Dont forget to check out the facebook pages –
IRARA – https://www.facebook.com/IrvineRoadAreaResidentsAssociation/
Community Orchard – https://www.facebook.com/Irvine-Road-Community-Orchard-926338227389815/
The Irvine Road Orchard – development work begins
As many of you will have noticed, development work on the Irvine Road Orchard has now begun, with builders clearing the site in preparation for the laying of drains and building the access road.
These drone images show that the remaining part of the site, destined to be the community orchard, will be largely unaffected by the building activity, as it is already cordoned off. We expect to gain full access in late summer, when there will be a lot to do. If you are interested in helping out, let us know. All help will be very welcome.
Aerial photography by beda:photo
Orchard development – the planning application
As expected, Lexden Restorations have submitted a planning application for six houses on part of the Orchard. From an initial read the application is in line with IRARA’s negotiations with Jonathan Frank, the owner of Lexden Restorations, and with the agreement that IRARA has signed with him. We will be going through the application with a fine tooth comb to confirm this but have produced our headline response to the application which we will finalise in the coming week. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything about the application please contact us at info@irara.org.uk. We will keep the website updated with any developments.
IRARA response to planning application Nov 18 v2
Read a summary of the legal agreement signed by IRARA and Lexden Restorations:
IRARA AGM – highlights
The 2018 IRARA AGM was again well attended and although the new Community Orchard was the main talking point, several other issues were resolved, among them an amendment to the constitution to formally allow associate members from outside the principal IRARA catchment area. It has long been obvious to us that a lot of people living outside the immediate area share our aims of improving local amenities, preserving our open spaces and helping to keep the neighbourhood a nice place to live, but until now they have not been able to join us.
Now anyone can be an associate IRARA member. You won’t be able to vote at the AGM, but other than that you can enjoy all the other benefits of membership.
For full details of the issues discussed at the AGM, read the minutes:
Read the amended constitution:
IRARA Annual General Meeting 2018
The 2018 IRARA Annual General Meeting will be held at the Arclight Bowls Club in Eudo Road on Thursday October 4th. It will start at 7.30 and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be a member to attend, but you will need to join if you want a vote. You can join on the day, it’s only £3 per household and the drinks are cheap too!
If you have recently moved into the area, why not come along and meet some of your neighbours and find out what’s going on. If you want to help us make the area an even better place to live then come along and join the IRARA Committee – let us know if you are interested (info@irara.org.uk).
IRARA Autumn Quiz Night -Book now!
Following the success of the Spring Quiz Night held in March (which was sold out) we are holding another one on October 13th, so contact Claire Law on 07764 939169 or email her at murphy.claire@hotmail.co.uk if you feel like getting involved.
IRARA September 2018 newsletter
Good news on the campaign to save 60% of the Irvine Road Orchard.
IRARA March 2018 newsletter
So far, so good on the footpath between the schools, but we will have to wait and see for final confirmation.
IRARA Quiz Night – book the edge of your seat now!
IRARA is holding a quiz night on Saturday the 28th of April to help raise funds for the management of the proposed new Irvine Road community orchard, so please do make the effort to come along and help a very good cause.
Tickets are only £5 per person and there is a very cheap licensed bar, but you will need to book in advance and bring your own snacks.
The fun starts at 7.00pm, so save the date and book now. Call Claire Murphy on07764 939169 or email Claire on: murph.claire@ hotmail.co.uk.
You do not need to be an IRARA member and everyone is welcome, but unfortunately tickets cannot be sold at the door.
Community orchard here we come!
Finally, IRARA have reached agreement with local property developers Lexden Restorations on the way forward for the Irvine Road Orchard. Local residents voted to go for a 50 year lease on the land (at a peppercorn rent) which would allow us to develop it into a proper community orchard and nature reserve, of benefit to the local community and schools.
Details have yet to be worked out as the lease on the 60% to be retained as an orchard is yet to be drawn up and the working arrangements of separating the two areas of land before housing development begins, but it is now safe to say that general agreement has been reached and everyone is keen to get on with the new project.
We will be keeping you up to date with work schedules (and requests for volunteers) as things progress, but right now the big news is that the decade-long fight to keep the orchard is over. It’s true that we have had to compromise, but at least now 60% of the land will be genuinely accessible to the community and within our control.
It’s up to us to make a success of it.