Residents fear greater traffic chaos

Planning consent consultation still awaited

An open meeting is to be held on Thursday 5 June to hear details of proposals to extend Staples Road Primary School.

Both the school and the council have circulated residents with outlines of the proposal.

Said headteacher Veronica Wallace: “We hope you will support the school in providing much needed places.”

If the plans go ahead the school will be expanded to accommodate increased pupil numbers from September 2015. The new classrooms are likely to be built in place of a disused toilet block and a dismountable classroom.

Staples Road is currently what is known as two-and-a-half form entry with 75 pupils commencing school in the reception class (a form equating to 30 pupils).

To cope with a predicted future shortfall of places in the area in coming years the council has secured funding to expand the school by half a form (15 places) meaning next September (2015) 90 pupils would start in reception.

With an additional 15 children starting each year in subsequent years, overall pupil numbers would ultimately rise from 525 to 630.

Interestingly, at the end of April it was revealed that a total of 32 children living in the catchment area for the school have just been refused admission at Staples Road for September 2014 due to a shortage of places – already 17 more than even the extended school could accommodate. Whether or not an additional 15 places is going to be enough in the long term is questionable although, it is unlikely that consideration would be given to extending Staples Road yet further.

Some residents have already expressed concern about the impact the increased numbers will have from 2015 and ultimately when another 105 parents could feasibly be dropping children off at school in a narrow road and congested area.

Once the decision has been made expect to see planning notices at the school in the next month or so as well as in the local paper. The application will be determined by Essex County Council but will then need planning permission  from Epping Forest District Council which will provide Loughton Town Council, residents and the Hills Amenity Society to comment on the merits of the building proposals.

 

 

 

Although the education needs consultation ended on 6 February, you can still view the documents by clicking here

 

 

 

 

Enough is enough:  County Councillor calls for action

County cllr Chris Pond has asked ECC to institute measures to stop the incursion of foreign articulated lorries into the Conservation Areas.

He says: “There is evidently a problem with some of their sat navs. He has asked ECC to take this up with national organisations that deal with such matters, but as a short term remedy, to erect international pictogram signs banning lorries of 7.5 tons or over from entering. The present signs are blue advisory ones, unsuitable for HGV and unsuitable for long vehicles. Unfortunately, the driver of the Lithuanian artic pictured  on 13 January could not read English, and had set his sat-nav correctly for Crown Road,  Enfield, where he was to deliver his cargo of building materials. ECC have undertaken to consider this, but such a sign would require a traffic regulation order, which process is slow and complex.”

Albeit the incident was not as dramatic as the one pictured below:  click here for story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures by Lawrence Gray, who assisted at the scene, and Justine Woods

 

Sat-Nav nightmare growing for the Hills

A York Hill resident has described how he chased in his pyjamas after a lorry with foreign plates around five am after he heard the wall outside his home being demolished. He said later he caught up with the driver at the Gardener’s Arms where the lorry was stuck at the bend and understood from the driver and police who arrived later that the vehicle had been directed up York Hill by its Sat Nav and was heading for Harlow.

Before the wall of 59 York Hill was demolished, two cars, both parked at the side of the road just down from the junction with Kings Hill, had been damaged, one losing a front wheel.  Marks on the road suggest that the cream mini was pushed several feet up the road in the impact. The car was later removed on a transporter. Two other cars – four in all – were also damaged.

How on earth do you get Romanian sat-navs altered?

County Councillor Chris Pond and his wife Councillor Caroline Pond inspected the damage the morning of the accident, Thursday 25 October.

He said: “I’ve requested the Highways Liaison Officer to advise on what better signage might be had, and have offered to fund it out of the local budget. I’ve spoken to several people including the owner of a damaged car (four were damaged in all) and hope we can stop this.

“But how on earth do you get Romanian sat-navs altered? This is absurd. We also had an artic in Staples Rd a few weeks ago!”

 

Police are investigating.

 

 

Main stories

• Residents’ Parking scheme will not go ahead…for now
• Lights Off in the Hills after midnight
• Bench mysteries – any style will do!
• Best Kept Garden 2013 winner
• Go-ahead in principle for anniversary plaque

Second residents’ action group formed

Foresters: Replicating the successful action by residents monitoring noise and antisocial behaviour around Fifteen on York Hill, residents around the Foresters in Baldwins Hill have formed a similar group. A meeting for the group with the licensee was facilitated by County Councillor Chris Pond.

Fifteen: Residents are continuing to monitor incidents of noise and antisocial behaviour atthe bottom of York Hill, a recent incident involving seven cars parker on School Green (one of them is pictured). Fifteen has been given retrospective planning permission for its external seating area.

 

Hedge removal in York Hill: The Committee heard that the owner has been requested to reinstate the hedge.

 

Nice bin—now empty it please
The Hills Committee recorded the installation of a smart “duckhouse” style bin on the corner of Potters Close and York Hill but noted that it is often overflowing  and infrequently emptied.  An appeal is to be lodged with the Town Council which installed it.

 

Appraisals now due for early 2014 says Council
Epping Forest Conservation Officer Maria Kitts has told the Hills committee that with the appointment of a new technical officer from the end of October the Hills appraisals will be dusted down and become top priority for the new appointee.  She adds: “I’m happy for you to say we are still on track for early 2014 thanks to additional resources in the Conservation Team.” (See Page Six for more information about the appraisals)
 
Go-ahead to rebuild ‘Mulberry’
Please note: We apologise for any confusion caused by an earlier report in our Autumn newsletter. This article replaces it and the original should not be relied on for information. To be clear, planning permission has now been granted for the rebuild of Mulberry and the reasons for a demolition are explained below.
 
Epping Forest District Council has approved an application to demolish and rebuild “Mulberry”, the white house on the north side of Woodbury Hill.
 
The application approved by the Council, with conditions, is for construction of a replacement dwelling on two levels with an attached car port, terracing and balconies, together with a storage basement below ground at the northern end of the property.
 
The replacement house is to sit within approximately the same footprint and is to be similarly white rendered, but with a more defined modern design with an art deco influence to replace the existing 1960s design.
It is understood that the proposal to rebuild Mulberry was born out of problems caused by subsidence to the existing house which would otherwise require underpinning, meaning substantial engineering works were unfortunately inevitable.
 
The local area planning sub-committee commented favourably on the design during the approval process. The Hills Amenity Society also discussed at length the plans for a new house on the site and had no objections regarding the design.
 
It is understood that a tree survey was undertaken prior to the planning submission and the works will be undertaken with necessary tree protection measures in place.

Working together on 12-18 Pump Hill

The Hills Committee has been approached by the new owner of the plot at 12 -18 Pump Hill and was pleased to hear he plans to build a house on the land and wants to ensure that it will be in keeping with the conservation area. He felt it would be more effective to consult with the committee and take on board local experience and opinion before starting the planning process. The committee commented on his initial plans and gave advice on how to ensure that the new house was in keeping with the conservation area.

 

 

For anyone wondering what had happened to the benches that disappeared from York Hill Green opposite The Gardener’s Arms Pub recently, good news.  It transpires that the two benches on the green, which offer a welcome rest to walkers after the hike up the hill as well as panoramic views over London, had seen better days and one that was no longer usable had been taken away by Loughton Town Council. Both benches were later replaced (1)- numbered clockwise from top left.

A new bench accompanied by a ‘duckhouse’ litterbin (2) has been placed at the corner of York Hill and Potters Close.

And opposite Steeds Way on York Hill the smashed concrete seat has been replaced (3). The two benches on School Green at the bottom of York Hill (4&5), the official concrete bench is clearly unsafe with a rung missing and is apparently due to be repaired or replaced. In the meantime, a garden bench seems to have been donated as an unofficial replacement. It is

apparently due to be “recycled” by the council but hopefully not before the

official bench is repaired. All a joy for lovers of variety at least—but may be still not quite  what might be called conservation area standard?

 

 

 

Scott Hartley from 2 Forest Way (pictured top) is this year’s winner of the Hills Amenity Society Shield, awarded annually for the best front garden in the area.

Committee members walked the Hills area back in the summer, identifying a number of worthy contenders for the shield. Local residents were also asked for their nominations via the Hills Amenity Society website.

The winner, chosen by the committee from all of the nominated gardens, is traditionally invited to receive the award at the society’s autumn lunch which this year is set to be held on Saturday 2 November. Also pictured are some of the other wonderful gardens in this year’s selection and praised by the judges.

 

 

 

 

 

The Forest Commissioners have given approval in principle for a location map to be placed at the top of York Hill on the green, which is forest land. Hills Committee applied for permission earlier this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Hills Amenity Society. Loughton Town Council has also been supportive of the idea and plans are now proceeding to obtain other necessary permissions before commissioning a piece of work in glass by a local artist, depicting the London skyline that can be seen from the top of the hill.

We already have some ideas but need help with the design, build and installation of the wooden plaque that will house the artwork. Can you help?  If you’d like to get involved please get in touch. Email Stephen Cohen at stephenmcohen@hotmail.com.

For the second year in succession the 2013 Hills picnic, this year on Coronation Sunday, was blessed with a fine, sunny day.  More than 100 local residents brought their picnics to enjoy the communal event with the roads around the green closed to traffic for the afternoon. Flags and bunting marked the royal celebration – and the occasion.  Stephen Cohen coordinated the event sponsored by the Hills Amenity Society.

The recent consultation on proposed boundary changes for the three Loughton Hills Conservation Areas were supported by most respondents according to Maria Kitts, the council’s conservation officer.

The changes, which can be seen in detail by clicking here, suggest both inclusions, such as the top of Pump Hill, and exclusions around Wroths Path. The council did not accept removal of the length of houses on the forest side after the Clay Ride.

Work on the appraisals has been delayed during consultation on the boundary change proposals but according to Ms Kitts this will now be restarted “as urgent current work on planning permissions allows”.  Both the Appraisals prepared by the Hills Amenity Society and those in draft form prepared by the Council can be viewed here.

Essex County Council has been reviewing its policies on speed limits which may be good news for the Hills campaign to have 20mph limits imposed throughout the Hills area.

County Councillor Chris Pond confirms:  “There may be more of a chance of the 20mph zone for York Hill, Staples Road and streets off now that the county speed policy has been amended. I am awaiting details, but don’t expect rapid action.”

If you would like to air your views please email them to i.locks@btinternet.com and I will add them to a new blog on the Hills Website.