Minutes of
the meeting held on Wednesday, 26th January 2005
At
PRESENT: Alan Oxley, Maureen Worrall, Daphne Wood,Wendy Morris,Brian Phillips, Margaret Wilkins,Graham Young, Susie Davies, David Coppen, Matthew McEvoy, Tony Connolly, Alan Barrett, Bill Lidgate (later).
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Pene Hamilton
ABSENT:
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: were agreed and signed.
MATTERS ARISING:
St. Leonards Mound – Bill Lidgate has handed over the promised £1,300 cheque.
Bollards at shops - Another bollard (outside the craft shop) has now been uplifted from the pavement. Daphne said she would do a follow up letter to Bucks C.C. to ask them to include this bollard when they were attending to the others. (Letter from Jaz Kharay refers). DMW
Graffiti – Daphne had received a phone call from Carole Bennett, Community Safety at SBDC. She seemed unaware of a lot of the graffiti areas, so Daphne e’mailed her with a comprehensive list of property needing to be cleaned, and hopefully the cable boxes will be repainted totally.
Village sign for Thorney – now in place. Alan Barrett expressed thanks to Bill Lidgate.
Preserved tree on “Donald King” land opposite library – Bill Lidgate has enquired regarding possible damage by new owners but has not had a reply. He will chase this up. BL
Motorbike Noise Nuisance – Daphne has given the Diary of Noise Disturbance to the Biddles who live in a property backing onto the railway land, for their completion if they were willing. Alan O. will enquire as to why the fencing application was turned down. AO
Cross-Rail – Alan and Maureen had attended a symposium at which it was suggested there was no established right of way via Dog Kennel Bridge and no guarantee the bridge would be re-built after demolition for cable work. Bill Lidgate suggested writing to Mike Walker at County to emphasise usage of footpath. There is a local meeting, organised by Paul and Julie Graham, to be held on 2nd February at 4 p.m. and Bill asked Alan O. if he would attend in his place. AO
DATES OF NEXT MEETING: Monday, 28th February 2005
Tuesday, 29th March 2005
Thursday, 28th April 2005 (A.G.M.)
PLANNING:
70 Syke Ings - Dormers to side elevations OBJECTED
unit 13 Court Lane – Breakers yard facilities OBJECTED
45 The Poynings - 1st floor rear extension
41 Somerset Way – part s/s, part 2/s side extension, s/s rear extension PARISH OBJECTED
50 Somerset Way - part s/s side extension, part 2/s rear extension PARISH OBJECTED
101 Thorney Mill Road – s/s rear ext., roof & porch ext. balcony
47 Syke Cluan – 1st floor side ext., s/s rear extension REFUSED
Old Slade Farm – Two detached dwellings REFUSED
18 Old Slade Lane – Demolition and re-building of dwelling.
Initially no objection, now worry as to nature of re-build – Bill notified too late to take to committee.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Wendy distributed a collectors’ report. Membership now stands at 53%.
A.O.B.
Daphne has contacted Peter Blackbee, Highways Inspector, to complain yet again about the dirty and dangerously muddy pavements in North Park and didn’t receive a very hopeful response. However, today a Biffa gutter cleaning vehicle mounted the pavement on the side of St. Andrews and gave it a reasonable clean (whilst possibly breaking the pavement surface!) The filthy pavement between nos. 2 and 20 remains untouched at the moment.
POSTSCRIPT – On the morning of 28th January Biffa swept the other pavement. All dirt was heaped in the gutter, after which a gutter cleaner came along TWICE while the pavement was power-hosed. The pavement is cleaner than it has been for years. Peter Blackbee phoned me that afternoon, and whilst he was pleased that Biffa had responded so quickly, they didn’t wait for his instructions and he would not have advised them to mount the pavement with the gutter cleaner. We will keep on the case for future.
Daphne had been asked by Vi Cochrane to enquire as to progress to get a meeting organised to make residents au fait with all the facts and implications regarding the Grundon Incinerator. The report from the Environment Agency is still in circulation detailing the monitoring of pollution. Alan suggests there is little we can do to prevent its installation though Bucks C.C. have intimated they will not use it.
Graham – suggested we should encourage more re-cycling and a discussion took place on the merits of wheelie bins over boxes. The more re-cycling the less need for the likes of Grundon Incinerators.
David – was concerned that the public footpath alongside Old Slade Farm, going towards Colnbrook, was accessing a car recycling business. Bill Lidgate would check with Mike Walker via Paul Graham. BL
Matthew – reported the badly patched potholes near the width restrictor in North Park, which needs proper repair. Daphne offered to ring the Highways on Call DMW
He referred to the new train timetable, not totally satisfactory for some commuters, changes due to increase in freight trains and new service to Heathrow.
Alan B. – said there are still some items outstanding on his list for Thorney Mill Road.
He is dismayed at the flooding problems between 109-117 caused by blocked drains. Highways provided sandbags, but the ditches need digging out and the drains sorted. Bill will follow up. BL
At the Bardons meeting it was established that since the temporary permission to return late with tarmac has run out, the new times had to be adhered to. i.e. 4 hours after gate closure, which is 6 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. at weekends.
Tony – reported a loose drain outside his house. Daphne would report this to Highways on Call, together with the one outside Fourells Paddock. DMW
Tony is incensed with the dangerous speed at which traffic comes through the width restrictor by his house, nearly causing his son to collide with a lorry which clipped the pavement recently.
A general discussion took place on the continuing problem of speeding traffic, and the police’s lack of concern over a number of years. Abolition of the width restrictors and installation of speed cameras once the limit is put back to 30 mph should be pursued vigorously. There needs to be a change of County policy regarding criteria for the issue of speed cameras and Bill Lidgate said that he wouldget the name of the Strategic Manager at County so that we could write to him directly. BL
Bill Lidgate said that Andrew Robson, senior bridge engineer, had looked at the Thorney Mill Road bridge where the parapets are subsiding due to badger movement. It is agreed the work needs to be done, at a cost of £2,500, but County has not responded. Mike Knight, area manager, is going to pursue.
The meeting closed at 10 p.m.
AO/DMW
28.1.05.