Parish Council Annual Report 6th May 2004.
This year has been no exception to the amount of work that the Parish Council has had to carry out through its many committees and other areas of responsibility to the parish.
Best Kept
Village
It was with very pleasing that the village won the Best Kept Village competition
again last year. This is down to the community effort made by those involved
with the various organisations that keep the village to a very high standard,
despite the difficulties experienced with litter and vandalism. Thank you
again to everyone for their hard work
Highways
Many issues have been raised with the highways department throughout the
year and council members have attended site visits with representatives
of the Highways department.
Lufkins as you know has always been of concern to this council and the highways
department have carried out a feasibility study for the re-alignment of
the road. We are still awaiting a report regarding this study.
Parish council members attended site visits with highways representatives
relating to the safety issues on the bend known as either Lacey’s
Corner or Green Corner along Heckfords Road. After new road signage had
been introduced, further accidents occurred. Council again met with highways
and new chevrons have now been placed.
Changes have been made to some road signs throughout the parish and the
road signs that had been reported as either damaged or removed have now
been replaced.
In January parish councillors met with highways and the police regarding
the need for a footway along Thorrington Road, this meeting followed the
tragic accident that occurred in December. The parish council had brought
the issue of the need for a footway to the highways department some years
ago and emphasised this fact. Highways have carried out a footway assessment
of the area. (Please refer to this month’s Notes from the Parish Council
for an update on the result of this assessment)
Essex County Council has provided a scheme called “Safer Journeys”.
This involves all authorities including the school and the parish council
to consider how a child’s journey to and from school can be improved.
Good progress has been made to date.
Street Lighting
The programme of replacing lamp standards has now been completed. A new
lamp has now been provided at Flag Hill.
The parish council is still awaiting quotes for the possible provision of
an extra lamp along Thorrington Road.
Planning
This has been a very busy year for the planning committee with many applications
received from Tendring District Council asking for council’s comments.
Notably the parish council requested the Tendring Planning committee to
make site visits, before they made their decision, for the developments
at Nil Desperandum and Oak Cottage and a request from residents for a site
visit regarding the application for an Orange mast at the waterworks. These
applications were given approval by Tendring District Council.
Village Green
Apart from the day to day maintenance of the village green, the parish council
considered an application from the Conservation Group to site a second pond
on the green, and a request to place an information board by the Heather
Patch, to show details of the relevant plants that can be seen in that area
of the green. Reluctantly the parish council refused the pond, after it
took advice from the head of Legal Services at the National Association
of Local Councils. The information board was given approval and is now in
place.
With the continuous parking on the green, and the subsequent erosion of
the green that has taken place, especially in front of the Doctors surgery,
council has agreed to install wooden posts to help prevent parking on the
edge of the green, if this proves successful other areas where regular daily
parking occurs may be considered.
A French drain has been installed along part of the Southside track.
The parish council with the co-operation of the football club, the owner
of Bentley House and the building contractors for the doctors surgery extension,
Hills, have provided an enclosure in which to keep the football posts and
parish council equipment.
Allotments
Apart from the general maintenance that the parish council is responsible
for, it is pleasing to note that there are now only one or two vacant plots.
Play Areas
The parish council has obtained lottery funding from “Awards for All”
to replace the Lynn Moore play equipment. The equipment is already in place
and is becoming very popular.
The Youth Forum assisted the parish council in its selection of the types
of equipment required. Further funds have been set aside to apply for a
grant from the Community Reach Partnership for the provision of more equipment.
The maintenance of the play areas is increasing in cost, because of the
requirements of EN standards and the ongoing problems with vandalism, necessitating
more repair work.
Affordable
Housing
The parish council has kept you informed to date of the progress that the
Housing Trust is making regarding this issue. We are still awaiting more
information from the Housing Trust regarding the offer of land and as to
whether the district planners will look favourably on this piece of land
being developed. We also know that the Housing Trust is applying for monies
to be made available to take the project forward if they are granted approval.
Footpaths
Mr David Kirby resigned this year as our footpaths representative. The parish
council regret that he is no longer able to continue, as he had made such
an excellent job of caring for the paths. At present the Youth forum have
agreed to walk the paths most frequently used, to keep the council informed
of any works that may be required.
Risk Assessment
The parish council has now employed a Risk Assessor to carry out the necessary
Risk Assessments required for the equipment, structures and land that is
within the responsibility of the council.
There are many other
issues that the parish council has worked on throughout the year, if you
wish to find out more, minutes of our meetings are available in the Post
Office.
We would like to give our grateful thanks to the Post Office for making
this facility available to members of the public.
We would also like to thank Mr Vernon Walsh for continuing to keep an eye on transport issues.
I would personally like to thank all Councillors and the Clerk for their support and hard work throughout the year.
Lynda McWilliams
Chairman
e-mail: lynda@boblyn.co.uk