MINUTES OF THE HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE MEETING
ON TUESDAY 24th NOVEMBER 2009 Present: Cllr Winney Cllr M Jones Cllr S Jones
Cllr Cusack Cllr Frank
In attendance: Alison Hobson, Penny Ibbotson H57 Declarations of Interest
Cllr S Jones declared a personal interest in item H67 & Cllr Cusack declared a personal interest in item H59: residents parking. H58 To confirm the Minutes of Previous Meetings held on 22nd September 2009 & 15th October 2009
It was RESOLVED to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd September 2009 (pp080-082 09/10) as a true and accurate record of the proceedings (Cllr S Jones abstained).
It was RESOLVED to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15th October 2009 (pp091a-091b 09/10) as a true and accurate record of the proceedings (Cllr Frank abstained). H59 Review of Matters Arising from Previous minutes:
Residents Parking – Gloucestershire Highways is undertaking a review and a new policy will be in place at the end of the year.
ACTION: The Clerk to contact Gloucestershire Highways for an update. No 74 diversion to Horcott – No response to date
ACTION: The Clerk to chase Swindon Borough Council Dog waste bin for Betterton’s Close – This has been fitted and is in use. Quarry Alley – CDC are to be asked if they are willing to donate towards the cost of maintenance of this land if FTC agrees to take over responsibility.
ACTION: The Clerk to contact CDC
(Post Meeting Note: A meeting has been requested by CDC to discuss the handover of Quarry Alley on either 4th or 8th December) Seat in bus shelter – Coln House School has kindly agreed to help with boxing in of the bus shelter seat. Keble Alley surface – It was agreed that this path really needs a tarmac surface.
ACTION: The Clerk to chase Public Rights of Way and submit another request for resurfacing with tarmac. H60 To receive income and expenditure for Highways committee
Recent maintenance work by Councillors has helped save considerable money from the budget.
Local resident Sid Flatman has been helping with repair of some of the gravestones, again causing a saving to the Town Council. CHURCHYARD/BURIAL GROUND
H61 To discuss feedback from Andy Slade ref future management of grave spaces in New Burial Ground
Andy Slade will follow the proposed order of grave spaces with the exception of when there is a requirement for a single depth grave, then this will go at the end of Row D to finish the final 4 spaces on this row. This should avoid the potential difficulties of water logging and access for machinery when the Burial Ground is nearing completion. H62 To receive letter from Ernest Cook Trust ref future Burial Ground
The letter states the Ernest Cook Trust’s firm intention to sell the required land at a concessionary rate, when it is needed by the Town Council for a future burial ground. It was agreed that this process must be started well in advance of the land being needed for burials to allow sufficient time to apply for planning permission, create an access etc.
ACTIONS: The Clerk to write an acknowledgement to ECT.
The Clerk to circulate a copy of the letter to all Councillors via the Full Council correspondence list. HIGHWAYS
H63 To consider alternative light bollards for lighting of Horcott path
Cllr Frank has located a possible alternative supplier of lighting bollards: Vandalite Lighting Ltd. The light bollards are used in town centres such as Bradford and Bolton and have the same level of vandal resistance as the Design Plan bollard. Cllr Frank has asked if there any in situ near Fairford.
It was agreed that a black root mounted Boston with a domed top would be suitable – approx cost £155 per unit.
ACTIONS: Cllr Frank to ask for a sample. H64 To discuss request for new street light on Hatherop Lane
It has been reported that the path leading from Aldsworth Close to Hatherop Lane is poorly lit. Gloucestershire Highways is willing to replace the existing bus stop post with a lighting column at a cost of £1,500 – this would be shared 50/50 with GCC/FTC.
It was agreed that before a decision is made, Councillors should visit the site to assess the situation. An alley survey was carried out a few years ago by Cllrs Dowler and Hing – this is to be circulated to committee members.
ACTIONS: Cllrs to carry out a site visit.
The Clerk to circulate the alley lighting survey. H65 To discuss proposed bus shelter following Nov Full Council meeting decision to reject proposal for a bus shelter on Park Street.
It was RESOLVED not to continue with the project to install a bus shelter. This is due to the problems in locating a bus stop where originally requested and the lack of demand from residents. H66 To update on proposed car park outside Fairford Library
It was RESOLVED not to continue with the project to install a car park outside the library. This is due to the difficulty in creating an access onto the A417 that fits in with County requirements. H67 To discuss request for ‘No Cycling’ sign to be installed at entrances to footpath link from Courtbrook to Moor Lane
It was RESOLVED not to increase street clutter by installing additional signage at the entrance to this footpath. It is illegal to cycle on footpaths and pavements and residents should already be aware of this fact. H68 To discuss suggestion from Fairford Preservation Trust to name the road to Honeycombe Leaze the ‘Blackford Road’
The road is currently named Welsh Way on street maps. It was agreed to contact CDC to ask what would be the cost and implications, if the road name was changed to Blackford Road as it would be unfortunate to lose this local name. It was suggested that the name Blackford Road could run from the Sunhill Close junction to Honeycombe Leaze, as this would avoid any changes of address for properties.
ACTION: The Clerk to contact CDC to discuss.
FOOTPATHS
H69 To receive copy of Fairford Footpath survey by David Lawrence
David Lawrence has completed his annual survey of Fairford’s footpaths and reported ‘the footpaths are now, in my opinion, in a better state than at any time during the seven years I have lived in Fairford’.
He does however report two top priorities that need to be carried out with respect to public footpath 21:
1. The section from Gas Lane to Dilly’s Bridge which is frequently impassable due to puddles across the entire width. He highlights that this footpath is not simply used for recreation, but is the access route for those living in Horcott who are travelling on foot to central Fairford.
2. An approx 20m stretch just west of Snake Lane which is frequently impassably muddy. The Town Council is very much aware of these two issues and understands that it is the land owners responsibility to keep footpaths open. Public Rights of Way (PROW) is also aware of these problems.
A similar situation occurs on footpath 32 east of Horcott Farm, and was raised in the letter from the Preservation Trust – PROW has also been made aware of this.
ACTION: The Clerk to chase PROW again for action to improve the state of the two lengths of footpath 21 and footpath 32. H70 To discuss suggestion from Fairford Preservation Trust to create a link footpath from the Burdocks path to Horcott Lakes
This link is already used informally and access is available from either end.
ACTION: The Clerk to contact the landowner (Hanson’s) to ask about the possibility of creating a permissive path to link the Burdocks path with the Horcott Lakes permissive path.
MAINTENANCE
H71 To discuss request for a blue and yellow colour scheme for the spring flower tubs to celebrate 100 years of Girl Guiding.
It was agreed to use a blue and yellow colour scheme for the summer bedding in the flower tubs for 2010. Coln House School has already been contacted and is happy to do this. The reasons for the colour scheme need to be promoted nearer the time.
ACTION: The Clerk to ask Coln House School to plan for a blue and yellow colour scheme for summer 2010. H72To discuss the appointment of grass cutting and footpath maintenance contractors for 2010/2011
It was RESOLVED to retain the services of Beds and Baskets for all the grass cutting in 2010 as the Town Council is very happy with the work during 2009. A 2% increase in 2009 prices has been quoted for 2010.
ACTION: The Clerk to write to thank Beds and Baskets and confirm appointment for 2010. It was RESOLVED to go out to tender for the footpath maintenance work.
ACTION: The Clerk to prepare a schedule of work and contact contractors. H73 Items the Chair considers urgent:
• ACTION: The Clerk to send a letter to Sid Flatman to thank him for his help in the Churchyard.
• Gloucestershire County Council is consulting on The Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) – available to view online on www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/talkingtransport . Copies of the questionnaire were circulated for completion by Tuesday 19th January 2010 to allow co-ordination into one joint response for review at the next meeting.
ACTION: Councillors to complete questionnaire and return to the Clerk.
• The ‘Give Way’ signs at the junction of the Southrop Road and A417 are becoming overgrown with foliage. ACTION: The Clerk to report to Highways
• There is a spelling mistake in one of the entrance signs to Honeycombe Leaze. ACTION: The Clerk to report to Highways H74 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 26th January 2010
|
