The meeting got off to a
good start with a brief summary on the youth problem in Writtle.
I am not going to bore you with the details, we all probably know
about it. The meeting then returned to the favourite of gatherings of
Writtle residents, a good old Police Bashing session.
Unfortunately PC Adams did not attend (illness was mentioned) but at
least some of those gathered spoke up in his defence.
In the middle of all this some very good points were made about
organising youth groups/club. A group of mothers have gathered together and
are willing to start a group tailored to the needs of the youth of today. I suspect that ping-pong and other traditional activities of
youth clubs will not be on the activities list. More details of this group will be published on these
pages when I get them.
Somewhere around this point (08.45pm) things began to get confused and into
disarray. Having spent much of
the last hour discussing the Youth a motion was proposed as to whether a
Residents Association should be formed.
It was passed but a significant number of residents did not vote.
At this point the Vice
Chairman of the Parish council asked why do we need a Residents Association
when the Parish Council was an elected body which was willing to help, had
money allocated for use by youth groups. All they had to do was come an talk
to them, the Parish Council is there to help.
A large round of applause greeted this statement.
In the background Tom Mohan was still trying to elect his committee, whilst
the majority of the attendees were leaving, myself included.
A few observations,
Full marks to Tom Mohan for getting out and organising the meeting. I
believe he would have been better off doing it through the Parish Council,
of which he is a member.
Again the Parish Council have suffered due lack of communication.
Why did the proposed group offering to start a youth group, not know
about the PC’s willingness to, help or that there was money available?
The PC needs to be a bit
more proactive with its image and activities.
This meeting confirms that individual leaflets do work.
People read them.
Disgruntled-of-Writtle is
willing and able to help in its own small way, but I think the parish should
consider publishing one or two information leaflets a year.
The cost of distribution of such a leaflet via the free newspapers is
about £120.
Tom Mohan probably did the Parish Council a favour in organising a meeting
that really targeted the residents. He
may not have got his Residents Association but I think the Parish should
reimburse him for the expenses incurred in organising the meeting.
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