Ruscombe action group continues to tackle landbanking

The Ruscombe Valley Action Group (RVAG) hadn't met for 6 months as there has not been any key issues. However last night we met at the Whiteshill Village Hall to review where we were at - the meeting was wonderfully short - out and home in almost under the hour.

Photos: Fields being cut yesterday - likely to be for silage this early

Progress nationally against landbanking has been slow - however Parish councillor Rebecca Charley is still in conversations with our local MP about possibly doing a presentation to MPs re the issue - CPRE also have launched a national campaign since we last met officially (see my blog on 30th December 2006) - and we are still in conversations with a Lib-Dem MP over possible legislation.

Photo: Whiteshill Village Hall yesterday before meeting

Locally there is little we can do other than keep a close eye on the fields - we are however now considering to accept the land back from Gladwish for the community - would he do this?? Surely he can have little use for remaining plots - the plots will not get planning permission in the foreseable future and surely no one will be silly enough to purshase any further plots?? And if they did what developer would want to deal with 180 different plot owners? Anyhow the next Parish Council meeting will look at this.

The issue for us is about maintenance - sadly the contract is not for grazing (this is better for land) - however at least it is being cut - in fact it was started yesterday.

Lastly we are looking at repeating last years walk along the footpaths - again the Parish Council will look at this next week - I'm hoping we can either end in the Star or perhaps a glass of wine and a Parish meeting??