Asking for comments on what has been said on the website

Invitation to attend an open meeting on 9 June 2005

Forwarding e-mail from Sir Steve saying he would not be attending meeting

In reply to Sir Steve's e-mail of 9 June

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Cambridge Sporting Lakes at Waterbeach (sponsored by Sir Steve)Click here

A recent project where Orion has been given the contract (in conjunction with other companies). This is for a 10,000 capacity arena in Bristol for rock concerts, etc. The reason it is of interest to us as he mentions Watermark in the Press Release saying 'The arena will form the focal point of significant mixed use development etc with Steve Redgrave'.Click here

14 April 2005 - Newmarket Weekly News(Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

7 April 2005 - Cambridge News- Sir Steve rebuked over 'rowing canal' support

7 March 2005 - Cambridge News- Steve experiences a New Sensation................losing

12 February 2005 - Cambridge News - Olympic Hero Rows into Housing Debate

THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
DATE	COMMUNICATION
22 January 2004	Legend Backs Sport Site Bid By John Goode Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave is due to play a major role in establishing top sporting facilities as part of a multi-million pound development near Newmarket. The scheme is set to include a science and business park, housing areas plus a rowing lake and an indoor sports arena. The proposal, believed to be unlike anything else in the country, will create a major attraction for the whole of the eastern region and could attract nationwide visitors. Details, including the exact site for the scheme, have not been revealed. But it has been the subject of behind-the-scenes talks between the developers, London based Orion Land and Leisure and Forest Heath District Council for about two years. Sir Steve, winner of five Olympic gold medals at rowing, will design and run the lake. He is said to be 'very excited' about the scheme. Tony Pierce, the council's strategic director (services) said: 'It is great that they have got Sir Steve on board. It is fantastic that he is involved. We have met him and are looking forward to working with him. Sir Steve is to be involved with creating a 2,200 metre rowing lake. Houses are set to be built overlooking the lake on the 200 acre site. The other major sporting facility is set to be an indoor sports arena, to be run by SMG, one of the world's largest arena operators. It will be capable of seating around 5,000 people and will include a tennis academy and a human performance centre. Mr Pierce said the lake and sporting facilities were set to be paid for from the income made by the housing and business development planned. He said details of the scheme had not been revealed earlier because it was not clear whether the developers would be able to go ahead. 'We would like to get something in the domain as soon as possible and look forward to receiving a formal application for planning permission,' he said. Jean Hyatt, Managing Director of Orion said: 'This is a very exciting project'. She said she hoped to exchange contracts on the site in a month. 'We are very anxious to involve the community in consultation about the project. We want it to be fully supported by local peole,' she added. 'But things are at an incredibly sensitive stage at the moment'.
20 January 2005	Presentation by Orion Land & Leisure Kevin Underwood of EDAW stated: 'Our vision is to design a community that is sustainable with sport and leisure at the heart of it. Sports and leisure are very important to what we are doing and Sir Steve is very much involved and he would like to have a training rowing lake here. Steve is very keen to develop a human performance centre* and keen to promote the idea of triathalon circuits because of the water and jogging trail component.' *(Point to note: At the Red Lodge presentation the week previously, it was stated catagorically that Sir Steve's wife, Dr Anna Redgrave, would be actively involved in the human performance centre) When asked in the open question session Richard Olsen stated 'that Orion is not a listed company and states that Steve Redgrave is a partner in this company and he has invested by putting his own money in.' The whole project would be centred around a 1500 metre rowing lake and without the lake the project would not go ahead.
2 February 2005	An email and Registered Letter was sent to Richard Olsen as follows: Dear Richard Re: Meeting 15 February At our last meeting you mentioned that Steve Redgrave would be willing to attend a local meeting with 2 weeks notice. We would be pleased if you, Steve and members of your team could come to a meeting of local residents on Tuesday, 15 February at the Red Lodge Millennium Centre 6.30-7.00 pm to talk to a wider audience about the proposal. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Andrew Holman	NO REPLY
3 February 2005	Press Release by the 5 Villages Preservation Trust Due to the indefinite postponement of a public consultation on the Watermark Development on Kentford Heath, the 5 Villages Preservation Trust has decided to hold their own public meeting on Tuesday 15 February 2005 at the Millenium Centre, Red Lodge 6.30-8.00 pm. Local people who havebeen denied the opportunity to comment upon plans by Orion Land and Leisure are invited to have their say at a meeting on 15 February. Orion, who originally said they would 'consult local people soon' in January 2004, eventually booked the Millennium Centre in early February 2005 to consult with local people on their development plans. This has now been indefinitely postponed. The 5 Villages Preservation Trust believes that the views of local people should be centrally included in any development plans for their local area and will work towards that aim. The trust is, therefore, inviting all interested people to hear more about the proposed development and have the opportunity to voice their opinions. Orion chairman, Richard Olsen, said that Sir Steve Redgrave, an Orion director backing the plans, is willing to attend local meetings to talk about the development proposals. Steve has been invited to do so at the meeting on the 15th. Both the press and public are welcome to this meeting.
15 February 2005	E-Mail sent to Sir Steve Redgrave via his Official Website from Dr Allan Marchington: Dear Sir Steve I am writing to you to gain an understanding of your involvement in the proposed "Watermark" development, which is to be situated in my locale. since learning of this proposal I have been desperate to fully understand your motives in supporting a development on a greenfield site, which will cover over 600 acres of farmland. Living locally to the area I can tell you this development is attracting a lot of opposition and a lot of bad publicity for both the developers and the local councillors. In fact the councillors are currently so concerned about the poor publicity, it is difficult to find any of them whom are willing to come forward and back this development, even just in principal! It would be most helpful if you could provide me with a few answers to my questions. Firstly it was brought to my attention that you are supporting this development, which is to not only include a rowing lake for your training purposes, but also 4500 homes, a 6000 seat indoor arena for concerts, a new train station to provide access for people to attend these events, a business park, new primary schools, a hotel, an international triathalon site, health and fitness centres and a human performance centre at which your wife will work. I was surprised to learn of your association with this development. Your record as a winner of 5 Olympic gold medals would not lead me to believe that you would associate yourself with such a poorly thought out development. This leads me to draw the natural conclusion that your motives are only financially driven and as such I would like you to explain your involvement in this development and your association with Orion Land and Leisure. Secondly, I would like to enquire just how well you know the area, as with even just a little local knowledge, I am sure you would be aware that this is one of the direst areas in East Anglia and that the development is to be sited on greenbelt around adjacent to SSSI ground. In addition, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify such a development when in fact the local council is currently ahead of its housing targets for the area and that this development would fall outside the local development plan. Thirdly, I would like to understand your personal opinion in association with this horrendous proposal and such a desecration of this area. It is stated by Orion Land and Leisure that the purpose of the rowing lake is to allow you to train. Is this with a view to you competing in the next Olympic Games? With such an idea in mind I was further led to wonder if you had plans to relocate to this estate if the proposal gains approval? As you are aware a meeting was held locally and the organisers of this meeting were hoping that you would be able to attend, but I understand you did not respond to their request. I can assure you, I nd many other people in the area, feel very strongly about this proposed develoment and as such I feel I need to understand your position in all this. I would like to thank you in advance of your reply as I can appreciate just how busy you must be and value you taking the time to put a response together to my questions.	NO REPLY
16 February 2005	Article in the Cambridge Evening News - Calls to be involved in 5,000 homes scheme Town councillors want to be involved in consultations about the scheme to build up to 5,000 new homes on famland nearby. Opposition is growing to the scheme, proposed by developers Orion Land and Leisure for around 600 acres of land extending northwards from the A14 at Kentford almost to the tiny village of Herringswell. A group has been formed, under the banner of the Five Villages Preservation Trust, to fight the scheme, known either as Watermark or Kentford Heath. Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave is supporting the scheme which includes a rowing lake and a major indoor sports arena. Details of the plans were outlined to the town council's planning committee by John Howell, a former councillor who now represents the Suffolk Preservation Society. He warned that the scheme would have an impact on Newmarket, even though there was no obligation for the district council or the developers to consult with Newmarket Town Council. But the council now wants to be informed about the scheme directly. Red Lodge Parish Council also wants to be involved in any talks"
22 February 2005	Dr Allan Marchington wrote to Sir Steve by Registered Mail.: Dear Sir Redgrave On 15 February 2005 I wrote an email to you via your official website. Unfortunately I have had no reply. I want to ensure that you understand the depth of feeling on the Watermark development in Suffolk and therefore I have enclosed a copy of the email I sent to your official website to provide you with an opportunity to respond. I would like to urge you to take time to answer the questions raised in my letter swiftly and to make your position and involvement clear to all those concerned.	NO REPLY
24 February 2005	Article in Newmarket Weekly News - Rowing hero accused of snub on homes meeting. Olympic hero Sir Steve Redgrave has been accused of 'snubbing' villagers opposed to a multi-million pound scheme he is backing. Sir Steve, whose gold medal-winning rowing performances captured the imagination of the entire country, is supporting plans for a new rowing lake as part of a development of more than 4,000 new homes on farmland near Newmarket. The Scheme, known as Watermark, is facing opposition from people living in the nearest villages including Kennett, Kentford, Herringswell, Red Lodge and Tuddenham. A campaign group called the Five Villages Preservation Trust held a public meeting this week at the Red Lodge Millenium Centre, to which Sir Steve and a representative of Orion Land and Leisure, the company behind the controversial scheme, were invited. But neither the oarsman nor the representatives turned up, although a public relations company acting for Orion sent about 40 information booklets. Andrew Holman, who chairs the trust, said 'I think it's rude. They are proposing to build on our heath, but they didn't have the courtesy to come and talk to us. I am sure they are making it more difficult for themselves by this arrogant behaviour.' A spokesman for Orion said:'Sir Steve's office never received an invitation. In any event he could not have been available given his commitment to the (London) Olympic bid this week. We are absolutely open to ongoing consultation and communications over the two or three-year period that the planning process will take'. He said Sir Steve was specifically involved with the 1500 metre lake and other sports facilities. Orion has appointed EDAW, a 'world-renowned' planning firm to see through the project. EDAW is also leading the master planning team for London's 2012 Olympics bid. More than 100 people signed up to join the preservation trust at the public meeting. The 120 electors in Herringswell are set to take part in a referendum on the scheme on March 3. The preservation trust has also applied for details about Forest Heath District Council's involvement in the project under the Freedom of Information Act. Mr Holman said a formal complaint would be made to the government's information commissioner if the council failed to provide the information requested.	There were 250 people who attended - 40 booklets showed they had no idea of the depth of feeling against this proposal
25 February 2005	Reply received via e-mail from Roxane Still of Athole Still International Ltd (Sir Steve's Agent) On behalf of Sir Steve I would like to thank you for your emails regarding the proposed Watermark development. Sir Steve will reply to your emails shortly. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further assistance.
26 February 2005	Cambridge Evening News - Crazy Plan I do not think there can be any doubt that the councillors, along with the enthusiastic support of some senior officials, want a glamour project, ie Watermark New Town, to put Forest Heath District Council on the map in a spectacular way, by placing an advert in a publication inviting developers to respond - it is clear that this is the case. Along with other major projects in and around Newmarket, the ambition is to make this part of East Anglia the playground for London and Cambridge. The sports facilities and rowing strip will probably never be used to their full potential, but by including them it could make it possible to get the 4,500 houses, hotels and commercial properties built on a greenfield site. Make no mistake, this is purely a commercial project. Mildenhall and Brandon are in much need of development but it would seem not to be very exciting to do so. Sir Steve Redgrave is the celebrity put in place to 'sex up' and gain public support, although he is also a director of the developers, Orion Land and Leisure, which have no experience on building on greenfield sites and were only formed as a company a few years ago. Models and artists' drawings always look impressive and clean, but when you add buildings up to 5 storeys high, and densely grouped with 15,000 cars/vans parked in front of them, the picture takes on a new light. It beggars belief that this crazy scheme will ever be allowed to go ahead. If it does then I feel that all sanity and reason in this region has been lost. Perhaps the best way to remedy this is when the next council elections are due
3 March 2005	Newmarket Journal - Letter from a Kentford Resident Time to think again Sir Steve Redgrave and his developers, Orion, should think again about the Watermark Village. It's bad enough with traffic problems in the area between two major roads, the A14 and A11. But this development would just increase the volume of cars and create a bombshell for the surrounding villages - no thanks. How would Sir Steve like this development in his back garden?
11 March 2005	Article in Bury Free Press Villagers unanimous in vote against huge scheme Residents living near a proposed 4,500 home sport and leisure complex have voted against the plans in a parish poll. In Herringswell,77 villagers - 61 per cent of the population - turned out for the poll last Thursday evening, unanimously voting against the 600 acre Sir Steve Redgrave-backed development. The Five Villages Preservation Trust, set up to fight the plans, has accused the council of acting in secret over the proposal after obtaining documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Chairman Andrew Holman said:'From the incomplete sets of minutes we have received, it is clear that the council was working on this proposall well before March 2003. 'We have not yet seen all the papers and we are no further forward in finding out exactly how and why this proposal came out.' Forest Heath District Council said in a statement it was approached by the developers and that it was reasonable for them to talk to the local authority ahead of submitting proposals. Discussions were confidential for business and legal reasons and any allegations the council acted secretly or undemocratically were a misunderstanding of the processes involved and of the council's aspirations for the area's growth. 'If a planning application is eventually made, the council will follow its normal consultation process with all interested parties,'it said. The council said this would be the last time it commented on the proposal until, or if, a planning application was submitted. Developers Orion Land and Leisure is due to submit its plans to the East of England Regional Assembly by the end of March.
18 March 2005	Letter by Dr Allan Marchington to Sir Steve Redgrave by Registered Mail. I am writing to you for a second time in the belief that you will take the opportunity to confirm your current position in regard to the proposed Watermark development on Kentford Heath near Newmarket, Suffolk. I originally began communicating with you via your website at the beginning of February and after it became clear my emails were going unattended, I expressed my concerns to you in a registered letter, which to this date, I am still awiating the answers to. I have received a standard "holding email" on 25 February, addressed to myself and a Mr Hicks (?). I do not consider this to be a satisfactory way to address the major concerns that I, and many others have in regard to this horrendous development and your involvement in it. On several occasions, I have continued to email your official website and spoken to Roxanne, all with the intention of gaining an understanding of your current position and intentions. I have included a copy of my original letter in order to inform you again of the questions that still require answering. Please find enclosed also some of the publicity this proposal is generating, as living out of the area and spending so much time out of the country as well, may make it difficult for you to catch up on matters concerning this current venture.	NO REPLY
7 & 8 April 2005	EMails sent by Victor Hicks to Rowing Association and Leander Club (where Sir Steve trains) I know that Sir Steve trains at the Leander Club and the reason I am writing to you is to express my opinion that he is not acting in a very professional manner by ignoring letters and e-mails on questions that have been put to him about his business sponsorships, and is therefore bringing the sport into disrepute. He is involved in the sponsorship of a rowing strip to include housing, business park ande concert arena in an area of Suffolk which is outstanding in its natural beauty. The villages in the area are totally opposed to development on greenfield sites and feel that another rowing strip is not required in the East of England. There are 8 already (3 of which are still under construction). The one in Waterbeach, Cambridge, approx 20 miles from us, is already half way through construction and the people involved there have worked very hard to raise the funds. This one is also sponsored by Sir Steve. We have invited him to come and talk with us and to listen to what we have to say but has totally ignored us. Please check our website www.5vpt.org.uk. I would appreciate your views on this.	RESULTED IN 'PHONE CALL FROM ROXANE STILL
8 April 2005	Victor Hicks received the following 'phone call from Roxane Still of Athole Still International Ltd (Sir Steve's Agent): She said they never received an invite to come and talk with us. They have both looked at our website and I told her that they must now be aware of our strong feelings over this. She was going on about how he lived in a very small village, his father being a builder and how a lot more houses have now been built in his village (what this has to do with us I do not know). she said some people might like the Watermark development but he would listen to both sides of the story. He is not a director of Orion and I informed her that it was Olsen who told us he was. She kept insisting he is a busy man but if we email him again he will let us have a date when he would come and talk with us. Her phone number is 0208 7686605. she did not know the extent Olsen was using his name and I told her that if he is backing a project he should be well aware of his name being used and he could not sit on the fence - he is either backing it or not. I told her that we do not know of anyone who is for the development and we are against building on greenfield sites, etc. Her attitude was very non-commital and asked us not to have a go at him because he is a nice man. I told her we would not be aggresive towards him as we do not act in that manner and we would welcome him to come and listen to us. I got the feeling from her that it was just one of those things that he is backing amongst many others and that he is not used to having people against him - this has come as a surprise and she did not know how to handle it.
11 April 2005	EMail from Sir Steve sent to Dr Allan Marchington. Apologies for the delay in replying to your email of 17 February. It was passed on to Orion's PR company with a request for further information and it then unfortunately became mislaid at their end. My first contact with the Watermark project was a request from Orion to help design a new 'leisure lake', incorporating a rowing facility. I was of course interested, because in principle I would normally support any well-designed scheme, which will enhance recreational facilities available to all. I am not a director of Orion and my initial interest was entirely altruistic in the sporting sense, as expressed above. I have never received one penny for my input to date and,if the project is finally realised, my agreed remuneration will be appropriate for such consultancy work. With regard to the wider socio-political and environmental ramifications, I can claim no expertise whatsoever in these areas, but I do know that all projects of this nature must pass through a number of stringent local council, regional and, in this case, governmental examinations by qualified professionals, to whose greater expertise I readily demur. I also know that all projects of this nature engender passionate opposition in certain areas. I cannot be held in any way responsible by the latter, for any decisions of the former. Your email contains two quite inaccurate statements, which I cannot believe emanated from Orion. My wife will not work in any eventual human performance centre and I have no intention of ever again training for competitive rowing. However, some talented youngsters from the area may wish to row, sail or water-ski and the venue would help them, as it would also appeal to those interested merely in recreation, rather than competition. Finally, I received no invitation to attend a meeting locally. I would certainly have responded, whether I was available or not. Yours sincerely, Sir Steve Redgrave CBE.
18 April 2005	EMail from Victor Hicks sent to Roxane Still (Sir Steve's agent) The 5 Villages Preservation Trust have pulled together all the information showing the strength of support that has been given by Sir Steve to the Watermark project, together with some of the local publicity that has attracted so far. The web pages have been created but are not yet 'public' on the site and are writing to ask if Sir Steve has any comment on these pages and the information they contain. As you will see, some of the points made are inconsistent and it would be useful if Sir Steve could put the record straight.	NO REPLY RECEIVED - web pages made public 20 April 2005
11 May 2005	EMail from Andrew Holman sent to Roxane Still (Sir Steve's agent) As Richard Olsen of Orion Land and Leisure indicated Sir Steve would be willing to attend any local meetings, we are inviting Sir Steve to attend an open meeting to be held at The Red Lodge Millenium Centre on 9 June 2005.
9 June 2005	EMail from Roxane Still to Andrew Holman (Sir Steve's agent) I do apologise for not having informed you earlier that I cannot attend your meeting tonight. Unfortunately, I was never available, due to a previous engagement but I do much regret this last minute communication, due to an oversite on my part. Since writing to Dr Marchington in April I have had several meetings with Orion and must say I have been extremely impressed by the quality of their most recent development plans. Personally, I have no difficulty in whole heartedly endorsing Orion's designs but I would ask you to contact Mark Brown of the project's consultation advisers on 02073 576606 or by email Mark Brown, who will be able to inform you about all aspects of Watermark much better than I can.	THIS REPLY WAS ONLY RECEIVED AT 18.13 ON 9 JUNE 2005
14 June 2005	Letter to Sir Steve by Allan Marchington In response to his e-mail to Andrew Holman wherein he stated he has had several meetings with Orion and is extremely impressed by the quality of their most recent development plans. If he has had meetings with Orion, why is he unwilling to listen to our side in order to obtain a balanced view?	WAITING FOR REPLY

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