MINUTES OF THE WRAXALL & FAILAND PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD

7.30pm 10 NOVEMBER 2009 IN FAILAND VILLAGE HALL.

PRESENT: Cllrs. Ambrose (Chairman),Thompson (Vice Chairman), King, Mrs Shaw, Law, Delmas, Sage, Mrs Moon, Sheppard.

IN ATTENDANCE: Liaison Officer Sally Varley, PC Adam Clarke & Clerk.

APOLOGIES: D/Cllrs Cook & Roberts and Cllr. Pitt.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Nil.

PUBLIC: Professor Keith Edwards, Mrs Edwards, Hugh Pratt & Allen Greenhalgh.

255 MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting held 13 October were agreed and signed.

256 CRIME FIGURES: PC Clarke reported five crimes in total since the last meeting:-

2 Criminal Damage at Noah’s Ark Farm (5 protestors.)

1 in Green Lane – cut through wire fencing – diesel stolen.

2 assaults on young children – Mother arrested – children now in care.

Cllr. Delmas enquired re accident Lower Portbury Lane. Male motorist hit the vehicle of a female motorist then ran off.

Cllr. Ambrose referred to the bottom of Tower House Lane and the possibility of placing stones on the verge of the ‘lay-by’. Highways Agency to be contacted.

(Spoke to Highways to get a ‘phone number for Highways Agency other than 123, Buckingham Palace Road, SW1.) Highways told me that the HA did not deal with that, they did. They do not advocate ‘stones’ because of the damage they can cause to anyone driving into them ~ they suggested ‘marker posts’ which are flexible. E-mail sent to Paul Smart (Area Officer) 17 November asking if the marker posts could be supplied.

MEETING CLOSED 7.45pm.

Prof. Keith Edwards addressed the meeting as Chairman of Save our Valley (from pylons).

MEETING RE-OPENED 8.17pm

257 ISSUES

a) NATIONAL GRID’S PROPOSALS

Cllrs. discussed the proposal by National Grid in respect of 400,000 V cables connecting

Bridgwater and Avonmouth on pylons – Route 1 to the west of Nailsea and Route 2 to the east of Nailsea – and decided that a referendum should be sent to all households in our two parishes re. a £50,000 addition to our precept to set up a ‘fighting fund’ to help resist and challenge this proposal and the proposal in Failand re. a 500+ housing/shop/school development on land to the east of Weston Road.

Cllrs. voted unanimously that 2/3rds of those households responding must assent for the matter to proceed.

Cllr. Ambrose offered to enclose a leaflet, from the ‘Save or Valley’ group, with our letter so long as this did not increase postage costs. Householder labels to be ordered from North Somerset Council.

b) PLANNING UPDATE FROM BIA

Cllr. Ambrose gave a resume of the letter sent in by BIA and the response of

PCAA.

c) BATTLE AXES UPDATE

Enforcement Dept’s letter stated that the ‘Airport’ parking appears to have

ceased.

The car washing may also have ceased although he will monitor for a while.

The hand painted sign has been partially removed by a pressure washer. They will be

taking no further action over that. They will try to get the remaining signs removed.

Cllr. Ambrose said that the car wash was going on covertly.

Mrs Patel now doesn’t want Affordable Housing on the site.

d) ASHTON VALE P/A 09/P/1455/OT2

Draft letter sent to Cllrs. for comments & amendment if necessary.

Re-confirmed at this meeting – Voting - unanimous.

e) COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANS – Update.

Cllr. Law had visited Scotch Horn. Despite NSC saying that SH had camp beds,

they do not. They are held centrally. SH manager was very good – showed Cllr.

Law round the centre. He will get back to Cllr. Law.

Cllr. Mrs Moon said that the Fire Station should have blankets. Cllr. Ambrose

queried how a helicopter could land in W&F.

Cllr. Law is meeting the Red Cross Emergency Manager on 30 November.

REPORTS FROM IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEES

f) PROW – Hugh Pratt submitted a report, including a map, regarding clarification of

a route through Tyntesfield – hooking up with the Bridleway going South. The

PROW implementation committee felt that this (indicated on the map by a red

arrow) was the safest point with clearest viewing angles and waiting zone for

pedestrians and animals. His committee support this

Re. Duties & Responsibilities. There is £1m Govt. funding for Foot Paths linking up to

schools. Charlotte of the school wants the money, for the footpath from the Elms to

school, to be used instead for lights outside the school. After discussing the Duties &

Responsibilities Cllrs. asked for a ‘Sound Report’ to be requested from NSC.

g) WRAXALL VILLAGE ~ Peterjohn Smyth is looking for funds for a large map.

h) ROAD SAFETY ~ David Robinson reported that there is a good turn out at

meetings (30-40 people). Vehicle Activated Signs are to be put at the top of Wraxall Hill.

He is looking for volunteers for Speed Watch. He feels that this has an impact by

volunteers just being out there even if not taking car numbers.

i) WESTON ROAD ~ Cllr. Ambrose and Cllr. Sheppard attended a meeting with Mr

Lansbury of FLP, Robert Jones (who owns the land east of Weston Road), Charles Cave

(Chair of LAPC) & Mary Uppington (Chair of LA Planning Sub Committee). It was a ‘ ‘What if it happens’ meeting. FLP acknowledge that we have sent in our

recommendation. The RSS is driving Green Belt use. Government of the SW are

undecided. The school is said to be needed but Education Dept. have no money. The

price of the proposed housing means that those able to afford them are not likely to have

school age children so the school will not be needed by residents. The ‘Affordable

Housing’ is not at an affordable price. No practice interested in Surgery. Bus service too

poor. Decision by NSC 20/11.

j) MORE POWER TO T&PC’s

Cllrs. stated several possible powers re. Litter, parking, planning. However Cllr.

Sheppard said there was no benefit from having more powers. He would like more

credibility from NSC.

Cllrs. were prepared to learn more – attending courses etc.

Cllr. Ambrose said there is a good rapport with Planners but it would be good if

they came back to us to ask why we sometimes wish to go against their decision.

k) RE 250b – LEISURE – WHAT IS PC’s VIEW. Cllr. King said that NSC do not

encourage youngsters to get into sport, only swimming pools. On the continent

sport and leisure is encouraged in the young. There is only table tennis and cricket

in Failand ~ nothing in Wraxall. No response when Notices were put in Failand N/B’s

asking if there was a call for a play area in that village.

258 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT

a) APPLICATION 09/P/1654/TPO - T1 - Oak - Remove lower stub branches to main stem. Remove lower hanging/drooping branches.

T2 - Oak - Remove 1 x long branch on right hand side to rebalance crown for Mr A Chapman, 25 Clevedon Road, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION - No Tree Surgeon report has been received with this application. The Cllrs. recommendation is NOT to support this application because of the history of the owners of this and the adjacent property - The trees have not been dealt with in an appropriate and sympathetic manner in the past. The Cllrs. will support the findings of the North Somerset Council's Tree Officer.

b) APPLICATION 09/P/1660/F - Erection of conservatory to rear for Mr B Calcraft, 18a Flax Bourton Road, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION - Approve.

c) APPLICATION 09/P/1664/F - Erection of agricultural barn/storage shed for the use of growing blueberries, with gravelled area for vehicular access.

RECOMMENDATION - REFUSE.

The site is at the end of a private single track lane which currently only services the three dwellings of Ferney Row, and now the proposed agricultural business.

¨ The privacy and security of these dwellings could be compromised if this business means that employees and possibly customers visit the site in future; and access is questionable for any great increase in traffic. Cllrs. believe the lane is owned by Failand Farm.

¨ The entrance to the site, proposed to be covered with gravel, is on a much used bridleway - in daily use, and also has a PROW which goes to the side of the field.

¨ The building is quite large, measuring 10m x 16m and 5m high at the apex of the southern end. The northern end would be well over 6m high as the ground falls away considerable. Is it necessary to have such a large building?!

¨ There is no provision for health & hygiene requirements for any employees.

¨ It is felt that the size and scale of the building would have significant impact on this particular section of the Green Belt.

¨ In view of the above we are minded to recommend REFUSAL of this application.

d) APPLICATION 09/P/1681/F & 09/P/1683/LB – Erection of a first floor extension over existing garage for use as a home office/workshop. A dormer window to north, east and west elevations and a rooflight to the south elevation. Replace existing doors/windows for Mr P J Smyth, Failand Chase, Oxhouse Lane, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION - SUPPORT

e) APPLICATION 09/P/1692/F – Erection of a side conservatory for Mr Addy, The Willows,

3 Manor Way, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION - SUPPORT

f) APPLICATION 09/P/1714/F & 09/P/1715/LB – Erection of new entrance hall to south elevation and a new porch to east elevation for Mr D Hynam, The Coach House, Oxhouse Lane, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION - SUPPORT

g) APPLICATION 09/P/1769/F – Retrospective application for the erection of a

summerhouse/shed on existing hardstanding for Mr D Lynch, 42 Flax Bourton

Road, Failand.

RECOMMENDATION – 2m is insufficient distance from neighbouring dwelling.

Ground levels means that the proposal is 1/2m higher that the fence.

VOTING- Unanimous for REFUSAL. Mention was made of the 2 drives at that property and Inspector’s decision. Enforcement to be alerted.

h) APPLICATION 09/P/1817/LUE – Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use of land

as domestic garden for Mrs K Marchant, Valley View, West Hill, Clevedon Road,

Wraxall.

RECOMMENDATION - Support

INFORMATION ONLY – NAILSEA’s P/A

i) APPLICATION 09/P/1823/F – Extension of the current external escape staircase with the extension of landing at second floor level and new ladder to roof level. Replacement of an existing fire escape door at second floor level for Vetcogray, 2 High Street, Nailsea.

RECOMMENDATION – Support.

EXTRAS TPO’S ~ No.968 – Various trees and hedges at Ashton Hill Farm.

No.969 – Various trees and hedges on land to North of Failand Court.

j) Clerk reported on decisions made by NSC on planning applications previously considered by this Parish Council.

259 HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

a) VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGNS will be installed on B3128 Clevedon Road/Wraxall Hill. These are due to be installed week commencing 16 November 2009 with the posts being installed the week before. Noted.

259A PROW

a) ORCHARD FARM DIVERSION – Following our objection, and a third party objection, this proposal will go before the PROW sub committee of NSC 24/11.

b) PROPOSED DIVERSION OF LA20/42 – Voting unanimous for the proposal.

260 MEETINGS

a) RSS & CORE STRATEGY with NSC ~ NSC are against the proposed 500 houses on land to east of Weston Road, Failand and implied that they will employ the highest level of Barristers to fight any Appeal. Failand would not be part of the Core Strategy. Another meeting to be arranged.

b) CHANGES TO WASTE COLLECTION 20 OCT – No one attended.

Notes available if required.

c) RAPID BUS SCHEME ROUTE 2 – Ashton Vale to Temple Meads.

No one attended.

d) MEETING WITH LANSBURY OF FLP - See 257i

e) GO4LIFE – CADBURY HOUSE HEALTH CLUB & SPA Congresbury

3-8pm 9 November. Noted.

f) VETCOGRAY SITE VISIT ~ Voted worthwhile visit.

g) CPRE AGM - Saturday14 November, Sawmill, Tyntesfield. CPRE are fighting vigorously against the Pylon proposal.

h) NS PARTNERSHIP EVENT 2009 – 9.30–1pm 23 Nov. Winter Gardens, WSM

Improving our communities together – Delivering in changing times.

i) TARMAC Cllrs. Ambrose, King & Sage 2pm 25 November Durnford Quarry

j) VOLUNTARY ACTION AGM 30 November. Noted.

261 CORRESPONDENCE

a) FOREST OF AVON – THE END OF AN ERA & NEW OPPORTUNITIES. Noted.

b) AVON WILDLIFE TRUST – Need our support. Noted.

c) RED TELEPHONE KIOSKS ~ There was a discussion re. Maintenance, Insurance, Vandalism etc for the purchasing for £1.

Voting 5 against, 4 for,

d) WOODLAND TRUST TREE PLANTING DAY – Noted

EXTRAS

PLUNKETT FOUNDATION SURVEY – Cllrs. asked to complete and return.

FAILAND BUS SHELTER – Site Visit requested – Cllrs. Ambrose & Mrs Moon.

HOME COMPOSTING COMPETITION – Noted.

DIGITAL UK – We are asked to help those who cannot understand what is

needed.

262 FINANCE

a) RATIFICATION OF BUDGET FROM 3 NOV.- This is delayed pending the replies to the referendum ~ see 257 a.

EXTRA - ? POSSIBILITY OF ‘FLOORING’ UNDER SWINGS ON MILLENNIUM GREEN.

This would cost circa £3000. It was decided to continue with Bark.

b) ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT – Approved unanimously.

Chq. No. Payee Details Amount

1894	North Somerset Council	Hiring School 13 October	18:00
1895	North Somerset Council	Hiring School 2 October	18:00
DD	BT	Line Rental	44:83
1896	Landscape Services(South West)Ltd	Grass maintenance – October	213:58
S/0	Mrs F Shattock	Salary – October	1080:47
1897	Mrs J Cobb	Safety Reports Mill. Green October	40:00
1898	Mrs F Shattock	Reimburse – Stamps £9:76 Broadband £18.58, Opal telephone calls £15:89	44:23
1899	NSC	Hire of school for budget meeting	18:00
1900	Cllr. Ambrose	Travelling expenses	92.99
1901	Connaught Environmental	Emptying Dog Bins – September	18:40

263 BUSINESS FOR NEXT MEETING – Nil. 264 CHAIRMAN’S URGENT BUSINESS – Nil