LIMPLEY STOKE PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING- DUE TO COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS HELD on the 2nd of March 2021 at 7.00pm Councillors: Chairman – Mr Ian Barnes (IB) Francis Firmstone (FF), Ms Denise Barnes (DB), Chimene Roberts (CR), Lucy Poloniecka (LP), Elaine Curtin (EC), Mr E Elias (EE) Mr Johnny Kidney (JK) (County Councillor for Winsley and Westwood) Apologies: Mrs N Boulton (NB), Jessica Sibson (JS) In attendance: Bryony Kohn (Parish Clerk) Members of the public: 3 If you wish to receive the latest news from Limpley Stoke Parish Council on a more regular basis, please sign up to receive the community email on the website. https://limpleystoke.org/ Item Action 030/21 Declarations of Interest None 031/21 Open Forum a. A resident addressed the council regarding the Experimental closure of Woods Hill and road and pavement issues in the village (Attachment 1). LP walked the route concerned with the resident. The report is attached. (Attachment 2) A second resident enquired about the visual look of the proposed gates for the village in Lower Stoke. There was a concern that the location of the gateway would give an unfair perception of where the village started and would exclude some houses in Limpley Stoke. IB said that due to the topography of the village, it was difficult to include every house within the gateways. Other possible village sign sites are to be researched by LP. Action 31/21 LP to research possible location Speeding and acceleration is an issue along the stretch of the B3108 beside the railway. The speed cameras and the traffic counters can be used to monitor the situation and the data can be used to alert the police to the problem. The resident said that there had been an increase in heavy vehicles using this stretch of road. JK said that it could be due to the weight restriction imposed on Cleveland Bridge in Bath. A third resident suggested some form of pavement could be made along the road to make it safer for pedestrians and a reduction in the speed limit on the road. There were concerns however about the safety of a virtual pavement on this road. The resident was concerned that traffic from the temporary closure of Woods Hill would be encouraged to use the B3108. JK said that encouraging vehicles to use the main roads rather than the lanes in the village would be beneficial to the village. The second and third residents said that they were happy for their drive to be used for any traffic measuring devices. b. Councillor for Winsley & Westwood Report. The Council were grateful to receive an update from Councillor Johnny Kidney outlining the latest developments from Wiltshire Council. (see attachment 3 for details). c. There was nothing of note to report from PC Laura Wallace regarding the latest policing issues in the area. 032/21 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Limpley Stoke Parish Council held on the 2nd of February 2021 The Minutes (previously distributed to Councillors for comment) were approved with no comment and will be signed off as an official record by the Chairman. 033/21 Financial Items (BK). a. Approval of payment of invoices and notification of receipts. 1. SO135 – B Kohn. Clerk salary (Feb) Decision: Approved 2. DD180- C Moore. Play Park consultancy costs: £35 Decision: Approved 3. DD181- B Kohn. Stationery: £10.20 Decision: Approved 4. DD182- Pandora Technologies. Speed signs: £6486.60 Decision: Approved 5. DD 183 Chimene Roberts. Playpark Hedging: £137.82 Decision: Approved b. Ethical Bank A discussion will be held at a future parish council meeting when more information has been obtained. 033/21 Planning (FF) Nothing to report this month. 034/21 Nature Chain Project (CR) The Nature Chain launch will be on March 7th, 2021. Leaflets are being printed and will be distributed to residents. Articles have been submitted to the magazine and the website to publicise the initiative. A link will be activated on the website to encourage residents to take part. 035/21 Playpark (CR) CR said that 34 hedging whips had already been put in the playpark by volunteers. The willow tree had been made safe and the wooden steps have been prepared in readiness for new woodchip to be laid. Alan Dun has created a large wooden hedgehog for the park which has been much admired. 036/21 Your Voice (IB) IB informed the councillors that there had been no responses this month from residents via the Your Voice link on the website. 037/21 Action Plan See attachment. Information Board- A second site near the church is being discussed by DB with the church warden Playpark- Gates and safety boards need painting. IB will order the paint. LP has successfully met with Wiltshire CC regarding the relocation of the dog waste bin on the footpath opposite the church. IB has spoken to the resident who owns the land on Church Lane who is happy for the speed camera to be installed on the pole. White line painting has been delayed- now will be in April 2021. DB will obtain the No Dogs signs for the Playpark IB will take down and keep in storage the litterbins in the Playpark. EC- has spoken to the Memorial Hall management about the cleared vegetation area at the back of the hall. It has now become a site for Nature Chain for Middle Stoke residents. Many residents have volunteered to help and has become an interactive project for the community. Photographs will be taken for the website and newsletter. LP said that parking on pavements in the village was still an issue. IB said that views of residents should be sought via a survey as there were many differing views particularly as some residents had nowhere else to park. DB said that Electric charging sites in the village need to be researched and that a survey will be put on the website asking residents for their views on a possible electric community vehicle. DB said that Richard Mann from the Environment Advisory Committee Group will give a talk on rewilding along the River Avon to the Environment group in April. EE said that the website continued to attract many visitors to the site each day. There was an 80% open rate for the emails that were sent out and 151 contacts in the database. 038/21 Any Other Business None 039/21 Date of Next Meeting. Tuesday 6th April 2021 at 7.00pm. To be held virtually due to Covid 19 restrictions being in place. The Chair closed the meeting at 9pm Signed (Chair)…………………………………… Attachment 1 LUCY AND ANNE’S WALK ROUND LOWER STOKE, CROWE HILL, CROWE LANE AND CHURCH LANE MEETING 5 RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON EACH PART OF THE ROUTE LOWER STOKE – I showed Lucy the narrowness of the road from the telephone box library to the Old Brewery and it would be suitable for a white line giving space for pedestrians and the two disabled persons who live there. The Old Brewery layby is a. mess of tarmac where so many tyres have run over it and I know 3 people who have fallen down there. Passed the Manor house to Lower Hayes, the pavement is gravel where so many vehicles have ridden on it over it. CROWE HILL – Paul talked of the vehicles who persist in parking on the pavement.. Pedestrians had to walk on the road passed ten parked vehicles on one occasion. The pavement at the bottom has never been finished and it was left uncompleted before lockdown began. (Lucy suggested asking Wiltshire Highways for cards to give to residents to place on vehicles where it is impossible to pass by) CROWE LANE – Lyn walked around the length of the lane with us and showed how impossible it is for anyone to walk along the virtual pavement because it is cracked, broken, slipping and uneven. She has to walk on the road edge because she cannot walk on uneven and sloping surfaces. The road is frequently water logged. Ian’s neighbour is still limping from her fall several weeks ago. I added that since we walked Wiltshire Council has placed pieces of unedged tarmac on a small part of the pavement which will be scuffed out by vehicle tyres in a short time. THE END OF CROWE LANE CORNER AND JUNCTION TOWARDS CHURCH LANE - Dr B gave us some concrete answers to the problem of the corner which is frequently difficult because vehicles parked on the pavement force vehicles into the middle of the lane and no one can see the oncoming traffic. He suggested double yellow lines before the corner to stop vehicles parking half way on the pavement so that traffic is not forced on to the right hand sign of the road meeting drivers, who cannot see, coming round the corner. The junction is in BANES but he asked reasonably if the PC could contact Freshford PC to improve the junction and he suggested a yellow box which vehicles must make sure they are clear so that only one vehicle enters it. CHURCH LANE - In places, it is impossible to walk on the pavement owing to its narrowness and bushes protruding onto the pavement to Aroona House. We watched a young family not using the pavement, just walking on the road. From the Church, the virtual pavement has disappeared entirely. CR said this, In my opinion it would be ideal for the LS community to see all road/pavement repairs and renovations implemented, at all places deemed necessary within the village, prior to experimental closure of Woods Hill.