In
this month's issue:
(Click on a headline to go directly to the article)
To
contact waterlines, write to:
Waterlines
PO Box 124
Eastbourne
BN24 9AW
Or, e-mail
Waterlines
Sovereign
Harbour Residents Association Annual General Meeting
on Tuesday 9th May,
at the Haven School, Atlantic Drive.
Starting at 7:30pm, doors open at 7:00pm.
Members of the Sovereign Harbour Residents Association are invited to the Annual General Meeting on 9th May 2006. Please be sure to bring your white, 2006/7 membership card; only current members will be admitted.
Memberships may be renewed at the door, and new members may join on the night but, in order to ensure the smooth running of the meeting, and to avoid any delay in starting, it would be very helpful if existing, and potential members could renew or join before the meeting, using the form on the back page of this newsletter.
At this meeting, as required by the constitution, the current twelve committee members will stand down, and submit themselves for re-election. Nominations for the committee, proposed and seconded by current SHRA members, should be submitted, in writing, no later than Friday 5th May to:
The
Secretary,
SHRA,
PO Box 124,
Eastbourne,
East Sussex BN24 9AW.
AGENDA
1. Welcome to Members and Guests
2. Introduction of Existing Committee Members
3. Review of the Evening's Business
4. Chairman's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Existing Committee Stands Down. Election of New Committee
7. Key Issues for the Coming Year
8. Proposed Changes to the SHRA Constitution (Presentation and vote by
members)
9. Open Discussion Session for Members
10. AOB
Meeting Ends
Our ward councillors, Patrick Bowker, Patrick Warner and Chris Williams
have been invited to the meeting; also our county councillors, David Elkin
and David Tutt.
By
the time of the AGM, we will know if B&Q and Sovereign Harbour Marina
Ltd have appealed against the refusal of the EBC planning committee to
allow the construction of a massive DIY warehouse in the entrance to the
harbour.
The SHRA committee are working, with council planners, to create a case that will be strong enough to persuade the First Secretary of State's inspector to uphold the planning committee's decision to reject the application.
Equally, if not more, important to the harbour, is the issue of the 'Five Sites'. It is absolutely imperative that this land is used to provide the social infrastructure that has been sadly ignored, and to turn the harbour into a visitor attraction that will enhance the Eastern approach to Eastbourne. Whatever the future of this land, Carillion must not be allowed consent for any further residential development. The harbour has already been over-developed, enough is enough!
Another of the issues affecting us all is the Sovereign Harbour Trust, that continues to take our money, refuses to account for how it is used, and will not allow residents to be represented on the board of trustees. This 'Taxation without Representation' is unjust and cannot be allowed to continue.
And,
on the subject of unfair taxation, we will continue to press the EBC to
provide value for the huge Council Tax income harbour residents provide,
by adopting the residential developments, and providing the facilities
so desperately needed.
At
the meeting of the full Eastbourne Borough Council 19th April,on Wednesday
evening, the council unanimously passed a motion by council leader, Ian
Lucas, that means that there will be cross party political support for
the 'Save the DGH' campaign.
Over the next few weeks this issue will really kick off when detailed proposals on the future of the hospital are published
Whatever happens, it is unlikely to be good news for Eastbourne's growing population, especially for the harbour, which doesn't even have a medical centre. To consider downgrading the DGH is an absolute nonsense and, with your support, the SHRA committee will support the campaign to stop the cuts.
The proposal is likely to recommend a downgrading of Maternity, Paediatrics, A&E, Obstetrics, and more. If this is the case it would be nothing short of a disaster for Eastbourne and the surrounding district, and we must all unite to fight it.
Please get involved. You can register your views the 'Save the DGH' website and keep an eye out in the local press for detailed proposals. The 'what can I do' page has some very useful advice on how you can contribute to the campaign.
There
will be petitions and a public rally. Visit this website for updates,
and look for further information in the May edition of Waterlines.
Our thanks to our sponsor, who's generosity has again allowed us to produced this newsletter at almost no cost to our members.
Temple
Bird,
Waterfront Solicitors
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