Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group

Minutes of Open Meeting November 12th 2001 at the Walpole Bay Hotel

Nat/Con/6 MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING

The minutes of the previous Annual General meeting held on the 6th November 2000 had previously been circulated with the Agenda and were formally agreed. There were no matters arising. The meeting agreed that the minutes of this meeting would be sent out with the details for the next Executive meeting as well as circulated this time next year prior to the AGM.

Nat/Con/7 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman, Dr Jack Cohen, said that it had been a progressive year for the group keeping its strength and becoming more focused. The meetings have been kept deliberately open to involve as many people as possible. If there was a weakness it was in the work of the sub-committees and there was a need to look at this in future to keep momentum. He thanked David Ledger for trying to keep the group's head above water in terms of doing the minutes and distribution of papers. He gave a summary of presentations through the year and highlighted progress. Some of the matters discussed are still on the group's agenda, such as Foreness Point, Manston and Pegwell Bay. Presentations through the year included Colin Fitt from Thanet District Council on the Local Plan, the speaker from the National Trust, Whitecliffs Countryside Project and the proposals for the Richborough incinerator. He said it was important to target issues for the future as resources for the group were limited. He concluded by saying that he had enjoyed being the group's Chairman and thanked everyone for their support of the group.

Nat/Con/8 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Dr Cohen gave up the Chair to David Ledger for this item. Mr Ledger said that there had been six nominations for Dr Cohen to be Chairman. He asked for nominations from the floor and there were no other names and so Dr Cohen was elected unanimously. The Chair was then handed back to Dr Cohen for the rest of the meeting.

Nat/Con/9 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN

Nomination received for David Britton who was duly elected.

Nat/Con/10 ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Nominations previously received and from the floor included Executive Committee Members, Project Officers, Andrew Farrall and Grant Roberson. Committee Members nominated Alistair Bruce, John Rowland, Dr Jo Gaugas and Eileen Randall. Nigel Collingwood and Gerry O'Donnell also put their names forward and were co-opted on:.

No nominations were received either in writing or on the night for the following posts: Secretary, Publicity Officer and Education Officer. Dr Cohen said that he had been dealing with the publicity elements for the group and issuing releases for the press and said he was happy to continue with this. He asked if someone could be responsible for taking cuttings from the local press and articles that could be circulated to the Executive and Rosemary Quested volunteered. It was agreed that the Executive Committee hold a meeting to resolve the programme for the forthcoming year and to resolve the problem of no Secretary or Education Officer. This date was booked to be at the Walpole Bay Hotel on Thursday, 29th November 2001.

Nat/Con/11 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

1. Brian Stewart raised the issue about the Turner Centre to be constructed beside Margate Pier. He was concerned that piling for the building will disturb the marine life. A lot of discussion then took place and questions were raised about if the building had yet received planning permission. One member stated that there had been some drilling already taking place. Other questions to be resolved include the stone pier listed? and the problem with water currents as well as damage by storms, particularly after the storm of the previous week. One member thought that the original position was to be in the Rendezvous car park. There was concern that the pier is crumbly in places and someone asked whether there would be a breakwater built to reduce the impact of the sea onto the pier. There was also the question of whether there would be money available to help renovate the stone pier. The tenor of the meeting was not to object to the Centre at all, but Members felt there were a number of questions that needed answers sooner rather than later. One Member remembered that when he was a boy the inside part of the harbour had quicksand and was therefore very unstable. He had watched the trial piling last week and the piling went down very deep and still the silt was unstable and he believes the bedrock was never found. The question was raised of "Why there was piling recently and what the pier is sitting on, as evidence has shown that under the stonework under the pier was hollow. The Dane Valley River enters the sea through the harbour and still flows below the sand and this must serve to increase the instability of the harbour sand. Dr Cohen agreed to put together a letter with Members concerns to try and get some answers.
2. The question was raised about a forthcoming Planning Committee where it was believed that there would be a continuation of the debate of the sale of land at Foreness Point. Other Members of the meeting voiced the opinion that Thanet District Council had previously promised not to sell the land and was waiting for Kent County Council to compulsory purchase. It was thought that if TDC continued to refuse there was likely to be a public inquiry and Members felt that the Council needs to stay firm on this matter. One member of the group had seen a recent report on safety issues about Foreness and was felt that the report was very poor in standard. It was agreed that Dr Cohen write to TDC to find out what the current position is in terms of sale.
3. Bathing water quality was discussed and Brian Stewart wondered how Blackpool, who previously had a very poor record of quality, managed to turn round their situation and he asked what system of sewage treatment they had put in place. David Britton commented that following complaints made at Bank Holiday during the summer, it took two days to get a straight answer from Southern Water and then their indication was that a properly designed system would be too expensive. When he observed where the slick was coming from he could tell that it was released from Foreness Point on that day. There was also discussions about the Mere and it was understood that there may be some illegal sewage connections to it. Members felt that whilst Tivoli Brook had been cited as being the cause of the problem, it appeared that the failures would be due to the discharge point at Foreness Point. It was agreed that this item be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. Muriel Arnett raised concerns about Pegwell footpath and current problems where a landowner had dug up the footpath. It was understood that TDC may well be taking enforcement action and that a report was due to go to Planning Committee in the near future. There was a request for a letter of support to go to the Council. It was heard that some residents were prepared to support the case of TDC and act as witnesses if necessary. It is understood that the landowner had taken out trees and a hedge which was well over a 100 years hold, which had been simply ripped out. Councillor Poole asked for names of people prepared to be witnesses and these were given to him after the meeting.
4. Vera Elliott reported on some of the funding now in place for a researcher to work 10 hours per week for six months to progress the Thanet Countryside Project. This was a joint application between TCDT and the Sustainability Action. It was hoped there may be a figure of £10,000 found in the end.
5. Alistair Bruce raised the issue of the quarry at St Peters, Broadstairs where there is planning permission for 22 flats. Part of the quarry has one of the best geological profiles for its type in the country and there has been agreement with the developers to pull some of the buildings back to allow public access to view this profile in perpetuity. There was also a discussion about a very old Holm Oak tree which is on the edge of the cliff. It was considered that one day it may come down although in the past the tree officer has said that it is currently safe. The presence of this tree is actually holding work for the development up as the health and safety implications are that the tree may fall.

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