Council

The Parish Council is the voice of the village and as such are consulted on many issues within the village, such as planning, new major developments, road signing etc.  We are also consulted on issues outside the village that can effect the village.

We are also responsible for chasing up both Borough and County Council departments on areas for which they are responsible, such as streetlights and road repairs.

The Parish Council is responsible for maintenance and repair of local facilities. These include the Heath and ponds, bus shelters and other council owned areas in the village.

The Council has also taken on the task of acting as a fund raiser to work with organisations such as the East Essex Forum, the Clerks Forum, the County and Borough Councils, the Lottery Fund and many others to obtain grants to provide facilities within the village at no cost to the rate payers.

To summarise the advantages of having a locally elected body of local residents working purely for the interests of Eight Ash Green are manifold. Central Government are beginning to realise the advantages of devolving power down to local level and are actively encouraging the creation of parish and ward councils in areas without them.

However none of this works without feedback and if you have any complaints or suggestions please contact one of your Councillors or our Clerk. Even better why not attend one of our Parish Council meetings held every second Wednesday of each month (except August) at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall where you will have your chance to have your say.

Below is a small statement and contact details for members of the Parish Council.

Cllr Chris Gray, (Chairman)

07909 926811, harold.c.gray@btinternet.com.

I am delighted to have been elected chairman of the Parish Council.  In 2009 we set up the Youth Club, which has been quite a success largely due to the efforts of Derek Franklin.  We also obtained funding which enabled us to buy a TV, Wii equipment and games. I am now focusing on the development of a new Web Site for the Village, which I intend to implement in the Summer.

Cllr Andrew Cook, (Vice-chairman)

07977 075761, handacook@yahoo.co.uk.

Being comparatively new to the role of Parish Council when compared to a number of my colleagues, the last 2 years have been a steep learning curve. I have however had a very enjoyable two years involved in the parish plan group and its work, together with moving forward on the seemingly endless quest to establish a new play area within the village.

Cllr Richard Brown,

07894 789107, richard.e.brown@hotmail.co.uk.

I have lived in Spring Lane for the past 45 years. My interests lie in maintaining Eight Ash Green's character and identity, looking after its Footpaths, Heaths and Greens, to be enjoyed by us all for years to come. At the present the village has some volunteers who work with the Parish Council and the County Youth Services to start a village Youth Club, early signs of this are looking very positive, but we do need more volunteers to help out.

Cllr Derek Franklin

01206 210959. E-mail derekfranklin@btinternet.com.

I moved to the village in 1968. I formed the EAG FC, playing in the Colchester Sunday League. I later ran the Scout group football team for a season. As a Parish Councillor I help as much as possible to retain the sense of a rural community. I have an interest in supporting anything, which enhances the activities of young people in the village, and providing support for the elderly, which I believe, can only be to the benefit of us all.

Cllr Liz Warren,

01206 240626, johnwarren18@live.co.uk

I am one of the newest members to the Parish Council. I have lived in the village for most of my life.  My main interest is the natural environment. I feel extremely lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the county. I have joined the Heaths and Greens sub committee. Heaths and greens should be accessible to as many people as possible. I am often found riding my horse around the village or walking the footpaths and bridleways with my dogs.

Cllr Christine Willetts,

01206 240314, christine.willetts@btinternet.com

I moved to the village 13 years ago and joined the Parish Council a short time later. I am a member of the sub-committee that examines all planning applications for the village, from small extensions to large developments, so I really welcome the production of a Parish Plan. My greatest interest however, is local public transport. I represent the village at the Parish Transport Coordination meetings at County Hall, where we are battling to get decent bus services for the villages on the outskirts of Colchester.