Albrighton Civic Society

Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the Albrighton & District Civic Society

held at Lea House, Patshull Rd, Albrighton, on Friday 5^th March 2010 at 2pm

Present Peter Woodman – Chairman

Rod Smith – Secretary

David Hughes – Treasurer

John Bulmer

Hugh Hughes

Peter Leigh

Malcolm Pate

David Beechey – ex-officio, representing Donington-with-Boscobel PC

David Murray – ex-officio, representing Boningale PC

Marylyn Silver – ex-officio, representing Tong PC

Michael Ward – ex-officio, representing Albrighton PC

1. Apologies received from Paul Joseland

2. Minutes of Meeting on 12^th February 2010 were approved.

3. Chairman reported that the Public Meeting held on 22^nd February 2010 had been a success with about 85 people in attendance and set up now with the help of volunteers.

The Treasurer reported:-

Income from raffle organised £37.00

Profit from Society-run bar £20.00

New members joined at meeting £14.00

Income from meeting £71.00

Room Hire £25.00

Net Benefit to Society £46.00

Treasurer thus reported that with the raffle and DIY bar, the meetings could be self financing which would avoid a drain on funds. He reported a sum of £176.30 in the bank account and that the LJC18 grants for Admin (£250) and Entrance Scheme (£2,500) have not yet been received. Entrance Scheme cost so far £82.70.

Chairman said thanks were due to several volunteers, including Chris & Mike Pitchford who organised and ran the raffle.

The Secretary said that 11 people had responded to the request for volunteers and a copy of the list was handed to all committee members for them to request help as appropriate.

4. Actions from last meeting reviewed and Matters Arising.

a) RS reported that he and two neighbours of the site together with AP Cllr Ron Kidson had attended the SC Planning Committee meeting on 2^nd March at Bridgnorth in connection with the third Application for work at The Hollies, Cross Rd. He reported that the procedures left a lot to be desired:- the report by the Planning Officer was only provided upon arrival and there was no time to study it prior to a neighbour and then Cllr Kidson addressing the meeting; the meeting did not address any of the objections nor did the meeting discuss them. Members only discussed whether a drawing had the north point up or down the sheet. DB & DM reported that Cllr Kidson had reported similar comments to the recent APC meeting and had resolved to write to complain to SC. MP said he would ask the Head of Planning and the Chairman of the Planning Committee to be present at the next LJC18 meeting on 24^th March to answer these criticisms. Both AP Councillors and ADCS would prepare to raise the matter at the LJC ACTION: MP

b) Lea Manor Hotel site. DH reported that it was now boarded up and deteriorating and presented a bad appearance. A Planning Application was before the Planning Committee on 30^th March 2010

c) The list of “village treasures” had been located and would be made available.

ACTION: MW

5. Review Progress on

a) Village Entrance Scheme. Task Group: JB/HH/PW

John Bulmer explained that we will make a start on 5 locations this year – Patshull Road/A464, Station Rd/A41, Kingswood Rd/A41, Rectory Rd/High St and Bowling Green Lane/A464and work has already started with applications of herbicides in readiness for weed clearing. We were successful with our application for a grant of £2,500 from the Local Joint Committee 18 of Shropshire Council which will go some way to fund the work. We are grateful to have been offered help from RAF Cosford who will provide some teams (teams of 9 to 15 but need 2 weeks’ notice to Sgt Dean Atkinson) to undertake some ground clearing & planting etc. The RAF declined to re-start litter picking. Our thanks go to Rosemary Blackham, Pat Edwards, David Thompson and Richard Walker for the provision of snowdrops which have been planted at the first four of the above locations. We will make further plantings in April if any more bulbs are given to us. David Austin Roses have agreed to undertake all the work at Bowling Green Lane/A464 which will include the replacement of a hedge by rose bushes by the kind agreement of landowner Mr C Young. Other local firms are arranging to make contributions. We intend to mark the generosity of donors on small plaques at the sites.

PW said the local store of Wyevale will provide some bulbs.

Entrance at Kingswood Rd/Bypass – Elm trees to be removed but cost is too high for ADCS to pay. ACTION: PW to obtain quote from Hartwood and then ask APC for funding.

b) Civic Award Scheme for Schools. Task Group: PW/JB

Birchfield had declined to enter this year but would do so next. PW had spoken to all other schools who are considering the matter.

c) Joint Local Parish Plan. A sub-committee comprising two ADCS committee members (PL & DM) together with two volunteers, led by Paul Joseland, has been set up to focus on this task. DB referred to the Core Strategy Plan which erroneously showed population in Albrighton as 5500 instead of the correct figure of 8156. PJ will circulate a summary with suggested comments to ADCS for review by committee members. Then ADCS and APC will discuss and send comments from each before the deadline of 29^th March 2010. ACTION: PJ

d) Other:-

i) 5 & 6 Cross Road

ACTION: MP to ask SC Highways to look at the broken footpath caused during construction of the new boundary wall to see if it SC’s responsibility or the owner’s. (Post Mtg Note: The rubbish at No. 5 has been removed and the garden walls have been fitted with iron railings which improve the appearance).

ii) The Old Smithy.

PW would speak to Sarah Lowe to have advice on whether she would allow removal of the collapsed/ruined building to be cleared up. PW to write again to David Thompson to ask if this could be done. ACTION: PW

iii) Village Green

MW reported that Brian Bennett (SC) wants to improve the footpath and lay a new cross drain and new gulley near Lloyds Bank – BB had promised to prepare a drawing for submission to APC who will provide the funds. ACTION: MW to chase Brian Bennett

6. AOB

a) JB suggested that a 7.5t lorry ban (except for access) through Albrighton be requested. PJ will include this in the Joint Local Parish Plan. ACTION: PJ

b) PL said we were invited to a meeting of Newport Civic Society on 30^th March to meet their committee and also to hear the presentation by Telford & Wrekin Council on the soon to start renewal of Newport High St. Several nearby Civic Societies were considering forming links and a forum so that common issues could be tacked and for mutual support.

c) Pond/Land at corner of Patshull Rd/Cross Rd

MW confirmed that APC now had a Licence to Plant in the Highway but had asked for some revisions. Once agreed, and after the new roundabout is built (during Easter School Holidays), tree cutting & planting will start. ACTION:MW

d) RS confirmed that on 14^th February the LJC18 committee had recommended that the 50m length of missing footpath at Elm Rd should be built. We now wait for a definite proposal from SC.

e) Alb Station Car Park. PL proposed that some trees be cut down and the ramp be widened towards the Station Rd boundary to provide a larger car park. DB/PL will prepare a briefing note concerning all the problems at the Station and PW will get some publicity.

ACTION: PL/DB/PW

f) Stall at Fayre.

DH will book the same location in front of PW’s house for a stall. DH is converting the paper register of members to a spreadsheet version which will then allow the register to be changed to alphabetic order for use at the stall to renew memberships. We will do as last year and offer membership including a raffle ticket for £1. Donations of bottles to PW. ACTION: DH

Date of next meeting: Friday 9^th April at 2.00pm at Barclay Cottage, Newhouse Lane

Albrighton WV7 3DB (Hugh Hughes 37 2338)

(Following meeting to be on 1^st Friday in month ie Friday 7^th May 2010)