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Minster Lovell Parish Council |
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28 Jul 2008
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August/September News
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (LDF)As mentioned in the
previous issue of the Village News, consultation is currently taking
place on how local planning policies from 2011 will be formed.
This includes a recently released ‘Additional Site Allocations:
Issues and Options’ publication containing two additional sites in
Minster Lovell. West
Oxfordshire District Council is seeking your thoughts as to whether
these sites (and those already proposed) should be considered for
development. Further information on all of the sites put forward for
future development can be found at www.westoxon.gov.uk/LDF
or by contacting Paul Slater, Planning Service, WODC on 01993 861665. THAMES WATER WORKS
Following
correspondence with Thames Water, an update has been received regarding
the Thames Water works on the B4047:- Burford Road surface - The whole length and width of the Burford Road through the village will be resurfaced. Timescales currently unknown. Girders at Burford Road/Brize Norton Road junction - These are to be replaced with short girders, thereby no longer compromising sight lines at the junction. Due to be undertaken by 13 July. Roadworks/three-way
traffic lights at Witney Motor Auctions junction
- The works at this junction are due to be completed by 27 July. VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS The
Parish Council has received requests for village allotments and we would
like to have your thoughts on this subject.
With the ever increasing price of food and valuable learning
opportunities for children, an allotment could be a great asset.
If you are interested in having an allotment, please contact the
Clerk to have your name added to the list.
Please supply your name, address and contact telephone number.
Whilst we would like to understand the strength of support for
this amenity, in order for this project to be considered, we also need
to receive offers of land for lease, however big or small!
RIPLEY AVENUE
The
Council has received information that the amenity area is being misused
by teenagers drinking alcohol and camping at weekends.
Please note that camping and the drinking of alcohol is not
permitted at Ripley Avenue Amenity Area.
The Police have been asked to be extra vigilant and make more
regular visits. EXPERIMENTAL ONE-WAY SYSTEM, OLD MINSTER LOVELLThe experimental
one-way system has been in use for a few weeks now and it has been asked
that the Parish Council clarify how cyclists use the system. Following consultation with Oxfordshire County Council’s
Highways department, cyclists are to follow the Highway Code unless they
are on foot pushing their bikes. For
example, cyclists may push their bicycle along the marked footway on the
eastern arm of the system or on the footpath on School Hill.
If you are cycling on the road, you are required to follow the
one-way system flow of traffic. VACANCY - SECRETARY TO TRUSTEES OF WASH MEADOWMinster Lovell Parish
Council in consultation with the Trustees of Wash Meadow, are seeking to
appoint a new Secretary. Both parties agree that
it would be desirable to appoint a village person who could play an
active part in the affairs of Wash Meadow. The work entails dealing with
correspondence and quotations; undertaking risk assessments; dealing
with health and safety matters and ensuring that the facilities are well
maintained and safe for parishioner's use. Please contact Dawn Haley
(01993) 775675 for more information or contact the Clerk if you wish to
apply. NEWS IN BRIEF
The
Parish Council continues to work on the following issues:-
*
Clarify insurance aspects before creating a bmx dirt track
at Ripley Avenue Amenity Area. * A new bus shelter
has been erected near the Bushey Ground junction of the Brize Norton
Road. This is to shelter
school children whilst they wait for their school bus and for
parishioners using the 200 bus service to Oxford. *
Plans are currently being worked on to refurbish the Spar
shop grass verges.
This includes the installation of wooden posts to preserve the
grass verges with creation of widened tarmaced footpaths.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGSThe Council normally
meet every third Monday of the month in St Kenelm’s Hall at 7.00pm.
The forthcoming meetings are Monday 18th August and
Monday 15th September. The agenda for each meeting is posted on the village
noticeboards at least three days in advance of the meeting.
A question time for parishioners is held at the end of meetings. If you are unable to
attend a meeting, but would like to comment on an agenda item, please
write to the Clerk at 91 Brize Norton Road or by email to mlparishclerk@btopenworld.com
and your comment will be added to the discussion. Minster
Lovell Parish Council – Chairman’s Report Annual
General Meeting 20th May 2008 Thanks to fellow
Councillors and Mrs. Doughty the Parish Clerk for their contribution to
serving the Parish Council over the past year. A special mention to Ted
Cambray who served the Council well for 3 years as a co-opted member. The
Parish has been well represented at County Council level by Rodney Rose
and at District Council level by Warwick Robinson, who both attend and
present regular up-dates on their work to the Council. This has
been an election year and your Council has been returned un-contested
because less people stood for election than there are seats. The Council
will therefore be looking to co-opt a seventh member of the Council. The Parish accounts for
the year end 2006/07 have been approved by the District auditor and
accounts for the year end 2007/08 have been finalised with a closing
balance of just over £58,000. During 2006/07 the Council contributed £10,950
to 9 village organisations, and has precept £12,350 in 2008/09. The
precept has been set at £25,949, a small increase on the previous year. The Council has responded
to 31 planning applications, 2 appeals and the initial consultation of the
Local Development Framework. The Council continues to be vigilant in
responding to planning applications and has raised a number of issues with
the District Council regarding the process of delegation, which is used
for the majority of applications. Mr.
Parkinson, WODC Conservation Officer, gave a presentation on Conservation
Area status and the Council made some recommendations for extension of the
existing area north of the B4047. The Council continues to
maintain Ripley Avenue amenity area and playground. Thanks to the
Management Committee, Mrs. Muller and Mr. Ford for their continued
support. The use of the area has generally improved and reported incidents
of vandalism and misbehaviour have reduced, but regular reports of dog
fouling still occur. During
the year the Village has welcomed two Police Community Support Officers,
Mrs Rabson and Mrs Webb, who have both made a positive contribution to the
Village and developed good relationships with the young people. They have
been very responsive to the Council and local residents.
During the year the
Parish Council has developed its work with young people, including hosting
3 young peoples’ consultation evenings. This has resulted in new goals
on Ripley Avenue, thanks to a willing band of parents who installed them,
and advanced plans for a dirt BMX track. The Young People have done a
litter pick and are taking more responsibility in the Village.
Regarding Highways
issues, the Parish Council has agreed to an experimental one-way system in
the old village, to be reviewed over the next 6 months, the installation
of a new bus shelter at the Southern end of the Brize Norton Road and
regular gully cleaning following last year’s summer floods. Discussions
are underway with Oxfordshire County Council to refurbish the grass verge
by the Spar shop and to assess the feasibility of using the discussed A40
as a car park. The Council is working with WODC to find a suitable location
for a Village re-cycling centre and has commissioned the District Council
to provide the grass cutting service throughout the Village for a second
year. Minster
Lovell has a good bus service which is constantly under review, with the
Village being well represented at County level by Mr. Beechener, Parish
Transport Representative. Liaison has taken place with RAF Brize Norton
and local Parish Councils regarding the impact of the expansion of RAF
Brize Norton and the Council is represented on the Carterton Town
Council’s Local Action Group. The renovation of the war
memorial is near completion, including the cleaning and re-instating of
names. The Council feel this is a fitting tribute to those who lost their
life fighting for our Country. The relocation of the Memorial has seen a
revival in the Remembrance Day Service which is now a real Parish event
supported by many Villagers, youth organisations and uniformed services,
don’t miss it this year! Mr.
Hunt the Fishing Bailiff has continued to monitor fishing from Wash Meadow
and helps to prevent the field from being misused. The Council has
responded to a range of Parishioners’ concerns, particularly relating to
parking problems, dog fouling, litter and road repairs. Such concerns are
taken up with the appropriate Local Authority Department. Members of the
Parish Council have attended a range of Local and District meetings,
representing the views of the Parish and increasing their knowledge as
Councillors in order to become more informed and serve the Council better.
I look forward to continuing to serve the Village, you as Parishioners and
the Council during the coming year. David Haley, Chairman May 2008
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