BRIEFS

SHRUB PLANTING Hfds C has been asked to grant a licence to cultivate the triangular site between the the A465 and Northolme Road. The aim is to plant shrubs in an attempt to prevent people from using the area as an impromptu salesroom for second-hand cars.

BIN DAMAGE Litter bins installed by the PC round the estate continue to attract vandals. One bin liner has been bought and installed as an emergency repair; a further four liners have been ordered.

WEEDS The kerb weedspray requested at the December 11 2006 meeting was started before Christmas and complete during January.

DIVISION The PC noted that planning permission has been granted to divide 1 Coppin Rise despite concerns expressed to the planning department by the PC.

STOP MOVE Why was Abbotsmead Road bus stop moved? Because the police believed it to be in a dangerous location following the alterations to the road after the petrol station was relocated.

FURTHER GRANT An additional grant of £7000 towards the cost of refurbishing the Northolme Community Centre was agreed to replace an application to Hfds C’s Community Building fund which was refused. NCCA chairman, Fran White, was present to answer questions.

ARBOREALISM Following a survey carried out in conjunction with Hfds C, tree warden Brian Hubbard reported that 12 trees on the estate had died during the year and Hfd DA has no funds for routine replacement of trees this year.

Road safety: an
irrational view
Residents have asked that complaints about car speeds on the estate be mentioned in the Newsletter. So here we are.
As safety-conscious as anyone, the Newsletter editor doubts this is useful. The only cast-iron way of reducing speeds is by installing speed bumps. But when polled car drivers say they hate bumps. Why? Because they can damage the car.
But only if the car is going too fast! Logic doesn’t play a significant role in some drivers’ minds.

Although the PC cannot promise the provision of such a facility at the moment, the possibility of establishing an all-terrain cycle track within the parish was discussed at a meeting attended by young people, their parents and Fran White Hfds C Parks and Countryside Dept.

Fran White, speaking at the March PC meeting said Hfds C would want such a track to be part of an overall scheme for improved youth facilities so that an application for lottery funding could be appropriately targeted.

Deciding on a location has been hampered by the fact that Abbey View Park (the former landfill) and the land behind Dorchester Way have still not been acquired. An alternative location between the pathway from Northolme Road to Abbotsmead Road was mooted. A suggestion to have the track on land off Haywood Lane brought the comment that the need is for facilities inside the parish and this area is outside.

Why the PC is doing an Oliver Twist
Potential capital projects during 2007-8 were identified at the December 11 meeting prior to making the precept request.

The nominal total of £16,000 includes the all-terrain cycle track (£5000), continued support for community buildings (£8000) and improvements to the kickabout area off Northolme Road (£3000).

Operating costs were estimated at £12,625. A precept of £20,000 was proposed but it was noted this would mean all capital projects agreed would all be funded leaving no reserves for 2008-9. Further discussion and a vote (five for, three against) resulted in a precept request of £25,000

Applicants present
The PC’s funding application guidance notes have been amended. Provision has now been made requiring future applicants to attend the PC meeting at which their application is being discussed.

Caravan query
Should house owners be allowed to park caravans in their driveways? The March meeting noted that developers rarely enforce this requirement and the matter only becomes an issue if the caravan impinges on neighbouring properties or if the caravan is being used for accommodation.

Phones and petrol
Concern was expressed at the closeness of the telephone masts on the Highways Agency site adjacent to the main A465 roundabout and the Tesco filling station, given the advice that mobile phones could cause an explosion where petrol is being served. Cllr Phil Edwards explained that mobile phone mast suppliers say there is no such danger.

Failing to see red
An unusually high number of vehicles continue to cross the Tesco/Belmont CC crossing when the lights are red - a fact that has raised comments in years gone by. In fact the Highways Agency said it intended to upgrade the lights and to install an anti-skid surface, the work to start last November. This did not happen then but work finished as this Newsletter was being prepared.

More on police
Information about local policing is available from the website www.westmercia.police.uk. Follow the links: Local Policing, Herefordshire, City and Rural, and, finally, Belmont.

Mulberry Close access “unsuitable”
Following what was described as “limited” local consultation by the developer, Persimmon Homes, access to the company’s housing site off Kingfisher Close might be routed through Mulberry Close.

Residents, several of whom were present at the January 29 PC meeting, felt that this small cul de sac is unsuitable for such a purpose and expressed concern at the future of the trees, ponds, etc, in the immediate area.

Uable to attend the January 29 meeting, Dr David Nicholson, Hfds C forward planning manager, said that although the subject of access had been raised during the Unitary Development Plan consultation, the planning inspector had not specified access and thus the normal planning processes would determine any application when submitted.

At the time of the PC meeting no application had been made. When and if it is made, a copy will be available for inspection at Belmont Library and the PC clerk has agreed to contact concerned residents.

Although the development is outside the parish the clerk is to write to Hfds C asking that the PC be consulted on any such application.