Rushden and Wallington Parish Council

HIGHLIGHTS 2008

Rushden & Wallington Parish Council – Meeting Highlights

Rushden Parish Assembly – 16 April 2008

Wallington Parish Assembly – 13 May 2008

The Annual General Meeting and both Parish Assemblies have taken place in recent weeks.

The condition of local roads and litter continue to be hot topics. Faced with long delays in obtaining a commitment to and timetables for proper re-surfacing work, the best way of achieving prompt action is to report potholes and litter via the council hotlines. The numbers are:

Potholes: 01438 737320 – a precise location will be required

Litter: North Herts: 0800 3286023

East Herts: 08457 425000

The other major topic for discussion was the proposal for increased capacity at Luton and Stansted Airports and associated changes in the routes taken by planes on the approach to Luton. The Rushden & Wallington parish area currently sits under some 14 flight paths, so these plans can be expected to impact on the villages considerably.

At the Rushden Parish Assembly, Diane Jackson from Southern Green presented a summary of the local impact of the National Air Traffic Control Services’ (NATS) proposals to move the hold for Luton arrivals to the Huntingdon area and the changes to the flight approach paths. Under these proposals, in order to avoid more densely populated areas, ie Stevenage, the flight paths would be moved over more rural areas, including Southern Green and Ardeley. In addition, approach paths may well become more defined, with aircraft following a very precise narrow track, giving little respite to people living underneath. Diane is a committee member of the Luton and District Association for Control of Aircraft Noise, and well-versed in the contents of the consultation document.

At the Annual General Meeting, Brian Ross from the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign outlined the two applications currently under consideration affecting Stansted Airport. The first is to increase passenger handling capacity from the current 25m per annum to 35m per annum. The second is to construct a second runway, resulting in a passenger handling capacity of 68m per annum. Brian stressed that SSE works closely with LADACAN and that it is not “anti-flying” but is looking at the impact of the proposals in the context of their local, global and economic impacts.

The NATS proposals are currently in the public consultation period, which has been extended to 19 June. The Parish Council will be submitting their views and local residents are urged to look at the proposals and respond individually too. The consultation document can be found online at www.nats.co.uk/tcnconsultation. Further information can also be found online at www.stopstanstedexpansion.com. You can respond by completing the NATS questionnaire or by writing a letter to

NATS at:

TCN Consultation

NATS

Freepost NAT22750

Reading RG1 4BR

The next Parish Council meeting will be on 2 July 2008 at 8pm in Rushden Village Hall.

Highlights of the Annual General Meeting – 23 April 2008, Wallington Village Hall 

At the latest Parish Assembly at Wallington a member of SSE (Stop Stansted Expansion) spoke to attendees and asked that as many people as possible write and voice their complaints about the proposed expansion.. Either e-mail planning@uttlesford.gov.uk or write to UDC (Planning) London Rd, Saffron Walden, CB11 4ER by 26th June. With Stansted set to be Britain's biggest airport we need to act now.

Highlights of the Meeting held on 16 January 2008

The Parish Council has submitted its views on the Stevenage & North Herts Action Plan, part of the Local Development Framework, resisting any ideas for development to the North of Stevenage.

The Police Community Support Officers for the villages, Chris Brabrook and Tracy Kennedy attended the meeting. They are keen to visit the villages to advise residents how to improve their security and hope to be at the village fetes for this purpose too.

The next meetings will be as follows:

Annual General Meeting – 23 April 2008, 8pm, Wallington Village Hall

Rushden Parish Assembly – 16 April 2008, 8pm, Rushden Village Hall

Wallington Parish Assembly – 13 May 2008, 8pm, Wallington Village Hall