MINUTES OF THE 3rd JULY 2003

PRESENT:

Ted Barrows (Chairman)
Warren Richards (Secretary)
Michael Vincent (Treasurer)
Diana Richards
John Rider
Bert Puncher (Sbw A/S)
Steve Karn(p/t)
Chris Rees
Kate Yarnold
David Mead
Joan Willitt
Monya Billings
Jacqueline Dore(p/t)
Hazel Mead
Brian Rochester
Tony Vidler
R A Jones
Mary Whitehead
Mary Huxtable
Tom Potts
Stan Barker
Emma Jordan (EHDC)

APOLOGIES:
David Thorogood (EHDC)
Ellen Knighton Joyce Vincent (Sbw Town C)

MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting of June 12th were accepted as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING.
Correspondence. A letter was sent to EHDC with a copy to Cllr N Burdett regarding our concerns about Kecksy's Farm. EHDC have acknowledged the receipt of this letter and assigned an officer. The Sec read out a letter received from EHDC regarding raising questions at Area Forums. The format of Area Forums is being reconsidered and it hoped that the public will go directly to their local ward councillor or to a member of the executive first with their concerns.

Esbie Estate. The Sec tabled a copy of a petition raised under our logo to be presented to the appeal hearing against the Enforcement Notices placed on this site. A number of people were mentioned who might be interested in contributing to a public subscription to purchase land in this area to stop further encroachment on the flood plain. Lottery funds and interest free loans from the Council were mentioned to raise money, also Saffron Walden B/S grants. The fencing of the flood plain by Mr A Bates was raised and it was suggested we invite him to a meeting to hear about his plans.

Footpath Working Party. Steve K has produced maps of the walks on the computer and is talking with Tom P to put them on the web site. Siting of notice boards may need planning permission.

Grants. Although we were not successful with a grant from Dacorum Rotary the Sec was invited to their presentation conference.

Fair Green. Our petition for improved pedestrian access does not appear to be moving forward because the Town Council will not take action unless they have firm proposal for change to vote on and the Highways Department want a request from the Town Council to initiate their investigations and prepare a proposal. It was proposed and seconded that we first write a letter of complaint to the Town Council and Highways Department at the lack of progress before going to the papers and the Ombudsman. Post Meeting Note: Fair Green is on the agenda of the Sbw Town Council meeting being held on the 28th July 03.

Joan W brought up a local traffic problem in High Wych of speeding and overtaking on the wrong side of the refuge.

Land Purchase on the Flood Plain. Diana R is talking to Michael Carver to try to resolve the situation.

Biological Records. A meeting was held at John R house where many aspects of how and where we were to collect data. Elizabeth W will produce a checklist of the more likely finds and place on our web site.

Stan B reported seeing a humming bird moth at Sheering Church.

AGENDA ITEMS.
Community Strategy. Diana R gave an outline of how it was proposed to run the CommS in Sawbridgeworth. There will be a number of Action Plans for consideration and these will have one or more local representatives. These will be: Sport and Leisure-Sbw Sports Association Community IT & Library-Joan Holms Safety- Police & Cllr Brown Housing-Cllr Burdett Environment-Cllr Richards & John R Transport-Cllr Dodd & Hazel M Health-Cllr Alder
Members were asked if they would be happy if our meetings were used to discuss items on the Environmental Action Plan. Members were happy, as most of the Action Plan subjects had been raised by our members. However members did not want the meeting split into two separate meetings and asked that relevant subjects be added to the agenda. It was agreed that any subjects raised outside the Environmental Action Plan would have to be passed to the relevant Action Plan representative.