|
IMPORTANT CHANGES for 2010
Dear
Members
Please take the time to
read the following carefully.
IMPORTANT
- Proposals made at the AGM 2009 that affect this year's AGM
1. Due to the poor
attendance last year there was concern over whether the meeting was
quorate. It was pointed out that there may be confusion due to the
offer of free membership to those who joined prior to 2008 as to who
is/is not a member now and therefore no real way in which to define what
the actual membership numbers are (ie has anyone resigned without
informing us or are they unsure if still have membership, etc?).
It was proposed that the meeting should go ahead but that members
would need to contact the secretary in writing prior to the next AGM (by
5th November 2010 at latest) if they did not wish to retain their
membership (which is currently free, but under review every AGM) so that
we can assess true numbers.
2.
As nobody came forward to offer their services on the committee last
year it was proposed that the committee be restricted to a minimum of 5
LoPRA members, with the continued availability of a Parish Council
vacancy, requiring a quorum of 3 (including 1 officer). An increase in
the quorum of 1 would be required for every 2 additional members (there
are currently 6 committee members). Further committee members
should be co-opted as required.
3.
That AGM's do not require a quorum of members present as previously
identified in the constitution but
must have a quorate
committee present to go ahead (point 16 of the Constitution), this would
not alter the availability of Proxy voting. The intention is to
prevent future issues where lack of attendance makes the whole process
unviable and wastes money on booking the hall and peoples' time, etc.
There would still be the usual notification period of meetings, etc to
all members, as in the current constitution.
-
If members are in
agreement with the above they need do nothing and are effectively
voting FOR the above proposals.
-
If they
object to any of the proposals above
they need to contact the secretary in writing by
November 5th 2010, stating which
proposal they object to (ie 1, 2 or 3 or any combination of the
above). A 2/3 majority of votes for each proposal will then be
effective as of the 2010 AGM.
-
If you have any
further proposals that require a change in the constitution
these must be presented to the secretary in writing by
12th October 2010 to be voted on at
the 2010 AGM.
The above proposals are
those that the committee and those present at last year's AGM agreed to
go forwards.
Kind regards
Heather Thomas-Smith
October 7 2010
|
ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING 2010
and
OPEN GENERAL
MEETING
Tuesday 9th November
7.30pm
LONG PRESTON VILLAGE HALL
The meeting welcomes all
LoPRA members and Long Preston Residents.
We hope to keep AGM
business brief, as an Open General Meeting will follow.
AGM AGENDA
1. AGM
2009 Minutes
2. Annual
Reports
3. Treasurer’s
Financial Statement
4. Election
of Officers
and General
Committee Members
5.
Election
of Auditor
6.
Consideration of Items Previously Notified
7.
Membership
8.
AOB
Note to
all LoPRA Members:
Membership has been free to all those members who joined prior to the
2008 AGM for the last two years; this will be reviewed again this year,
but is unlikely to change. If you wish to maintain your current
free membership you need do nothing, but if you wish to cancel your
membership for the coming year then please submit your cancellation in
writing to the secretary at the address below by 5th November
2010. New membership requires a one-off payment at present.
Other changes that were proposed at last year’s AGM will be posted on
the website prior to the AGM (or may be requested from the Secretary).
Anyone who would be interested in taking an active part in working
within the LoPRA committee should contact the Secretary [see below] in
writing with nomination/s no later than the 26th October
2010. Please note that to become a committee member, other than a
nominee from the PC, it is also a requirement that applicants are
willing to become LoPRA members and that they are happy to work on
behalf of LoPRA within the constitution (see
here or the secretary for details).
Secretary:
Heather Thomas-Smith 01729 840113
Email: heather@lopra.org.uk
Correspondence address:
Croft Close House, School Lane,
Long Preston, BD23 4PN |
|
Hellifield & Long Preston could become part of a
Trailer Park
Communication
from Mrs J M W Marley
It seems Long Preston and Hellifield
are under attack in several areas from developers or housing demand
or housing quotas.
One of the key ways to protect both
villages is to emphasise the importance of the Long Preston
Conservation Area.
Gallaber caravan site is one area causing concern. The
developers have appealed against two refusals for planning
permission.
Public opinion and support can help halt this enormous trailer park
growing further. They want to expand closer to Long Preston -
almost joining the two villages together.
Some important facts:
-
Gallaber Caravan
site is already 60 acres in size.
-
Gallaber Caravan
site already has planning for over 200 static caravans, 60
touring caravans and unknown number of tents.
-
The developers of
Gallaber have already demolished over 120 metres of hedgerow
within the Long Preston Conservation Area, illegally and without
authorisation.
-
The caravan site
has already managed to obtain planning permission to develop
within a small part of the Long Preston Conservation area.
English Heritage should be consulted on any development within
a conservation area. English Heritage was not consulted in this
case.
-
In 2008, the
developer applied for planning permission to expand further and
deeper into the Long Preston Conservation Area.
-
Once again they
failed to consult with English Heritage. Planning was refused.
-
In 2009 the
developer applied once more for planning permission in the same
area. Again there was no acknowledgement or recognition of the
Conservation Area and English Heritage was not consulted.
-
Luckily, three
days before the planning committee meeting, we discovered that
EH should have been consulted
-
We made English
Heritage aware and five minutes before the Planning Committee,
they (EH) managed to have their strong objection faxed through
to Craven District Council.
-
Once again, the
Planning Committee refused planning permission on grounds of
policy (by a substantial majority)
-
The Developer
appealed to the Planning Inspectorate
-
The Planning
Inspectorate offered an informal inquiry
-
The Developers
decided they wanted a formal inquiry and their QC fought to
obtain this.
-
We now have a
formal Inquiry on the 7th of May.
-
The caravan site
started with restrictions on occupancy of no more than 60 out 90
days. It is now only closed from end January to mid March.
Those who use the A682 will know that Todber Caravan site is
advertising a '12 month season'. Is living somewhere for twelve
months out of 12 months temporary residence or permanent?
When does it become housing?
-
Please have a look
at Gallaber this weekend, it is full. It looks awful and does
nothing for the rural landscape further more, the static
trailers are providing back door housing for the area. This
development has crept along, growing larger each year. The
caravan site is already over 60 acres in size. It is already
huge.
-
If they are
successful, they will join up Hellifield and Long Preston in
built form creating one 'super' village.
-
The entire
area is part of a special landscape area according to Craven
District Council.
-
This means that
land in a conservation area within a designated special
landscape area within full view of a National Park is being
targetted for development. This cannot be allowed!
-
The CPRE worked
with NoDisc to stop the Green Lane development using
determination and dedication to achieve their goal. The only
way to stop this kind of development is through people power.
The CPRE has a housing branch that is proving to have a wealth
of information and a handful of people dedicated to preserving
the countryside in the area. It is not just a case of visual
destruction but destruction habitats, plant life and wild life.
It is noise pollution and light pollution. It is an
unnecessary destruction of a rural way of life.
-
the A682 as we all
know only too well, is the most dangerous road. It is simply
not safe for children on bicycles or parents walking with their
children
The Green Lane site was owned by
Matthew Binns who also owns David Hills of Skipton and is one of
the owners of Gallaber Caravan site. He also owns the land on
which the appeal is based. Planning was refused twice on the
Green Lane site. He appealed. The same process applies at
Gallaber. The QC representing Gallaber is extremely good, one
of the best. Whilst they lost the Green Lane Inquiry - winning
this one becomes even more important for them. We need to raise
as much awareness of this development as possible and lodge
objections.
-
Please write to
the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and object to the Gallaber
plans. Please lobby your Councillor - Helen Firth or
write to the Craven Herald
-
Hellfield and Long
Preston Parish Council Chairmen and some members have already
visited Bendgate and both councils have objected. LoPRA have
objected. The CPRE have objected. North Craven Heritage Trust
have objected. We thank them. We need more to stop this. We
need as many objections lodging with the Inspectorate as
possible. Please put pen to paper and help stop this
destruction of our beautiful countryside.
Feel free to
contact me for any information regarding this appeal. We
have a wealth of photographs and data going back over eight
years.
JMW Marley. Bendgate
We believe the
inquiry date is to be in August,
so anyone who wishes to raise issue with this doesn't have much
time.
THEY MUST ACT NOW!
|
|
A65
Footway Survey
LoPRA have carried out a
photographic survey of the state of the footways alongside the A65
through the village.
This has been presented to the
Parish Council, who plan to consider it at a future meeting, with the
possibility of requesting action from the Highways Agency.
Click here to see the
results. |
LONG
PRESTON HERITAGE PROJECT
A Lottery grant has been awarded towards the
repair and restoration of the bells of St Mary's Church in Long Preston,
and to fund a Long Preston Heritage Project. This will include
workshops, talks and opportunities to get involved in historical
research and recording in order to celebrate our village heritage.
See the
Long
Preston Village website for more details.
|
