Rawreth Parish Council Takes Steps To Protect Local Land

There’s been quite a bit of co-operation between different councils and different political parties in the past fortnight or so, with the aim of protecting pieces of open land in Rawreth from unauthorised occupation.

This was discussed at length at last Wednesdays’ Rawreth Parish council meeting. All 7 parish councillors were there, plus District Councillors Black and Oatham, also County Councillor Stephen Castle, plus Richard Evans, one of the most senior officers at the District Council. There was also a good attendance from the public, who contributed to the discussions in a positive way.

Some of what was discussed and agreed is now on the Rawreth Parish Council Website. As you will see, the parish council is leading the way in trying to trying to protect land. For example, they are giving local landowners the chance to hire concrete blocks….

Dear all.
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Following the damage caused to Community Garden hedging last week (1st September 2011) and the fact that the Parish still remains on high alert a decision was made by Parish Council Members during Wednesday nights Meeting to put in place additional security which will hopefully deter any further attempts by people wanting to gain illegal access to the the Community Garden.
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The most cost effective and instant solution was for the Council to hire some additional concrete blocks which arrived today and have been strategically placed in the garden at what are considered the most vulnerable points. The most costly part of hiring blocks has been the haulage and having spoken to several different companies to gain quotations and source available blocks we found that the delivery cost for one block were the same as the delivery cost for ten blocks or more. On this basis the Council made a decision to hire a larger number of blocks than are currently needed at the garden so that we can ensure we have blocks readily available should other areas around the Parish be targeted. On the same basis we are aware that some land owners have been unable to secure land as they have not had access to blocks or similar blocking aids or the means to move them and it is therefore intended that should any landowner find they need additional security they can contact myself and provided we have blocks available we will be happy to discuss sub-hiring them.
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By approaching the block hire in this manner the Council has not only been able to secure the Community Garden land, but also it has enabled us to offer blocks to Parish residents, landowners and businesses who have not been able to hire them directly due to haulage costs or shortness of readily available blocks.
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Please contact me if you wish to discuss hiring blocks within the Parish.
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Lastly we are extremely grateful to James our maintenance contractor and his workmen who not only found the damaged hedging and alerted us, and secured the hole with blocks, but also have been on call everyday and still are. In addition via James’ contacts we have been able to source the blocks we are using at the garden. (Most companies stocks are already out on hire and there is currently a shortage) As a decision was only reached on Wednesday evening to hire the blocks, to have them in place by Friday has only been possible by the efforts and help given by James and his contacts.
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Please remain vigilant at all times and please contact me or any of our Councillors if you have any concerns.
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Kind Regards
Hayley Bloomfield
Clerk to Rawreth Parish Council