MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING

5^th APRIL 2000

HELD AT SAYSBURY MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH 

 

PRESENT:  Steve Karn (Acting Chairman)   

Monya Billings John Rider

Ted Burrow   Michael Brown

Ian Shipman  Mary Shipman

Warren Richards David Mead

Joyce Vincent  Michael Vincent

Jacqueline Dore Stan Barker (Sheering PC) 

APOLOGIES: Lanier Pole   Jonathan Wilshaw (CMS)

David Thorogood (Agenda 21 EHDC)

Diana Richards (Sbw Town Council)

Mary Bayes (HCC)  Tony Vider (Sbw A/S)

Susan Clark (Rural Enterprise Project)

Hazel Mead

Liz Greenwood (landscape Officer EHDC)

MINUTES:

The minutes of the last meeting were distributed in good time and accepted by all at the meeting. 

MATTERS ARISING:

Warren R presented the following:

1. We have received a pack* from the Local Heritage Initiative containing examples of the application of projects and a form for grants.
2. A letter from COVER (community & voluntary forum: eastern region) asking if we wish to join them in shadowing the East of England Development Agency to ensure the voluntary sector is represented. The fee is £10 a year and members asked for it to be progressed.
3. A donation of £10 was made to the CVS for a stall at the May Fair.

John R reported that the sign we erected in Springhall Lane had been thrown in the ditch; he had repositioned it. It was noted that at both locations of our signs there is dumping of garden rubbish. It was asked that a letter be sent to the landowner off Springhall Lane thanking him for permission to post a notice and for providing the ditch.

Rubbish and encroachment of the right of way was reported in Pishiobury Road. 

On protecting the flood plain it was ask to list Police contacts:

Sawbridgeworth desk Sergeant 01279 508708

Wildlife Liaison Officer, Inspector Steve Kourik 01707 354506

AGENDA ITEMS:

1 Constitution, Election of Officers 

1. The Constitution. There were a number of inputs to the draft constitution and the agreed wording is attached to these minutes. In the deliberation we removed the annual donations at 4 and included a para on winding-up the SVP. A sentence on equal opportunities was added to para 2.
2. Election of Officers The following officers were proposed and unanimously agreed:

1. The Honorary Chairman Steve Karn.
2. The Honorary Secretary Warren Richards.
3. The Honorary Treasurer Michael Vincent.

d) Committee members with special responsibilities:

John Rider, special responsibility for fund raising.

Monya Billings & Jacqueline Dore, special responsibility for publicity.

e) Committee members:

Ted Burrows, David Mead, and Joyce Vincent.

6. Local Council representatives:

Stan Barker, Sheering Parish Council.

Diana Richards, Sawbridgeworth Town Council.

Mary Bayes, Hertfordshire County Council 

2. EHDC Agenda 21 Committee. Ted B Warren R and Diana R attended the EHDC Environmental Services Committee where the purchase of land on Sawbridgeworth Marsh was an agenda item. The Chairman referred to our letter in support of the proposal and matters are proceeding satisfactorily. The next meeting of the EHDC Agenda21 Committee is at Buntingford on Tuesday 18^th April 00 in the Town Council offices, at 21 High Street, at 7.30pm.
3. Flood Plain. The EHDC are making offers for two parcels of land at the end of Springhall lane and we wish to thank EHDC for taking this initiative after the SVP lobbied for action. Diana R is giving a walk on the flood plain to EHDC Councillors on 20^th May 00 and 5 members of the SVP have been invited to attend to talk with our Councillors; John R, Monya B, Jacqueline D, Steve K and Warren R.

Stan B reported that a local walker had questioned a person working inside the Lock-keepers cottage enclosure and he said someone had bought the cottage and wanted to bring it back to its former state. He was interested in past history and wanted to know the whereabouts of the Duckett’s Black Hand, which was once over the door. “The new owner lives in the Sbw Maltings”

This led to a report by Ian and Mary S with additional input from Michael B about the land between Bridgefoot House and the waterfall opposite Lawrence Moorings. Sabir are no longer the developers of this land and previously agreed Planning consent is being changed with less favourable terms for landscaping the site. Also the small holiday home plots are being worked on with no consideration for the environment e.g. burning caravans and felling large trees on the towpath. Member were upset that planning consent was changing without visibility and illegal practises were taking place on the towpath; they ask the Secretary to write to George Martin EHDC.

Post meeting note: The matter has been referred to our local EHDC Councillor Diana Richards and she is pursuing both matters with EHDC officers.

4. Fund Raising and Grants. The Sec. asked what people would like grants applied for? John R thought we should split ideas into two groups, firstly money to help us run the SVP more efficiently e.g. administration support and publicity, and secondly support for projects. The initial feeling for projects would be to buy more land on the flood plain, help farmers to be environmentally sympathetic, log flora and fauna and start a library archive.
5. May Fair. It would be left to the Sec to organise and people would get display information to him at the April 18^th meeting details above. He would endeavour to build a solar demonstration and the Chairman would produce some leaflets to promote the SVP.
6. AOB Members asked for a talk on solar energy for the future.
7. DNM. It was agreed we go for the first Wednesday in each month starting with the 3^rd May at 8pm in Sayesbury Manor.

Post meeting note: We have these dates booked to the end of the year except June, which will be Tuesday 6^th June. 

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