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WOOD Newsletter 1
Public Opinion Galvanised
Following a public presentation by Savills of the outline proposals for the development of a green field site in Winterslow, a public meeting was held in the Recreation Ground Pavilion on 11th April. The primary aim was to identify support for the formation of a steering group (SG) and volunteers to act as “foot soldiers” who would undertake such tasks as door to door canvassing, petition gathering and public rallies. As the meeting was attended by over 100 people, whom the Pavilion could not accommodate, the meeting had to be held on the football pitch.
Following a short presentation by the meeting organiser, Mick Brown, and discussion about general issues those attending were asked to sign a petition objecting to the development and either register as a volunteer or stay behind and become a member of the SG. Over 40 people signed up as volunteers and 14 put themselves forward as potential members of the SG.
Steering Group Formed
The SG meeting was convened with Mick Brown as interim Chairman.
The following were discussed:
- Steering Group official post
- Topic Team Leader post
- Basic Strategy
- Third party involvement/canvassing
- Support Groups/Organisations
- Public Action
- Parish Council AGM 9th May 2011
- When to have the first large scale public meeting
The decision was made to meet again on 27th April with a brief to consider the filling of committee and team leader posts and formalising future action.
The second meeting of the Steering Group was held in the Recreation Ground pavilion on 27th April as planned. The membership of the committee was confirmed as:
Philip Beagle, Mick Brown, John Burnett, Barry Clark, Tim Crossland, Simon Day, Piers Fletcher, Mandie Marston, Phil Downer, Mike Morgan-Jones, Betty Page, John Page, Rick Page, Glyn Paton and Christine Stevens.
Committee Officials Voted In
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Official post |
Elected |
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Chair |
Mick Brown |
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Vice-Chairman |
Philip Beagle |
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Correspondence Secretary |
John Page |
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Treasurer |
Simon Day |
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Fund-raising |
John Burnett |
Topic Team Leaders Confirmed
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Post |
Volunteer committee member |
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Database/archivist |
Piers Fletcher |
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Webmaster |
Tim Crossland |
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Volunteer Co-ordinator |
John Burnett + Christine Stevens |
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Press liaison |
Glyn Paton |
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Social networking |
Tim Crossland/Piers Fletcher |
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Public Action Co-ordinators |
Rick Page + John Page |
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Planning Department Liaison |
Mike Morgan-Jones |
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Political Liaison |
Mick Brown |
Action Points
It was decided to attend the Parish Council AGM 9th May and raise three questions during the public question time. These were:
1. What is the corporate view of the Parish Council to the proposed development?
2. How does the Parish Council intend to ascertain and reflect the views of the community?
3. How does the Parish Council feel about the fact that the land owner is a serving parish councillor?
The other issues discussed were public rights of way, public ownership of land (village green status) and Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The next meeting was programmed for 18th May.