© Somerford Keynes Parish Council and Contributors 2011-2 Swillbrook Footpath diversion. Lower Mill Estate (LME) have obtained permission to divert a footpath in the Swillbrook area.They had a public drop-in session in the Village Hall on 28th July 2011 to show their proposals before applying for the diversion. The neighbours, Bill Reid and Tony Hayday from the south turned up. The Parish Council and other invitees had a preview earlier in the afternoon. On Wednesday 3rd August, representatives of Minety and Somerford Keynes Parish Councils were invited to walk the new route with Will Vicary of LME , together with their consultants and the GCC  PROW officer.  See picture. The path will be diverted from the point at which Flagham Brook joins Swillbrook to run along Swillbrook towards Minety Lane, and then inside the hedge up to the existing exit onto Minety Lane, thus running along the south and west side of the Swillbrook Lake instead of the east and north banks. It looks as though this will be an  improvement over a path currently running along the urban edge of the housing development. It may take up to eighteen months to implement. Don’t be tempted to trespass; the way is quite difficult and was only made possible by temporary ladders and clambering over trees at various points. More photos in Picture gallery Following this outcome, SKPC is seeking to get a linking footpath from the junction of this path up Minety Road to the Thames Path at the crossroads. There is plenty of room on the road verge, which could be cleared by a small machine. Initial noises from the GCC Rights of way team are favourable. Funding could come from S106 monies paid by LME. Swillbrook Lakes is now owned by Lower Mill Estate  Changes afoot opposite Neigh Bridge LME has bought the remaining part of Lake 63, the land across the Spine Road from Neigh Bridge Country Park, which once (1988) had planning permission for a restaurant. The water still belongs to an angling club. This land is in Poole Keynes parish, as is Neigh Bridge park. They were seeking to put solar panels on this non-existent building. This application has now been withdrawn. After a long search, a drawing of the original proposal has been found. It is expected that any construction is likely to be similar to this. There has been major concern about lack of communication by CDC on this matter, and talks have been held between SKPC, CDC and LME to seek a  way forward. The original permission is valid, and construction of the restaurant could occur, but we understand LME really wants a more private sales office, screened from the road. We await further developments. Page last updated 15 May 2012 Dennis Grant appeared in Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday 13th July for sentencing. No doubt the judge chose the day of the month with deliberation. DG received a custodial sentence of 4 years and 4 months, of which he will only serve half. He expects a comfy time, as he had a large bag with him! The judge was fooled into believing that DG was of previous good character, just as was Swindon Chamber of Commerce and the Water Park Society. It is now known that he was “asked to leave” at least two previous employments. Let that be a warning to check carefully who you hire! Don’t rely on their CV and referees alone! Read Gemma Casey’s “Standard” report. It missed this week’s print deadline. Read the BBC story.     Read the Swindon Advertiser story Press Statements from CWPT MD and Chairman.  There was a preliminary hearing (late September) under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to try to recover as much of his ill gotten gains as possible. At a hearing in November, some £900,000 was sought from Grant’s estate (interest and costs being added). Dennis did not appear due to illness, and was expected to appear mid January (more interest and costs added). However the hearing was put off again in January 2012 (W&G Standard reports that it is put off until 14 June 2012, to allow a civil case by the CWP Trust to take place first). It seems some of Dennis’s purchases might be difficult to liquify. Anyone want a bit of land in Northern Cyprus? Dennis is currently in Leyhill Prison. February 2012 Cotswold Water Park Trust has now published a number of previously secret agreements between CWPS (meaning DG) and Watermark, which requires the Society to do all it can to allow Watermark to gain access to all the neighbouring lands (to Keynes Country Park) for expanding its holiday home business. The documents appear to be legal and thus give the new Trust a big headache. If they show any interest in any of these lands they are obliged to let Watermark manage them. 7 February City of London Police now delving further into Dennis Grant’s activities Earlier report: Dennis Grant, the sacked CEO of the Cotswold Water Park Society Ltd, previously appeared in Gloucester Crown court on Friday 17th June charged with seven offences in relation to the finances of the Water Park. He relieved them of over £700,000! He pleaded guilty to six of the charges and not guilty to the seventh. It seems this latter charge will remain on file. He was remanded on bail till 13th July for sentencing. The judge told him he was to expect a considerable custodial sentence. His finance officer, Nick Hanson, arrested at the same time as Mr Grant, has unfortunately died in the  meantime.  Brian Atfield, the Society Chairman at the time of the alleged offences, also died last June,  after a battle with cancer. He was not connected with any allegations. Read Gemma Casey’s WGS  report Picture from Gloucestershire Echo Cullimore Field Latest (27 Mar) The remedy to the Jenkins application was heard at the High Court in Birmingham yesterday 26 March. The judge had no option but to quash the Planning Permission granted in July 2010. The clock is put back to one day before the committee heard the application. Procedures will be followed this time and the application heard again at a later date. In the meantime the bund stays and no work may happen on site. Press release by Esmond Jenkins. Comment by GCC Press Office is  “While we are disappointed with the outcome, we are pleased that the judge still found in our favour on all four grounds brought by the complainant.(sic) “We will of course, respect the judge’s ruling and look to make a fresh decision on this planning application in due course.” We are pleased to say that the Clerk was informed of the outcome and what happens next this morning (27th) by a GCC officer. Apparently the case was the first dealing with new European rules and has been closely followed in the technical press. Here is one example. Earlier (Feb) Esmond Jenkins has issued a Press Release about his success in getting a Judgement against the current Planning Permission. The judgement itself is now published on Mr Jenkins’ solicitors website. The conclusion is: “93. The claim for judicial review succeeds on one issue only, namely failure to comply with the publicity requirements of the EIA [Environmental Information Act] Regulations. I will hear argument on remedy, costs and any application for permission to appeal on a date to be arranged.” The date is set at 25 March at the High Court in Birmingham Garbutt Report now published Graham Garbutt, one time CE of Gloucester City Council  and the Countryside Agency, has published his report which contains many interesting emails etc. It was presented to the GCC Audit Committee on Monday 12th March. It is of course not as damning as it might be. Legal opinion even said that Parsons’ email (appendix 33o) directing Atfield to put Jenkins off the scent was legally justified!!! Esmond Jenkins Trial by Standards Board The trial has concluded, and is best read in the daily reports for the W&G Standard on the four day trial. Most charges were thrown out and a few minor ones accepted. The Standards Board proposed improvements in the way CDC deals with protocol. The Standards Board for England is now abolished. County Council sells SCOEC The South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre on  the Spine Road by the River Churn has been  provisionally sold to a private company. It seems  its facilities may be improved and its function  continue. Our children got their first taste of sailing  and canoeing there, as did countless other local  children. Whether you and more importantly,  schools and youth groups will be able to afford it in  future, only time will tell. The County Council has  issued a press release. Water Park Joint Committee closed down CDC  proposed at the annual meeting of the  committee on Friday 16th March that it be  abolished as not fit for purpose. [It studiously  avoided several warnings that all was not well at  CWPS for some years, perhaps beginning with  Roger Duckett’s resignation as chairman of the  CWP Society’s finance committee as long ago as  Feb 2007.] CDC CEO  David Neudegg told SKPC  about a year ago that it had clearly failed, as it  had not spotted any of Dennis Grant’s illegal  activities. There are proposals for a new liaison  group of LA officers and CWPT, including Parish  Council representation, which may well have no  teeth whatsoever. All four local authorities, of  course have funding problems, and future funding  will in any case be severely reduced.   While the sale went on, other users of the lake have been kicked off. Thameswey Canoe Club, long term users have thus now moved to Waterland, off Spratsgate Lane.There  used to be a diving club, we wonder where they went? Heating Oil vs Electricity “Heating oil provides roughly 10kWh per litre, so at 70p per litre this works out at around 7p per kWh. Therefore heating water using your oil boiler costs around half as much as paying for standard-rate electricity at 13p per kWh. The “break-even point” at which electric heating would be cheaper, is an oil price of £1.30 per litre. LPG “Calor Gas” currently costs around 45p per litre. LPG also provides roughly 10 kWh per litre, so that works out at 4.5p per kWh. The cheapest heating fuel for rural dwellers is Economy 7 electricity at about 3.7p per kWh, slightly cheaper than town gas.” From the Jeff Howell column, Sunday Telegraph, 6th Feb 2011 50th anniversary edition Those who bought oil using the Somerford Keynes  consortium in February 2012 only paid 57p per litre. If you use a top-up service you will be paying several pence per litre more than the spot price. Can you afford it?  Want to join the consortium? Contact Muriel Watkins