their support for the project by registering. Registering does not commit you to anything, financial or otherwise. There will be no need to change your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or to opt for additional services from your ISP.
Birch Parish Council Information
On this site you will find information about:
– The Responsibilities and Work of Birch Parish Council
– Parish Councillors and the Parish Clerk
– Dates of Birch Parish Council Meetings
– Press Releases issued by the Council after meetings
– Minutes and Agendas of Council meetings
– Year End Report for the year ending 31st March 2013.
– Boundary and Maps of Birch Civil Parish
– The Council's Policies and Procedures
Other Local Information
The site also carries information about:
– The Village Hall
– Birch Shop and Leisure Bus
– Policing and Crime Prevention
– The Three Villages Community Association (TVCA)
– Websites with local content.
Please contact the webmaster or Parish Clerk if you think there is other information which could usefully be added to the site.
Monthly Newsletter: 'Parish News'
This monthly magazine goes to every home and is produced independently of Birch Parish Council. It provides useful information on the many local community social events and carries Council notices, press releases and other information. In addition to a range of articles including our countryside, food and local history, Parish News carries a range of over 40 local commercial advertisements.
For further information and contact details, see www.bretonheath.me.uk/parnews.htm
Birch Shop and Leisure Bus — Service SB31
Essex County Council, working in partnership with Birch Parish Council and Colchester Community Voluntary Services, commenced The Birch Shop and Leisure Bus service on March 23rd 2011. The service operates every Wednesday to Tollgate, then onwards to Cowdray Avenue and the Leisure Centre. The service will not operate on bank holidays.
Personal Service: This service has timed stops in the villages and in Colchester but can be adapted to meet the needs of passengers. As long as it is safe to do so, the bus will stop within the village. If you would like help boarding or leaving the vehicle, or with shopping bags, please speak to the driver.
Cost: Fares can be paid on the bus. There will be a flat fare of £2-50 (single or return). Children aged 5 to 16 travel half price and those aged under 5 travel free. Concessionary bus pass holders will need to show their passes to receive free transport. To apply for a concessionary pass please contact Colchester Borough Council on 01206 282329.
TIMETABLE - Colchester Community Voluntary Services, Service SB31
Birch - Layer Breton - Hardys Green - Easthorpe - Colchester.
From: 23rd March 2011. Wednesdays only
| Layer Breton, Shalom Hall | 1000 | Colchester, Leisure Centre (o/s) | 1300 | |
| Layer Breton, Phone box | 1004 | Colchester, High Street, Jacks | 1315 | |
| Layer Breton, Hare & Hounds (opp) | 1007 | Stanway, Sainsbury's | 1330 | |
| Birch, Mill Lane/Greenfield Houses | 1010 | London Road, adj Copford Lane | 1339 | |
| Birch Street, Art Gallery | 1012 | Copford Green, Alma P.H. | 1346 | |
| Birch, Hardy's Green (adj) | 1022 | Easthorpe, Church | 1350 | |
| Easthorpe, Church | 1032 | Birch, Hardy's Green (opp) | 1400 | |
| Copford Green, Alma P.H. | 1034 | Birch Street, Art Gallery | 1410 | |
| London Road, opp Copford Lane | 1041 | Birch, Mill Lane/Greenfield Houses | 1412 | |
| Stanway, Sainsbury's | 1050 | Layer Breton, Hare & Hounds (o/s) | 1415 | |
| Colchester, Head Street | 1101 | Layer Breton, Phone box | 1418 | |
| Colchester, High Street, Jacks | 1106 | Layer Breton, Shalom Hall | 1422 | |
| Colchester, Leisure Centre (opp) | 1115 |
Disclaimer of Legal Liability
Information on this website is given in good faith, but Birch Parish Council does not accept any liability for the accuracy or reliability of such information. References on this website to other organisations, individuals or businesses do not imply any endorsement, approval or recommendation of them by the Parish Council.
This site has links to external websites. Birch Parish Council has no control over third party websites or services and is not responsible for their content. The existence of a link here to an external website does not imply endorsement or approval by the Council which accepts no liability for loss or damage arising from reliance on the content of external websites.