Minutes of SHRA Meeting : 10th September 2002

in Haven School, Atlantic Drive

 

Committee members present:

Brenda Hilliam - Secretary(470791)

Chris Peppiatt - Press Officer (471304)

Dave Hitchcock - Planning Dept Rep (470701)

Reg Ludford - Sovereign Harbour Rep (470321)

 

Apologies received from

Clare Donovan - Sovereign Harbour Trust Rep (designate) (472036).

Tim Cullis -Treasurer who also regretfully tendered his resignation due to pressure of work.

 

Reg Ludford welcomed everyone especially David May, Eastbourne PCT and Councillors Chris Williams, Patrick Warner, and Pat Bowker.

 

Reg told the meeting that Clare Donovan had agreed to be Chairman if no-one else wished to take the post.  He also appealed for extra committee members.  None was forthcoming!

 

Brenda Hilliam - secretary is hoping a minutes secretary will come forward as she has other commitments on a Tuesday.

 

There were approximately 100 residents at the meeting.

 

Health Matters:

David May Eastbourne's Primary Care Trust Spokesperson said that Eastbourne along with the rest of the country is 'under doctored'; however, steps are being taken to try to remedy the situation. 

A new surgery has opened in Stone Cross which will mean more room on other doctors' lists in the area.

The lack of a site in Sovereign Harbour is a difficulty although Carillion has offered facilities when it moves from its present office in about 2004 - no price has yet been suggested or agreed.

The £100,000 promised by the Minister of Health has to be used by April 2003 - all GP's invited to tender - but this must be a new surgery not extending existing ones.

A small temporary solution has been proposed on the Kingsmere Estate; the Housing Association which owns the property has been asked about a lease/costs etc. 

The Health Authority will want to know what medical facilities the residents wish to see there i.e. district nurse/practise nurse/midwives etc. 

In the meantime everyone who needs a doctor will be seen.  Anyone experiencing difficulties should phone MARY WALLIS  01273 485300  to be allocated a doctor.

 

1.             In answer to questions from the floor, David May said that the Health Authority did not know the requirements of Sovereign Harbour residents as there was no criteria available on which to base such requirements.  It is important therefore that residents let the Health Authority know what they felt was needed.  (contact details for PCT below)

2.             The Councillors said that there was no way the council could impose on the developers to provide land for a medical centre or indeed any other amenities wanted by the residents as the outline plans of the 1980's were for residential purposes only.

3.             There is a dental practice on the Waterfront (top floor) but whether this would be suitable/affordable for a doctors' surgery is not known.

4.             It is expected that by the end of 2004 there will be 6-6,500 residents in Sovereign Harbour.

 

Sea Defences:

 

Pentium have been given a 25 year contract to maintain sea defences.  They plan to start moving something in excess of 40,000 tons of shingle from the mound to the west of the harbour to North Harbour via Pacific Drive across a temporary road to the beach (near the Martello Tower). This work involves movement in large spoil lorries and will continue five and half days a week from 8am till approx 4pm.

 

B&Q:

 

On May 23rd the planning application for B&Q was turned down due in no small part to the efforts of Tony Sparrow co-ordinating the residents objections to the proposal plus the fact that East Sussex County Council was also against it.

However B&Q has appealed against this decision and there will be a Public Enquiry possibly as early as next February but more likely  in July.

All interested parties can state their case against the proposal and previous objections will still be taken into account.  Ultimately it will be down to the Inspector's decision.

 

1.             There were some concerns from the floor that if the B&Q development did not go ahead what would take its place.

2.             It was also suggested that not enough had been done to ' sell ' the area to potential business interests.

3.             It was suggested that not enough had been made of the problems the extra traffic could bring to the site, surely a case study should be made.

 

After discussion a show of hands indicated a split between those in favour of supporting the B&Q proposal and those remaining against it.  it was decided that the Committee should continue to voice opposition to the B&Q proposal whilst also preparing to provided for vigorous contact with B&Q should the Public Enquiry lead to consent to go-ahead.

 

REDROW:

 

There has been no definite news but much speculation about the Redrow development, there was to be September starting date but nothing appears to be happening and no-one at Redrow could confirm or deny rumours of problems on site.

 

NOTICEBOARD:

 

SHRA has been given permission to put up a noticeboard at the Waterfront on the wall by the ships chandlers near the steps up to the top floor. 

A copy of the minutes will be posted there along with any other relevant information.

Pentium has expressed interest in using the board to let residents know when/where/how they are to begin work on Sea Defences and it is hoped they will contribute to the cost.

It is proposed that within the next couple of weeks a new website will be created for SHRA with free information links to developers in Sovereign Harbour and other useful links.

It will also of course make the Minutes available to anyone with access to the Internet.

Carillion have agreed to pay £50.00 towards this facility.

 

 

A.O.B:

 

1.             Concern was raised over the lack of play areas within developments in Sovereign Harbour. The roads, due to amount of builders traffic and the excess speed of some residents/visitors are a real danger. Would it be possible to have speed restriction signs put up in the developments? The Committee agreed to ask the Sovereign Harbour Trust about traffic calming measures.  It will also discuss with developers the possibility of having play areas.

2.             There was also concern over children having access to the pontoons in the West Harbour and also playing near the waters edge-a accident waiting to happen!

3.             A resident asked whether the covenants restricting the parking of camper vans/caravans were still in force.  In discussion it was stated that in the initial phases of development some developers had written to residents who did this but now nothing is happening. It was suggested that residents speak to their developer or managing company first, if necessary, requesting that solicitors letters be sent to the offenders.  The committee would also speak to Carillion about this problem.

4.             Other concerns were voiced over contractors parking in North Harbour.  Some residents complained about their parking causing great difficulties in Pacific Drive where lorries, parking on either side of the road, force the bus for example to have to drive around the bollards in the centre of the road.  Other residents complained about the contractors parking in the developments.  The secretary at this point spoke up for the workforce having to carry heavy equipment some distance in order to complete work on houses. 

5.             It appears that there is a problem over the litter left by the workmen - the secretary said that if the committee were told which development and where these problems were they would speak to the developers concerned.

6.             It was stated that when residents first moved into Sovereign Harbour the bridge by the Harvester on the Waterfront and the bridge across by the Piazza used to be closed at midnight - this no longer happens and some residents being are disturbed by people making their noisy way home or to collect cars parked in South Harbour.  The harbour master has said that he lowered the bridge in response to demand.

7.             In response to a query it was stated that there would be public access during and after completion of Site T.

 

The meeting ended with Reg Ludford thanking all those who had attended and the Secretary asking for all new members to give her their names and addresses.

 

 

CONTACTS:

 

Eastbourne PCT:            david.may@eastbournedownspct.nhs.uk

SHRA Committee:            webmaster@shra.info

EBC Planning:                    planning@Eastbourne.gov.uk

 

 

NEXT MEETING PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 12^TH - Haven School,  7.30 pm.