MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING 13th JUNE 2002 

HELD AT THE HAILEY DAY CENTRE SAWBRIDGEWORTH

 PRESENT: 
Ted Burrow (Chairman)
Elisabeth Waugh
Warren Richards (Secretary)
Emma Jordan (EHDC)
Tom Potts
Tony Vidler (Sbw A/S)
Burt Puncher (A/S)
Steve Karn
J Stead
Monya Billing
Jacqueline Dore
John Rider
 B Brewster
 Stan Barker
 Joan Willett
Bob Jone
Ellen Knighton 
APOLOGIES:
Joyce Vincent (Sbw Town Council)
David Thorogood (Agenda 21 EHDC)
Michael Vincent (Treasurer)
David Mead
Mary Huxtable
Eric Penn
Hazel Mead
John Collier
Diana Richards

Welcome. 
The Chairman welcomed our speakers Judy Raymond and Linda Craig. 

MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of the 9th May 2002 were accepted as a true record. 

MATTERS ARISING:
Area Forum. Members did not attend the last area forum in May. An answer was given to the question of how land can be registered as Village Green. It revolves around usage over at least 20 years and the level of social events especially ball games. 
Mary W raised the question once again about registering Sayesbury Manor Green as a Village Green but the Sec felt it was a lost cause and would not meet the criteria.
HCC Structural Plan. The Sec read from EHDC Executive meeting 11/06/02 regarding EHDC adoption of HCC SP. 
Option A between 2001/16 4000 homes would be required in the green belt. 
Option B 13400 homes in the green belt over the same period.
Option C Plan, Monitor and Manage the housing requirement on a continuous basis. 
The survey being undertaken by HCC (the one everybody got excited about) shows we have an urban housing capacity of between 38500 to 45000 and could be more. 
EHDC has recommended option C which requires East Herts to build 460 houses per annum. 
The current Structural Plan for East Herts currently has an annual rate of 555 homes.

 
SVP Targets.
 John R felt that we should be setting ourselves targets with a realistic time programme we can periodically review. Everybody was in agreement and wished to set aside a couple of meetings in the future to thrash out a programme. He outlined some of his ideas but asked members to spend some time coming up with their own ideas. A plan makes it much easier to apply for grants. 
Elisabeth W detailed art grant she has secured for Rivers Nursery. Post meeting note. Our next meeting will be a walk around Pishiobury Park so have your ideas ready for our August meeting. 

Web Site. We need a secure room to keep the equipment and rent a telephone line. This could possible be in the Memy. We need a realistic costing to go forward with a grant.

Fair Green. Our Chairman has raised a petition to improve the safety of pedestrians entering Fair Green from Vantorts and Sheering Mill Lane. He has presented it to Sawbridgeworth TC and will present it to EHDC at the next Area Forum. The Sec will write to appropriate schools to ask if the have joined The Safe Routes to School Scheme run by HCC. While officially this spot on F/G has no accidents recorded Elisabeth W has seen 5 incidents since she has lived on that corner. 

AGENDA ITEMS: 
Art in the Park. Judy Raymond of CMS introduced Linda Craig who gave an informative talk on the programme of work she would present in Pishiobury Park on ceramics. She distributed programme flyers with booking form-it is hoped we will support this project.

There were informal discussions with many members e.g. a possible indoor venue, the Rivers art project.

Parish path Partnership. 
There is a letter to the Town Council from CMS asking the Town to join. 
The partnership attracts a grant but volunteers would be required to support our Footpath Officer, Mr Brian Rochester, achieve some of the tasks. AOB. Cattle in Pishiobury Park. Two ladies B Brewster and J Stead are finding the cattle very intimidating and feel their safety is at risk. They have seen a person fall over running away from the cattle. The Sec informed them that this group was very much in favour of having cattle on the park and the only question that could be raised is the wrong breed of cattle being used in a public space. Post meeting not. The Sec has been into the park on two separate occasions and in both instances spoke to a man and woman with dog(s) all said they had no problem with the cattle and like to see them.

7. 
DNM. The 11th July 02 at 8.00pm-on Fair Green for a walk with Diana Richards to look at trees in Pishiobury Park. * Items held in SVP file in Reference section of Sbw Library. SVPmin1130602