Contact Address: Len Orpin 3 Waverley Gardens, Grays Essex RM16 2TJ

Contact address: Len Orpin 3 Waverley Gardens, Grays Essex RM16 2TJ Tel: 01375 374613 Email: [email protected] Website. www.Stiffordcf.org.uk STIFFORD COMMUNITY FORUM OPEN MEETING VENUE THE BAPTIST CHURCH HALL, PREMIER AVENUE, SOCKETTS HEATH ON MONDAY 19TH MAY 2014 AT 7.30.

INTRODUCTION. Len Orpin as chairman of the Forum welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Councillors Ben Maney and Joy Redsell, Kate French, Father O’Shea and William Guy of the N.H.S.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of the last meeting held on 17th March were agreed.

SPEAKER

ANN OSOLA FROM THURROCK COUNCIL RE CHANGES TO ROAD LAYOUT ON LODGE LANE AT JUNCTION WITH BRADLEIGH AND CONNAUGHT AVENUES

Ann explained that there had been countless complaints over the years in connection with this junction. She explained that the Council had done a consultation and had come up with two options. One was traffic lights and the other was a holding bay in the middle of Lodge Lane. She passed around plans of these two proposals and asked for comments. She said there will be another consultation taking note of all the residents’ views and she will come back again to report. One resident said this would be a disaster as traffic is already very bad in the mornings and he thought the trouble was drivers going to fast and having no patience. David Atkins said we are never going to get everyone to agree ut it is about saving injuries. Another resident at 103 questioned whether this was a serious accident spot as according to the Council’s own figures there were 7 accidents at the Treecle Mine roundabout and 8 at Pigs Corner. and only two at this junction in the period 2010/11. Many views were put forward one being no right hand turn at these junctions which seemed to be the most agreeable after a show of hands. It was also noted by a resident that the speed camera (when it comes back into force) should be nearer the junction as motorist go slow past the camera and then speed up. A resident asked if we could see the police figures on the accidents at this junction and Angie Gaywood said that this information could be incorporated into Ann’s next report on this junction

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MEETING

COMMUNITY HUB PROGRESS As reported before we are going ahead with a Hub in Stifford Clays. Len reported that they were setting up a special day to explain the Hub and encourage volunteers and hear their views. This will be sometime in June. Len said there were two more Hubs already in operation at Chadwell St, Mary and South Ockendon He explained we still do not have a designated building but that we might have to start with a demountable at first.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH DAY AT HEADON HALL Angie said this was very well attended people were in an out all day long. It was reported that there was not much interest in setting one up at Woodview It was reported that the scheme at Waverley Gardens is now up and running.

COMMUNITY BUILDER APPLICATIOON As reported previously Len had put the Forum forward for the community builder and made an application. He attended an interview on 20th March and reported that his application has been successful...He said that this post will be widely advertised.

WORLD KNITTING EVENT Vivien Crouch reported that she runs the knitting group held at the Stifford Clays surgery. where they knit for Basildon, Great Ormond Street and the Royal London Hospitals . She said this group is more than a knitting group it gets people talking and gets them out of their house especially if they are lonely. She reported that there will be a world knitting event held on Sunday June the 8th at High House Purfleet and that she had more information if people were interested

STIFFORD CLAYS SCHOOL GOOD FRIDAY EVENT It was reported that this was a success just as good as their Christmas lunch.

MATTERS ARISING

FRIENDS OF BLACKSHOTS Mike Lee reported that 2014 was going well and that they had planted over 400 whips inside the fencing on the allotment site where they will be safe and watered. He reported that work on the new childrens’ play area will commence shortly. He said re- furbish of the cricket pavilion is still on the cards but money is an obstacle at around halve a million pounds. He said they had funding for a plaque giving the history of Blackshots. He reported that the litter pick every month in the woods is making the area much tidier . He reported that the mortar spigot in the woods had been exposed in conjunction with the World War event and there will be a notice put up explaining this. He said the contractors who set up on the tennis courts will now be going. He made a request to the Council for more cleaning and greening work to be carried out over Blackshot because at times it looks terrible. David Atkins said there is a lot of money for funding projects at the Mardyke Trust.

LOWER THAMES CROSSING It was reported that there will be a public meeting on 18th June in the Purfleet area to discuss this consultation. At the moment there are two options - another crossing in the existing Dartford Tunnel area and one from Tilbury through Chadwell crossing over the A13 to Orsett and through the Bulphan Fens to the M25. Angie explained that the Council did not agree with either of these options especially with the report that this was an area of very bad air pollution.

EVENTS

TILBURY THROUGH TIME 14th and 15th JUNE

TILBURY FORT PROJECT 4th AUGUST

INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY RIGHTS 4th JUNE COUNCIL OFFICES 10.00a.m. to 1.00p.m.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT FAYRE 22nd MAY BEEHIVE CENTRE

ACE TRAINING START THEIR NEW PROGRAMME

GARDENING PROJECT STIFFORD CLAYS SCHOOL It was reported that the school were looking for volunteers to help with this project. If interested please contact William Edwards School.

BEAT THE STREET Len reported that censors will be going on lamp post all over Thurrock to promote walking. You have to register at the library or doctors and you get a credit card (use like an oyster card to get credits from the censors).

NEW SUPERFAST BROADBAND Has arrived in Thurrock

ST JOHN’S CHURCH Len reported that he had received a letter from St. John’s informing us of their progress. Len said we must write a letter to them as they are the only group who keep in contact after having a donation.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

POT HOLES The resident Mrs. de Fries who reported the pot holes in the Kerry Road area said she would like to thank Angie for her help as these were now done. Another resident said she would like to thank Angie for her help in getting the re-surfacing of Thorley Road tidied up after the work was done.

SMALL SPARKS FUND Vivien Crouch said she would like to promote this scheme and said the people were really helpful and made the process easy.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT TREECLE MINE One resident said that the lights are out of sequence making congestion and blocking the roads.

NEXT OPEN MEETING MONDAY 21st JULY