Parish Council of Sefton and Lunt Villages

Madam Chairman’s Report 2018-2019

Dear citizens of Sefton and Lunt Villages, Greetings to you all at the end of what has been yet another successful mayoral year for the parish council.

A5036 Port of Access Route At the start of 2018 we were presented with the 325 page Environmental Impact Scoping Report from Highways in regard to the proposed A5036 Port of Liverpool Access Route. The Building Inspectorate in Bristol wished ear marked the parish council as a respondent. The report compiled by the parish council was the culmination of more than 50 hours work by the Councillors and CEO. We still await further consultation from Highways England. The Parish Council is delighted that the estate manager for Mitchell and Butler, Mrs Mary Evans, is formally representing the brewery and the Punch Bowl in all future dialogue with Highways England. Change of name of the Civil Parish At the Ordinary Meeting of the parish council, Friday 9th March 2018, the council unanimously voted to take the historic step of changing the name of the civil parish to ‘The Parish Council of Sefton and Lunt Villages’ which was approved by the mother authority, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, at a full council meeting, June 25th 2018. Change of name of B5422 between Glebe End and Lunt Road Frist raised at the Ordinary Meeting of July 2015 it was finally resolved to rename the stretch of road at the Ordinary Meeting of January 2016 however it took a further two years to reach a final decision as to the new name. At the Ordinary meeting of January 12th 2018 it was resolved to rename the road ‘Old Rectory Lane’ a name which had been chosen by Mr John Duffy, RFO of the parish council 2014-2017. However, the borough council were unable to accede to the request in large due to government guidelines which stipulate that new road names must not duplicate existing street names, must be easy to spell, must not contain the name of a Saint and must be reflective of local history - so, this immediately ruled out ‘Saint Helen’s Lane’, ‘Well Lane’, ‘Old Moat Lane’ and in case of vandalism ‘Ducking Stool Lane’! The local authority wished to rename the stretch ‘Cromwell Lane’ the response of the CEO being that apart from the fact that there is no primary evidence for Cromwell being in the village, only local legend, the name is too divisive for Anglicans and Catholics. Due to the fact that Punch Bowl was a coaching Inn and the coach house to Sefton Rectory stood in Glebe End the CEO made the executive decision to rename the road ‘Coachman’s Lane’ which was accepted by the borough and the parish council the new road signs being placed in situ Thursday 17th January. I place on the public record our thanks to Jackie McKenna of Sefton MBC for her hard work and that of the MBC staff who erected the signs. HGVs, speeding, traffic and parking in the civil parish For ten years the parish council has fought for parking restrictions on Coachman’s Lane due to HGVs, coaches and other wagons parking along the edge of the moat causing disruption to local residents, funeral and wedding guests not only causing obstructions on the road but littering the lane. After years of negotiation at a meeting in June 2018 the parish council finally secured the agreement of Sefton MBC to create a no parking zone in the centre of the village of Sefton prohibiting the parking of all vehicles of 3 ½ tonnes and over which ought to be coming into force soon after due legal process. Speeding is a perennial problem through the village of Sefton and the parish council has received complaints from residents. However, in spring last year, Police and Sefton MBC filed reports to the parish council stating that there was no excess amount of speeding or HGVs coming through the village of Sefton along the B5422. The reports however, did demonstrate that HGVs do use the B5422 and there is speeding by HGVs and cars.

Trespass agricultural land There has been trespass on agricultural land for many years in the village of Sefton. Over the last couple of years this has increased with hawking and quad biking on land owned by the Diocesan Board of Trustees and Nuffield College, Oxford. After not inconsiderable negotiation with land agents for the Diocese of Liverpool a large section of curtilage with Coachman’s Lane was finally properly fenced to shore up the egress onto land being used by hawkers, ramblers and treasure hunters. Punch Bowl Inn Friday 25th January 2019 Madam Chairman and Her Honour Councillor Miss Daley accompanied by the learned clerk met with Mr James Horler , CEO of Ego restaurants, Mr Simon Higginbottom, Director of Mitchell and Butler and Zoe Coates, designer Ego who were accompanied by Mr Horler’s area manager and the licensee/manager of the Fox Cub, Chorley, at the Athenaeum Club, Liverpool to discuss the planning application of Ego pursuant to taking the franchise of the Punch Bowl. At an extra ordinary meeting, Monday 28th January 2019, the council approved the plans and resolved to support Ego in their application. We wish Mr Horler all the very best in his endeavour to upgrade the Punch Bowl.

Development in the civil parish In June 2018 we met with Adactus Housing for a presentation regarding their proposed development of affordable housing on the site of Rushton’s Farm. The parish council remained neutral in its decision but were vociferous in outlining their concerns to Sefton MBC planning committee including the lack of infrastructure, proximity of the proposed A5036 Port of Liverpool Access Route. The development was refused on an architectural technicality but Adactus were successful in an appeal in summer 2018. August 2018 the parish council also met with representatives of Barratt David Wilson Homes in relation to a proposed development on the field adjacent to Runnells Lane and Lane. The civil parish opposed the development on the grounds of lack of infrastructure, no schools, no destination shopping and the realigned proximity of the A5036 to the proposed development. The representatives were warned by the council of the health risks to residents who will live on the estate bordering the proposed dock road. On February 5th this year it was stated on the BBC that a UNICEF report claims that 1 in 3 British children live in areas with unsafe levels of pollution. In its latest report: ‘Healthy Air For Every Child: A Call for National Action’, UNICEF denounces that there is no national plan in place to protect children from pollution, 1 in 3 children are growing up in areas with unsafe levels of pollution and this is a fundamental threat to their right to grow up in a clean, healthy environment. My parish council believes that the A5036 and the permitted development within its proximity in this civil parish violate the human rights of children as outlined in the UNICEF report. Armistice Centenary 1918-2018 It was heartening to see so many poppy wreaths being placed at the War Memorial this year and we express our gratitude to all those institutions which accepted our invitation to make this a very memorable Remembrance Sunday and place as many as wreaths as possible to honour our valiant war dead.

Mrs Carney It is with regret that the parish council learned of the announced retirement of Mrs Margaret Carney the CEO of Sefton MBC and on behalf of my council extend not only our gratitude for her hard work in steering the borough through these days of austerity but also for being a champion of this civil parish. We wish her a very long and healthy retirement.

Finally, I wish to thank my councillors for their hard work and commitment in the last mayoral year and the time they so selflessly give to the community. This last year we were deeply saddened by the passing of Councillor Emeritus and Freeman of the Parish, William Rushton and Norma and the family remain in our hearts as will the memory of the beautiful funeral service at Sefton Parish Church accompanied by the peel funded by the parish council in honour of William. This year it was with regret that bid farewell to our Deputy Lady Chairman Councillor Mrs Dean Williams and our Treasurer Councillor Mrs Eric Jones, however, we were delighted to welcome back to the council Councillor Mr Gerard Lee and Councillor Mr Paul Clare after their sabbaticals. I also extend grateful thanks to Councillor O’Hanlon for taking upon her good self the mantle of Treasurer and for the grace and good humour she brings to the role. Thanks is due in no small part to Ward Councillors, Councillor Mr John Sayers and Councillor Mrs June Burns who are great supporters and champions of this parish council and we thank Councillor Sayers for his attendance at not only ordinary meetings but extra ordinary meetings and site meetings.

I look forward to another successful mayoral year DV supported by my gallant band – the finest parish council in the district. Thank you for your time which is greatly appreciated. Sincerely yours, Maria Duffy (Councillor Mrs) Madam Chairman Councillor Mrs John E. Duffy Chairman Parish Council of Sefton and Lunt Villages