Albrighton Civic Society

Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the

Albrighton & District Civic Society

held at APC Office, 82B High St, Albrighton,

on Monday 6^th June 2011 at 2pm

Present :

Peter Woodman - Chairman

Rod Smith – Secretary

John Bulmer

Hugh Hughes

Ron Kidson

Peter Leigh

Mike Pitchford (MP)

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

1. Apologies received from David Hughes, David Murray and Michael Ward

2. Minutes of Meeting of 3^rd May 2010 were approved

3. Main Current Issues

a. Eyesores – comments re the Notes of Meeting with Chris Edwards and Steve Brown.

DB said that SC had agreed to identify the owner of the Village Green which was missing from the Notes of that Meeting. This would be followed up at a next meeting. ACTION: PW to write to Chris Edwards to ask for a meeting ADCS/SC/APC to resolve the matter – PW to circulate a draft.

ADCS and APC would like to see the outcome as the Village Green owned by APC and the Access Roads within it adopted by and maintained by SC.

DB: There was a follow up meeting with Glen McGrandle (SC) arranged for 2pm on 17 June at APC office with SC. (JB & PL to represent ADCS).

ACTION: PW to invite Chris Edwards & Steve Brown to ADCS Committee Meeting in September 2011

b) Entrance Scheme.

Entrance at Patshull Rd/A464 – JB reported most plants doing well but the Linisera on south side are not doing so well due to the flooding. ACTION: JB to ask Boningale Nurseries for replacements. JB suggested we seek compensation from Severn Trent due to the flood. ACTION PW to write to ST.

General: RK suggested that the scheme should also make an identity for the district and all agreed. It was felt that David Austin Roses (and other horticultural businesses) plays a large part in the area’s identity and we should make roses a major prominent feature of the planting scheme.

PW to write to Michael Marriott (DAR) to ask their view.

JB has ordered 2000 No. Narcissus for planting in the autumn.

Applications for funds from the 4 Parish Councils – Tong has declined and no reply from the others.

LJC Grant payment: DH has submitted our list of match funding to access the second tranche (£1250).

c) Schools Civic Awards Scheme.

There will be a display of the winning entries in the Library from 24 June until Fayre Day.

ACTION: RS to put notice in parish magazine

Next year an ADCS representative JB & RK together with Diana Crawford will visit the Head of each school to discuss their involvement and to show examples of this year’s entries. This is to improve and encourage their involvement. ACTION: JB to organise.

Entries to be submitted by end of Spring Term.

d) Albrighton Station.

i) Bridges & Platforms: The letter from PW to Mark Pritchard (MP) had generated a good reply from Network Rail Chief Exec himself saying all will proceed as promised with refurbishment in 2012/13. However APC & ADCS should still press for a meeting with NR and LMT staff to keep the pressure on.

DB reported that he had not manage to contact Adam checkley (NR) for the next meeting.

ii) Station Building. PW reported that Tricia Cooper of Wolverhampton University has agreed to be involved. Local builder has provided an estimate of costs to repair and refurbish the building. PW has spoken to Terry Bolton (the architect who prepared the drawings for the recent restaurant conversions) and he is willing to be involved again.

iii) Parking. ACTION: PW to speak to Tony Perkins, who owns the land alongside the access ramp, to request a meeting to discuss purchase of the land. PW to write to David Thompson concerning use of the corner of the “white land”, adjacent to the station building, as a possible car park.

4. Other items

a) Albrighton Flower Show (2 July). PW to purchase the prize cup.

b) Fayre Day (9 July).

All activity broadly as last year – £1 raffle for bottles provided by committee members (take to PW asap) and to include free membership. Stall has been booked by DH and will be opposite the Methodist Church.

Rota for manning the stall needs at least two members at all times. The writing of raffle tickets and membership register and a barker to entice the public to participate ideally needs three people.

WILL ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS SEE IF THEY CAN EITHER ATTEND THEMSELVES OR FIND ANOTHER WHO WILL HELP.

09.00 – 11.00am Set up stall by PW, RS, DH +?

11.00 – 12.00 JB, HH +?

12.00 – 13.30 DB +?

13.30 – 15.00 DM +?

15.00 - 16.30 PW, RS +?

ACTION:

RS to print membership cards, bring the posters and banners from last year
DH to provide at least 2 paper copies of the Membership List for us to add new members or renewals
DH to provide a cash float
PW to bring raffle tickets, gazebo, table, chairs
All committee members– take bottles to PW

c) Brewood Visit 29^th June. Meet in /Crown Car park at 5.50pm. (Post meeting note: Cars provided by PL & HH for the 9 members attending)

d) Lea Cottage in Newhouse Lane has now been sold to a local resident- we hope that the dilapidation will now be halted and the property brought into good appearance.

e) PW reported that a resident had complained to him about the quality of the sign for the re-opened Spice Hut takeaway on the High Street and that it also appeared to be held in place by tape. DB said that there was no need for planning permission for signs and the shop could decide what it wanted.

f) A revised Planning Application for a new house at Stroudley’s Yard has been made. The new proposal did not address the objections made to the first application so ADCS (and it is understood also APC) will write to object and will seek to speak at the SC planning meeting. ACTION: PW

Next meeting: 2 p.m. Monday 4^th July 2011

Following Meeting will be at 2pm on Monday 1^st August 2011.

All Committee Meetings, unless otherwise noted, are at Alb PC Offices, 82B High Street, Albrighton WV7 3JA (T: 375455)