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Wednesday 25 September 2013

More Vandalism in Speckled Wood

25th September 2013
MORE VANDALISM IN SPECKLED WOOD.
More vandalism has occurred in Speckled Wood over the last week.  The tree at the top of the woodland near the village green has now been attacked by an axe cut all the way around it . This is another blatant attempt at vandalism to destroy the tree.

A further tree has been cut down and removed leaving a stump which is potentially a trip hazard. If you spot anyone working in the woodland cutting down trees please contact the police.

This vandalism follows on from the children's tree where logs put around for seating have been thrown in the stream. Please keep a look out for these vandals.

Sunday 22 September 2013

The Trust is busy putting down more woodchip

22nd September 2013
THE TRUST IS BUSY PUTTING DOWN MORE WOODCHIP
The Victoria Avenue end of Speckled Wood is looking fabulous. Some of the Trust members have been busy applying woodchip to the paths, this is in preparation for the wet season which is approaching.
The Trust hopes to make a start on the other end of the wood at Frederick road but there is a drainage issue on one of the paths that needs to be resolved first, this has prevented the woodchip placed at this end by Friends of Speckled Wood currently being put down on the pathway.

Friday 20 September 2013

The Trust meet with Council Officers to discuss the Ore Notice Board

20th September 2013.
THE TRUST MEET WITH COUNCIL OFFICERS TO DISCUSS THE ORE NOTICE BOARD.

This morning the Trust met with Council Officers to discuss the position of the Ore Notice board. A site was agreed subject to any restrictions as discussed on site. The new notice board is hoped to be situated in place of the dustbin . This will afford the best view and the rubbish bin will be located at the other end of the bench.

We look forward to this moving forward and the Village having its noticeboard back.


Saturday 14 September 2013

Meeting with the Sussex Badger Group

13th September 2013
MEETING WITH THE SUSSEX BADGER GROUP
Today Mr Don Wiseman met with the Trust members Kelly , Martin , Dave and Mr Aubrey Ingleton at the HCA land at the end of Church Street for a meeting in relation to Speckled Wood. The meeting was very successful and everyone participated with a walk through Speckled Wood. Some interesting information was learned and an exchange of information was most useful. A further meeting with the Council is going to be requested.

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Two more dates agreed with SSPT Volunteers

11th September 2013
TWO MORE DATES AGREED WITH SSPT VOLUNTEERS.
Two more dates have been agreed with the volunteers from SSPT today who worked so hard with the Trust clearing a huge amount of rubbish from the site last month.

The Trust was very happy to agree two new dates in October were the remaining rubbish from this area will be removed.

A spokesperson from the Trust said they were very pleased to have arranged this and look forward to  having the volunteers on site again.



Monday 9 September 2013

Anguis fragilis spotted at Church Street

09th Sept 2013.
ANGUIS FRAGILIS SPOTTED AT CHURCH STREET CLEARANCE SITE

Slow worms have been spotted at the vandalized Church Street site bordering Clifton Road. Ealy last week Council Contractors tried to clear this land without a license. It appears that no Ecology report was done prior to this work either . Despite this the slow worms have managed to survive despite the site being left in an aweful state by the Council Workers. It is hopped that the Council will stop work altogether as there has been criticism that this is the wrong time of the year to do this clearance work.

FOSWMT Report handed into Planning

09th Sept 2013
FOSWMT REPORT HANDED INTO PLANNING OFFICE.

The Friends of Speckled Wood Report in response to the Outline Planning Application HS/OA/13/0600 was taken to the Planning department and handed in this morning.

The report was also sent digitally into dccoments email address on Sunday.

Saturday 7 September 2013

Come play in the Woodland

7th Sept 2013

COME PLAY IN THE WOODLAND

The second come play in the Woodland event was hosted by Friends of Speckled Wood Management Trust in association wit Ore Church Mice Pre-School and Sussex Wildlife Trust today. The event was very successful on a sunny but chilly afternoon. The activates juggling cake decorating, face painting all went down well with the children and more than fifty adults and children enjoyed the treat in the Woodland. The Trust thanks everyone for there help as without this this event could not happen.

The glades in the woodland  were wall full of activities an animals

The Trust hopes to have a youngsters bonfire with out fireworks in the woodland later in November .

Please watch this space as we will announce the next event as soon as we have details of it

Friday 6 September 2013

The Trust hands over objections

6th September 2013
THE TRUST HANDS OVER AN INITIAL 464 OBJECTIONS.
Today the Friends of Speckled Wood Management Trust handed over four hundred and sixty four objections to the Cllr Peter Chowney outside the Town Hall . These Objections were all regarding teh Outline Planning Proposal in Victoria Avenue , Ore. The Trust has said they hoped there would be more objections as the Chairman gave an interview with Arrow FM for their breakfast news.  It is apparent that the public in Ore do not want this development. It is hoped that the Council will take these views on board as the village has been beset with development that the Council has agreed in the last year.The Trust is hoping for a better informed decision as they also submitted a 12 page report.

There is still time to object until Monday. You can register your objection here:

TWO DAYS LEFT TO SEND IN YOUR OBJECTION

http://www.friendsofspeckledwood.org.uk/gb/consultation/

You can register your objection online on the Council Planning website here:
http://publicaccess.hastings.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=_HSTBC_DCAPR_100731

You can write or take your letter to:


Outline Planning Application HS/OA/13/00600 
Hastings Borough Council
Upper Ground Floor, Aquila House
Hastings, East Sussex
TN34 3UY
Email: dccoments
@hastings.gov.uk
If you email please include your full postal address, if you object, and your reason for your objection.

Thursday 5 September 2013

HBC Estates Department stopped contractors 2nd day

05th Sep 2013.
HBC ESTATES DEPARTMENT STOPPED CONTRACTORS 2ND DAY.
For the second day FOSWMT members where down on site at Church Street, Ore  were the atrocity commenced yesterday. Emails and telephone calls finally reached the relevant people and it appears the contractors had no license to work on the land in the way they were. Contractors have been pulled out by the council and left at around 9:00am after arriving at 8:00am .

An Ecologist is due to come down to the site to determine which license should be required. The Trust is pleased that this is being dealt with correctly and are pleased with their Chairman's efforts.

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Employed Council Workers temporarily stopped by FOSWMT Chairman

4th September 2013
COUNCIL CLEARING HCA LAND BEYOND THEIR REMIT WAS STOPPED TODAY BY FOSWMT CHAIRMAN

Today clearance work was temporarily stopped today when Chairman of Friends of Speckled Wood stopped collecting objections in the village centre and rushed to  Church Street. The public in the village had said Church street was being cleared. Mr Newbold Chairman of the chairman asked the Contractors who had employed them . They told him Mrs Terry of the Estates Department Hastings Borough Council had engaged them to clear this land. Mr Newbold was heard  to state that the land was owned by HCA and that they should not be working on it. Mr Newbold was asked if he was anything to do with this . He was shown an OCLT compliment slip. Mr Newbold was heard to say no.

Negotiation was then seen to happen when Mrs Terry, Estates Department arrived at 2:00pm . She talked to Mr Newbold at length. An agreement was made to not cut the trees during this meeting. The workers departed around 2:15pm.


It is worrying to note that no public safety fencing was erected whilst these workers were working on site.

Chairman of FOSWMT has said people will be onsite tomorrow and that he has contacted HCA and learned that their bid of intention has not made it to HCA the land owners and that an Outline Planning Application will be submitted for this land in november 2013.

Another member of the Trust said the objections were going well for the Outline Planning in Victoria Ave and that their target was 500 and they are just short . Please keep the objections coming in there is less than four days left for this . It is clear there is another battle ahead

Sunday 1 September 2013

Eight more days to object to stop the Planning Application in Speckled Wood

1st September 2013
EIGHT MORE DAYS TO OBJECT TO PLANNING APPLICATION IN SPECKLED WOOD.
There is only seven more days from tomorrow to object to the Outline Planning Application that is up for comments until 9th September 2013. If this outline application is passed it will severely affect our campaign to save the woodland as the application area will take out the pond the top glade and the pathway to Victoria Avenue. It will also affect our chances of having the BIGLOCAL Purchase the woodland.

There is a lot hinging on this decision. If this is passed it will also open the door to more planning Applications. Please help stop this! Help us bring the land price down so that it can be bought and protected for the Children of Ore and the animals that live there.

You can register your objection online on the Friends of Speckled wood website here:



http://www.friendsofspeckledwood.org.uk/gb/consultation/

You can register your objection online on the Council Planning website here:
http://publicaccess.hastings.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=_HSTBC_DCAPR_100731

You can write or take your letter to:


Outline Planning Application HS/OA/13/00600 
Hastings Borough Council Planning Policy
Upper Ground Floor, Aquila House
Hastings, East Sussex
TN34 3UY
Email:
fplanning@hastings.gov.uk
If you email please include your full postal address, if you object, and your reason for your objection.