PENHA Fundraising Meeting – Adulis Restaurant

For the second time this year I found myself being invited to an evening in aid of the Charity PENHA, held once again at the friendly Eritrean restaurant, the Adulis in Brixton Road, close to the Oval Tube Station. There was to be traditional music and dance from the Horn of Africa and the traditional coffee ceremony and the opportunity to watch and listen to Vanessa Champion who spent some time in Uganda to see the work being done among the pastorialists of the region.

I arrived early enough to be present as they set up for the evening, which meant I was able to watch the dancers practising and this gave me a chance to see whether I might be able to improve upon the shots I took at the first event back in June. At that time I was using the Canon EOS 5D MkII and the highest ISO I used with confidence then was 2000 ISO and I struggled very often to shoot faster than 1/30th of a second. Adam Woolfitt very generously allowed me to borrow his MkIII for the evening, which entailed a full day accustoming myself to the different way of working. I learned in that time that the differences between the two versions were substantial. My testing suggested I may well find it viable at around 6400 ISO and this was confirmed very soon. As the evening progressed I pushed things further.

One other difference on this occasion was that I set up my iPad on the bar and plugged in CamRanger, which gave me a good chance to review shots I had taken as well as provide others the opportunity to look at the shots I took within a few seconds of my taking them. Many found this intriguing and it allowed me to become involved in conversations about this 'magic'!

I felt very welcome as many of those in the restaurant knew who I was and said how much they liked the shots I had taken on my last visit, however their names escaped me, but several of the faces I did remember.

Zeremariam Fre spoke to introduce the evening to the guests and explain a bit about the work being done by PENHA and how it differed in its approach and explained that the audience would also hear from Dr.Tekeste Ghebray the former  Executive Secretary / head of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) about his involvement, and also how later Dr Vanessa Champion would relate the story of her recent visit to Uganda with some of the photos she had taken when amongst the Pastorialists and where she saw first hand what PENHA were not only advocating, but putting into practice.

Zere and his wife also spoke of what was happening during the evening, of the Dance Group, the Coffee Ceremony the food on offer and the various hand-crafted goods that were on display and for sale, all in aid of future work by PENHA. A point that was stressed was how in this group of countries were many whose differences were in conflict, yet were brought together by this organisation.

The Ethiopian Dan-Kira Dance Group were very energetic and despite the difficulties of operating at such low light levels and in a confined space, I did manage to capture some of the infectious spirit of their display. Many of the audience were tempted on the dance floor amidst great applause, and the dancers from the audience were not all in the first bloom of youth! The rhythm and volume were infectious and irresistable!

One group of girls from an NHS HR company were present because one of their number was going out with a member of the dance group, and they asked me to capture them on camera, and even insisted they take a shot of me with one of them; modesty prevents me from showing this shot and also I had 181 acceptable shots and so one had to go and that was the victim! It exists on the Cutting room floor, and anyway I was not told her name…

Vanessa introduced me to a very interesting Architect who listened carefully to my concerns related to the Chaulington project and gave me a very interesting idea to try to solve issues that surround this local plan and how I might create a competition to arrive at a solution. Anyone who is interested in what is an excellent idea for the development for Vauxhall's current Vehicle Storage Area with almost no local resistance, but needs to resolve numerous external issues first, enter "Chaulington" into a search engine. I was buoyed up by this architect's answer, so much so that I have passed his comment back to my contact at Vauxhall; I must now get his name from Vanessa!

Neighbourhood Plan for Caddington and Slip End

This weekend has been devoted to displaying the possible plans for future development of the Caddington, Slip End and surrounding local areas. The venue for these discussions is the Heathfield site, which is itself a subject of the discussions. Another feature was an update of what was gleaned from the earlier consultation with  local residents over the Chaulington Scheme.

I visited on the Friday evening and was a little disappointed in the number of those present – because those who had given up their valuable time to be there to answer questions and who were working on the project were in the majority, which I feel sure they found dispiriting. It was self-evident that considerable effort had been expended on the work that had been going on behind the scenes. I was intending to put up a photo of the map that was on display, but I see that it is available, (though without the designations of the possible development sites) on the CaddSE site. <http://caddse.info>

When viewing the above or any other links in this item, use the back arrows in your browser to return here.

I have produced two PDFs from the plans that were on view that show the added details presented on Friday and Saturday, here is close-up view of part of the map *: 

Click in this image to view it larger in your browser

I did find that much of what was presented did seem somewhat open-ended; at first glance I thought that certain designated areas had more defined development intentions than it transpired. I also felt that they were too dispersed, which seemed to suggest that speed of implementation was considered inevitably to be a slow process over a protracted period of time, whereas my view was that a bold assessment of the defined future should be placed on the table for 2018, and that a path to that future should show the line of least resistance, set against the future targets five years beyond that. Means should be found to ensure that unnecessary delays had penalties attached.

By way of an example of fairly avoidable bad planning I explained that in the case of the Busway route, one only had to look at the original reason for that route when it ran trains, it was chosen because it did not disturb residential areas, whereas if a bus is to provide a service it needs to be close to those various residential areas. For trains A to a reasonably major terminal B, speedily and frequent is a target, but for buses it is for there to be several minor stops and is better represented as A to Z ,with the rest of the alphabet between, with schedules that used different combinations of stops that represented the best assessments for some A to Z trips, having alternative minimal stops, with others for more inclusive travel, even including Request-only points. The route in the current case should have involved a crossing of the A505 such that Caddington, Slip End, Chaul End etc were part of that route.

One overarching snag to the Neighbourhood plan and the Chaulington plan is Chaul End Lane, and I have yet to hear of a resolution to that issue. Several previous short-sighted plans have made this an issue that is far from easy to tackle. The Tesco site, the single carriageway A505 stretch, the No right turn junction at its junction with Chaul End lane –  all these contribute to present problems. When you add in the Junction 10A roundabout linking the A6, and the fact that the locals of Slip End and Caddington suffer the noise of the M1, yet have real difficulty in reaching the Motorway quickly themselves, one begins to realise that a seriously bold and different approach to the future is needed for this neighbourhood.

I noted that one of the questions that had been asked was whether bridleways/ ccycle routes improvements for the area should be provided through local tax increases, and there had been surprise that people should largely be against this. I feel if our postcode was unlinked from LU1, then one might find villagers more amenable to considering such a proposal more favourably.

Local residents should definitely read the relevant information provided on site regarding the Neighbourhood Plan – <http://caddse.info> provided by the CaddSE N-Plan Steering Group. They provide a detailed map of the area involved as a link from the above website.

I feel that the guidelines for each site should have been suggested at this stage, because then residents can make a valid assessments of each, whereas at present these are far to vague, no reasons for their designation has been supplied, so only those immediately adjacent have any valid understanding of their merits or demerits, or of any knowledge of current ownership or plans for those areas by the landowners. I think that before the community as a whole is asked for their opinions this information should be supplied.

I may have missed them, but I saw no Assessment Principles, but since the Chaulington discussions seemed well-attended, that should provide a useful guide to the assessment principles at least from the residents side, then the local parishes and local authorities should add their considerations. Only at that stage should the allocated sites be reviewed overall by the residents for their own rating.

I shall be interested in the conclusions drawn from this consultation.

* The second PDF I created can be found here:

http://www.fntn.co.uk/rodwp/NeighbourhoodPlanOverview.pdf

PS. I do not own copyright for any of the images reproduced in this piece. They are only provided for convenience

Chaulington – The Reveal

Tuesday Morning and the sun is bright, the prospect of the week ahead is for steadily rising temperatures, Spring is definitely coming to this part of Bedfordshire, to the hamlets of Aley Green, Woodside, and Chaul End, and the two villages of Slip End and Caddington. What do the residents anticipate the experts will make of their varied ideas and wishes? Have they come up with a completely new name for the development, or will the name used thus far help to link the aspirations of Chaul End and Caddington for the future?

Will there be a glorious compromise, or will they have realised that amongst all these differing views from the age ranges of those who took part, there is an answer that satisfies most of their desires yet did not actually come to them, but did dawn in the minds of the experts – they who walked the full length of Chaul End Road, who cycled a around the entire neighbourhood with fresh eyes – is there some really insightful scheme that will be put to those who attend tonight’s meeting, deeper in the heart of the village at the new venue, Caddington Village School in Five Oaks?

We can only await the Reveal.

Chaulington – Saturday Morning

I was a late arrival to the Saturday session, but I wanted to get a feel for what was being discussed; to see whether there were any new insights into the Caddington and Chaul End residents’ feelings, and whether those presenting were really listening.

On balance I believe they were – there was mention of comments made in Friday’s meeting, but these were not offered to influence this group’s own opinions, the main speaker was careful to let the audience get their points across, and the microphones were taken to the member of audience speaking so their questions were heard by all.

I was amused by one point made in reply to a question relating to the possible timescale for any proposal, to the effect that acceptance of this possible option if liked, would obviously then preclude the possibly less attractive one that might be on the table if it were accepted sooner rather than later – a subtle play on the listener’s fears. Another suggestion that had come up in Friday’s session, was the idea of a focus to the area – a central pond.

I was slightly disappointed by one person who as he passed me by the door muttered: “A waste of time…”, perhaps his feelings would have been better expressed by speaking up, rather than leaving as he could have explained why he had felt that way – his voice would have been heard, both by the residents present and by those seeking local opinions. I would have heard him out – I had come to listen myself; to learn of others’ comments as much as to offer my own, because it is far from easy to come up with a proposition for this site, because of its location and find a balance between the needs of the county as a whole and the needs and desires of those already resident.

I shall do my best to be present for the Summation on Tuesday evening to learn of any conclusions drawn.

Chaulington – Friday's Community Meeting

I had earlier decided that I would endeavour to get to the meeting prior to the advertised start time, in order to chat informally with the team gathering the community’s thoughts for the Vauxhall Storage Depot’s new life, but I was far from alone with this intention. The hall was very much alive when I entered and signed in.

I had seen some wonderful Cumulus clouds as I came through the gates and saw this as a good omen – blue sky thinking? So even before going inside I grabbed some shots of this portent.

I tried to learn who were the people to whom I needed to engage in conversation to learn something of what the experts had gauged could be presented to the audience. I, like a few, had expected more of their views of the options that were available, but we were told this was not the way this group behaved; they were consulting us before presenting any proposals – they were seeking some form of consensus from all our disparate views before looking at the idea of putting these into any loose pre-Planning proposal. They were going to listen first.

They would hear the views of those attending on the Friday and the Saturday, then go away and sit down amongst themselves to try to wrestle with the issues we saw, and any propositions we may have put forward, so they could then meet up with us on the Tuesday with a draft of what collectively they had understood from us were the important guidelines that should be adopted in any proposal that was to be put before the planners.

It was interesting to note how we were deflected from asking them for proposals, by their continued insistence they were listening first – they were not going to be accused of foisting their ideas upon us then ignoring our protestations, and it was not long before the dynamics of the discussions moved towards the positivity of the ideas as to how this piece of real estate could be re-incarnated into a cohesive community project, not necessarily entirely without dissent, but certainly with far less antagonism than meets most planning applications for Development.

I consider that this part of Bedfordshire around the conurbation of Luton and Dunstable to be a Museum of Crass Mistakes of Poor and Inadequate Planning, and I really hoped that here was an opportunity to break the mould and do something for which future generations would be proud of our achievement. Good Planning could have prepared the ground for really accessible routes between the M1 and the Airport, the Railway Stations, the University, the Industries of Luton and onward to Hitchin and Cambridge. Good Planning would not have brought the M1 Spur road to a roundabout serving the A6 link from Harpenden and St. Albans – just to name one example. The very moment the Olympic games was announced for London, a plan should have been submitted that separated these traffic streams and the funds requested from central Government to advertise Luton having hotel places, an Airport, and train service to provide a less expensive and viable alternative to being in London for the duration of the Games. Luton missed that boat (to mix metaphors) in Spades; an opportunity unlikely to return in our lifetimes.

My point is let us start way before the actual building by preparing the infrastructure to receive the development, and use a phrase from Winston Churchill: ‘Action this Day’ let us make a bold decision not to add another exhibit to the Museum, build on the will to make a positive contribution that I saw in the hall today.

I hope I was right in seeing blue sky, beyond the clouds, this morning. My glass is half-full.

Chaulington – An Update

Some Missing Info – New Phone number

PPS Group who have sent out a pamphlet inviting the communities of Caddington and Chaul End to a series of discussion meetings in Caddington, however inadvertently missed a zero from the contact telephone number, so this prompted me to put that right for anyone who reads my blog and wishes to contact the group prior to the meetings scheduled for Friday and Saturday the 26th and 27th of April.

That contact number is 08000 086 769.

I had never heard of Heathfield Hall, and upon querying this, learned that it was within the grounds of the former Heathfield Lower School. I think a map showing the location would not have gone amiss.Although I myself may well be leaving the village, I am interested in this development. The county is certainly in need of more housing, but for those who live here presently our concern is that the highest priority be to improve the road infrastructure that exists, so that with the greater call on these roads they are capable of still flowing. This needs to be addressed so that as house-building starts, the construction traffic is able to move on and off site causing minimal disruption to the existing population.

So, it is my contention the roads giving access to the development must be in place prior to any of the housing getting underway. This phase itself will be disrupting, but can be minimised by creating new roads, not simply widening those pre-existing.

It is very easy to see where in the past opportunities have been missed or decisions have simply been put off for one reason or another. The siting of the Tesco's Store prevented the A 505 linking to the A5, the Dunstable Bypass has been discussed over many years, my belief is the Busway should never have gone ahead, but with it nearing completion it is on the wrong side of the A505 to be ideal for this proposed development. Airport Way should never have joined the local traffic linking Harpenden to Luton – need I go on?

Let's not miss this opportunity to move forward. Public Transport will only be viable in rural communities when it properly serves those communities; they can only be run efficiently when probably around 70% full, so pricing should be aimed to meet or exceed that target, so whilst it does not, which is now, we must accept that the private car will provide that service, and to do so with the minimum of pollution it has to flow. This extra capacity has to come first, only in that way will this new development be welcomed. Also, existing businesses should be able to benefit both the future residents and themselves, and hopefully create more.

I would like this development to succeed, but it will need considerable understanding and imaginative planning to ensure that it meets with co-operation rather than antagonism, and in my personal discussions in the past I have to say I am less than optimistic.

Luton completely missed the boat in regards to the recent London Olympics, by not using the years from the moment that London's bid was successful to build a flyover or bypass for Airport Way, so that local traffic was not disrupted, and Industry, the University and the towns beyond were able to flow to and fro directly between M1 Junction 10 and to the Airport, with its roads to Parkway Station, the University and the out of town shopping park and Town Centre.

Get the infrastructure right this time, sort (well there is a plan!) the Junction 10 Spur road. Get good access and egress from the former Vauxhall Storage depot, improve the existing road by widening it between Caddington Village and the A505, and benefits will accrue. The other highway to be considered has to be the Information Super Highway to ensure there is fast Fibre Broadband to every building and mix business and other activities in, so that there is a strong sense of community instilled from the start.

I shall be coming to the meetings with an open mind, but numerous doubts, I hope I can be convinced that there is a genuine will to do the job properly from the start, and the commitment to see it through.

Chaulington

A new name ventures to become a name on the lips of residents of the hamlet of Chaul End and the villages of Caddington and Slip End in the coming months or possible years.

As the etymology displays its origins clearly, it has been well-chosen. Whether it becomes a word spoken harshly or with warmth depends on how what is discussed in the eponymous newsletter is received by those to whom it has been sent.

Where is Chaulington? Well, as I have mentioned above its name comes from the two places most affected by the proposal put forward by Vauxhall and promulgated by PPS Group, an organisation who have experience in tackling projects considered ‘tough’ for their clients and is situated between Chaul End and Caddington.

There is an undoubted need for housing within this county and in fact, the rest of the country. The site has merit. However, it is not the siting that is in contention, as can be the case, it is the effects on existing infrastructure that can cause friction, and that is given no mention within the newsletter. Nor is there a face or name  behind the proposal, a failure I have mentioned in a letter I have written to the email address given in the newsletter.

I have asked for permission to visit the Vehicle Storage Depot to take photographs, and have been at pains to mention that I am not partisan, since at this early stage, the newsletter is the entirety of the information to hand, and my interest is to serve the community, both as it presently stands and how it moves forward. Perhaps if my access is granted and maintained, my words and photos can be a force for the good, of all concerned.

It will be most interesting to see how long it takes for a response and whether I get a name, or permission to take photos – Watch this Space!