MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING
2 NOVEBER 1999
HELD AT SAYSBURY
MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH
PRESENT : Steve Karn ( Acting Chairman)
APOLOGIES : Lanier Pole Hazel Mead
MINUTES :
The minutes of the last meeting
were accepted, the Sec pointing out that the display of gas powered
cars was at 14th October meeting and not the meeting on 26th
November.
MATTERS ARISING:
Two letters had been received; the first from the Landscape Officer EHDC defining the planting of the commemorative tree presented to the Town by the EHDC Agenda 21 Committee. A Sorbus torminalis-a Chequer or Wild Service Tree-a native to Hertfordshire is planted at the entrance to Bullfields from Station Road. *
A letter from Sawbridgeworth Town Council gave support to our proposals for the flood plain, as described in a letter to The Chairman of EHDC Cllr Bob Parker.*
Our welcome pack was received
from the CPRE making us group members.*
AGENDA ITEMS:
1 EHDC Agenda 21 Committee.
The Committee met in the Council Chamber where John R and Irene P gave
talks on our work. The Committee was particularly interested in the
flood plain and the state of the lock-keepers cottage. They also wanted
to know the reason for such an active group in Sbw when so many other
similar agenda 21 groups were struggling. The Committee has ask the
EHDC officers to write a report on the best way forward to secure the
future survival of the flood plain ecology.
2 The flood plain. John R has written to the Herts Observer highlighting the sorry state of the Cottage and asked that members respond to keep the subject in the public domain.
The EHDC Solicitor said that no line of action was being taken with the owner of the Cottage but members felt that something had to be done to remove an eyesore from a Sbw beauty spot. Diana R offered to raise it with EHDC Planning Department. Steve Karn proposed that we ask the Sbw Town Council for support in resolving this long-standing problem. Warren R was asked to lobby Agenda 21 members at the Transport Forum on the 3rd Nov and append as post meeting note.
The question was raised by John R; did we wish to promote fund raising in Sbw to support work on the flood plain? (Do we have a volunteer as treasurer?).
2.1.Protection. Members were concerned how we could control misconduct on the flood plain now and who has the authority to take action. In the past there was a Bailiff who patrolled the area for the fishing clubs and British Waterways. Burt P said he would pass our concerns to members of the Sbw AS. David T said he would talk to CMS about extending their Pishiobury Park patrol to the flood plain.
2.2 Mapping. A map of the area showing the last known landowners has been passed to the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT). This map could be amended to show who owns the fishing rights in the area. Any information from the Sbw AS would be appreciated. Warren R was asked to send a copy of these minutes to the Secretary of the AS, in anticipation of closer links with the Sbw AS.
Steve K said he would write
to HMWT about our thoughts on access to the flood plain after it has
been designated a wildlife site and talk to Andy Sapsford & Bob
Reed.
3 Village Design Statement. Diana R outlined how a VDS could communicate to the planners what the people of Sbw saw as special in the town and the surrounding countryside. If we persuaded EHDC to adopt our VDS it would go into the local plan and form Supplementary Planning Guidance. A VDS would involve a core group of 10 people over a year period gathering and rationalising the view of the majority of residents who wish to express them, liaison with EHDC Planning and publishing the document. Help would come from Sbw TC especially to initially set it up and from EHDC during the life of the Statement. While examples of others efforts in writing a VDS are available the raw data must be shown to have come from Sbw residents. It will be necessary to draw people from other groups and solicit help from specialists e.g. graphic designers, architects, desktop publishers. AVDS advisory pack was tabled and taken by Monya B.
4 Parish Environmental Action
Plan (PEAP). With no member of CMS present Warren R agreed to finalise
a date with CMS for end January 2000.
5 The Relief Road. Warren R explained the proposed route of the relief road from Herons close on the High Wych Road to just north of Leventhorp School with a junction on West Road near Ridgeons' builders yard. The question was asked when the public presentation by Mouchel was to be given?
Post meeting note: this is arranged for …….…………………………………………..
Warren R expressed the view
that if we were forced into having a relief road then any infilling
should be commercial and recreational buildings but the Chairman and
the meeting felt we should oppose the road outright and not make any
conciliatory statements.
6 AOB
Warren R was asked to lobby members of the Agenda 21 committee when
attending the Transport Forum on the 3rd Nov. It was highlighted
that the 8 Transport Plan objectives did not include 'Protection of
Wildlife'. See below.
7 DNM. December 15th
1999 in Sayesbury Manor at 8.00pm.
Post meeting note: At
the Transport forum I made myself known to Leon Hyde Agenda 21 Chairman
but he would not be drawn on specific question and referred me to the
EHDC officers e.g. David T. I requested and received the full copy
of the Transport Plan which indicated the level of wildlife consideration
when constructing a bypass. On page 463 it details the environmental
impact when planning the Baldock bypass and lists Noise, Local Air Quality,
Landscape, Biodiversity, Heritage, and Water. It makes a statement on
each of these and that on Biodiversity is "No nationally designated
sites affected. Slight adverse effects on small areas within sites of
local value. Possible need to take account of badger movements, no other
protected species affected.
* This indicates these items
will be lodged in the Sbw Library in a dedicated box file.