Sybil<DL><DT><PRE><a target=_blank href="http:www.lorkinantiques.com"><FONT face=Arial>www.lorkinantiques.com<FONT><A><PRE><DT><DT><PRE> <PRE><DT><DL>

Dear all, to those of you that went to the 'Respecter le bocage' meeting in St Sever on Friday, on behalf of Frederic, the Associations' President...thank you very much for coming. He was very pleased to see a good proportion of English there. There was at least 200 people there and support is growing not only from the local Maires but also politically. There were left and right wing politicians there adding their support to the campaign. I've summarised the meeting and uploaded it on to my domain at www.anibas.co.uk. I've forwarded it on to the Association and it should be on their site within a few days. Sybil  

Dear  Harley, Yes, it's simple to support the cause. Go to the Mairie in St Sever and ask to join the association. It costs 5 euros per couple or 3 euros per person. Its just a simple A4 form to fill in. I'll be writing a brief summary of the meeting (as long as my French has been able to cope with the speed of the debate and with several people talking at the same time!) and putting it on the English version of the website as soon as I can. The English version can still be accessed through my domain at www.anibas.co.uk or now it can be accessed through a link near the bottom of the associations site's homepage at www.respecterlebocage.com Kind regards Sybil

The argument on health grounds being used by the 'Respecter le bocage' Association is based on a recent English study of 30,000 children published in the British Medical Journal (June 2005). It's results were statistically significant as it concluded that children that reside at the time of their birth (i.e. exposure of the foetus during pregnancy)  within 200 metres of High Voltage Power lines have a 69% higher chance of developing leukemia. For those who live 200-600 from the lines have a 23% increased risk of developing Leukemia. From these results I feel strongly that the medical arguments have already been proven and this is only the most recent study. You can read more details on the 'Arguments' of the Associations site at www.respecterlebocage.com . If your French isn't good Google's translation of the site is adequate enough.   Sybil p.s. Don't forget if you want to get involved, the meeting's this Friday, Salles des Fetes, St Sever

Dear all, I must correct my earlier mistake the Public Meeting on the 14th October is to be held in the Salle des Fetes not at the Mairie. It's near the Gendarmerie, but there is lots of parking outside the Mairie and its a couple of hundred yards away. I've created an English version of the Respecter le Bocage website for the Association. They hope to combine it with theirs soon but if anyone would like to view it anyway it's online at my domain http://www.anibas.co.uk Also, if anyone would like English version posters or leaflets or would like to buy car stickers you can now get them at Barbara's bar - The Holly Tree in St Maur des Bois (Near Villedieu Les Poeles, on the road towards Vire) Many thanks to Barbara for doing that for the Assoicaition. Sybil  

Dear All, Next Public Meeting October 14th at 8:30pm Mairie - St Sever (Calvados) Kind regards Sybil

Hang on, I've given you the wrong end of the stick! The only reason that there is any reference to anglo-info is because I copied and pasted some of the text that I had written in their forum (including the URL!). Believe me they have nothing to do with it. Yes, the man who designed the website is English as you have obvserved and also a journalist and broadcaster now living nearby. He is the only other English person on the committee and as you have seen offered to design a site for the association. He has handed the site over to one of the French members of the committee as he hasn't the time to regularly update it, but is obviously credited with the original design. The respecter le bocage is a very long running association for all things local/rural as I understand it having been started years and years before this campaign. Apart from that the association's president is a GP and their are approximately 15 other members of the community involved for various reasons. I have only just become involved as I know the doctor (our children are in the same class at school). Because there has been little information in English for us in Normandy regarding the Pylons I asked to meet with him to find out more, hence my recent involvment. I am going to be translating the website (and enlarging the legend) helping out with that side of things as I trained as a graphic designer and enjoy designing websites (strange choice of hobby, I know!) Anyway, sorry to have sent you on a wild goose-chase. Feel free to email me. Sybil

Many things are happening with the protest group. As you know, it's called 'Respecter le bocage' and they are planning another public meeting for October. You can join the association at the Mairie in St Sever (Calvados) for a few euros. They've recently had another piece in the newspaper and there should be an article in the Vire edition of Manche Libre this week or next and they're now producing car stickers (1 euro each) to spread the word. I have met with the President of the association and have explained that there are many British families who are concerned. I have a copy of the official map that has been produced outlining the possible areas that it might pass through. As yet there is no specific route planned just a wide band running from St Lo south. Rather than try and describe the detail, see the maps on the new website. www.respecterlebocage.com  At the moment it is only in French, but if your French isn't good you can use Google to translate the site (although Bocage translates as Scrap Metal!) It's an easy site to navigate anyway and they maps are easy to find there. I've asked and they've agreed to translate the website into English which is a good start. So far these communes have signed up, agreeing to oppose the plans. If your communes isn't one of them let me know and I'll speak to the president.  Montbray - Courson - Landelles & Coupigny - Champ du Boult - Morigny - Le Chefresne - Mesnil Clinchamps - Pont Bellanger.  I'll post on this forum when they've decided on the date for the next meeting.The president of the association (who can speak a little English) was thrilled to hear that English residents/homeowners are worried about this.  In the mean time 'spread the word' and join up. Sybil p.s. I've produced English versions of leaflets and posters for the Association so if you want any or can give them out to friends, please email me. I have the car stickers too.