MINUTES OF 19TH OCTOBER 2006 HELD AT

THE HAILEY DAY CENTRE, SAWBRIDGEWORTH

PRESENT:
Monya Billing (Chair).  Warren Richards (Secretary)  Hazel Mead (Minutes) Joyce Vincent.  Diana Richards.  Prim Hills.  John Hills.  Mary Whitehead.  Elizabeth Waugh.  Peter Jones.
Clive Atkins.  Jacqueline Dore.  
APOLOGIES:
John Rider.  Bert Puncher.  Mary Huxtable.  Chris Rees.  Joan Willett.  Ted Willett.
Michael Vincent.
MINUTES:

MATTERS ARISING:

Correspondence

Information available on Bishops Stortford Transport plan which Clive is to peruse.

Car Park surfaces.

 East Herts say that permeable surfaces only apply to new build.  Warren had written asking for all car park surfaces to be permeable.

Sawbridgeworth Brook.

There is now a fence around the brook where contractors are working on the flats at the junction of Brook Road and A1184.  Banks along Burnside now very tidy. 

Community Voice.

Longer time required for questions and speakers to keep to their time limit.  Outcome of last meeting is that a directory may be produced for residents with all areas of the Council and their responsibilities. 

Alternative Technology .

Base has now been prepared for the shed to be erected at Southbrook allotments and an invitation will be extended when the shed is officially opened.

Warren has erected an anemometer at his house to gauge how effective a wind pump would be.



AGENDA ITEMS

Gilston Great Park.

Nigel Clark, Stop Harlow North, presented a very interesting, positive and informative proposal for the formation of Gilston Great Park which would be an environmentally friendly alternative to the current proposal of Ropemakers.  Brochures available for members to take away, read, comment upon and publicise as widely as possible.  Suggestion that our East Herts Council contact for positive comments should be mike.carver@eastherts.gov.uk.     This proposal will be put forward to the Town Council shortly.   Nigel thanked for his good presentation which was given to us at very short notice.

Landscape Appraisal.

Diana reported that areas had been put forward to be registered as Historic Parks and Gardens and those accepted had been Rivers Orchard and Meadow, ornamental lake behind Pishiobury House.  Great Hyde Hall and Pishiobury Park are already registered.  It is very unlikely that these areas will be built upon.  Landscape character assessment is in place of conservation.

Areas put forward but not accepted were the ornamental experimental area in Rivers Orchard, the island in the High Wych Road and Feakes Lock to Sheering Mill Lock.
   
Locations of landscape character areas  available for members to take and compile information on the interesting areas which can then be fed back.


DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 23rd November 2006 at 8pm in the Hailey Day Centre

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Road signs.

Warren has reported overhanging trees on Fair Green which obscure road signs

Dropped kerbs.

Concern expressed for people who have mobility problems as these present a hazard.   Numbers are increasing of people paving their front gardens and having the kerbs dropped.

Cycle Routes.

There are plans for a cycle route from north of Bishops Stortford to Harlow which would go through the town along some very narrow roads and also along the towpath from Sheering Mill Lock.  Needs to be discussed at Town Council as concern some of the proposed route is unsuitable.

Parking obstruction.

Vehicles parked on the pavement where building is taking place at the junction of Brook Road and A1184 is obstructing vision and blocking the pavement. 

Primary Care Trust.

Areas have now been re-organised and the main hospital for this area will be Welwyn Garden City.  This would cause difficulty for those needing to travel on public transport.

Car Park.

A blocked drain along the side of the Hailey Day Centre is causing a large puddle to form.  Diana to investigate.