Brandon O’Reilly, CEO of TAG Aviation at Farnborough Airport
Guest Speaker at the 2008 AGM

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Fleet & Church Crookham Society: a great time to get involved

Over 50 people attended a meeting of the Fleet & Crookham Civic Society on 23 April and unanimously supported a proposal to change the society’s name to Fleet & Church Crookham Society to better reflect the location the society covers and the activities with which it is involved.

At the meeting, Chairman Colin Gray reported the recent loss of two local residents’ associations – Fleet & Crookham Residents’ Association and Ancell’s Farm Residents’ Association – both of which have closed due to lack of support and whose remaining members voted to pass the remaining funds to the Society. The closing down of these once active and vibrant associations is a loss to the area and the Society hopes that those who were involved will consider swelling the Society’s ranks. It also places the Fleet & Church Crookham Society as the main voice for residents who wish to have an influence on issues that affect the area.

Chairman Colin Gray, said, “Our name change reflects that we are not a bunch of stuffy Edwardian gentleman debating worthy civic matters, but we are in fact a group of everyday residents of Fleet and Church Crookham who care about where we live and the changes that take place. We are not against all development – we just want to encourage developers to use designs that complement existing architecture, meet the needs of existing and future residents and not adversely impact our quality of life. Our Society doesn’t just concern itself with development. We also take an active role in projects such as the Town Health Check, Hart Service Reviews, and other issues that affect residents. These are exciting and busy times and we would like to issue an invitation to anyone who cares about living in Fleet and Church Crookham to join our Society.”

The meeting started with a presentation from Brandon O’Reilly, CEO of TAG Aviation at Farnborough Airport, and colleagues, on TAG’s future plans for the airport, and in particular its recent work on the Quiet Flying Programme. Questions from the floor reflected the meeting participants’ concerns as many lived in the areas of Church Crookham and Ewshot which are especially affected by noise from incoming and outgoing flights. The speakers from TAG explained that a new trial of flight routes from next month will implement some changes which should give some interesting results.

After the TAG presentation, the meeting continued with the Society’s AGM. Acting Chairman Colin Gray outlined the Society’s activities, starting with the tragic loss of Chairman Dr David Fearn in August last year. His absence is keenly felt by the Society, which has two representatives on the Dr David Fearn Memorial Committee which aims to create a lasting memorial to David.

Mr Gray went on to cover the Society’s involvement with planning issues such as the proposed developments at Pyestock, Cody Park, Hitches Lane, Campbell Close, Waterfront Business Park and Queen Elizabeth Barracks, as well as the appeal over TAG’s wishes to increase flights at Farnborough Airport at weekends and bank holidays. The Society has also been involved in the Town Health Check project, TAG’s Quiet Flying Programme, the recent series of Hart Service Reviews conducted by Hart District Council, and plans for better cooperation between Fleet retailers and the district council.

The meeting concluded with a rallying call to those present – please recruit your friends and neighbours to join the Society and help us to make a difference. Our recruitment motto is “Fleet and Crookham Civic Society needs you, because we believe Fleet and Church Crookham needs the Society”. This is now more true than ever.

For more details about the Society, go to its website www.fccs.org.uk or phone Membership Secretary Stuart Bates on 01252 621141.

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Background information

    • Fleet & Church Crookham Society was formed in 1961.
    • It is affiliated to the Civic Trust.
    • The aims of the Fleet & Church Crookham Society are:
    • To stimulate public interest in Fleet & Church Crookham and the immediate surroundings
    • To promote high standards of planning and architecture in the area
    • To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the area.

 

Press contact for further information:

Colin Gray, Chairman

Tel: 01252 616183, email: colin.gray@fccs.org.uk