GLORIA CAWOOD’S DECEMBER 08 REPORT TO PARISHES AND PEOPLE OF MENDIP CENTRAL AND EAST
Gloria’s Diary…….Some tricky issues came up in November………………….
Cookswood Quarry News came through in November that the long-awaited Cookswood planning application was ready for submission. The application is for a holiday complex for over 140 holiday units.
There is great concern about traffic and how it could be managed given the narrowness of the roads, as well as about the unsuitability of such a development for our area. Others say it will bring much-needed jobs to the local area. Public opinion is split. At the public meeting at Stoke, a narrow majority were against the proposals. It is expected that the application will come to Mendip District Council early next year, possibly by the end of January. We all look forward to the report and recommendations.
I will be consulting local people in the Stoke, Holcombe, Leigh area in particular to see what their views are over the next couple of months.
Bolters Lane I attended a resident’s meeting concerned about the length of time Travellers had lived in Bolters Lane, Doulting. There have been around 14 vehicles. Some vans have been there since June at least. It was decided to involve the local Parish Council as well as Mendip and Somerset Highways to see if we could find an equitable long-term solution.
The big problem is that there are insufficient sites for Gypsies and Travellers in Mendip – and the District Council appears to be dragging its feet in providing such sites, which they have a statutory duty to do. The Government makes funding available to establish such sites, but the take up in the southwest has been low. Without these authorised sites, moving on travellers from unauthorised sites is a long and time-consuming business. It simply moves the problem on – this time from Bolters Lane to Shepton Mallet..
Gypsies and Travellers are our largest minority group in Mendip. Yet, many are homeless and hence set up camp on Highway and private land. There is no electricity, fresh water or sanitary facilities on these sites.
Most people do not want to see large encampments. The modern thinking is that a number of small authorized sites, with services, would be more acceptable than the huge sites we see on television and in our newspapers or on grass verges..
But this requires local residents to accept the problem as one which we should share as communities. Are local parishes ready to accept that something must be done and soon if some villages are not to be inundated with large numbers of travelling people.
I have been talking to both Somerset County and Mendip District Councils about what we can do to deter travellers from returning in such large numbers and for so long in Bolter’s Lane, but it looks like we must all as a community consider the wider issues too.
What do you think?
Mitchell’s Elm Shooting Range The Public Inquiry is due to be held from December 10th.-12th. at the Bath and West Showground, following an appeal.
Noise from the site will particularly affect Leighton, East Cranmore, Withywood and Downhead areas, but many people over a wider area of Cranmore and Wanstrow are extremely concerned about the longer hours of shooting and the types of weapon to be used.
When this was discussed at Mendip in August 2007, the Council Chamber was packed, with most of those against the proposals being local people, while many of those in favour came from further away.
We have already had two larger inquiries in public in our Division this year – the Gypsy site at Marston Ridge, and the Chicken Farm in the Bunns Lane area. This is one way in which people can have their voices heard at appeal – and let’s hope the inspectors are listening to local people!
Skills Somerset I helped launch the Skills Somerset exhibition at the Bath and West Showground. This is a careers show for young people considering what kind of work they might like to do once they leave school. The event was well supported by Somerset Secondary Schools.
There was a lot of choice – from a man who made his money from cake decorations, to jobs in racing, for scientists and builders to work with animals.
I was especially attracted to the latter, with my husband, Chris being a Vet. I was thrilled to hold a corn snake, called Billie Joe (aged 4 years old) and a wonderful hairy tarantula called Rosie (aged 23 years.) She was lovely to stroke! See the pictures about to go on my web site……and see if you like them too!
http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/pages/Gloria-Cawood.html
There is some real talent among our young people, which needs to be encouraged. The Children’s University movement aims to recognise the talents our children have over and above what they learn at school. Awards are given for a number of activities where children are learning and widening their experiences, often without realising it. It just shows learning can be fun!
In November I attended over 35 meetings and events, excluding the two conferences. Although my work takes me to different parts of the County, you can always contact me by e-mail or phone if you need my help.
Home:01749-880404 Fax:01749-880263 Mobile:07815-181393
e-mail: gmcawood@somerset.gov.uk