News • Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council

It's that time again...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:35:15 +0000

Along with The Link magazine all households should have received the papers for use at the Annual Parish Meeting which describe the work of the Council, a financial Review and future objectives.

In addition there will be a presentation relating to the Parish Plan and the recent questionnaire as well as an exhibition in the lobby on re-equipping and developing the play areas following discussions with manufacturers and after site visits.

Along with The Link magazine all households should have received the papers for use at the Annual Parish Meeting which describe the work of the Council, a financial Review and future objectives. In addition there will be a presentation relating to the Parish Plan and the recent questionnaire as well as an exhibition in the lobby on re-equipping and developing the play areas following discussions with manufacturers and after site visits.

New Parking Restrictions...

Tudor Owen — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:30:44 +0000

... are proposed at the junction of Long Croft and Rainsford road, near the entrance of Bentfield Primary School. At school run times this area gets quite congested making it less safe for those on foot and often obstructing the bus service.

The notice can be seen here, which also includes other changes at Bentfield Causeway.

You have until the 26th February to give your thoughts on these proposals to the County Council.

Comment

"Eyesores...

Tudor Owen — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:02:18 +0000

... Are knocking nearby trade - council". Said a headline in the Saffron Walden Reporter this week.

Your council is concerned that buildings that continue to be left empty in the village are falling into disrepair and are damaging to the economic vitality of the village. The Three Colts public house and ex B&R carpets shop on Cambridge road are both becoming eyesores and if left to decay further may well end up like that other well known 'dangerous structure', Mont House in High Lane.

There is not a lot the Parish or District Councils can do about empty commercial properties except appeal to the landlord, so the Parish council has written to the owner of these properties to ask about his intentions and offer its assistance.

And Now...

Tudor Owen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:45:49 +0000

...the end is near! The 'Fountain Willow' will be felled soon.

You may remember that after its last inspection the Willow tree was reported as being in a bad way - in need of some attention and surgery to a limb.

Well, it seems that removing the dangerous limb would destabilise the whole structure, making the tree surgeons already consulted reluctant to attend to the Willow. Arboriculturalist Dr David Brown has clarified his report's recommendation that the tree be removed and reluctantly the council has had to agree that this local landmark should be felled. 'If the tree were to be retained it would be for a short period, ... not be as attractive as it is now' and would 'have an increasing failure risk attached to it'.

Dr Brown's report can be found here.
And the notice of intent here

The fountain and 'island' are due to be renovated soon and a replacement sought for the Willow.

The Total Filling Station...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:11:58 +0000

... site on Cambridge road could be developed for residential flats or 'units' as they are referred to in a recent planning application.
The filling station operator was not given an option to extend the lease on the site beyond 2010, the owner preferring to develop the site. They intend to demolish the garage and erect 14 2 bed dwellings in its place.

The application can be viewed here: UTT/1441/09/FUL

It will go to the District Council development committee on the 10th February. The report is here.

Update....

Uttlesford District Council rejected the proposals unanimously.

See this story here in the Saffron Walden Reporter.

Ray Woodcock raised a petition against the proposals with 327 names which he presented to the development control committee with this statement.

This is unlikely to be the end of these proposals so keep an eye out for an appeal or a revised application.

Comment?

As Another One Bites the Dust....

Oliver Treend — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:14:26 +0000

... the amenity value of trees in the village is further diminished. Despite many of the valuable and useful trees in the village being subject to tree preservation orders (TPOs) they are steadily and relentlessly being felled.

Of course they grow and and can endanger nearby buildings or block someone's precious sunlight - they become sick and structurally unsound or perhaps they're in the wrong place when a site is to be developed. But in the end they are victims of an expanding village that enjoys the rural open feeling they give, but can't always overcome the bureaucracy and health and safety issues that they cause in a more urbanised environment.

TPOs across the county have been revoked by ECC as responsibility for them passes to the District council who have to survey all the trees before reissuing them.

Keep an eye on your local trees and report any threats to their future. Remember they need to be looked after and not neglected so report any problems as well as attacks with chainsaws, which, incidentally, are more often than not quite legitimate. If you want to carry out any work on a tree with a TPO make sure you contact the district council first to seek permission.

Comment?

Bentfield Pond....

Tudor Owen — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:19:34 +0000

... is once again given some attention by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers who made it for the third year in a row, aided by a few councillors on what turned out to be a sunny Sunday. The project is now complete for the time being and the Pond restored to a much healthier state. More...

The Windmill Works...

Tudor Owen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:58:10 +0000

... have at last begun as the contractors, IJP, moved on site last Monday 2nd November. The works, which include repointing the brickwork, removing the cap and repainting the sails, should be completed early in the new year when we will see the cap turn the sails into the wind for the first time in one hundred years.
The first task was to arrange for BT to divert three telephone cables around the Mill to allow some working room for the cranes that will take off the sails and cap.

The Annual Fireworks...

Tudor Owen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:44:53 +0000

... And bonfire at Elms Farm.

ELMS FARM, CHURCH ROAD, ENTRANCE VIA ARCHWAY COTTAGE

GATES OPEN 6.30 pm,BONFIRE 7.00 pm

FIREWORK DISPLAY 7.30 pm

ADULTS £3, CHILDREN £1

REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE

WEAR WELLIES

TAKE SPARKLER STICKS HOME AS THIS IS A HORSE FIELD

If you can offer wood for the bonfire, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01279 813214

7th NOVEMBER

The Mile Iron....

Tudor Owen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:48:24 +0000

.... Has been renovated! You may have noticed it gleaming in the sun at the Cambridge road Chapel hill junction oposite the Fountain. Originally placed near the fountain It's been in it's current position for quite some time and and been looking a little rusty - it's a solid lump of iron - until spotted by milestone enthusiast John Nicholls of the Milestone Society. He and his colleagues make it their business to revivie as many of these small pieces of history as they possibly can.

The Mile Stone Society have a website wher you can contact John if you know of any lonely and forgotten waymarkers or milestones. Their stated aim is: to identify, record, research and interpret for the public benefit the milestones and other waymarkers of the British Isles.

The public convenience...

Tudor Owen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:05:29 +0000

...comes at a price! The 'superloo' in the Lower Street car park costs the district council £25,000 a year to maintain which, at a time when local authorities are feeling the squeeze and looking for cuts, makes it and others a potential target. Locked into a long lease they are unlikely to be able to close this necessary convenience which only attracts spent pennies to the tune of 20% of its outgoings, so are likely instead to ask the Parish if they'd like to foot the bill for the Loo.

Should the Parish pay?

It's a sign of tough choices ahead and just another in a stream of services, such as PCSOs, youth services and street lighting, that that should be financed at district and county level, being pushed onto the Parish - or face loosing them. The Parish does it's best to stretch the precept to these undoubtedly worthwhile services, but at a time when the village is set to grow significantly it's resources will be at the limit and obligations such as play equipment for our public spaces are left to be funded by grants and charitable subscriptions - if we're lucky.

It's an old dillema, cuts or higher taxes? And as relevant to us at the most local level as it is at the centre of central government.

The MUGA opens...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:10:01 +0000

...At last. The new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) facility on Mountfitchet Green was officially opened on July 18th. Anyone in the village can use it for five-aside, tennis, basket ball or netball.

At the Windmill Fete...

Tudor Owen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:31:57 +0000

... The 'teddy bear parachuting' saw a minor mishap as George's most favourite thing in the world managed to get his 'chute snagged halfway up the Mill. After bravely clinging on for most of the Bank Holiday afternoon the intrepid bear was helped down to a nearby window with the aid of a very long stick, and reunited with his relieved owner.

The fête was a great success raising nearly £2500 to help maintain the soon to be renovated Mill. On completion of the works in the spring of 2010 the cap will be able to face into the wind and the sails turn properly as they did in 1910 when the Mill was last used. The project was made possible by an English Heritage grant and much fundraising and donations over several years.

Information about the Mill can be found here.

The Fountain Willow...

Tudor Owen — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:09:48 +0000

... at the junction of Chapel Hill and Cambridge road is due for the chop!
"At the end of its useful life", according to consultant arborialist David Brown, it will eventually have to be removed.

As a well known landmark and of some amenity to the village the Parish Council believes it should do what it can to maintain the willow as long as is reasonably possible, unless or until it becomes a danger. At the moment it looks like one limb needs to be removed and the crown reduced. Quotes are being sought, but what the tree may look like after major work remains to be seen.