MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 16th JUNE 2005 AT

THE HAILEY DAY CENTRE, SAWBRIDGEWORTH

MATTERS ARISING:

Correspondence:

Letter received regarding measuring of background pollution and air quality on the A1184 outside the Police Station. It states that this is well within the permitted limits but monitoring will continue.

Town Council. Joyce Vincent to be our formal representative and reply to be sent requesting that this is to be a continuous position and not elected annually.

Wildwood newsletter from Parndon Wood, Harlow available with dates of forthcoming environmental activities.

Countryside Management Service. Letter sent to confirm planting of Black Poplar trees in Pishiobury Park. Also stated objection to a car park being created off Newton Drive for access to the park. Mention made that due to the fewer times the grass is cut in the park that this will cause it to go rank.

Biological Survey. Thanks extended to Elizabeth Waugh for a very successful day at Reedings School. There were 8 helpers plus the new Biological Diversity Officer for the area. Reedings School had sent a letter of thanks to Elizabeth. Walks leaflets were also distributed. Representative from East Herts Council pleased with the activity.

Open Spaces Audit To place on the agenda for the next meeting as information not yet to hand.

Town Healthcheck. Draft document has been received and our comments to be fed back are:

Stort Valley Project to be included in East Herts Environmental Directory.

There are a lack of directional signs to the town from the Station.

Consideration to be given to re-naming The Square and calling in Market Square.

Car parking charges are adversely affecting the retail trade.

Fishing on the River Stort - to add that tickets from the Fishing Club are available every Sunday at the lake.

Stort Valley Project has promoted walks round the town.

Open Space Audit available.

Sloping of footpaths leading from driveways. This presents a hazard for people who have mobility problems. Pavements should be flat with wedges in the gutters for vehicular access. Public transport around the town needs to be looked at.

Speaker for meeting on 18th August. Alison Washbrook from County will be coming to talk about watervoles.

AGENDA

Sawbridgeworth Brook. Very informative presentation by Bob Reed. The brook runs through a very green corridor after it rises at Tharbies Farm and flows into the River Stort with varied wildlife along the way. Unfortunately in various places the brook has become silted up and had rubbish thrown into it. One particular problem area is near the A1184 where silt comes off the road and the river bed has become blackened and perhaps a silt trap is needed here. Also drainage from new housing is being channelled into the river which is again causing pollution. On some occasions British Waterways have taken rubbish out of the brook but unsure if this will continue on a regular basis. Jenny Greaves from East Herts Council will follow up the problem near the A1184 to see who is responsible and to also contact the Environment Agency to see how they are able to help. It is believed the drains and culverts are possibly the responsibility of the County Council. When all this information is to hand it can then be decided if the group can volunteer any help. Bob was thanked for his presentation.

Esbies. Report has now been compiled and an area next to Sappers Close can be developed. The developer would need to purchase all the individual plots on Esbies and currently there are one or two owners of the site. There will have to be a buffer zone of 8 metres from the river bank. Planning application will have to meet all the rules and if conditions are not adhered to there could eventually be compulsory purchase of the site by the Council. Timescales are needed to be known and a request for a time limit to be sent to the Council.

Stansted Airport. A recent seminar had been held about air quality and pollution. Control of aircraft comes under international law. Pollution has currently been reduced and will be further in future. There will be continued monitoring as fuel omissions are still of concern. Vehicles used around the airport are now gas driven rather than petrol.

Notice boards. Not yet weatherproof and also need to obtain permission for siting some.

Archives. Elizabeth has been given books suitable for people to make environmental notes in with recordings of weather, birds, plants etc. which will build a picture of our current environment for future reference. Everyone was encouraged to have one and Elizabeth will bring them to the next meeting and any which are surplus to store in the cupboard along with Rivers Archives in Church House.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

8pm in the Hailey Day Centre on Thursday 21st July 2005..

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Elizabeth Waugh has received plans for a new walkway along Vantorts Road where it meets Sheering Mill Lane which will cut down the width of the roadway. There are no plans to deal with traffic flow. Her concern is that this will affect her house as the plans indicate the planting border will be taken from the front of her house which is a small buffer area between the house and the road, that any work will take place will affect the house, which is a listed building and does not have any foundations, so is therefore very vulnerable. Warren is to contact Ted and find out what was originally suggested to make this area safe for pedestrians and then pass this information to Joyce Vincent our Council representative. Elizabeth has sent a letter with all her concerns and indicating that the structure of her house could be disturbed.

Harlow Expansion. Walk planned from Eastwick on 3rd July. Information in local papers.

Walks leaflets. Tuck Shop needs a supply and also Budgens. Warren to deal with this.

Aircraft. Joan Willitts said paper scraps are being deposited on buildings near where she lives after aircraft have flown over and wondered if this had come from them emptying their toilets in flight. Also concern over night flights and low flying aircraft. Advised to contact the airport and report these.

Community Voice. Recent report in the paper had mentioned that John Rider had asked for children to have a kick about area on allotments near Southbrook. Some parents however had said they would not allow their children to go to a play area because of the dangers.

Dog litter bins. One is required at the entrance to the Southbrook allotments.

Eco House. Diana spoke about a recent visit to an Eco House which has an organic loo and turf roof and the occupants are trying to live totally environmentally friendly. It is at Turnham Green west of Tewin and there is an open day on 21st August from 12 noon. Diana will bring maps to the next meeting.