Transcript

ANNA

Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming. Does everyone know each other?

BERNIE

I'm not sure I actually know everybody. Would you mind if we went around the table and introduced ourselves?

ANNA

Good idea. I'm Anna from number 8.

BERNIE

I'm Bernie. I've just moved into number 41.

SUE

Hi. I'm Sue from number 14.

ROGER

I'm Roger from number 23.

MIRIAM

Hi. I'm Miriam, and I'm from the parish council.

ANNA

OK, just a quick recap. We're here because a property developer has applied for planning permission to build a block of flats on the land at the end of the road where the wood is. It would mean the total destruction of the wood. So we're here to work out what we can do to stop the flats being built. At this point, we're looking at all the ways we can protest against the planning application. Miriam, do you have any information on the company?

MIRIAM

Well, here's what I know. The company that want to develop the land are called Prime Building. They've applied before, back in 2009, but their application was rejected, because the wood is a site of scientific interest. But they're reapplying now, because the housing shortage is so bad within this area that they think they're in with a chance.

ANNA

Thank you. Any questions so far?

ROGER

Have the company built any housing around here before? I mean, have they had any applications granted?

ANNA

Good question. Miriam?

MIRIAM

They appealed a decision a few years ago over the other side of the village and lost, but I'll check the records to see if they've been building anywhere else.

ANNA

Thanks, Miriam. Now, we need to work out what we can do to stop them here. Any ideas, anyone?

SUE

Well, we could write letters to everyone in the village, ask them to email the council. Everybody loves that wood. It's a really safe place for the kids to play, the dog walkers love it too, and in the springtime, it's full of bluebells.

ANNA

That's a great idea. Could you write the letter, Sue, and distribute it?

SUE

Yeah. Sure. I can do that this week.

ANNA

OK. What else?

ROGER

How about getting the local nature society involved? They could write to the planning people, because it's a site of scientific interest. That way, it's then a benefit to the whole country, not just to the local people.

ANNA

Great. That would be a really strong point. Could you get in touch with them?

ROGER

Yeah, certainly.

ANNA

I'm sure they'd support our campaign. I was thinking, we should contact the press, at least the local newspaper. Has anyone got any photos of the wood we can send, you know, looking beautiful in different seasons?

SUE

I'll ask around when I take letters around this week.

ANNA

Sounds good. Bernie, do you have any other ideas about what we could do?

BERNIE

Well, I was thinking about getting in touch with the village school, because I know they use the woodland a lot to study the trees and the animals. And I think maybe they might want to go down there and take some photos or draw some pictures and things and tie that in.

ANNA

Brilliant. Anyone know the head teacher?

BERNIE

I do, actually. Yeah, I can give him a call tomorrow, if you want.

ANNA

Thank you. Miriam, is there anything the parish council can do?

MIRIAM

Well, I can pick this up at the meeting, on Thursday, but I'm sure they'll support your campaign.

ANNA

Great. So here are our decisions and actions. Sue will write to everyone in the village. Roger will write to the nature society. Bernie will contact the school, and Miriam will raise the matter at the next parish council meeting. Great. Well, shall we meet same time next week?

SUE

Yeah.

ANNA

OK. Thank you.

SUE

Thank you.

BERNIE

Thank you.