MINUTES OF THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING
6th September 2000
HELD AT SAYSBURY
MANOR SAWBRIDGEWORTH
PRESENT: Warren Richards (Secretary)
APOLOGIES: Jonathan Wilshaw (CMS)
MINUTES:
The minutes of the last meeting
were distributed prior to the meeting and accepted by all at the meeting.
MATTERS ARISING:
Flood Plain Definition. Warren R has received a letter* from the Environment Agency defining the Flood Plain and a map showing limits of flooding along the Stort.
Bishop’s Stortford HGV Restrictions. The public consultation offered three options, none appeared to restricted access along the A1184 to Hockerill but restricted access from feeder roads on to it. This would force HGV to join the A1184 at Sawbridgeworth with a predicted increase in HGV traffic by 25% in Station Road.
Members comments included, make Sbw Town Council aware, inform the Highways Partnership via Mary Bayes and Tony Dodd and contact Hatfield Heath/Broad Oak on the increase in HGV traffic. Diana R will ask for a copy of the Mouchell Report.
Bank Account. Warren R returned the application form to open a Giro account duly signed by the Chairman and Secretary to the Treasurer. Members asked if EHDC could fund an opening balance.
Millfields. A letter was sent to EHDC Planning asking that the Redricks lane/Rochford Nursery site should be considered as an alternative to Millfields.
Pauline C wanted to raise a protest against development on the Esbies Estate and was advised that a written objection was required to be sent to EHDC Planning.
Letter from the Wildlife Trust. The Herts and Middlesex WLT are holding a one-day conference designed to promote biodiversity, wildlife sites and environmentally friendly development. Warren & Diana R would attend. Tony V reported that the Sbw A/S had been contacted by CMS to support an initiative by the Wildlife Trust to provide data on specific areas of the Stort through Sawbridgeworth. John R has received a letter from the Director of Environmental Services outlining the state of the Pishiobury Management Plan which will be presented at a meeting on 8th October 00 for public consultation. John R would write to ask for the SVP to be represented on the Advisory Group.
ANNOUNCEMENT-Land Purchase. David T told us that the two pieces of land on the flood plain at the end of Springhall Lane had been purchased and there was money available for fencing. Everybody wished to thank David T for all the work he had put in to make this a successful project. Warren R was asked to write to the Chairman of the Agenda 21 Sub-Committee Leon Hyde to express our Appreciation.
David T said the Pit would be fenced and markers would show the 3metre strip down the meander for the Abbey Cross Fishing Club. He agreed to produce publicity for the land purchase. Diana R offered to give a walk to publicise the land Purchase, this will be from Pishiobury car park on Saturday 14th October 00 at 10.30am. Joyce V offered to organise the Hailey Day Centre for refreshments.
Post Meeting Note. Hailey DC not available refreshments will be taken adjacent to Pishiobury car park.
AGENDA ITEMS:
1 Logos. Tony V and Jacqueline D showed samples of their logos and it was agreed they would select samples to be worked up on the computer. A Logo would be chosen after the walk on the 14th October.
2 Publicity. Members were very pleased with the article in Church and Town and the High Wych magazine. These publications need to be fed with information on our activities.
3 Our Forward Plan. John R tabled a pack for obtaining charitable status and passed this to the Treasurer for consideration.
4 Visit to Fishing Lake. Meet in the Sawbridgeworth A/S car park (Gaston Green Rd North of Station) at 10.30am on Saturday 7th October 00.
5 AOB.
Agenda 21 Meetings. David T announced that EHDC Agenda 21 Sub Committee meetings were going to involve the public more and deal with local issues. He invited people to come along to the meeting at Wallfields on Thursday 14th September at 7.30pm to learn how we could participate.
Pishiobury footpath. Ted B reported that the footpath behind East Park is being further blocked with diversion signs. Another member had heard that people had bought the piece of land at the end of their garden. Members’ response was that purchase of a right of way gives no powers to close it or divert it.
Play Facilities. Ted B has a reply to his letter to EHDC regarding the lack of play facilities for ball games in the Vantorts Estate. The letter said that land was be earmarked for recreational facilities within the Town. Ted B wants us to press for some land in the vicinity of the allotments at South Brook.
Agenda 21 Project. David T asked for sites to plant daffodils and wildflower seed. Members suggested daffodils at entrance to Pishiobury Park and on Fair Green and wildflowers on the top field of the new land and an unused plot of an allotment. We would have to liaise with the Town Council General Purposes Committee.
David T reported that they have 78 producers for the Hertford Farmers Market, which will be on a Saturday 10am till 2pm. The DIY Solar Club has registered 127 people of which 4 have fitted systems.
6. DNM. The 4th October 2000 at 8.00pm in Sayesbury Manor.
* Items held in SVP
file in Reference section of Sbw Library.