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Parish Minutes - 2nd December 2008

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Written by Richard Waterman
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Minutes of the Grateley Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 2nd December 2008 in the Grateley Village Hall at 7.30pm. Present : Cllr Mr T Seddon - Chairman Cllr Mrs J Cohen - Vice Chairman Cllr Mrs R Underhill Cllr Mr D Shields Cllr Mr N Mortenson Cllr Mr M Longyear County Councillor Mrs P West Borough Councillor Mr T Southern Richard Waterman - Parish Clerk Members of the Public - 14 WELCOME. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. DECLARATION OF INTEREST. There were no Declarations of Interest recorded. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING. The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record. CLLR MRS P WEST’S REPORT The Chairman invited Cllr Mrs P West to give her report, as she had to leave to attend another meeting. Cllr Mrs West spoke about traffic calming in Grateley, an issue that residents had often discussed with her; the speed vehicles travel through the village is of major concern. Cllr Mrs West suggested with the Parish Council’s permission that she put comment boards in the two village shops to get a broader view on residents concerns on speeding etc. The Parish Council was happy that she should go ahead with her survey. The Parish Council spoke about the Monxton Traffic Calming scheme and apparent disadvantages. It was felt that a scheme of this nature might not be wanted in Grateley. Cllr Mrs West spoke about the Andover Airfield and reported that Planning Permission has been approved for the Distribution Centre. Cllr Mrs West wished to thank Cllr Mr Southern for all the work he has done on this Planning Application and he had been one of four Cllrs that had spoken against the scheme. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES. ROAD MATTERS – The Chairman reported that he had forwarded a copy of the Parish Council‘s 2004 paper on Speed Limits and Road Safety to David Wilson at TVBC and sent a letter to H.C.C, TVBC and the Headmaster of Grateley Primary School over the ’20 is Plenty’ Scheme. All had been helpful. TVBC were happy to have a meeting over road safety and suggested advisory no parking white lines be laid on the corner between the two schools to reduce the hazard caused by staff and parents parking on the bend adjacent to the school fence. H.C.C reported that Grateley House School had expressed possible interest in the ’20 is Plenty’ scheme and would forward an information pack to the Primary School. The Headmaster, generally, was in favour of the scheme but pointed out that no funding was available from the school as the scheme envisaged funding from outside sponsorship. Cllr Mrs Cohen reported that now the car park in Station Road is open commuters are speeding through the village, especially Station Road. Cllr Southern, from his observations elsewhere, suggested the erection of farm style gates either side of the road positioned alongside speed restriction signs were very effective. This suggestion was agreed by many of the public present at the meeting. The Chairman suggested that the Parish Council discussed these matters further when feedback from the village, including Cllr Mrs West’s survey, had been received and the site meeting has been held in the New Year, a plan on how to move forward can then be formulated. The Parish Council agreed. Cllr Mrs West wished everyone a Happy Christmas and left the meeting. Mr B Funnel reported that the grass by the lay-by on the Wallop Road has been cut and the road sweeper has been on several occasions to clear up the leaves. PARISH PLAN - Cllr Mr Shields reported that he had attended Kimpton Parish Council Meeting to listen to the presentation on the Thruxton Parish Plan. It turned out that Thruxton had done a Village Design Statement and not a Parish Plan. In Cllr Shield's view a Village Design Statement tended to look back at the past. What was needed was a Parish Plan more suited to Grateley which looked to the future and took into account commercial, business as well as residential needs. The Parish Council discussed this. It was agreed to proceed top the next stage. Cllr Shields will prepare an information leaflet with a tear off strip seeking views and participation. This will then be emailed to the Parish Councillors for approval. A leaflet drop will then be done and the shops asked if they will collect the reply slips. NEWS LETTER - It was agreed to proceed with a Parish Council News Letter, the first addition will be produced in March 2009. AFFORDABLE HOUSING - Cllr Mrs Cohen reported that work has started on the drains for the Streetway Road development. FLASHING SPEED SIGNS - The Clerk had provided the Parish Cllr with information on flashing speed signs and the costs prior to the meeting. Each Sign costs £2500 with a £720 a year maintenance charge; there are potential additional costs for new post and brackets in the first year, although it is hoped that existing posts can be used to keep the cost down. The sign will flash up the speed limit and “Slow Down”. Test Valley have suggested that four Parishes share the cost, each parish will have the signs for two weeks every eight weeks (the signs are most effective if they are in place for no longer than two weeks at a time). The Clerk reported that Shipton Bellinger, Over Wallop and Penton Grafton are committed to purchasing two speed signs and are looking for a forth partner. Each Parish has put £2000 into their precepts. This will cover the initial purchase price, installation and maintenance for the first year. Future years will entail a maintenance charge. The Parish Council acknowledged that speeding through the village is a major concern of residents and flashing speed signs would certainly be a step in the right direction. The Parish Council all agreed in principle to sharing the cost of purchasing speed signs. PLANNING. TVN.08/02591/FULLN - Conversion and part demolition of poultry sheds for office use (B1), New access, landscaping and associated works. Poultry Sheds Adjacent to Monxton Golf Centre, Monxton Road The Chairman reported that he has spoken to the Mr N Stopps the Applicant about this Application. There have been minor changes to the original application regarding the entrance, car parking and landscaping. The Parish Council discussed this application at length and had NO OBJECTIONS. It was suggested that the speed limit be extended to past the Golf Range this would slow down the traffic before they reached the site. Cllr Mr T Southern stated that he agreed but this would not be a condition of Planning Permission and something that the Planners would not take into consideration. This would be a matter for Hampshire County Council and the Police. COUNCILLOR MR T SOUTHERN’S REPORT Cllr Mr Southern spoke about the Andover Airfield development and the problems it will bring to the area, he felt that in the long term it would have a detrimental effect on the area. Mr B Funnel asked Cllr Mr Southern if he could ask that the Test Valley Borough Council Traffic Warden could visit Grateley Station on different days of the week as it won’t be long before commuters cotton on that he comes on the same day each week. Cllr Mr Southern said he would have a word with the appropriate department. COUNCILLORS REPORTS. CLLR MR M LONGYEAR - Reported that a flooding issue in Chapel Lane was reported to Highways, within three days the work was done, a very good service. CLLR MRS COHEN - Reported that the Chicken Farm has been unloading grain again at 4.15am, this has been reported top the Environmental Health Department. Cllr Mrs Cohen reported that with the works at the new car park in Station Road the hedge has been trimmed back, could the Clerk please write to the Train Company and ask them to trim back the remaining hedge along Station Road? The Chairman asked the Clerk to write to Rail Track. CLLR MRS R UNDERHILL - Reported that with Cllr Mrs Cohen she had visited Mr and Mrs Hymas and was dismayed to report that the company using the pneumatic nail gun are still working all hours including Saturday and Sunday. Mr Hymas thanked the Chairman for acting so quickly after the last meeting and spoke about a site meeting that was held. Cllr Mrs P West and Cllr Mr Southern attended the meeting resulting in the Planning Enforcement Officer visiting the site and speaking to the company concerned, this has had no effect at all. Mr Hymas feels that Test Valley seem reluctant to take action. Mr Hymas has spoken to Cllr Mr Southern about the lack of action and has asked for his help. The restrictions on the use of the Grateley Business Park will be looked into. Cllr Mrs Cohen stated that it is not very satisfactory, but the only course of action is to persevere and continuously report the matter to the Planning Department. CLLR MR D SHIELDS - Reported that he has studied the Test Valley Community Development Plan, this document supports the development of the Rural Community in Health and well being. Cllr Mr Shields also attended the open meeting. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MR S WEBBER - CHAIRMAN OF GRATELEY VILLAGE HALL Mr Webber spoke about the on going refurbishment of the Village Hall; the work is nearly finished. The door to the left of the stage has been made wider to accommodate a new trolley that will assist with the moving of the tables, new curtains are to be fitted and a stage curtain will hide the chairs from view. Mr Webber reported that he and his wife have taken over the bookings of the Village Hall, a hic-up with a booking for an 18+ Party (Before the start of the refurbishment) has resulted in a no private party booking policy. CLOSE OF THE MEETING. The Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting. The Parish Council stayed on to hold a closed meeting to discuss the precept.
Last Updated ( Monday, 16 February 2009 )