GBENA MAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
Listening to the views and concerns of people in Great Baddow
The Flyover has gone...!
Policing Update
Bus Update
Save The URC
Councillors Update
Save Hamptons
Cover photo: GBENA Team with Cllr Bentley with dismantling of the yover
www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on WHAT HAVE GBENA ACHIEVED FOR GREAT BADDOW EAST SO FAR...?
- Raised funds for a pensioner who was robbed at the vineyards.
- Campaigned hard against Baddow Bus Gate which was delayed and in turn stopped it going ahead.
- Campaigned hard for the safety of the Army and Navy flyover which has now closed.
- Provided temporary repair for businesses after van- dalism.
- A emergency phone in the fruit shop at the vineyards for people to use.
- Worked with the Parish to get a defibrillator placed at the vineyards.
- Awarded two commendations from Essex Police force.
- Informing residents on important events on social media.
- Working with Open Road and the people of Meadgate in helping to put a stop to the dealing of Crack cocaine (as shown on ITV News at 10).
- Created and managed a team of over 50 volunteers during the coronavirus. Collecting prescriptions, shopping and telephone calls to the lonely.
22 www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on GHB NEI OUR ST HO EA O D W A O S D S D O
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“Taking care of our community”
Coffee with cops We have been invited to attend an Essex We recently have held several “Coffee with County Council Army and Navy community Cops” events at the Glasshouse and Crown workshop in late March, where the future in Sandon, with a further event taking place of the Army and Navy junction will be dis- very recently at the United Reform Church cussed. in Great Baddow. These are regular oppor- tunities for residents to meet and engage Any comments from residents will be with the local policing teams, and are a gratefully received. great opportunity to raise any concerns you may have. Please keep an eye out for In addition to the above we have recently at- announcements regarding future events. tended meetings with the Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner and local Fire Bri- Army and Navy / First Bus gade, and have been recognised by the local As many of you are aware, GBENA attend reg- planning authority as a consultee in respect ular meetings with Kevin Bentley, ECC Head of the proposed Manor Farm Development. of Highways and his team, who are respon- sible for, amongst other things, the Army and It’s great to see that we are being seen as a Navy Junction. true representative of our local community by Local Government, Emergency Services and At our last meeting in January, in addition others, to enable us to have some input into to discussions regarding the removal of the decisions that affect everyone’s daily lives. A and N yover, which is now nearing com- pletion, we raised the issue of Bus Services We would also like to thank you all for your in Great Baddow, speci cally the reduction in continued support. the 51 Service.
First Bus were instructed by Cllr Bentley to re- view the changes to the service and are due to report back at our next meeting in April.
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4 www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on Great Baddow & Bus Transportation Update
Although there were concerns about bus services through Great Baddow before (reliability of buses being late or not turning up at all), this doesn’t compare to the drastic de- crease in timetabled services that were put in place by First Essex Buses since January this year.
During our last meeting with Cllr Bentley and First Buses, we brought up how the 51 bus a regular service has turned from a 6am to 8pm every 20 to 30-minute service to just 6 return trips a day between 9:30am and 3pm. We highlighted how school chil- dren and commuters relied on this service and now cannot use this service, forcing some to walk over 10 minutes to get to a different service. Cllr Bentley has asked for First Essex to look at this decision again, which we hope for feedback from First Buses during our next meeting on 1st April.
Since this meeting it has been pointed out that other services that serve Great Baddow have also been deceased, of which we intend to also highlight. From comparing timetables for the main two buses serving Great Baddow (51 and 57) the amount of timetabled services between 5pm and 8pm Monday to Friday coming to Great Baddow from Chelmsford Station have reduced from 14 services (5x 51 and 9x 57 on April 2019 timetable) to just 7 timetabled services by the 57 bus (from January 2020).
It is important for our community to have a reliable, frequent and relevant service(s) to allow our villagers to work, learn and socialise without wholly being reliant on car transportation or having to drive to the Park & Ride in order to get a reliable and frequent bus service. This leaves those who do not have access to a car inaccessible to a decent bus service.
We hope to get a resolution in some form to rectify this and will keep you updated with our progress.
www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on 5 The future of the United Reformed Church (URC)
The URC has been at the centre of village life for many years. Its halls have been used by all age groups from Rainbow and Brownies, to Weight Watchers, several U3A groups, model railway enthusiasts and the longstanding Seniors Luncheon Club, now it its 43rd year.
The Luncheon Club in particular bene ts from a large, well equipped kitchen which was the result of refurbishments about 20 years ago.
Early this year regular users were dismayed residents. The petitions remained in the to learn that, due to the congregation having lobby at the URC for a month and garnered dwindled to just a handful, the church was 500 signatures to close, effective 31st July 2020 at which point all activities would cease. The owner, • We applied to nominate the URC as an the Eastern Synod of the URC, stated that Asset of Community Value. By 11th May we a property valuation would be sought after should hear whether or not the nomination that date and the property would be listed has been successful. for sale. 25th Feb.: a letter from Rev. Paul Stein GBENA was made aware of the issue and, addressed to hirers of Great Baddow URC, while leaders of clubs and groups began states that ’due to the interest that has been to seek space elsewhere so that their generated for the church…the Synod has various activities could continue uninter- decided to conduct an evaluation of the rupted after July, GBENA took action - building and list it on the market prior to the building closing in July.’ • We contacted the Eastern Synod’s property manager on 10th February and March: All activities at the URC were can- received a response the same day (!), just celled due to Covid-19. in time for our letter and their response to be read out at the Parish Council meeting Late April: The URC was listed for sale that evening 27th Apr: The Parish Council issued a • We prepared 2 petitions, one for letter stating ‘In order for the Council to look users of the URC, and a second for Baddow at the possibility of purchasing the building
6 www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on The future of Great Baddow United Reform Church
for which we would need to secure a loan from the Public Works Loan Board, we need to consult with yourselves, the residents of Great Baddow, as repayment of this will have a small knock on effect on your council tax.
Due to the situation that we all nd ourselves in, this process is going to be a lot harder to set up. We are however looking into various ways we can converse with your- Please check our GBENA selves including a possible lea et through facebook page or our website every door explaining how you can take part www.gbena.org in a survey.’ for further updates.
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GreatBaddowFeb.indd 1 07/01/2020 17:17 8 www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on POLICING UPDATE Chief Inspector - Steve Scott-Haynes District Commander - Chelmsford and Maldon District Essex Police
Dave Oldershaw has kindly for the vast majority of you and I want to put given me this opportunity to let away drug dealers. They are a blight on our your members know who I am and communities and affect all of our lives. I can what I want to achieve. only do this with your help. I have to use the resources I have to the best of my ability and I thought it would be an idea to give you a bit that’s where the information that you and oth- of my background. I have been a police of cer er community groups give can really assist. for 19 years rstly in the Metropolitan Police working in East London, then moving over to Through the development of our relationship Essex Police in 2003. All of my service except with GBENA we have seen some real success for 3 years has been in front line response or in dealing with drug dealers and those caus- proactive teams, the other 3 years I was an in- ing antisocial behaviour in Great Baddow and telligence of cer covering the whole of North Meadgate. We still have a lot to do, but with Essex. I came to Chelmsford just over a year your information I can put my of cers in the ago as the Community Team Inspector before right places at the right times to deal with my promotion to District Commander. these issues.
I have a really straight forward ethos to po- You will not always see us, I will use plain licing which comes from my rst day on the clothed of cers, uniformed of cers, dogs, job where I was shown the Peelian Principles drones, intelligence, CCTV, any legal op- and the one I have always worked towards is: tion I have to tackle drug dealing. But please be assured that we are out there “Police, at all times, should maintain a rela- and making an impact with your help. tionship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the I cannot promise that we will eradicate drugs public and the public are the police; the po- in Chelmsford or that I will clean up the lice being only members of the public who streets in weeks, but I will do the best I can are paid to give full-time attention to duties with the resources I have to make Chelms- which are incumbent on every citizen in the ford an even safer place to live and work. interests of community welfare and exist- ence.” Please keep safe, stay at home to help save lives and support the NHS during these I will not always get it right and my of cers will dif cult times. Your police service will still not always get it right but we will always try to be out there dealing with crime and we do the right thing for the community. can only do this with your continued help.
I know that drugs are the biggest concern Chief Inspector - Steve Scott-Haynes
www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on 9 As residents of Great Baddow some of us are walking and exercising more during the current lockdown. Possibly not realising some of the The Historyinteresting of historyMolrams and tales this parish Lane... holds.... As a young boy one story I remember being told by my grandmother was of a likeable and very wealthy woman and landowner who lived on the outskirts of Great Baddow in the early 1800’s .
Molly Ram regularly frequented the ‘Royal Oak’ a public house in Sandon (now the Crown) much to her husband’s dismay. Late one evening Molly’s hus- band returned home from a working day to nd that the house had not been cleaned and his dinner not being ready! This time in history this was deemed as a highly unacceptable act! .Wrought with anger Molly’s husband headed down to the public house to vent his disapproval of his wife’s behaviour.
Upon nding his wife within the pub he pulled her out by her hair and dragged her up Sandon lane screaming and shouting to what was called then called Lovers Lane now near Sandon School. The next morning Molly was sadly found dead and dumped within a ditch by the side of the lane. No record can be found on the outcome of her hus- band being charged with her death or any record on the outcome.
With the sadness of her death and being a popular character Molly (sometimes known as Mollie) the road was renamed as Molrams Lane. Many years later there has been accounts of people witnessing a ghost like gure or presence of a lady waiting by Ladywell corner (now part of Molrams Lane).
Adrian - Great Baddow resident 10 www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on Councillor Richard Hyland Chelmsford City Council signs up to national campaign against modern slavery Chelmsford City Council became the latest authority to sign The Charter Against Modern Day Slavery (CAMDS), after a motion was introduced by Councillor Richard Hyland of the Chelmsford Independents Group at a recent full Council meeting and passed with unanimous cross-party backing. Cllr Richard Hyland The Independents have since the May 2019 Election also called for; Galleywood The History of Molrams Lane... Chelmsford Independent • A return to transparent Committee led decision making to replace secretive Cabinet system. Before they were in power the Lib-Dems, were keen for this change, they voted against and the motion fell.
• An Infrastructure-led planning policy, a local plan t for purpose and ready to meet our City needs not just Developers bottom line.
• An outcome driven culture, open, clearly measurable and accountable. We are holding the administration to account. Including Equitable investment in villages and Parishes across our city, resources and policies for sustainable communities, locally planned, all delivered with a sustainable future to look forward to.
• A review of value for money in services provided by public and private contributors.
It feels that the Chelmsford Independent 5 could be the foundation of something that has been missing in local politics, rmly putting residents, needs before any party policy. Chelmsford Independents have found much common ground, we are all wanting to contribute positively to a successful change for Chelmsford City Council through; Co-operation not Obstruction, Contribution not Contradiction, Service rst and foremost, our residents want and needs before our own.
Your Chelmsford Independent
Cllr Paul Clarke Councillors Rettendon and Runwell Cllr Paul Clarke Rettendon and Runwell
Cllr Ian Roberts Cllr Wendy Daden Cllr Keith Bentley South Woodham - Elmwood Broom eld & The Walthams South Woodham - Elmwood & Woodville If you want to know more about Chelmsford Independents and maybe interested in representing your local area contact us at [email protected]
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14 www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on I have been a resident of Great Baddow for 4 years. In the last 6 months there has been more and more drug dealing activity outside our house. I have tried many different ways to stop it, confronting people myself, calling 101 and logging incidents online and got nowhere.
I saw on Facebook a post from GBENA asking people to come forward and report any drug dealing activity, so I did.
If I’m honest, I didn’t expect anything to change but I was so angry at how blatant the drug dealers and their ‘customers’ were and felt I had nothing to lose.
I have emailed videos and pictures of active deals to the [email protected] email address and have been really surprised at the response I’ve received.
The Police have responded to each picture and en- couraged us to continue to share what we see, I have seen their presence in our road and at one point even had a telephone number of a PC to call directly.
I have attended Coffee with Cops and had the chance to voice my concerns, the team at GBENA have been great and clearly have strong connections with the Police who have proved they will act on the informa- tion we provide.
Although the drug dealing stopped for a while it has started again but I now have a way to report the crime and know that the information will be used towards making Great Baddow a safer place to live.
www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on 15 SAVE THE HAMPTONS SPORTS AND LEISURE CENTRE
For over 50 years Hamptons Sports and Leisure Centre (formerly Marconi Club) in Great Baddow has served our Community as an all-inclusive sports and social facility. The Centre was recently sold to Chelmsford Muslim Society (CMS), who have outlined proposals for an Islamic & Community Centre.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS? Fundraising pages describe a Mosque not a Community Centre – The public were promised a Community and leisure facility, whilst donors have been promised a Mosque for 1000 worshippers with carpeted prayer rooms, Wudu and Ghusl washing facilities for Men and Women.
Reduced availability – With rooms and bookings being taken for Islamic events, there is less availability for group bookings and Community use. Members are concerned that facilities are not being maintained and are already leaving.
Increased parking disruption – The site only has 98 parking spaces with residents already suffering. Proposals for up to 1000 worshippers would exaggerate this and obstruct access for residents and emergency vehicles.
Discrimination against existing users – Asking the Buddhists to leave and closing the Bars has made the Centre unwelcoming. Without a Bar the venue is unsuitable for most family and Community events and bookings are already being cancelled. Save The Hamptons was formed in response to these concerns by members of the Community who feel that the proposals, whilst beneficial for the Muslim community, are unfair on everyone else. IT’S NOT TOO LATE! The building may only be used within current planning consent. Our campaign aims to ensure that a planning application is required for change of use, so that you can have your say. It is not right for an all-inclusive Community facility to be transformed into an un-inclusive religious centre. The Council also has Core Strategy & Development Control Policies that are supposed to protect Community facilities from change of use. Help us send the message that our Community will not accept these proposals.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? ü Sign up to our mailing list for latest news, meeting announcements etc. ü Sign the petition at www.tinyurl.com/BaddowMosque Advertisement from Save Hamptons ü Put our board up in your garden or our poster in your window, contact us to request. Show your support today with the poster overleaf. ü Volunteer to help distribute our leaflets across the Community. ü Donate to help fund our campaign, leaflets, boards etc. ü Share our Social Media posts to tell your friends what’s happening. ü Write emails/letters to Newspapers, your MP and Councilors. ü Visit our website for full campaign details, news, articles and videos. ü Contact us for anything else and to make your voice heard.
Visit us online at: www.savethehamptons.co.uk Contact us by e-mail: [email protected] Or by post to: Mike Parker, Save The Hamptons, 71 The Vineyards, Great Baddow, CM2 7QN. facebook.com/SaveHSALC | twitter.com/HamptonsSave www.gbena.org [email protected] Find us on