Great Yeldham Village Plan, Action A

The current action plan

The natural and general environment

Table . Plan contents . Home

CONSERVATION of ENERGY and NATURAL RESOURCES:
Conservation of energy to reduce global warming is assisted by the Braintree District Council's recently introduced recycling collection scheme. This is well supported in the village and almost 20 percent of household waste was recycled in 2004-5 with a slightly higher target for 2005-6.

Home insulation should be encouraged.

As the technology develops we may see highly efficient light emitting diodes replacing tungsten filament lamps.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.
Burning less fossil fuel will save energy and reduce pollution and global warming.

Great Yeldham is under the flight path of many aircraft, mostly as they prepare to land at Stanstead. Residents are concerned at noise nuisance as well as atmospheric pollution from aircraft. The 'Stop Stanstead Expansion Campaign' web site at www.stopstanstead.com displays maps of noise 'footprints' of current and proposed development. There are also worries about jet fuel being dumped from aircraft overhead.

Light pollution is a national problem. Street lights should face down so that they do not light the sky overhead any lights not converted should be.

Some residents are against increasing the number of street lights, though there are some badly lit areas of concern to others. The high cost of street lights makes it unlikely that many more will be added.

Braintree District Council remove over 97 percent of all Fly Tips within one day. They remove all valueless abandoned vehicles from public land within 10 days of their being reported (Feb 2006). The target is to remove 95 percent within 4 days by March 2008.

Following an invitation announced in the Four Villages Magazine in spring 2005 some local volunteers came forward to form a local conservation group for Great and Little Yeldham. Members are interested in conservation and study of wild life as well as getting to know the countryside through monthly footpath walks.

FLOODING.
The new dam and reservoir built in 2005 to protect Halstead will have no effect on Great Yeldham. If it fills to its maximum level the water will not back-up beyond Hull's Mill, Sible Hedingham.

The Environment Agency is responsible for maintenance of water courses classed by them as 'Main Streams'. The River in North Road is classed as a 'main stream' up to the bridge leading to Duncan Rise. The Environment Agency replaced the National Rivers Authority in April 1996.

There has also been flooding from inadequate and collapsed drains beside Leather Lane. Although much of the problem was caused by open ditches on private land being piped. The Highway Authority is the responsible body as far as the flooding of the road is concerned; they are aware of the problem but have taken no action so far.
The watercourse is now (Nov 2005) classed as a "Critical Ordinary Watercourse". On 1 April 2006 it will become a responsibility of the Environment Agency. The Agency will then study this and other similar watercourses in their area, to assess them for potential improvement. We are expecting a decision in autumn 2006.
To report problems with flooding and watercourses including suspected pollution incidents contact the office of the Flood Engineer in Kelvedon on 01473 706335.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
Most of the natural environment is managed as farmland, paddocks, and gardens. There are a few wooded or swampy areas left almost entirely to nature.

FARMLAND: Most of the farmland is arable but wildlife is favoured by the permanent pastures in the water meadows by the River Colne. The arable fields are mostly quite large, following the spate of hedge removals between the war and the 1960s. In these days of extensive agriculture most of the hedges have been let to go high and wide as farms lack the staff of the intensive post war period.

PADDOCKS: Many of the plots attached to the houses of the old Land Settlement Estate are now paddocks for horses. As soon as soil fertility levels are allowed to fall many native wild flowers reappear. Bee Orchids are known on several sites, coming and going as is their way. Cowslips are more common where landowners have spread fresh seed in the grass.

PUBLIC SPACES: While the local authorities aim to keep road margins and other the public spaces tidy there is also a greater awareness of the need to consider the wild life. Herbicides should not be used routinely in public spaces. Spot treatment of problem weeds such as bramble patches in the verges is preferable to overall treatment of larger areas.

PARISH COUNCIL GROUND: The Parish Council owns an area of just under two acres next to the burial ground on the Ridgewell Road. It is rough pasture that has previously been let for grazing but is now being allowed to return to its natural state. There is permission for its use as burial ground in the long term and enquiries have been made about its possible use as a woodland burial ground. It is too small to qualify for funding for the necessary ground work and planting unless the neighbouring landowner joins with the council in a joint scheme.
WILDLIFE.
The newly formed Yeldham Conservation Group is taking advice from the River Colne Countryside Management Project to improve local habitats. The hope to start with the Sports Ground.

The Essex Wildlife Trust has over 20,000 individual and 435 corporate members (in January 2005). It campaigns for wildlife conservation and protects 7,200 acres of land on 87 Nature Reserves and 12 Nature Conservation Areas. It does not have any reserves in Great Yeldham but its aims and campaigning policy to enhance new developments and to protect the environment closely reflects views of the Great Yeldham residents.

Braintree and Colchester District Councils jointly fund the River Colne Countryside Project. The one employee is particularly concerned with wildlife and access. He organises working parties of volunteers to improve the river and its valley. At present (2005) he is also drawing up a continuous footpath route along the valley using existing rights of way, to be specially marked as one route.

Wildlife study and conservation is encouraged at the village school. We hope that they will be able to take advantage of an offer by the Parish Council of access to the nearby site behind the burial ground where they can study its return to nature.

Great Yeldham Parish Plan

Great Yeldham Village web site

Table . Plan contents . Home
CONSERVATION of ENERGY and NATURAL RESOURCES: Conservation of energy to reduce global warming is assisted by the Braintree District Council's recently introduced recycling collection scheme. This is well supported in the village and almost 20 percent of household waste was recycled in 2004-5 with a slightly higher target for 2005-6. Home insulation should be encouraged. As the technology develops we may see highly efficient light emitting diodes replacing tungsten filament lamps. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Burning less fossil fuel will save energy and reduce pollution and global warming. Great Yeldham is under the flight path of many aircraft, mostly as they prepare to land at Stanstead. Residents are concerned at noise nuisance as well as atmospheric pollution from aircraft. The 'Stop Stanstead Expansion Campaign' web site at www.stopstanstead.com displays maps of noise 'footprints' of current and proposed development. There are also worries about jet fuel being dumped from aircraft overhead. Light pollution is a national problem. Street lights should face down so that they do not light the sky overhead any lights not converted should be. Some residents are against increasing the number of street lights, though there are some badly lit areas of concern to others. The high cost of street lights makes it unlikely that many more will be added. Braintree District Council remove over 97 percent of all Fly Tips within one day. They remove all valueless abandoned vehicles from public land within 10 days of their being reported (Feb 2006). The target is to remove 95 percent within 4 days by March 2008. Following an invitation announced in the Four Villages Magazine in spring 2005 some local volunteers came forward to form a local conservation group for Great and Little Yeldham. Members are interested in conservation and study of wild life as well as getting to know the countryside through monthly footpath walks. FLOODING. The new dam and reservoir built in 2005 to protect Halstead will have no effect on Great Yeldham. If it fills to its maximum level the water will not back-up beyond Hull's Mill, Sible Hedingham. The Environment Agency is responsible for maintenance of water courses classed by them as 'Main Streams'. The River in North Road is classed as a 'main stream' up to the bridge leading to Duncan Rise. The Environment Agency replaced the National Rivers Authority in April 1996. There has also been flooding from inadequate and collapsed drains beside Leather Lane. Although much of the problem was caused by open ditches on private land being piped. The Highway Authority is the responsible body as far as the flooding of the road is concerned; they are aware of the problem but have taken no action so far. The watercourse is now (Nov 2005) classed as a "Critical Ordinary Watercourse". On 1 April 2006 it will become a responsibility of the Environment Agency. The Agency will then study this and other similar watercourses in their area, to assess them for potential improvement. We are expecting a decision in autumn 2006. To report problems with flooding and watercourses including suspected pollution incidents contact the office of the Flood Engineer in Kelvedon on 01473 706335. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. Most of the natural environment is managed as farmland, paddocks, and gardens. There are a few wooded or swampy areas left almost entirely to nature. FARMLAND: Most of the farmland is arable but wildlife is favoured by the permanent pastures in the water meadows by the River Colne. The arable fields are mostly quite large, following the spate of hedge removals between the war and the 1960s. In these days of extensive agriculture most of the hedges have been let to go high and wide as farms lack the staff of the intensive post war period. PADDOCKS: Many of the plots attached to the houses of the old Land Settlement Estate are now paddocks for horses. As soon as soil fertility levels are allowed to fall many native wild flowers reappear. Bee Orchids are known on several sites, coming and going as is their way. Cowslips are more common where landowners have spread fresh seed in the grass. PUBLIC SPACES: While the local authorities aim to keep road margins and other the public spaces tidy there is also a greater awareness of the need to consider the wild life. Herbicides should not be used routinely in public spaces. Spot treatment of problem weeds such as bramble patches in the verges is preferable to overall treatment of larger areas. PARISH COUNCIL GROUND: The Parish Council owns an area of just under two acres next to the burial ground on the Ridgewell Road. It is rough pasture that has previously been let for grazing but is now being allowed to return to its natural state. There is permission for its use as burial ground in the long term and enquiries have been made about its possible use as a woodland burial ground. It is too small to qualify for funding for the necessary ground work and planting unless the neighbouring landowner joins with the council in a joint scheme. WILDLIFE. The newly formed Yeldham Conservation Group is taking advice from the River Colne Countryside Management Project to improve local habitats. The hope to start with the Sports Ground. The Essex Wildlife Trust has over 20,000 individual and 435 corporate members (in January 2005). It campaigns for wildlife conservation and protects 7,200 acres of land on 87 Nature Reserves and 12 Nature Conservation Areas. It does not have any reserves in Great Yeldham but its aims and campaigning policy to enhance new developments and to protect the environment closely reflects views of the Great Yeldham residents. Braintree and Colchester District Councils jointly fund the River Colne Countryside Project. The one employee is particularly concerned with wildlife and access. He organises working parties of volunteers to improve the river and its valley. At present (2005) he is also drawing up a continuous footpath route along the valley using existing rights of way, to be specially marked as one route. Wildlife study and conservation is encouraged at the village school. We hope that they will be able to take advantage of an offer by the Parish Council of access to the nearby site behind the burial ground where they can study its return to nature.