C.C.A. Newsletter - Autumn 2008                     

 

Chantry Community Association

 

 

Dear Resident

 

The CCA has reached a crisis point.  We have only 3 members on our committee, no chairman, no vice chairman, and no secretary.  We cannot operate effectively unless we have more support, so if this is not forthcoming we will be proposing a motion at the next AGM in May 2009 to wind up the association.  As a committee we do not want to do this but feel that we have no choice.

 

In this edition we have decided to focus entirely on the CCA itself, what its purpose is, what it needs to be successful, what it has achieved and why we think that it is worth preserving.

 

In the circumstances we have decided not to collect subscriptions door to door this year.  However we would ask members to show their support by posting or delivering their subscriptions to one of the remaining committee members listed overleaf.  These are £2 per household, £1 for OAPs.  Cheques should be made payable to the Chantry Community Association.  In the event that the Association is wound up next May we will propose a motion at the AGM to make a donation to the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign, and to entrust our remaining funds to other local residents associations.

 

We have attached a tear off strip to return with subscriptions.  We are also asking you to let us know if you could help the CCA in a number of ways, and also what you see as the 5 most important local issues. 

 

If no support is forthcoming this will be our last newsletter so do look on our website www.chantryresidents.org.uk for news and updates, including the date of our AGM.

 

If you want to get involved do telephone one of the committee.

 

 

The purpose of the CCA

The association was set up in 1976 with the objects of

 

• Representing the interests of members
• Putting forward to appropriate authorities the views of members on matters concerning the general welfare of the community
• Preserving, maintaining and improving the amenities in the area

 

The CCA is non political.

 

These objects remain the same today, but to a large extent the level of activity and areas of focus are determined by the areas of interest and the level of enthusiasm of the committee members at any particular time.  The committee members are volunteers and unpaid.

 

 

What the CCA needs to be successful

 

There are 3 aspects to this, the committee, our team of collectors, and our membership.  We have outlined the role of each below.

 

The Committee:

A full committee is a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, membership secretary, treasurer and 7 further members.  The aim is to meet 4-6 times a year for about 2 hours.  With a full committee tasks can be divided up into sub-committees, members can focus on their own area of interest, and no-one need be overloaded.  With only 3 committee members this breaks down.

 

The Collectors:

The collectors deliver newsletters door to door 2 to 3 times a year.  The objective is that each covers their immediate area only, delivering to as few as 20 homes.  It takes very little time to deliver these newsletters.  We also ask that once a year they collect subscriptions.  This can be daunting but once started is in fact a rewarding experience.  It offers the opportunity to meet and talk to your neighbours and find out what is of concern to them, and it is always uplifting to receive the many messages of support.  Again this does not take up very much time.  The problem comes when we do not have enough collectors so areas become too large, or are simply not covered at all.  So we need a lot of collectors and we always need new volunteers to come forward to replace those who move away or feel that they have done it for long enough.

 

The Membership:

We have a large supportive membership in that most households in our area subscribe to our association, but this is not enough.  We need a decent number of members to come to the AGM every year and to put themselves forward as collectors or for the committee.  This is not a commitment for ever, just decide to do it for 3 years or for whatever period you are comfortable with.

 

 

What the CCA has achieved

 

It is surprising how few people write to EHDC to set out their views on planning matters.  These letters are effective.  Equally representations made by the CCA count as representing the views of our membership.

 

In recent years the CCA was active in the creation and support for CAUSE a successful campaign against the development of the Areas of Special Restraint.  We have supported SSE delivering newsletters and donating over £3,000.  We have worked with the Civic Federation encouraging their efforts to represent the community associations in the town as a whole, and commenting on the Local Plan.  We have commented on planning issues that damage the character of our area so for instance excessive in-fill (but not on disputes between neighbours or minor extensions).  We have assisted members with their particular concerns be it speeding, over grown verges etc.  We have helped local residents coordinate various campaigns on transport issues.  We have made representations on the recent schools relocation.

 

 

Why the CCA is worth preserving

 

Just look around the town.  Look at the new build, look at how the character is changing, look at the pressure on the infrastructure.  The impact of the airport is huge, not just noise and pollution and the health threats that that brings, but the extra development, the loss of green spaces and the damage to Hatfield Forest.  The schools proposal is a nonsense and would have a hugely damaging effect on the town.

 

Any extra that can be done does help and the CCA is part of this.  Whilst it is not too hard to keep the CCA going, once gone it will be really hard to recreate.

 

 

CCA Committee Members