Meads Community Association.

STOP PRESS
Report on the Annual General Meeting held on 19th April 2008 in St John's Hall, Meads.
Meads Community Association

Committee Members Present: - Nat Barnardiston, Reg Barrick, Sue Enfield (Social), Simon Evers (Membership Secretary), Bridget King (Editor), Jean Lewis (Treasurer), Russell Riseley (Chairman), John Roe, Tricia Sneath (Social) and Roger Stiggers.(Secretary)

Accounts for 2007.
The accounts were presented by the Treasurer and were approved.

Election of Officers.
The Chairman noted with regret the resignation of Millis Miller. Millis has made a very significant contribution to the MCA over many years and we are extremely grateful for all his efforts. We are pleased to welcome back John Roe an experienced former member of the Committee. MCA AGM

Chairman's Report
The Chairman reported that the year had been particularly challenging. Planning Applications had increased both in number and complexity; a situation which seems set to continue. The Molly Sedgwick bequest is being used to create a floral bed in Helen Gardens. Designed by the Council Parks & Gardens Department, the display reflects a "parachute" motif in recognition of Molly's charitable parachute jumps with the Red Devils.

Planning and Development
The revised "Koala" application was refused by the Planning Committee and the decision appealed to the Inspectorate is still outstanding.
The Appeal against the refusal of the scheme to demolish and redevelop the "Coach House" in Carlisle Road was rejected by the Inspectorate after protests by MCA and local residents. A revised application for the re-development into flats of "Trevethan", Carlisle/Beachy Head Road has been submitted and this has also been protested.
The University of Brighton Sports Faculty proposals for the floodlighting of the sports pitches in Denton Road were unanimously rejected by local residents. Meads Councillors were asked to intervene to stop this scheme.
A revised application to modify the shop entrances to improve disabled access to the Downs Court retail units has been submitted. Rumours persist that Tesco will be the occupant but neither we nor Council officials to have been able to obtain confirmation of this. Our considerable efforts to contact Tesco directly have been unsuccessful.

Meads Community Association Latest News Committee Chairman's Remarks Join Contact the MCA Chairman's Remarks STOP PRESS Report on the Annual General Meeting held on 19th April 2008 in St John's Hall, Meads. Meads Community Association Committee Members Present: - Nat Barnardiston, Reg Barrick, Sue Enfield (Social), Simon Evers (Membership Secretary), Bridget King (Editor), Jean Lewis (Treasurer), Russell Riseley (Chairman), John Roe, Tricia Sneath (Social) and Roger Stiggers.(Secretary) Accounts for 2007. The accounts were presented by the Treasurer and were approved. Election of Officers. The Chairman noted with regret the resignation of Millis Miller. Millis has made a very significant contribution to the MCA over many years and we are extremely grateful for all his efforts. We are pleased to welcome back John Roe an experienced former member of the Committee. Chairman's Report The Chairman reported that the year had been particularly challenging. Planning Applications had increased both in number and complexity; a situation which seems set to continue. The Molly Sedgwick bequest is being used to create a floral bed in Helen Gardens. Designed by the Council Parks & Gardens Department, the display reflects a "parachute" motif in recognition of Molly's charitable parachute jumps with the Red Devils. Planning and Development The revised "Koala" application was refused by the Planning Committee and the decision appealed to the Inspectorate is still outstanding. The Appeal against the refusal of the scheme to demolish and redevelop the "Coach House" in Carlisle Road was rejected by the Inspectorate after protests by MCA and local residents. A revised application for the re-development into flats of "Trevethan", Carlisle/Beachy Head Road has been submitted and this has also been protested. The University of Brighton Sports Faculty proposals for the floodlighting of the sports pitches in Denton Road were unanimously rejected by local residents. Meads Councillors were asked to intervene to stop this scheme. A revised application to modify the shop entrances to improve disabled access to the Downs Court retail units has been submitted. Rumours persist that Tesco will be the occupant but neither we nor Council officials to have been able to obtain confirmation of this. Our considerable efforts to contact Tesco directly have been unsuccessful.

Ascham War Memorial Arch Members of the Association will probably know of the Ascham Arch, a unique memorial to the former pupils of Ascham and St Vincent's Schools (which united before the First World War) that stands in Carlisle Road near the Ascham and St Vincent's Place estates. We have been attempting to raise funds over the past two years to replace the severely eroded panels naming the fallen, and to restore the Arch itself. This total restoration has become necessary since the Arch is 'listed' and therefore any work done on it must be authorised by English Heritage, who made a conditional grant, initially of ¤8,000, towards the final tender of £19,301 (which includes VAT). In the two years since this first tender, the costs of restoration have increased to £22,896 and we are negotiating with English Heritage for an increase in their grant to help meet this new target. At the time of writing, the sum of £10,650 has been raised from former pupils of Ascham School (which closed in 1977), from a few Meads residents and two local societies. VAT cannot be reclaimed on listed buildings and, since we are not a charity, we must bear the full cost. A further unforeseen complication that has arisen is a request from English Heritage for the placement of the old panels elsewhere, perhaps in a school or church. They have estimated this cost as a further £1,487 (including VAT). We are contesting this as an unnecessary imposition on the appeal and we await their opinion. We hope to start work in July '08 and to complete the work within three months. A service is being arranged for 11 November at 11am at the Arch to celebrate its restoration and to remember the 51 pupils of Ascham and St Vincent's Schools who fell between 1914 and 1919. You will appreciate that several thousand pounds still need to be raised to complete the restoration of this Meads landmark. Any donation will be welcomed. Please send a contribution to: The Ascham Arch Restoration Fund c/o David Stevens, Chelmsford Lodge, 12 Granville Road, Eastbourne BN20 7HE. All donations will be gratefully acknowledged.

Find out more about this important work in the community.......join the MCA. WORKING TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF MEADS. If you have any comments or want us to take action on any matters, drop us an e-mail. We value the thoughts and concerns of our members. E-mail the MCA Latest News Committee MCA Newsletter Join Contact the MCA Visit MeadsVillage.com