Raven’s Ait

Ravens Ait Campaign Success!

Dear ravens island supporters,

Exciting latest news!

We have won the campaign for community use on Ravens Ait Island. Hotel Antoinette has pulled out and the island is to become a centre for training in sailing rowing, canoeing and community use.

Ossie Stewart (Stewart Marine) from Harts Boatyard says “My plan for the sailing school is to have it community based, we will be getting in touch with all the schools. With the council I am very much going to get as much community use as I can.”

Phoenix was quoted in the newspapers, saying “basically we are happy that in our long term campaign we have won community use for the island. It is the tail end of the campaign and we feel like it is victory for some kind of community use.

“We want to keep the pressure up and make sure people ask councilors what they are doing to make sure there is a strong community use agreement.”

At the council meeting at which we asked for a strong community use agreement, we spoke to Ossie Stewert, who said he would be happy to have us be envolved with setting up some future events on the island such as an eco conference, cinema, youth or elders night.

What we are asking you to do is to write a simple email requesting the strongest community use agreement for the island to include a large number of days per week or month that can be booked by any community group, and a clearly defined process for this.

Send this email to Derek Osbourne, (derek.osbourne@councillors.kingston.gov.uk) John Barlow, (john.barlow@rbk.kingston.gov.uk) and as many Kingston councilors from all parties (for list of councillors go to kingston.giv.uk/information/your_council/councillors as well as your local MP edwarddavey@edwarddavey.co.uk and contact the Surrey Comet and the Kingston Guardian with your views.

Remind them that this is an election year, and ask them for a reply as to what action they will take on this important community issue.

Thank you to everyone for all their help and support, please network this to as many groups as possible and we look forward to working on an event with you on the island in 2011.

Love Phoenix and the Ravens, Island caretakers.

ravens island good news

Hi there,the ravens island campaign continues,
Good news Hotel Antoinette has pulled out of the 50 year lease that would have ended community use of the island for the lifetime of most kingston residents,
Even Barry Mahoney deputy leader of the council questioned the bid in the media.
So possibilities for community use are open again.We hear there may be only 2 options left on the table ,one which may contain some community use.
We did send proposals to the council,but were not officially entered into the bidding due to not having £80,000+ for a lease.or 1-2 million to buy this historic island back for the peoples use at the time.Although as many have said why should we have to buy back what belongs to the people already,that the council has forgotten it looks after on behalf of the people.
There is a council executive meeting this thurs 11th feb 7.30pm at kingston town hall,where they will be discussing the island.
We are asking everyone who cares about this incredible community resource to go and apply pressure on the council in this election year to garantee some community environmental use use.
There are proposals to set up a community development trust or community land trust and raise funds to acquire the island in the short term.
We are asking you to phone ,text,facebook, email and network to friends asap.
Check our website for the proposal sent to the council. See you on thurs.

Fantastic new video!

watch?v=JrabajgfjNA <-Click link to watch video!

Map from 1745 showing Ravens Ait close to Hampton Court Grounds

1745 map

We are searching through history books looking for connections between the island and Hampton Court, if anyone can find anything out that would be a great help, thanks!

Press Cuttings

Some of the cuttings from the media, the electricity bill was so high because the industrial refrigerators, lights and other appliances were left on by the previous owners since December.. no wonder they went bankrupt! The island is for sale for £1.5-2m as quoted by CB Richard Ellis, so the £7m newspaper article is totally false. Please bare these inaccuracies in mind while reading the articles.

Press Cuttings

New campaign flyer, please save and distribute. Thanks!

Sunday Times Article

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article6734067.ece

Regular Tues Island Campaign Meetings

Operation Reclaim the Island.

We need your help!

Bring your skills, this month we are really going to push the campaign to reclaim the Island for the community at this critical time for the environment, all sorts of help needed such as admin, organising, video editing, tech, flyering, covering stall, graphic design, photography networking fundraising, PR and Media, Direct action.

Every Tues in august, there will be a steering commitee / campaign meeting 7pm at the Clattern lecture theatre Kingston University Penrhyn Rd Campus. (Drinks after)

Proposal PDF

2 Proposal New

Estate Agents Brochure and link to accompanying CD files.

Link to CD files:

http://www.esnips.com/web/Estate-Agent-CD  (copy and paste link into browser)

Brochure