NEWSLETTER - November '05 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big issues for upcoming AGM Our AGM is scheduled for Wednesday December 7 at the British Legion in The Thoroughfare. It's short notice, we appreciate, but please try to attend. Meanwhile, the Steering Committee meeting will be a week before on Wednesday November 30 at the Woodbridge Cruising Club. Both are at 7.30pm. After a quiet summer (issues simmering) you can be assured that there are a number of issues coming to a head. Read on… Whisstocks: We understand that during the summer the developer revised his plans for a hotel on the site. The general consensus seems to be lukewarm interest from the ranks of WAMRAG but there will be fierce opposition should even a hint of a dwelling be included. We are acutely aware of the legal precedent it will set for all of Woodbridge's boatyards should there be a 'housing' chink in the armour. Furthermore, the previous developer's appeal for a change of use to housing on the site was rejected by the appeal inspector and we intend not to loose sight of this. However, the result of our exhibition questionnaire during spring painted a very clear picture of the type of development that the wider public would like to see. This would include boatbuilding, heritage, and community facilities commensurate with an active waterfront of Woodbridge's importance. It is clear that a Burnham, Brighlingsea, or Wivenhoe-esque development of maisonettes has almost no support. It is incumbent therefore that the executive reflects the wider public's wishes and examines avenues for achieving your aspiration. It is important that a strategy be agreed at the AGM if we are to be in a position to offer an alternative to the developer's latest plan, due for unveiling in December. The executive believes that an alternative is 'do-able'. What do you think? Quayside: Positive news here. WAMRAG's work on Quayside was taken on board by a dedicated town council sub-committee, chaired by Mac Miles earlier this year. Many of you may remember that Mac was a key player in the formation of WAMRAG. This committee has participants from both SCC and SCDC and the overwhelming desire to calm the speed of traffic through Quayside may enter an experimental stage with the possible inclusion of platforms - one near the Anchor, the other near Hamblin Rd. The objective will be to reduce accidents and some of the unpleasantness of noisy speeding traffic. If successful, this may lead to further re-modelling of the area making it considerably safer and more pleasant for the vast majority of us. Do tell us your views on this at the AGM. Quayside gravel: We believe that think the overwhelming majority of us are very pleased with the local authority's treatment of the former imitation 'Cotswold stone' paved area at the bottom of Quay St. It has been replaced with bonded gravel. This surface suits the area and it links well visually with the gravel opposite (Andy Seedhouse's yard and Top Floor Studio), and also in Crown Place. The light colour shows of the Listed Buildings on the north side of Quayside (erected in the 1400s) to excellent effect. Do you like it?- tell SCDC! Would you like to see more of this type of surface? Speak up. The goods shed: Restoration of the goods shed is well underway. A new frontage will be added and it is expected that it will house a wine retailer (Adnams possibly), some offices and probably a restaurant. This combined with the access being opened up between the station car park and the one behind the community hall means that there will be improvement in a corner of our patch where formerly there was neglect. Does this use meet with your approval? Other planning applications (by Martin Wenyon): The executive responds to any planning applications that concern the riverside- mainly concentrating on design, landscaping and the effect on the AONB. However you may have other concerns so please take a look at the plans in the council offices on Melton Hill and write a personal letter. This does have an effect. Two current applications are: 1) Old coal yard, Melton railway station. Application No: C05/2077. Light industrial office building 1230 sq metres. This large two storey building has been granted a consent although the final issue to resolve is the external finishes. The applicant is proposing slate grey panel sheeting for the roof, light grey for the walls and dark grey/silver for the windows and doors. Network Rail will only allow shrubs planted next to the railway line so the possibility of an adverse impact on the AONB and views from the riverside footpath is very real. It can only be mitigated by the choice of finishes. 2) Tide Mill Yacht Harbour: Application No: C05/2053. Amenity building to include toilets, showers, launderette, chandlery, offices, meeting room and a flat. This is a variation of and old consent from 1986 No: C/1116/3. New external finishes are proposed. In my opinion it looks excellent. Go and have a look. In the original consent, permission was also given for a large workshop building. Significantly, the whole yacht harbour and new buildings is to be screened by comprehensive landscaping covering the entire northern arm. The applicant should be encouraged to implement this as soon as possible. Quayside trees: The loss of trees and greenary generally along Quayside and Tide Mill Way has been an insidious process and ought to be of concern to all of us who aspire to an improved vicinity. Were it not for private property owners on Quayside, the aspect would be bare and stark indeed. It is with concern that we have reported the imminent demise of a beautiful tree due to ivy strangulation to the town council 'tree' officer. The tree - an asset to the vicinity - has attractive yellow leaves during the summer and is located between the bed shop and the gas works site. If we can retain it it will have an important role in softening the landscape when the new housing development goes up on the gas works site. We hope there will be action here soon. By all means support us by writing to the town council, or drop a letter through the Shire Hall letter box. Litter pickers: Martin Wenyon has been busy during the summer trying to set up a network of 'litter pickers' The Riverside Litter Pickers initiative is about changing attitudes to litter. Litter only breeds more litter and instead of walking past a discarded can on the riverside footpath and thinking that the people who drop litter should be boiled in oil, or worse, let's pick it up and put it in a bin. The more we are prepared to do this the cleaner the waterfront will become and the more our attitudes will change. Just put a supermarket bag in your pocket on your next walk and do the honours. Most dog owners do it routinely, so let's extend this mentality to ordinary litter. On a more organised level we want to put a regular action team together to tackle litter hotspots. We will also take part in the River Deben Association's annual river clean up. To join the team phone Martin Wenyon on 07734051305. He would also like volunteers to contact riverside businesses to create corporate litter pickers in their area. The reed bed: Those of you who take the EADT will probably recall the story of the reed bed rake out. Neil Montgomery and Jeremy Clark took on the task but they would like others to help them keep on top of the job. Don't worry! The back is broken! Interested? Please contact Jeremy on the contact number provided below. Footpaths: John Duce is talking footpath related issues like the conifers alongside the marina and the path surface between the art club and Robertsons. Please contact him if you have anything to say on this. School evening: This was a huge success- driven by the boundless enthusiasm of the children involved. Parents and WAMRAG members watched short videos made by the children in zappy TV style- each with producer, cameraman and announcer- showing the key riverside areas and highlighting the issues involved, complete with interviews. There were also 27 individual designs for a family Leisure Centre for Woodbridge. Hats off to Caroline Moore, their teacher, for directing this project and to the headmaster for welcoming WAMRG involvement. We have been asked to help with this year's project too. Members evening: A Members' Open Evening was held at the community hall during the summer. The event attracted some new members and prompted existing members to air their views. It was a pity that very few of our elected local government representatives were able to drop in despite nearly 100 invitations. It is true, however, that a SCDC meeting took place that evening. To everyone else that turned up - thank you. The topics were often hot and the comments frequently sizzling. Please contact us! Below you will find a list of members and their allocated responsibilities beyond the working party committees. Members are welcome to join any of them, so please contact them direct. They are: The executive: ·Peter Clay, (chairman), social (pete@peterhenryclay.co.uk), 01393 384374 ·Neil Montgomery, steering group (neil.mont@tiscali.co.uk), 01394 387827 ·John Roberts, communication and publicity (topfloorstudio@hotmail.com) 01394 383627 ·Martin Wenyon, lobbying (martinwenyon@hotmail.com), 07734 051305 ·Richard Hare, communication and publicity, history (richard.hare@talk21.com), 01394 382270 ·Martin Whitaker, (secretary), fundraising (mh.whitaker@virgin.net) 01394 382551 In addition to the executive: ·Prof. Ted Evans, (treasurer) and membership (e.f.evans@cns.keele.ac.uk) 01394 388295 ·Dorothy Woods ,communication and publicity, archive (wdobbindot@aol.com), 01394 388295 ·Penny Austen-Brown (Planning applications), 01394 385973 Working party contacts: During the year the working parties were re-instated to reflect the exhibition questionnaire outcome. A new one has been formed too. Currently they are: ·Whisstocks and Bass Dock: (WP 2) - contact Peter Clay ·Quayside and Ipswich Rd: (WP 5) - contact Martin Whitaker ·Reed bed: WP3 - Contact Jeremy Clark (01394 388382) ·Design Brief (WP 6) - Contact John Roberts Other areas/secondary activities: Other issues raised at the exhibition - some of which only just fell short of making the 'top five' - need to be kept alive for reactivation later on. Opportunities to move forward on any of these must not be missed as we concentrate on the 'big five'. Member involvement. The executive wants to recruit as many willing hands from the membership as possible. There is much that needs to be done! Please contact the appropriate team leader, listed below, both if you are willing to take over the helm of a particular project, or just as a willing worker. As for the 'vacancies', please contact any member of the executive. WhisstocksPeter Clay     01394 384374 QuaysideMartin Whitaker01394 382551 Reed BedJeremy Clark01394 388382 Design BriefJohn Roberts01394 383627 Bass DockPeter Clay01394 383627 Ferry/ferry hardMartin Wenyon07734 051305 Footpath/footbridge/dog foulingJohn Duce01394386321 Town BeachPeter Clay01394 383627 LitterMartin Wenyon07734 051305 Pollution/noiseVacancy Model boat pondVacancy SignageVacancy Dredging/drainage/sewage/sea defence Simon Reid01394 384060 Riverside HistoryRichard Hare01394 382270 We want to build a members skills database. If you are happy to tell us your professional skills, and volunteer them, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Ted Evans. Stump up time again: About half of our members have yet to submit their £10 subscription. The fund that this produces provides essential cash flow for all the little expenses that collectively amount to a large cost. It is needed, for example, to cover the cost of mailing newsletters to those not on e-mail. In future the newsletter will only be circulated to paid up members, so now is the time to stump. There will be at least two newsletters a year, and we need the subs to fund the printing and circulation costs. Please contact Ted Evans. Thank you.