Newsletter No. 59 – December 2023

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Working together to support West Mersea Beach Hut owners and to safeguard our environment.

WEST MERSEA BEACH HUT WATCH

Newsletter No. 59 – December 2023

Christmas is rapidly approaching and may I take this early opportunity to wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas. I suspect many of you will be visiting your beach huts less often now but trying to take advantage of the spasmodic sunny days we are gifted.

Please be assured the West Mersea Beach Hut Watch (WMBHW) continue to support you with weekly patrols throughout the winter as well as the summer months. We are delighted to welcome Adam and Leah Scott-Hays as our new Patrol Officers following Clive and Sue Jenner standing down at the AGM after many years contribution to WMBHW. Thank you to all for past and future work in keeping our beach huts safe.

We are pleased to announce our Website is now “live” and you can find it here:-

www.westmerseabeachhutwatch.co.uk

We would like to pass on our enormous thanks and gratitude to Katie Frankl who has put in a lot of hard work to produce the site. We will look to develop the site further and we would welcome your feedback. We would also like to hear from you if you have a little time and a passion for website development; please let us know as we are keen to make this more vibrant and helpful to our members. We are particularly keen to add details on the What’s On page so please send through any contributions.

We are also delighted to let you know that we have secured John Fowler Solicitors LLP as new sponsors for the Tide Tables and we will be looking to distribute these as soon as possible.

More details can be found later in this newsletter along with other enhancements to your member benefits.

WMBHW AGM 2023

Our AGM was held on Sunday, 3rd September and thanks again to the West Mersea Lions for the use of their hut. The weather was kind to us once again and thanks also to the 50 plus members who attended in the sunshine and stayed on to join us for refreshments afterwards.

The Lions have kindly agreed for us to use their hut again for the AGM next year and the date for your diaries is Sunday 15th September.

Subscriptions – The AGM approved that the annual subscription will remain unchanged at £5 per hut owned for the 2024/25 season for all members. We made a resolution for existing memberships to run through to the end of February 2024 and for the annual membership to commence from 1st March in the future. For those patrolling up to 31st December 2023, please ensure the log in sheet is signed when collecting the patrol bag to qualify for your free annual membership for 2024/25.

Committee Officers

I am delighted to advise you that the following committee members were elected at the AGM:-

Chairperson (Bob Winnington)
Secretary (Ann Taylor)
Treasurer (Ros Kelly)
Patrol Officers (Adam and Leah Scott-Hays)
Membership Secretary (Lorraine Carter)
Committee Members: - Andy Thompson and Peter Rowlinson

We currently have a vacancy for a Publicity Officer. If you have skills in website development, social media and marketing, please contact me if you would like to be involved. We can arrange a chat if you would like to find out more.

Matters arising from the AGM held on Sunday, 3rd September 2023

•   Grass Cutting – We are in regular dialogue with CCC and will be focussing on this and also the general appearance and presentation of the beach hut area in the forthcoming year.

•   Bathing Rafts – this matter was raised at the AGM last year and we have been working on identifying a route to resolve the absence of the rafts. The matter has subsequently been taken on by West Mersea Town Council who have proposed to allocate monies to re-instate the bathing rafts. WMTC will also cover the costs of the licence from the Marine Management Organisation to place new mooring points on the seabed. The aim is for the new rafts to be in place by next summer.

Beach Hut Members Day: 2024

Following the success of our first open day we would like to repeat this next year and have decided on Sunday 19th May so please add this to your diaries if you would like to join in.

As yet we have not decided if there should be a theme, last year coincided with the King’s Coronation perfectly, so we are very open to ideas and suggestions or have no theme at all! We would love your thoughts on this before March 2024 to give us time to plan and organise but would be on the same lines as this year meeting your fellow WMBHW members and drinks and nibbles afterwards.

COLCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

We have continued to progress our good working relationship with the Parks and Recreation team at Colchester City Council (CCC) and we have held regular meetings throughout 2023 to date. We have covered the following topics since the last newsletter:-

•   Beach Management Plan
  This matter is under development by CCC and I have a meeting arranged in early 2024 to discuss the plan in more detail. It is understood that it will embrace the collaborative approach we had previously discussed in relation to the old Putting Green area, the groynes and areas of sand erosion.

•   Investments for 2024
  The plans for 2023 in relation to the "Top 3 Quick Wins" for CCC to invest in improving the presentation of the Beach hut area will be pushed back to next year. These were:-

  • Enhancement of the Flower Beds and general appearance of the Putting Green Area

  • Provision of additional benches.

  • Renewal of fences. This has been and will continue to be addressed.

•  Grass Cutting
  I was advised that eight grass cuts had been approved by the Council from Mid March to the end of October this year. Different teams are employed for the main cuts and for more detailed work around obstacles and strimming. I have fedback that we were not fully satisfied with the services to date and CCC will look to resolve this next year. Highway verges are cut six times a year. A “no mow” May is not planned for 2024.

Any questions for CCC can be directed to Parks@colchester.gov.uk for any beach hut enquiries WMBHW members might have.

John Fowlers Solicitors – new sponsors for Tide Tables

Following the closure of Moores Estate Agents in the early autumn, we approached John Fowlers who have kindly agreed to not only agree to supply Mersea Tide Tables but also offer further benefits to our members.

I am delighted to include a message from the company as follows:-

“John Fowlers Solicitors LLP are delighted to be supporting the Mersea Beach Hut Association. Any and all members will be entitled to 5% off all Conveyancing and Wills services upon showing proof of membership.

John Fowlers Solicitors LLP was founded in Brightlingsea in 1924. With additional offices within Colchester and Mersea, we aim to be your legal one stop shop for any and all needs within Essex & Suffolk. From our friendly, warm and expert team work tirelessly to deliver expert, value for money services that really make a difference where it matters. Families and businesses across the region retain use of our legal services because they value our direct approach and commitment to achieving the best results in every case we manage.

Since opening, our firm has undergone many changes but still champions the importance of delivering quality legal services to families and businesses throughout the region. We have grown steadily over the years and continue to do so thanks to our commitment to industry innovation, which helps us to progress in ways others have not yet considered. Our solicitors are specialists in their field, with each carefully scouted and selected to join the prestigious John Fowlers Solicitors' team. Each member of our team is committed to delivering reassuring and reliable legal advice throughout East Anglia.

BEACH HUT PATROLS

Our new Patrol Officers, Adam and Leah

Clive and Sue Jenner, who have been the Watch’s Patrol Officers since 2009, stepped down at our AGM and we are delighted to welcome Adam and Leah Scott-Hays as our new Patrol Offices. Here is their first report:-

Damage Reports

The graph below shows the number and types of damage reports recorded by patrollers. It covers the period April 2023 to the week of 21st November 2023. There have been multiple reports for the same hut, these are all included in the statistics. Of the reports received, the following notifications have been made to owners (if they are current members) or to Colchester City Council where they are not current members:

Owners - 31 by phone, email or text message Colchester City Council - 18 by email

Winter Patrols

All weeks have been assigned for the remainder of 2023. In early December we will allocate patrols for the period January to March 2024 - please look out for the emails.

Patrols & Damage Reporting

Whilst we are still using the manual reporting log, remember please that we are

happy to take damage reports by email, phone or text message

Email - wmbhwmembership@btinternet.com
Phone or text message - Adam Scott-Hays on 07912 499947

Even if you are not assigned a patrol and happen to notice an issue when out on the beach, then please feel free to get in touch as per above. Please remember to collect the patrol bag from the Spar store and to sign it out, and then back in - this helps us to track who has patrolled and therefore who is also entitled to free membership for the coming year.

WEST MERSEA BEACH HUT WATCH MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

As previously mentioned our membership year is changing from 1st March to the end of February so with this in mind Lorraine will be sending out membership forms from mid January. Anyone who patrolled from mid August 2022 to 31st December 2023 and recorded their name and beach hut number when collecting the patrol bag will be offered complimentary membership but will still need to fill in an application form so that Lorraine can keep the data base up to date. We do have some owners to whom we automatically post out membership forms; if you received this Newsletter by post you on the list! However, if you are not able to print off the membership form or not able to fill in the form online to return by email then please let Lorraine know so that she can add you to the list.

Could you please save our email address as a ‘contact’ in your email address book - wmbhwmembership@btinternet.com Alternatively, you can contact Lorraine (Membership Secretary) on 01206 386085 for any membership and general queries.

SOCIAL MEDIA

I am sure many of you will have seen posts we have made on Facebook on the ‘West Mersea Hutters' page. We will continue to use this page to contact our members with Beach Hut Watch news regarding membership, when our AGM will be taking place etc. Please remember the first port of call for existing members with any enquiries is wmbhwmembership@btinternet.com and the Facebook page will not be replacing our normal system of contacting members by email or post, but an additional way of getting information out to all beach hut owners.

We also have our own Instagram account ‘westmerseabeachhutwatch’ so give us a follow. This will run alongside the posts that we put on to the Mersea Hutters Facebook page. Please tag us with your brilliant Beach Hut ideas and share photos of you spending time at your beach huts. Our members would love to see how you enjoy your time at your huts.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

We continue to progress our work to develop wider and more far reaching benefits for our members. We are pleased to confirm the following benefits to our members in the 2023/24 year as follows:-

DISCOUNTED CAR PARKING IN VICTORIA ESPLANADE, SEAVIEW AVENUE AND WILLOUGHBY PARK CAR PARKS

Members of WMBHW can purchase a Season Ticket at a reduced rate. The price for 2024 will be £85 which includes up to two vehicles from a single household. You are also able to register two separate vehicles from two separate households. However, in both cases, only one vehicle may be parked in the car park at any given time. If both vehicles are found parked at the same time, North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) will issue a Penalty Charge Notice.

o The WMBHW Member Parking permit is valid from 1st April each year and provides access to Willoughby Park and Victoria Esplanade car parks from 1st April to 30th September. The permit also provides access to Seaview Car Park for the full 12 months

o You will need to notify NEPP if you change your car after submitting the application. NEPP can be contacted on 01206 282316

o For further information and to renew / apply for car parking from 1st April 2024 apply through NEPP: https://secure.mipermit.com/northessex/application/home.aspx You can also use the MIPermit App https://secure.mipermit.com/northessex

 SUPPLIERS
o Kent & Blaxill – minimum of 5% off all purchases * upon the

production of WMBHW membership card
* Discount may be higher on certain products

INSURANCE
Benefits are available to all WMBHW members through the following Insurance companies. Just mention you are a member of WMBHW and, if required, your membership number is your hut number.

o Insure Homes: http://www.insurehomesdirect.co.uk/ - 10% discount; please quote Reference: WMB-22

Is your Beach Hut insurance due for renewal? Now Towergate have pulled out of the market Insure Homes Limited are handling many of the ex Towergate customers. They have offered additional support to see if they can help. Their telephone number is 0800 783 7187 or 01242 678 678 or email insure@insurehomesdirect.co.uk. They pride themselves on the high level of service they offer and competitive premiums. Remember to mention WMBHW when asking for a quote. 

o James Hallam: https://www.jameshallam.co.uk/ 10% discount
o Love Your Hut / CETA: https://loveyourhut.co.uk/ 10% discount
o Howden Insurance: https://www.howdengroup.com/uk-en - WMBHW

members will have a Zero excess applied to their policy for claims if they arrange a policy with Howdens

 LOCAL BUSINESSES
o John Fowlers Solicitors LLP – Free Tide Tables and 5% off all Conveyancing and Wills services upon the production of WMBHW membership card

o Two Sugars - 10% off all purchases upon the production of WMBHW membership card (excluding ice creams)

o Mansion House Florists - 10% off all purchases of flowers and plants (minimum spend £25) upon the production of WMBHW membership card (excluding Relay Service transactions)

o The Little Kitchen Cakery - 10% off all purchases upon the production of WMBHW membership card

o Blackwater Pearl - 10% off all purchases (minimum spend £10) upon the production of WMBHW membership card

o The Trove - 10% off all purchases (minimum spend £25) upon the production of WMBHW membership card.

o Mersea Island Watersports - 20% discount across all lessons and hires except kids club

o Mersea Mudcakes - 10% off all purchases when you order online. Just

o 10% off all purchases valued at £25 or over upon the production of WMBHW membership card

o Seaview Cafe – Free tea or coffee with all main meals priced £8 and over from 1st January until 31st March 2024 upon the production of WMBHW membership card

o Little Thatch Bakes - 10% off all purchases upon the production of WMBHW membership card plus free delivery on Mersea Island including the Beach Huts

We will continue to engage with other organisations to extend the list of member benefits and we will keep you informed as they are agreed.

RENOVATIONS, REPAIRS AND CLEANING

We continue to receive a number of enquiries from Hut Owners asking for contact details for local individuals and firms providing support for maintenance, renovations and repairs to beach huts. Whilst not a definitive list, here are some useful contact details:-

David Young, bridgewatercarpentry@gmail.com - 07854 578309

 type in the code bh10

 Dukes Seafood -

  Gavin Butler, Beach Hut Services, Hardie Plank cladding, decking, repairs, new

 builds etc, with good feedback. Mersea based. 07889 093314

 gav020181@hotmail.co.uk

 Matthew, a Mersea based local carpenter who has worked on beach huts ranging from basic repairs to new builds using various materials.

“I am always happy to discuss various options from repairs through to new builds for members of WMBHW.”

Please call- 07811 267065.

Patrick Dawson, “Mersea’s Maintenance Man”

“I do most jobs around the home and more recently have started repairing, re- felting, re-cladding and painting beach huts.

 I’m always happy to come out to a job and give free advice on your hut as I live on the island. My mobile is 07743 489357 and my email is patrickdawson66@hotmail.co.uk “

 07770 845 287

 Roger Newton -

Wayne Tapner – “I am a qualified Carpenter with over forty years’ experience

 in the building industry, domestic and commercial. Currently I am refurbishing

 Beach huts on Park Holidays UK site, I also build garden rooms, loft conversation

 and property refurbishment. Free advice anytime, including if you want advice

 before you purchase a beach hut, please call me on 07711201093.

 Larger companies who supply and install new huts, standard or bespoke: -

 Maydays of Mersea, Richard, East Mersea based. 01206 386528

 Tom’s Farm of Tiptree, Maldon Road, 01621 891081

 Poultons of Danbury, 01206 222550

 “Beach Hut Cleans”

For details or bookings call Linda on 07479 645461

These details are provided for your information but WMBHW cannot be held responsible if any work undertaken does not marry up with your expectations surrounding the quality expected.

Please let us know if you have any further recommendations.

WMBHW Community Open Day and our Community Initiative for 2023

We were delighted to join the Mersea Community Open Day held at the MICA on 7th October and to join a number of other local clubs and associations in attending a great community event.

We highlighted in our previous newsletter that we were planning our Community initiative for 2023 and we are delighted to confirm that we have supported the following organisations this year:-

•   Mersea Lifeguards

•   Mersea Community Support (see photo with Judith Wingar below)

•   The Porch Pantry (see photo with Emma Cornwell below)

•   Mid and North East Essex MIND

Strood W.I. Mersea and their Clean Rivers Campaign

I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Moring from Strood WI at the Community Open day and Carol has very kindly provided an article for us below:-

“The Women’s Institute movement began in Canada in 1897 and came to the UK in 1915. It was brought to life to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. The W.I. is now the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK. Now days we don’t just grow food and make jam.

Here on Mersea we are fortunate to have two W.I. groups; a daytime group, West Mersea W.I. and an evening group, Strood W.I. Each year W.I. members throughout the country, have the opportunity to vote on topics which can be put to the Houses of Parliament to be discussed. This year’s Clean Rivers Campaign was launched by the W.I. with 84% of the members backing it.

Strood W.I. ladies decided to promote the campaign by setting up an information display outside West Mersea library during the Clean Rivers week, 11th to 18th September 2023. We met many people with an interest in this topic. The more rivers and waterways that can be marked with ‘Bathing Water Status’ the better. Once an area is ‘designated’ it must be monitored for bacteria levels during the bathing season and water companies are obliged to act to improve water quality in these areas.

If you want to get involved, or for more information, it’s worth looking at ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ website www.sas.org.uk. There is even a real time map to track sewage discharge and pollution risks around the UK. If you are interested in coming along to Strood W.I. to see the other things we get up to, we would love to see you. You can call me, Carol Moring, on 07956 871602 for more information.

Final thoughts

We always welcome your feedback and please feel free to let us know if you have any ideas and suggestions to make your membership even more valuable. We will continue to develop the website and we would love to hear from anyone with knowledge and experience to help up develop the site and keep it up to date and relevant to your needs.

We look forward to seeing you enjoying your huts in 2024.

Bob Winnington, Chair, West Mersea Beach Hut Watch December 2023