Note of visit to the Eastern
Region of England, Tuesday 7 December to Wednesday 8 December
2004
Members taking part: Paddy Tipping (Chair of the
Sub-Committee), Mr David Drew and David Taylor.
Littleport station
Alan Neville, Group Station Manager for West Anglia
Great Northern Railways, described the improvement works that
were being undertaken at Littleport station.
E-Space North
The Sub-Committee met David Archer, East Cambridgeshire
District Council, before being shown round the offices at E-Space
North, which is a purpose-built 'business incubator'. Presentations
were made by the Leader+ delivery team at Cambridgeshire ACRE
and the Littleport Partnership. Members of the Sub-Committee also
had the opportunity of speaking to some tenants who had recently
moved into the office complex.
Fred Brown's shop
Fred Brown showed the Sub-Committee round his clothes
shop in the centre of Littleport and talked briefly about the
Littleport Building Enhancement Scheme.
Discussion led by presentation from GO-East
Mike Barnes, Government Office for the East of England
(GO-East), made a presentation on the Regional Rural Delivery
Framework. This sparked a discussion amongst a diverse group of
participants, including representatives from East of England Regional
Assembly, East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Countryside
Agency, English Nature, Forestry Commission, Rural Development
Service and the local county councils.
Briefing on EEDA and its work
Judith Barker (EEDA) briefed the Sub-Committee on
the role of the Regional Development Agencies in the Government's
Rural Strategy.
Presentations on four community partnerships
Four community partnerships (Watton, Breckland, Brandon
and Ely) described their work and experiences to the Members of
the Sub-Committee.
Dinner with Regional Rural Affairs Forum
Representatives and guests of the Regional Rural
Affairs Forum aired their views with the Sub-Committee, during
a dinner hosted by Richard Powell, the Chairman of the Forum.
Meeting with Agricultural Development in the Eastern
Region (ADER)
The Director of ADER, Chris Knock, described how
the objective of the regionally based initiative was to help farmers
to develop their businesses.
Fen End Farm
The Sub-Committee's final meeting was at Ken Kelso's
farm, at Smithy Fen. He described the various projects being developed
on his farm, including the expansion of an organic beef herd and
his daughter's equestrian enterprise.
