Clerk: Mrs L J Rampton

Parish Council Office:

Winscombe Community Centre

11 Sandford Road, Winscombe, North Somerset BS25 1JA

Tel: 01934 844257    Fax: 01934 844292

 

A site meeting of the Cemetery & Allotment Committee was held on

Friday 11^th November 2005,  at 9.30a.m.

Ilex Lane, Winscombe

 

Present:                                                                                   Mrs. M Ballard, Mr C Sampson, Mr K Symons 

Members of the public:                                                         Mrs. A Brading                                   

Strawberry Line Heritage Trail Project Officer:      Mr A Mallender

Clerk:                                                                         Mrs L Rampton                       

Apologies for absence:                                                           Ms D Powell (chairman), Mrs P Witter

 

 

Ms Powell(chairman) had been taken ill suddenly on Thursday and was now in Weston-General-Hospital. The Clerk was asked to convey the best wishes for a speedy recovery from this Committee to Ms Powell.

 

It was proposed that Mr Sampson take the Chair for this meeting in the absence of Ms Powell.

Proposed:       Mrs M Ballard                                    Seconded:       Mr K Symons

All in favour

 

1.         Approval of minutes from the previous planning meeting dated 26^th September 2005

The minutes had been accepted as a correct record of the meeting at the October meeting of the Parish Council.

 

2.         Declarations of Interest – None were received

 

3.             Matters Arising

Roman Sites – no further information was available at this stage. Matter deferred to the next meeting.

Latch on Gate – This has now been fixed.

New Box Hedge approved 06.05.05 – it was agreed that November onwards was the ideal planting period for this hedge and grass cutting for the year was soon to be concluded.  Approval should be gained from the full Council to place this order (£350 excl. vat Banwell Garden Centre) to enclose the new burial area to the right hand side of the centre path.

Construction of a Soak Away outside the Garage – contractors are now being           contacted regarding the silt build up outside the garage door that was now evident and also solutions to alleviate the water build up.

 

4.             Strawberry Line Heritage Trail – Access off Ilex Lane – Mr A Mallender (Appendix i)

Mr Mallender had previously  visited the Cemetery 3.11.05 and met with Ms Powell, Mrs Brading and The Clerk. All Committee members had been invited to attend this meeting.

The Heritage Line Trail between Winscombe & Sandford is to be surfaced to provide improved access for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users as well as a safe off road route to school for local children. Improving the path from Ilex Lane would add value to the resource of the Heritage Trail.

A request is made that the Parish Council consent to the removal of the existing beech hedge adjacent to the Cemetery and Allotments and to the planting of a new hedge & fence 1 metre to the left to enable the access path to the Strawberry Line to be surfaced to a width of 1.5 – 2 metres to improve shared access. A barrier to prevent motorcycles using the path would be fitted at the entry point on Ilex Lane.

Members of the Committee walked the length of the path with Mr Mallender. It was not proposed to install a fence to the right hand side of the path as NS consider this to be self regulating whilst a fence would encourage users to gravitate closer to the edge. The proposals and surface materials were explained to the Committee as well as natural pinch points to the path where trees would not be removed. It was proposed that a natural mix hedge to include hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel be replanted in the allotment area, whilst a new beech hedge is planted in the Cemetery Area. New plants would be 4ft high at planting and full responsibility for these would remain with North Somerset Council for a period of 5 years.  After this time, each party would be responsible for maintaining their own sides of the hedge.

 

Legal advice from the Parish Council Solicitors had been sought over the last week. It was considered preferable to instigate the registration of the Cemetery, Allotment and field with Land Registry prior to any agreement being entered into. Aside from gifting the land to the Heritage Trail, the most preferable solution would be to lease a one metre strip of land from point A – C on the appended plan for a period of 20 years charging a peppercorn rent. Some degree of control would remain with the Parish Council should the latter option be chosen and conditions may be written into the lease agreement. North Somerset Council would be responsible for any legal charges incurred by the Parish Council.

 

A recommendation should be made to the Parish Council that the land at Ilex Lane be registered with Land Registry as soon as possible and that a one metre strip of land shown from point A to C be leased to North Somerset Council for a period of 20 years for a peppercorn rent.

 

Proposed:       Mr K Symons             Seconded:       Mrs M Ballard

All in favour.

 

5.             Allotments

All plots were thought to be reasonably well maintained with the exception of plot 6b which was overgrown and showed no sign of recent tending. The Clerk was instructed to contact the tenant to establish if the plot was to be relinquished.

 

6.    Any Other Business. - none

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Closed:                    10.20am

Date of next meeting:            To be advised

 

Minutes: LR

  Typed: L.J.R

 

 

 

 

Signed _____________________________________ (Cemetery & Allotment Chairman)

Date ______________________