Comments from residents sent to Brett Tarmac

Aldborough Hatch Defence Association

The following are some of the emails sent by Aldborough Hatch residents on 5^th and 6^th February 2016 on learning that the Exhibition regarding future sand and gravel extraction in their home area is to be held outside Aldborough Hatch at a venue that is totally inaccessible to the elderly, the infirm and families with young children who do not have a car.

Ron Jeffries, Chairman, 6^th February 2016

TEL: 020 8599 7250; Mobile: 0797 488 2714; email: ronjeffriesd@live.co.uk

Kristy Leach

I am a member of the Aldborough Hatch Defence Association and as such I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed Exhibition that is being held at a venue nowhere near the Hatch.  I personally have no idea where the Redbridge Football club is, but am certain that it is not anywhere particularly accessible to local residents.

I assume that this is part of your strategy to make the opportunity to comment and make local people’s views heard as difficult as possible. I find that rather hard to understand and very cynical on your part. It does not change the fact the proposals are of deep concern to us local residents and therefore we should have a reasonable opportunity to comment and seek clarification on the issue that, personally speaking are of great concern:

·         The environmental impact of the proposals on a beautiful fragment of Green belt and what plans are in place to understand the possible threats and put in place appropriate mitigation

·         The potential impact on St. Peter’s Church and other residential buildings in the area. This includes the impact of noise, vibration, the increase in heavy lorries and excavation equipment

·         The loss of local amenities for walking and exercising dogs as it appears that well-used footpaths are going to be moved for an undisclosed period of time making access to the country park very difficult by foot.

I am part of a local project to develop a calm and restful garden as an integral part of the local churchyard so that residents have somewhere to sit and be with their loved ones in peace and quiet. It appears that this will be short lived if the proposals go ahead as there will be considerable noise and dust pollution.

I would ask that you reconsider your arbitrary and cynical decision about the exhibition and hold it within the area that is going to be so badly affected. You should also consider the fact that many residents are elderly and don’t drive and there is no public transport available for them. I am sure that this is why you have chosen this particular venue but I hope that you will take time to reflect and reconsider.

Revd Kate Lovesey, Priest-in-Charge, St. Peter’s Aldborough Hatch

I am also dismayed at your choice of venue but more concerned for the local community and the dust so close to the houses and children in Aldborough Hatch. I am also the Vicar of St Peter's a hundred and fifty year old church built on the mud with no foundations to speak of. It was just how they built buildings then. It looks solid but it is a brick building with a stone facing. There is a very real danger of sinkage and cracking as the ground and gravel moves under it. You only have to look at the graveyard to see the effect of past gravel extraction. Will your company give us assurances of future care and repairs of the beautiful building? If you have not seen it then let me invite you to come. I will be happy to show you round. 

If you need a closer venue - and we have no parking restrictions around the church - I would be happy to offer you the Church Halls free of charge over a weekend, where people can come and see what you propose. 

Nicholas Smith

Vice-Chairman, Aldborough Hatch Defence Association

Thank you for your circular message informing me of this community consultation exhibition – albeit that the amount of notice that you have given us all suggests that you clearly have little consideration for us good folk who you expect to tolerate yet another 8 to 9 years (at least, given your current track record!) of your blight upon our community!

I am rather discombobulated by your choice of venue for this exhibition, as the Redbridge Football Club is nowhere near the ‘community’ that either Phase E or - the newly introduced - Phase F would impact.

I would have thought that the Church Halls at St. Peter’s in Aldborough Hatch itself would have been far more suitable for this exhibition, but I have discovered that the person responsible for such bookings at St. Peter’s has received no enquiries from anyone at your company.

I trust that you are aware that, given that all this is happening in February, the Bridleways which form the only direct means of travel between the Hatch and the football club are not suitable for traversal by anyone in ‘normal’ clothing/footwear - and certainly not by anyone elderly or at all infirm!

I urge you to immediately reconsider both your ill-informed choices of timing and location for this consultation exhibition, as, if you continue as is, I do not fancy your and your colleagues chances on 25th February! 

Brenda Statham

As a resident of Aldborough Hatch for 43 years I am very disappointed at the lack of consideration you and your Company have shown towards all the good folk who live in Aldborough Hatch.  Your lack of thought for us is disgusting, especially when our worries have been clearly explained in the emails from Ron Jeffries.  Surely it would not be too much trouble to hold the exhibition at the Church Halls especially as they have been offered free of charge.  I can only assume you have done this quickly in the hope that not many residents will turn up - given the lack of time.

Please rethink your plans and give the residents the respect we deserve. WE care about Aldborough Hatch and will continue to fight.

Margaret Spence

Why have you decided to hold an exhibition regarding gravel extraction at Aldborough Hatch at a site away from the area? It seems to suggest that residents in the area are unimportant. The use of the church hall would have been more convenient for us but perhaps not you? 

In the past at least there has been an acknowledgement of the importance of local community associations as well but there appears to have been an omission here, too. Was this an oversight or deliberate? Surely local firms should be attempting to gain the support of local residents rather than what appears to be riding rough shod over them? This is not the way forward. It only leads to suspicion and resentment.

I trust you will review your approach and ensure that residents’ views are accorded proper respect.

Vanessa Cole

I am given to understand that your company Tarmac Ltd are proposing to hold an exhibition on the proposed gravel extraction at site E and site F on the 25^th February 2016 between 12.30am and 8.30pm at Redbridge Football Club, Station Road.

Whilst I do not live in the areas for the proposals, I am a former Councillor for the area of Aldborough, which includes past, present and proposed works.  I also attend St Peter’s Church and therefore realise how further gravel extraction will affect the area.

It seems that in explanation to the Chairman of the Aldborough Hatch Defence Association you stated that you could not book Fairlop Waters as they were redecorating, and thus choose Redbridge Football Club.

It is an extremely difficult journey, especially for the elderly and those who may have to bring children with them – even if they have a car.  Without a vehicle, they will have to either get a Central line train from Newbury Park to Barkingside or two buses.  I note that you have relayed to the Chairman of the AHDA that you are willing to lay on minibuses, but are they going to leave at regular intervals or will people have to book?

Of course if a closer venue had been chosen, such as the Church halls, the subject of minibuses would not even be a question; and it seems you and your company chose not to enquire either of the Hall Secretary, nor the Priest-in-Charge, Revd Kate Lovesey, whether the halls were vacant or not.  They, too, are at ground level, completely disable-friendly and even have a disabled toilet.

Pardon me for being a cynic, Sir, but one would think you don’t wish people to attend because could you have chosen a location any further from the proposed sites – apart from holding the meeting in Wanstead?

The last exhibition to be held on the subject was held eventually in a tent next to the church and over a period of 48 hours, some 150 people attended and asked some extremely pertinent questions, and please do not believe that such questions will not be asked again, because they will.

The ‘decision’ to hold the exhibition so far from the site could be seen as an indication that you don’t want to hear residents’ opinions, and  come the time of the application being submitted state that ‘ because so few people turned up, there was not much interest’.  If this is the case then I should perhaps state you will have miscalculated the feelings of residents.  Our last fight was a proposal to build the London All Weather Racecourse on Fairlop Plain. That applicant also treated residents with disrespect and found the Council Chamber packed and a second meeting room also over-flowing. And we won the day!

Change the venue – the Church halls are waiting.

Jenny Chalmers

I received an email from you today inviting me to a consultation evening on Thursday 25th February regarding more gravel extraction on Fairlop Plain. As someone who lives opposite the proposed development site, I am appalled at the lack of notice, the timing and the location of this event. Why hold it on a weekday when many people will be unable to attend because of work and family commitments? Why hold it at a time of year when people who rely on public transport will have to brave the cold, rain and possibly snow to get to it? The last consultation was held in the summer in a tent on the proposed site so why now hold it outside the neighbourhood of those directly affected and making it difficult for those without transport to get there? Why give just over two weeks’ notice of the event when you have been planning this extraction for years? (Eight years - since 2008 in fact!)

 I would love answers to those questions. I can only surmise that you are making it as difficult as possible for those who are affected to get there to try and reduce the opposition to your plans.

I have suffered from the noise, dust and pollution from your previous extraction, which you still have not managed to restore, for many years.  You have consistently failed to meet any deadlines or honour any written statements about working conditions (such as noise and dust levels) so that I along with many residents will not be taken in by any whitewashing at this meeting and will be vocal and visual in our opposition.

The thought that you are planning to go ahead with this so near where people, including young children, live shows that you have no consideration and only contempt for our environment and welfare.

We have had enough and will fight you at every stage to stop this further desecration of our neighbourhood happening.

Gaby Laws

I am concerned at your choice of venue, date and timings for the Community Consultation.
Both your 'preferred' choice of Fairlop Waters and your selected venue of Redbridge Football Club are some distance to travel for the local community who will be affected by your proposals on: 'land west of Aldborough Road North and west of Hainault Road'.
The more central venue, of St Peter's Church, Aldborough Road North, is far more accessible to all. Churches always tend to be! As well as being far more central to your proposed extensions.
I note you state that you chose the Football Club because it’s large enough. According to their website the Club House can cater for up to 150 people, Fairlop Waters can cater for 120 to 150 people and as you know St Peter's Church was able to house your previous consultations when 120 people attended.
So it would seem that the size of the venue is not the issue. Perhaps it’s the fact that both the Football Club and Fairlop Waters have bars? Otherwise I can only surmise that it is to make it as 'un-Community' Friendly as possible.
Timings, you have selected Thursday 25/2/16, a working day and a school night - why? Surely there are better days/ times? Why not at the weekend?
There are many ways to hold a consultation, you can engage the locals, listen to them, smooth out concerns, allow them to be heard or you can alienate them.
Please re-consider, I have no wish to have to take a day off work, losing a day's holiday, to attend but as a local resident who has suffered as a result of the ongoing dust, dirt and traffic caused by your works I will have to unless you move to a more sensible venue and/or day.

Liz Ling

I totally support Ron Jeffries in his representations re the contempt shown to Aldborough Hatch residents for the upcoming exhibition. This both in the short notice given and the proposed venue, I cannot help but be cynical about possible motives.

It would seem that it is only after Ron representing AHDA has become aware of this and acted that some 'concessions ' have been made i.e. transport. AHDA is an organisation that has a long history and in my view needs to be taken seriously in its representations.

Chris Gannaway

It has come to my notice that you are having a consultation exhibition at Redbridge Football Club Barkingside on the 24^th and 25^th of February. This is well away from the community that maybe affected by the gravel extraction proposal.

I believe that many people that would like to see the exhibition will be unable to attend due to the venue, mid-week dates and their own vulnerability attempting to get to this venue by public transport. Many people in Aldborough Hatch will not attempt to come to Barkingside as it is so difficult /time consuming by public transport and then having to walk over the railway bridge slope in both directions. The only alternative is the walk across the fields, something that few of the able bodied would attempt at this time of year. I am not sure that I will come to this venue and my wife will not be able as she is still having difficulty walking after breaking her leg last summer.  

Therefore I do not see that you will gain a meaningful consultation from this exercise as planned. I would urge you to bring the exhibition to Aldborough Hatch at a weekend with enough time to adequately publicise the event. I believe that the Church Hall at St Peter’s has been offered.

Of course, there is the viewpoint that you are just going through the motions and whether you get good results from the consultation is nether here or there, I hope that you will prove this wrong by taking on-board the argument I have made.