MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING

14th APRIL 1999

HELD AT SAYESBURY MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH  

PRESENT:  Steve Karn(Acting Chairman)

Warren Richards Monya Billings

Jacqueline Dore John Rider

Diana Richards (Swb Town Council)

David Mead  Eric Hayward

Michael Vincent Joyce Vincent

Ted Barrow  

Mary Bayes (Hertfordshire County Cllr) 

APOLOGIES: Lanier Pole Hazel Mead 

Susan Clark (Rural Enterprise)

David Thorogood (Agenda 21 EHDC)

Liz Greenwood (Landscape Officer EHDC)

Stan Barker (Sheering Parish Council)

Peter Garrett ( Countryside Management Service)

MINUTES:

The minutes of the meeting of the 23rd March 1999 were accepted.

1 GIS Maps. Steve K tabled a sample map and possible subjects to be covered which can be supplied by CMS to support specific activities. 

2 SERPLAN. John R tabled the latest plan Feb’99 and agreed to investigate funds for planning brown field sites. Steve K took literature supplied by Monya B on funding these sites initiated by Tesco. 

2 Secretaries Message. Warren R proposed that the minutes only recorded items given an action and that meetings should be less frequent ie 6 to 8 weeks interval. 

3 A Working File. The meeting ask for an accessible working file of documents to be available. Diana R to approach the Town Clerk and Warren R to ask the Town Librarian. 

4 Matters Arising 

4.1 Harlow North. Mary B informed us that SERPLAN were setting up an advisory committee to study Sustainable Transport in the M11 corridor with no representation from Hertfordshire and pressure was being applied to have HCC and United Parishes Against Maple Croft represented. Mary B will keep us updated,Steve K to look at the letter from the protest group and consider further communication. John R said he had written to SERPLAN with our views.

Steve K asked that people list their concerns (say a max of 3 each) for a future agenda item dedicated to the airport. 

4.2 Gilden Way Development. Joan W has a friend who goes to all the Harlow DC meetings and will inform us of any progress. Steve K will contact Harlow DC. 

4.3 Lockkeeper’s Cottage. Steve K said he would keep the pressure on EHDC legal department. John R tabled a file on the planning application 78/79 for a marina south of Sheering Mill Lock in which reference is made to renovating the Cottage. 

4.4 The Flood Plain. In formulating a grant strategy with CMS it was proposed we form a sub-committee. This will be formed by John R, Ted B and Eric H with support from Diana R to liase with the land owner. John R reported that heavy equipment had been brought on to the flood plain to clear out the back water. To gain access this had flattened boundary hedges. Peter G and Liz G please advise.  

4.5 Town Tip. Warren R has spoken to Andy Mills-EHDC who advised the site should be left to nature and not disturbed. Steve K and John R felt happy with this approach especially if it could be managed as habitat but Ted B had been told it could be clay capped and made suitable for a play area. 

4.6 Play Areas. Diana R advised that an area was being considered near the allotment adjacent to the town tip.  

4.7 Planning Consent for 99A London Road Sbw, has been rejected by Sbw TC for poor access and a preservation order has been placed on the large cedar tree, said Diana R. 

5. Walking the County Boundary. Any offers to help please contact Wally Wright 722557. 

6. Sbw Marsh. The walk organised by Diana R and Andy Sapsford will meet at Sbw Station 13th June ’99 at 1.30 pm. 

7. Rivers. Diana R announced the winning of a grant from the Ford Foundation in support of the Friends of Rivers. A walk to Rivers starts from the carpark in Pishiobury Park on 1st May at 5.30am. 

8. DNM. The date of the next meeting is the 19th May 99 at 8.00pm in Sayesbury Manor and George Martin has agreed to talk to us about planning in the area. Please come prepared with a question.

A future meeting is planned for 30th June 99 where Sue Green has agreed to talk to us about Local Air Quality.