Curent Issues

Feb 2026 at Mersea Museum After a very enjoyable fish and chip supper provided by the Mersea Island Fish Bar, we had the pleasure of a talk by Chris and Graham, two of Mersea’s Community First Responders (CFR).   They began by showing us the kit bags which they have ready to go at a moments notice, filled with everythin g they need from a simple plaster to defibrillators. The Ambulance Service provides the consumables, whilst the bags themselves were provided by Clacton Car C

Application - 251209 / Appeal Reference - 6004537 https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6004537 The developer has appealed against Colchester City Council’s refusal of permission to convert The Old Oyster Shed — a waterfront restaurant — into a private dwelling. We need as many residents as possible to submit comments to the Planning Inspector. You don’t need to be a planning expert. Simply write in your own words, picking up any of t

Mark Minter of Mersea Island Watersports (MIW) is one of the Island’s unsung and unassuming heros and we were pleased to host him talking about how time on the water can generate both mental and physical results for everyone – age and fitness no barrier! Mark puts the mental benefits down to the fact of being on tidal water requiring gentle focus — noticing wind, tide and balance — which creates a form of calm engagement that many people find deeply relaxing and restorative.

A Statement Outlining Concerns and Objections Introduction The Society was formed to preserve, safeguard and promote the characteristics of Mersea Island for the benefit of all, to arrange open discussion whenever it appears necessary to obtain a consensus of public opinion and to provide opportunities to gain factual knowledge from lectures, visits and discussion of this great island. Mersea Island Society Committee wishes to formally express its opposition to the current dr

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Approval of Planning Application for the Old Oyster Shed sets a dangerous precedent for residential development along Coast Road. You may not know about this as the notices required are nowhere to be found near the site but the Old Oyster Shed (cream with red roof near the oyster beds on Coast Road) have applied for permission to turn what was originally rebuilt to be a restaurant into a residential dwelling. Mersea Island Society feel that if approval is given this will ope

Mersea City Hall is more than just a building and Beach Club is more than just fun on the beach. Both are Mersea institutions. Andrew French and Lesley Board came to our Fish and Chip supper to tell us how they both came into being. A Historical Snapshot of Mersea City Hall Old City Hall The hall dates back to 1930 when it was built by two maiden Christian ladies who lived in Seaview Avenue, the Misses Plummer. They had been holding a women's meeting once a week in Riversi

It is the opinion of the Mersea Island Society Committee that purchasing the Dawes Lane Open Space and agreeing to maintain it in the manner as stipulated by the developer is NOT an acceptable idea. Residents of the Dawes Lane development will have primary use and enjoyment of this open space and will have to pay a maintenance company to look after it, as stated in the original planning agreement. If this Open Space is purchased by WMTC, we will not get the 106 monies as agre

It is an ambition of MIS to see a dedicated cycle path between East and West Mersea and we are looking for people who may be able to help...

Planning for Barclays Bank site is now out.           Doctor’s list now ‘temporarily’ closed Application for Brierley Paddocks going to...

Mersea Island SocietyThe society was established to protect what makes the island unique for the community that enjoys life here. The society’s current focus of interest is: the new neighbourhood plan as the current one nears the end of it’s term, protecting the red squirrel population, ensuring the public footpaths that criss cross the island are usable, supporting local good causes e.g. freedom boat.   Longer term, the society are exploring the feasibility of a cycle path t

This response is made by the Mersea Island Society. It was formed in 1963 to preserve, safeguard and promote the characteristics of Mersea Island for the benefit of all, to arrange open discussion whenever it appears necessary to obtain a consensus of public opinion and to provide opportunities to gain factual knowledge from lectures, visits and discussion. Mersea Island is famed for its unique coastal environment on the estuaries of the River Blackwater and River Colne in No

The Front cover and inside front page of issue 825 of the Courier, November 19th, are devoted to the recent election where a few registered voters (less than 10%) made a choice between two candidates to be councillors on our West Mersea Town Council. Local inhabitants have expressed their frustration that they knew nothing of the election, or that they could not make an educated choice as they only had a bit of knowledge about one candidate. It may be a symbol of democracy t

Happy to help with advice regarding the reinstating of the footpath Reproduced from Mersea Life Magazine.

Reproduced from West Mersea Town Council West Mersea Town Council is pleased to report that the exposed/dangerous metal rebars have been removed from the shore of the Monkey Beach by the Crown Estate. These were part of a World War II defence known as Dragon’s Teeth, and are thought to an anti-landing craft defence. The concrete blocks had lengths of old tram line from Colchester concreted in, at an angle, and with a point just below the high water mark. In more recent years

WEST MERSEA IS LOCATED IN AN AREA OF THE HIGHEST SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. WHAT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD TAKE PLACE SO THAT THIS ENVIRONMENT IS PERSERVED WHILST MAKING IT AVAILABE TO ENJOY? THAT IS THE CONSIDERATION THAT WE ARE BALANCING AT THE PRESENT TIME CONCERNING THE BOARDWALK. Future Plans This has come to the fore as a result of the current boardwalk falling into disrepair and plans by the Town Council to restore it. The City council has a duty under t

West Mersea Neighbourhood Plan - What does it all mean? Many in our community will know of the existence of some planning law and the importance it holds for them. Every newspaper it seems carries articles about how planning law is now under consideration but one important local planning measure in recent times is our West Mersea Neighbourhood Plan. The importance it provides for our local community in West Mersea is for the plan to be part of the legal planning framework fo

What they are and why they matter by Stephen Vince Taken from the article that appears in the 2023 edition of Mistral magazine published by the Mersea Island Society. If you would like a copy of the magazine, please email info@merseaislandsociety.org What is a village green? Section 22 of the Commons Registration Act 1965 says that land can become a Village Green “ if it is land on which for not less than 20 years a significant number of inhabitants of any locality have ind