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MINUTES OF THE HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 25TH MAY 2010
Present: Cllr Cusack Cllr Hinton Cllr Mumford
Cllr Boulton Cllr M Jones In attendance: 4 members of public (part), Penny Ibbotson Apologies: Cllr Winney Cllr Cusack acted as Chair. As members of the public were interested in item H09, it was RESOLVED to bring this item forward to after item H03. H01 To elect a Chair for Highways
Cllr M Jones proposed Cllr Boulton as Chair of Highways. Cllr Hinton seconded and all were in favour. Cllr Boulton took the Chair. H02 Declarations of Interest
None declared H03 To confirm the Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 23rd March 2010
It was RESOLVED to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd March 2010 (pp165-168 09/10) as a true and accurate record of the proceedings. H09 To receive copy of letter from residents regarding potholes in Milton Street and response from GCC
It was RESOLVED to adjourn the meeting to allow members of the public to speak.
The letter from GCC dated 14th May 2010 was read out. Residents raised their concerns;
• A drain outside Northville on Milton Street needed to be repaired 18 months ago and the work still had not been carried out.
• Previous patching work had not been successful and the tarmac had come out almost immediately. Apparently, Highways will no longer be using this particular process due to various problems with it.
• The buildings along Milton Street are suffering damage from water spray and heavy vehicle vibrations.
• Heavy vehicles travel too fast along Milton street and often mount the pavements.
• The viaduct by Waterloo Lane has collapsed. The committee advised residents that various attempts to downgrade the A417 had been made, but were not successful.
ACTIONS: Councillors to record what work needs to carried out along Milton Street and advise Clerk. The Clerk to contact Highways and request that if the major improvement scheme is not imminent, small repairs should be carried out in the meantime. The letter to be copied to County Cllr Theodoulou and Mr Pitts (resident)
ACTION: The Clerk to contact GCC and ask when the Lorry Controlled Area is to be extended to cover Fairford and when the Spine Route is to be sufficiently upgraded to be a suitable Freight Route. Members of the public left the meeting. It was RESOLVED to reconvene the meeting. H04 Review of Matters Arising from Previous minutes:
No 74 diversion to Horcott: The Clerk has chased Swindon Borough Council for a response but no reply to date. APL Travel has also been contacted about the 877 being diverted down Horcott road – no response to date. Footpath link from Burdocks to Horcott Lake: The Clerk has chased for a response – no reply to date.
Hatherop Road Light: There has not been a decision on the CDC grant application yet. The FTC Finance committee needed further information before deciding whether to support the proposal. Cllr Wardle is preparing a form for completion.
ACTION: The Clerk to complete form and submit to Full Council or Finance for approval. River Walk reinstatement: The outstanding work by Public Rights of Way (PROW) has been chased and should be completed in the next few weeks.
There is a stretch of footpath near Snake Lane where the river is eroding the bank and making the path very narrow. PROW has been in contact with the Environment Agency as to the best solution to deal with this problem.
There has been a problem of groups of young people gathering by the river at lunch times and evenings. They are leaving large amounts of litter, creating noise disturbance and driving vehicles across the fields.
ACTION: Cllr Cusack to raise the issue with PC Jupp and talk to Ann Stokes at Farmor’s School. Cllr Mumford will also raise the issue with one of the School Governors. H05 To receive income and expenditure for Highways committee
The income and expenditure was received. As it is early in the financial year, there had only been one payment of £82 for grass cutting. CHURCHYARD/BURIAL GROUND
H06 Churchyard walls – ownership
The Clerk had contacted the Ernest Cook Trust and the wall in the New Burial Ground is the responsibility of the Town Council. ECT will be sending a map of wall ownership for confirmation.
ACTION: The Clerk to obtain a cost estimate for erecting a fence alongside the wall as support and to protect the Burial Ground in case of collapse. H07 To discuss carrying out a Risk Assessment of Churchyard & Burial Ground
A resident tripped over recently in the Burial Ground, near the steps to Mill Lane. She cut her face on a metal pole. Work has now been carried out to avoid a similar incident in the future.
The steps need to be added to the Risk Assessment sheet.
ACTION: It was agreed all Councillors are to meet at 6pm on Tuesday 29th June to carry out a Risk assessment. HIGHWAYS H08 Grass Cutting in The Quarry
The area of grass that used to be cut by Fosseway is now the responsibility of CDC. It is to be cut on a 10 day cycle. CDC will also be cutting back a tree in this area, which is blocking light to houses. H09 To receive copy of letter from residents regarding potholes in Milton Street and response from GCC
Item discussed earlier. H10 To discuss items raised at Council Surgery on 7th April
i. Footpath from Dilly’s Bridge to Market Place: The landowner is willing to have crushed stone laid along the surface of the path. This has been passed onto PROW to organise.
ii. Heavy traffic on A417 & parking by Railway Inn: Heavy traffic has already been discussed under item H09. GCC Highways intends to put parking restrictions on the corner of Lower Croft and A417. A Traffic Order has not been issued yet, as it will be included with a Traffic Order for parking restrictions for the High Street and Market Place, when agreed. H11To approve cost of planting flower tubs in Market Place (£240)
It was RESOLVED to approve the cost of £240 for flower plants from Coln House School. H12 To discuss letter from GCC ref bins on Back Lane
GCC Highways does not intend to take the dispute further and has asked FTC to become more involved. Cllr Cusack has already discussed the issues with the people involved but will approach them again. H13 To discuss problem of Heavy lorries using Horcott Road
A resident has reported that there seems to be an increase in heavy vehicles using Horcott Road. In the next newsletter, residents will be asked to take registration details etc and report them to the Town Council. These can then be passed onto Trading Standards.
Cllr Mumford reported that Horcott Road is shown as an access route for heavy vehicles on the GCC Freight Route map. ACTION: The Clerk to raise this issue with GCC. H14 Items the Chair considers urgent:
The committee has been asked to look at items raised under Horizon 2015:
1. Improve crime prevention in the town (cctv, parking control) O
2. Investigate Resident Parking Order O
3. Review and reduce speed limits O
4. More courtesy speed warning indicators
5. Maintain existing standard of footpaths and cycle paths O
6. Seek improvement to road and footpath surfaces O
7. Improve safety of children walking and cycling to school
8. Improve street lighting in Milton place and parts of Horcott
9. Ensure churchyard and verges are maintained to a high standard O
10. Provide land for new burial ground for Fairford 5ys+ Items followed by an ‘O’ are already ongoing as part of the general Highways responsibilities.
The burial ground is earmarked but not likely to be needed for about 15yrs. The remaining 3 items could be considered within the next 5yrs.
The footpath from the Cricket Club to the schools has a strong camber and needs improving. The School Travel Plan needs re-activating to remind residents of the access via The Park for pedestrians.
Speed warning indicators would be useful along London Road, at the start of both the 40mph and 30mph limits.
Pedestrian crossing signs are needed at the build out near the library.
The location of the notice board in Horcott needs to be reviewed, to check it is in the most suitable position.
Successes also need to be included, such as the extension of the 30mph speed limit along Coronation Street.
ACTION: The committee to think about possible future projects for the town. H15 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 27th July 2010
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