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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 26, 2013 16:33:38 GMT
At today's South Benfleet U3A meeting a member told us that she had had a phone call from the "Ministry of Defence" during the week. The caller told her that if she phoned a telephone number and quoted a reference that the Ministry would pay £60,500 into her bank account. She was told that the ministry already had her bank details. The lady phoned Trading Standards instead. This was obviously some kind of scam although they couldn't work out exactly what as the lady had not made a note of the telephone number she was to call. She was more concerned that somebody had her bank account details and could only remember that it was an 0203 number. However, the local community police officer was informed and U3A members have been asked to make sure that everyone knows about this scam in case they get a bogus phone call too. South Benfleet Community Police have asked us to reiterate that no one should give out their bank account details to unknown callers over the phone. At the same U3A meeting, Rev. John Robinson who was our guest speaker and musician for the afternoon told us that 9 weeks ago his son's house had burnt down. Last weekend his son travelled from Cornwall to Essex to visit his parents. Whilst he was travelling someone phoned the Rev Robinson's wife and said that her son had had an accident and urgently required money to get home. She was asked to take the money to the local filling station where a courier was waiting. She phoned her son's mobile and found that there had been no accident and that he was still en route What a terrible scam so soon after the tragedy of having his house burnt down!!!!....and so few people would have known that he was on his way to visit his parents in Thorpe le Soken. Do you know of any more scams which local people should be made aware of? If so please let us know so that we can all be aware.
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 26, 2013 11:23:29 GMT
Dear Editor With reference to the article in the Echo on Friday 22nd November regarding the serious accident at Sadlers Farm. The Residents Association has written to Essex County Council Highways twice in the last year to raise concerns about safety at Sadlers Farm and also the drainage issues which we believe has exacerbated the flooding in Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet. With regard to safety, we wrote following an accident in London Road. We raised issues regarding the situation of traffic lights; the fact that people unfamiliar with the area think that when exiting the roundabout at the Bowers Gifford/London Road junction they often believe that they are on a dual carriageway and do not anticipate on-coming traffic; the bus lane which is not used as a bus lane. Highways response was that a safety audit had recently been carried out and that no concerns were raised as a result of that survey. We remain concerned. Highways also informed us that Anglian Water Authority had been consulted prior to the Sadlers Farm development and A130 improvements regarding drainage ..........enough said. We remains concerned. There are several photos on our website and others, too large for the website forum, have been given to Basildon Council. It would be good if these large Authorities spoke to local people about local concerns when they carry out safety audits and consultations. Rose Griffin Chairman Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association www.bowersgifford.info
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 22, 2013 11:38:29 GMT
yes, they did!!!! on 13th November
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 21, 2013 13:42:14 GMT
Please see extract from October parish council minutes: PCSO Spurr informed that in the previous month (September) there had been a number of burglaries, in Pound Lane, Cornwall Road, Katherine Road and Clarence Road, where small items and jewellery had been stolen . There had been one (1) incident of criminal damage to a meter cupboard and also, the theft of a purse from a local shop . The increase in criminal activity was very unusual and residents were asked to report anything suspicious and not to leave keys on the inside of doors and lock all windows and doors. Police patrols would be increased in identified ‘Red Zone’ areas in the lead up to Christmas and ‘Operation Insight’ would be predicting and targeting hot-spot areas of criminal activity .
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 20, 2013 12:05:31 GMT
We have raised the question with Tony Ball when he has come to our meetings and I agree that it is about time that we had an update on the situation . We need to know how far the council has got with its Local Plan. I have to speak to them about the Appeal so will raise the question and print a response. Thanks for putting together a letter for the Appeal. Comments for the 24th February Appeal have to be sent, in triplicate, to the Planning Inspectorate, by 13th December. They are to be addressed to: Alan Ridley, Planning Inspector, 4/02 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN Please quote reference APP/V1505/A/13/2204850 and Little Chalvedon Hall Farm, on all correspondence. I also suggest that you send your letter by recorded delivery. Alternatively you can enclose with our letter which will go out the first week in December. The Planning Inspectorate will send one copy of your letter to Basildon Council and the other to Meridian Strategic Development. In any case, if you don't mind we would be grateful to receive a copy of your letter secretary@bowersgifford.info Best wishes Rose
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 9, 2013 15:42:54 GMT
Many thanks to Derek, Jon, Den and Linda for their support at the Benbow Table Top Sale today They all put in the hard work whilst I wandered around aimlessly 5 new members signed up for the forum and another 10 were shown how to use it so that they can keep in touch with what is going on. We also gave out a number of leaflets. The purpose of our table was to show people how to access our website and make use of the forum but we also made a £10.60 profit after paying for our tables. ;D We have also been left with some items for our own table top sale in March.
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 9, 2013 15:35:42 GMT
Somebody kindly left 3 Royal Doulton figurines from the "Occasions" series in my Wendy House for today's table top sale at the Benbow. thank you to whoever it was who left these lovely gifts. Derek looked them up on Amazon and found that they were priced up at £29.99 each The figurines are still in the original boxes and don't look as if they have ever been unwrapped. We took them to the table tops sale at the Benbow today and were offered £10 each for them. We felt that we ought to get at least £15 - any offers? Would anyone like to put them on e-bay for us? ?? Please contact chair@bowersgifford.info if you would like to make an offer or if you are willing to put them on e-bay for us.
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 8, 2013 8:13:15 GMT
and here's my response : Dear Editor Reference your article regarding concerns about plans to build a "Mini Village Behind the Blinking Owl". I wish to make it cleat that plans to build 1300 homes on 127 acres of greenbelt land in Bowers Gifford have not been approved. The monstrous plan to build on our greenbelt was refused by Basildon Council on 17th September when over local 100 people attended the Towngate Theatre in Basildon to hear the decision. The event was well covered by your reporter Helen Barnett. The developer has appealed to the Secretary of State against Basildon Council's refusal and the Appeal will be heard on 24th February 2014 and is expected to last 4 days. Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association will fight Meridian Strategic Development's plans, which are bank rolled by Nottingham Council, all the way. At times we feel as if we are the Robin Hoods fighting the big bad Sherriff of Nottingham........but we won't give up! And anyway, what right has a council over 100 miles away got to try to override a decision made by our elected council? To find out more about our story please visit www.bowersgifford.info and take a look at our forum (click the Forum tab on our website; then click the appropriate heading and finally the article you would like to read). Rose Griffin Chair Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association www.bowersgifford.info Twitter - @northbenfleet
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Post by rosegriffin on Nov 4, 2013 19:53:25 GMT
Did you know that there is free WiFi at the Benbow? I have just registered ready for the Table Top Sale on Saturday when we can show people how to use the Forum.
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Post by rosegriffin on Oct 31, 2013 17:50:15 GMT
Basildon Council Offices in St. Martin's Square.
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Post by rosegriffin on Oct 30, 2013 15:30:49 GMT
Dear All
The date given for Meridian/Nottingham's Appeal against Basildon's decision to refuse planning permission to build on Little Chalvedon Hall Farm is25th February 2014.
The Appeal is estimated to last for 2 weeks.
Both sides (Basildon v Nottingham/Meridian) will be represented by a barrister.
The Residents Association will write a letter setting out our objections to the Appeal.
Residents will also be able to speak at the Appeal, as we did at the Development Control and Traffic Management Meeting. There will be no time limit. However, they could be subject to questioning by the opposition's barrister.
If you would like to speak at the Appeal then please contact chair@bowersgifford.info
Best wishes, Rose
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Post by rosegriffin on Oct 26, 2013 17:07:02 GMT
At the AGM in October Susanna Caira-Neeson from Choices Family Support came along to talk to us about her organization's proposal to set up a community farm in the area.
The farm would provide animals and gardening opportunities which would serve as educational and therapeutic activities.
It would provide employment for up to 30 people including a small number of people who have committed minor offences (to help them find future employment)
Choices Family Support has advised us that they have communicated with Nottingham Council with a view to either leasing or buying Little Chalvedon Hall Farm.
We would like your views on the proposed Community Farm.
Please email secretary@bowersgifford.info with your comments or come and see us at the Benbow Table Top Sale on Saturday 9th November 10.00 am to 2.00 pm and let us know what you think about this proposal
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Post by rosegriffin on Oct 26, 2013 17:00:12 GMT
Thanks to all the people who have posted completed petition sheets through my door. The petition was finished and handed to Basildon Council in September. We had a meeting with Basildon Council last week and I asked whether I should pass these recently received copies to them. Basildon Officers informed us that as their report has been finished for the September Development Control and Planning meeting that there was no purpose in submitting them. However, they also advised that if there are a vast number outstanding it might be worth sending them to the Planning Inspectorate. At the moment the numbers are insufficient for further submission but if anyone still has copies then please let me have them still just in case there is a future use.
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Post by rosegriffin on Oct 26, 2013 16:52:55 GMT
Hi Mike Not sure where you have been but the petition was completed and handed to Basildon Council in September prior to the Development Control and Traffic Management's decision to refuse the planning application. The paper petition had 5196 signatures and there was quite a lot of publicity. The petition and its wording was included in the Basildon Council report and no one else has challenged it. The electronic petition with 600+ signatures was also submitted.
The post re the plotlands was in October 2012 following Tony Ball's attendance at our meeting and the matter was raised again when Mr. Ball came to a meeting round about March of this year. It is a pity that you did not come to either of those meetings so that you could raise your questions at the time.
I am currently in Austria and won't be back for a week or so. I cannot access the posts made prior to June 2013. I am not sure why but I have left a message for the administrator. It may be that these were stored following the recent forum upgrade.
I suggest that whatever the problem you have with the petition is that you either message me direct using the forum. Go to the members section and click the message tab. You can also email me on chair@bowersgifford.info Alternatively, as we are not arranging any meetings until the new year that you come along to see us at the Benbow Table Top Sale & Coffee Morning on Saturday 9th November 10.00 to 2.00 pm when we will have a table with a laptop showing people how to use the forum - it is always best to speak face to face
Best wishes Rose
What element of the petition wording do you think is not true?
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Post by rosegriffin on Oct 15, 2013 11:10:00 GMT
I don't think that it was the Stevenson's Farm people because they would have been recognised. They would also have been notified in advance of the fact that the item had been taken off the agenda / or left early.
More likely developers associated with other intended projects in the area. We already know that there are 4 other sites in the Bowers Gifford/North Benfleet area in which developers have an interest.
The developers were probably there to listen to what the Development Control and Traffic Management Committee had to say in their summing up/future thinking. Also to listen to what local people had to say - pity Meridian and /or Nottingham didn't make the effort.
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