MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING

25^th AUGUST 1999

HELD AT SAYESBURY MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH  

PRESENT:  Steve Karn (Acting Chairman)

Mary Bayes (Hertfordshire CC) 

John Rider  Louise Clark

David Thorogood (Agenda 21 EHDC)

Michael Vincent Joyce Vincent

Ralph Wilkinson Joan Wilkinson

Eric Hayward  Irene Pollard

David Mead  Joy Marshall

Warren Richards  Monya Billings

Jacqueline Dore Ted Barrow 

Diana Richards (Sbw Town Council) pt      Hazel Mead

APOLOGIES:  

Susan Clark (Rural Enterprise)

Jonathan Wilshaw (CMS EHDC)  

MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of the 30^th June 99 were accepted. 

1 Matters Arising.

1.1 Mary B brought us up to date with the representation of Herts CC on the M11 corridor committee which will be reporting on their findings in October 99. Mary would give us visibility of a copy when published.

1.2 David T is arranging funding for us to be a member of CPRE.

1.3 Steve K would talk to Harlow TC on Gilden Way development.

1.4 Joyce V would be attending the September meeting of the CPRE.

1.5 Louise C asked that we continue with having guest speakers. 

Agenda items.  

2 Flood Plain Sub Committee. Warren R outlined the letter sent to the Chairman of EHDC regarding our concerns and ideas for the flood plain and the positive reply received.

Eric H had been informed by a resident of Springhall Lane, that the holes in the hedges were made by the farmer and not the dredging equipment.

John R said that a figure of £60,000 to raise for the purchase of flood plain land should not be impossible and asked people to come the next meeting with ideas for fun raising. This raised questions:

Do we want to form a Trust with charitable status?

Would we want a constitution?

Who would be treasurer?

While these question should be considered, David T recommend we wait for a reply from the Chairman of the EHDC Environmental Services Committee.

Louise C pointed out that before we take on the possibility of owning land we should continue to pursue our original plan to persuade and support land owners to manage their land more sympathetically.

Steve K proposed that we make the flood plain our current major task, this was agreed. 

3 EHDC Agenda 21. David T informed us that the Sub-Committee would be holding their next meeting in Sbw on the 14^th October. Their objective is to have a "meaningful dialogue" with representatives from the town and that the SVP would present their activities. John R offered to present information on our history and aspirations. Warren R agreed to prepare a set of bullet points within the week.

Everybody please bring material for a display board to the next meeting. The formal Agenda 21 meeting will be discussing the Relief Road. 

4 PEAP. CMS has offered to give a talk on Parish Environmental Action plans. Our meeting in Nov looks the earliest we could have this. 

5. AOB. Diana R informed the meeting that she had been invited to a meeting to discuss the Relief Road with the consultants who are studying traffic flow in Sbw for the County Council. A number of people asked if they could attend and Diana R offered to put their names forward. 

Joyce V was intending to attend a meeting of COVER, which is representing voluntary organisations in regional government. 

6. DNM. The date of the next meeting is the 28^th September 99 at 8.00pm in Sayesbury Manor. 

Post meeting note. The next Sbw TC meeting on 27^th Sept at 7.30, will discuss A Village Design Statement for Sbw.