Balderton Parish Council
Minutes of the Amenities Committee meeting held in the Council Hall on Wednesday May 11th 2005 at 6.30pm
PRESENT: Councillors Hind (in the chair), Ms Atkinson, Colman, Gibson, Mrs Hind, Mrs Newstead, Mrs Scott, Scott, Sheppard and Spencer
with Cllrs Brooks and Miss Oram, Inspector Butler and Sgt. Beaton of Newark Police, Mr Mortimore (Pavilion sub committee), Head Groundsman Mr Stevens, fourteen parishioners, a member of the local press and the Clerk.
A moments silence was held as a mark of respect in memory of Parish Councillor Mrs Pat Fletcher who had sadly died on Monday May 9th 2005.
APOLOGIES: were received from Councillors Jarvis and White, and Footpaths Officer Mr Rix.
1188 Declarations of Interest Cllr Ms Atkinson declared a personal interest to minute reference 1190.1 - The Hollies. Cllr Mrs Newstead declared personal interests to minute references 1193 - Glebe Park/Barnby Crossing footpath, and 1198 - Allotments.
1189 Tesco Express, Main
Street
The meeting closed at approximately 6.31pm to meet Inspector Butler and Sgt
Beaton from Newark Police Station. Parishioners present raised issues and
associated problems of illegally parked vehicles outside Tesco Express on Main
Street, and from delivery lorries which sometimes block Glovers Lane. Inspector
Butler advised that parking tickets have been issued on occasions to illegally
parked vehicles.
He advised that much police time is taken by dealing with anti-social behaviour and drug related problems which must be given priority. Special Police Officers cannot be deployed to target the area as their resources are committed to supporting the regular police officers.
Enquiries should be made with the County Highways department for any improvements such as; installing bollards on the forecourt to prevent vehicles pulling onto the frontage, a visibility splay mirror to help vehicles exiting Glovers Lane, improved signage and road markings.
Contact should also be made with Tesco’s head office highlighting the problems and asking for any possible assistance.
Inspector Butler advised that attention will be paid whenever possible by police officers including the beat officer for Balderton, P.C. Kevin Lincoln, and a part-time traffic warden who also covers Newark Town Centre. Parking tickets will be issued whenever possible.
The Inspector and Sergeant were thanked for their attendance and information. The police officers, Cllrs Brooks and Miss Oram, and eight parishioners left at approximately 7.25pm and the meeting re-opened.
1190 Clerk/Chairman’s Update
A printed update of ongoing matters was circulated and noted. The update is
published with the minutes. The following issue was discussed from the update:
1. Re Minute 1185 The Hollies, Barnby Road Conflicting information has been received about The Hollies relating to management, responsibility and future. A letter will be sent to the District Council asking what the exact situation is relating to the building, and what is their intention regarding the future of the whole site.
2. Re Disabled Park, Lakeside A request for a ‘No Parking on the Grass’ sign was approved to be installed adjacent to the park area. Consideration will be given to naming the park after the late Cllr Mrs Fletcher whose originally suggested the project.
1191 Planning Applications
The following Planning Applications were considered and approved with any
comments detailed below:
0822 Single storey extension and
conservatory - 21 Granby Drive
0853 Conservatory - 75 Manners Road
0960 Conservatory - 15 Gaitskell Way
The following application was considered and objected to with the following comments:
0839 Boarding Kennels and siting of mobile home - Paddock 3 Coddington Road
Members considered that the location of the kennels would have a detrimental affect in terms of noise to adjacent residential properties and stables. A site meeting will be requested.
The following applications had been considered and approved by members before the meeting owing to the District Council (planning authority) required reply dates:
0660 Change use from A1 to A3 (fast
food take-away/café) 170 London Road
0718 Cloakroom and extension - 3 Macaulay Drive
0754 Change use of garage to workshop - 17 Jericho Road
0791 Extension and detached garage - 39 Queen Street
0862 Conservatory - 78 Southfield
0863 Erect two storey extension and conservatory - 65 Milton Street
NCC 8 bay pre-fab modular building - Chuter Ede Primary School
1192 Planning Decisions
The following Planning Applications have been granted conditional approval
and were noted:
0211 Erect two storey extension - 50
Jericho Road
0228 Conservatory - 11 Dale Way
0254 Extensions and pitched roof over flat roof - 59 Macaulay Drive
0552 Two storey extension - 24 Warwick Road
1193 Footpath between
Glebe park and Barnby Crossing
The County Council is considering a public footpath for the route between
Glebe Park and Barnby Crossing.
Copies of the Council’s tenancy agreements for the allotment land were noted - no mention of rights of way is made in the present or previous agreement.
The Council has had past involvement in installing signs across the previous route advising it was not a public right of way. A petition opposing the application has been raised and submitted to the County Council.
The meeting was closed to take public comments. Glebe Park residents have obtained further evidence regarding the yearly closure of the previous route to prevent it becoming a public right of way.
Lengthy discussion took place between the applicant for the footpath and Glebe Park residents who are against it on the grounds of possible increase in anti social behaviour and crime.
They believe that opening a route between London Road and Barnby Road would create a ‘bolt hole’ for such activities. Many allotment tenants are also opposed to the application for the same reasons.
Residents asked the applicant to withdraw the application for the benefit of the community, pointing out that a route now exists between Barnby Road and London Road along the Sustrans cycle track. The meeting was re-opened.
The Council has stated previously that it would not pursue an application for the said route for the above reasons, and this was re-iterated.
1194 Pavilion Renovation
The Clerk advised that full planning permission has been applied for from
Newark & Sherwood District Council. Until permission is granted the funding bid
cannot be submitted.
1195 Sustrans Cycle Track
Further complaints have been made regarding motorised vehicles using the
cycle track and path around the Lake. This will be reported to the police who
will be asked to pay attention to the area.
1196 Playing Field
Approval was given to the cost of getting the Playing Field sprayed with
selective weed-killer at an estimated cost of between £450-£500. The Field
will be closed to the public during the treatment.
1197 Lake Disabled
Access/Fishing Points
Consideration was given to installing fishing points at the Lake which are
designated for wheelchair users. Mr Stevens had met with Grove Angling Club
members and a suitable sight has been identified for one double platform.
This is at a relatively flat area and could be reached by a man-made access. Discussion took place regarding liability of such designated platforms - signs may be necessary advising that any user fishes there entirely at their own risk.
Any necessary alterations to existing access gates and barriers to the Lake in order to accommodate wheelchairs will be carried out during winter months by the groundstaff. Cllr Sheppard left the meeting at approximately 8.20pm
1198 Allotments
Recent incidents of theft have taken place at the allotments. On occasions
the gates have has been unlocked and it is believed that people other than
tenants are gaining access.
The cost of a new padlock where keys cannot be removed without re-locking the padlock, and an adequate number of keys would be in the region of £170.
It was,
AGREED that a new padlock be purchased and keys distributed to all tenants.
1199 No Ball Games Sign Worthington Road Approval was given to a request for a ‘No Ball Games’ sign on Worthington Road which would be installed by the District Council.
1200 Gamage Close An area of apparently landlocked land off Gamage Close is not registered at Land Registry as having an owner. Enquiries will be made with the District Council planning authority to ascertain if the land was set aside by the developers as an open green area. Notices will then be posted on the land stating it is the Council’s intention to claim the land if the owner cannot be traced.
1201 Information/Correspondence
The following items of information/correspondence have been received and
were noted:
a)
Notice that the County Council have modified Public
Footpath no.1 to include the initial section from Macaulay Drive.
b) Notice that planning permission has been granted for a gas utilisation compound to convert landfill gas to electricity at Staple Quarry Landfill Site at Cotham.
c) Notice of an Energy Services conference hosted by the District Council on Thursday May 12th 2005 at Farndon, which Cllr Colman had undertaken to attend.
d) Notice that an appeal has been lodged against the planning refusal to erect a dwelling on land adjacent to 128 Main Street.
e) Details of the ‘Best Kept Village’ competition for 2005 from the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
f) Notice that it had been necessary to write to a football team who had played on the Field on Sunday May 1st 2005. Reports had been made that players where kicking a football against parked cars (CCTV footage confirmed this).
1202 Future agenda Items
No items were put forward.
The meeting closed at approximately 8.40pm