Minutes for the meeting of the Friends of Nutsford Vale on 17 January, 2018 at the Blue Bell, Inn

Attendees:  Barbara Moore, Mavis Holt, Finola McGrath, Rita Edge, Barrie Edge, Christine Prunty, John Prunty, Maureen Riding, Steve Cree, Bernie Cree, Gail Nicholson, Alan Gibson, Mark Lucas

Apologies:  Claire James, Bruce James, Danny Heathcote

Welcome

Main Meeting
The main reason for this meeting was to discuss what happened on Thursday at the Planning Meeting and how it affects us.  
As you know the Planning Committee unanimously (9-0) voted to have a Site Visit on Nutsford Vale Country Park.  Councillor Bernard Stone had asked for it but it is not essential that they will agree to one.  It is to our advantage but we cannot think that we have won, it is just a small victory but a victory none the less.  It has been agreed that we will conduct ourselves like we are holding an event on the Vale.  We will be helpful and polite.  We know we cannot mention not building that is unless one of the Committee ask our thoughts directly but we need to show the Vale in the best possible light.  We still don't know when it will be but we have pencilled in the morning of the 8th February, 2018.  Bernie is emailing Sue Wills and our Three Councillors so that when they know they will immediately tell us.  We have been told that sometimes there is only a days notice so everyone will have to be ready. We will need to do a litter pick the day before.  About forty people had shown up at the Planning Meeting which was an excellent turn out and the Friends are very grateful for everyone who did come.  It was decided that  everyone will print out some old photos of the Vale where possible whether it is how it was, how it is now and events to show Planning all about the Vale.
About an hour after the meeting on Thursday our MP, Afzal Khan wrote a letter of objection to Sir Richard Leese to say because as both The Friends and lots of his constituents had written to him about the Vale he felt he had to join with us.  We knew we could wear him down eventually!!  Jenna and Ruth had given him a copy of their booklet which they had used as an objection to planning.  It was really good and upsetting at the same time.  Steve said it was a shame that it needed people to be proffessors and have letters after their names in order for people to sit up and take notice.  They are going to contact Andy Burnham as well so hopefully he will listen to.
If the Council gets permission to build but doesn't before July 2018 they have to see if there are any badgers living on the Vale.  Many of us said they had not seen any but as they are nocturnal it is difficult to determine this as they were there some time ago as Bob Radcliffe had told Rita and Barrie this.
Rita said that on the 8th of February if the build is passed we are going to object to Sajid Javid, The Secretary of State.  Alan said we needed to carry on writing letters especially to the Government.  Rita said Harry Fone from the Taxpayer's Alliance had come down to be with us at the Planning Meeting on Thursday.  At the weekend he had sent out a newsletter to various MPs one of which is Michael Gove, the MP for the environment.  It mentioned Nutsford Vale and it is a way in if we write more emails to him he will have more chance of knowing who we are.
If you can write one or more emails to these people do:
Sajid Javid             Secretary of State for Communities and Local   
                               Government     
Matt Hancock      Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Michael Gove       Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural      
                                Affairs

Justine Greening    Secretary of State for Education
Jeremy Hunt           Secretary of State for Health and Social Care  

If you can think of anyone else that needs writing to, do not hesitate to write to them and add that you are a Friend of Nutsford Vale Country Park.

Next Meeting:      31st January, 2018 @ 6.30 at the Blue Bell Inn, Levenshulme