MINUTES OF THE 16TH OCTOBER 2003
HELD AT THE HAILEY DAY CENTRE SAWBRIDGEWORTH

PRESENT: Ted Barrows (Chairman)
John Collier Mary Whitehead
Michael Vincent (Treasurer)
Warren Richards (Secretary)
Glynis Argent Ellen Knighton
Monya Billings Jacqueline Dore
Brian Rochester John Rider
Tony Vidler Joan Willitt
Mary Huxtable Steve Karn
Michael Brown Bert Puncher
Emma Jordan Hazel Mead

APOLOGIES: Diana Richards Elizabeth Waugh
Chris Rees Stan Barker
Joyce Vincent (Sbw T/C) Lanier Pole
David Thorogood David Mead

MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of September 4th September were accepted as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING.
Footpath W/P. The Sec reported walking the Yellow Walk as far as Gibbered Garden and noting some Indian Balsam growing the other side of the railway tunnel. Steve K told of his progress on the leaflets and it was agreed that the Sec, Steve and Tom P should meet to agree a draft for the Red walk by next meeting We have received GIS maps from Mark Kingsland EHDC, of our walks; Sec to establish copyright.
Correspondence. Chris R phone to say the Harlow environmental group with Roydon Countrycare were surprised at the number of Black Poplar we required. Chris made a good case on our behalf and we wait to see what they can supply. Mary W said we should contact Alistair Bates on the subject of Black Poplar and John R tabled an article on wind breaks in nurseries-passed to Diana R.
We received a copy of the minutes of Local Area Partnership Meeting (LAP), which gave the results of the voting, that took place. Most votes went to having a bypass, second was improvements to the Memorial Hall and thirdly the sports complex. The Sec asked Joan Willitt to progress the alternative footpath in Honey Mead. Hazel Mead provided a flier of ABC of local landmarks, members were asked for sites for consideration.
The Sec tabled a questionnaire from HCC on walking habits, members took them all. The Chairman received a letter from Mark Fell HCC Highways saying they were considering a proposal by Cllr R Beeching for Fair Green but drainage and land ownership could make it complex. Steve K said we should be looking at encouraging people to take alternative routes such as across Vantorts Fields. Others wanted a crossing at the end of Fairway across Vantorts Road. It was suggested that these matter be brought before the community voice. Members wanted to ask Cllr Diana Richards why work at Esbies is sill carrying on when the owners have withdrawn their appeal?
Esbie Estate. The owners of plots who appealed against the enforcement order withdrew their appeal at the hearing. How much our petition played a part in the withdrawal is not known but members wished our petition to be returned so we can appeal to others if the enforcement action takes too long.
Grants. John R wished his position regarding the Local Strategic Plan (LSP) to be known. Now that the LSP and Community Plan have been launched his work has finished and he no longer sits on the committee. The committee work will be taken forward by the Community Voice run by EHDC, where all our inputs will lead to its success. Members wished to thank John for all his hard work as our town representative for this new initiative.
Now that the Memorial Hall Trust is independent of Sbw TC, John is one of the Trustees. He said the Hall was now making good money and Mary W added she needs more support to events held in the Hall.
He confirmed that he is progressing the HCC grant and the Christmas Quiz. John wished to point out the lack of support from Sbw TC for the Market Towns Health Initiative the vote being 4 to 3 in favour, out of 12 Councillors. Members wished to see the Sbw TC actively supporting the Market Towns Heath Initiative. Brian R said he attends most council meetings as footpath Officer and sees the council doing a good job.
Kick-about in Elmwood. Ted B sent a note commenting on the letter from Sbw TC rejecting the placement of a kick-about area at the edge of the allotments. Parent have said that the traffic is not safer in Vantorts Road since the humps were introduced and will not be sending their children to Town Fields across this road. A member asked if any progress had been made for a skate park.
Biological Records. Our hope for grant will go to making records of the wet land EHDC is purchasing and collating these on to a computer. Members would like to see boats working out of Sawbridgeworth.
Review Actions on Community Plan. The Sec and John R agreed to review these outside the meeting. Note the first meeting of the Community voice will be held on Nov 27th at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall.

DNM. The 20th November 03 at 8.00pm in the Hailey Day Centre-Bell St Car park, Sawbridgeworth. Note we will not have a meeting in December so our next meeting will be January 15th 04.

AOB.
Car parking. Members wanted to know the results of the study. The Sec said there were folders in the Car park detailing all the charges. Brian R gave some of the detail. History. A document of 1847 details a Mr Bates taking a Mr Rivers to court over a dispute regarding beech trees.
EHDC. Emma J said there was money available to support capital projects, which went towards the Community Plan, Environmental Action and to pass ideas through to her.
Members asked if the re-siting of the flag Pole and the seats in Sayesbury Manor should be part of this initiative.
Flood Plain. Spoil along the Pishiobury backwater is being moved to the Pit next week. Post Meeting Note: This work is well in hand.
East Wick Farm. John C said that there had been no archaeological survey carried out on these major earth works. The Sec assured members that spur taken off the roundabout was not the start of a bypass but the entrance to a leisure complex.

* Items held in SVP file in Reference section of Sbw Library. SVPmin 040903