NEWSLETTER OCTOBER '06 ----------Editors: Richard Hare, Martin Wenyon ------------------------------------------------------ Important proposed changes to your organisation at the forthcoming AGM on Friday 10th November at the Royal British Legion in the Thoroughfare Woodbridge at 7.30 PM SEE BELOW Please attend and help to steer WAMRAG on a good future course The management plan The publication of our management plan concludes the largest single project that WAMRAG was charged with at its inception - that being to research thoroughly what the people of Woodbridge and Melton wanted for their waterfront and test it rigorously through exhibition and consultation. Issues covered include the Whisstocks site, Quayside and Bass Dock, to name but a few. Copies of this report have been distributed to local planning authorities and the many other organisations who attempt to influence the planning process, to provide them with a definitive statement of what the public would like to see along our waterfront. As such, it is expected that it will provide them with the information with which to make informed decisions on our behalf and thereby achieve the necessary balance between protecting the good parts we all wish to see retained and at the same time allowing for the future enhancement of the riverside A copy will be in the Woodbridge library for general consultation and the document can also be viewed on our website: www.wamrag.co.uk (Please allow a week or two) Your vision for Whisstocks We are in the process of 'going public' with your 'Vision for Whisstocks' as described in the December '05 newsletter. Hopefully there will be something about it in the local press before the AGM on Friday 10th November in the Royal British Legion at 7.30PM. In that newsletter we also asked you to respond to the concept scheme and say what you though of it on a feedback form. The 37 replies received gave the concept a clear endorsement coupled with some caution as to its feasibility if it was put into practice.  This highlights the very important point that it was never the intention when producing the concept plan that WAMRAG as an organisation could actually put it into practice, we are clearly not able to do that.  Rather it was a more concrete statement as to what you and the public would like to see there and as such it has been a very useful exercise. Last year when the concept was shown to the members at the AGM, the Steering Group subsequently decided not to present it to the public as we thought that an application for the site was imminent and we did not want to be accused of trying to prejudice the planners.  However, nearly a year has passed and in the absence of an application this now looks to have been a mistake as it has denied those members of the public who attended the public exhibition in the Crown Hotel, the results of which ultimately led to the production of the concept plan, the chance to comment on it in the same way our members have.  This is therefore the reason to make it more widely available now.  We trust you approve of this. WAMRAG restructuring at the AGM At the AGM on Friday 10th November at the Royal British Legion at 7.30 PM a proposal will be tabled to change the constitution in the hope of making us more efficient.   It will consist of doing away with the executive as a separate group since it is proving understandably difficult to find enough people willing to devote their time to this function, and those that do find that a disproportionate amount of the work seems to land on their shoulders alone.   The Steering Group has proved to be very successful and it is therefore proposed that it will take over the executive function with its Chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer and (paid?) secretary overseeing the day to day functions of the organisation.   It is the heart of Wamrag and its strength lies in its newly widened representation such that all the interested groups and individuals with a stake in the future of the riverside on both banks of the river between Wilford Bridge and Kyson Point have the right to appoint one member.  They will all receive the agenda of each quarterly meeting and decide whether to attend or not, ensuring the good and varied attendance that is vital to its health.  It is hoped that another major benefit of this change will be that it will concentrate the minds of those members of the Steering Group who propose that we undertake this or that action as it will then be down to them to form an Action Group and create local partnerships  to implement it together and thereby involve the local community. Our constitution also allows up to 8 ordinary members to be voted onto the Steering Group at the AGM.  You may feel that this is now too few and wish to expand this or not by voting for a proposal to this effect. The Steering Group has decided that they would like to meet directly after the AGM so as to avoid the need to convene another meeting.  This will take place as soon as the AGM is closed and after a brief refreshment and comfort stop in the hope that the pressing issues of the day discussed at the AGM are still fresh in the mind! Subscriptions Our subscription year runs from the beginning of June to the end of May.  Please remember that if you wish to attend the AGM or be part of the Steering Group you must be fully paid up. Your Treasurer will be on the door at the AGM or if you wish you can send a cheque, made out to WAMRAG, to: The Hon Treasurer,  Prof. Ted Evans, Flat 1, The Granary, Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BY,