This is the 41st annual report of the Association.

The Association has had another busy year.

The New Website
Thanks to the considerable efforts of Mark Dawson (please read his article in the newsletter) and his website designer Thirzah Brown, the Association now has its own website www.colnestour.org. Those of you, who have logged on to the site will, I am sure agree, that its presentation of the Association is excellent, and that it compares well with other sites of a similar nature An important feature of the website is the News page, which we will keep updated throughout the year, so it is now possible for the membership to see what action the Association is taking on their behalf, as events take place during the year, between the annual newsletters. I would urge all members to look at this page regularly. It will enable us to mobilise the support of the membership where there is a major issue and we will be able to keep the press informed of our views. This will make us much more effective as an Association and we shall have a much higher public and media profile than has been the case in the past. Mark as well as acting as Editor for the web site will also be liaising with the press, together with myself, so as to ensure our message is a clear one at all
times. 

The Expansion of Stansted Airport and Increasing Aircraft Noise
In January this year, the case brought by Tom Hill (a barrister specialising in environmental law) with the support of the Dedham Vale Society, was “stayed”. The case essentially was that The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) was not sticking to the proposed new flight paths suggested by themselves during public consultations, routing most aircraft heading for Stansted and Luton, to the north, away from the Dedham Vale area, designated as an area of natural beauty (AONB). In practice it was suggested that the controllers were allowing planes to cut corners over the AONB. As a result NATS and the CAA are now carrying out a wide-ranging review of the airspace over East Anglia, consulting with Tom Hill and the Dedham Vale Society.

We have already contacted the relevant bodies to register our interest and to ensure that our voice is heard in any deliberations that will now take place. Any agreed changes may not take place until 2008. 

The result may be good news for some, but may be bad news for others as flight paths are moved from one backyard to another, and whilst some will benefit, I suspect others of our members may be worse off, particularly those living in beautiful countryside round here but actually outside the AONB itself. The Association’s policy is to support a view that NATS and the CAA should try and spread the routes, and therefore the noise problem as widely as possible over the available air space, so that everyone shares the nuisance. A concentration of flights into one or two relatively narrow flight paths would lead to an intolerable burden on those on the ground below.

As far as the expansion of Stansted Airport is concerned,
The Association remains implacably opposed to any plans BAA has to increase passenger numbers and flights, including freight, on the existing runway, let alone a second one. The only possible way to have any chance of achieving this objective is not only to make representations on our own account, but also to join with, and actively support all the other organisations that are fighting the expansion. Please refer to the website for more up to date information throughout the year. Other Planning Matters I should remind members that it is the Association’s general policy not to oppose development on brown field sites, particularly in the towns or very large villages of the region. Economic growth leads to the demand for more commercial properties and houses and the Association has much more credibility with the planning authorities if it reserves its firepower to object to any development that will have an adverse effect on the green countryside.

However during last year the Association felt it was proper for it to object to the application by Tesco to build a supermarket on the existing football ground in the centre of Halstead, with a new and extensive football ground on a greenfield site on the Sudbury road. At the same time the Association objected to the proposal to build another supermarket on a site adjacent to St Andrew’s church, which would have adversely affected the views of the church. Both developments, if they had gone ahead, would have had a major adverse impact upon Halstead, as we now know it. Fortunately the planners and the council, for many reasons were of the same opinion and both applications were rejected. 

Again with other organisations, and individuals, we are strongly objecting to the proposed Horkesley Park Heritage and Conservation Centre at Bunting’s Farm, Great Horkesley. It is quite clear that should the application be successful, it would set a major and dangerous planning precedent for the rural areas of Suffolk and Essex, and on this ground alone, should be rejected. At the time of going to press, Colchester Borough Council has not ruled on the application. If they do reject it, as we must hope they will, we must be prepared for the application to go to appeal. Keep an eye on the website for further news.

We are also (along with many others) outraged that a planning inspector has not only ruled that Carson’s Field, adjacent to Abbas Hall, Great Cornard is unsuitable to be designated for special landscape status (SLA), a proposal which had met with strong approval by Babergh District and Great Cornard Parish Council several years ago, but has now recommended it for development. This land is part of our heritage, made famous by Thomas Gainsborough through his painting of Cornard Wood, and recently featured by David Dimbleby’s programme Picture of Britain.

Great Cornard is already under tremendous pressure through the developments at Bakers Mill, the previous rugby club ground and the Guildford site. Another development could well break the camel’s back through the strain on services, schools, etc, as well as leading to local traffic mayhem. In addition it will put even more pressure on the services Sudbury provides. 

It is absolutely clear that the vast majority of local residents want the land preserved as it is, and are totally against the inspector’s ruling. Abbas Hall is one of the oldest recorded buildings in East Anglia, having been built in1290. It is deemed of such architectural importance that it is listed as Grade One. This area was recognised by all, many years ago, as an important part of our heritage and countryside, and as such by the local planners more recently. At the time of going to press Babergh District Council is now proceeding with a consultation process as this represents another change to the proposed Great Cornard village plan. 

The Association is utterly opposed to any development or building on the site, and will do all it can, together with others, to put an end to this nonsense. Members can help by following developments on the web site and writing to the relevant authorities when asked to do so by the Association.

Summer Visit
Seventy-two members attended, what my wife and I hope, was a very enjoyable evening in our garden at The Dower House in Bulmer. We were fortunate that it was a warm and pleasant evening, and the garden is always at its best in June.

Membership
We have been successful in recruiting some 49 new members during the year, but much more needs to be done. If each existing member recruited only one new member in the coming year, it would transform the Association. So can I ask you all to do just that? It would be even better if that new member could be one of the younger generation, a friend, or even perhaps a son or daughter or other relation, particularly if they live in the area. Please always ensure that the correct procedure is followed, and please liaise with Michael Goodbody, so as to ensure that a banker’s order is completed and that our records are kept correct. In anticipation that members will support this recruitment campaign, enclosed with this newsletter is a sheet, setting out the aims of the Association, the need for new members, and how this can help the Association achieve its objectives. On the reverse side is a membership application form. Further forms and sheets can be downloaded from the website or obtained from Michael Goodbody. 

Executive Committee
Your Committee has been strengthened by the addition of four new members, Gill Eadie, Mark Dawson, Julia Buckmaster and Henrietta Drake, who has kindly replaced her husband William who has had to resign owing to his increased business commitments. I would like to thank all members of the Executive Committee for their work, and help over the last year. Without their support I could not be an effective Chairman. Particularly, I would like to thank Mark Dawson for doing such excellent work over the creation of the website; Michael Goodbody for all his help in his role as Treasurer and in ensuring that our record of members is up to date and correct; Ros Henderson for her invaluable assistance to me personally, and finally Jeremy Hill for his wise guidance to a new Chairman.

Simon Ward
Chairman