BRIEFS

WEED SPRAY PC believes kerb weedspray (presently by Jarvis) should be an annual event. Clerk asked to locate alternative contractor(s) and seek guidance from HALC.

HEARTSTART COURSE Scheduled for September 23; cancelled due to lack of support.

FLAGS FURLED Advertisement flags, by Tesco, contravened planning regulations, being unapproved. Later removed after approach to Hfds DA

BOARD REPAIRED Windows on Abbotsmead Road noticeboard have been repaired. Subsequent graffiti cleaned by voluntary action

NOW IN COLOUR The allocation to pay for the printing of the PC newsletter has been increased so that an extra colour can be added to the front page.

WAIT ‘TIL SPRING PC members plus volunteers planted 70 kg of daffodil bulbs on the Abbotsmead Road and trunk road verges in early November.

ACCOUNTS OK External auditors have signed the PC’s annual return. No issues were raised that needed the PC’s attention.

BIGGER BINS Because some litter bins on the estate become full before they are due to be emptied, they are to be replaced with larger units at the A465 pedestrian crossing, at the parish map, and at the Westholme Road noticeboard. The existing bins will be moved to Westholme Road by Belmont Pools, near the bridge to Wyedean Rise and in Abbotsmead Road near the entrance to Hartland Close

TREE SEEDS Ten bags, to collect tree seeds, have been ordered under the national Plant-A-Tree initiative.

Northolme now
on stream
The PC was delighted to note a written report that Northolme Community Centre Association has succeeded in gaining funds to sign the lease for the Centre and plans to start refurbishment in the New Year.

Taking mud out
of soccer
Examining the possibility of providing an all-weather surface for the pitch near the Northolme Centre the clerk reported:
- Concrete acceptable to most children.
- High fence necessary to constrain ball movements.
- Grant funding may be available, although some sources prefer applications where children are involved in the project.
- SHARP has funds and may be interested in a combined project.
Note: Costs range widely, depending on the surface chosen. The pitch near Waterfield Road cost about £25,000.

Planning ups
and downs
• An application for a new boundary fence at 99 Dorchester Way was granted on appeal. The PC expressed disappointment that the inspector had ignored local concerns.
• An application to separate 1 Coppin Rise into two buildings was refused by Hfds planning committee because of its “detrimental effect on the amenity and character of the area”. This has gone to appeal.
• The PC objected to the creation of the Madley waste plant on the basis of more traffic flow through the parish. Planning approval for this project was quashed in the High Court.
• Replacement of 1 m high with 1.8 m high fencing at 3 Yarlington Mill denied as “an unacceptable form of development... detrimental to the visual amenity of the wider locality”.

Litter and
school children
During Public Participation at the October meeting, a member of the public reported problems of litter, particularly near Brook Farm Court and at the bus shelter opposite Tesco. Regarding the latter, it was evident school children are the main culprits and it was agreed that the clerk write to the head of Street Scene requesting that fixed penalty notices be served on those responsible.

The clerk wrote to school heads asking them to raise the matter in schools and received responses from both Kingstone and Fairfield high schools.

New car wash
turned down
Tesco’s application to replace its car wash with a conveyor unit has been refused on the grounds that it would double the size of the present building. This would be incongruous with the surroundings and, accordingly, detrimental to the visual amenity of the area.

Parking letters
re-issued
Hfds DA officers have inspected areas highlighted by the PC where vehicles are parked on grass verges. Letters have been re-issued. Clearly some of this parking only occurs outside normal business hours.
Cllr Phil Edwards has pressed Hfds officers to confirm they will require those responsible to pay for the repair of damage to the verge

Better motorcycle
barriers needed
Following an incident when a wheelchair overturned while negotiating an anti-motorcycle barrier on a footpath, a similar barrier at Yarlington Mill has been replaced. However, members have noted that this is unlikely to hinder motorcyclists using the path and Cllr Phil Edwards is pressing for more appropriate A-barriers.

Possible projects
for next year
Projects that will be considered for possible financial support in 2007 - 2006 include:
- An all-terrain cycle track.
- Continued support for the Northolme and Belmont centres where requested.
- Improvements to the kickabout area near Northolme CC.
- New footbridge from play area of Canterbury Close to CH7 footpath.
- New access to A465 from Abingdon/Stoneleigh Drive.

Buses on the
other side!
Speaking at the November PC meeting relative to her association with the Wysemoves bus project, Dist Cllr Glenda Powell said Wysemoves intends to extend services to Westholme Road.