Great Notley Garden Village Residents Association
Newsletter Number 5
Date : 8th. January, 1999.
As most Garden Village residents will be aware there are plans afoot by Countryside to implement their intention to provide a Village Pub on the piece of land already designated. Originally it was intended that the plot of land set aside for the Village Pub would be sold to a suitable entrepreneur who would build premises and install the necessary fittings.
It has been universally accepted that such a small project with a large upfront outlay could never be viable. The current proposals envisage donating the plot of land to an entrepreneur from the Southend area, building premises and leaving him to do the equipping.
In order to attract the unknown entrepreneur a very large project has been designed and put forward by Countryside which will include 3 bars, a restaurant, a function hall and parking space for 82 cars.
Resulting from this there is a measure of disquiet amongst residents, some of whom feel that a project of this magnitude will only be viable if it succeeds in attracting a lot of custom from the surrounding areas. The upshot of this could be that the peace and tranquility of what was originally intended to be an oasis of peace will be ruined by excessive traffic along roads that were only designed to cater for the residents of the village.
As many people will know, and some will not know, an exhibition was held on Tuesday the 15th. December, 1998. to show the extent of the proposed "Village Pub/restaurant". Although a leaflet drop was intended to cover the whole of the Great Notley Garden Village it is now known that many houses were not covered. Those houses which did receive a leaflet only got them as late as Friday or Saturday before the exhibition 3 days later.
Many people failed to get information about the date and timing of the exhibition, but the exhibition itself clashed with three other popular events. The Over 55 Club Christmas Dinner, a Black Notley Parish Council Meeting and a Choral Concert. Above all, comments were invited from the exhibition, but the closing date for comments to Countryside was the 24th. December, 1998. This was extended to the 11th. January, 1999 by Braintree D.C., but residents would not have been aware of this extended date unless they had visited the exhibition.
At that time of the year people's thoughts were on Christmas festivities which left little time for matters like a new Pub/restaurant. Due to the timing of the exhibition it might appear that little concern was given to the organisation of the event so as to prevent a clash with other events on that evening that would reduce the number of people able to attend the exhibition.
In an effort to secure time to consider the new project in more depth, your Chairman, Ken Game, spoke to Mr. Robin Hoyles (M.D. of Countryside) and asked Countryside to hold a public meeting and this request was refused.
At the exhibition your Chairman and also the Secretary spoke to Mr. Richard Moore (Associate Director of Countryside) about a public meeting and were told that whilst Countryside had no plans to hold a public meeting, he did say that if the local residents organised such a meeting, Countryside representatives would attend.
So the present situation is that if enough people feel that a public meeting will be helpful, then your Committee will arrange a date and time.
It has always been mooted that a VILLAGE PUB would be erected on a reserved site and a notice board to that effect is currently displayed. But, given the cost of the land and erection of a suitable building plus equipment it has long been accepted that such a public house could not be viable.
Being determined to fulfill their promise to the Garden Village, Countryside have drawn up a project that includes three bars, a restaurant and a function room which many people feel is too large.
Whilst some people are in favour of a public house of whatever size, others are of the opinion that a smaller project would be more in keeping with the promise given by Countryside, i.e. a Village Pub.
Having taken a straw poll at the exhibition the almost universal opinion is that the project as suggested is too large for our village. There has always been a general understanding that the pub was to be provided for the benefit of the residents thereby enabling them to walk to the pub. In which case it is difficult to understand why 82 parking spaces are needed. Concern has been expressed at the likelihood of an influx of customers from outside the village a fact which has been denied by Countryside and Braintree D.C. until recently.
The probability of the weight of extra traffic together with the noise and litter will be a lot greater than the existing roads were designed to carry. But not least of all is the magnet that may draw undesirable teenagers into the village with vandalism and graffiti.
The latter fear would be even more realised if the pub/restaurant failed to prosper and had to be abandoned. Then we would be left with a boarded up building covered in graffiti and that would not be something that Countryside and the locality would be proud of.
As planned and laid out the Great Notley Garden Village is a tribute to Countryside's vision and is an oasis of peace and tranquility. If the residents have any concerns and/or comments please write them on the attached slip and put it through the door of either No.2 or No.23 Highclere Road
BEFORE THE 11TH. JANUARY, 1999.
Chairman -- Ken Game, 2, Highclere Road, Black Notley, 01376-343030.
Secretary -- Bert Rix, 23, Highclere Road, Black Notley, 01376-341066.
I support the idea of a public meeting to discuss points raised in this 5th. Newsletter at a date to be determined and of which I/we will be notified.
Name.................................................................................
Address..............................................................................
View the result of the above poll by selecting below.
Poll result - Press Here
