MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2nd MAY 2001

HELD AT SAYSBURY MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH

 

PRESENT:                 Ted Barrows  (Chairman)

Warren Richards (Secretary)             John Rider

Michael Vincent (Treasurer)            Joyce Vincent           

Jacqueline Dore                        Stan Barker

Eric Puncher (Sbw A/S)            Monya Billings

Diana Richards (Sbw Town Council)

                                    Joan Willitt                                                              

Carol Bartlett                                    Paul Ashwell

            David Mead                           Hazel Mead

                                   

                                   

APOLOGIES:            Janet Rolph (Thorley PC)      Edward Willitt  

                                    Tony Vidler (Sbw A/S)     Tom Potts

                                    David Thorogood (Agenda 21 EHDC)

                                    Bob Wright                          Maureen Wright

 

MINUTES: Everybody was happy with the minutes of 4th April except Stan Barker and John Rider should have been listed as apologies for absence and not present.

 

MATTERS ARISING:

Logo and Stationary. Tony V delivered the headed notepaper prior to the meeting and those members who were involved with correspondence took a supply.

Note any member who wishes to write letters in support of SVP please let the Sec know 723347 for a supply of notepaper.

Members asked for Lapel Badges for public functions like the May Fair.

Note to members who did not hand in their badges after the May Fair please have them retrievable for the next event.

Lockkeeper’s Cottage. The site has been cleared and scraped to the over site. In discussing the roof it was stated that the original roof was wooden shingles.

Members asked the Sec to write to EHDC Dir Planning to thank them for their sympathetic handling of the Lkkp Cottage.

Millennium Volunteers. The Sec reported that he had spoken to one of their organisers on the phone and they had asked for a letter outlining our group and our requirements for volunteers.

Land Purchase. David T reports no movement between Abbey Cross and the EA but he will let us know when a letter from us might help the situation.

Air pollution.

With the high levels of traffic pollution along the A1184 Ted B has written to the Doctors’ Surgery to enquire if they have any data on respiratory problem areas of Sawbridgeworth. Ted has also written to the Press to make the problem more visible to the public. It was pointed out with the election coming up that prospective candidates for County Council and Central Government should be contacted with the problem and our solution.

Members suggested that Mouchel never appear to understand the whole problem and we should approach them as a future speaker.

Other areas of high pollution on a par with the A1184 are Station Road and Brook Road but they have not been monitored for pollution, although they have been monitored by an automatic traffic counter

The future change of traffic flow in Bell St has not taken into account the resultant traffic disruption South of Bell St and the problems for the Brook Rd/A1184 junction.

 

Agenda items.

Guest Speaker for the Future. The following were suggested:

a)      Rivers Authority.

b)      Pishiobury Park Ranger.

c)      A similar group to the SVP who are more advanced and could share their experiences.

d)      Mouchel.

May Fair. It was agreed we would run the Quiz, sell plants and have a display with Ted’s Air Pollution as the centrepiece. Assembly time in Fair Green Will be 11.35am and members volunteered their time to man the stall.

Green Fair Standon. This is part of the May Day Celebrations at Standon on Monday 7th from 2.00pm, which includes the Energy Bus.

Publicity/Grants. John R asked for publicity from the Fair with photographs and constitution to at least the Herald.

Tree Conservation. Carol B has written to the Sec regarding Tree Preservation after her experience with tree felling in Forebury Avenue. Members agreed they we would support Carol in expanding the EHDC list of Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). She was advised to write to David Beales Director of Planning to obtain the definitive maps for updating in this area.

Visit to Wicken Fen. Names were given of those interested in the National Trust visit to WF; initially David M, Ted and Alice B wanted to go.

 DNM. The 7th June 2001 at 8.00pm in Sayesbury Manor. Note this is a Thursday.

AOB.

Town Council Grants. Obtain form and apply by June.

The New Mayor. Member wished to congratulate Cllr Diana Richards in her becoming Mayor this month and every success in her year of office. In thanking everybody she announced that due to her busy schedule she would not be the Town Council representative at the SVP meetings in the coming year.

Geese. Carol B told us that Lawrence Moorings had wired off the slipway into the canal to stop the geese coming on to their land.

Foot and Mouth Access. At this time all the Stort Towpaths are closed and only that stretch between Sheering Lock and Station Road has been given special dispensation for access- information supplied to Sawbridgeworth A/S.

Bullfields Parking. Burt P reported the chaotic state of parking especially on the roundabout behind the garage that uses it for commercial parking.

 

 

 

* Items held in SVP file in Reference section of Sbw Library.                 SVPmin34