Notes on Public Meeting organised by Land Securities regarding development in the village on Wednesday, 22^nd November, 2006

Present     Representatives from Land Securities (Landowners), Bidwells (Legal

                              Agents, (Strutt & Parker (Land Agents), John Thompson

                               Partnership (Community Planners)

                 Approximately 35 Residents

The meeting was led by the John Thompson Partnership, whose representative said that the meeting was entirely exploratory, and no definite plans had been considered by Land Securities. Any development on greenfield sites within the parish would require the support of the village by means of an ‘enabling condition’ to bring pressure on the Planning Authority.

Those present were asked to list ‘problems’ they considered the village was facing.    These consisted of loss of identity, speed limits, traffic increase, no shops, no village centre, wide spread of houses, little support for Church and Village Hall, lack of public space, no benefit from the Priors Green development but more traffic, no schools, no doctor’s surgery, flooding, Stansted Airport, condition of Village Hall, poor access to Village Hall, too much development (causing threat to future water supplies), narrow roads.     Although not in current use, allotment land might be needed in future if population increased, though a water supply would be needed.

The audience was then asked what their ‘dreams’ for the village were.   Results included a wish to leave the village as it is, update the Village Hall and improve its amenities, no further housing development, Land Securities to give land to the village for community use, and a shop.

The ‘solutions’ to the problems were felt to be low cost housing for local residents, land for public open space, a 20 m.p.h. speed limit in High Cross Lane, setting up a fund for repairs to the Village Hall, a new village hall, and making the crossing of the B1256 safer.

The meeting then split into groups looking at various aspects of village life, after which the groups reported to the meeting, generally considering the future of the Village Hall.     Funds to repair the leaking roof were available, but land should be acquired by the Parish Council to create a car park and children’s play area on the same site.   Land Securities were not planning to take back the land at present rented by the P.C.   Access could be improved by the introduction of sight lines.  There could be a new hall with car park, new access, and limited housing development on or around the same site, with hopefully more support from the arrival of new residents.    There could possibly be a new hall on land now occupied by a poultry farm on the south side of the B1256, or near the Church if difficulties with road access could be overcome.  A study of this would be required.  There were grants available for new halls from various sources.

A further meeting was planned for the New Year.