Cllr Karen Chilvers

A reminder – in a few hours the planning committee will meet to decide the future of St James Road. 

We now have a petition of over 150 signatures against it and about 40 objections too.

Not only does this propose flats, but also traffic lights, a shop with associated deliveries and a creche with no parking.

If you are able, please come along to the Town Hall from 7pm tonight to show how you feel.

At the launch of the new Draft Bill on energy, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, writes:

Over the next decade, around a fifth of existing power plants are due to close, against a background of increased energy demand and increasing prices. We need new investment simply to keep the lights on.

But more than that, we need a clean energy revolution to meet our ambitious climate change goals and make this the greenest government ever.

That’s why I am bringing forward a new Energy Bill today.

You can read more about our clean energy revolution here.

We also need to transform our energy market to reduce the risk and cost of low carbon technologies.

That’s what our Bill does.

The UK is fast becoming a world leader in renewable energy, especially in off shore wind. I want us to lead the world in Carbon Capture and Storage too.

And we are also tackling rising energy bills. Without reforming the energy market bills will rise by around £200 in the coming years. Our reforms will mean bills are around 4% lower than they otherwise would have been.

Going green is good for the economy, good for Britain and good for you.

Yours,

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

(Image licensed under Creative Commons from DECC)

On Friday, I met with James Moody, MD of Countryside Properties, to discuss some issues that need attention in the area.  Principally, issues were with the huge potholes in the roads.

Now, James and I are never going to agree on how many flats were sustainable in the area but, he has a job to do and so do I and, therefore, the best thing to do is to agree to disagree and deal with what’s there.  200 flats can’t be un-built like I would like them to be, so we deal with what we can deal with.  (I was however appraised of exactly how many properties have been built and I wasn’t far out….there are currently 406 in Rollason Way including the unfinished one, plus the 87 flats in Brunel House in St James Road making a grand total of 493 – meaning a grand total of 517 if the final part of Brunel House is approved on Wednesday).

James and I took a walk around the site and he has give me his assurance that the worst road defects (the ones outside Botham House) will be filled in within the next six weeks.  All the defects will be dealt with but these ones, that everyone has to drive over, will be done first.

He also confirmed that the path by Boardman Place will shortly be completed so no-one will be walking over mud any more!  All this land will be “made good” before things are handed over.

We were both pleased that the large green outside The Crescent (the new houses in Wharf Road) was so well used by many residents – including my friends Bob and Buster and both felt that the dog bin I secured there in my first term as Brentwood West councillor had made this a really pleasant area, in the main.

We are both aware of some other issues there, but I have also been told that these are being dealt with.  Let me know of any issues you have.

I also discussed the play area issue and another exciting project that is Olympics-related, but I will tell you more on that when I can.

Countryside’s time at Rollason Way is almost at an end, it’s Taylor Wimpey we are dealing with now as they try and cram in a few more flats…but that’s another story!

If you do have a chance – this petition needs your consideration.  It will be presented to the Planning Committee on Wednesday.

In #Brentwoodwest this week there are just two applications – Wansford Close and Weald Close.

10 Wansford Close - MODIFY ROOF TO ENCOMPASS GARAGE, ADD GABLE ENDS TO EITHER END OF THE NEW ROOF AND INSTALL A FLAT ROOF DORMER TO THE REAR. PROPOSAL INCLUDES TWO MODEST DORMERS ADDED TO THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY: Recommended for approval.

12 Weald Close - NEW TIMBER FRAMED OUTBUILDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON EXISTING CONCRETE BASE: Recommended for approval.

Tonight, I’ll be back in the council chamber after my year off , representing you once again.  I can barely wait!

I am looking forward to standing there with my seven Lib Dem councillor colleagues and holding the  Conservative Administration to account with them.

I also wish the Mayor,  Mrs Joan Holmes, well in her last meeting as the civic head of the Borough of Brentwood and wish Cllr Ann Coe well as she takes over as Mayor for 2012/3.

This is a public meeting – so you can come along to the Town Hall and watch or, alternatively, you can watch the webcast.

(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

In #brentwoodwest, the development in St James Road is back on the agenda for next week’s planning meeting, having been deferred from the last meeting until after the elections.

This will be atop a convenience store (with its associated deliveries and increased activity), plus a creche and some offices.

Despite this new information it is STILL recommended for approval but the latest council report shows some alarming facts:

• the report clearly demonstrates that there is not enough parking
• the report recommends REMOVING the small amount of parking outside Brunel House to accommodate the proposed creche
• Essex Fire & Rescue have raised “serious concerns” about emergency access
• “Major retailers” have shown an interest in the “convenience store” idea – this will bring deliveries round the clock to the rear of Brunel House whilst residents try to sleep.
• Traffic lights are proposed for the junction with Station Approach.
• It appears the police have not been consulted, despite the recent anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in the area.

If you cannot join us – please do sign the petition against more flats in St James Road and forward to your friends too – there have been 39 objections and 62 signatures at time of writing (plus a 91-strong petition from the last development proposed), but the more signatures the better!

I have always enjoyed a good, thought provoking documentary and have been an avid viewer (well every seven years at least since “35 Up” of this documentary series.

Last night, Neil Hughes was featured.  He’s always been an interesting character and with bouts of homelessness and difficulty overcome he has always been one to watch and, I have always thought a thoroughly likeable chap.

Flashbacks to earlier years showed him expressing an interest in politics.  I was just thinking how he should be a Lib Dem councillor and draw on his own life experiences to help others who are having tough times when, well, what do you know, he’s Cllr Neil Hughes – Liberal Democrat Councillor!!!!

Since 3rd May, I have had to catch up on sleep, with neglected friends and family and rest my weary old bones!  But now it is time to get back to the job of “being a councillor” and catching up on the casework that so badly needs doing.

I have a fair list to work through, and some things to pick up from my 2007-2011 term that weren’t carried through by my former Lib Dem colleague as I thought he was doing, but no matter!  I am back to handle these things myself!

In the last few days, I have asked for officers to bring me up to speed on new housing issues, raised with me during the election campaign, where residents need their corner fought and I have asked for inspections and updates on roads that badly need resurfacing or repair before there is an accident.  I hope a broken wall is now to be made safe and a developer will give me an honest update on a number of issues that need resolution.

I am also looking at some new facilities around the ward that I hope will improve residents’ lives – but more of those later!

If I can help – don’t hesitate to call!

In #Brentwoodwest this week there are a number of applications across the ward:

26 Hillside Walk - SINGLE STOREY REAR EXTENSION: Recommended for approval.

36 Kings Chase – SINGLE STOREY REAR EXTENSION AND PORCH TO FRONT: Recommended for approval.

45 Kings Road -CHANGE OF USE FROM FIRST FLOOR SHOP STORAGE TO RESIDENTIAL FLAT. (GROUND FLOOR PORTION OF SHOP TO REMAIN). ALTERATIONS TO SHOP FRONT TO FORM AN ADDITIONAL DOORWAY: Recommended for approval.

18 La Plata Grove – CROWN LIFT BY 3M ONE BEECH: Recommended for approval.