Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter
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LaverstockLaverstock && FordFord IncorporatingIncorporating HamptonHampton Park,Park, RiverdownRiverdown Park,Park, OldOld SarumSarum && MilfordMilford ParishParish NewsletterNewsletter www.laverstockwww.laverstock--ford.co.ukford.co.uk Issue 159 September/October 2016 Issue 159 September/October Laverstock2016 & Ford Parish Newsletter Welcome to issue 159 of the Parish Newsletter. July 2016 was probably the most significant month in the parish’s 122 year history when, at a full meeting of Wiltshire Council (WC), it came under threat of being abolished in a takeover by the City. Your parish councillors worked hard over a 10 month period, stating the case for the parish remaining independent, as did WC Councillors Ian McLennan and Bill Moss. However, a major influence in the resultant vote was the backing, both vocal and written, of our loyal residents. From attending the review meetings to the 59 pag- es of comments submitted by residents to the WC survey, it was obvious at the debate at County Hall that WC councillors of all parties were persuaded to sup- port us as the result of the feelings of our residents. Democracy in action. Full details of the meeting are on page 8. The result of the review will bring the 300+ homes in Bishopdown Farm formally into the parish. Detail of the roads affected is on page 21. We are holding an Open Evening on Friday September 30th at the Pavilion Hampton Park where all resi- dents can come and hear about the parish plans for the future and question their councillors. Especially welcome are the residents from Bishopdown Farm and resi- dents of the new estate at Riverdown Park. Details on page 13. Welcome to Andy Birkett from Old Sarum who has joined the parish council. The new ALDI store on the London Road is in Salisbury City Parish but as a neigh- bouring parish we were asked to submit our comments on the planning applica- tion. Whilst in favour of food shopping being available to the north of the city in order to reduce the rat-run through Laverstock to the Southampton Road, your parish council objected to the plans with the observation that “The access onto the London Road is unacceptable. Turning right on exit & turning right on entry to the site will present problems. An alternative access should be sought such as from the Park & Ride”. Salisbury City made a similar objection but the application was approved by WC. Now in operation, the site access is causing the very problems which both parishes forecast. Parish resident and Salisbury City Councillor, Colin Froude, has an article on page 34 which is a warning to residents who travel the London Road to be aware of the dangers. The Parish Newsletter is published six times a year for the benefit of parish residents. However, articles included do not necessarily reflect the views of the Parish Council. Advertisements for any firm or service does not imply a recommendation by the Parish Council. Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter 3 Inside your Parish Newsletter . 5 View from the Chair 6 Report on Parish Council Meetings 7 Planning Applications 8 Report on Boundary Review decision. 11 Assistant to Parish Clerk—Situation Vacant 12 Parish Council Volunteer Register 13 Parish Showcase Meeting 14 News from Old Sarum 15 Old Sarum Airfield Update 16 News from the Longhedge development & Country Park 17 Weed Cutting in the River Bourne 18 Old Sarum Archaeological Open Space and MoD Open Space 18 Laverstock Gardening Club 20 Salisbury and District Natural History Society 21 The area of Bishopdown Farm joining the Parish 28 Fly Tipping – Useful Information from Wiltshire Council 31 Footpath Volunteers and Weed Pickers – Your Time Has Come! 33 How can a hedge be a hazard? 34 Aldi London Road — Highway Safety Concerns 36 Laverstock & Ford Parish Council Contacts 39 Contacts around the Parish 42 Parish Diary Dates View from the Chair By David Burton, Chair of the Parish Council “Walk along an unlit country lane on a summer night and with luck you may come across small points of vivid green light shining amid the grass. These are glow-worms.” So wrote my old friend, John Tyler, in the introductory paragraph to his booklet about these fascinating creatures. Thus capturing both the supernatural qualities of these fascinating creatures, and also the essence of the pleasant rural habitats in which glow-worms thrive. Magical then, that as the shadow of the Community Governance Review and forced merger of our Parish with our neighbouring City Parish has lifted, glow-worms have reappeared high on Cockey Down, casting their light above our parish. Brighter times indeed! (See glow-worm article on page 33). With our Parish now intact for the foreseeable future, we can get on with the much more rewarding work of making life better for residents. We are busy plan- ning good things with our partner organisations, some of which are featured in the pages of this Newsletter and we thank all residents who come to us with ideas and offers of help. Volunteering for one of the many clubs and societies in the Parish or for the Parish Council itself can be a tremendously rewarding experience. As chil- dren go back to school after a refreshing summer break, now is a good time to give volunteering a go, or at least register an interest for the future. (See Parish Council Volunteering article on page 12). We will also be building bridges with the Salisbury City Parish, both as a corporate body and with individual Councillors and staff. That way we can spread the warmth of our community spirit and the natural riches that come with it to help improve the lives of our City neighbours too. Next Parish Council Meetings Monday 19th September Greentrees School Hampton Park at 7pm Monday 17th October River Bourne Community Farm Laverstock 7pm Residents are welcome to attend Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter 5 Report on Parish Council Meetings This report covers the meetings held at the Old Sarum Community Centre on 20th June and at the River Bourne Community Farm on 18th July. The development at Longhedge is moving forward rapidly and the first of 673 new dwellings are under construction. The Council has been asked to provide the street- names for this area and they decided on the theme of airmen from all services who have been awarded the Victoria Cross. Each street sign will bear an ascription to confirm the service of the airman. E.g. ‘In memory of an Airman of the Royal Flying Corps awarded the Victoria Cross’. The process of the Community Governance Review has taken up much of the Coun- cil’s time both in formal Parish Council and other meetings. Now that Wiltshire Council has decided this controversial matter in favour of our residents, the Council looks forward to resuming its normal business. A large part of the June meeting was taken up with the Annual Return. This is the process by which the finances and governance of the Council are approved and sub- mitted to an external auditor. The finances of the Council remain healthy and in- clude substantial sums from a developer to build a new play area and other recrea- tional facilities at Old Sarum. The unaudited Annual Return can be viewed on the Council website or it can be viewed in the Parish Office by contacting the Clerk. Discussions continued on bringing forward the delivery of the new Country Park at Bishopdown. There have been meetings with a national charity called The Land Trust to see how the Council might work with them in partnership to provide this amazing new green space in the Parish. At the July meeting of the Council Andy Birkett was welcomed as a new Councillor. As a resident of Old Sarum he brings welcome added representation to this rapidly expanding part of the Parish, and his aviation and military background adds a new skill set to the Council. There were discussions about a possible new development of 14 dwellings at a site known as the Bishopdown Farm Yard or more simply as The Barn at Hampton Park. Neighbouring residents have been sent a leaflet about the development as part of the consultation process but it has not been widely promoted elsewhere. The plan- ning application is still in the process of registration. Access to the development will be through the new Country Park. The landowner also holds the freehold of the Hampton Park Pavilion and is looking to transfer this to the community. The role of the Parish Council is yet to be decided. cont... The Council has awarded grants to the Salisbury and South Wiltshire District Scouts to assist with the purchase of a new minibus, and to the Laverstock & Ford Cricket Club. The criteria for giving grants has recently been simplified and made more generous. The new application form and conditions can be downloaded from the Council website, or you can obtain a copy by contacting the Clerk. The funding of grants comes entirely from the rent received from a cell-phone mast on Council land and is currently £5,300 per annum. Planning Applications The following Planning Applications have been submitted in, and adjacent to, the Parish since June 2016. Italics after the application show the Parish Council re- sponse. Bold print shows a decision by Wiltshire Council. DECISIONS 16/03498/FUL Proposed erection of a 1.8m close-board fence behind a wall adja- cent to the road. 18 Riverbourne Road, Laverstock. Refused. 16/03270/FUL Proposed creation of additional tarmac driveway. 10 Ashlands, Ford. Approved. 16/04854/FUL Proposed Café & Shop Building, River Bourne Community Farm, Laverstock.