Report
of a meeting of the Parish Council of
Castle Hedingham held on Wednesday 11th August
2004 –
issued by the Clerk
Road
Resurfacing– Two letters from
residents concerned about drainage problems and puddling on the new
surface following the work were read to the meeting. The
County
Councillor confirmed that Highways and Anglian Water are
investigating drainage problems in the area and these should be
resolved. One resident had expressed concern that
the
works had changed the camber of the road causing water to accumulate
outside his property. The County Councillor confirmed that
the
new surfacing will compact and that ultimately the camber of the road
would be no different to before the works took place.
Keep
Clear Sign It
was noted that
Highways have now painted the ‘keep clear’ sign in
the
correct place on the road at the junction of Church Lane and Church
Ponds. However the sign painted in the wrong place still
remains. This is causing considerable congestion in the area
and neither the Mobile Library or Refuse Lorry can gain access to
Church Lane. It was agreed to ask the County
Councillor
for help to resolve this problem.
Queen
Street Priority Scheme – Essex
County Council have advised that they have instructed the contractor
to move ahead with the build-out. However it is not be
practical to begin work until after the harvest season because as
traffic management will be necessary in order to work safely and the
harvesters will not be able to get through. It is therefore
anticipated that work will start around the end of September.
Essex County Council have also decided not to include bollards in the
scheme at the present time as they are concerned about the potential
for them to become missiles if struck and that they would not be in
keeping with the area.
Ibstocks
Planning Application - It was
noted that this application had been granted. It was agreed
that the modifications included had meant that a fair result had been
achieved.
Youth
Elections - Youth Elections
are to take place on 6th – 11th
December. The assembly mirrors the adult County Council and
members are elected for 1 year. Prospective candidates aged
between 13 and 19 years old are sought and packs are available from
1st September 2004 by telephoning 01206
711163.
Police
Response – The meeting
discussed in detail several incidents involving antisocial behaviour
in the village where parishioners had experienced great difficulty in
getting a response from the police even when 999 was dialled.
It was agreed that these problems stem in part from the software used
at the central call centre which is post code based. It was
agreed that local officers provide an excellent service but were
hampered by delays in receiving information about requests for
assistance from the central call centre. The County
Councillor
confirmed these concerns are county wide and this matter will be
raised with the Chief Constable at a meeting on 19th
August. He will feed the results of this meeting back to the
Parish Council. Councillors were also encouraged to attend a
meeting with the Police Consultative Group on 18th
October
in Sible Hedingham.
Planning
Applications
The Parish Council had
no objections to the following applications: Appln:.
04/01268/FUL
- Erection of lounge extension and
artist’s
studio - 6 Crown Street, Castle Hedingham; Appln.:
04/01284/FUL –
erection of extension and alterations -
Rushley
Green Farm, Rushley Green, Castle Hedingham; Appln.:
04/01465/FUL
& 04/1466/LBC -
Erection of rear
extension and minor internal alterations - 33 Bayley Street, Castle
Hedingham and, Appln.: 04/01503/FUL -
Erection of extension and alterations for additional teaching and
library areas - De Vere Primary School, Kirby Hall Lane, Castle
Hedingham.
Appln.:
04/01240/FUL -
Erection of first floor
extension - Fourwinds, Kirby Hall Road, Castle Hedingham
–
Object – The application seems to be little different from
the
previous submission. The scale of this extension alters the
current bungalow size of the present property. Fourwinds is
in
open countryside outside the village envelope and this proposal would
have a major impact on the countryside both in terms of scale and
visual impact.
Speed
Indicator Device – A resident
had written to Essex County Council to request the installation of a
Speed Indicator Device on Sudbury Hill. They had advised her
that Essex Police do have two of these mobile signs available, which
the Parish Council could request are installed in the
village.
It was agreed to request a sign on Sudbury Hill.
Cemetery
Drainage – Councillors
considered a very comprehensive report regarding the drainage at the
cemetery. The report recommends further investigations
involving drilling bore holes and monitoring the water
levels.
Following this investigation recommendation for remedial works could
be made. The cost of the investigation would be circa
£2,000.
This matter was discussed in detail and it was agreed that the
problem is very serious and is on the point of making burials
impossible on the current site. It was agreed to try to
establish whether the unused section of the cemetery would be more
suitable for burials as this would allow the Parish Council more time
to carry out further investigations; establish what works are
required to improve the drainage and, how these works would be
funded. Mr Philp agreed to dig three trenches, which will be
covered to prevent accidents. He will advise Mr Hood and Mr
Cooke when they have been dug and they agreed to monitor water levels
in the holes.
Churchyard
Shrubs -
The Chairman had
received a request from a parishioner that shrubs along the edge of
the Churchyard be cut back. It was agreed that a working
party
will undertake this task. Membership – Mrs Allfrey,
Mr
Hood, Mr Seaman and Mrs Moffat.
Village
Booklet - The Parish Council
are revising the village booklet. It was agreed that a
separate
section in which details of businesses based in the village should be
included. Businesses are invited to express an interest in
being included in the booklet by the end of October 2004. If
you are interested please write to the Clerk at 3 Hawthorns, Sible
Hedingham CO9 3PD
Meeting
Date: 15th
September
- 7.45 p.m. Old Court House, Castle Hedingham .
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