Annual General Meeting 12 May 2011
About forty members attended the Association’s twenty-first AGM in the ballroom of The Mansion in Bletchley Park. New members were welcomed. Angie Ravn-Aaagaard and Chris Simpson reported on the issues that had been of interest or concern, during the preceding year. No nominations had been received for the posts of officers, so all three agreed to stand again and were re-elected unopposed: Hon. Chairman – Angie Ravn-Aagaard, Hon. Treasurer – Derek Storey, and Hon. Secretary (reluctantly) – Chris Simpson. Minutes of the meeting are available on the BPARA website or on request from Chris (tel. 373378). After the completion of the business meeting, there was a break for refreshments and chat. The “birthday” cake to celebrate the Association’s 21st anniversary as much appreciated. As he is retiring from his post as Trust Director in September, our speaker, Simon Greenish, was with us, sadly, for the last time. He outlined the Trust’s plans for some exciting new developments in the Park. It is intended to convert C Block to a visitor centre, containing ticket office, shop and refreshments. New car parking space will be provided, and some of the small private collections within the Park will be re-housed. More huts will be restored. The long-term aim is to recreate, as much as possible, the wartime atmosphere around the “core” buildings – The Mansion and important huts and blocks. There are plans to increase educational work. At present visitor numbers to the museum are far higher than anticipated. This is very satisfactory, but puts pressure on sometimes over-stretched staff. Simon was thanked for his presentation and given best wishes for a happy retirement – although he said that he would still keep an active interest in the Park.
The old Bletchley Park Canteen, Wilton
Avenue
An application to demolish the canteen buildings and replace them with six houses was considered by Milton Keynes Council Development Control Committee on 16 June and was refused. We hope that this will not mean the developers taking no action on the site for many more years and that they will ensure that steps are taken to stop further acts of vandalism and deterioration of the building until a more suitable solution is found for this site within the Conservation area – we will continue to press for this to happen.
West Bletchley Council Drop-in Centre
West Bletchley Council has now refurbished one of the shop units at Melrose Avenue as a public drop-in centre. It is equipped with computers for people who wish to make job applications, and provides some training. Various bodies including the police and Age Concern hold surgeries there. It is a collection point for Food Aid contributions. Local photographs from the Living Archive are on display. Also, it offers refreshments for weary shoppers.
Neighbourhood Action Groups
Old
Bletchley
At the recent annual meeting of the Old Bletchley NAG, Martin Lamb stood down as Chairman and Karen Lamb as Secretary. Both had given good service in their posts, and Karen has been a hard working, conscientious secretary. Our area owes them a big thank you. One of the recurring problems considered by their meetings has been inconsiderate, and sometimes, illegal parking in our area. Most of this is due to commuters who are unwilling, or possibly unable,
to pay car parking charges at Bletchley Station, and to students at the Milton Keynes College campus in Sherwood Drive, where there is not sufficient parking to accommodate them. Some drivers appear to have no thought for the consequences of leaving their vehicles all day in narrow local roads, to the great inconvenience of residents. Their cars could also hamper access for mergency vehicles. The NAG is working with various bodies to combat this problem, including attempting to liaise with London Midland to allow use of part of the station car park by students – especially as a large portion of it is empty every day. Unfortunately, half of the parking has now been removed due to non-use!
Denbigh
& The Leys
A number of our members with homes in Whalley Drive backing on to The Leys open space are in the catchment area of the Denbigh and The Leys NAG. We have suggested that they contact that NAG about problems with disturbance from night time activities there.
The Leys
In the March Newsletter we told you that West Bletchley Council has a large sum of money to spend on refurbishing The Leys, and is asking the public to suggest how the money should be spent. The Association and individual members have already sent in some ideas.
If you wish to make a suggestion, please contact Paul Neate at West Bletchley Council (tel.646257).
Awaydays
Graham Simpkins, one of our members, is again arranging day trips which might be of interest. On July 2 there is one to East Ruston Old Vicarage, for a splendid garden, on July 12 to the Severn Valley Railway and on August 6 to Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden. For further information, contact Graham on 01908 378945 or GSA@grahamsimpkins.com.
Church on the Green
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Beware the Case Moth!
This moth likes to lay its eggs in carpets, usually around the skirting board areas or in dark places under furniture. The larvae subsequently feed on the carpet
pile, leaving holes or bare patches in the carpets. Rentokil reports that they are receiving an increasing number of incidents of this pest. Please be vigilant and move your furniture regularly to vacuum, particularly around skirting board areas –the cost of treatment and replacement of damaged carpets is excluded from most insurance policies!
