There is an important survey being run by the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Project:
I have discussed this with Manda O'Connell, chair of the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Liaison Group. Manda tells me that it is very important that we show that ideas we want for the garden community are 'provenly popular'. We can help do this by mentioning them in the survey answers.
Question 5 is particularly important for the CHEAG campaign for a country park:
"Do you know of any special existing natural features or assets in the local area that should be retained or enhanced as part of the Garden Community?"
You should answer in your own words if possible, but below are 2 example answers in line with CHEAG goals.
When you complete the survey, please note:
The survey is 13 main questions, all on one web page.
You may want to load the survey and complete and save your answers offline in a tool like Notepad, then load the survey again and paste your answers in, so that you can easily try again if there are any problems submitting.
Some of the questions are fairly challenging - if you don't have time, just focus on question 5.
Here is Manda's answer to Question 5:
Salary Brook nature reserve from the A133 to Bromley Road which should be extended to include the slopes up to and 100 metres beyond the ancient woodland of Home Wood, The Strip, Thousand Acres and Churn Wood to form a Country Park as the 'important green edge to Colchester' as specified in the Local Plan Section 1. The nature reserve AND the slopes leading up to these woodlands (and at least 100m beyond), are important natural assets with public rights of way used by dog walkers, ramblers, runners and all manner of members of the public throughout the seasons. These should be retained and enhanced by this area being officially recognised and adopted as Country Park for the continued enjoyment of both Colchester residents and those of the new community on the other side of this area, in a manner similar to Highwoods Country Park.
Here is CHEAG's answer:
Salary Brook, its surrounds in its valley and the slopes leading South-East, up to and 200 metres beyond Home Wood, The Strip, Thousand Acres and Churn Wood. This area is regularly used by walkers and is an important area for wildlife, as demonstrated by studies published by the Colchester Natural History Society. This area should be maintained for these purposes and protected from any development.
Manda's answers to the survey are excellent. Manda has given me permission to forward them to anyone interested - please let me know. There is an email button available from the 'View my complete profile' link near the top of this Internet page.
Regards
James Marchant
Dunnock Way
Colchester
Colchester East Action Group (CHEAG)
Blog: http://cheag.blogspot.co.uk/
