Belchamp St Paul and Belchamp Otten Parish Council

Welcome to the Belchamp St Paul and Belchamp Otten Parish Council website

Contact Clerk: John Douglass 

Tel: 07551 005757 

E-mail: belchamps.pc@gmail.com

Belchamp St Paul and Belchamp Otten are situated in the beautiful Stour Valley on the Essex/Suffolk border.

A distinctive landscape with many ancient villages that has inspired such famous artists as John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. The Belchamps are mentioned in the Domesday Book. 

These two beautiful villages, deep in the heart of East Anglia, each have a public house and Belchamp St Paul also has a very well respected Primary School and Community House. 

PARISH NOTICE BOARD 

LOCAL DESIGN CODE DRAFT

(Posted 15 January 2026)

The Local Design Code Working Group are now in a position to present an initial draft to residents for your comments and suggestions. The deadline for comments is Sunday 8th March 2026.

Please go to the "Local Design Code" tab on the left for more information and a link to the draft document. To request a paper copy, please contact Hannah via the e-mail address below or by phone on 07552 060 848.

Please e-mail your comments to belchampsdesigncode@gmail.com or hand deliver them to The Bays, Gages Road, BSP (look for the flagpole!). Thank you.

2026 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES

2025 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES

Additionally, an extraordinary meeting of Councillors was held on 23 January 2025.  

VACANCY FOR BELCHAMP OTTEN COUNCILLOR

There is a vacancy for a councillor to represent Belchamp Otten.  Candidates should be registered to vote, and have lived or worked in the parish (or within three miles) for one year.  

NOTICE OF VACANCY

TREE WARDEN REQUIRED

The Parish Council is looking for a warden to keep an eye on the trees in the two parishes.  This voluntary position would suit anybody looking for an interesting outdoor activity taking about one hour per week.  Please contact the clerk by email. 

FLOODING & POTHOLES

If you experience flooding or a new pothole within the Parish boundary please file an email report to your councillor or the Clerk, giving the What3Words location and 2 photographs.  The incident will then be reported to Essex County Council who are the local authority responsible.

BELCHAMP ST PAUL DEFIBRILLATOR

There is a defibrillator at the Community House, Gages Rd, Belchamp St Paul, CO10 7BX (What3Words: activity.knowledge.abruptly).  In an emergency dial 999 from your mobile phone and use the machine - it will guide you through the operating procedure.

BELCHAMP OTTEN DEFIBRILLATOR

There is a defibrillator in the former telephone box in The Street, Belchamp Otten, CO10 7BG (What3Words: whirlwind.sage.boasted).  It is in a locked cabinet.  In an emergency dial 999 from your mobile phone to obtain the release code.  The machine guides you through the operating procedure.

STREET SWEEPING SCHEDULE 2025

Schedule

EMERGENCY SUPPLY OF BDC RECYCLING RUBBISH BAGS    (Posted 2016)

All households receive a regular supply of Recycling Bags direct from BDC. If however you run out before the next scheduled delivery you can obtain an emergency supply from the Clerk.  

ANGLIAN WATER LAUNCH "POLLUTION WATCH"  (Posted 2016)

AW have launched a new campaign to ensure that all incidents of sewage pollution are dealt with as quickly as possible to minimise the impact on the environment. They are investing £5.5m in network maintenance but if you spot any potential sewage pollution issues you can ring their dedicated Pollution Hotline 03457 145145 to report them and so enable them to respond sooner and look after our rivers and waterways. 

UK POWER NETWORKS - PRIORITY SERVICES REGISTER FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS   (Posted 2016)

UK Power Networks are the people who are responsible for keeping the electricity on in our area, regardless of your chosen energy supplier. They own and maintain all the electricity lines and cables. They keep a list of ‘vulnerable residents’ on their Priority Services Register so that if there is a power cut they can ensure that those who need it will receive extra support. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they can get the power back on more quickly but they can provide a priority 24 hour telephone number/ regular text or phone updates/ extra support from the British Red Cross to visit your home during an emergency (they’ll check with you first).

If you are elderly or disabled, have young children or rely on specialised medical equipment then you can apply to go onto the Priority Services Register at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority.