Hon. Secretary’s Report – 2016 AGM
Once again, very many thanks to Angie for all her work on behalf of the Association during the past year. As you’ve already heard, there continue to be important issues that confront us and she works very hard to make BPARA’s voice heard in the community. Thanks are also due to her husband, Ib, for all his patience and support.
Angie has already reported on some of the major planning issues that are of concern to the local community and how BPARA is joining other organisations to challenge any planning applications which are felt not to be in the public interest.
I’d now like to remind members of other activities undertaken by Committee members on your behalf.
A group mentioned regularly in our Newsletters is the
West Bletchley Neighbourhood Action Group – NAG for short
These meetings are held at Lord Grey School every 5 weeks throughout the year and Angie or myself attend when we can. They’re chaired by Brenda Hart and are also attended by a representative from Thames Valley Police – currently Police Sgt. Mark Swallow – who provides valuable reports on any crimes or anti-social behaviour in the area. West Bletchley Council is also represented – currently by Councillor Felicity Cockbaine.
The main priorities for the group are monitoring Anti-social behaviour, Parking, Speeding, and Littering in WB.
The meetings serve as a useful forum for sharing information on these issues and we can raise other items which are of concern to our members.
The group is holding its AGM at the meeting on Wednesday 11th May and priorities will be decided then for the coming year. The group maintains a Facebook Page and visitors to this site are requested to select 5 possible categories of concern on which they would like the group to focus. One possible category already suggested is Community Action for Area Improvement. (We’re trying to think of a snappier way of expressing this).
Sensory Garden, Church Green
To this end, Chairperson Brenda Hart is keen to establish a group of people who are interested in refurbishing the Sensory Garden on Church Green which has sadly been neglected for some time. Youth Groups from St Mary’s Church and local schools have done some planting but the main beds have been overrun by rampant mint plants and weeds. The NAG Committee at the April meeting agreed to donate a sum towards some replanting and tidying and asked for volunteers to assist with the project.
Brenda and I last week met with Simon Rose and another colleague from WBC at the garden and it was decided that WBC would clear the long bed at the front of the garden and prepare it for planting. We all agreed that scented roses would be ideal for this bed – colourful and relatively easy to maintain. Brenda investigated the costs of this. Dobbies have quoted a cost of between £600-£700. WBC are going ahead with clearing the bed and it should be ready for planting in about 4 weeks.
When I mentioned this project to the BPARA Committee at last week’s meeting, Derek at once suggested that the Association could donate some of our funds. We then agreed on £100.
It’s hoped that various groups, including local primary schools, could be encouraged to participate in the ongoing maintenance of the garden and could each be responsible for different sections.
As with any community project, the donation of time is just as important as financial donations. If anyone here would like to become involved either by donating plants or spending an hour or two tending to the flower beds, please let me or one of the other committee members know.
Rickley Park
Many members will have seen the latest plan for the development of Rickley Park which was published in the Spring edition of WBC’s publication, Open Door. This seems to be a very exciting scheme to enhance this under-used space and we await further details.
Meanwhile, BPARA Committee Member, Clive Pepper is (independently – as a resident with a garden backing on to the park) contacting WBC to find out whether the Council will be replacing the rather haphazard fencing around the park.
Planning Applications Updates
Bletchley Town Centre Regeneration Project
Details of this project were also mentioned in our March Newsletter and we have no further information at present. Just to remind members of details of this project, this planning application is from a private company – CRBE Ltd. In February, they submitted an EIA Screening Opinion application to MK Council’s Planning department for a proposed development of 190 residential units across two sites on land to the east of Saxon Street and Princes Way to Duncombe Street in Bletchley. In addition they propose under-croft parking and cycle storage, communal gardens, improved civic landscaping and a day nursery. The site outlined on their map of the area is, in fact, the land currently occupied by The Enigma Pub and the now empty Aldi store and car park (not Burger King though). It appears that most of these units will be housed in several seven storey blocks on the site.
The idea is that this new development would, in the words of the developer: increase the town centre population to support local spending; catalyse investment in Bletchley; provide starter homes; meet Bletchley’s housing need; improve pedestrian links between the railway station and the town centre (already taking place under MKC’s ‘Fixing The Links’ Project) and finally, deliver a place and a community with aspirations and identity.
The view of COBRA and of the BPARA Committee – as Angie has just mentioned – is “Infrastructure First”. Any new developments must start with plans for additional public services provision, improved road links and car parking facilities and adequate drainage & sewerage disposal.
We will, of course, relay more details to BPARA members when available.
Sherwood Drive – Home Farm Development
This development is now nearing completion and the first apartments are due to be handed over to Paradigm Housing in June & July. As announced in our March Newsletter, MK Council have named the access road “Bunkers Crescent”.
As far as we know, the construction work has caused few problems for local residents. The developers, City Renovations, have been keen to liaise with existing residents and BPARA and have considered the concerns raised. However, it remains to be seen how much impact the additional 56 housing units will have on Sherwood Drive and the surrounding area.
Bletchley Park Estate
There are still issues of concern to residents, in particular the long-term problems caused to residents who live near to the old G Block site on Bletchley Park. This is not only an eye sore but a focus for vandals trespassing on the site.
G Block is now owned by Bletchley Park Capital Partners and the association is continuing to lobby for action on this.
The Old Canteen, Wilton Avenue
This site was purchased some 4 years ago by BPCP and – like G Block – is in a derelict state and another target for vandals. There are also risks associated with asbestos contamination in the buildings. We reported at last year’s AGM that the site was gradually being cleared but since that time, little has been achieved.
Despite numerous attempts to contact members of the company to discuss progress on both sites, there has to date been very limited response. Our Chairman has paid a couple of visits to their MD, Tim Reynolds and on both occasions was promised news of what BPCP proposed for both sites but we are still waiting.
We understand that last Sunday the emergency services (4 fire engines, a paramedic ambulance and the police) were called to the site because of a fire.
Committee Meetings
We held 2 Committee Meetings since the last AGM – on Thursday 3rd March 2016 and Wednesday 13th April 2016.
Newsletters
4 Newsletters have been distributed during the year – in June, September and December 2015 and in March 2016. The majority of newsletters are sent to members by email, with paper copies posted through doors for the remainder of members.
Other Items:
• This year’s West Bletchley Carnival is to be held on Saturday 11th June with the usual procession down Whaddon Way from Melrose Avenue to Rickley Park. It has the title “Wild West Bletchley”.
• There is to be another “Love Bletchley” day this year – on Saturday 7th May – to be centred on Queensway.
And sadly I have to report the death, during the year, of three long-standing members of the Association:
Wally Stocker of Whalley Drive
Mr. Cherry of Park Gardens
Gerald Caesar of Hinsley Walk
Colin Wood of Downing Close (Colin was a former Rep. for BPARA)
