The 1999 AGM took place in the Memorial Hall Committee Room on Thursday 17th June at 7.30pm, with 13 attending. Officers were elected as follows:
| Nominations | Proposed | Seconded | |
| Chairperson: | Jane Addy | Chris Turpin | Angela Howell |
| Vice-chair: | Pat Regardsoe | Mick Jones | Chris Turpin |
| Treasurer: | Tony Brewington | Mick Jones | Mike Wade |
| Gen. Secretary: | Mike Wade | Chris Turpin | Pat Regardsoe |
| Fayre Secretary: | Mick Jones | Pat Regardsoe | Chris Turpin |
| Sarah Payne | Pat Regardsoe | Chris Turpin |
All were elected unopposed.
The Chairperson gave apologies from the Treasurer for his absence. The full, audited accounts will be available within the next fortnight.
| Credit Balances: | Current Account | £286.86 (as at 10.6.99) |
| Deposit Account | £1691.91 (as at 9.4.99) |
The Group continues to meet monthly and has attracted five new members this year.
It is good to note that we are not alone in caring about our beautiful planet, and there are a number of projects now in existence which will help Bradworthy towards a more sustainable future. Amongst these are the community woodland planted at Berridon farm, Westville Organics opposite the school who are in conversion to Soil Association Organic status, producing local food for local people, Lower Brexworthy Farm also in conversion to organic milk production.
Hundreds of broad-leaved saplings provided by the Coast and Countryside Service and planted by local landowners.
So many of those LA 21 initiatives which arose in the early days of our existence are now coming to fruition in the Parish, thanks to the efforts of many and varied people.
It seems that concern for the local environment and sustainability is now much more common. Perhaps we have contributed a little in helping that shift to happen; we certainly hope so and we thank all those who have bothered to read our articles in the Bradworthy News and perhaps made some adjustments to their lives as a result.
However, credit for much of what follows goes not to the LA 21 Group but to all those in the Parish who have cared enough to give their time and energy to make things happen.
The Saturday Morning Community Stall continues to fulfil a need for plants and flowers, locally grown, often chemical-free, produce, free-range eggs, home-made goodies , bric-a-brac etc. It would be good to see more groups and inspaniduals using this opportunity for selling and buying so that it will continue to flourish. Many thanks to Mick, Sarah, Chris, Dilys, Pat, Paul, and all those "mad dogs and Englishmen (and women)" who "go out in the midday sun (and rain!)".
The Fayre was again a success, but it would be better still with even more people and groups getting involved for next year. In view of Teresa Driscoll opening the Fayre two years ago, we felt it appropriate to send a letter of condolence to her and the other "Spotlight" presenters on the sad death of Jill Dando, and were touched to receive a reply thanking us for our concern.
Video'Bradworthy past present and future'75 minutes of the sights and sounds of Bradworthy in glorious colour. Historical material, famous faces, beautiful places!On sale at the Fayre and at Martin'sStill only £9.99p.All proceeds towards parish projects |
The video "Bradworthy Past, Present and Future" sold so well that we had an additional 50 produced and have ordered another 50 for this year's Fayre. There is now a large sum available from the proceeds of the Fayre and the video for community projects, which could perhaps attract matched funding for the right idea.
There was no response to the notice which was posted in May and in the "Bradry News" in June inviting local groups of inspaniduals to apply for funding for their project. Perhaps there is still uncertainty about what constitutes a "sustainability" type project? The answer is "anything which helps reduce our negative impact on the planet", and that covers any area of life.
The Parish Appraisal was drawn up by the Torridge Environmental Forum, now the Torridge Agenda 21 Group (TAG 21) after initial consultation at a public meeting in the village. It has taken over two years to reach printing stage, through no fault of TAG 21, the Parish Council or the LA 21 Group, but it is apparently about to be printed. The Group fulfilled the main task of collating the responses and preparing the final report. Some of the action priorities which emerged from this community consultation have already been addressed:
Community Transport - the PC and LA 21 Group have met with the Torridge Transport Group to discuss community transport needs. It is hoped that a feasibility study will be undertaken to identify exact needs in terms of numbers, timing and destinations. The Telecentre (see below) will offer the opportunity to create a car-sharing scheme, which may be a more viable alternative and which could be put in place far more quickly.
Road Safety and Cycle Routes - although this issue and that of the state of the roads have been tackled by the LA 21 Group, PC and the primary school, no ground has been won. With arguments like "we can only erect a 20mph sign near the school when people start driving at that speed or if there are accidents", you feel very powerless. Perhaps the Bradry Gnomes should take to the roads in dead of night with their paint pots and rearrange Bradry Mill junction themselves!? Meanwhile, please be on the lookout for cyclists and pedestrians, so they can feel safe taking these environmentally friendly options into the village.
Other LA 21 initiatives are being tackled in the new Memorial Hall Extension as follows:
These important developments were Bradworthy LA21 initiatives, working with the Memorial Hall Committee to secure funding and expert advice. The Hall Extension will be a key facility for helping regenerate the local economy and enabling the community to become more sustainable, and we salute the Memorial Hall Committee all those who put in so much work to see this ambitious project through to reality.
John Cole is to be congratulated on his beautiful painting of the "Parish Map", another idea on the LA 21 list which has come to fruition through someone else's talent.
The need for extra provision for youth has been addressed by some of the LA 21 members and Sarah Hayward, who run a Friday evening club in the Memorial Hall Youth Room. It is hoped that the club will continue and its support grow.
The Group has sent detailed responses to the Government's consultation papers on a sustainable future, "Opportunities for Change" and "Sustainability Counts", and has met with John Burnett MP to discuss these. He has offered all the support he can to any local project aiming to make the area more sustainable, and is already involved in the Holsworthy Bio-Gas Project. He assures us that funds are available, especially from Europe, particularly with Devon aiming for Objective I status, and is keen to hear from anyone with a project in mind.
We presented a petition from the parish to John Bumett MP demanding a National Health dentist in the area, and were told that money would be allocated if only one could be found to do the job!
Representations have been made to government and John Bumett MP expressing alarm at the introduction of this potentially dangerous bio-technology, and an action group has been set up in the Holsworthy area following a successful meeting in the White Hart.
We look forward to seeing more of you at future meetings and, of course, at Bradworthy Fayre 1999 on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30th.