Great Notley Garden Village Residents Association
Newsletter Number 18
Date : August 2001.
Chairman : Ken Game. Telephone - 343030. Secretary : Bert Rix. Telephone - 341066.
E-mail : herbertrix@btinternet.com
PARISH MAP IN CUCKOO WAY AND AT "MRS. HEDGES".
This is the fourth newsletter in which we have mentioned the two G.N.G.V. map sign-boards and although progress is rather slow we have made some forward motion. A draft map has been submitted to Countryside plc. and approved in principle. They wish to add a number of new roads in the Panners Bridge construction area and final details have yet to emerge. The Residents Association and Solar Graphic Signs are optimistic that visible progress will be shown in the near future.
THE CHURCH IN GREAT NOTLEY GARDEN VILLAGE.
Many of you will have seen us collecting for Christian Aid outside Tesco on May, 18th. We raised over £600 and would like to thank all who contributed.
Christian Aid raises money for the world's poorest people and enables them, regardless of their religion, to help them- selves. It also campaigns for fairer rules for trade and gives promptly when emergencies arise. In Uganda the debt relief for which thousands of Christians have campaigned, means that children of primary age are in school for the first time without having to pay fees. In Brazil, Fair Trade, which Christian Aid has promoted is making an evident improvement to the living conditions of tea farmers. In Bangladesh the development work which Christian Aid has funded for over 50 years is giving people a security that they did not previously have.
So thank you for your help. We'll be back next year. In the mean time, why not look out for "Fair Trade" products in the supermarket? They do very good tea and coffee and lots of other things! ---- Val Spouge. Lay Pastor.
ESSEX AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE.
As many of you already know the Air Ambulance exists entirely on voluntary contributions. In the past couple of weeks the Ambulance landed in the village to take an injured child from White Court School to hospital.
In the circumstances, this may be an opportune moment to inform you that should you wish to support the Service, you can do so by making a regular contribution, or by joining the Lottery run specifically for the Purpose. Forms are avail- able from the Chairman or Secretary of the Residents Association, or directly from:-
The Essex Air Ambulance Service H.Q.
Broomfield,
Chelmsford,
CM1 7WS.
Telephone -- 01245-444460.
A SCOUT GROUP FOR GREAT NOTLEY GARDEN VILLAGE.
A recent open meeting at the village hall met with a good response from residents and young people.
A display of Scouting activities, photos, tents, canoes etc. all depticting what Scouting has to offer young people was available for people to browse, and after introductions from Braintree District Scout's District Commissioner, Dan Collis and Andy Cooper, a GNGV resident, who has come forward to head up the Group, a video was shown on how Scouting has evolved during the past 90 plus years, (the centenary in 2007 will be celebrated with a World Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford. During the evening 20 residents offered their services to be Leaders, helpers or to be on the committee that will help run the Group, and 50 young people's names have gone onto a waiting list.
It was very encouraging to have volunteers and our aim is to get these people trained to be Leaders during the Autumn, so that everything is in place for the young people to begin the Scouting experience on the 9th. January, 2002.
We would welcome anyone else who is interested, to get in touch with:-
Andy and Anne Cooper on 01376-322957.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAST AT GREAT SLAMSEYS FARM.
It has come to the notice of the Residents Association that a 15 metre high mast is planned to be installed at Great Slamseys Farm. The Residents Association has written to Braintree District Council objecting to this mast and a reply has been received stating that our concerns will be taken into consideration. If the application is reported to a Committee for decision we will be notified of the time and place of the meeting along with arrangements for Public Question Time. Residents will almost certainly know of any decision through the press before newsletter No.19.
COLLECTION OF BLACK RUBBISH BAGS.
The committees of the Great Notley Garden Village Liaison Forum and also the Parish Council have recently received complaints from residents of G.N.G.V. about black bin bags being placed out early on Sunday, and in some cases as early as Saturday ready for the Monday morning collection.
Some of these bags are not adequately secured at the neck but have contained kitchen rubbish that has lead to foxes and cats ripping bags open to get at the, to them, delectable contents. It should be no great deal to store the bags and tie the necks on a Sunday evening and store them until Monday morning and then remove them from the garages, or wherever they are stored, to be put out on a Monday morning. Very little time or effort is needed to make this very small adjust- ment to existing domestic practices, but will help to discourage pe(s)ts and avoid the refuse collectors having to clean up needless mess. Local hygeine will also benefit.
The committee of the Residents Association wholeheartedly supports the Forum Committee and the Parish Council in this appeal. It is no valid excuse that many people are hurrying off to business on a Monday morning, because making this small ad justment should take very little time or effort. PLEASE HELP.
CROSS CHANNEL FARES.
Most folk are aware of the concessionary ferry and chunnel fares that are available to nip across to Calais or Boulogne, but for Continental stays up to 5 days duration the fare price rises by a noticable amount until a stay abroad of longer than 5 days the price hike is quite steep. Midweek travel is also cheaper than weekend travel.
But stays abroad for longer than 5 days raises the fare price quite considerably. The Secretary of the Residents Assocn. has recently spent 9 days in Normandy and found out that the M.G. Owners Club are able to offer beneficial rates. So, if anyone is planning to stay abroad for longer than 5 days, it may be useful to ring them on 01707-329988.
TRAVELLERS.
Numerous complaints have been received about travellers camping on land in Great Notley Garden Village. They not only have used land beside the A131 bypass, but have, in the past, been known to break locks and chains with bolt cutters. Suspicions have also been voiced about the level (very low some say) at which they pay Income Tax, Council Rates and Social Security. Not least of the problems these people leave behind is the huge amount of mess and litter that Braintree Council are forced to clean up after their departure. Council rates are already high enough without the added burden of paying to clean up unnecessary rubbish.
But, the Travellers do have their supporters who say that they have a RIGHT to their way of life. But it is often over - looked that with RIGHTS go RESPONSIBILITIES, and their responsibility is to take their rubbish with them. It has been noticed that after the departure of many Travellers, Countryside have put up earth barriers to prevent their return, so they seem to go a little farther afield. Their latest camp is on the grass verge of the Springwood Industrial Estate.
P.S. ON THE TWO PARISH MAPS.
Since printing the latest news of the above map boards we have received an e-mail from Countryside that the updating of the new road names will be completed in a few days and forwarded to us. It looks like being not too long before the map boards will be in use.
DO IT YOURSELF CONVEYANCING.
Most people would be horrified at the thought of doing for themselves the conveyancing on the selling of their own house and buying another, believing that the task is beyond the scope of ordinary mortals. Not so.
A book entitled "The Conveyancing Fraud" was written and published by Michael Joseph, a Solicitor of the Supreme Court, but he died about 6 years ago. A small stock of these books is still available in the hands of Mrs. A. Joseph and to be rid of them she is selling them off at half price. I understand that they are available on the net, but at the full price plus postage.
My copy came into my possession just after Michael Joseph died and I have forgotten how I came across it. Nonetheless I used this book to sell my house in Wallington and buy my house on G.N.G.V. and the whole episode proved to be not at all difficult. Any person who is capable of understanding standard, straightforward text should have no difficulty.
The book is divided into two parts and the first 9 chapters go into the working of the conveyancing system in detail and lift the lid on solicitors and gives their point of view. These chapters explain just why the average man in the street should be able to do the job for himself if he follows the instructions.
The last 4 chapters shows how to tackle various permutations like the purchase of a freehold house, a leasehold house, the sale of freehold and leasehold properties and gives sample wordings for contracts. Even if a person is not consider- ing moving house in the near or middle future, the book is an entertaining read.
The book explains why covenants are really paper tigers and can rarely be enforced. In the case of G.N.G.V. there are covenants against roof aerials, satellite dishes, and businesses businesses run from private property.
About 3 years ago a resident complained about a covenant and the Residents Association took the matter up with the Legal Department of Countryside plc. Their very reasonable reply was that they are not in the business of enforcing covenants, and these are included in deeds (mine anyway) so that residents could take up their own cases when they are dis-satisfied. Fair enough, but it would be really funny if anyone tried to enforce the covenants against roof aerials.
There is a companion book to the above by the same author entitled "Lawyers can seriously damage your health" It is probably of small relevance to most people but is still an amusing and satisfying read. It explains why, in very many cases it is impossible to sack professional people such as lawyers, doctors, teachers etc.
For people of an analytical turn of mind it will show a number of tricks (mental ju-jitsu) that can be used in situations in other, non legal cases.
For these people who wish to buy either, or both, of the above books the Conveyancing book is half price at £4 and the companion book is half price at £3.
If enough people are interested I will take cash and if it is worth while from a time point of view I will take the money to Mrs. Joseph and return with a boot full of books. Because I only intend to make one journey to Woolwich could I please ask any intended purchasers to come to a quick decision? See Bert Rix at 23, Highclere Road.
