Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews Dec 10
Members would be surprised and concerned if the Chairman’s opening of TrustNews began “not a lot has happened.....”. The Chairman and Trustees might sometimes dream of a quietening down for a while but I am sure that will never be more than a dream.
It has certainly not been the case since the last issue in August. The Annual General Meeting on 27th September was well attended by members who heard a fascinating presentation about BedZed, a sustainable development in South London which sets new standards in that essential field and is a good example of the benefits available to a close community, such as car shares. A visit to BedZed is in preparation for the spring. Members were also able to view the short-listed entries for the Trust Design Awards 2010 and vote for their choice.
To have reached that stage meant a great deal of work by Chris Higgins, who organised the project with assistance from Vicky Feldwick, and by the panel of Judges. Their decisions were announced at a ceremony in the Ashburton Room of Queen Elizabeth II Court, made available to us through the generosity of Hampshire County Council. A report on the awards is included in this issue. Our warmest thanks go to Martin Willey, who chaired the panel and members Gill Collymore, Stephen Harte, John Stott and Barry Eaton.
Members of the Planning Advisory Group have been busy each week commenting on the rising number of planning applications. At the same time, members of the Policy Group were faced with the need for a response to the City Council’s request for ideas on the future needs of Winchester. This is part of central government’s desire for policy making to begin locally instead of being handed down from on high and set us a most demanding timescale which led to joint work with Winchester Action on Climate Change [WinACC] and Winchester Area Community Action [WACA]. The well attended public meeting on 6th November brought more views for the stalwarts to digest and formulate into a report to the Council in very short time. September saw the end of a most successful programme of walks organised by John Beveridge and led by members of the Trust. They give great enjoyment to those who go along and are another example of commitment by our membership. So it has been a very busy time for the Trust as a body but especially for the many members who willingly undertake these heavy burdens.
What of the future? The Barton Farm saga drags on with the public enquiry in February and one must wonder what effect on its proceedings will come from Cala Homes’ recent successful application in the High Court. We may surely hope for a resolution of the present impasse over the Silverhill development.
In the short term, we think increasingly about Christmas. Good wishes to all members and warmest thanks to those members whose labours make the Trust work.