The Army at Carver Barracks near Saffron Walden wants to create an 8-lane, 500m running track to supplement their existing sporting facilities. These are used at times by members of the public as well as by military personnel. Last Tuesday the Full Council meeting agreed to make a £500,000 grant towards the new facilities, which […]

A six weeks’ public consultation began yesterday, following Tuesday night’s council decision to approve the Draft Local Plan for publication. See a summary of the plan here.   UTTLESFORD COUNCIL MEETING 11TH JULY 2017 The following is what I said at the meeting: Tonight, I will be supporting the recommendation to start public consultation on […]

Uttlesford’s Cabinet made this Key Decision on Monday. See earlier story. Uttlesford Cabinet Agenda item 15 – S106 Community Pot, Stansted RESOLVED that: i.        Subject to the agreement of the developer, a sum of £200,000 is allocated to Stansted Parish Council to fund the release of all “reserved rights” held by a third party over […]

Uttlesford’s cabinet is to be asked on 10 July to release £200,000 of the remaining balance of money paid into a community pot by developers/homeowners living at Forest Hall Park, Stansted. The cabinet report is linked here. I can add little information to this report but would welcome views on how the remaining money should […]

Thursday evening saw a step forward towards ending the Ten Year Saga of Uttlesford’s Local Plan. The Planning Policy Working Group agreed unanimously – four Conservative, two Liberal Democrat and two Residents for Uttlesford councillors – to endorse the newly emerged draft. It now heads for Cabinet on July 6th and Full Council on July […]

Even before the polling stations open tomorrow morning for this ill conceived general election I will be on my way to the Orkney and Shetland islands. Mrs Theresa May says she decided to call for an election whilst walking in Wales. For the first time since becoming involved in politics in the 1980s I will […]

This motion was debated by the Rab Butler Society in Saffron Walden’s town hall last Thursday evening. The motion was approved by an overwhelming 31 votes to 13. An initial vote at the commencement saw a much narrower approval of 21:17. Proposing the motion was Mike Hibbs, the Liberal Democrat candidate in June’s snap general […]

Pavement obstruction by parked vehicles continues to annoy many residents. They expect the authorities to do something about it. Of course, the annoyance is caused by many residents and visitors who don’t seem to mind blocking the way for pedestrians and people with child pushchairs and adults with mobility vehicles. I can’t understand the habit […]

I will be having Afternoon Tea in Stansted with Baroness Shirley Williams on Saturday. The following is an extract from the publicity material that has resulted in a “full house” for what promises to be a well timed event as a result of the expected General Election in June. Shirley was on Radio 4’s Today programme […]

We seem to be living in an age of pretend, unreal politics. We have a prime minister who pretends to be compassionate and wanting to help the less able in society. Yet as soon as she does something that upsets the Tory right-wing, such as paying for better social care services by increasing National Insurance charges […]