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Looking
for new ways to involve people in the Parish Plan consultation process
the Steering Committee decided to approach the local Walking Club and
ask them if we could use their monthly walks as a consultation exercise.
The
Walking Club has been in existence for over 10 years and its regular
members have a wealth of knowledge and experience about the history,
people and places around the Parish. By sprinkling some of committee
members amongst their number we hoped to be able record their impressions
of what is important in the area, what needs protecting and what needs
enhancing.
The
Committee provided some map extracts of the area highlighting, Sites
of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas, RAMSAR sites,
ancient woodlands and the locations of Listed Buildings. Photographs
illustrating these places were taken during the walks.
Three
walks were held and 79 people in total took part. No record was taken
but there was a good spread of age groups including children. The routes
took in most of the places listed above and almost all of the Parishes
of Shotley and Erwarton were covered. Here are some of the issues that
came up:
- How
few of the important buildings in the area are listed, although it
was regognised that listing could be an unaffordable burden for some
property owners
- There
is very little information concerning the archeology (hidden history)
of the area
- There
are no conservation areas in the villages although there are potential
candidates: The Ganges site, The Brickyard, Erwarton and Shotley Churches
- There
are hardly any interpretive materials such as information boards,
plaques, etc concerning the flora, fauna and history of the area or
of individual places and buildings
- Almost
all of the listed buildings are accessible to view from the outside
although none are accessible to the general public
- There
are dramatic contrasts between the Peninsular and the backdrop of
Felixstowe and Harwich
- As
there are many areas of environmental importance and sensitivity next
to what are in effect major industrial complexes many people would
like to know more about what special measures are taken to protect
these areas
- Some
places need to be "tidied up:" the entrance into Shotley
Street around the Village sign (which is looking tired), the foreshore
at Bristol Hill including the picnic area, soft landscaping to the
front of Shotley Village Hall
- Many
of the farms had once supplied the local community with produce; there
are currently no local outlets for producers
- A
lot of allotments seem to be unused
- Signing
of footpaths is generally good but could be better and could include
distances between locations and details of where the paths end up
- Where
footpaths follow the roads there are stretches that are dangerous:
Corner Garage to Boot Drift, Corner Garage to Erwarton, Church Walk,
Old Hall farm Road, etc
- Facilities
for cyclists are extremely poor; there are no dedicated cycle paths
in the area, the brown Cycle Route paths are "cryptic"
- There
are few places to rest (benches) along the paths
- Fences,
gates and stiles are generally in good order, there was only one "dog
friendly" stile found
- Dangerous
structures such as sluices are also in good order and seem safe
- Dog
fouling is a problem in a lot of areas
- Alternatives
routes to the cliff path along The Stour that has eroded are not marked
and/or are unclear
The
Committee would like to record their thanks to Jill Nunn for letting
the Committee "use" the Walking Club and for her enthusiasm
during them.
January
2005
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