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Barton-under-Needwood
Parish Council
Other Reports
Page last update on 25 March 2011
PROPOSALS AT CROWBERRY LANE PARISH COUNCIL HEAR THE VIEWS OF LOCAL PEOPLE
At its meeting on Thursday night Barton under Needwood Parish Council received a full report giving details of the public consultation they carried out at the end of January. The 72 page report had only been submitted the day before the meeting so members agreed that it needed more time to fully appreciate the detail of the comments. However, they recognised that there had been a great deal of concern expressed by the people who had commented on the proposals.
Vic Trigwell the recently elected Chairman of the Parish Council said ‘There is a lot of other things going on in the Village at the moment, with the Royal visit, new supermarket starting, and the new play area to finish. We want to take time to consider this proposal and the one at Efflinch Lane to make sure we do our best to protect our beautiful village’.
The report had been prepared by a small group including experienced former planner, Roger Bell, of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee, and a leading member of the ‘Stop the Plot’ action group, Linda Percival. During the week long exhibition, organised jointly by the Parish and developer, there had been a great deal of interest expressed and a lively public meeting organised by ‘Stop the Plot’ The report has 57 pages containing 948 comments received from the 431 people who replied. This represented just under 12% of adults in the village, and three quarters of them were against the proposals, with the main themes of comment being Traffic and Access 27%, Affects on Countryside 13%, Need for Cemetery 11%, Affect on Village facilities 9%, Planning Policy 7%, and Precedent 7%.
The Council expressed their great appreciation to Roger Bell for all the work he had carried out to produce this report quickly and thanked Linda Percival for her helpful contributions. They agreed to make the document available at the Library and via the village web site. They want to consider this proposed development in conjunction with the Efflinch Lane proposals and like that project they want the Crowberry Lane developers to reconsider their ideas. Vic’s final comment was ‘By arranging the two recent exhibitions the Parish Council has, at least, given Village people a chance to air their views and we hope that their comments will be clearly heard when eventually the planning decisions are taken by East Staffs Borough Council’.
11th March 2011
CROWBERRY LANE DEVELOPMENT – PUBLIC CONSULTATION
As reported to the February meeting, a very large number of comments were received during the consultation period, and these have now been analysed and included in the attached ‘Report of Consultation’. This factual report has been prepared by a small working group consisting of the Council’s Chairman and Clerk, Linda Percival of the ‘Stop the Plot’ action group and Roger Bell, a co-opted member of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee. Within that group, Roger has carried out the hard work of bringing all the comments together and producing the summarising report, and the Council greatly appreciates this very helpful contribution to the consultation process.
There are a large number of detailed comments made (a 57 page appendix from about 12% of the population) and it is important that a period of detailed consideration and discussion is allowed to benefit fully from the many contributions submitted by local people. The report has only become available just before the Council Meeting. There are also the wider aspects of hearing again from both the Crowberry and Efflinch lane proposed developers to enable the Parish Council to reconsider the whole situation, as agreed at the last meeting.
Members are asked to consider the following proposed resolution as a way of setting out the way forward. The Parish Council resolve:
1. To express their great appreciation to Roger Bell for all the work he has carried out to produce this report quickly. Also to thank Linda Percival for her helpful contributions. The report is substantially a factual record of the Consultation.
2. To make the full document available for local people to read within the Village and on the web site.
3. That it recognises that there have been many expressions of concern from a large number of Village residents. It wishes to spend time to fully appreciate the detail of the comments and respond appropriately.
4. To consider this development in conjunction with the Efflinch Lane proposals as agreed at the last meeting.
5. That consistent with the Efflinch Lane proposal it would like to hear the developers’ responses to the many comments made.
Crowberry Lane Development – Public Consultation Report Appendix 1 Appendix 2
11 March 2011
Collinson Park Play Improvements RECOVERING FROM ‘THE CRUNCH’
As reported in our last update on 5th November, the effects the Credit Crunch on this project have been immense. The contract was in full swing with all play equipment ready to be erected during a dry July and August (at least the ground was dry!). Now, after a three month delay enforced by the Government, we are faced with the task of completing the work in very difficult conditions.
Playdale the main equipment supplier, were forced to release the original equipment to others, but are now promising delivery of new equipment during week commencing 6th December. UPM Tilhill the main contractor plan to return next week to work on the bases for the equipment, subject to weather conditions. There is a need to carry out work to activate the new drainage system, and although the erection of equipment may be substantially completed by Christmas, it is likely that only the new equipment at the top of the site, will be made available for use at that time.
Our local contractor Mark Airey will be doing the work to reinforce the Collinson Road hedgeline in the near future, but most of the planting on the landscaped areas will be carried out in the New Year.
So, hopefully, in the next few days we will begin to see some real progress. The works will not immediately become a pretty sight, but by the Spring the new landscaping of the park will be more established and attractive, rewarding the efforts of all the volunteers on the Parish Council and in the Community, who have worked hard on these proposals to improve the park for the Village.
Yours sincerelyVic Trigwell
27 November 2010
GREAT NEWS COLLINSON PLAY PARK PROJECT CAN NOW BE COMPLETED
In his letter of 20th October written to County Councils, the Secretary of State, Michael Gove says his 28% cut in play project spending ensures that ‘no contractual commitments have to be broken’.
We have a contractual commitment with contractor UPM Tilhill, so we can be confident the County Council will now let us get on with the job.
The delay caused by the Government’s order to stop Playbuilder work, issued in July, has caused three months of uncertainty and mess on the site. We greatly regret the difficulties this created.
The delay has been beyond the Parish Council’s control, but we will now try to get the job done as soon as possible. Unfortunately as winter approaches this gets more difficult.
Thanks for all your help
Vic Trigwell
22nd October 2010
Collinson Park Recreation Ground. 12th August 2010
I write to update you regarding the progress of the work to provide new play equipment and landscape the park.
The new drainage system was substantially completed a month ago and it was anticipated that creation of the new landscaping would follow in early August. However, there has been some delay because of a longer than expected delivery time for play equipment and more seriously there has been an instruction to suspend work by the Department of Education who fund the Playbuilder scheme.
Although this is a frustrating setback, there are good grounds to think this is only a temporary delay. The Parish Council are making strong representations to the County Council and Department of Education based on the facts that there is a formal contract in place with the Contractor and works have started on site. Indeed we have already received £16,000 of Playbuilder monies to place an order for play equipment and have made better progress than most other projects in the County. There is certain to be some substantial scheme carried out because Playbuilder was only about half the total funding package.
We have been told that the Playbuilder review of expenditure will be completed during August and it is hoped to restart work on site during September, before the ground softens and in time for grass to grow.
We apologise that the field will be in an unfinished state for longer than expected and would greatly appreciate your patience in awaiting the completion of this well supported proposal to provide exciting play facilities and enhance the appearance of an already attractive area.
Vic Trigwell,
Vice Chairman.
13 August 2010
VILLAGE HALL report August 2009
The Village Hall has been undergoing refurbishment of the kitchen and new flooring in Hall 2 during the quiet month of August.
I am pleased to report that both the kitchen works and the new floor in Hall 2 will be completed by the 5th. September in time for the new term to begin .
Both projects have been made possible by Grants and our local County Councillor Timothy Corbett along with representatives of Staffordshire County Council will attend an evening in October (date to be confirmed) so that plaques recording the grants made to the Hall will be installed .
Parish Councillors and users /hirers of the Hall will also be invited and invitations will be issued when the date is known.
Pauline Fisher
28th. August 2009
HOLLAND SPORTS CLUB & PROJECT REPORT NOVEMBER 2009
Changing Rooms Project
The Club Project Team are now submitting a new bid for grant aid to Sport England under their ‘Sustainability’ funding round in which £10 million is available. Applications must be in by 21 December.
Applications are also being advanced to the four major National Governing Bodies of Sport. Ahead of this the Club is seeking to host a presentation on the project to Regional representatives of all those and other smaller sporting bodies. This is targeted for 27th November.
As a fall-back position the Club is interviewing professional fund raisers to see if there is merit & it is economically possible to use them to promote bids to the Sporting bodies as well as to non-sporting organisations with funds whose objectives might fit our project.
Future meetings of the Project team are arranged for 7.30 p.m. on 19th. & 30th. November.
Members are asked to note the content of this Report.
Adrian Wedgwood
4th. November 2009
PLAY EQUIPMENT AT COLLINSON ROAD – 5th November 2009
The report to the October meeting detailed the information gathering and consultation being carried out to finalise a scheme to provide improved play equipment on the park. This process continued in to early October with:
(a) A consultation morning held for the village on Saturday 3rd October. Over 100 people attended and of those commenting: 92% thought better use should be made of the site, 100% said the previous scheme for the kiddies had been a big improvement, and 89% said it would be right to introduce facilities for older children. Many individual comments were received and there was greatest support for updating the old wooden item (27), draining wet areas(26) and providing seats and picnic tables(25). There was less support for landscaping(21), shrubs(15) and more paths(11).
(b) A consultation evening on 13th October with children and young people in the 8-13 age group. There was an excellent attendance of over 30 and we gained a lot from the youngsters, particularly in the workshop sessions. It was an opportunity to show them what can be achieved and getting them thinking about the issues; neighbours, noise, litter, suitable things for the site, etc.
(c) 337 survey questionnaires were collected and analysed. The results will be available at the meeting
Many thanks to all the Councillors who supported the events.
The Parish Council’s decision to make a ‘Playbuilder’ application was taken at the August meeting; this meant we had only three months to consult and produce a scheme (and all the youth organisations could not be involved because they were on holiday). Consultation is a vital part of Playbuilder and needs to be done before a scheme can be finalised. Manufacturers require 2-4 weeks to produce plans of final proposals, and they are not able to produce landscaping proposals within that time.
Various discussions have been held with the Staffordshire coordinator of the Playbuilder fund and our application is now substantially complete, as far as possible in the limited time. She has indicated that our current submission for grant can be amended and developed over the coming months ready for work to be carried out in 2010/11. Members will be asked to consider the following key elements at the meeting:
(i) Drawing 23305rev1/STA from Playdale showing a proposed scheme with two options for either a 6m or a 4m high pyramid climbing net. It Includes the Youth of Barton bid and the Playbuilder element is initially quoted at £47,556.
(ii) A sketch drawing kindly produced by Councillor Ed. Sharkey to reshape and landscape the park with earth mounding, tree planting, rocks and more formal seating. Landscaping and using local people are important issues for Playbuilder and it is hoped that having Ed, Vernon Wright and other local contractors involved with our bid will give strength to our efforts. Vernon and Ed estimate the landscaping and seating element will cost no more than £15,000. The Council’s views are sought on the nature and extent of these initial landscaping proposals which have been produced primarily to indicate to the Playbuilder grants panel that we take their landscaping objectives seriously, we have local expertise on board, and a local contractor to deliver an exciting and attractive final scheme.
(iii) The total cost of the bid we have prepared is therefore £62,556. It is proposed to seek the maximum grant of £50,000. Although, we have some good indications that other grants will be available, nothing can be certain at this time. However, to assure Playbuilder that providing they support us with £50k the scheme can go ahead, we will need to consider saying the Council undertakes to provide the £12,556 shortfall. Past experience indicates our ability to raise this sort of figure, and therefore the target will be to avoid any cash payment by the Parish Council.
(iv) As reported elsewhere, the increase in our responsibility to maintain play equipment would increase dramatically and a figure of £1,500 p.a. is suggested to set aside in future year budgets. As the equipment gets older, or if vandalism took place, this figure could increase
The Parish Council’s Approval is sought to:
A. Indicate in the application that the Parish Council will provide (or raise) up to £12,600.
B. Setting aside an additional £1500 p.a. for play equipment maintenance.
C. Making a planning application for a pyramid climbing net six metres high, at an anticipated cost of £85
Vic Trigwell 4 th November 2009
Page last update on 25 March 2011