ONGAR: Greenstead review plan to sever ties with town council.

 

The rural community of Greenstead is campaigning to sever ties with the Ongar town council. Despite living just two miles outside of Ongar town, residents of Greensted are questioning whether their interests would be better served by a rural parish council.

Conservative District councillor, Glyn Pritchard, who represents the Greensted ward, raised a motion under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 at last night's full council meeting asking for a boundary review.

He wants the district to consider whether Greensted should come under the jurisdiction of a neighbouring parish council such as Stanford Rivers instead of Ongar Town Council.

Cllr Pritchard said: "There have been a number of concerns raised by constituents in the Greensted area who feel they are not as well represented by Ongar Town Council as they could be and feel a bit disconnected.

Greensted resident Pamela Humphreys, 70, said: "Whenever people say 'where do you live?' I say Greensted not Ongar. I feel it has a separate identity. "I would say this is a good idea because I sometimes think we don't come under the town council's radar and they are more interested in things going on in the town." 

District councillor, Derek Jacobs, who also represents the Greensted ward, said the motion only refers to the rural part of Greensted and not the housing estate next to the Two Brewers pub. Supporting the motion he said: "Some residents see themselves in a rural setting and feel they have a different outlook to the rest of Ongar.

Mark Squire, clerk for Ongar Town Council said they had been surprised to hear of the motion and added: "The council is aware of the proposal by a local resident to move some of the Greensted ward out of the Ongar Parish boundary.

"Ongar Town Council will be liaising with Epping Forest District Council, establishing the background facts and views of local residents and following all due processes over the next few months."