onlineFOCUS - news and stuff for Rochford District

Friday, May 9th, 2008

Rawreth’s Annual Parish Meeting

The annual Parish meeting for Rawreth took place on Wednesday night, there were about 25 people there.

As usual, the friendly atmosphere, cups of tea and coffee and the classy chocolate biscuits made it a good setting to discuss some serious issues.

Probably the most serious matter was the risk of flooding in times of heavy rain. People felt very frustrated that the Environment Agency weren’t willing to de-silt some of the watercourses.

The Sewage Works Stench came up again. Chris Black said he was still waiting to hear when the proposed meeting between Anglian Water and local residents would take place. In the meantime, he added, Richard Evans (head of Environmental Health at Rochford) was willing to come to June’s Parish Council if invited.

Here’s a summary of other items raised:

Two illegally parked vehicles one not taxed. We have passed this on to the District Council Parking Enforcement people, who responded:

a Civil Enforcement Officer attended the area shortly after your call and issued a Penalty Charge Notice to the untaxed vehicle this vehicle has also been reported to the vehicle removal company authorised by the DVLA to remove vehicles found on the highway, that are untaxed. There was a second vehicle parked in close proximity, however, this vehicle was not parked on the restrictions.

A request for a box junction at Bedloes Corner, and a request for bye-laws against parking on grass verges. A couple of things for us to think about and discuss with council officers. Trying to bring in a new district-wide bye-law would need a lot of public consultation.

A question about what herbicide was used to kill the vegetation around the Rayleigh Leisure Centre. The District Council are going to let us know what they used.

Barbed wire at the edge of a couple of private sports pitches. Rochford DC planning enforcement team tell us this is not a planning matter - but the landowner owes a duty of care to whoever goes there.

Scaffolding in a field by the A1245. Rochford District Council Planning Enforcement are still investigating, but they think it is to do with the electricity pylons and cables. Not an advertising hoarding or something to do with a rave!

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Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Recycling Delay…..

The Echo has a report here that there’s going to be an indefinite delay to the start of the new recycling scheme:

A NEW recycling scheme aimed at making Rochford District Council one of the greenest in Essex has been postponed indefinitely, it has been revealed.

Earlier this year, the district council trumpeted its new agreement with waste firm, Sita, which included plans to give every household three wheelie bins.

One was to be used for kitchen and garden waste and was to be emptied weekly and the other two were for recyclables and non-recyclables, collected on alternate weeks.

However, the changes have now been put on hold for the foreseeable future and there is no fixed date for when they will be brought into operation.

At the moment, the existing recycling arrangements for bottles, cans and paper will continue and residents will also be able to retain their current blue box for bottles and cans.

Although the new contractors Sita started work at the beginning of April, arrangements for the changes are far from complete, Rochford District Council said.

Council officials put the changes on hold until the results of a pilot scheme by Sita in Warwick are known…..

It’s disappointing that the new system isn’t starting immediately. But our understanding is that there’s no crisis, things will be sorted out and the new scheme will start during the summer….

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Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

The Link To The Asda Application

In case you are having trouble finding the Asda ‘earlier deliveries’ application on the council website, you can click on the link here.

The officail deadline for leaving comments is next Tuesday.

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Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

County Council Want To Decide The Golf Course Application

We understand that the County Council want to take control of the Golf Course Reshaping application away from the District Council and decide it themselves.

We think that most residents would be happier with it being decided by Rochford.

At the moment we understand that the District Council is very carefully checking the legal situation.

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Monday, May 5th, 2008

If This Were True…..

The Conservatives clearly got a little rattled in Rayleigh Central Ward in the last few days of the campaign. They put out a leaflet which said :

“You may remember that with your help Conservatives overturned council officers proposals to build 1800 houses in Rayleigh, where were the Lib Dems then ?”

The short answer is that we were leading the campaign against the 1800 figure. Just about the only Tory helping in this was Tony Humphries.

But what’s going on here? If this leaflet were true it would mean that the Conservative group, with it’s massive majority, had lost control of its own council staff. It would mean that the Council had spent a lot of money, and the public had spent a lot of time, on a consultation which the Tories hadn’t voted for.

But that isn’t true. The consultation was voted through by Conservative councillors. It was a proper consultation, agreed by the Tories, which the Lib Dems opposed.

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Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Rawreth Next Wednesday

There are two meetings on Wednesday 7th May in the Village Hall:

There is the routine monthly meeting of Rawreth Parish Council at 7:00 pm.

This is followed by the Annual Parish Meeting at 8:00pm.

If you live in the parish, please come along!!!

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Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

Rawreth Parish Council’s Comments On Planning Applications

Rawreth Parish Council have already sent in some comments on the following planning applications:

Planning Application 08/00217/FUL Makro, Rawreth Industrial Estate, Rawreth Lane

Council cannot see any reason why there is a need to increase the store opening times. Council are concerned that if the store were to open at 6am Monday to Saturday local residents would be subjected to and woken by a huge increase of noise, disturbance and traffic including Heavy Goods Vehicles and delivery vehicles which would be in the vicinity of the store and roads such as Rawreth Lane from 5.30am daily. Also the late operating hours would mean the same residents would be subjected to the same disturbance during the evening.

The Planning Inspectorate who recently dealt with the Cricket Pavilion’s appeal for an extension to opening hours said “this is a rural area and residents should expect it to remain so”, their appeal was subsequently refused. Another concern to Council is the fact that the store is supposedly wholesale only, but it is known that almost anyone, trade or not can obtain a membership card.

Planning Application 08/240/COU Hambro Nurseries Chelmsford Road, Rawreth

Council do not have any objections in principal to the re-use of the building providing the use is limited to storage only. Council are concerned that if the use changed to industrial/commercial it could be the start of another industrial site open to all types of use. As the prospective tenants are not known to the applicant or the Council it is suggested that a condition should be imposed against industrial use and limitations set for storage use only.

Application Number: 08/00280/FUL Former Park School Rawreth Lane Rayleigh Essex (Asda)

The Parish of Rawreth has many residents who will be directly affected by the variation of these conditions, these residents either live on the approach roads to this store, or in very close proximity. Lorries currently servicing the store are already arriving up to one hour earlier in the morning, this includes Asda and non Asda lorries, some with company logos and others with no sign writing visible, all of which Asda has no control over when it comes to arrival times. Residents that live on the approach roads have witnessed lorries arriving at 6.05am, they can be seen driving along Rawreth Lane and then turning into Priory Chase, if this extension is granted it is felt that these lorries will abuse the time frames even further, arriving earlier and earlier for deliveries.

The residents of this Parish are currently subjected to deliveries outside of the agreed times, and as a Parish Council we wish to ensure that this abuse does not extend any further which is likely to happen should the conditions be varied. If the variations are agreed it is felt that the inclusion of the words “on any day” should be deleted as it is vital that a restriction is made to exclude Sundays.

Planning Application 08/00268/COU Newlands Nursery, Chelmsford Road, Rawreth Wickford Essex

Council confirm they have no objections provided the necessary restrictions for use by Horticultural/Agricultural Worker only is imposed.

Planning Application 08/00282/LDC Patten Pools Rawreth Lane, Rawreth Wickford Essex

As A1 use could include the premises being used as a shop Council are concerned that this could involve more traffic movements in and out of the site which is situated immediately on an extremely busy junction with traffic lights, causing considerable difficulty for all traffic. For this same reason Council are concerned that any future use should not entail extra parking

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Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Sports Pitches Issue - June Lumley Calls It In To Review Committtee

As we have mentioned earlier, the Council’s Cabinet decided to keep the proposed sports pitches by Rayleigh under direct council control. They decided NOT to lease the land out to a local club.

Now , there are two ways that a decision like this can be challenged:

1. Any 3 members of the council can ‘call it in’ to full council. A vote is then taken by the full council. (though as the Lib Dems are outnumbered by about 33-5, there’s not much point often in us doing that)

2. The Lib Dem Chairman of the Review Committee , June Lumley can ‘call it in’ to her committee.

To cut a long story short, June has indeed ‘called in’ the decision on the sports pitches to her committee, stating the following reasons:

“Public perception is that this item has not had sufficient democratic hearing. The Review Committee will further investigate the financial implications to the Council and implications for funding opportunities which may have been missed for enhancing youth football facilities in Rayleigh.

It would he helpful if financial and other information received from the interested clubs were to be made available prior to the next meeting of the Review Committee. “

A few points to bear in mind:

The Review Committee will have a Lib Dem Chairman (which is likely to be June Lumley) and 7 other, Conservative, members

The committee is expected to be non-party-political, which is why it has a Lib Dem Chair. There should be no party ‘whip’ on any of the members.

The ‘call in’ power is used very carefully and sparingly.In fact it’s the first time this year that June has called anything in.

As chairman of the committee , June decides who she wants to hear speak. It’s quite usual for ordinary councillors who aren’t on the committee to still come along and speak, unlike at the cabinet

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Friday, May 2nd, 2008

No Gains For Us Tonight

It’s been a long night for us at the count….

District Council : Conservatives won everything that was available! That including holding on to Sweyne Park Ward:

Joan Mockford (Conservative) 516
Pat Putt (Liberal Democrat) 353
Kim Gandy (English Democrat) 236
====
Conservative Majority 163

Full results here at the Echo

Rayleigh Town Council - We held our two seats in Downhall unopposed, but didn’t make any gains. Though the results in Sweyne Park were quite close:

Roland Adams 543 (con) - elected
Margaret Spencer 527 (con) - elected
Pat Weaver 492 (con) - elected
Mike Nobes 446 (lib dem)
Lindsay Frend 442 (lib dem)
Trevor Parrett 414 (lib dem)

So, not a great night to remember. But our main gain this year has been finding some great candidates that will be sticking with us for future elections…….

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Thursday, May 1st, 2008

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

It’s a nerve-wracking day for us, and no time to write very much. So here’s the start of the “Election” episode from the “Vicar of Dibley” instead… AND IF YOU HAVE AN ELECTION IN YOUR WARD, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

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Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Good News FROM The Echo’s Parent Company

Wyvern Community Transport is receiving a £25,000 donation from Gannett, the Echo newspapers parent company. Full story here.

This is particularly good news, as sometimnes Wyvern doesn’t get the support in the council chamber that it merits…..

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Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Urgent Appeal For Help

It’s election day on Thursday… but we are starting to lose our helpers to sickness.

If anyone can help us by sitting at a polling station on Thursday afternoon for an hour or two - please let us know as soon as possible.

It’s normally quite a pleasant activity -an enjoyable , even exciting experience…. and we do need the help !

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Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Just A Reminder

There are NO elections in Downhall ward , Rawreth or Grange ward this week!

Though the election results elsewhere in Rayleigh ARE going to be important for everyone living in West Rayleigh and Rawreth.

It’s West Rayleigh and Rawreth who have borne the brunt of over-development … maybe now it’s payback time?

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Monday, April 28th, 2008

Photinias

Ron was gobsmacked to see that apparently someone has stolen four of the Photinia bushes from the newly planted hedge at Hambro Parade in Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh!

We are trying to get them replaced before the end of the planting season……

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Sunday, April 27th, 2008

Clean-Up In Canewdon

The Canewdon Parish Council website has details on a village clean-up on Sunday 4th May from 10 am to 2 pm.

Full details are here. “If you love your Village please show it by take time out to help.”

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Saturday, April 26th, 2008

Parrett v Francois

It was one of those classic campaigning moments.

Three of us had just about finished in Vernon Avenue, when we found six Conservatives just starting in the road, including:

Mark Francois (MP)
Stephen Castle (County councillor for Rayleigh North)
Hilton Brown, (veteran Tory campaigner)
Jeremy Thomass, (Hockley councillor.)

Trevor Parrett and Mark Francois chatted for a minute or so, and then we let them get on with it…

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Friday, April 25th, 2008

The Kindness of Strangers

For all those people who have been delivering election leaflets in the sun , rain and snow…. This posting by a Lib Dem Councillor in Bury might appeal.

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Friday, April 25th, 2008

Last Night’s Full Council Meeting

It was a short meeting last night - only lasted 45 minutes. There were 26 Conservatives sitting in the the main part of the council chamber , and only two of them spoke - Terry Cutmore and Jeremy Thomass.

The council agreed to push through with a “stronger leadership’ model for the council, which means that the council leader is appointed for 4 years and he picks his own cabinet. This was opposed by Chris and Ron, but we lost the vote.

Meanwhile Chris also got answers from Terry Cutmore re the West Rayleigh Sewage Works:

Transportation of Human Digested Sludge on uncovered road vehicles

1. Does the Leader of the Council share my anger on hearing complaints that human sewage cake is still sometimes being transferred to the West Rayleigh Sewage works in uncovered vehicles?

Response

“I am very concerned that this practice has been allowed to continue and consider it totally unacceptable that the lorries are not covered. I have previously asked officers to review all available options.”

2. What is the current situation regarding stopping this from happening any more?

Response

“Officers have contacted the Environment Agency, who have recently confirmed that the material concerned is classified as waste. Under these circumstances both Anglian Water and any road hauliers have a statutory Duty of Care under the Environmental Protection Act relating to the handling of this material.

This requires that all reasonable measures are adopted, to prevent any environmental pollution or harm to health. Anglian Water’s Biosolids Operational Manager (Southeast) attended a meeting with the Agency on Friday 18 April, when this and other issues were discussed. The Agency has confirmed that a specific requirement has been imposed to securely sheet any load, they have also advised that this issue will be followed up as necessary.

Anglian Water was prohibited from importing untreated sewage sludge to these works by the Council, following the service of an Abatement Notice that took effect on 29 February 2008.

Throughout this period, our officers have also been in contact with Anglian Water to ensure that they are aware of the complaints from residents. The Biosolids Operational Manager has offered to attend a meeting with local residents and officers, and this is being arranged.”

3. Could Rochford DC introduce bye-laws to prohibit this?

Response

“Generally, the Council has only a marginal role with regard to transportation of materials by road. I am advised that there are some antiquated Byelaws relating to this activity under the Public Health Act 1936. However, the procedure for introducing these is very laborious and requires the consent of the Secretary of State, furthermore the penalties are insignificant.

Officers have taken initial advice from the Department of Communities and Local Government, who advise that they would not support the introduction of local Byelaws for this issue. The reasons given were that the activity concerned is not restricted to one Local Authority area and that any Byelaw would duplicate many of the requirements of primary legislation.

The penalties under the Environmental Protection Act are up to £5000 on summary conviction or unlimited on indictment. This is, therefore, considered to be the most appropriate remedy.”

4. What are the names and office addresses of the individuals at Anglian Water who are permitting this to happen?

Response

“Biosolids Operational Manager South/East,

Anglian Water Services Ltd.,

Kirby Dedon Road,

Trowse,

Norwich. NR14 8TZ

I believe that this issue can now be drawn to a satisfactory conclusion and I am confident that appropriate action will be taken by our officers and the Environment Agency should Anglian Water not fulfil its legal obligations.”

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Friday, April 25th, 2008

Geoff Percival’s View On The Elections

The veteran Echo reporter Geoff Percival writes here on the district elections:

IN contrast to Southend, Rochford District Council elections are a very docile affair.

The Tories’ iron grip on the authority is likely to remain.

The opposition to the Tories is scattered among a variety of parties from the Green Party to the BNP.

The Lib Dems, who form the major opposition at the moment, have managed to find more candidates than in recent years, especially in Rayleigh.

Realistically, however, there is probably only one seat the Lib Dems are hoping to win, Sweyne Park.

Joan Mockford, the Conservative councillor in Sweyne Park, won the seat at a by-election after the death of her husband Gerry. Having beaten Tory Peter Savill last year, the Lib Dems are hoping their candidate Patricia Putt will be able to achieve the same success….

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