MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING
5TH JULY 2000
HELD AT SAYSBURY
MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH
PRESENT:
APOLOGIES: Stan Barker Michael Brown
MINUTES:
The minutes of the last meeting
were distributed in good time and accepted by all at the meeting.
MATTERS ARISING:
The Esbies Estate. After members made representation to Cllr Diana R the EHDC have served an Enforcement Notice* on plots 17/18 to remove work recently carried out and to undertake remedial action. Members reported that further work was still taking place and a fence had been erected which was visually offensive at the site of the weir.
Biological Records Centre. A letter had been sent to enquire about the habitat at Thorley Wash and Millfields.
Post meeting note: TW was surveyed in 1985 ‘reasonable species community but not enough interest to make it a Country Wildlife Site”. M not recorded as having any ecological interest.
A1184 Lorries.
Janet R sent a report recording 250-300 aggregate lorries a day passing
through, starting at Harlow Mill Station and turning right at Hockerill
Street to the Motorway. Ted B said there is a group in B’ps that are
trying to reduce access down Hockerill St to the Motorway. RAW said
as a pedestrian he got soaked by passing heavy lorries and in the dry
he got peppered with small stones. Diana R said she would pass our comments
on to the Town Council.
AGENDA ITEMS:
1 Dog Bins. Tony V as Secretary of the Sbw A/S had been negotiating with British Waterways to support one or two dog bins along the towpath at Sheering Lock. This still left the cost of emptying them, £140pa, to which he and Diana R would try to find a solution outside the meeting.
2 Solar Club. A few members attended the Solar Club held at the EHDC Council Chambers. There were well over 50 people attending and the advantages of joining the Club were outlined with discount prices, self help and DIY available to keep the cost down. To join the Club and have a home visit phone GAPS on 01920-821069
3 Publicity. Members felt we should be advertising our successes in the local newspapers and Church and Town, especially the increase in wildlife in and around the old Victorian Tip. Monya B said she would prepare a letter if someone could supply her with examples of increased wildlife. Hazel M offered to remind people of our meeting dates and aims in Church and Town. Lanier P would arrange some A4 leaflets for Monya B to put around the Town.
4 Fund Raising/Grants. John R felt we needed to go for charitable status if we wanted to appeal to the generosity of the people of Sbw. He would like us to consider starting a community wood between South Brook and the River Stort by approaching the Woodland Trust. It was thought we should go for grants to support our own surveys of flora and fauna. Jacqueline D felt we needed a logo and suggested a school competition, she would come up with her own ideas first for a logo.
5 AOB. Sarah J is organising a public meeting July 11th at Bullfields centre to oppose the building of houses on the flood plain at Millfields. Members main concern about this proposed site for development was protection of the flood plain at this site. It was proposed at our next meeting that we look at the other 16 sites proposed and make our views known to EHDC.
Warren R was asked to confirm the definition of FLOODPLAIN. It is land that has recorded flooding within a100 year period.
Members from Spellbrook were advised to raise a petition and have a public meeting to highlight people’ s concern at possible development at Thorley Wash Marsh and present this to EHDC Director of Planning.
6. DNM.
The 2nd August 2000 at 8.00pm in Sayesbury Manor.
.
* Items held in SVP
file in Reference section of Sbw Library.