Dear Shaun Dawson
We received the latest letter from the LVRPA informing us that work on the Oxbow island would proceed without further discussion bringing an end to our recent attempts to engage with the LVRPA and CART.
We would like to point out that there is now no ongoing engagement or consultation with the community of any kind. Some years ago there were regular forums, which at least allowed for some exchange of views. This was then cut back to ‘workshops’ which emphasised presentations by staff rather than consultation but at least included agendas and minutes. These were then replaced by informal walkabouts of a few individuals with rangers with no agendas or minutes and no structured discussion or means of following up issues .
The recent engagement on the Ice Centre was presented as a kind of favour to the community. However, the terms of engagement and the agendas were strictly limited by the LVRPA. SLM members attempted to hold more holistic discussions regarding the relationship between the Ice Centre and the surrounding Marshes, notably the Oxbow island. We were particularly concerned at the implications of including a cafe as part of the Centre and the possible impacts of this on the Oxbow island. This was firmly resisted by LVRPA staff. After vigorous discussion a concession was made to allow a separate discussion on the Oxbow.
However, when this happened it was set up as a series of presentations, not as a discussion about what could be done with the island. It was even claimed the meeting was never intended to be a discussion of the relationship between the Ice Centre and the island when in fact that was the precisely the reason it was called. Time was limited meaning a key presenter had to leave. This resulted in a degree of passion on the part of those participating in their attempts to be heard, which has in turn led to unfair criticism by the LVRPA of those attending.
A follow up meeting onsite was promised but then, following our further attempts to ensure this included discussion on the possibility of creating an island habitat at the Oxbow, this was called off by the LVRPA. The opportunity to create an island wildlife haven was provided by the need to dig out the channel to restore river flow to the Oxbow ‘lake’ to help carry away the melt water from the Ice Centre.
Save Lea Marshes attempted to engage in good faith to examine the possibilities and risks for the Oxbow island. We still consider this was a unique opportunity to separate the island from the Marsh and create a vital wildlife haven and are sad that this opportunity has been lost. We do not think the possible impacts of the Ice Centre cafe have been properly considered. We fear the island will become a hangout spot for those using the cafe.
This process has revealed the underlying lack of effective consultation with the community. Essentially there is now no consultation with the community and when some kind of discussion is launched it is carefully controlled and limited to agendas set by the LVRPA. The model for these meetings is one of presenting what will be done rather than consultation on what could or should be done.
Members of SLM have been raising similar concerns with you and your colleagues over the years. Will things ever change?
Yours sincerely
Save Lea Marshes