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WINFORD PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES-December Date: Monday 7 December 2009. Venue: Felton Village Hall, Felton Time: 7.00pm Councillors Present: Mrs B Smith (Chair) Mr A Parker Mrs G Patch Mr L Curry Miss K Bye Mr S Banks Mr P Longden Mr P Hatherell Mrs M Murphy Mr A Sage Mr P Etheridge
Mr P Roberts (Clerk) Also present Cllr Hugh Gregor (NSC) PCSO Michele Barrett Graham Quick (NSC) Judy Kiernan (Parish Plan) 3 members of the public 1. Apologies None 2. Minutes of the previous meeting 2.1 The draft minutes were approved and signed as a true record. 2.2 Matters Arising (references to November minutes):- 2.2 (10.1) PE said the Felton Village Shop committee had been in touch with the new owner of the premises but a decision has not yet been made about its future. The council’s notice board will be removed and refurbished. 9.5 BS had discussed provision of shrubs and bark at the High Winford Play Area with Chew Valley Trees and it was agreed to fund this. 3. Crime and Disorder 3.1 Michele Barrett reported the following crimes:- theft of horsefeed damage to a car window domestic assault The police are pleased with this low level of reported crime but wish to alert parishioners of high levels of house burglaries in neighbouring parishes. Householders are advised to keep cars and houses locked, keep car keys away from external doors, and ensure valuables are recorded and security marked. 3.2 The police have also written to let the council know that in future there will be one policing priority – dwelling burglaries covering the Parishes of Barrow Gurney, Burrington, Butcombe, Blagdon, Churchill, Dundry and Winford. The council noted this change. 3.3 AP raised the issue of cars being parked on local roads for lengthy periods by airport users or parking operations. This is causing annoyance to local residents and has resulted in damage to the vehicles. MB reiterated previous advice from the police that unless the vehicles are causing an obstruction to the highway, or are not taxed and insured, there is no action that can be taken. 4. Open Forum 4.1 Mr Hayward, whose property adjoins Felton Common on its western side and has an easement enabling vehicular passage over the common, raised the issue of a tree stump at the access point to the common from West Lane. The stump makes the use of this access difficult for his motorhome. BS confirmed that there is nothing to legally prevent the removal of a dead tree stump. PL felt that removing it might make it easier for vehicles to use this location for waiting in connection with the airport. The council deferred further consideration of his request until the next meeting to enable councillors to view the site. The council agreed to provide Mr Hayward with more slips to place on vehicles using the common illegally. 4.2 Tina Clements raised the state of West Lane due to mud etc from the quarry operated by Churngold. This is both unpleasant and unsafe for all road users. The council agreed that this is completely unacceptable and has raised it with NSC’s area officer. It was agreed that the council will write formally to North Somerset raising this as an emergency and asking that, if the operators do not have the proper equipment to prevent this happening available and in use then the operations should be suspended until it is. HG will also take this up at a high level in NSC. 4.3 It was also reported that quarry vehicles are still using the area of common below Felton Hall car park. PH has obtained a quotation of £895-00 + VAT for the installation of a barrier (similar in design to the car park barrier) which the council and Hall Committee will be considering. 5. Parish Plan 5.1 A consultation draft parish plan had been circulated to councillors prior to the meeting and Judy Kiernan outlined the next stages in the process. Any comments on the draft should be fed back to the parish plan team and it will then be finalised, printed and published. 5.2 The council recorded its thanks to the parish plan team for its hard work in producing the plan and signified its intention to adopt the final version when it is published. 6. Highways and Footpaths 6.1 Market Place steps. AP reported on a meeting with officers from North Somerset which had resulted in general acceptance that one of the options presented (drawing 11A) is an acceptable design. The approximate cost of implementation would be £24K. PL queried whether the design – which involves the retention of steps - will provide an improvement sufficient to justify the costs of delivering it. Other councillors expressed similar frustration that the council’s preference for an incline had been dismissed. It was decided to reconsider the proposals when the comments promised by the engineer were available. 6.2 It was reported that invitations to submit terms of business have been issued to 3 firms for the work on negotiations with landowners on the West Lane cycle/footpath Phase 2 scheme. This is to enable a bid for funding from Yansec to be compiled. 6.3 Local reports. SB reported that some work had been done on Whitling Street but it has not been completed. GP had reported problems to NSC’s area officer but these have not yet been addressed. PE had been approached by a resident of Frog Lane, Felton about flooding caused by a blocked drain. 6.4 NSC have been sent a list of all grit bins and it has been confirmed that they will all be filled. A new one has been ordered for The Ricklands. 6.5 NSC have confirmed that the signs on Chew Road advertising public houses require consent and they have contacted the pubs about this. 6.6 Chew Road/Regil Lane junction. AP reported that he had been approached again by residents concerned about the location of the white lines at the bottom of Regil Lane. These concerns have already been passed on to NSC. BS has again asked the landowner to cut the vegetation on the corner. 7. Planning 7.1 Previous applications. Granted:- 09/P/1669/F – Prince of Waterloo smoking shelter 09/P/1655/RM – reserved matters at Sparfield, Regil Lane, Winford 09/P1618/P – rear conservatory at 1 Chapel Close, Winford 09/P1686/F – front porch at The Elms, Barrow Lane, Winford 09/P/1639/RG3 – extension of Winford Primary School. The council will write to the school regarding the process to discharge condition 23 which deals with community use. Appeals:- an appeal has been lodged against the refusal of consent for a loft conversion at 20 Hillview Gardens, Felton. 7.2 New applications. 09/P/2015/F Land at Parsonage Close, Winford. Erection of block of 5 stables (retrospective.) It was resolved to raise no objection subject to the inclusion of a condition prohibiting parking on the track giving access to the allotments. 09/P/1878/F Hillview Mobile Home Park, Potters Hill, Felton. Retention of ancillary building for 5 Years. It was resolved to raise no objection to the application. 09/P/1955/F Hazel Lodge and Ash Lodge, Redding Pit Lane, Winford. Variation of condition to enable chalets to be used for holiday lets and short term residential accommodation. The council resolved to oppose the application on the grounds that the proposal contravenes planning policies regarding the provision of residential accommodation in the countryside. 09/P/1971/F Old Post Office, Frog Lane, Felton. Conversion of garage to annexe to the main dwelling. It was resolved to raise no objection to the application 09/P/1975/F Orchard Bungalow, Vee Lane, Felton. New roof with dormers to create upstairs accommodation. It was resolved to raise no objection to the application. 7.3 BS reported an approach from the architect acting for the developer of the former coach station in Winford asking for a meeting to discuss the council’s position. A small group will meet to consider this request. 8. Parish Council Property 8.1 High Winford Play Area. Work to improve the area has been carried out and it is looking much better. Shrubs are due to be planted. AP is in touch with a local builder about quotations for replacement of some steps of the play equipment where the edges are peeling away. 8.2 Grass cutting contract. AP reported that the performance of the council’s contractor has shown considerable improvement and suggested that the council should re-visit its earlier decision to put the contract out to tender during the winter. It was agreed that in the circumstances the contract should be left as it is for the time being, subject to the contractor’s performance remaining satisfactory. The contractor had quoted for work to strim and re-model part of the Vee Lane area but this was felt to be excessive and PH will reconsider. 8.3 Risk assessments have been completed for Felton Common and the compost and allotment sites. AP will produce one for the High Winford Play Area and KB for the Vee Lane recreation area by January. 8.4 A request from a parishioner to park a snack van on the area of common below the Felton Hall car park had been received. It was felt that this is an inappropriate use of the common and possibly contravenes the common bylaws. The installation of the proposed barrier would also mean the car park will no longer be generally accessible to vehicles. The council resolved unanimously to refuse its consent to the request. 8.5 BS reported that advice had been received that it would be inadvisable to plant a horse chestnut on the green at Winford Manor due to a prevalent disease and it is proposed to plant a beech instead. The tree proposed for Felton Green is a rowan. The council agreed to this. 9. Bristol International Airport 9.1 PL reported that NSC’s South Area Committee will not be considering BIA’s planning application on 9 December and unlikely to do so before February or March. He also outlined the result of further investigations into noise which concluded that the virtually the whole of Felton and Winford are within the area of significant annoyance which may have implications for future noise insulation schemes. 9.2 BIA had invited councillors to an informal meeting at the airport on 15 December. GP, LC and PE will attend. 10. Finance 10.1 Money received:- Rural Payments Agency (Felton Common Stewardship Scheme) £5609.55 10.2 Invoices received:- Streets Ahead (surgery transport) £101.20 RJ Maggs (grass cutting) 235-00 Foremost Signs Ltd (signs for Vee Lane) £138-00 LJ Budd (refurbishment of Felton Green seat £269-00 CG Tovey (work on Felton Church trees) £517-50 North Somerset Council (footpath furniture) £92-46 and £105-00 It was agreed that these invoices should be paid. 11. Meetings 11.1 Past meetings. BS had attended the AGM of CPRE. AP reported on the first meeting of the revived Centre of Winford also attended by AS, GP and MM. AP is checking the financial position with NSC: the latest estimate is for a total of £94K, £80K for imprint surfacing and £14K for the Prince of Waterloo frontage. It was agreed that any decisions about progressing this will need to take account of the impending works to Winford School, and discussions about the development of the former coach station. 12. Other Correspondence 12.1 Community Governance Review. NSC have published draft recommendations which include an adjustment to the parish’s boundaries with Backwell and Wrington to align with the A38. 13. Information and items for next agenda KB gave her apologies for the January meeting. The meeting concluded at 21.59 PM. The next council meeting is on Monday 4 January 2010 at 7.00pm at Felton Village Hall. |