Newsletter No 1 - QEB Community update 8.3.03

Hello Everyone

Over 600 members of the public made comment to Hart District Council (HDC) about the draft site development brief for the QE Barracks (QEB). A further 50+ responses have been received from interested bodies both external and internal to HDC . It will take HDC some considerable time to process and catalogue this volume of input. They are consequently facing the prospect of having to postpone the vote to 'adopt' the brief, originally scheduled for the next full council meeting, 27th March. The agenda for the council meeting in April is full, May is election month so the next date on which the matter can be considered looks to be in June. Apparently Bryants are less than pleased :-)

Delay until June will allow the issue of the scale of the development on QEB to become an important issue to put to candidates in the May local elections.

It has also been suggested that HDC are reconsidering their decision not to involve Hampshire County Council (HCC) in doing a detailed traffic impact study. We will have to wait and see if there is substance to this story but if true then this is a victory for the community's concerted efforts to date. Even if they don't request such a survey there is enough of us to consider doing our own! Fleet and Crookham Civic Society (FCCS) point out that;

"In order to challenge the capacity of the QEB site, one task would be to do a traffic survey. The Bowenhurst Redfields Action Group (BRAG) team were able to do this by stationing people at all affected junctions and recording car registration numbers, direction and time of day. This data compiled into a pattern of movements and numbers of vehicles at each junction. This was a large task, but it was good enough to contest the figures suggested by Redfields consultants."

On the subject of the FCCS we promised at the public meeting that we would distribute contact details for them. Certainly drop them an e-mail if you are interested in joining or receiving a copy of their latest newsletter;

Chairman: Dr. David Fearn (dg.fearn@virgin.net)
Secretary: Mr. Colin Gray (colin.gray5@virgin.net)

Another major development is that Cllr Lorraine Fullbrook has decided to exercise her democratic right to speak out publicly in opposition to the 1,100 houses proposed for this site. She is the first council member to do so. It is a courageous decision because in this strange democracy of ours by doing so she has given up her right to vote on the issue! However she has gained the right in council meetings to freely represent her opposition to this substantial development. All people who value the democratic process should welcome Cllr Fullbrook's stance. It is a shame that other Council members choose to remain so quiet. Perhaps a council member who is for the development of the 'mini-town' could come forward to represent their views and in doing so re-dress Cllr Fullbrook's surrendered vote. Let's not hold our breath.

Many people have been in contact to tell us of the letters they have written to the Chief Constable of Hampshire, all our efforts in this respect should have some effect.

We've received requests to identify to whom members of the community should write to raise concerns about key infrastructure issues associated with this development. We believe that the following are the correct people for school and health provision.

School Provision;
Ian Lawson,
Strategic Planning Officer,
Hampshire County Council, Education,
The Castle,
Winchester, SO23 8UG.
Tel: 01962 846452
e-mail: Ian.Lawson@hants.gov.uk

Health Provision;
Gareth Cruddace, Chief executive,
Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Strategic Health Authority,
Oakley Road,
Southampton,
Hampshire, SO16 4GX.
Tel: 023 8072 5400
e-mail: Gareth.Cruddace@hiowha.nhs.uk
Web: www.hiow.nhs.uk

A number of people have commented that when they tried to sign-up to join the qeb_protest@yahoogroups.com discussion forum that they found the process of 'applying' for a yahoo_ID too intrusive and complex. If you wish to join the discussion group yet don't fancy the rather involved sign-up process then simply drop us an e-mail requesting that we add you to the list. We can do this with the minimal of hassle and you will avoid having to create one of those annoying Yahoo IDs.

Best Regards,
Jenny, James & Soo.

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Newsletter No 2 - QEB Community update 22.3.03

Hello Everyone,

We are constantly heartened at the degree of activity people are engaged with in ensuring that the development of the QEB issue doesn't go quiet and conveniently get forgotten about by the 'powers' that be. We get copied on many of the mails being written by members of the community to key authorities and some of the responses received. We mention this because if you begin to think that you are working in isolation you may lose heart, be assured you are not.

If you live in Crondall & Ewshot ward then you should be aware that the annual assembly of Crondall & Ewshot Parish Council takes place on Monday 24th March 7pm in the Crondall Village Hall. A representative from Byrant Homes and the District Council will give a presentation on the proposals for QEB. Cllr. Norman Lambert, the Chairman, was a little aghast at the thought that hundreds of people would turn up, but if you live in his ward you have every right to go. We will also try to invite Bryant's to come and talk to us in Church Crookham.

There has been a few e-mails flying about and articles in the press regarding Farnborough Aerodrome. These have concentrated on the Farnborough Airfield Consultative Committee which is a body which is meant to be set up by the aerodrome operators, TAG, and which allows the affected community to have it's say on related matters.

There has been much concern about the constitution of the Consultative Committee which has been set-up, by Rushmoor Borough Council, not TAG. The key issue for the community of Church Crookham is that Hart District Council only have one seat on the body, Rushmoor Borough Council have four. For reference Cllr. Norman Lambert is the HDC representative on this committee. Church Crookham is the first residential area affected by the main airstrip to the south west, and clearly has valid cause for direct representation. This alias is focused solely on ensuring that the development on the QEB site is constrained to a sustainable size. We should not get distracted by other issues unless they have a direct impact on our cause. One such issue is Farnborough's Public Safety Zone (PSZ), which is an area under the flight path in which no new development should take place. Some very learned people in these matters have been advising us that although the current PSZ just encroaches on to the QEB site, the true PSZ should be much larger. It would be game over for QEB if a true PSZ were to be designated. A new PSZ is in the process of being defined. There are some fears that the size of the PSZ will be fudged to keep it to today's limits. Mainly because there is a mirror PSZ over Farnborough which if it grow any bigger would prove to be a major embarrassment. I have written an open letter to HDC advising them of why it is believed that the PSZ should be bigger and to remind them that they can not allow new development under it.

Understanding PSZ's is a rather complex subject and as I have said we have been very lucky to receive such well informed advice from members of our community, Thank You. If you are interested in some of the implications of a PSZ and why it is believed that it should really be extended you might start with my open letter which is on the internet http://jradley.com/qeb/PSZ_HDC.html#top. If the PSZ remains at it's current size there should by rights be no school, church or community hall on this site. There could be houses but no societal amenities. The existing schools; Crookham Junior and Tweseldown Infant, can not be extended!

One should choose ones battles carefully but a proper sized PSZ would likely be very restrictive to any plans to develop on the QEB site.

Has any one got any news regarding the pSPA ?

Does anyone know of how we can contact someone in the successful Bowenhurst and Redfields Action Group (BRAG)? We would like some advice on DIY road traffic surveys.

Best Regards,
James, Jenny & Soo.
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Keep the community updated, join the QEB discussion group - visit; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qeb_protest Alternatively just send us a request to be included in the discussion group (to: qeb@jradley.com) and we will add you without the need for a yahoo account. This saves going through the complex sign-up procedure. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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