From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
Notes of one more (thankfully rare) marathon PC meeting, held on 14 July 2005.
LITTLE DID I KNOW what to expect as I trudged to the Village Hall last night,
careful to avoid the evidence now common on footpath, verge and carriageway
that the dogs "exercised" along Lower End are getting larger, more
numerous, and less controlled.
Brian Hickson ECDC Traveller Liaison Officer started the meeting, and it also ended on the subject of travellers with local visitors much engaged, at about 10.30. Our village has always taken a "liberal" attitude to our traveller neighbours, but it is becoming a stance more difficult to sustain in the light of some aggressive anti social behaviour, and the inexcusable failure in their duty of care by CCC to its ratepayers and electors. "The situation is now intolerable and farcical". ECDC are doing everything possible to manage the situation sensibly, but getting no support from the County. Where a nuisance exists the land owner must take action, and the road verges are owned by the County. They are taking no action on that, and the invisible (County) Police are reluctant to get involved. Experience shows that the best way to stop an escalation of abuses is to tackle any abuse immediately and effectively, so why have our elected representatives at CCC abrogated their responsibilities?
What are nuisances down on the fen? In a current court case it was argued that the travellers were not trespassing on the roadside. Verges should not be ploughed up to keep vehicles off, but some have been driven to it. You will remember the (expensive) battle of the recreation ground - an 'orse with an infectiously sick foal were there only recently. Few of the 50 trees planted by volunteers on fen verges have survived the attentions of grazing 'orses on long chains, that obstruct the byways and bridle ways. Foals are left loose on the droves. 'Orse riders, walkers and cyclists all complain that they are not happy to pass Ôorses and encampments where obstructions are deliberately put on the carriageway and kids leap out into the paths of approaching motor vehicles! A car was allegedly turned back by the use of a "stinger" across the road, and other threats have been made. We are denied freedom of movement, and that's not on. One comment: "If we do that, the police would not be invisible. They'd be round like a shot".
The recent tragedy in London highlighted the fact that we are now a multi racial, multi cultural and multi faith society, and this leads one to ask why any single ethnic minority should be treated any differently in law from all the other minorities who can also plead a "special case" to be made for them. Indeed, some of my invading ancestors probably took the torch and the sword to this land only a few centuries ago, before settling down to farming or accountancy like any other peasant. Aren't we an ethnic minority too?
Someone needs a kick up the 'orse. The PC will write to the leader of CCC Mrs Susan Normington. Cllr. Allen Alderson will talk to our MP Jim Paice and Cllr Hazel Williams is doing what she can at CCC. The Acting Chief Constable would like to hear about this, I'm sure. This piece will be circulated. What will you do? Are ASPO's* the answer?
There were other matters. The trees causing drain problems in Station Road opposite the school will be removed when school's out all summer. S. Bulbeck has a plastic bottle recycling centre (but we don't). There followed a lot of accounting practice matters and columns of figures, relieved only by some good news about overdue pay for the hard working clerk. We then looked at several planning applications within the Conservation Area, mostly drawn by competent technicians (if not by competent designers). Eric Day asked when were our rights to view The Forge last exercised? Make a cup of tea now, then come back and sit down again.
Yes. It's the recreation ground again. The owner has pointed out that by effectively sub-letting to The Tigers as proposed, we could have problems with the lease. If this cannot be sorted out, finance will be denied, and then the deal's off. Moves continue in attempts to circumvent the situation, while still avoiding large legal bills. Talking of which, should these moves fail, what should happen to a facility that has been unused for 12 years, over which time it has cost the PC about £15,000? Only a peppercorn rent is payable, but cutting grass and evicting trespassers, cleaning up and erecting effective barriers do not come cheap. I repeat - £15,00 for what? Rugger ball!
To finish on a lighter note, with absolutely no relevance to the foregoing - During the recent Open Gardens, visitors from Lode commented that, of course, by comparison, their village is so very flat. I felt obliged to deny that we have a Mountain Rescue team. It's a rum old world but, as mother used to say, "There's more to haute cuisine than just making porridge".
* Anti Swaffam Prior Orders.