This is the 40th annual report of the Association.

My first duty is to report that at the end of the Association’s year on the 31st of December 2004, Jeremy Hill, whom I think we will agree has been an excellent Chairman of the Association for the last three years, decided to step down from the post, and this was reluctantly accepted by your committee on your behalf. Jeremy took on the job for three years, and felt that it is in the interests of the Association that the role of chairman should be passed to new hands on a regular basis to keep the Association moving forward. However we still have the benefit of his wise counsel as he has agreed to stay on the Executive Committee.

The committee has asked that I should now take up the baton, which I will gladly do, if the membership wishes me to do so, however I think that this should also be on the basis that I should pass on the task in three years time.

The Association owes a great debt to Jeremy for his stewardship and there is a proper thank you to him in the accompanying newsletter.

Aircraft Noise

The re-routing of flight paths, over East Anglia, as foreshadowed in the last Chairman’s report, duly took place in March this year. However based on the experience of this summer, the result have been very different to what we expected, and had been led to believe by the authorities. In practice, planes seem to be following a number of routes to bring them into the flight path for their final approach to Stansted, whilst at the same time other planes are using different routes to over fly the area at a higher level. There, perhaps, has been a small improvement in the flights over the Dedham Vale, but not much, and the problem has got a good deal worse in other areas, such as over Sudbury. There are a number of Members of the Association, who have reported to have in sight at the same time up to 13 aircraft if not more! It is clear that at this time last year our optimism was premature and round one has gone to the Authorities. We must ensure that we are not lulled into a false sense of security by them again.

Stansted Airport

This subject is closely and inevitably linked with the one above. Stansted airport exists and the management will try and increase the amount of freight and passengers passing through it. It is your Association’s task to join with others to stop any further expansion above the already permitted level, and to attempt to keep the inevitable noise pollution to a minimum. We have to be careful that any actions we take do not involve pushing the noise problem out of our backyard, and into someone else’s. It only causes bad feeling and division in the area as a whole which is exactly what the authorities want as it enables them to exploit their divide and rule policy. It is likely therefore that we shall work more closely with and give further support to the main bodies fighting the expansion of the airport. I am therefore particularly pleased that Peter Sanders, Chairman of The Stop Stansted Campaign is coming to speak at our AGM on April 28th. I would also like to thank Anthony Keniry for all the hard work he puts in to keep us up to date with developments in this area, and for the article on the subject, which you will find in the newsletter.

Other Planning Matters

The Association is not infrequently asked to intervene in planning applications to develop redundant farm buildings and farmyards. We have opposed plans for the redevelopment of Stonebridge Farm, Colne Engaine. It is a particularly tricky site, which we do not think suitable for industrial use or storage and distribution. We have also opposed the erection of two enormous houses on the site of a once notorious pigswill business at Mount Bures. We have not opposed the revised plans put forward for two smaller houses but these have also been turned down by the council. We are very conscious of the fact that these sites cannot just be left to moulder – some sort of development is usually inevitable and desirable.

We have strongly opposed the proposal for stationing a further helicopter at Earls Colne Airfield and training helicopter pilots. When planning permission was granted for tarmacing the airfield it was given on the strict understanding that restrictions on the use of the airfield were not to be altered and that the operation of helicopters should not be increased. Training helicopter pilots is an extremely noisy business, and we were very relieved when the application was withdrawn.

Summer Visit

65 members attended a very enjoyable evening at Belchamp Hall by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Charles Raymond. The garden looked stunning and we could not have had a more lovely setting for a party.

The Draft East of England Plan

Members will find an article on this subject in the newsletter. At the moment of going to press the consultative period has just concluded, and we wait to see if any of the many concerns have been taken into account. If, as one fears, the plans will be eventually adopted with little amendment, then the implications for our area are serious. As the local authorities admit freely that there are not enough “brown field “ sites to accommodate the extra houses, there will be a constant pressure on new “green field” sites. The pressure on utilities, such as water (already short in this region) will intensify. Congestion on roads will increase, leading to increasing demands for the Halstead and Sudbury bypasses. And, of course, there will be the inevitable growth in the general infrastructure to support the increased population. All this means that we need to be vigilant and to try and keep the impact of these plans on the environment to the minimum. To do this we need your help.

New Members

The Association is only as strong as its membership. In order to be effective we need to increase the membership, particularly that of the younger age group, so that we can realistically claim to represent a substantial and increasing body of opinion in our region. Also, this will increase the eyes and ears on the ground, as it is important that we are aware of plans for developments at an early stage. I therefore will be most grateful if all members would take a little time to complete the “Questionnaire” at the back of my letter and return it to us in the envelope provided. Also, if you know of anyone in your area whom you think would be interested in joining The Association, please talk to them and tell me or another committee member. I am also always pleased to hear from anyone who would like to help us in a more active way.

Executive Committee

I would like to thank, on behalf of Jeremy, all members of the Executive Committee for their work, and help over the last year, and I look forward to their support over the coming year. The Association has never faced a more challenging time.

Simon Ward, Chairman

MEMBERS LIST IS ENCLOSED WITH OUR NEWSLETTER

PARISH COUNCILS & OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

Ashen Parish Council Belchamp Walter Parish Council Bures St. Mary Parish Council Colne Engaine Parish Council Earls Colne Parish Council Foxearth & Liston Parish Council Great Yeldham Parish Council Greenstead Green Parish Council The Hennys, Middleton & Twinstead Parish Council Little Cornard Parish Council Little Yeldham, Tilbury Juxta Clare & Ovington Parish Council Pebmarsh Parish Council Steeple Bumpstead Parish Council Wickham St. Paul’s Parish Council

The Clare Society Greenstead Green Womens Institute