OUR RESPONSE TO THE HS2 ANNOUNCEMENT IN JANUARY 2012
We share the general disappointment that a route through the Chilterns has now been confirmed. However the Government's announcement of an extended green tunnel past Wendover is an important step forward for the village. It should provide a significant improvement compared to the original proposal. However we do need time to consider the detail of this proposal. There will be many issues to be discussed with HS2 Limited as the situation develops and we will continue to press for the best possible outcomes for Wendover.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR 2011
I am pleased to present this report on the main events in a busy and productive year for The Society.
HS2 - the proposed high speed rail route through the Chilterns
HS2 remains the biggest threat to the character of Wendover. We submitted a robust and detailed response to the public consultation, drawing attention to the damaging effects on Wendover if the proposed route is approved. This covered many issues from the effects of noise on our community life style and health to the likely losses in property values. We also described the serious effects on local businesses that would result from the major reduction in tourism.
Our submission highlights the impracticality and cost of the proposed closure of Ellesborough Road and creation of a new diversion road that would take traffic out towards the bypass roundabout and then back into Wendover along South Street. We described the disruption that this proposal would cause to the village and to neighbouring areas. We also referred to a variety of other negative effects on communal life such as the visual impact of the line on our landscape and the need to relocate the Wendover Cricket Club's main ground.
We emphasised that if the route goes ahead the best protection for Wendover would be to implement the bored tunnel included in the HS2 Ltd line mitigation report of November 2010 but rejected by the Government. Our submission includes a detailed account of major cost savings that would result from constructing the tunnel, dramatically reducing its incremental cost. We are grateful to several qualified professionals who, without charge, provided expert evidence in support of our case. Much of our work has necessarily been conducted away from the public gaze. We are confident that the HS2Ltd team understands our position and that it will have been properly considered in the analysis of the consultation responses. We expect that further discussions will take place if the route is confirmed by the Secretary of State in January and if so we will continue to press our case strongly.
Planning matters
We have continued to monitor regularly all planning submissions that affect Wendover. We have responded to several during the year. The most significant of these was the proposal to develop a new car park, an amenity room and offices on Witchell. We opposed this plan strongly as being inappropriate development in that location and on the moral grounds that it was an infringement of the intentions of the donor of the land and the restrictive covenants. This proposal has now been withdrawn.
In December the Parish Council launched a consultation on 'Planning for Wendover's Future'. This was linked to the need to develop a new Vale of Aylesbury Plan, following the current Government's move from top-down planning principles to a bottom-up approach with the introduction of the Localism Act. The Society organised an open public meeting at very short notice to discuss the consultation. The previous plan had stated that Wendover could only sustain around 50 more houses. In our own submission we supported a similar position because almost all the undeveloped land in the village is either in the green belt or is part of the AONB.
Social events
The AGM and Dinner in February was well attended. Guest speaker John Byrne, Head of Planning at Aylesbury Vale District Council, spoke about District planning policy and issues relevant to Wendover.
In June our Jazz Picnic took place at The Grange by kind invitation of Sally Turner. Her generous hospitality was much appreciated by around a hundred guests on a glorious sunny day.
The Harvest Supper in October was full to capacity. John Morris, Director of The Chiltern Woodland Trust, gave a fascinating presentation on the treasures of our woods and the way they are managed.
Membership and subscriptions
Membership is around 400. We aim to ensure that our membership is representative of the village and that we are able to represent your views. We have been looking for ways to be more interactive with all our members. We now publish newsletters from time to time, aim to keep the website up to date and sometimes poll our members for opinions on issues. Often we only have a short time to do this and have to rely on the use of email. Please do make sure that we have your email address so that you can make your own voice heard. Email also saves us a great deal of money compared to the soaring cost of postage. We have introduced a new simplified membership and subscription structure, details of which have been sent to all members. This means that for one payment members can enrol anyone in their household of voting age for no extra charge.
Environmental matters
We continue to improve the eco-structure of the Purssell Path. This year we completed the felling of the ash trees behind the houses in Water Meadow Way, other trees deemed unsafe or overhanging the path were also removed. Combined with this, we began some active management along the Path including clearance of ivy and old wood to allow in more light and enable planting of new shrubs. This work is being undertaken in sections and will continue in future years. This should increase the range of habitats and encourage new growth. We are organising work parties on Sundays in January 2012. We have now erected a sign at the beginning of the Path explaining our ownership.
During the Spring we purchased and installed a planter on the Manor Waste to replace a tree that had to be removed previously. We would like to thank all those who helped in this process including the team at 2 Pound Street who have taken on the regular watering of the small tree and plants. We are also grateful to the Parish Council for funding the fixing of the planter and the new paving.
Other activities Included:
- We were delighted that one of our teams reached the final of the Wendover Quiz
- We have committed to support and participate in 'Wendover Celebrates' on 4th June to mark the Jubilee and the London Games and urge others to do so.
- We are in contact with aviation authorities about an apparent increase in aircraft noise over Wendover.
- Our website has been regularly updated and we thank Bob Woodman for this.
Lionel Abel Smith
We were deeply saddened by the death of this most generous and inspiring friend of the village and Honorary Life Member of The Society. He is missed by all and we may never see his like again.
Your Committee
Alan Myers resigned as Vice-Chairman in February and we thank him for his service to the Society. Mike Beard was appointed to that role. Carol Clark resigned as Chairman in May due to the amount of time she has to spend overseas on business. Our profuse thanks are due to Carol for her splendid work for Wendover and The Society during her period in office. Mike Beard was appointed chairman in May. Subsequently we co-opted Rachel Kingston and Laura Ferguson to fill vacancies on the Committee. They are both already making a strong contribution. David Whitaker will be resigning as Secretary after our AGM. He has held what is probably the toughest job on the Committee for five years and has carried it out with remarkable skill. His advice, based on great experience and knowledge, will be missed. We are fortunate that Committee Member Graham Watts is willing to fill this position and are confident that this will be an equally successful appointment. I know that members will want me to record our thanks for a year of effective teamwork to those already mentioned as well as Treasurer Bob Lewis, Vice-Chairman Simon Griffiths and Committee Member Jonathan Seabrook. Your Committee wishes in return to thank our members for the great support you have given to The Society's activities in 2011. Please could everyone try to recruit one new member in 2012.
Mike Beard, Chairman December 2011
PLANNING ISSUES
Priorities
The Society's overriding priority continues to be the potential impact HS2 would have on Wendover. But we are also greatly concerned at the recent closure of several premises, especially those in the High Street, and would encourage members and their families to do what they can to support our local traders.
However, there are a number of other developments, some potentially worrying, and we continue to monitor all planning applications, supporting members' concerns and working in concert with the Parish Council where appropriate to challenge applications that are undesirable and supporting those we believe have merit.
Current issues include those listed below:
Aylesbury Vale District Council's Assessment of Housing and Economic Growth up to 2031
Following the Government's decision to scrap the existing South East Plan, and to give District and Parish Councils together with local community groups a greater say in deciding what new development takes place in their areas, AVDC commissioned a report from planning consultants G L Hearn to help inform the setting of future employment and housing figures for a new Vale of Aylesbury Plan.
.Wendover Society Vice-Chairman Simon Griffiths and Committee Member Graham Watts were invited to take part in a series of meetings held in September with parish & town councils, community groups and other stakeholders to discuss this report and how the ideas could be developed.
In November, AVDC will consider the outcome of these forums and we expect that a public consultation on these issues will commence in December 2011.
Wendover Conservation Area
AVDC have published proposed modifications to the Wendover Conservation Area. The Area would be extended to the south by including the Parish Church and Wendover House School plus the open spaces of The Witchell Ground, Rope Walk Meadow, Hampden Meadow and Hampden Pond, an area which contains the likely location of the original village of Wendover. It also proposes that several small plots no longer considered to be of special historic character or architectural interest be removed from the Area. Copies of the proposals can be seen in the Library and the Clock Tower. We are supportive of these proposals and have written to AVDC to share our views with them.
Wendover Bookshop
A change-of-use application was made for the bookshop to become a dental surgery. We are pleased that AVDC refused the application on the grounds that the diversity of retail premises would be reduced.
Barclays Bank Building
A national chain has applied for planning permission to open a coffee shop in the former Barclays Bank building. We canvassed the opinions of those of our members who have given us their e-mail addresses. 85% of the replies opposed the idea of another coffee shop in Wendover. We have, with others, written to AVDC opposing this application and await the result.
Aylesbury Road Trees
The lime trees on the east side of Aylesbury Road are about 170 years old and at least one has grown so large that it is causing damage to the adjacent property. An application by Bucks County Council to fell the tree in question (which has a preservation order on it) has been refused by AVDC. Our view, which we have communicated to AVDC, is that it is important to replace this tree with a Lime tree of a smaller growth pattern and to develop a plan to manage the remaining trees.
Brook House
An application on behalf of the owner to demolish the little that remains of Brook House and build 5 new dwellings on the site was rejected by AVDC in October 2010. No subsequent application has yet been made, but we and others continue to monitor the situation.
Princess Mary Hospital Site
Bellway has submitted plans for the landscaping of part of the site. This is to satisfy AVDC's requirement that detailed plans should be submitted so that they can check that the plantings do not cause problems - for example to lines of site at road junctions. The plans are still being considered by AVDC.
Swan Edge
The temporary permission for the caravan site remains in operation.
The World's End Public House
A planning application has been made by the owner of the former World's End Public House for permission to use the 10 parking spaces on the site for selling second hand cars. Although the premises are being used legitimately for the sale of garden ornaments and other items, no permission has been granted for the sale of cars. We do not think that such an extension to the use of the site will do anything but further detract from the appearance of this approach to Wendover. We have therefore written to AVDC opposing the application.
Parish Council Plans for the Witchell
The Parish Council has formally abandoned its plans to build a new office plus amenity rooms on the Witchell Meadow. Instead, it is exploring other alternatives for offices, which we readily accept are not satisfactorily provided within the clock tower.
In addition, the Parish Council have set up a working party to explore the provision of more parking spaces in Wendover. Graham Watts (Committee Member) has been co-opted onto this working party.
THE PURSSELL PATH
The Purssell Path used to be part of the old railway that ran to Halton and it was given to the Society in 1994 by Mrs Enid Farrow. Bucks CC drew up a Management Plan in 1995 for the long-term maintenance of the path, essentially proposing to provide a clear path 2 m wide, safe from dangerous trees and branches, as well as
- Creating a woodland ride effect.
- Improving and enhancing wildlife habitats by planting & managing hedges.
Other than keeping the path clear and safe, it has had little or no real management and as a result, most of the land is dark. Trees and shrubs are old and blocking out most of the light, which limits the range of species that can survive and the dominant ones such as ivy have taken over.
Along with the felling of the ash trees behind the houses in Water Meadow Way in 2010/2011, other trees deemed unsafe or overhanging the path were also removed. Combined with this, some active management along the Path has been undertaken each year in sections and will continue in future years. This should increase the range of habitats and encourage new growth.
If you are interested in helping, contact Jonathan Seabrook on 01296-623286 or email jseabrook@talktalk.net
