Public Meeting and AGM

LARA's 2018 AGM and annual public meeting is

on Saturday 24^th November 2018 at 10:30am

at Darwin Hall (on Darwin Park, near Waitrose)

This is your opportunity to make your views known, and everyone is welcome.

LARA has been less active this year due in part to a low number of Executive Committee members. Anyone wishing to become more active in LARA and join the Executive Committee would be welcome. Proposals for new Executive Committee members should be made to the secretary, Tracy Shepherd, at least 72 hours before the AGM.

Public Meeting and AGM

LARA's annual public meeting gives you the opportunity to make your views known and hear what we have been doing in the last year. This year's meeting is:

on Saturday 4^th November at 10:30am

at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane

Local councillors will also be present to address you and answer questions, so come along and find out what's happening in your local area. Everyone is welcome.

Our Summer Quiz is to be held on Saturday 24^th June, this time at Martin Heath Hall in Christchurch Lane, starting at 7:30pm. Everyone is invited. We will also have another fantastic raffle with lots of prizes to be won. So come along, have some fun and support LARA!

Darwin Park Pools Project – Drop-in Morning
On the morning of Saturday 6^th May, between 10:30 and 12:30 we will be holding a drop-in morning at Darwin Hall to allow residents to examine the plans we have to enhance the pools and green spaces of the Darwin Park estate.

We are pleased to announce our Winter Quiz to be held on Saturday 3^rd December at Darwin Hall at 7:30pm. Everyone is invited. We have a Christmas-themed raffle with lots of prizes to be won. So come along, have some fun and support LARA!

Public Meeting (AGM)
The LARA AGM is a public meeting that gives you the opportunity to make your views known and hear what we have been doing in the last year. Everyone is welcome.

Saturday 19^th November at 2:30pm

Darwin Hall (on Darwin Park, near Waitrose)

Local councillors will also be present to address you and answer questions, so come along and find out what's happening in your local area. More information.

Litter Pick
Despite a very wet start to our litter pick last Saturday morning, we managed to cover the LARA area and achieved a very successful pick. Our thanks go out to all the Committee members, families and friends who turned out to help as well as Councillors Iain Eadie and Andrew Smith who also came along with their families to help.

Clean for the Queen
In the spirit of the national "Clean for the Queen" initiative we are organising a local litter pick on Saturday 9^th July, 10am-2pm starting at Darwin Hall (by Waitrose). Some of the children from Christ Church Primary will be helping us, and we are also inviting as many residents as possible to come along and support us on the day. Any volunteers will be hugely appreciated.

LARA will be providing litter pickers and bags but please bring gloves and wear sensible shoes. If there are areas in our community that you feel we need to pay particular attention to then please let us know.

Lichfield Library Petition Debate by Staffordshire County Council
The debate by Staffordshire County Council on the petition regarding the future of Lichfield Library is available online. (Scroll through the timeline to 02:04:40 for the start of the debate.)

We are pleased to announce our St George's Day Quiz to be held on Saturday 23^rd April at Darwin Hall at 7:30pm. Everyone is invited. Teams of up to six players. There will be another fantastic raffle with prizes galore. Bring your own drink and have a great time!

Save Lichfield Library
Those of you who are concerned about Staffordshire County Council's proposals to sell off the Friary library building for private development, may like to add your support to the call for an open and democratic public consultation on the future of the library, by signing the petition here: Save Lichfield Library

LARA is organising a Skittles Evening on Saturday 6^th February at Darwin Hall. Everyone is invited, so come along and have a go!

LARA AGM 2015
The LARA AGM is at 11:30am on Saturday 7^th November at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane. All residents of Leomansley and Darwin Park are invited. Come along and find out what's happening in your local area. Hear from your local councillors and the police, and have your say in the future of Leomansley. More information.

LARA is organising a Family Treasure Hunt on the afternoon of Sunday 23^rd August. Starting from Martin Heath Hall, and costing just £2 per team. Everyone is invited, so come along and have some fun!

Following on from the success of our Summer Quiz, we are pleased to announce our Winter Quiz to be held on Saturday 24^th January at Darwin Hall at 7:30pm. Everyone is invited. And we have another fantastic raffle with lots of valuable prizes to be won. So come along (again), have some fun and support LARA!

Hallam Park Planning Application Approved
The planning application made by David Wilson Homes to build 157 houses on the Western Recreation Zone (the fields between Waitrose and Limburg Avenue) has been approved by Lichfield District Council.

LARA AGM 2014
The LARA AGM is at 11:30am on 22^nd November at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane. All residents of Leomansley and Darwin Park are invited. Come along and find out what's happening in your local area. Hear from your local councillors and the police, and have your say in the future of Leomansley. More information.

Our Summer Quiz is being held on Saturday 5^th July at Darwin Hall at 7:30pm. Everyone is invited. And if you're no good at quizzes, we have lots of fantastic raffle prizes in our grand raffle. So come along, have some fun and support LARA!

Hallam Park Planning Application
A planning application has been made by David Wilson Homes to build 157 houses on the fields between Waitrose and Limburg Avenue. Read more in the David Wilson Homes Community Update. Comments or objections to the application should be submitted to Neighbour.responses@lichfielddc.gov.uk by 6^th June quoting the planning application reference 14/00465/FULM.

Annual Town Meeting
The Annual Town Meeting for the Parish of Lichfield will be held at the Guildhall on Wednesday 21st May at 7:30pm. View the notice.

Christchurch Lane One Way Update
The plan to make Christchurch Lane one way has now been abandoned and other traffic management options are being considered.

Christchurch Lane One Way Proposal
Staffordshire County Council are proposing to make Christchurch Lane one way with additional restrictions on stopping and parking. Details of the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders are available on the County Council's web site. (Scroll down to "Permanent Traffic Regulation Orders" and the Christchurch Lane one is the first set of documents.) The closing date for any objections is Thursday 9^th January 2014.

Proposed Housing Development
David Wilson Homes are proposing to develop the Western Recreation Zone (the fields in front of Waitrose). You can see details of their proposal online at www.consultation-online.co.uk/hallampark.

LARA AGM 2013
The LARA AGM is at 10am on 2nd November at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane. All residents of Leomansley and Darwin Park are invited. Come along and find out what's happening in your local area. Hear from your local councillors and the police, and have your say in the future of Leomansley. More information.

Footpath closure
Staffordshire County Council have announced the closure of the footpath between the Blair House site, currently being developed, and the Walsall Road. The closure comes into effect on 30th September for a period of six months.

Following representations by Jeff Fry of LARA, the LDC licensing committee have modified the licensing requirements for the new Marston's pub.

The Marston's pub proposal has been approved by Lichfield District Council.

LARA have submitted a formal objection to the Marston's pub proposal.

Marston's Pub Planning Application - The Latest Site Plan submitted by Mike West of Marstons to LARA on the 9th of November 2012

Marston's Pub Planning Application
To submit your representation (ie comments) about the Pub planning application please go to the Lichfield District Council website to submit them electronically or go to the council offices on Frog Lane, Lichfield.

LARA AGM 2012
LARA's AGM will be held on Saturday, 10th November 2012 from 10am - 12noon at Martin Heath Hall. We will be looking at the impact of the new Local Plan on our community.

• Roads (e.g. traffic calming on Christchurch Lane, traffic patterns, parking, and enforcement on Darwin Park, etc.)
• Recreation land outside Waitrose (what will happen to this land under the new Local Plan?)
• Housing
• Jobs

Our AGM itinerary includes presentations by your Ward Councillors on what they are doing to improve Leomansley. The AGM is open to all residents of Leomansley. We hope you can join us.

LARA has been awarded £4000 by the Lichfield District Council for an interpretive panel and footpath lighting column.
The money was awarded after LARA applied for S106 funds which came from a city-wide tranch of s106 monies. It is to go specifically towards these two projects - £1000 toward the interpretive panel for the trim trail, and £3000 toward the footpath lighting column.

LARA has been quite involved with The Alliance which was responsible for stirring up questions about the housing numbers contained in the LDC's Core Strategy. LDC are now reconsidering their housing numbers. Nathaniel Lichfield Consultants have been commissioned to undertake this work. Could be February 2012 before the Core Strategy is issued to allow time for the consultancy work.

LARA has sent a letter to Persimmon homes on behalf of residents in Allington Avenue due to the poor health of trees on the Public Open Space (POS). As the POS has not been adopted yet, the trees are still the responsibility of the developer.

LARA AGM, Saturday, 26th November 2011, 10am - 12 noon, Martin Heath Hall. All Leomansley ward residents are invited to join us. Councillors will be present. Q&A sessions will be available for you to ask questions.

LARA has been the instigator in mobilizing Taylor Wimpey to replace 16 lights which were burnt out in Leomansley ward footpaths and streets. The included both street lights and footpath lights which have not yet been adopted by the council - including the two at the end of Cathedral Walk nearer the town centre.

Informal consultation by LDC on the Local Development Framework started on 19th November 2010 and ends 28th February 2011. Find out how you can make representations on the document that will influence planning applications and development up to 2026.

LARA AGM, Saturday, 20th November 2010 - Main theme this year is "What's the Plan?" where we will revisit the Local Development Pland and Core Strategy now that its under the new government.

Consultation on proposed allotments for the land behind Martin Heath Hall - Lichfield City Council is proposing to designate land behind Martin Heath hall for allotments. The public consultation on this runs until 22nd October 2010 and residents can put forward their views via the response slip included on the consultation information sheet.

New PC, Ed Ford, for Leomansley Ward - Staffs County Council has assigned the Leomansley ward a new Police Constable - Ed Ford. You may have seen Ed at the school gate at Christ Church School or seen him doing the rounds with PCSO Elaine Sneyd. Please give him a big welcome when you see him next time!

Darwin Hall - for information regarding Darwin Hall please contact the City Council. Contact details at www.lichfield.gov.uk. The last we heard from our Councillours is that the hall is scheduled to open in June.

Call for sites by the LDC. "This is an early opportunity for individuals and organisations to suggest sites within Lichfield District for development. The site suggestions received by us will be used to inform the preparation of the Allocations of Land AND Site Development document. The call for sites exercise will not in itself determine whether a site should be allocated for development."

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2009, which identifies sites which have the potential for housing development in Lichfield District, in the period up to 2026.

This document will form part of the evidence, which will inform the Core Strategy document and the Allocations of Land document. Thus it will give prior information, as to the possibility of certain sites being included in those documents, when representations may be made, for or against their inclusion, at the appropriate time, during the period for consultation.

Leomansley Area Residents Association AGM Saturday, 16 January 2010, 10am, Martin Heath Hall

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Leomansley Area Residents Association will take place at 10am on Saturday 16 January 2010 in Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield.

Agenda:
1. Welcome and note that this is the reconvened meeting from 21 November 2009
2. Apologies
3. Minutes AGM 22 November 2008
4. Chair's Annual report (Recommendation: That the Chair's Report is adopted)
5. Finance Report (Recommendation: That the accounts are adopted)
6. Election of Officers
7. Motions
7.1 Motion from the Executive - that the Constitution is amended in accordance with Appendix 1 which notes the amended section/words via underlining throughout the document and the previously deleted words in the right-hand margin.
7.2 Motion from LARA member - That the Constitution is amended in accordance with the attached note labelled as Appendix 2 which notes the particular sections to be amended.
8. Close

LARA AGM Saturday, 21st November 2009, 10am - 12pm at Martin Heath Hall.
All residents of Leomansley are welcome. Come and speak with the district and city councillors about your issues with the Leomansley area. Some issues to be raised:

1. What will happen to the Western Recreation Zone (WRZ) nr. Waitrose under the new Local Development Framework which is planning to build 10,000 new homes in the Lichfield District some of which is planned on greenbelt land? What will be the future of WRZ? What development could go on it if any at all? What do residents want to see on that land? We have invited Cllr Neil Roberts, portfolio holder for Development, to come and address us on this issue.
2. Talk to the city councillors in charge of Darwin Hall and on the Darwin Hall working group. These are the people who have been driving the Darwin Hall project. You've probably seen the building works at the end of cathedral walk which are due to complete in March 2010. What are some of the things residents want to see the hall used for and not used for? What are your hopes? What are your fears?
3. What outstanding issues does the developer have to complete before handing Darwin Park over to the district council to maintain? Let us know if you have any issues with landscaping, roads, lighting, etc as the developer is still responsible for most of this.
4. What other issues would you like to see addressed at the AGM (we can't promise that we will have time to address all issues given to us but we will do our best)? Email us.

Applications for the S106 Funds grant scheme are being taken by the LDC up to Monday, October 19th. Your community group can apply for grants <Link Expired>. These grant funds are especially interested in projects which will serve environment enhancing projects (greener & cleaner), projects to boost the character of parks and open spaces, projects involving tree planting, landscaping, street furniture, projects involving community amenities and activities esp. regarding youth that link to sports and culture and finally projects that will boost community safety (anti-crime).

BBC news article on the threat of housing on green belt land. The 2006 article says, "A huge rise in house building in the West Midlands' countryside threatens green belt land and is 'environmental vandalism', campaigners have claimed." Read full article.

Thank you to the many who turned out to the Guildhalll on 23 May 2009 to a standing room only crowd to hear LDC planning officer , Neil Cox, talk about the gov't target of 8000 new homes for the Lichfield District. Some of them possibly to go on the green belt around the district. Government figures of 8000 new homes in the Lichfield district by 2026 could be inflated says an article in the Express and Star <Link Expired>. You can make your views known up to the deadline of 11 June. For more info and to make your views known go to the District Council's web page on the New LDF (Local Development Framework). You can also send comments other ways: write to: Planning Policy Manager, FREEPOST WS370, Development Services, Lichfield District Council, Lichfield, Staffs, WS13 6BR, or please email developmentplanslichfielddc.gov.uk.

The Lichfield District Council (LDC) planning committee unanimously approved the planning application for Darwin Hall last night (09/00442/FUL).

LARA's report on the meeting of 26th May 2009 regarding the state of the development on the Darwin Park estate (Implementation Meeting). LARA met with lead developer, Taylor Wimpey (TW), and the Lichfield District Council to put before them the yet outstanding issues on the estate as fedback to us by residents on our email list. LARA has now filed the report on that meeting, Implementation Meeting Report 26 May 2009, which lists the items that we brought before TW and the LDC and their response to each issue.

There are many outstanding, unfinished building issues on the Darwin Park estate which LARA will be taking to the meeting with the LDC and developers Taylor Wimpey, etc on 26 May 2009. See our pictorial essay detailing the outstanding issues.

Darwin Hall Planning Application has been submitted by the City Council, application no.: 09/00442/FUL, and you may access the details (dates, schematics, etc) via the Lichfield District Council planning portal by using the above application number. All questions and concerns should be directed to the Lichfield City Council who is leading the project.

The Consultation on Section 106 funds is ending today. LARA has submitted its wish list to the LDC. You too can submit your wishes for how you would like to see the funds put back into the Leomansley area by taking this short online survey concocted by the LDC: <Link Expired>

Potential Projects: Darwin Park section 106 social and community facilities monies (wishlist) (in no particular order)
1. Purchase of land in the Western Recreation Zone for an additional play area / recreation.
2. Trim Trail around Darwin Park.
3. Improve the existing fencing around the pond.
4. Provision of an equipped play area linked to the community hall.
5. If permission for three houses on the Blair House site is refused:
5.1. Acquisition of the Blair House site for use as public open space and clearance of the vandalised property which is an eyesore and safety hazard.
5.2. Surfacing and lighting of the access track between the site and Walsall Road.
6. Highway issues:
6.1. Improvements to the roundabout that leads out of Lichfield from Darwin Park (on Walsall Road).
6.2. Resolving the traffic congestion and parking problems on Christ Church Lane.
6.3. Sorting out parking problems on the estate. This assumes the costs cannot come out of some other funds such as Staffordshire County Council section 106 funds. There are many parts of the estate where double yellow lines would prevent people from parking. Specific examples are (1) the corner on Whitehouse Drive which restricts visibility as a result of parking on the corner with Lightwood Drive and (2) Deykin Road where it meets Sainte Foy Avenue on-street parking narrows the highway risking head-on collisions. Many people park on the road rather than use their designated off road spaces.
7. Funding for bus shelters within the estate/Leomansley. Small neat shelters are needed on the estate in order to give residents protection during inclement weather especially as the majority of the users are seniour citizens. Currently there are stops near Cathedral Walk & Deykin Rd as well as by Waitrose (there may be other stops within the estate too but we are not sure).
8. Additional tree planting on The Friary/ Friary Road and elsewhere within Darwin Park (e.g. there are two trees which are missing along Cathedral Walk in the middle near the statue - Mr Bernard Turnbull, the groundskeeper for Taylor Wimpey, says they walked and they were never replaced by Taylor Wimpey).
9. Planting up of the strip of land on Friary Road owned by Staffordshire County Council bordering on the former cricket ground site. Ashmead Price Landscape Planning and Design Consultants have designed a scheme for this site which is an important gateway into the City.
10. Jack 'n Jill preschool - improved equipment such as tables, chairs, play equipment especially as there is a new requirement by Ofsted for outdoor play provision.
11. Improving the lighting scheme in the meeting room in Martin Heath Hall along with other refurbishment issues per the report of chairman David Hartley to Asmita Kathrani. Introducing individual light controls for use when video or other projected presentations are given would overcome the existing problems. Other improvements required there should be explored with the Hall management (e.g. increased storage space, enlarging rooms, possible office, etc.).
12. Darwin Park Community Church - funding for community events such as the ones already being provided for children (Autumn Fest Fun Day for children, Summer Fun on the Play Park, Christmas Fun Day with Santa, etc which are mostly fun days for kids during the mid-term breaks, football course during the summer, etc).
13. Support for local charities e.g. funding for roof and other structural repairs to the Grade 2 listed building occupied by Citizens Advice Bureau at Levetts Fields. The City Wharf development section 106 monies could also contribute to this project.
14. To help fund the Darwin Statue which has been planned for situation at the middle of Cathedral Walk.

The final decision with regard to Blair House has been returned by the Inspector allowing the development of three homes at the end of the dirt track proceeding from Walsall road. The Inspector's report containing the decision and reasons for it is available if you care to read it. LARA thanks all of you who submitted representations opposing the development on grounds of safety concerns to children during the school run. You can read more about LARA's concerns on this issue in the entries below concerning Blair House.

Darwin Hall Update: The results of the Darwin Hall consultation & the subsequent recommendation of the Darwin Hall Working Group to the City Council are now available (click above link). The recommendation of the Darwin Hall Working Group will be considered by all councillors at the City Council meeting scheduled for 22nd December 2008.

Lichfield District Council (LDC) wants your feedback on Section 106 funds a good portion of which has emanated from the Darwin Park Development. LARA is fighting to have it put back into the Leomansley area from which it came which is in accordance with government guidance. Take the survey <Link Expired>.

Lichfield District Council (LDC) wants your feedback on the New Local Development Framework (LDF) which seeks to plan future development in the Lichfield district in a strategic way.

LARA AGM
Saturday 22nd November 2008, 10am - 12pm
Martin Heath Hall, Christ Church Lane (next to Christ Church)
Main Topic: "Youth Matters"

Residents' Parking Zones: Residents' Parking Zones (RPZ's) may help "if your estate is always full of strangers' cars taking up all the parking spaces" so says a leaflet published by the Staffordshire County Council. It is necessary to make a formal application but in order to get preliminary information it is possible to call the County Council and talk with the team which handles RPZ's. Call them on 01785 276534.

Are there street lights out nearby your home on Darwin Park? Help keep our neighbourhood safe and please report them. Those living on the Darwin Park estate please report them to lead developer Taylor-Wimpey at Tel. 01926 - 516 900. Ask for Ravinda Takha. Those living off the estate in Leomansley please report them to the Staffordshire County Council.

Blair House Appeal: Send representations to: Attn: LARA, 4 Caterbanck Way, Darwin Park, Lichfield, Staffs, WS13 6LR. Email: jeffsfrygooglemail.com. Deadline for representations is Sunday, 10th August 2008 to LARA (18th August to inspectorate). More info below.

How can you as a resident make a representation to the appeals inspectorate to oppose the Blair House planning application appeal (inspectorate appeal ref no.: APP/K3415/A/08/2079930/WF)? The residents association (LARA) has drafted a proforma letter you can use to make your objections to the plan to develop 3 homes at the end of the school run path between Walsall road and the Darwin Park estate. We will try to make hard copies of this letter available at Waitrose customer service desk - ask for the residents association folder, sign it and put it back in that folder or send it to LARA or send it in triplicate to the inspectorate at the address on the letter. Also, please sign our online petition against the development. We also have a photo gallery which will help you understand why we oppose it as well as our original position paper. The original planning application is also online at the LDC web site and gives schematics. LARA will pass your representations on to the Inspectorate (in triplicate). Thank you for your help in this matter. We will keep you informed.

Darwin Hall Public Exhibition - The Lichfield City Council is holding an exhibition regarding Darwin Hall for all households on the Darwin Park and Chesterfield Road estates. It will be held at the Guildhall, Bore St., Lichfield from 10am to 4pm, Friday 30 May to Saturday 7 June (excluding Sunday 1 June). Residents will be able to view outline plans and comment on the proposal. One councillor or member of staff will be in attendance between 12 noon to 2pm weekdays and throughout the open hours on the two Saturdays. All residents of both estates should have received a letter from the Lichfield City Council drawn up by town clerk, Peter Young, inviting them to the exhibition. The deadline for submitting comments on the hall plans is 20th June 2008 which can be submitted to the LCC office, 53 Wade Street, just near the Couch Potato and across from the Garrick Theatre. There is an outdoor mail slot where forms can be put out-of-hours.

While the Blair House application was refused by the planning committee of the LDC, we are quite sure that the developer, Deltabridge Investments, will appeal the decision. Therefore, we will need evidence and support for our assertion that the narrow footpath is unfit to become a vehicular road. Please show the inspector the strength of feeling from residents by signing our petition against this dangerous development. If you are not sure if this would be dangerous for the children who use the path on the school run then please see our photo gallery.