Agenda item

Statement of Helen Payne

I would like to address the objection Essex County Council has raised to the nomination of Chalky Meadow as an asset of community value, and to present a petition supporting the nomination.  Our petition proposes that protection and development of this ‘wild space’ would be of enormous community benefit.  There is a strong connection between our wellbeing and our relationship with Nature, and I refer to the Green Paper from the Wildlife Trust and RSPB supporting this point.  We should recognise the value of Nature, and how it can promote our wellbeing, as well as enabling community involvement and education opportunities for our children. 

I refer the Cabinet to Thaxted’s draft Neighbourhood Plan regarding wildlife habitats, which identified this land, amongst other sites, as one which was important for wildlife and deserving of protection.  The questionnaire referred to in the draft Neighbourhood Plan shows 95% of respondents considered it was important to protect and manage local wildlife sites. 

Further, this land has not been developed other than when the Mill View development was initiated.  It was earmarked for development for a school, many years ago, but that development had not been progressed.  The land had over the years been used by walkers and runners as a pathway to town. 

We dispute the argument that the land at Chalky Meadow is not of benefit to the community: our photographs show it is a benefit, as do the many letters of support we have received, proving that we care about the quality of our environment.  We hope Cabinet accept our supporting evidence and can see the land does meet the criteria to be an asset of community value. 

Councillor Foley added his support to the above statement, and said the local District and Parish Councillors supported the addition of this land to the list of assets of community value. 

Statement of Dena Ludford

I am the Clerk of Thaxted Parish Council, which has unanimously agreed that Chalky Meadows should be listed as an asset of community value.  It was the Parish Council’s intention to distribute to as many recipients as possible the biodiversity report, showing the importance of the land for wildlife and their habitats.  Extracts of Thaxted Parish Council’s emerging neighbourhood plan supported this approach, which also had the support of the local ward councillors. 

Statement of Robert Timmins of Strutt & Parker

I appear on behalf of the freehold landowner of Quendon Hall and Quendon Wood, regarding their objection to the nomination of these properties as assets of community value.  Quendon Hall is a privately owned property with parkland, let by private arrangement for weddings and other events.  There is no public use, and no public access.  Given the nature of this business, we do not agree that the current use of the Hall furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community, nor to we agree that there has been any such usage in the recent past.  It cannot, therefore, be said that the Hall is of community value.  There are also no permitted public rights of way to Quendon Hall or the ancillary buildings.  The Hall cannot therefore be said to be of community value. 

The same principle applies to the Parkland at Quendon Hall.  The Deer Park is not open to the public, and there is no permitted public access through the Parkland. 

Neither of these properties has ever been used for recreational, sporting or cultural interests which benefit the local community.