A Meeting of the Environment Committee was held on Tuesday 1^st September 2009

at 7.30 pm, Amesbury Room, Winscombe Community Centre.

Committee Members Present: Mrs Mandy Brading (ABr), Mr. Steve Bridges (SB), Mrs Pat Bushnell (PB),

Mrs. Phyllis Cram (PCr), Mr Archie Forbes (AF), Mr. Gerald Lloyd (Committee Chairman) (GL),

Mrs Valerie McGann (Committee Vice-Chairman) (VMc), Mrs Avril Richmond (AR), Miss B Roper (BR).

Clerk Present: Mrs Lynne Rampton (LR) Press: Mr Gareth Jones, freelance reporter

Members of Public Present: none

Apologies for absence. No apologies were received.

Update of the minutes of the last meeting, already signed at main Parish Council meeting as being a correct record.

Min 5 It was reported that the rusty pole outside the Co-op has been removed but the bollards beneath the Railway Bridge have yet to be replaced. The bollard to the front of 61 Woodborough Road has also disappeared.

Min 12 GL has advised residents close to Hale Well that the Parish Council is not able to pursue plans to restore this well as it is sited on private property.

Declarations of interest – none declared

Public participation: an opportunity for members of the parish to make a statement. None

Correspondence

i) Sandford & District Gardening Club – It was proposed by AF, seconded by VMcG, all in favour that the annual contribution to the club towards the Sandford plant pots be increased from £75 to £100 from the 2010/2011 financial year.

ii) Court Drive AX29/71 Two stiles on this frequently used footpath have all but disappeared and require repair/replacing to prevent the path being used by bicycles. This should be reported to NSC.

iii) Church Wood kissing gate – a request has been received from a parishioner for assistance towards replacing a dilapidated stile on their land. As the path is not a public right of way or a permissive path, the Parish Council is unable to assist with repairs to a stile on private land.

iv) Verge ownership on land at the Church Road/The Lynch junction – An enquiry has been made by a parishioner as to why land outside their property is not being maintained by NSC. Investigations by NSC show that the verge in question is not under the ownership of NSC but our Area Officer will contact the parishioner to discuss the situation.

v) Parish Cleanliness – Complaints have been received about litter in the central village area outside the Library to the Co-op and onto Sandford Road to an area just past the Indian Take-away. It was proposed by BR, seconded by AF, all in favour that the Committee Chairman and Clerk are authorised to instruct Parish Council contractors to carry out a litter pick of this area as and when required. It was noted that following the recent removal of scaffolding from the former Butterflies shop on Woodborough Road, the footway area requires sweeping/tidying-up and contact should be made with the property owners in this regard.

vi) Electric fence on AX29/32 An electric fence has been installed adjacent to the PROW to prevent horses kept in the field from chasing users of the path. Due to the hedgerow now encroaching on the path this is now considered too narrow for use and at one point, the electric fence crosses the path preventing people from walking along this. Contact should be made with the land owner.

vii) Oil spillage – Reports have now appeared in local newspapers regarding a spillage from Sidcot School. The Environment Agency is working with the school in this regard but it is anticipated that the oil will still appear in certain areas around the Parish for some time to come.

viii) Strawberry Line Heritage Trail Walk – Access problems for disabled users have been reported to NSC by GL and arrangements now been made to improve access from the Recreation Ground car-park by the replacement of hoops with approved barriers.

LR1

LR2

LR3

SB1

GL1

Blocked footpaths, overgrowing vegetation, etc.

a - Those noted since the last meeting

1. Across Woodborough Green AX29/17 – The recently installed kissing gate is an improvement but the footpath is very overgrown. It was proposed by AR, seconded by PC, all in favour that the Community Service Team be instructed to cut back this path.

2. Land behind Mabbett seat. The area is overgrown. It was proposed by AR, seconded by SB, all in favour that the Community Service Team be instructed to cut back this land. Ideas for native planting will be investigated by AB and discussed at the next committee meeting.

3. Roman Road extension AX29/78 legality – It was considered that this historically straight path has previously been diverted into the adjacent field due to fly-tipping blocking the original route during the time of Avon County Council. Investigations are taking place by NSC into reports of incorrect signage leading to confusion of the correct route of the footpath and overgrown/blocked stiles. An application for a footpath diversion cannot currently be considered due to the BOAT application lodged with NSC.

4. A38 from Sidcot Lane towards Shipham – footway overgrown A complaint has been made about the extensive growth of vegetation and overhanging trees resulting in the marked reduction in width of the footway. This section of footway is extensively used by school children and is on a very fast section of the A38. Following lengthy investigations carried out by our NSC Area Officer property owners of trees overhanging the footway have been visited asking them to remove offending branches. An inspection has been made by the NSC Tree Officer who will arrange for other problem branches to be cut back by hand and then if necessary arrangements will be made for the entire length to be flailed. Land ownership checks show that part of the bank on this section of the path belongs to NSC. It was also noted that the bank is now overgrowing the footway making this narrower and investigations will be made by NSC as to how this may be cut back. The Parishioner should be advised of these developments.

5. AX29/34 path parallel to Sidcot Lane has been cut but needs a second cut. AX29/44 The Dring has recently been cut and is currently clear. AX29/71 south of Somerville Road. AX29/12 from Fullers Lane shows recent evidence of clearance around the stiles. AX29/12 Fullers Lane towards the Strawberry Line it was noted that the hedge is gradually encroaching on the path but it has been advised that the land owners have been seeking quotations to have the footpath cut back.

b - Those reported at this meeting. A similar situation is developing from the Sidcot traffic lights on the A38 to the field at the top of Fullers Lane as described (in min 6 a. 4) above with vegetation encroaching onto the footway and this matter should be reported to our Area Officer for action.

LR4

LR5

AB1

LR6

LR7

Fingerposts refurbishment completed. GL reported that refurbishment of all fingerposts in this Parish is now complete.

Replacing stiles with kissing gates – replacement now completed though with some problems still to be resolved. At the request of the landowner one newly installed kissing gate has been painted green on the proviso that it will be the landowners’ responsibility for the repainting of this. One gate installed has been modified to a self closing gate by the installation team to alleviate concerns that steers could be trapped or possibly leap over the top of the kissing gate. The Hillyfields gate has been installed by the current landowner rather than the NSC installation contractors.

The installation of these gates now provides a circular walk within the Parish and largely addresses the request made by the Winscombe Stroller Group.

GL was thanked by committee members for his persistence in this matter resulting in all stiles paid for from the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund now being successfully installed.

a. Recycling centre behind Woodborough Inn. An update including a request to install an additional plastic bank with the loss of one parking space. Plastic recycling in this Parish is hugely successful and attracts ‘recyclers’ from far afield due to the limited number of plastic recycle points available in North Somerset. NSC has requested that an additional plastic bank be installed at the Woodborough Drive recycle centre with the loss of another car-parking space in this busy car-park. The empty schedule of the plastic bank has recently been increased to Monday, Thursday & Saturday weekly and if emptied on the scheduled days is currently coping with the recycle demand – problems generally occur if the bank empty is delayed for any reason. Members support the principle of recycling and consider that extra recycling points for plastics should be installed at alternative locations. It is understood that NSC is investigating the possibility of doorstep collections for plastics and until the outcome of this is known the request to install an additional plastic bank with the loss of a parking space in the Woodborough Drive car-park be opposed.

b. Parish Rubbish bins - replacements. An order has been placed by NSC for the replacement of the bin by the Woodborough Road public conveniences.

Details of collapsible recycle bins for community events have been passed to the Parish Council. Due to limited space, storage of these bins would present a problem and details of the product should be passed to event organisers for their information.

LR8

LR9

Parish flowers, tubs, seats, etc.

a. one tub, outside Osteopath at entrance to Strawberry Footpath, still needing adoption. All Winscombe pots have now been adopted by Parishioners.

b. plans for continuation. An account for the Parish Council has been opened with a local Garden Centre for the purchase of plants and materials required for the village pots and the method in which to allocate expenditure to the ‘adoptive pot parents’ discussed.

Following discussion, it was agreed that a limit of £35 p.a. is set for large pots and £25 p.a. set for smaller pots with GL & LR issuing the necessary paperwork to the approved ‘adopter’ allowing them to collect plants and materials from the garden centre with the monthly invoice for payment to be sent to the Parish Council Office for payment. Proposed: AR Seconded: AF 7 in favour, 1 abstention.

Jane & GL will clear summer planting from all Winscombe pots in October and a letter will then be sent to all ‘adoptees’ advising of the above.

LR10/GL2

GL3

Heritage Plaques: plaque stolen from Sidcot Gate. This matter has been reported to the police and the property owner would like the plaque to be replaced.

It was proposed by PB, seconded by VMcG that a replacement plaque be ordered. All in favour

GL is to advise the property owners of the Committee decision.

GL4

Review of bus service nos. 121. Bus services provided on a short term contract from May 2009 are currently being reviewed by NSC following the decision of First Bus to withdraw a number of services from their commercial contract earlier this year. This includes the 121 service operating from Bristol to WSM via Winford, Felton, Bristol Airport, Wrington, Langford, Churchill, Sandford, Winscombe, Banwell & Locking.

The continuation of this bus service through the Parish is fully supported by the committee and objections outlined in a letter from the Parish Council sent to NSC on 30^th March 2009 should be reiterated. This is an important service to the Parish providing employees of Bristol Airport with a vital transport link and consideration should be given to increasing the frequency of this service.

Bristol International Airport should be advised of reviews taking place that could possibly reduce accessibility to the airport from a number of villages.

LR11

LR12

October’s Occasional Newsletter – copy needed. All inclusions for the next publication should be forwarded to GL. Possible items for inclusion in the next publication include a report on the finger post refurbishment and installation of kissing gates.

GL5

Changes to bus stop at Brown’s Corner. Safety improvements are planned for the bus-stop outside the British Legion to include enlarging the bus-stop box to prevent cars parking in this and therefore allowing the bus to pull close to the raised kerb. One parking space on Sandford Road will be lost but VMcG has spoken with the resident that will lose the parking space to the front of his property and he is supportive of the project. It was advised that currently a number of people fall of the raised kerb due to the bus not being able to pull in close enough to the kerb edge. The raised kerb at this stop will also be painted with dotted yellow lines to mark the kerb edge.

Ilex Lane. Road painting agreed. Need for road-signs? Police reports of the incident when a pedestrian was knocked over by a car at this junction on 17^th June 2009 have been filed with no action taken against the driver. It would appear that a pedestrian coming from Shipham Lane stepped off into the path of an oncoming vehicle in wet weather conditions. NSC has confirmed that they will install white-lining at the Ilex Lane/Sandford Road junction by the end of September.

It was proposed by GL, seconded by AF that additional signage be installed on Sandford Road advising of a concealed entrance. 3 in favour, 4 against, 1 abstention. Motion to install signage not carried.

Precept request for 2010/2011 – suggestions for discussion at next meeting

Initial suggestions for the precept request is based on actual figures provided for the last precept and are proposed to be the same for the 2010/2011 financial year. A budget of £2,800 should be applied for with a provision of £2,000 being made within the contingency budget for footway widening schemes.

Road Safety. SB to report.

a. Sandford Primary School introduction of 20mph advisory speed limit. NSC has advised that in an effort to make roads safer around school entrances 20mph advisory speed limits will be introduced to encourage car users to slow their speed and be more aware of the presence of children. Sandford Primary School is to be included in an initial list of 10 schools in North Somerset that will have the advisory limit introduced this year with works to upgrade existing signage programmed to take place this Autumn. The advisory limits will be active when the amber beacons on the signs flash during school opening and closing times.

b. Request for change in speed limit on part of Nye Road due to cyclist safety. No response has yet been received from NSC regarding the Parish Council request to improve road signage in this area. This problem should again be reported to NSC and the police although an ideal solution would be for cyclists & pedestrians to pass beneath the bridge.

c. Winscombe Hill close to Kings Wood. The road surface in this area is breaking up and it has been reported by our NSC Area Officer that Highway Officers have visited the site to assess the situation.

d. Sidcot Lane/A38 traffic lights. Reports are being received that the timing on these lights is out and so only allowing very few cars to exit Sidcot Lane in each light change sequence. It was also reported that the traffic light set controlling the exit from private residences at this junction has lost the covering that prevents these lights being viewed from Sidcot Lane and so causing confusion with cars about to cross onto the A38. This matter should be reported to NSC for rectification.

e. Blind summit at the bridge on The Lynch. VMcG raised concern over pedestrian safety due to overgrown vegetation by the bridge forcing pedestrians to walk in the centre of the road. A letter should be sent to NSC advising of the problem and asking for suggestions to resolve the situation.

LR13

LR14

LR15

Problem Lights - failures should be reported immediately, with lamp number, directly to Parish Clerk. None reported at the meeting

Information – either points of information or subjects for discussion at next meeting.

i) Esme Gilling is the new point of contact for the Strawberry Line

ii) General vandalism around the Parish should be considered as a future agenda item

iii) Frequently used footpaths around the Parish are generally overgrown and consideration should be given to using the community service team to trim these back. To be considered as an Agenda item at the next meeting.

iv) Closure of Woodborough Road from the railway bridge to Knapps Drive was discussed. It was advised that notices have been displayed on bus notice-boards that service 121 will not operate through this Parish for the duration of the closure.

Next Meeting. Tuesday 3^rd November 2009

Meeting Closed: 9.05 pm

Signed ……………………………………….. Environment Committee Chairman

Date …………………..