Post by rosegriffin on Jul 9, 2014 18:13:58 GMT
I sent the following letter to the Editor of the Echo but itmust have been too long as it missed out the last paragraph mentioning the hard work put in by the main members of our petition team - David Salt; Alan Aubrey and Stef Parry.
Dear Editor
A big thank you to all involved in the Little Chalvedon Hall Farm Campaign.
I came back from holiday to many congratulatory emails and cards regarding the Planning Inspector’s recommendation and Eric Pickles decision not to build on Little Chalvedon Hall Farm. All are very much appreciated but I must stress that it has all been a team effort with a lot of hard graft by those involved.
The Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association was set up by members of the local Benbow Club when the parish council decided against setting up its own petition or aggressive campaign to fight Nottingham Council’s proposals to build on our greenbelt. Gary Lee, our founder member, has been a great support and liaison with the Benbow since our inception.
We decided that communication would be our main strategy in winning this campaign and Tina Whitham and Tony Fay set up our website www.bowersgifford.org.uk and continue to maintain it. The website was funded by Robin Walter, a local businessman.
Tina, who has a scientific background, analysed the developer’s Flood Risk Assessment. The report had been approved by Anglian Water. We were horrified when Tina reported that the data used was based on rainfall between 1941 and 1970 and that the software used gave a 24% lower run rate than other similar packages. Apparently the methodology used is common practice and perhaps this is why there has been such a significant amount of flooding in recent years.
Tracy Calver and George Smith reviewed the developers Transport Report which had been approved by Essex County Council. It didn’t take long to find pages of errors. We wondered whether the “expert” consultant had actually visited the right village when he stated that Pound Lane had pavements 1.5 metres wide throughout. We only have pavements along about half of Pound Lane and most of those are only 0.8 metres wide! Tracy and George also found that distances to Pitsea railway station were understated.
Carole Turkson, our Pitsea representative and largest donor, took note of the number of passengers squashed into train carriages and provided statistical data for the Inspector to digest. Laura Watts carried out a similar exercise on different trains but the results were similar. Our current rail system does not have the capacity for more commuters.
Laura also reviewed the developer’s wildlife report. With the help of information supplied by Essex Field Club, she was able to identify far more wildlife than that mentioned in the developers report.
Derek Twidell drove the Inspector around Pitsea, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford to show her the impact that more traffic would have on the local roads. The Inspector was shown where Nottingham Council proposed to take two slithers of Howard’s Park to facilitate additional traffic. She was also driven along Burnt Mills Road, the suggested route for development traffic, to show just how narrow and dangerous this road already is.
There are too numerous members who spent time knocking on doors, asking for signatures on the petition and helping with letter writing but I have to mention David Salt, Derek Twidell, Alan Aubrey and Steph Parry.
A huge thank you to all our supporters.
The Residents Association continues to send out a monthly email newsletter to supporters in Pitsea, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford. If you would like to receive a copy please email ChairResidentsAssociation@outlook.com
Rose Griffin-Twidell
Dear Editor
A big thank you to all involved in the Little Chalvedon Hall Farm Campaign.
I came back from holiday to many congratulatory emails and cards regarding the Planning Inspector’s recommendation and Eric Pickles decision not to build on Little Chalvedon Hall Farm. All are very much appreciated but I must stress that it has all been a team effort with a lot of hard graft by those involved.
The Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association was set up by members of the local Benbow Club when the parish council decided against setting up its own petition or aggressive campaign to fight Nottingham Council’s proposals to build on our greenbelt. Gary Lee, our founder member, has been a great support and liaison with the Benbow since our inception.
We decided that communication would be our main strategy in winning this campaign and Tina Whitham and Tony Fay set up our website www.bowersgifford.org.uk and continue to maintain it. The website was funded by Robin Walter, a local businessman.
Tina, who has a scientific background, analysed the developer’s Flood Risk Assessment. The report had been approved by Anglian Water. We were horrified when Tina reported that the data used was based on rainfall between 1941 and 1970 and that the software used gave a 24% lower run rate than other similar packages. Apparently the methodology used is common practice and perhaps this is why there has been such a significant amount of flooding in recent years.
Tracy Calver and George Smith reviewed the developers Transport Report which had been approved by Essex County Council. It didn’t take long to find pages of errors. We wondered whether the “expert” consultant had actually visited the right village when he stated that Pound Lane had pavements 1.5 metres wide throughout. We only have pavements along about half of Pound Lane and most of those are only 0.8 metres wide! Tracy and George also found that distances to Pitsea railway station were understated.
Carole Turkson, our Pitsea representative and largest donor, took note of the number of passengers squashed into train carriages and provided statistical data for the Inspector to digest. Laura Watts carried out a similar exercise on different trains but the results were similar. Our current rail system does not have the capacity for more commuters.
Laura also reviewed the developer’s wildlife report. With the help of information supplied by Essex Field Club, she was able to identify far more wildlife than that mentioned in the developers report.
Derek Twidell drove the Inspector around Pitsea, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford to show her the impact that more traffic would have on the local roads. The Inspector was shown where Nottingham Council proposed to take two slithers of Howard’s Park to facilitate additional traffic. She was also driven along Burnt Mills Road, the suggested route for development traffic, to show just how narrow and dangerous this road already is.
There are too numerous members who spent time knocking on doors, asking for signatures on the petition and helping with letter writing but I have to mention David Salt, Derek Twidell, Alan Aubrey and Steph Parry.
A huge thank you to all our supporters.
The Residents Association continues to send out a monthly email newsletter to supporters in Pitsea, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford. If you would like to receive a copy please email ChairResidentsAssociation@outlook.com
Rose Griffin-Twidell