MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING
6th JUNE 2000
HELD AT SAYSBURY
MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH
PRESENT: Ted Burrow (Acting Chairman)
APOLOGIES: Lanier Pole Hazel Mead
MINUTES:
The minutes of the last meeting
were distributed in good time and accepted by all at the meeting.
MATTERS ARISING:
Major activity on plots of land accessed via Bridgefoot House for more caravans.
AGENDA ITEMS:
1 EHDC Environmental Services Committee. Diana R reported on the walk she gave to the Committee on 20th May with a number of SVP members in attendance. It was a wonderful day and an enjoyable walk but one negative point that was ‘picked-up’ was dog muck especially along the towpath. Members suggested signs (it was noted that the Sbw A/S had put up a sign) but as the standard signs inferred a penalty which is not appropriate in a rural environment Diana R felt a Dog Bins would be appropriate on the towpath in the vicinity of the Victorian Tip and between Sheering Mill Lock and Station Road. While it may be expected that EHDC can support the empting of the bins they have no money for capital expenditure to purchase new bins. Dina R asked whether sponsors could be found to purchase bins, costing £470 installed. In particular could the SVP approach the Sbw A/S.
The latest on the Transport Plan is to explore with Herts CC and support from central government a bypass for Sbw.
2 The Local Plan. Warren R went through the section * dealing with Sbw. Sbw responded with 76 comment from 40 individuals of whom 19 were made by the SVP or members individually. To accommodate the 165 houses allocated to Sbw, 17 sites were considered and 3 recommended for development. These are:
The football field behind Crofters-130 houses, objections were raised on the large number of houses on one site.
The land at Millfields, which is flood plain-20 houses.
Land along the Stort
south of Station Road-15 houses.
Other subjects included in the Local Plan are: Economic development and employment, Environment, Transport and Leisure, which were not discussed at the meeting.
3 Questions from the Observer.
3.1 A freight yard at Thorley Wash. The paper raised the question of Railtrack wanting to sell their freight yard in B’ps for development and building a new freight yard outside the town, one site being at Thorley Wash. The Sec invited Mr Chesser in response to his letter in the paper on the subject.
The people from Spellbrook and Thorley Street fell very pressurised from aircraft noise, undisciplined traffic speed and now the threat of a freight yard. The 30mph speed limit in Thorley Street is ignored and lorries from the north to Harlow prefer the A1184 to the M11 as it is only 9miles from junction 8 as against 14 miles down the motorway via junction 7.
Mrs Rolph presented a paper (copy to Diana R) detailing their concerns.
Diana R and David T informed people about contacts within EHDC to whom they should voice their concerns.
Warren R volunteered to find out the environmental designation of the area for possible consideration as a freight yard.
Post meeting note: The land sits within a landscape conservation area and is designated OSI ‘other sites of ecological and geomorphic importance’.
4 Publicity. Monya B was asked to raise awareness of the SVP by distribution of leaflets designed for the May Fair.
5 Fund Raising/Grants. We left this item for a future brain storming when John R was available.
5 AOB. Diana R suggested we should arrange a group visit to Wicken Fen to see how the professionals manage wetlands. Members were keen to organise a trip. The newly constructed wetlands site in west London was another suggestion.
David Thorogood announced three activities run by EHDC in June.
Warren R thought people should know about a new layer of Government being introduced and handed round a pamphlet on Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East.
6. DNM. The 5th July 2000 at 8.00pm in Sayesbury Manor.
* Items held in SVP
file in Reference section of Sbw Library.