Barnston Parish Council

Annual Parish Meeting – Monday 8^th May 2006

The minutes of the 2005 Annual Meeting were read, approved and signed

The financial position of the council at the end of the financial year is £5,266.39. This compares with £12,532.52 last year.

Handyman - As usual Mr George Bruneau, our village handyman deserves a very big vote of thanks for his great contribution to keeping the village looking so tidy.  As mentioned in previous years, many people have commented that the village looks very tidy and well kept and once again we have submitted our entry to the Best Kept Village Competition run by Calor.

Road Safety - Mr Bob Townsend has continued with his duties as road safety officer.  Everyone on the Parish Council appreciates all the efforts he devotes to this.  He is also a uniquely valuable source of information on village matters. The Parish Council would like to express their thanks for the valuable contribution he continues to make.

Cllr S. Flack advised the Council that funding for 4 variable message signs has been agreed, but that it has not yet been announced because of the local elections.

Parish Clerk - Mrs Ceri Weston resigned from the position as Parish Clerk owing to pressure from other commitments.  The Parish Council would like to record their thanks for the excellent work she has done over the past eleven years.  She has been replaced by Mrs Delyse Jackaman who is settling well into this important post. 

While praising the efforts of the above people, it should be noted that the Council should also like to record their thanks to all the other people who assist in the smooth running of the Parish.  Mrs Susan Flack, who has once again coordinated Barnston’s entry to the Best Kept Village Competition and who regularly gives us valuable advice from her unique perspective as a County Councillor, and finally to every member of the Parish Council who give their time freely for the benefit of the community.  Cllr Eric Hicks is also a regular attendee at our meetings and also provides valuable information and communication with the District Council.

The Council are pleased to be able to report that the largest project ever undertaken by the Parish Council; the resurfacing of the Village Hall Car Park has at last been completed.  As you are all well aware, there were some difficulties with the original contractor and the project had to be finished at greater cost than had been anticipated by another.  Despite these problems, the Council are sure everyone will agree that it is a great improvement both to the facilities offered by the Village Hall and also to the appearance of the village itself.

This has provided us with a new problem.  The waste skips that had been provided typically three times per year have proved very popular.  However, the Uttlesford waste contractor could not provide us with the necessary assurances that the new car park surface would be undamaged.  They did assure the Council that the vehicle carried plates to spread the load of the stabilising jacks but warned that the skip being dragged across the surface would be a problem.  In view of this the Council decided that we could not risk damage to the new surface so with reluctance the Council asked the Clerk to cancel the skips. Additionally, when the Council suggested that we might build a concrete hard standing for future visits, they were informed that once the new facility was opened in Dunmow, Uttlesford would discontinue the visiting skip service.    

Cllr. S Flack suggested that the Council write to UDC asking why the facility at Hoblongs was withdrawn and to ask for it to be reinstated as it is likely that the new facility will not be opened for at least a couple of years.

The Parish Council has received notice that the rent for the equipment storage garage in Watts Close will be increased.  However the Council unanimously agreed that this still represents excellent value for money. 

As usual one of the largest problems facing the village is the problem of traffic.  This continues to be a major source of concern to the Council and to the village.  Now that the new A120 has been opened, the additional traffic through the village has significantly increased. 

Before the opening of the new A120 a survey was conduced to establish the baseline traffic flow along the A130 through Barnston.  This was to be followed by a second survey 12 months following the opening of the new road, however for some reason as yet unexplained this was not done.  We have tried to obtain survey data by the use of the Freedom of Information act 2000 but the quality of the information provided is not satisfactory.  Mr R. Burlend has written to Cllr Rodney Bass to establish why this promised survey was not conducted but as yet he has not received a reply.  It is to be hoped that the promised survey will be commissioned at the earliest opportunity as this data is required for the purposes of campaigning for traffic control measures and also for establishing the vital importance of the current School bus service.  It is to be hoped that the follow up meeting with Cllr Bass and his officials can be arranged sooner rather than later but this would be most productive once the survey data is available.    

The final matter raised, was issue of the Barnston School Bus.  Recently Cllr Stephen Castle and his assessment panel have decided that the walking route from Barnston to the local schools is “Available”.  This is despite the strong opposition from local residents, parents and members of the Parish Council.  It would appear that Cllr Castle and the panel were unimpressed by the arguments put forward  

•  that the A130 traffic levels are double those when the original decision to provide the bus was made

• that the road width is insufficient to permit two HGVs to pass

• the footpath falls below the standard required by Essex County Council.

• The walking route is now more dangerous as it has to cross the A130 twice and additionally two high speed exit roads from the A120

• That child pedestrians are 16 times more likely to be killed or injured on Essex Roads than as passengers in a car (figures for bus passengers are not quoted but are likely to be even better)

• The road has to be crossed again at Hoblongs right beside a blind corner

• That the correct procedure for assessing the walking route was not followed as the traffic census and gap count form was not completed.

Mrs Karen Collup has devoted considerable time and energy to opposing the removal of the bus service.  She organised a very well attended protest march when over 90 people including Parish Councillors, parents, children and other concerned individuals walked the route.  This resulted in significant publicity for the cause on radio and television.  The Council would like to express their thanks to Mrs Collup for all her work.

The Council are pleased that the bus remains for the present as Cllr Castle has further decided that the bus should remain until recently introduced legislation on among other things home to school transport has been clarified.  This might mean that the bus remains but will be charged for.  We shall have to be patient and see what the outcome is.  Meanwhile, the campaign continues.

BARNSTON UNITED CHARITIES

The annual distribution at Christmas 2005 of £35 was made to 30 individuals.  Amounting to £1,050.  This compares to £1,065 the previous year.

There were no payments from the debt fund in the past year

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.25pm