Welcome to our Community Liaison Group (CLG) section. In this section you'll find useful documents about the CLG, who they are and what their purpose is.
What is the CLG?
The CLG's purpose is to be a forum for local people that have come together to learn about the plans for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community and to help ensure the Garden Community is the best that it can be for existing and future generations.
It's a way for:
- local people to have input to the development of the Garden Community, alongside other engagement activity
- local people to ensure that engagement with the wider community is interesting, suitable and accessible.
The CLG meet to:
- review information and updates about the project, regarding plans and developments
- discuss ideas, feed in views and recommendations to help influence and shape the progress of the project, including engagement
- feed ideas into the Development Plan Document, which will guide the project’s vision, themes and principles
- share relevant information with the wider community, when needed
Who's on the CLG?
Manda O'Connell - Chairperson
Manda is passionate about making beautiful homes and communities that are sustainable, ecologically friendly and in harmony with their natural surroundings, providing affordable, desirable housing to support thriving communities of all ages, which do not impinge upon or harm - but rather enhance neighbouring communities and the natural environment within which they are embedded. A keen DIYer and home improver from a long line of such, Manda understands what makes housing into homes for comfort and sustainability. Living on the edge of east Colchester with Salary Brook nature reserve behind her and a grassy hillside leading up to ancient woodland, a diverse domain enjoyed by dogwalkers, runners and ramblers on a daily basis, her vision is to see this area adopted by the Local Plan, like Highwoods Country Park, as an extension to the existing narrow Salary Brook area, for the benefit of both the proposed Garden Community on the one side of the woodland and East Colchester residents on the other. As a problem solver from a technical business background in IT training and development, Manda loves to provide solutions. Now in education, simplifying complex matters for a wide variety of audiences is a daily joy.
Manda said "I am honoured and delighted to be elected Chair, along with two very able deputy chairs. Together, with a talented, visionary and knowledgeable group from the local community, I look forward to contributing to the shaping of a beautiful, sustainable Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community that is in harmony with the local landscape, utilising existing green areas for the benefit of all, whilst using modern technology to provide beautiful, eco-friendly and energy efficient homes for a diverse community, and integrating a robust communication and other infrastructure of the future".
Christopher Burns - Deputy Chairperson
Chris is committed to the idea of working positively to develop the Garden Village. As a resident of the immediate area involved, he is very aware of the nature of residential and other areas within the scheme and recognises that, through working together, the best outcomes can be achieved that recognise local thoughts and worries. Chris is also aware of the surrounding area and the need to promote the village in a positive way to help allay concerns that may arise. As a former headteacher, he is conscious of the need to build a community that includes a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Chris has wide experience of working with disparate groups through his leadership roles within schools. He has chaired a range of meetings and has contributed fully to discussions, focus groups and working parties that affect communities. Currently, he is Chair of Governors at a school close to the Colchester/ Tendring border, thus heightening his awareness of the Garden Village project and its potential impact upon the broader community.
Lucas Carroll
Having recently moved from East London with his young family, Lucas is looking to establish roots in the area, integrate with the community and contribute to the growth and development of the area. He has a background in technology, sensor and transport projects and is currently working for an industrial robotics start-up. Lucas is interested in bringing ideas to the project centred around the core concepts of innovation, sustainability, ecology and equality.
Claudia Alsdorf
Claudia has lived in the Colchester area since 2001 and has a keen interest in town planning and how this shapes quality of life through a sense of belonging and home. She is concerned about climate change and the environment and thinks that a clever, well-planned, affordable integrated public and alternative transport system (especially cycling) could improve overall quality of life for people, mental health and physical fitness, social interaction, air quality and the future of our planet. Claudia’s work as a university lecturer has given her an insight into the perspectives of different people (ages, backgrounds, nationalities) and opportunities to develop communicative and diplomatic skills when there are opposing views and solutions need to be found.
Benjamin Marlow
Ben has lived with his family for the last two years in Colchester, on the edge of the TCB community and near to the University of Essex. He has a young family. Ben is very excited about the prospect of a new community and is keen to help shape its design and development. He works as a paediatric doctor at Colchester hospital in neurodevelopment, and wants to help promote understanding of neurodiversity and children with additional needs within the TCB development plans.
Peter Hill
Peter has followed the plans for this Garden Community scheme since inception and attended consultation and stakeholder sessions. He founded his local Community Association in 1985 and has had leading roles in local committees since then, as well as 25 years as a local town councillor for Wivenhoe. Peter has views about what makes a caring community. In his business career he learnt to think strategically. Locally, he was one of the leaders in creating his Neighbourhood Plan which was approved in 2019 and took 6 years from start to finish. “I have the ability to visualize, and then think about planning how to achieve the vision.” Peter has been involved in Master Plans and working with consultants / architects as well as local government. He has committee experience, strong diplomacy skills and enjoys hearing other people’s views and aims to achieve a consensus view. Peter retired from business life in 2012 in the City of London, where he had a career in finance and latterly IT product design. He now spends a lot of each week working in the charity sector, particularly for Almshouse charities.
Michael Lucking
Living on Longridge Park, Michael is close to the edge of the new community and has a keen interest in the new development. He is also the Chair of Governors at Market Field Special School in Elmstead Market and understands the impact that a development of this nature will have on their community. “There has been a lot of misinformation about the new development. It is important that local voices are heard and concerns are addressed.” Michael is hopeful that being part of the Community Liaison Group will help by sharing concerns and working with the council to lessen any impact. In his working life Michael has chaired many diverse groups. This has also led to him to work with many local voluntary organisations. He has extensive experience in building and being part of teams with a particular focus on listening skills and supporting change. Michael has a strong interest in local developments and how, if communicated properly, they can be a force for good. He loves engaging with others and discussing ways to improve through mutual trust.
Pauline Scott
Pauline is a retired Vicar living in Wivenhoe and is very interested in the development of the new garden community. She was an early resident of Cambourne, a new community near Cambridge and saw how important the planning and early development of that community was. As a local Vicar, Pauline gained an insight into local concerns and aspirations. Her work also led her to recognise the need for more genuinely affordable housing that is well built, environmentally sound and in an attractive community setting. Pauline would like to see good community space provision, including space for faith and other community groups to come together. She used to be a maths teacher before becoming a vicar and has also been a Primary School Governor for many years, so education provision is also very important to her. Pauline is also passionate that the new garden community embraces solutions that will meet the challenges of the climate and environmental emergencies. “Using the garden community principles there is a real opportunity to build a thriving community for the well-being of all its residents. All of this requires careful planning, and I am very much looking forward to being part of that.”
Lois Whitnell (Younger Persons' Rep)
Lois has recently graduated in BA (Hons) Architecture, working with KLH Architects as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant, and hopes to study Town Planning at Masters level soon. Being part of the CLG gives her first-hand experience in the field that she sees her future in. The opportunity of being involved in a project which will be available for her (and future) generation(s) is important to Lois, which she uses as a permanent source of inspiration in her field of work and study.
Living so close to the site in question all her life, she feels excited at the chance of gaining experience through helping in this project. Lois believes her current experience in the architecture and planning field will be a great help for her to bring new and relevant ideas to the group.
Welcome to our Community Liaison Group (CLG) section. In this section you'll find useful documents about the CLG, who they are and what their purpose is.
What is the CLG?
The CLG's purpose is to be a forum for local people that have come together to learn about the plans for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community and to help ensure the Garden Community is the best that it can be for existing and future generations.
It's a way for:
- local people to have input to the development of the Garden Community, alongside other engagement activity
- local people to ensure that engagement with the wider community is interesting, suitable and accessible.
The CLG meet to:
- review information and updates about the project, regarding plans and developments
- discuss ideas, feed in views and recommendations to help influence and shape the progress of the project, including engagement
- feed ideas into the Development Plan Document, which will guide the project’s vision, themes and principles
- share relevant information with the wider community, when needed
Who's on the CLG?
Manda O'Connell - Chairperson
Manda is passionate about making beautiful homes and communities that are sustainable, ecologically friendly and in harmony with their natural surroundings, providing affordable, desirable housing to support thriving communities of all ages, which do not impinge upon or harm - but rather enhance neighbouring communities and the natural environment within which they are embedded. A keen DIYer and home improver from a long line of such, Manda understands what makes housing into homes for comfort and sustainability. Living on the edge of east Colchester with Salary Brook nature reserve behind her and a grassy hillside leading up to ancient woodland, a diverse domain enjoyed by dogwalkers, runners and ramblers on a daily basis, her vision is to see this area adopted by the Local Plan, like Highwoods Country Park, as an extension to the existing narrow Salary Brook area, for the benefit of both the proposed Garden Community on the one side of the woodland and East Colchester residents on the other. As a problem solver from a technical business background in IT training and development, Manda loves to provide solutions. Now in education, simplifying complex matters for a wide variety of audiences is a daily joy.
Manda said "I am honoured and delighted to be elected Chair, along with two very able deputy chairs. Together, with a talented, visionary and knowledgeable group from the local community, I look forward to contributing to the shaping of a beautiful, sustainable Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community that is in harmony with the local landscape, utilising existing green areas for the benefit of all, whilst using modern technology to provide beautiful, eco-friendly and energy efficient homes for a diverse community, and integrating a robust communication and other infrastructure of the future".
Christopher Burns - Deputy Chairperson
Chris is committed to the idea of working positively to develop the Garden Village. As a resident of the immediate area involved, he is very aware of the nature of residential and other areas within the scheme and recognises that, through working together, the best outcomes can be achieved that recognise local thoughts and worries. Chris is also aware of the surrounding area and the need to promote the village in a positive way to help allay concerns that may arise. As a former headteacher, he is conscious of the need to build a community that includes a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Chris has wide experience of working with disparate groups through his leadership roles within schools. He has chaired a range of meetings and has contributed fully to discussions, focus groups and working parties that affect communities. Currently, he is Chair of Governors at a school close to the Colchester/ Tendring border, thus heightening his awareness of the Garden Village project and its potential impact upon the broader community.
Lucas Carroll
Having recently moved from East London with his young family, Lucas is looking to establish roots in the area, integrate with the community and contribute to the growth and development of the area. He has a background in technology, sensor and transport projects and is currently working for an industrial robotics start-up. Lucas is interested in bringing ideas to the project centred around the core concepts of innovation, sustainability, ecology and equality.
Claudia Alsdorf
Claudia has lived in the Colchester area since 2001 and has a keen interest in town planning and how this shapes quality of life through a sense of belonging and home. She is concerned about climate change and the environment and thinks that a clever, well-planned, affordable integrated public and alternative transport system (especially cycling) could improve overall quality of life for people, mental health and physical fitness, social interaction, air quality and the future of our planet. Claudia’s work as a university lecturer has given her an insight into the perspectives of different people (ages, backgrounds, nationalities) and opportunities to develop communicative and diplomatic skills when there are opposing views and solutions need to be found.
Benjamin Marlow
Ben has lived with his family for the last two years in Colchester, on the edge of the TCB community and near to the University of Essex. He has a young family. Ben is very excited about the prospect of a new community and is keen to help shape its design and development. He works as a paediatric doctor at Colchester hospital in neurodevelopment, and wants to help promote understanding of neurodiversity and children with additional needs within the TCB development plans.
Peter Hill
Peter has followed the plans for this Garden Community scheme since inception and attended consultation and stakeholder sessions. He founded his local Community Association in 1985 and has had leading roles in local committees since then, as well as 25 years as a local town councillor for Wivenhoe. Peter has views about what makes a caring community. In his business career he learnt to think strategically. Locally, he was one of the leaders in creating his Neighbourhood Plan which was approved in 2019 and took 6 years from start to finish. “I have the ability to visualize, and then think about planning how to achieve the vision.” Peter has been involved in Master Plans and working with consultants / architects as well as local government. He has committee experience, strong diplomacy skills and enjoys hearing other people’s views and aims to achieve a consensus view. Peter retired from business life in 2012 in the City of London, where he had a career in finance and latterly IT product design. He now spends a lot of each week working in the charity sector, particularly for Almshouse charities.
Michael Lucking
Living on Longridge Park, Michael is close to the edge of the new community and has a keen interest in the new development. He is also the Chair of Governors at Market Field Special School in Elmstead Market and understands the impact that a development of this nature will have on their community. “There has been a lot of misinformation about the new development. It is important that local voices are heard and concerns are addressed.” Michael is hopeful that being part of the Community Liaison Group will help by sharing concerns and working with the council to lessen any impact. In his working life Michael has chaired many diverse groups. This has also led to him to work with many local voluntary organisations. He has extensive experience in building and being part of teams with a particular focus on listening skills and supporting change. Michael has a strong interest in local developments and how, if communicated properly, they can be a force for good. He loves engaging with others and discussing ways to improve through mutual trust.
Pauline Scott
Pauline is a retired Vicar living in Wivenhoe and is very interested in the development of the new garden community. She was an early resident of Cambourne, a new community near Cambridge and saw how important the planning and early development of that community was. As a local Vicar, Pauline gained an insight into local concerns and aspirations. Her work also led her to recognise the need for more genuinely affordable housing that is well built, environmentally sound and in an attractive community setting. Pauline would like to see good community space provision, including space for faith and other community groups to come together. She used to be a maths teacher before becoming a vicar and has also been a Primary School Governor for many years, so education provision is also very important to her. Pauline is also passionate that the new garden community embraces solutions that will meet the challenges of the climate and environmental emergencies. “Using the garden community principles there is a real opportunity to build a thriving community for the well-being of all its residents. All of this requires careful planning, and I am very much looking forward to being part of that.”
Lois Whitnell (Younger Persons' Rep)
Lois has recently graduated in BA (Hons) Architecture, working with KLH Architects as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant, and hopes to study Town Planning at Masters level soon. Being part of the CLG gives her first-hand experience in the field that she sees her future in. The opportunity of being involved in a project which will be available for her (and future) generation(s) is important to Lois, which she uses as a permanent source of inspiration in her field of work and study.
Living so close to the site in question all her life, she feels excited at the chance of gaining experience through helping in this project. Lois believes her current experience in the architecture and planning field will be a great help for her to bring new and relevant ideas to the group.
CLG Meeting August 2021.pdf (185 KB) (pdf)