Western Area Parish Forum Notes of the meeting held at Cold Kirby Village Hall Tuesday, 17 April 2018 at 7.15 pm Present: Town Council Chris Parkin, Jake Duncombe Ingleby Greenhow Terry Sutcliffe Bilsdale Midcable PC David Hollingworth Whorlton PC Howard Tribick Kirkby in Cleveland PC Mike Weighell Coxwold PC Jean Richardson, Simon le Gassicke Hawnby PC J Crofter Harris Great Ayton PC John Fletcher Sutton under Whitestonecliffe PC Alison Pollard Old Byland/ Chris Barnard CPRE David Goodman NYCC Val Arnold District Council Steve Arnold Superfast Ian Marr NYCC Highways Richard Marr, James Malcolm National Park Members Malcolm Bowes, Jeremy Walker National Park Staff Richard Gunton (Director of Park Services/Convenor), Judith Seaton (PA to Chief Executive)

1. Election of Chair – Mr Jake Duncombe was elected as Chair for 2018

2. Welcome – Jeremy Walker welcomed everyone to Cold Kirby Village Hall and Jake Duncombe welcomed everyone to the meeting.

3. Apologies – Caroline Patmore, Simon Bassindale, Andy Wilson and Jim Bailey (NYMNPA), Tim Swales (Osmotherley)

4. Notes of the meeting held on 17 October 2017 were agreed.

5. Matters Arising: The letter to NYnet and NYCC regarding consultation prior to any broadband/telephone lines being installed was sent and a response received.

6. Public Question Time – none

7. Broadband Update - Ian Marr, Superfast North Yorkshire, gave an update on the next Phase of the project. The presentation is available here. Phase 3 has been awarded again to BT Openreach:  Expected to end in 2021/22.  Funded by Government, NYCC and some European funding.  BT contracted to supply to 14,239 premises (locations to be announced).  Overhead lines are cheaper to install so likely to be a feature in rural areas.  BT has a new duty to engage with National Parks on telegraph pole installation but can still proceed if agreement isn’t reached. Superfast Broadband is attempting to ensure that BT does engage with National Parks and communities.  Extra £15m awarded to take fibre to market towns on a commercial basis.  No firm plans for a Phase 4 but NYCC are hopeful there will be one.  If anyone wishes to check their broadband speed and availability they should use the DSL checker from BT using their own telephone number and/or address. Or ring BT direct.

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 If anyone has queries then check the website www.superfastnorthyorkshire.com/ or email [email protected]  Chris France is on the Superfast North Yorkshire Engagement Group and will liaise with Parishes when more is known about the locations of the premises to receive Superfast Broadband in Phase 3.  The Superfast North Yorkshire website will have the locations and they should be published at end of April.

8. Highways – Richard Marr and James Malcolm  Issues of non-prosecution of users of vehicles on closed roads backed up with TRO – Highways confirmed that this is an offence and the police should prosecute offenders. Suggestion that the Parish contact their local highways for advice and information.  Sutton Bank closure in the autumn also has offenders using the road. Highways confirmed that this is also an issue for them when roadworks are being carried out workmen have been threatened and have introduced bodycams to try and counteract this.  Copies of TROs are available on request from Highways.  Use of traffic lights by private contractors/utilities appear to remain when there is no work being carried out. Highways give permission for temporary lights but monitoring is difficult. However, a new permit scheme is now in force which charges more for these permits which allows more staff to monitor this. Fines can be imposed if they are found to be in breach of the permit.  Potholes and erosion of roadside/verges were discussed. The Highway Safety Inspection Manual on the website details the measurements at which potholes/erosion becomes a safety issue and Parishes should contact the appropriate Highways for their area by email to seek repairs that fit the criteria in the Manual. https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-and-pavements  Local farmers now have to contact Highways for agreement before doing any snow clearance. Highways do consider the farmers’ judgement and local knowledge on the necessity of the snow clearance.  Highways do remove illegal roadside signage particularly if there are health and safety issues but usually the owner of the sign is requested to remove it.  Helmsley parking and traffic management is still causing concern despite a 2014 notification of a parking review. Helmsley have set up a Facebook page and this shows photographic evidence of the issues. David Kilpatrick is looking in to the issues and a solution for the Black Swan parking has been discussed and the National Park Authority will be consulted on this.  Discussion on ownership of verges and fences being put up close to the highway. Highways indicated that normally a verge of up to 6 feet is ideal (eg on open moorland) but each road has its own idiosyncrasies and depends on land ownership, historical references, what was there before, any changes and evidence of use.  Landowners can apply to close a track if no public use is evident but if public use is evident then normally the use will be protected as a right of access.

Following the meeting, Richard Marr sent the following feedback: 1. Ice and flood signs out around Chop Gate area. We have asked our Highway Officers to arrange for our contractors to bring in these signs, along with any other surplus signs in the area. 2. Traffic ignoring Road Closed signs during the Sutton Bank closure. Breaching the road closure is a traffic offence. When the works are taking place we have ambassadors on site and can report any transgressions to NY Police. 3. Deep ruts by the side of the carriageway / Parking on verges in the Carleton Bank area. A Highway Officer has inspected the area and raised an order with our

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contractors to have the ruts repaired using compacted stone. We will ask parking services to visit and “police” the double yellow lines. 4. Bit of a general discussion about landowners fencing their land but coming too close to the edge of the tarmac. I said there was no general rule, just the starting point of 6 foot wide verges. He said he would contact your office about a location where the new fence sounds to be a lot closer. Noted, please contact the Area 2 office if you have any specific concerns.

9. Sutton Bank Update  A planning application has been approved to provide extra 84 parking spaces to accommodate events and busy periods – funding is being sought to do this.  Another application approved to provide a further 100 spaces, improve outdoor activities (dark skies, cycle/bridleway improvements and to old drove road to Sneck Yate, bird hide and improving the visitor centre building) – seeking funding from RPA but difficulties encountered with State Aids which need to be resolved before proceeding.  Longer term will see significant improvements to the Centre.  Electric car charging points are not within the immediate plans but may be considered at a later stage.  Education area no longer at the Centre, space could be available within the general improvements.

Update on National Park Authority Business by Malcolm Bowes, Parish Member:  Training for Starmakers/astro-guides to lead astro tourism events  Operation Owl with North Yorkshire Police  Call of Nature Campaign – Environment Agency project on septic tanks in rural areas possibly affecting sea/river quality  Launch of 2018 Design Awards  Minerals and Waste Plan – inquiry completed on Friday, 13 April  Draft Local Plan will be out for consultation in the summer  Ryevitalise Project – currently working on Stage 2 application of the project

10. Suggestions for new agenda items  Broadband/Mobile  Fracking  Local Plan  Affordable Housing  Signage in Helmsley Contact Judith Seaton with any further suggestions:

11. Any Other Business The Forum discussed the new GDPR legislation. It is understood that Yorkshire Local Councils Association are to employ an officer who will offer the service to Parishes for hopefully a minimal fee.

The Forum had a general discussion about fracking and the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan.

12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting: June/July – Joint Parish Forum date and venue to be confirmed Tuesday, 16 October 2018 at 7.15 pm – Coxwold Village Hall

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