MINUTES OF THE BRATTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Held in the Pavilion on the Village Green

9^th March 2010

Present: Councillors, Mrs G Drewett, Mr K Davis, Mrs G Hurn, Mr K Miller, Mrs J Snooks, Mr R Pearce, Mrs K White & Mrs A Whittle (Clerk).

 Open Forum.

Local Police.

PCSO Breedt attended the meeting. He reported the theft of ducks from Trowbridge Road, once domestic incident, a fly tipping incident in Imber Road, a male tried to get a 12 year old into a car on Trowbridge Road, two youths on push bikes seen riding into the village with gun slips on their backs. When stopped they advised they had been clay pigeon shooting and had gun licences. Community Speed watch had been on site on four occasions. The last occasion there was one vehicle at 37.5mph but only part of the number late could be recorded.

Mr D Huntley addressed the council regarding planning appeal for application W/09/01631/FUL.

26/10 Apologies. Apologies were received from Cllr Lloyd, Cllr Hurn and Cllr Swabey.

27/10 Declaration of Interest.  Cllr Edwards declared an interest in planning appeal W/09/01631/FUL.

28/10 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 9^th February 2010

The Minutes of 9^th of February were accepted as presented further to one alteration as follows:

18/10 – Clerks Report item 6. Added to the last line, 3 quotes should now be obtained for the fencing and ground works required.

Proposed      Cllr White       Seconded     Cllr Davis       All in Favour

29/10 Planning Applications

Notification of decision received from Wiltshire Council

W/10/00035/FUL – Risbon 11 The Butts – Erection of single storey kitchen ext – Permission

Planning Committee meeting – 10^th March 6pm Bradley Road Offices

W/09/02622/FUL – Mobile home, day room and retention of existing pair of sheds, land at Capps Lane – to be considered

Notification of Planning Appeal

W/09/01631/FUL – Erection of detached house with double garage land adjoining Priory Cottages Stradbrook – further comments to be received by the planning inspectorate by 19^th March.

Cllr Edwards left the meeting prior to discussion and decision.

Councils original objection made in June 2009.

The council expressed strong objection to the application on the following points. The proposed access is on a blind corner. The access is directly opposite the drop down to Spring Gardens which has already had railings put in place due to a number of vehicles falling over the edge. The building does not seem to be in keeping with other properties in Stradbrook or in the conservation area as a whole. The plans are also inaccurate as they do not show the site in the correct perspective. A number of complaints have been received verbally from local residents aswell as a letter of objection received from Siobhan Edwards of Emms Farm when the first application was discussed (08/00597) which reads as follows: I would like to object to the proposed plan to build a house and garage on the site between Priory Cottage and Emms Farm on Stradbrook. 1. The new building would overlook the property of Emms Farm. 2. The proposed buildings are not in keeping with the surrounding properties, in particular the listed buildings of Emms Farm and Priory Cottage. 3. Stradbrook is already an extremely congested, narrow road. The access to the property will be unsafe. This road is so narrow that it is effectively a single carriageway along part of its length. There are usually cars parked along one side of the road, which further narrows the passage of traffic. The dangers of this road are well known to the local villagers. There has been at least one very serious incident in recent years. This occurred at the junction between Emms Lane (footpath) and Stradbrook, a short distance from the proposed site. A young child was hit by a tractor which was unable to avoid the accident due to the narrowness of the road. This new access to the proposed property will at best further congest an already congested, narrow road, and at worst be dangerous. A second letter was received from Mrs Edwards in connection with the revised planning application. I have recently become aware that a further planning application has been put in to build on land between Priory Cottage and Emms Farm (where I live). I wish to restate my objection to this planned build as I did last time. I feel that the proposed development will overlook my property in an intrusive way and is not in keeping with the properties in this area of the village. Most concerning of all is the likely effect of increased traffic in the already crowded street of Stradbrook. Even if off road parking could be carved out of the high bank, which is an attractive and distinctive feature of Stradbrook, the road is too narrow to make entry and exit of this plot safe. Of course the heavy plant used to construct any new dwelling would be very dangerous indeed. The council resolved to support Mrs Edwards’s previous and new comments and voted unanimously to object to this plan.

The council agreed to add to its original objections as follows:

The Parish Council would like to advise that concern has been raised over the stability of the surrounding properties due to the ground consisting of green sand. The buildings either side are listed and therefore of the age where they do not have substantial footings. Any excavation of the green sand could cause catastrophic effect to surrounding properties.

Proposed      Cllr Drewett    Seconded     Cllr Snooks     All in Favour

Applications for Discussion

W/10/00286/FUL – Picquet Cottage, Tynings Lane – Demolish existing wing, kitchen, utility and study and rebuild in materials to match the main house.

No objection

Proposed      Cllr Pearce     Seconded     Cllr White       All in Favour

W/10/00363/FUL – 3 Lower Road – Various tree works

          The council will accept the tree officers recommendations.

Proposed      Cllr White       Seconded     Cllr Drewett    All in Favour

30/10 Wiltshire Council – Cllr Swabey  no report as Cllr Swabey not present.

31/10 Westbury Area Board - Cllr Davis

Cllr Davis had attended the last Area Board meeting which was also attended by the new Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council, Andrew Kerr. The main topic of the meeting was the awarding of grants. The Recreation Ground was awarded a grant towards the new fencing of the moved corners of the ground. There was no discussion on the Waste strategy but the possible closure of Westbury Swimming Pool was discussed as was the possible changes to the rotunda area at the end of the High Street.

32/10 Clerk report

1. Electric Box removal from Duke Car Park. The electrician has been in contact but has been working away 7 days a week but is now back home and will remove the box as soon as he can.
2. Xmas Lights Removal – Plans for the removal of the lights on the 20^th of February didn’t come together but hope to get another date set as soon as I can speak to the Gales about using their Matbro.
3. Reeves Orchard Paddock. The grass was cut by the Monday Gang and the Wiltshire Apple trees were planted on Saturday. The school is now very interested in becoming involved with Reeves Orchard so I will be speaking to the Headmaster soon. The school has also asked if someone with knowledge of the village would be able to put together a walk around the village with the staff so they can see the special places in the village so they can take the children around the village in the summer.
4. Signs for village Green – The signs have not gone up yet as my husband and I felt they needed strengthening before fitting so I have been to Devizes steel to order some plates to strengthen them before we put them up.
5. Allotments. I have arranged two site meetings this week for quotes for the fencing and the preparation of the allotments.
6. Grit Bin Tynings Lane Car Park. This is now in the hands of Selwood Housing and Wiltshire Council.
7. Anti Social Behavior Log sheet. The document has now been delivered with the March Churchman. A pack of the log sheets are now held at the Duke, the village shop, the school and the pre-school.
8.  Wheelie Bin 30mph Signs. I have contacted the Westbury Community Area Partnership (BA13+) asking if they would be able to purchase the signs for all the villages and Westbury as done by the Pewsey area partnership. They have replied that they are looking into the cost.

33/10 Parish Steward Visit

The clerk was asked to list the footpath at the rear of Rosenheim Rise.

34/10 Annual Parish Meeting – 20^th April 2010

The council agreed that the annual parish meeting will take place on Tuesday 20^th of April in the Pavilion, with cheese and wine to follow. Sally Hendry is to be asked to speak at the beginning about the work of the Area Board. The police are to be invited.

35/10 Church Steps opening – Monday 15^th March at 12noon

The church steps opening ceremony is on Monday 15^th March at 12noon at the Church end of the steps with refreshments afterwards in the oratory room at the church institute. Invitations have been sent and replies are slowly coming back in. The press will be on site aswell as some staff from Wiltshire Council. The clerk had the idea of getting a plaque made to mark the event which could be fixed to the wooden railings. The council agreed to look into this.

36/10 To consider items of Correspondence needing a reply

Circulation File: WALC newsletter Feb 2010, Pat Whyte – response re highways matters, Wiltshire Council – Copy letter to Headmaster from Education department, Leaflet re Tackling Anti-Social behaviour

Best Kept Village Competition application The clerk is to send in the application

Email from M Manson – re incident at the Recreation Ground

The clerk was asked to invite Mike Manson and the Police to the next Parish Council meeting on the 13^th of April to review the issue.

Wiltshire Council – Flood Fair – Tues 14^th April 2010  It was decided not to send a representative.

37/10 To confirm the Financial Statement for February and accounts for payment

          The council accepted the financial report for February and agreed the following for payment.

A Whittle – Hours and Travel - £894.16               Inland Revenue – PAYE - £70.64

R Jordan – Hours and Travel - £66.70                  Jubilee Hall – Pavilion Hire - £21.56

Viking Direct – Stationary - £41.03                     RW & RG Gale – Rec hedge cutting - £29.37

Proposed      Cllr White       Seconded     Cllr Pearce     All in Favour

38/10 To receive reports from Members

Cllr Snooks asked for the council to make sure that the land at the end of the Cleve used for parking by the residents of 5 Church Road is not being listed as specific parking for the property which is on the market.

Cllr Miller asked that the electric pole on the entrance to the village from Westbury be reported as having been hit and damaged.

Cllr Davis asked if the council could provide some information for people moving to or visiting the village, maybe a booklet. Also could there be a village map showing all the amenities and attractions. Could the clerk organise a litter pick day. With regards to the Waste Strategy, although it is on hold could the council write to Wiltshire Council regarding the proposed bin tagging. This is all very well and good but we have a serious problem of fly tipping in this area already and this is bound to increase with tagging bins. Perhaps the clerk could copy this to Edington and Dilton Marsh etc to ask for their support.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm

Next meeting Tuesday 13^th April 2010 at 7.15pm in the Pavilion.

Annual Electors/Parish Meeting Tuesday 20^th April 2010 at 8pm in the Pavilion.