Minutes:
Ditton Park Cycle Path update –
JW informed the meeting that CA Technologies have made repairs on the southern section of the route through Ditton Park estate near to the Major’s Farm Road. Though recent pictures show that the newly repaired path is now flooded. CA assured LA’s and Sustrans that the path surface was built up however, LAF members questioned how sufficient the works were.
Repairs to the cycle route across Northfield are planned during the next financial year 14/15. Members questioned the need for the whole route to be closed for health and safety reasons just because the southern link of the route is flooded. DM requested that a record is kept of the closures, their length and the reasons given. JW agreed to put together a spread sheet of incidents/closures and also stated that CA have downgraded their on-site security. Members felt that CA’s threshold for safety issues seems low and they are slow to re-open the path. DM expressed concern that CA Technologies keep up their obligations and that the repaired southern path link is re-assessed for more repairs in view of the flooding issue.
Resolved – JW to set up spread sheet to monitor the closures and enquire with CA about opening of the route.
Jubilee River – Enhancement and Development – updates
JW is awaiting further details of the “CanRow” project after having contacted Kam Bhatti, the officer dealing. JW will also arrange a meeting with Kim Truelove, Healthy Walks Co-Ordinator to discuss opportunities for partnership working between Healthy Walks and the LAF.
Colne Valley Park CIC – updates
JW confirmed the LAF has become a member of the CVP CIC as a community group. The CVP forum in November had been very aspirational with speakers hoping to drum up new membership and thus revenue for the CVP. In his talk, Stewart Pomeroy had given community engagement examples of the kind of projects the CVP are now undertaking.
Discussions ensued as to how the LAF can help with the CVP objectives and what partnership working would include. Important issues for Slough LAF are;
· Colne Valley Trail and where it accesses Slough
· The Slough Arm of the Canal extension of the CVP.
JW suggested a starting point would be to speak to Stewart about the Slough Arm of the Canal being included in the CVP. The extent of the CVP in Slough needs to be clarified with TH referring to minutes of the CVP Standing Conference at the time (1987) confirming that the canal was indeed included within the CVP boundary. All agreed the importance of finding evidence to prove the Canal was officially included in the CVP so that SBC could then be lobbied about renewing its support for the CVP.
DM questioned whether the CVP itself is a legal entity with legally established and recorded boundaries. Members also thought there would be records of the historical funding of canal towpath works organised by Groundwork. JW agreed to investigate whether any old records exist at the Council to prove canal inclusion in CVP.
WS thought that as SBC promotes its green stance through talk of the CVP, the closeness of Black Park etc. as destinations for slough residents, SBC ought to be willing to back this up with renewing and funding its interest in the CVP CIC to allow greater evolvement of projects within Slough.
SWY suggested that Natural England ought to be able to offer support as the CVP is a regionally important park.
Resolved – LAF wants to encourage SBC to renew its interest in the CVP by lobbying prominent officers and Council members through presenting a business case including evidence that the Slough Arm of the canal was placed into the CVP and that as a result SBC ought to be constructive in partnership with CVP.
LAF also agreed that CVP could be persuaded as a partner in working on the Slough Arm of the Grand Union of the Canal.