May 2004

The Annual Parish Meeting (not to be confused with the Annual Meting of the Parish Council! – see below) was held on Monday 19^th April and attended by six members of the public. The chairman reviewed the work of both the Parish Council and the Community Partnership and commented upon the valuable and generous work undertaken by the Newchurch Parish Sports and Community Association. Mr Richards CC alerted the meeting to the presence of an “unsung hero” in Mr John Smith who had received the Chairman of the IW Council’s award for his selfless wor

Much of the time at the April monthly meeting was spent dealing with no fewer than nine (9) Planning Applications including revised plans for the residential development on the old site of Bartletts garage, proposals for a holiday bungalow behind Wisteria Cottage and retention of stables in Burnt House Lane, Alverstone, to all three of which the Council raised objections. Traffic and highways matters also featured prominently and the Clerk was instructed to write to the Chair of Governors of Newchurch School expressing the Council’s concern over various issues arising from vehicular traffic associated with the school. He was also instructed to write to Highways regarding the repair and maintenance of traffic-calming measures, modification of speed limits along Canteen Road and extension of yellow lines at “hairpin bend”, Winford.

In response to a conditional offer from Mr T Rand, owner of Wackland Farm, relating to his proposal to develop an Agricultural Dwelling on the farm, the Council decided that, whilst it welcomed both his willingness to dedicate the track between the River Yar and Wackland as a public right of way and his generosity in waiving any right to compensation, it had not been the custom of the Council to provide support for residential Planning Applications, and it did not feel able to make an exception, or to set a precedent, in this instance.

At the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council on Monday 17^th May, Mr Jupe and Miss Cotton were re-elected unopposed as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively and all representatives were similarly reappointed. Some minor amendments for agreed to Standing Orders, including raising the limit on expenditure without the need for competitive tendering to £750. This had remained unchanged at £500 since 1995!

No objections were raised to any of the three (3) Planning Applications under consideration and the Clerk reported eight (8) Planning Decisions. The Council’s accounts for the year ending 31^st March 2004 were presented and accepted. The Clerk and Chairman were authorised to complete the Annual Return based on the accounts for ratification at a later meeting.

The responses from users of the Parish Hall regarding refurbishment options were read and it was agreed to enlist the professional assistance of a local architect to assist with this matter. It was also agreed to provide a handrail at the side of the newly created disabled access ramp and a barrier between the north-east corner of the front wall of the porch and the northernmost new gate post.