Baydon Village News

Baydon Parish Council Meeting of 16^th July 2012

Mr Andy Knowles chaired the Parish Council meeting held in the Baydon Young Peoples Association (BYPA) Hall on Monday 16^th July 2012. Apologies were received from Cllr Philip Dore and Cllr Michael Edmonds.

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

Cllr Knowles welcomed Mrs Marie Hogan in her role as Clerk to the Council. It was also agreed to pay both clerks during the handover of duties until the end of August.

During Public Question time the matter of a dumper truck bucket blocking Bridleway 2 (Paines Lane) was raised. Mr Jim Grove said that due to thieves driving through the alternative Bridleway11 garages and sheds at Baydon House had been broken into. Therefore extra fencing had been replaced at the entrance to that bridleway for the time being.

As the police have said that they feel the properties will be targeted again It is assumed that Baydon House Farm have also taken precautionary temporary measures. The Councillors agreed to review the matter at the next meeting.

Mr Trevor Dominy reported that the hedges in the alleyway between Manor Lane and Ermin Close were very overgrown. The clerk was instructed to write to the owners of land adjacent to the alley requesting that it be cleared.

Cllr Tamsin Witt suggested that the Parish Steward be asked to clear the weed in the alley between Downsmead and Ermin Street.

A letter had been received from a resident concerning the advertisement adorning the telephone kiosk (box). It said that she had contacted “Clarence” and the poster had been removed. Cllr Knowles thanked the resident for taking action.

A letter had also been received from a driver complaining about poor lighting and visibility on the Swindon road approaching the village. These factors and the undulating condition of the road, she wrote, made driving at 30mph very difficult. Highways are to be asked to look into the matter of the lighting and visibility.

Planning:

A 2-storey rear extension and the creation of parking on the front lawn were discussed. It was agreed to support the application subject to approval from highways concerning the lay-by.

Cllr Tamsin Witt then gave the Traffic Calming Working Group (TCWG) in which she said that she had attended the County Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting to ask for a change in the road markings by the Play Area. As a result £2,000 had been awarded to remove the white line in the centre of the road, and add white lines at the edge of the road, thus making the road look narrower. Cllr Witt is to request that the white lines be continued further into the village as recommended by the consultants Hamilton Baillie. Highways have suggested planting on the verge by the “gates” to the village. It was agreed to apply for a cultivation licence from Highways.

Cllr Witt also reported that Ben Harris, Mark Austen and herself had met with the BBC to discuss Community SpeedWatch (CSW) and researched the workings of Baydon’s CSW scheme together with the likely filming to take place in Baydon ahead of a new BBC 2 primetime series to be filmed about British roads.

It was proposed that the Parish Council offer to become Custodial Trustees of the BYPA Hall. Cllr Knowles said that he realised that the BYPA did not, at present, have a chairperson, but he felt the committee needed to approve the proposal. Cllr Alison Tomkins said it needed to be understood that the Hall must be for the benefit of the whole village if the Parish Council is to become involved.

A request from Optimise was received, to display a large sign on the Village Green. It was agreed not to give permission as the sign was too large and the village were not benefiting from the work being undertaken.

A Play Area inspection is to be drawn up by Cllr Tomkins, to include emptying the litterbin. A key to the bin is also to be placed centrally (i.e. the shop). The zip wire has been repaired free of charge. It is not known how it was damaged. The request for a “Slack line” by youngsters was considered but the councillors were waiting for a presentation by the youngsters concerned before giving permission.

A request for volunteers to head the Defibrillator Project is to be placed in the next issue of the Scene in Baydon.

Cllr Knowles agreed to approach Mr Robert Lawton about making the Jubilee Boundary Stone more accessible to villagers.

Payments of £203.71 to the Association of Local Councils; £25 to Collet & Co (Internal Audit); £36 to Community First; £180.93 to HMRC and £40 for the hire of the hall were approved. The bank reconciliation was deferred but will be sent to the website when available.

It was agreed to hold a Village Litter Pick on Saturday 8^th September 2012 at 10am.

It was noted that a new Youth Worker had been appointed by Aldbourne, and that school children Lottie Walker and Martha Knowles had run their own successful fundraise event with the proceeds going to St. Nicholas Church roof repair fund.

The meeting closed at 9.06pm.

By Barbara Furber

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