PARISH COUNCIL NEWS November 2009

 

The Old Vicarage, Station Road  We have received proposals for an affordable housing development at this site. The Parish Council has previously expressed a preference for sheltered accommodation. The developers have been informed by North Somerset Council that there is insufficient demand for sheltered accommodation, and that Millers Close is sufficient. We dispute this, but need to provide evidence before a planning application is received. It would be very helpful to hear from as many people as possible, including community groups such as the Crockerne Retired Men’s Group, the Lunch Club, the Carers Group, who have a comment to make on this. Please contact Julie Smart, the Parish Clerk at the Parish Council office in the Resource Centre (374442).

 

New Councillors  We welcome Kim Glassenbury and Andrew Burt who have been co-opted to fill the two vacancies on the Council.

 

Parish Council Donations  A reminder that any requests from local groups for donations should be made to the Parish Clerk before the November Finance Committee meeting on November 9^th.

 

Brookside Playing Field  We have now received the draft lease to transfer the responsibility to the Parish Council. Plans for the new play equipment are now well advanced. The funding will be provided by money received by North Somerset from the Playbuilder scheme, and we hope it will be in place early in the New Year. Details of the proposed equipment can be viewed in the Resource Centre.

 

Waste collections  The Parish Council has been kept in touch with plans for changing waste and recycling collections from next April. The cost of landfill, as well as being environmentally unfriendly, is becoming prohibitive from the cost point of view. The new contract has been awarded, and the general plan is to have weekly kerbside recycling collections for paper, glass, metal cans, plastic and waste food. There may then be fortnightly collections of general waste, possibly using wheelie bins, as it has been shown that, with efficient recycling, general waste is reduced. Over the next six months each household will be contacted about the most appropriate arrangement for them. This could include the provision of black sacks instead of wheelie bins.

 

Longshore  Please see separate important article about this elsewhere in the Paper.

 

Longshore Marsh

As you probably know, the Longshore Marsh, that runs along the river from Pill towards the M5 bridge, is leased and managed by the Parish Council.  It has been designated by Natural England as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which means that we have a special duty to take care of it and protect it, and we are aiming to do this as effectively as possible.

The area is open land, with 2 footpaths going across it:  this means that anybody can go onto the land on foot from the various access points, use the footpaths or wander across the area if they choose.  However it is not permitted for people to take wheeled vehicles – e.g. bicycles or scramblers – or horses onto the land.

Recently, we have had a problem with some younger people using scrambler bikes on the area:  to try to prevent this we have improved the fences and stiles, and involved the police, who have been very effective on some occasions but – all too obviously – the problem continues.  We are about to put notices up to make the situation clear and will continue to co-operate with the police in order to put a stop to this misuse of the land, which makes the paths difficult to use, scares away wildlife and annoys local people because of the noise.  The police will destroy the bikes of persistent offenders once they have caught them.

Traditionally, we know, the part of the Marsh nearest the village has been used as a way of getting rid of unwanted material, including furniture, garden waste and so on.  We also need to stop this sort of pollution– hence the ‘no tipping’ part of the notices.  However, we also know that our response to a recent occasion when a lot of material was put onto the field has angered some residents.  We believed that the material was just another case of someone getting rid of unwanted material and arranged for its removal, as we have to do.  We now understand that it might have been intended to be used as a November 5 bonfire.

We cannot, in a general way, allow fires on the Marsh if we are to fulfil our duty of care to the SSSI.  However, we also believe that with proper consultation it would be acceptable for a bonfire once a year in keeping with local tradition.  We would be happy for a small group of councillors to meet with some community representatives to discuss this so as we can avoid a similar misunderstanding in the future.

We would also be pleased to see a ‘Friends of Longshore Marsh’ that might work to look after the area and help ensure that it is kept as a worthwhile area both for local residents and for wildlife, as is done so successfully on Watchhouse Hill and the Community Orchard.  If there are a few local residents who would be interested in forming such a group, we would be happy to discuss the matter, including how some money might be available to help the work of a group.

If you would like to hold a meeting to discuss any or all of these issues, please contact  the Parish Clerk, Julie Smart, at the Parish Council office in the Resource Centre (Tel 374442).

Easton-in Gordano Parish Council