It's the Pits

Readers will easily be deceived into thinking that because the council has said it will put the marina plans on ice, that this therefore means Harding's Pits is safe. Nothing could be further from the truth. Harding's Pits is NOT safe, certainly no more safe now that it was two months ago. Indeed the leader of the council Nick Daubney has made this fact specific in a recent letter to the Lynn News. Subsequent to a series of public meetings, two particular issues should be made clear.

The council clearly stated in a series of public meetings that even if the housing and marina plan didn't proceed, the council were under a mandatory obligation laid upon them by the Environment Agency that they must divert the Nar across Harding's Pits. This clear and unequivocal statement was made on numerous occasions and its veracity questioned at the time. Subsequently, clarification was sought from the Environment Agency themselves to ascertain if they had indeed said this. They made it clear they had NOT said this. The council are backtracking rapidly on this issue, claiming they made no such statement but it was heard by enough people for the council to be unable to escape from their attempt to mislead the public.

Irrespective of this, the council have also made it quite clear they still intend to divert the Nar across Harding's Pits.

There alternatives to the council's proposals; one such alternative was recently launched and shows a marina more in keeping with the proportions of the town that preserve the Pits, its wildlife and natural habitat, and preserves it as an area for public exercise and recreation. It shows how dredging out the Nar Loop would provide the facility the council so earnestly desires without the unnecessary blight of yet more unsightly housing with all its concomitant problems. Support from within the council is showing signs of fracture; perhaps prompted by the Audit Commission report that criticized and questioned the vast sums spent on consultants, previously silent councillors are questioning the over-ambitiousness of the whole scheme.

and ask awkward questions

Readers are reminded that under the Audit Commission Act 1998, councils have a legal obligation to permit and enable residents during the month of August to view their books and records. Every one of us curious enough to want to know how our money has been spent this past year, has the right to view contracts, reports and records and receipts for the year. It is an offence for any council employee to obstruct such an inspection.

Town Centre Forum

The Town Centre Forum has been mentioned on these pages before but residents of the Friars are welcomed to attend the meetings and this welcome I pass on. Following lobbying by the Friars' Community Group membership, waste bins are due to be situated along London Rd appropriate to the number and location of Fast food outlets. The Town Centre Forum is an opportunity to engage in some of discussion about what is going on around the environs of the town with particular reference to what are the views for a RESIDENT of the town centre as opposed to the voice the Council hears from the commercial side of the town. This is a tricky one. Up till now the convener of the forum has not been able to include the town centre manager neither the town centre landlord/s. However, if the residential voice grows to a level what we say may not go unheeded the powers of lobbying will grow so dialogue with all concerned may eventually happen. It does need people to attend the meetings however to take part. Next meeting is Tues 8th Sept; details of the venue currently unavailable but keep watchful for news.

Minutes of A.G.M 2nd September 2008

The Annual General Meeting of the Friars' Community Group took place in the Crossways Pub at 7.30pm.

Apologies: were received from Mrs C Archer, Mrs D Whitehead, Mrs P Smith, and Mrs H Symonds.

Chairman's Report: The Chairman, (Martin Swain), reported that it had been a fruitful year for the group: We had organised and arranged publicity for meetings held for the public benefit and organised by the Friars' Community Group on the 'Marina' and also 'Traffic and Congestion'. Both topics were well attended and received, and demonstrated how concerned residents are by the threat of a marina to the Friars and how traffic and congestion affect the welfare of not only the people of the town but also its fabric. Disappointment was widespread at the ineffectualness of various involved agencies to resolve the problems. Membership of the group had grown so that within its first two years it represented 5% of the households in the Friars. We have raised funds from subscriptions and from the council by leaflet dropping with the newsletter. Courtesy of Dave Cooper, the Friars' Community Group now have a website, (www.friars.org.uk). The Occasional Newsletter has proved popular, informative and valuable. We have representation on various committees, such as NORA Consultative Committee, and also the Local Action Group meetings. (L.A.G.s are a level up from public consultations where the Police meet with local people at Community Action Group meetings, and has a direct link with those involved in CCTV, the Fire Brigade, Housing Associations etc. and provide an opportunity to get feedback from the Police and liaise with these other agencies to discuss topics of common concern such as crime and antisocial behaviour in the town). The group also keeps a watchful eye on local planning applications. Martin paid tribute to the secretary, Jeremy Dearling, and the Vice chairman, Jane Dearling, for their work during the year and also to Robin Williamson and Angela Brown for their work as joint treasurers and for the loan of the Crossways for the A.G.M.

Treasurers' report: The treasurers reported that we had £355 in the group account, and there were no claims made for expenses during the year.

Subscriptions: Subscriptions were agreed at £5/person per year, the year to run from one A.G.M. till the following A.G.M.

Constitution: Changes to the constitution as outlined by the annual pre-A.G.M. notice were agreed, and the new constitution was accepted as our working document. The changes were made to reflect the way we work as opposed to the way we perceived we would work when, two years ago, the group was established.

Future meetings: it was agreed we would hold a meeting in November to bring people up to date with emergency planning with specific reference to flooding in the Friars.

The main business of the AGM concluded at 8.20pm and being so brief, the Chairman invited the meeting to propose that all items be accepted and confirmed. The motion was proposed by George Durie and seconded by Jane Dearling and carried unanimously by the 21 members attending.

A general meeting following the A.G.M. 2nd September

Following the main business of the A.G.M a lively informal general discussion by the membership followed. Various general points were made, the chief one being that we would plan a meeting to bring people up to date with emergency planning with specific reference to the flood risk in the Friars.

The DNA Selecta Kit was being launched and Jane invited anyone who was free to join the photo-shoot.

Margaret Worledge asked for an update of the Friars Walk development but nothing new was known.

News that the council were at a further stage in relation to the marina was received with dismay and disbelief.

Rob Archer mentioned the need for close monitoring of the cycle route through the Friars and the changes taking place to the nature of the bus route.

Robin Williamson mentioned that the playground has been delegated a 'No Drinking Zone' by the police and alcohol consumption there was now considered more seriously than hitherto; consequently, anyone seeing alcohol being consumed are urged to contact police irrespective of evidence of drunken behaviour. The reason is that police are linking public alcohol consumption with antisocial behaviour and they perceive that by cracking down on the former will lead to a reduction of the latter.

Martin Swain brought to the attention of everyone the poor state of gravel on the playground and a letter to the council would follow.

Rita Barr pointed out that since the playground had been altered the quality of life for the residents had greatly improved.

From the Local Action Group meeting, George Dury mentioned that the Friars would soon be the subject of a "Restart" Initiative, whereby a taskforce from various agencies would concentrate resources onto the Friars and reduce crime especially along London Rd and in Hillington Square.

It was decided that a public meeting would be arranged to cover flooding issues and a general meeting specific to members would be arranged after the Boundary Commission had published its recommendations.

And finally.

Whether it is to protect the Friars, or whether it for another cause, here are some encouraging words from Antony Jay; "We all have to deal with bureaucrats and bureaucracies and it is a real pain. We are passed from town hall to ministry, from region to region, department to department; our letters and emails unanswered, unreturned phone calls, missing files, recorded voices tell us to press a series of buttons until we reach a recorded voice that tells us hat all their staff are busy but our call is important to them so will we please hold. It seems like an unwinnable battle. It is nothing of the kind. Bureaucrats at every level, in all organisations are immensely vulnerable in all sorts of ways and to pierce the armour all you need is some insight into their established procedures and mental processes, and a working knowledge of the tactics and techniques that will give you the best chance of victory. The crazy thing about protesting is that the time when you are most likely to succeed is the time when you are least likely to act. It is at the very beginning of the project that you have the best chance of victory." Members and supporters of the Friars' Community Group take courage; protesting and lobbying works!