The Combe Down Stone Mines Community
Association was set up in May 2000 and has about 700 members. The
Board consists of a Chairman, nine elected members and four
ex-official members, one of whom is a ward Councillor.
It meets three times a month: a
Management Board meeting, a Briefing meeting with the Project Team
and the engineers, and a Public meeting. Members of the
Association may attend the Management Board meeting if they
wish.
The Board’s primary aim is to work to
achieve the full stabilisation of the mines, while maintaining the
environmental, legal, social and economic interests of all present
and future residents - which includes a return to normal property
insurance and mortgage conditions. It represents these interests,
both in the short and long term, to the Council, English
Partnerships, the Engineers, Contractors and other
stakeholders.
To do this the Board scrutinises and
discusses all plans proposed by the Council and acts as a conduit
informing the Council of community opinion as well as providing
information from the Council to the community. There is therefore a
regular two-way communication with the Council’s Project Team, with
which the Board is in daily contact.
Public meetings are currently held on the
fourth Thursday every other month in the evenings at 7.30pm in Holy
Trinity Church. Everyone is welcome at these meetings, not just
Association members. The agenda is displayed in the window of the
Information Centre.
At each meeting an update of the current
works is given by the resident engineer, matters under
consideration by the Board are discussed and members of the Project
Team are present to answer questions.
The Board provides a column in the
newsletters which are sent out by the Council from time to
time.
Residents are encouraged to contact the
Board if they have concerns - Board members are here to help.
They have a considerable knowledge and experience of the project
and can give information and advice. Where necessary they can take
matters to the Project Team.
The Board can be contacted through
the
Chairman, David Dunkerley (01225 832542)
or
Secretary, David Morris (01225
837378).
A full list of Board members is available
in the Information Centre.