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MINUTES
Please note that these minutes will
not be approved until presented at next years APM.
MINUTES OF THE TROWELL ANNUAL PARISH
MEETING HELD IN THE PARISH HALL ON TUESDAY 28TH APRIL 2009 AT 7.30PM.
Present: Cllr. S Hallam, Chairman.
Cllrs. G. Lockwood, K.E. Rigby (Parish, Borough & County Council),
Mrs. J.E. Bryant, W.J. Bryant, Mrs. M. Birkitt, K. Birkitt, Mrs.
L. Harley, Mrs. P. Cardwell, Mrs. C. McGann, R, McGann and approx.
25 parishioners.
Clerk: Mrs. A.K. Mitchell.
Cllr. Hallam opened the meeting
& thanked everyone for attending especially those taking part
in the market place exhibition. He then went on to announce the
fire safety formalities & introduce himself to those in attendance.
Apologies were received from the
Revd Andy Lord (other commitments) & Dr. Nick Palmer MP (other
commitments).
Copies of the minutes of the previous
Annual Parish Meeting held on 22nd April 2008, had been distributed
prior to the start of the meeting, & were moved for acceptance
by Cllr. Rigby, seconded by Cllr. R. McGann. All in favour.
Cllr. Hallam then presented his
report. Cllr. Hallam advised that this had been his second year
as Chair & said that it had been a very challenging twelve months.
He went on to say that the Parish Council has an excellent team
who attend all Committees & work together for the benefit of
the community. He reported that there are 3 members of staff, the
clerk, the caretaker & the relief caretaker, there are also
the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators who assist the Parish Council
by delivering newsletters & also the ladies who regularly volunteer
to providing the refreshments for meeting's & events such as
tonight's. Cllr. Hallam thanked all those involved for their contributions
to the work of the Parish Council.
Cllr. Hallam added that all the
Members of the Parish Council are not paid, they are all volunteers.
Cllr. Hallam reported that the
Parish Council has been facing increasing costs over the past year.
He added that the Parish Hall is used almost everyday & brings
with it certain responsibilities which has made it necessary to
increase staff hours. He advised that a security company is employed
for the site & whilst this increases costs, it reduces levels
of anti-social behaviour. Fuel costs relating to the Parish Hall
have also increased as they have for everyone else.
Cllr. Hallam advised that as part
of the budgetary process the Parish Council tries to keep the increases
as low as possible but some costs are out of the Members' control.
Cllr. Hallam also reported on other
issues including Stanton Bonna, the Village Christmas Event &
the village Christmas lights. In relation to the Christmas lights
he advised that the Parish Council is looking forward to making
improved arrangements for Christmas 2009.
Cllr. Hallam advised those present
that the Parish Council still provides an Open Forum facility at
its Parish Council meetings which is not always utilized to its
fullest extent.
Cllr. Hallam also went on to mention
the following items - the Parish Plan, the Parish Design Statement,
the youth centre, new fire regulations at the Parish Hall &
the subsequent installation of a fire alarm, the Daniel Smith concert,
the Revival concert & risk assessments.
Cllr. Hallam then advised those
present of issues that the Parish Council wish to tackle in the
future. These included - further improvements to the Parish Hall
play park, Parish Hall issues, Christmas lights, C.C.T.V., working
with Trowell F.C. & replacement kitchen flooring at the Parish
Hall.
Cllr. Hallam then went onto mention
some of the day to day issues dealt with by the Parish Council,
including the recent closure of Stapleford Road. Cllr. Hallam advised
that although the Parish Council had not received a specific presentation
on the project, Cllr. Rigby had been heavily involved in its planning.
This concluded the Chairman's Report.
Cllr. Hallam then invited questions
from the floor.
Barry Ward - Ilkeston Road.
Mr. Ward commented that all three major candidates standing in the
forthcoming County Council elections are pushing for traffic lights
on Church Corner despite the recent horrendous experiment with them
during the road closure.
Cllr. Rigby commented that during
the recent road closure the village lost a major through route &
as a result there was an unbelievable amount of traffic on the A609.
Cllr. Rigby said that the situation was not a fair trial of the
proposal as all the traffic was on one road. He also said that the
experiment had not been a failure for the 650 houses which have
been isolated by the works.
Cllr. Rigby advised that he had
originally raised this issue 10 or 12 years ago. Unfortunately the
junction has failed to meet the survey criteria on 3 occasions.
It did meet the required levels at peak times but not at off peak.
However, waiting times can be anything between 3 & 5 minutes
& people then get frustrated which leads to minor accidents.
Cllr. Rigby reported that there
have been no major incidents at the junction, so the location is
not recorded as a statistic at NCC. Cllr. Rigby added that he thinks
that traffic lights would therefore help at the site but he feels
that the location may never meet the required criteria at non-peak
times.
Mr. Ward commented that it may
be an improvement for Stapleford Road & Balloon Woods. He added
that there is often a log jam caused at junctions where there are
right hand turns.
Cllr. Rigby advised that for the
first two days of the road closure, the traffic jam went as far
back as Tesco in Ilkeston. It was apparent tat when there were 12-15
vehicles wanting to turn right at Balloon Woods; it prevented all
other vehicles proceeding out of Nottingham Road. He reported that
on that Thursday he met with NCC Officers to arrange for the timing
of the right turn traffic light to be dramatically extended. As
a result the queue no longer stretches right the way back along
Ilkeston Road. Cllr. Rigby advised the timings will have to be put
back to normal once Stapleford Road has been reopened.
Cllr. Rigby commented that for
Church Corner two lanes is not an option as there are major services
underground & therefore the carriageway cannot be widened but
he agreed that this would be the best suggestion.
Mrs. Hughes - Ilkeston Road.
Mrs. Hughes commented that whilst she agreed with the change in
traffic light timings at Balloon Woods but she did not agree with
the traffic lights at Church Corner. She reported that Barratt's
lorries have been going through the lights whilst they are on red.
Cllr. Mrs. Bryant - Kingsmead Avenue.
Cllr. Mrs. Bryant advised that she would offer a different point
of view. As she lives on the Trowell Park development she has had
to alter her usual route to work because of the road closure &
in her opinion, without those temporary lights she would not have
been able to get out of the village at all. She added that she does
not have a choice of another route to get out of the village by
a certain time.
Mr. Ward advised that he was not
referring to the current situation but to when things are back to
normal. He commented that when traffic is backed up waiting along
Ilkeston Road, drivers will not let residents' vehicles out of their
driveways. He thinks appropriate signage would help.
Cllr. Bryant commented that it
is those queuing to turn right off Ilkeston Road that blocks the
junction for those wanting to turn right out of Stapleford Road.
He added that the installation of traffic lights would solve this,
the re-opening of Stapleford Road will not.
Mr. Ward repeated that he was not
talking about the current situation but when circumstances are returned
to normal. He commented that he has no option but to leave his property
via Ilkeston Road as there is no other means of access.
Cllr. Rigby said that although
he disagreed with Mr. Ward's point of view he did not think that
Mr. Ward should worry too much as the application for traffic lights
has already failed three times.
Mrs. Rice.
Mrs. Rice asked if there was any way to stop motorbikes being ridden
along the canal bank. Cllr. Hallam advised that the Parish Council
has raised this issue before but there is no reason why it cannot
report the matter again to the Area Commander, Inspector Stapleford.
Mr. Ward.
Mr. Ward raised the issue of the drains on Ilkeston Road. He advised
that the day before the footpath between property numbers 42 - 58
had been under water. He added that water was also coming up through
the drains & formed a lake where the seat is. He added that
although the drain itself has been cleaned out on a number of occasions
it appears that the problem seems to be between that drain &
the main itself.
Cllr. Rigby advised that there
is a huge problem with the drains along Ilkeston Road & he has
great sympathy of the owners of the properties between numbers 32-40.
He advised that there only needs to be a short sharp shower &
the water comes up under their floor boards.
Cllr. Rigby added that he has received
an email from STW & they are coming to carry out a CCTV survey.
He advised that BBC have already done one & carried out dye
tests. Cllr. Rigby commented that he thinks that there is something
seriously wrong; he added that he doesn't think the 5 willow trees
help the situation. He advised that once the CCTV survey is complete
he will Chair a meeting between STW, BBC & NCC to formulate
a solution to the problem as has been the outcome of the Stapleford
Road issue. Cllr. Rigby commented that the fall of the pipe in the
area is not what it should be & the pressure of water at the
location is also an issue.
Mr. Ward advised that Mr. Delaney
had visited the site recently as after a grate broke near number
42 it was tarmaced over. He commented that if the water cannot get
away then clearing the drains will not help.
Cllr. Rigby said that he agrees
that there are a whole multitude of problems including a capacity
issue. He agreed to take Mr. Ward's concerns forward as part of
the process. He advised that there are various issues to be addressed
including cost, responsibility, sewerage etc. Mr. Ward concurred
that there must be a serious problem if foul water is mixing with
surface water to get away.
Mrs. Hughes.
Mrs. Hughes asked if there was any truth in the rumour being circulated
by workmen that the Stapleford Road works are ahead of schedule.
Cllr. Rigby said that he did not
wish to comment on this matter publicly in case the scheme then
hit a snag.
Mrs. Cook asked if a tank was being
installed at the site.
Cllr. Rigby advised that this was
the original solution but instead a huge concrete pipe has been
installed under Stapleford Road which will act as a large reservoir.
There is a small pipe at the end of it which then only allows a
certain amount of water through at any one time.
A resident commented that they
have heard a rumour that 600 houses are to be built off Stapleford
Road & that is why the pipe has been installed.
Cllr. Rigby advised that the Stapleford
Road scheme is to solve the already existent problem & nothing
to do with any development which may or may not happen in the future.
He added that previous planning applications for the nearby site
have included holding ponds to take the new water any development
would create.
A resident then commented that
the housing development on the Stanton site has been held back.
He then asked what is the proposed number of houses for this site
& also the preferred access routes.
Cllr. Rigby advised that this development
is over the border & therefore the responsibility of EBC. He
added that the total number of houses that EBC have been given to
build can be met on that one site. It has been said that the site
can accommodate 5,000 new homes. He went onto say that BBC has a
shortfall of 4,000 new homes which cannot be accommodated on brownfield
sites in the borough.
Cllr. Rigby reported that the major
problem EBC has is that there will have to be a major road into
& out of the site as the proposals are equivalent to a new town.
He advised that consultants suggested 8 possible routes & these
have now been whittled down to a possible 2 or 3. The shortest route
cuts through greenbelt land would link up to the M1 & would
cost in the region of £20million.
Cllr. Rigby advised that there
is a strong lobby in Erewash & EBC is currently looking at another
route which would be two thirds in BBC. This proposed route would
run alongside the River Erewash & the railway line & come
out at Toton Sidings. He added that it would cost £80 million
to put a road into Toton Sidings but then BBC could develop that
site.
Cllr. Rigby went on to say that
the action group would like to see Moorbridge Lane, Stapleford Road
& Ilkeston Road widened but he has dismissed this suggestion
completely. This route was not an official proposal but it appears
that whilst the action group does not object to the development
itself, they do not want the road that goes with it. Cllr. Rigby
commented that he thinks inevitably some traffic from the new development
would come through Trowell.
Cllr. Rigby outlined the proposals
that would involve a banana shaped site from Fields Farm to Bilborough
College. This development would take 5,000 houses across the whole
area. If this along with the Stanton development goes ahead Trowell
could be swallowed up between two new towns.
Mr. Ward commented that there is
a rumour circulating that the Festival Inn are proposing to submit
a planning application & he is concerned where this would leave
the Ilkeston Road drainage issues.
Cllr. Hallam advised that any STW
survey should take this into account. He added that any proposals
are in the early stages & that the Parish Council will look
at any objections that need to be put forward. Cllr. Hallam added
that the issue of new development is a problem throughout Nottinghamshire.
Cllr. Bryant advised those present
that Trowell does have a Parish Design Statement where the parish
had to identify areas suitable for development & it should be
noted that the disused car park at the Festival Inn was highlighted
as a candidate for infill development.
Mrs. Rice commented that whilst
probably Trowell doesn't mind infill development BBC doesn't like
it.
Cllr. Rigby said he obviously cannot
comment on individual applications. However, he did say that last
year BBC did build more houses than it had to but last year was
a one-off year & many of these new builds were on infill sites.
He added that if 9 new properties were to be built on the Festival
Inn site then that is another 9 off the required total.
It was reported that the overflow
brook from Boundary Brook to Mill Farm needs clearing out. Cllr.
Rigby advised that he is tackling this issue but unfortunately has
not got anywhere yet. However, the new Stapleford Road pipe will
help the situation tremendously. He added that the emergency brook
is in a dreadful state & would never work. He went on to say
that although technically it should never be needed he is trying
to get it cleared. It will however cost a lot of money to clear
it & part of it is located in Stapleford. Cllr. Rigby is at
present trying to get Mr. Delaney of BBC to assist with this matter.
Cllr. Birkitt advised that the
riparian owners of the affected areas own the field bank on the
other side of where their properties are located & as a result
has a responsibility to clear their area of watercourse. However,
these owners have refused to carry out these works. Cllr. Birkitt
thinks that these responsibilities should be enforced, however there
are very few prosecutions involving riparian responsibilities throughout
Nottinghamshire.
It was reported that the valve
in the dyke running down to the River Erewash is blocked & that
when the MVM contractors installed safety barriers they cut into
the flood defence wall. At the time residents were assured that
the damage would be put right but they are starting to question
that as they feel that with a good period of rain it would flood.
Cllr. Rigby agreed to investigate this matter further.
Cllr. Birkitt advised that he had
taken Mr. Delaney & 2 other BBC officers to see the situation.
Cllr. Rigby assured those present that he will follow this issue
up with MVM.
There were no further issues raised.
At this point Cllr. Hallam presented a cheque from Trowell Parish
Council to the Trowell Scouts & Guides for new camping equipment.
Mrs. Bates collected the cheque on behalf of the uniformed groups.
Cllr. Hallam closed the meeting
by thanking everyone for their time & attendance & parishioners
were then invited to visit the stands in the hall & partake
of light refreshments in the lounge.
The meeting closed at approximately
8.30pm.
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