Sunday 22nd July @ 9:00pm
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...and Glide on silent wings
...and Glide on silent wingsSunday, 22 July 2007
Sunday 22nd July
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The rain held off this evening, and dispite spending 45 minutes with my camera on the wrong setting, (basic school boy error) I managed to catch this Barn owl with its dinner in its claws. The picture is grainy due to the low light levels and the distance the bird was away from me, but it will do for now. I hope you enjoy it.
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Something to cheer us up...
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What with one thing and another I have not had the time or luck to get to Roswell today, but I did steal a quick 1/2 hour in the garden. As we await news of Mr. Tyrrell's letter of Lawfulness or ‘Awfulness’ as it has now been dubbed, we are also eagerly awaiting the council’s response… In the meantime, I thought we could do with some cheer. Above is a Comma, butterfly snapped today in my garden, but you can see them at Roswell if the sun is shining! They get their name from the white 'comma' shaped marking on the underside of their wings; (click picture for better view) for years I thought they were named because of the scallop or comma shape to their wings. They are often incorrectly mistaken for Tortoiseshell butterflies, especially if only glimpsed at in flight.
The beauty of a picture is you can take your time to look at the detail, and work out what makes each species different from each other. In this snapshot, you can even see the 'pumped up veins' in the wings circulating the blood through its system. These lovely butterflies need nettles to lay eggs on so we all have an excuse for leaving a bit of the garden with the odd stinging nettle here and there.
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Here is a Peacock butterfly, often only thought of as beautiful with its wings open, but a closer look shows it has just as much going on the outside as it does on the inside!
Here is a Peacock butterfly, often only thought of as beautiful with its wings open, but a closer look shows it has just as much going on the outside as it does on the inside!Well, I thought just one more pic..
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Ok, so we all like to see them with wings open as well - here it is sitting on a wild carrot flower head. Here you can realy see how the big eyes can confuse / scare birds. It looks like you are staring at a set of tigers eyes!
Ok, so we all like to see them with wings open as well - here it is sitting on a wild carrot flower head. Here you can realy see how the big eyes can confuse / scare birds. It looks like you are staring at a set of tigers eyes!Thursday, 19 July 2007
Dunkirk Spirit - Operation Dynamo
Dunkirk spirit:
Definition: is a phrase used to describe the tendency of the British public to pull together and overcome times of adversity. It came into use following the evacuation of allied troops across the English Channel when Royal Navy ships were augmented by flotillas of pleasure boats, working barges and other civilian craft at the battle of Dunkirk in 1940. In nine days, 338,226 French and British soldiers were taken off the beach by a quickly assembled fleet of about 700 vessels. The evacuation was codenamed Operation Dynamo.
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To all that have pledged money so far, thank you, your letters, support and enthusiasm are much appreciated. We have a long way to go however; Mr. Tyrrell is not playing the game, and is doing his best to circumnavigate the planning system, all involved are doing their utmost to stop this, but in the meantime, a realistic potential fund needs to be in place as an alternative. There are parties potentially willing to put up some funding for this project, but we do need a groundswell of public support. Please get everyone you know to get involved and to pledge what amounts they can. (Remember no money is needed at this point, but we do need to rally support) So far, we have reached a small percentage of Ely with this message; word of mouth is quick and easy and does not cost advertising space. If you want to know what you can do to help, then helping with support is vital. There is already a dedicated and capable team working very hard on planning etc. As residents and friends of Roswell, we can show that we are not prepared to sit by and let this wildlife disaster happen without ‘a bloody good fight’. So please rally friends - badger people at work for sponsorship if you have to. Many hands make light work!
To answer a quick question that some people have posed about the pledge, the idea is that no money changes hands unless there is a realistic option to buy-back Roswell. At such a time a local bank or independent accounting form would be appointed as trustees of the money so that, no one person is in charge of the funds. It may be that the contribution from us the public may make up part of the funding with grant or interest group funding making up the balance. The important thing is that no destructive commercial entity should own this site in the heart of our City. It is a complex matter, but if we have the building blocks in place, it will help the council, and other parties see that there is a credible alternative to the very destructive and money focused developer we have now.
I hate to keep pushing, but we cannot let our guard down, I know there are more people that feel strongly about this issue, but I / we have yet to reach them and engage them – That is where your help is needed.
A bit of Dunkirk Spirit is what we need! – Individually we are small vessels, but collectively we can make one hell of a splash!
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
IMPORTANT News Just in 11 July 2007 Ely Standard
If you would like a copy of the 29 page Certificate Mr Tyrrell has submitted, please email me and I will forward a copy by email. email: (Click Link) cnmjhughes@tiscali.co.uk
BUSINESSMAN Jeremy Tyrrell wants the council go-ahead for boats to use and temporarily moor at Roswell Lakes without planning permission. He has applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness which, if granted, would mean he had the legal right to push ahead with his plans. But campaigners fighting to protect the lakes fear this could be a deliberate attempt to "sidestep" the planning process. They are taking legal advice in a bid to object to the move. But the law states that the public has no right to comment on Mr Tyrrell's applicationThe certificate, which would run in perpetuity, would also cover maintenance work and other temporary work without planning permission.Once granted it could only be rescinded if there were a change in the law or the land was sold and there was a change of use.Members of the public will not be able to comment on the application because the decision will be a legal one rather than one taken with reference to planning policy.Members of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Ely fear this is a deliberate move to sidestep the planning process and have called on Mr Tyrrell to submit a planning application. Spokesman Andrew Balmford said: "Where are the planning applications Mr Tyrrell promised at the public meeting that he would submit within a fortnight? Where is the Environmental Impact Assessment that the law says is required before building any but the tiniest marina? Where is the transparent process that the developer has so often promised the people of Ely?"Instead, in response to all the concerns raised at the public meeting, in the face of overwhelming public opinion against converting Roswell Pits into a marina, Mr Tyrrell seems to be trying to evade public scrutiny altogether." This seems like a deliberate attempt to sidestep the planning process,"The group is taking legal advice on exactly how to oppose the application and intended to put information about how the public could respond on its website at www.elywildspace.org.uk
Mr Tyrell, whose company Jalsea Marine owns one of the lakes and Cathedral Marina, lodged his application for a Certificate of Lawfulness with East Cambridgeshire District Council on Monday. Now officers are taking legal advice before making a decision on whether to grant the certificate. They have stressed, however, that if there is any work in the application which requires planning permission it would be refused and a planning application would need to be submitted. David Archer, East Cambridgeshire District Council development services director, said: "This application does not cover his longer-term plans for the future development of The Pits and permanent works will have to be the subject of a planning application. The developer's proposals can take place without planning permission."Mr Tyrrell said: "We are certainly not trying to avoid the planning process. "After a lot of discussion with the council it was decided that we should apply for the Certificate of Lawfullness to clear up all those matters that people had been complaining about. "He added that a planning application would follow soon.
News Just in 11 July 2007
I have just received a Google notification of the following from the Elyonline website:
You Are Lawful But We Dislike You!
Published Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 by Karl Bedingfield
Planners at East Cambridgeshire District Council have received an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness from the developer who owns Roswell Pits.
The application covers a range of uses and works that the owner considers do not require planning permission. It includes the use of the Pits for boats, temporary moorings, maintenance works and temporary works.
Developers make applications for Certificates of Lawfulness in order to establish whether activities or works can go ahead without planning permission.
The Council will take legal advice before determining the application. The onus is on the applicant to supply significant supporting documentary evidence. The decision on such applications is taken purely on this factual information, without any regard to ’suitability’ considerations or reference to local planning policies. Under Planning legislation these applications are not advertised or sent out for consultation with public because it is a legal determination rather than a debate about the acceptability of the proposals.
The Council still expects the developer to submit a planning application for the development of permanent moorings in the near future and there will be extensive public consultation on any planning application for this site.
David Archer, Executive Director for Development Services at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We can confirm we have received an application from the owner of Roswell Pits for a Certificate of Lawfulness covering a range of uses and works including temporary moorings. This application does not cover his longer-term plans for the future development of The Pits and permanent works will have to be the subject of a planning application. We will make a decision on the application for a Certificate of Lawfulness after carefully considering whether under planning law , the developer’s proposals can take place without planning permission.”
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Problems with Printing 10th July
Hi All, thank you all for your protest votes and pledges, please accept my apologies for the error on the Poster in the Ely Standard. The text should have been reversed so that it was black text on a white background (as per the original one shown on this site). I did not realise that I had forgotten to change this before sending of to the printers. I understand it made life hard for some people to read / write on.
As an extra note I spoke to Anglia News this morning and they are still trying to contact Mr. Tyrrell. They have to present both sides and cannot be seen to be biased, however once they have an interview, or when they decide that he has had ample opportunity to respond, they can then go ahead with showing the interviews. Keep watching this site, I will upload the broadcast date / time as soon as I get the call. I can access and update this site from any location so will do it even if at work so we do not miss out.
Thank you all for your letters of support, and asking if there is anything you can do. Once planning is put in, if everyone can take the time to look at the application and make your objections known, to the council that will go a long way. If no objections are raised, it is very likely that the plans will have an easier passage through planning. I will of course ensure that all letters and pledges sent to me are forwarded on to the council.
Kindest regards
Chris Hughes
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Pic 3 of the week 8th July 2007
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One of those shots that you don't realise what you have until you get it home... If you look closely you can see that a dragonfly is also heading off with the cormorant!
One of those shots that you don't realise what you have until you get it home... If you look closely you can see that a dragonfly is also heading off with the cormorant!Pic 2 of the Week 8th July 2007
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Timing is everything for these two Greylags
Timing is everything for these two GreylagsPic 1 of the Week 8th July 2007
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At last a clear shot with nothing in the way - earlier today I had one perched just 4 ft above my head with a fish in its beak. It bashed the fish on the branch, then saw me and took off before I had chance to even raise my camera.
At last a clear shot with nothing in the way - earlier today I had one perched just 4 ft above my head with a fish in its beak. It bashed the fish on the branch, then saw me and took off before I had chance to even raise my camera.Saturday, 7 July 2007
Anglia TV - Comes to Roswell 5th July 2007
Roswell Pits - Watch Anglia News!
It seems that we have been able to raise the stakes higher and today (5th July) we had the delightful Phillipa Heap from Anglia Television visit Roswell Pits to interview locals and find out what the story was. Due to the lateness of the interview in the day it will not be broadcast this evening, but will be on for a 2 - 3 minute slot, once the editing and composition has been completed. Anglia TV have promised to call to let me know when it is going to be screened, so please keep an eye on the site, and I will upload the date / time that the broadcast will go out anytime in the next few days. I missed a trick in not taking some photo's while they were filming (must have been star stuck, so forgive me for that). Once it has been screened I will try to get the video uploaded to the site so even if you miss it on the day, you have a chance to view it anytime.Apologies to my children who hate me wearing my 'farmer hat' as they call it, now they will now have to suffer the embarrassment of their dad wearing it on TV. - Apparently it is very uncool. Many thanks to the LCPRE for taking the time to come down at such short notice to be interviewed - well done Ely!
To those of you that have made pledges, thank you, but we have a long way to go, please try to get as many people involved to keep this issue on the agenda.
WATCH THIS SPACE
Friday, 6 July 2007
Sunday, 1 July 2007
The Rainforests of Borneo? - No, Ely's own disaster in the making
Click for an even bigger look at the chaos
Where there was once trees and wildlife, now lies (sleeping) the 'lesser spotted digger', an all too frequent visitor to Englands green places...
Where there was once trees and wildlife, now lies (sleeping) the 'lesser spotted digger', an all too frequent visitor to Englands green places...
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