PRESENT: Councillors Ms. P. Hutchings in the Chair, Mrs. D. Goodman, (Vice-Chair), Mrs. D. Peace and Mr. E. Roberts.
Mr. J. F. Marcham – Parish Clerk.
17 Electors.
APOLOGIES: Mrs. Linda Buckle.
H1 to H4: New Housing Numbers; New Housing in Settlements; Housing in the Countryside; New Housing Scale.
The parish was once one of 12 rural areas highlighted for future development. Since the new T&W Core Strategy has been implemented the community is positively excluded from any further development.
H5: Affordable Housing
A full debate took place in 2007/08 regarding affordable housing and there was strong opposition to it. The land was subsequently withdrawn from sale and no housing need survey was undertaken.
H8: Commercial Developments
One development has taken place in barn supporting a small scale timber frame builder,
H10: Listed Buildings
One of the points opposing the UK Coal planning application was the threat to listed buildings.
H11: Energy Supply
The Clerk had written to seek clarification from STWA regarding the water pumps.
H12 & 13: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
CRed had been established and was proving very successful in both the energy efficiency and renewable energy areas.
H14: Street Lighting
There had been a desire to reduce the level of lighting in Crofters View but as the lighting was provided by the local authority and met their standard the level of lighting could not be reduced.
Concerns were expressed about the poor level of lighting around the village and the wish for it to be improved.
H15: Pavements & Street Parking
Concerns were expressed about the dangers of cars parking in inappropriate locations at the foot of the Wrekin.
There was a desire for a 40 mph speed limit to be placed on the rural roads.
Concern was also expressed about the speed of traffic on Wellington Road.
C1: Designated Areas
The Parish Council had made a lengthy response to the UK Coal Planning Application in relation to designated areas.
C2: Farming & Woodland
Creation of a community orchard with many wild flowers.
C4: Rights of Way
Modification orders, some having been outstanding for more than 15 years, and other changes to Rights of Way need to be made.
The Benchwalks have been completed.
The new styles are excellent and further ones will be installed over time.
C5: The Wrekin
We are working with Pete Lambert and Friends of the Wrekin and there are many new developments projected including a visitor centre. Toilet facilities would be included in the new centre.
C6: Roads
We are looking at a Quiet Lanes Project.
C7: Mineral Extraction
The Parish Council had viperously opposed the UK Coal planning application for an open cast site near to New Works.
C8: Waste Disposal
The liaison committee meets regularly with Veolia and is involved in the restoration of the Coalmoor DPP site.
Concerns were raised about the height of the mounds on the Candles Site. The Parish Clerk would write to the Minerals Officer for assurance that the levels were within acceptable perimeters.
C9: Litter & Fly Tipping
The parish had its own team of litter pickers – the Little Wenlock Wombles.
T&W should be informed of any fly-tipping.
Where fly-tipping take place on private land the owner of the land is responsible for its removal e.g. local farmers. Approach T&W to remove fly-tipping from private land.
C10: Verges & Planting
The verges have now been planted with bulbs and wild flowers.
C11: Highways Maintenance
Pot holes in the road still cause concern and drains need regular cleaning.
There was concern over what the T&W guidelines were regarding the repair of pot holes and general highway maintenance.
C12: Snow Clearing & Gritting
The road from the Forest Glen to Little Wenlock via Willowmoor was now gritted.
S1: Post Office & Shop
Although no Post Office and shop it was important to keep this in the plan as although we will not get a post office a mobile van is a possibility.
S2: Village Hall
We have a thriving Village Hall.
S3: Playing Field
We need to ask young people what they would like.
S5: Public Transport
The new Twister bus service was in place and young people could take advantage of Wheels to Work.
S6: Crime Prevention
There was an active NHW scheme within the parish.
S7: Education
Advice was available from the Parish Clerk.
S8: Support for Young People
There was no Youth Club at the moment. We need to ask Young people what they would like.
S9: Healthcare
First Responder Team – would the provision be appropriate and would parishioners be willing to be involved in such a scheme.
The parish could register those persons who were first aiders if they were willing to be called on. A training scheme for first aiders could be introduced. A survey could take place to find out who would be interested.
S10: Support for the Elderly
See H14.
S11: Home Working
Concern was expressed about the speed of the internet service provided by BT to the parish. A survey to find out the view of the parishioners, what sort of speeds they are able to access and information on their ISP’s.
S12: Waste Recycling & Disposal
The community has adequate recycling facilities but they are all based in Little Wenlock.
S13: Emergency Planning
The Parish Clerk is consulting with T&W over the construction of an emergency plan.
C14: Local Information
The Community Newsletter is now published every 2 months. There is an electronic notice board in The Huntsman. The parish website now has a BLOG added for discussion.
A letter from Linda Buckle was read out by the Chairman.
The main issues of concern expressed at the meeting were: