Anyone who knows me will know that I’ve been fighting the closure of Keys Hall since last March and Old House for the past year.

I firmly do not believe that either of these halls are “surplus to requirements”.

In the case of Keys Hall, the council could ask that any developer come to us with a development that includes a community facility that would ensure the continuation of those groups who use it.  Recently, with the council unable to find a suitable development (great news as far as I am concerned) I have asked for them to book at least 12 months in advance, but they will only concede to extend it on a rolling 6 month basis, rather than the 3 months they have now.  I do hope that some remedial refurbishment work will take place in the interim.

With regards to Old House, we feel that there have been missed opportunities here.  The administration would not agree to our request to look at refurbishing the building and then renting out the top floors whilst keeping the ground floor for community use and this is also to close.  A sad day for those who enjoy “Learning for Pleasure” there and will be unable to make it to Merrymeade House as they do not have a car, and the bus does not reach this building.

I’m further surprised to learn that, after initially backing the campaign to Save Old House, Cllr Russell Quirk (Con) has now said, on www.thisisessex.com today:

“I too opposed the closure of Old House, until I was taken on a tour of it by our then Chief Executive, Bob McLintock. Once enlightened, I saw that most of it is completely unusable and in fact dangerous in its present state. There are holes in the roof and the staircases do not meet current fire regulations. To refurbish the building would require around £300,000 of council tax payers’ money. So before simply shouting ‘Rent the upstairs to businesses’, Cllr Chilvers and Co should acknowledge that such a scheme could not take place without significant public funds being spent to make the facility safe and habitable.”

I didn’t “shout” anything by the way!  But I did ask for this option to be investigated, with all finances presented to councillors at the next meeting.

It’s a sad day when we aren’t even given all the information we request, particularly when the agendas are only presented to us a week before the event and yet the Conservatives, with their huge majority, go ahead and vote for closing community facilities without investigating every option.  We had the same with the cricket pitch in Warley and other things besides!

Read the full article, with comments, here: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/brentwood/BRENTWOOD-Campaign-save-community-halls/article-567412-detail/article.html

I’ve just returned from the Full Council meeting and the news is that the decision on the cinema/retail complex/multi storey car park has been delayed.

More news to follow!

Another month, another planning committee.  Another shoe-horned development turned down in Ingrave Road and a house extension in Hanging Hill Lane approved.

I am disappointed that the committee were not minded to approve a Multi Use Games Area in Sawyers Hall Lane at the college.  As a ward councillor, I am always being asked why there is not enough for youngsters to do in the evening but the Conservative majority turned down a solution in our town centre.

Although it is on green belt, the planning officers considered this to be an appropriate use of the area, as did I, however, most of the Conservatives didn’t agree.  This was a bit of a surprise, given that the Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Dudley Payne, wrote a letter of support for the facility, read out at the committee, saying that this should be approved for the good of the community.

Oh well!

My latest offering in the Brentwood Gazette, written after the heated exchange regarding the Country Parks!!!

“Tory was still going on about Go Ape

“WE SHOULD have approved Go Ape in Thorndon Park”, stated Conservative councillor Phil Baker at the policy board on September 24.

This shocking statement demonstrates exactly why I am right to be concerned about the joint committee being formed between Essex County and Brentwood Borough councils to run Brentwood’s county parks and the cabinet system proposal which could lead to someone such as Cllr Baker being able to make such a decision alone.

Fortunately, Go Ape was turned down for a myriad of reasons, including the presence of Great Crested Newts who were breeding in the picnic pond, the dangers of setting a legal precedent if the change of use was approved and, undeniably, the weight of public opinion. To Cllr Baker, hundreds of residents fighting against this application seemed unimportant, as he dismissed them and then ridiculed my role in the campaign. But, the refusal reasons still exist.

However, my real issue of concern is how my idea of having a Friends of Brentwood Country Parks has been the victim of yet another Conservative hijack. Suggested by me as an organisation that would see real park users involved, Cllr Brandon Lewis has filled one third of this committee with councillors: three Tories and two opposition councillors. Residents will be so disappointed, given that most wanted a non-political group.

Cllr Karen Chilvers

Former Lead Campaigner

Save Thorndon Park “

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this meeting on Thursday.  Councillors were asked not to attend so that residents could actually have their say without any Tory highjacking!  I was fully in support of this so watched at home.  What an event!

99 per cent of the residents there were totally against the move to go to a cabinet system in Brentwood - a show of hands at the end was 100% against with the one person in favour abstaining from the vote totally!

It’s worth watching: http://www.brentwood.ukcouncil.net/site/

We’ve set up an on-line discussion forum, on a trial basis, let us know your views on this or any other topic by registering at www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk.

To go to the discussions, click here: http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/externals/PhpBb2/

If you want to take a detailed look at the plans for William Hunter Way, including a photo gallery and a Q&A, just follow this link: http://www.williamhunterway.co.uk/

Please tell me your thoughts on the proposal.

Last December, Lib Dem leader Cllr David Kendall put forward a motion to undertake a full public consultation in Vision when the final plans for William Hunter were received.   

Predictably, the conservative majority, including Cllr Russell Quirk, voted against this proposal and, therefore, only residents living near the proposed site will be formally consulted. 

So, you can imagine how astonished we were to see him go to the press asking residents to fully engage in the consultation and to email him with their views!  

If he had voted for our motion, then a formal consultation would shortly be underway!

As my colleague, Cllr Ross Carter, Brentwood North, said, the proposed development will impact on a much wider audience than those in the immediate vicinity and is about the future of Brentwood.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress of the plans, which are still with officers for determination at the moment.  Please do get involved in the consultation and do tell me your views.

For the full story, see:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/news/000068/tories_town_centre_consultation_irony.html 

You may have seen in the Brentwood Gazette today that the revised plans for the development in William Hunter Way have been received. 

The plans include:

• A six-screen 31,000sq ft cinema with a capacity of 1,020 seats
• A new high-quality, as yet unnamed 38,000sq ft food store, with total retail space of 90,000sq ft.
• Three additional fashion stores – not yet named
• A four-storey car park clad in a “living wall” for 654 vehicles over 10 levels
• A pedestrian walkway, where High Street shop Krisp now stands, linking William Hunter Way to Brentwood High Street
• A total of 14 one-bedroom flats in a two-storey block planned to act as a buffer zone between existing properties and the new car park.

What do you think?  The plans are scheduled to be discussed and voted on at October’s Ordinary Council meeting so please let me know your views.

For more information, go to http://www.brentwood.gov.uk/index.php?cid=47 and enter reference BRW/729/2008.

A lively planning committee! I was pleased that we approved a number of applications, notably a facility at Brentwood County High School’s plans for a separate facility for children who are having difficulties by converting the old caretaker’s house and an educational bricklaying centre at Sawyers Hall College which has got a lot of support from my colleague, Brentwood North Councillor Ross Carter.

We also voted through the demolition of the Sir Charles Napier pub and the adjoining properties.  I have ensured that the rubbish at the back of the pub is to be cleared up asap.

As a former Stondon Massey resident I was delighted to speak on a residential house in School Road where the owner is to build a replacement property and to enhance the area. When I lived in the village my mother was a parish councillor and we were often exasperated by those who moved in to a rural village and then wanted to tarmac country lanes and put in street lights where they weren’t needed. Here we have someone who has put in a wildlife pond, installed boxes for owls and birds and is protecting the woodland - well done!

We need these green lungs - if you ever visit The Brewery in Romford at night for the cinema, look up in the trees. The birds don’t sleep there because they think it’s still day!

I wasn’t very happy with the over-development of Crown Street. Another crammed in block of flats coming to a street near you!

But, as for the application for Woodlands School - take a look at the discussion on this and see what you think! http://www.brentwood.ukcouncil.net/site/#pp16722

. Select “Planning Development Control Committee - 16th July 2008″ and then item 16.