In
this month's issue:
(Click on a headline to go directly to the article)
- Members' surgeries
- 'Reliable Tradesmen'
- Refuse collection and recycling
- Chairmans footnote
- This Month's Sponsors
To
contact waterlines, write to:
Waterlines
PO Box 124
Eastbourne
BN24 9AW
Or, e-mail
Waterlines
As
the current membership year draws to a close, we look back on an incredibly
successful year for the SHRA.
Membership has increased, from a very low base, to about 500, and is still
growing. However, if the work of the SHRA is to continue, your continued
support is vital, and we would ask all of you who gave your support in
2005/6 to renew your membership for 2006/7.
Although the membership year does not close until 31st March, it would
be very helpful if members could renew early, in order to avoid the end
of year rush. Existing members should, by now, have received a 'Renewal
Notice'. Please complete the form and return it, with the membership fee,
to the address on the form. If you are unsure of your membership number,
it is printed on the address label.
Also, if you have an e-mail address and would like to receive information
and updates by this medium, let us know. Also, don't forget to check the
website www.shra.co.uk for news.
Not only is it absolutely vital that existing members renew their membership,
it is also essential that we increase our influence by attracting new
members. Sad to say, only about 17% of those who receive this newsletter
actually contribute to it's production.
When the current committee was elected, our number one priority was to
ensure that the SHRA was an inclusive organisation, which is why Waterlines
came into existence, and why we made the decision to distribute it to
members and non-members alike. All the time that we are able to attract
external funding, through sponsorship, we will continue with this policy.
However, should this sponsorship dry up, it would be irresponsible to
allow our funds to be depleted in order to subsidise non-members. In this
case we would be forced to restrict distribution to members only.
People sometimes ask, "why should I join the SHRA"; well, why
should you?
Were you opposed to the B&Q planning application? Are you aware that
they still have over two months in which to appeal?
Are you happy to continue paying 'Marina Rent' to the Sovereign Harbour
Trust, with no idea of how your money is being spent, and with no representation
on the board of trustees?
Are you prepared to sit back and let Commercial Sites one and two be turned
into a retail park, with all of the disruption and huge reductions in
property values that will cause?
Do you want to see even more high density housing built on the five remaining
development sites, resulting in even more empty properties?
Do you think it right that the harbour's medical practice has to operate
from a residential property?
Are you happy to pay your Council Tax, knowing that no residential development
East of Atlantic Drive has yet been adopted by the EBC?
Do you feel that a development, which is the size of a small town, should
have a community centre, a playing field, children's play areas, a library,
local shops, and communal open space?
Do you want your views presented to your elected representatives?
All of these issues are preventing us all from enjoying the quality of
life to which we all signed-up when we moved to the harbour. Not everybody
has the time, or the opportunity, to get involved in fighting for their
resolution.
Keeping you informed, through newsletters, the website and meetings costs
money. Some of the issues which need to be addressed could involve us
in costly legal proceedings, or be the subject of public enquiries.
If you think that £10.00 per year, less than 0.20p per week is a
reasonable price for a household to pay for all this, and a dedicated
team of volunteers to battle on your behalf, fill in the form on the back
of this newsletter and send it, with your cheque to the address on the
form. By joining now, your membership will last until 31st March 2007.
Come on, help us to develop a harbour community of which we can all
be proud.
As you will have seen from the special edition of Waterlines, Sovereign Harbour Ltd have submitted planning applications for the further residential development on two of the five remaining sites on the harbour. Once again, and unsurprisingly, this application includes no community facilities.
Sovereign Harbour has grown from it's original concept to a community the size of a small town. However, unlike most small towns, it is completely lacking in the infrastructure to support it.
The reason that the supporting infrastructure was not provided is due to the completely inappropriate outline consent that was granted, the appalling greed of the land owners and developers and the inability of the EBC to exercise any control over the developers' failure to keep within the bounds of the consent that was given.
Sovereign Harbour Marina Ltd are applying for this consent under the original outline consent for the harbour. It is the view of the SHRA that, as more dwellings than this consent actually permitted have been built, no further residential development should be permitted. The decision to build more densely on only a part of the available land was a commercial decision and they must not be allowed to get away with any further residential development on the remaining land.
These applications will almost certainly not be the end of the matter, it is very likely that applications will be submitted for the other sites. And, the deadline for SHL and B&Q to appeal against the refusal of their application is also on the horizon, so that could also be on the cards.
We urge you all to write to the EBC, at the address given in the special edition of Waterlines and ask to speak at the planning committee meeting. It is essential that our elected representatives are in no doubt that harbour residents have had enough.
South Harbour resident Linus Gunning contacted Waterlines as he thought there must be many others on the harbour who share his love of horse racing.
Linus enjoys going to the races and would like to set up the 'Sovereign Harbour Racing Club' with the initial objective of organising days out at race courses.
However, if there are enough interested members, Linus hopes that the club might eventually form a syndicate to purchase it's own race horse, which would certainly add interest to the proceedings.
As Linus will be away on holiday when this issue of Waterlines is distributed, anybody interested in joining the club, or who would like more information, should contact Waterlines at the address at the top of this page.
We will publish more information in a subsequent issues, when Linus has returned.
Living
on the North Harbour, Sam Skull describes herself as 'a new mum to my
gorgeous 8½ month son'. She contacted Waterlines to say that although
she would like to get involved in SHRA activities, having a young baby
made this very difficult. However, she felt that there were a number of
other mums on the harbour who shared her desire to have an influence on
the environment in which they were bringing up their children and felt
she had the energy to bring them together for their mutual benefit and
for the benefit of the harbour in general.
Sam has set up 'Marina Mums' to provide a social network for mums and
'mums to be' and their babies, toddlers and children. She plans, initially,
to hold meeting on a monthly basis to create a social network, and provide
an opportunity to get together, to chat, provide mutual support and to
discuss local issues and concerns.
The first meeting will be held on Monday 27th March, from 2:45 until
3:35, in Simply Italian on the Waterfront. The only cost will be for
refreshments, if desired.
If you would like to go along, or would be interested in future events,
please contact Sam directly.
Phone or text: 07949-687996
or, e-mail
Sam
Back
to index
Harbour Friends will meet on 29th March in Simply Italian on the Waterfront,
from 7:30pm onwards.
We have been asked to emphasise that this group is not a singles club,
nor a 'speed-dating' club as some rumours have it. The only objective
of the group is for harbour residents to meet others, establish friendships,
and share social activities.
However, the growth of this very worthwhile group is being threatened
by the lack of a suitable venue at which they can meet. As the weather
improves, and the lighter evenings come round, Simply Italian will need
the space for their core business. This really reinforces the need to
protect the 'Five Sites' and to get a community centre for the harbour.
Harbour Friends approached the Yacht Club, which Carillion asserts is
our community centre. However, this is a private member's club and asked
for a 'corporate club fee' of £535 per year to use the facilities
on Sunday evenings.
The dreadful 'Humbert Leisure Report' concluded that the harbour didn't
need a community centre "because there is no community". How
on earth are we to develop a community if there is no infrastructure to
support it.
For
information on future meetings, or if you are interested in becoming a
part of this group, or are willing to help in the administration, please
contact Bev Adams on 01323-479797, or e-mail
Bev
Members' surgeries.
Don't forget the monthly members' surgeries at Simply Italian on the
Waterfront.
Future Surgeries from 10:30 to 11:30 on Saturday:
-
1st April, 2006
-
6th May, 2006
'Reliable Tradesmen'
As promised, below is our first list of tradesmen recommended by our
members. Although we are happy to publish the names, the SHRA is unable
to endorse the recommendations and would urge members to make their
own checks.
We would appreciate your comments, good or bad, on the service you receive
or, if you feel you would like to add a service to the list, please
write to us at:
Waterlines
PO Box 124
Eastbourne
BN24 9AW
Or, e-mail
Waterlines
Bathroom installation & general plumbing
Carl McGreevy
01323-470773
07816-847658
Dress
making and alterations
Svetlana
01323-472506
Garage doors supplt and repair. Remote controls
Dimensions
01323-743263
Garden Maintenance
Dave Rhodes
01323-479141
07792-321983
e-mail
Dave Rhodes
Gas fitting and plumbing
JayDee
01323-507266
Household
Maintenance, painting and decorating
Dave Rhodes
01323-479141
07792-321983
e-mail
Dave Rhodes
Interior design and creation, electrical installation, solar photovoltaic
installation
Living Spaces by Julian R Caddy
01323-471112
07799-411712
e-mail
Julian Caddy
Home
improvements, conservatories, extensions, porches, etc.
FENSA Registered Company
Instyle
Carl Crowhurst
01323-843267
e-mail
Instyle
Light upholstery, chair seats, stools, etc
The Tapestry Company
Paul Dunkley
01323-508042
07980-988527
Milk
and general groceries delivery
Dairy Crest Ltd
01323-727343
Mobile
Car Valeting
Sovereign Mobile Car Valeting Specialists
Any location, use own water and electricity.
Craig Hughes
07712-045952
Mobile
Motor Mechanic. Any make, full services, MOT work
Graham Haynes
07768-203264 (leave message if busy)
01323-762461
Quality
traditional French polishing and furniture restoration
Christof Caffyn
01323-849998
Window Cleaning
C-Thru Window Cleaning
01424-441564
07730-537227
www.c-thruwindowcleaning.co.uk
Easyclean
Windows
01323-471318
07915-289753
Alan
Watford
01323-472545
Back
to index
Refuse collection and recycling
Recycling
of waste is important. Not only does it earn revenue for the Borough
Council, it also helps to meet targets set by central government. Both
of which help to keep your council tax bill down.
If any general rubbish is put into the recycling bins, even a cigarette
end, the whole lot is contaminated and becomes unusable. Unfortunately,
we have been told, Sovereign Harbour residents are amongst the worst
offenders in this respect.
We appreciate that in many developments the facilities for disposal
of rubbish leave a great deal to be desired, but in our own interests,
it is worth making the effort.
Back
to index
Chairman's footnote
I don't know about everybody else but winter gets me down a bit and
in dealing with the constant 'challenges' provided by would be developers,
property managers and some residents on the Harbour its easy to feel
that its all 'doom and gloom'. However, nothing is further from the
truth. Of course as a Residents' Association we are bound to resist
threats and stimulate debate and action if we believe it is in the interests
of residents, but it is particularly rewarding to recognise the good
that arises from the generosity of businesses on the Harbour.
In particular I would like to express thanks to Phill Kendall of the
Eastbourne Outboard Centre on the Harbour, who generously donated a
30 HP outboard to Eastbourne Sea Cadets, free of any charge. Additionally
Barry Elliston of Elliston Homes Ltd should be recognised for the time
he gives in helping to run the sea cadets. As well as his day-to-day
support he will be running in the London Marathon to raise funds to
buy a new tender. If anyone would like to support Barry through sponsorship
then watch the next issue of Waterlines when we will publish the contact
points.
With daily headlines publicising the problems of children and teenagers
and the disruption they can cause it is easy to lose sight of the fact
that these are minority cases. I don't think that children have basically
changed 'since my day' - it's society and social norms that have changed
and its not surprising that children respond. SHRA are committed to
taking every opportunity to achieve better social facilities for all
age groups on the Harbour and play areas, and a youth club for children
and teenagers must feature strongly in this. It is good to see Barry
Elliston and others like him giving his time to the community in supporting
young people. It is also good to see traditional organisations like
the Sea Cadets and Marine Cadets still providing a focus for youngsters'
energy and skills that will serve them well in the future.
It should also be recognised that SHRA directly benefit from the generosity
of Simply Italian and Temple Bird on the Waterfront who continue to
provide us with venues for our monthly surgeries and routine committee
meetings. It's refreshing to note that for all the 'doom and gloom'
there are still businesses and residents who want to make a difference
and support Sovereign Harbour and Eastbourne more generally.
On a separate issue I wish to briefly update you on our ongoing work
regarding Sovereign Harbour Trust. You will recall that I have written
to the Trust on the subject of getting residents representation on the
Board of Trustees and my 'application' is being tabled at its next meeting.
I would like to thank those residents who have also written to the Trust
with their concerns over its position and objectives - it is important
to keep pressure on. The response so far has not been positive as far
as direct resident representation is concerned. Although we will keep
pushing this with the Trust Board in general we are also taking action
to get the engagement of the Environment Agency who have had seats on
the Board, but have not so far taken them up. I am hoping for a meeting
between SHRA and the EA in the near future to discuss the issue.
Well, that's it for now. However, I would like to urge existing members
of the SHRA to renew their memberships for 2006/7, and if you are not
a member already then please join and support our efforts. Your membership
contributions and a modest addition from advertising in Waterlines are
the only source of funds we have and these are critical to allowing
us to continue our work.
Back
to index
Our thanks to our sponsors, who's generosity has again allowed us to produced this newsletter at almost no cost to our members.
To our regular sponsors,
Temple
Bird, Solicitors
and to our new sponsors for this month.
Electrotec,
Security and Electrical Specialists
Property Rentals, Specialists in Residential Letting of Flats and Houses
Why not become an SHRA Sponsor?
Waterlines,
the newsletter of the Sovereign Harbour Residents Association, is delivered
free to every residential property on Sovereign Harbour. We are only
able to do this because we have a dedicated group of people who give
up their time to distribute the newsletters and a number of sponsors
who contribute cash to help us with the cost of production.
Over the past year, we have been very fortunate to have had the help
of several local businesses, and we are very grateful for this. However,
we produce Waterlines on a monthly basis, and we need four sponsors
every month in order to avoid serious depletion of our funds, so we
are always looking for new sponsors.
Apart from our sincere gratitude, our sponsors get an advertisement,
similar to those above, in the current issue, and a permanent listing
on the home page of our website, with a link to their website.
To become an SHRA sponsor,
e-mail
Waterlines
or call us on: 07770-621368