Baydon Village News by Barbara Furber

Parish Council Meeting of 19th March 2012

An extra Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 19th March.  Apologies were received from Wiltshire Councillor Chris Humphries, and Parish Councillors Edmond and Tomkins.  

Mr Jim Grove drew the Council’s attention to overgrown hedging along the “cut” through footpath between Manor Lane and Ermin Close.  Parish Clerk Rowan Cockcroft was instructed to write to the landowner at Manor Cottage.

There was much discussion about the re-submitted plans for the erection of four houses together with associated garages, parking and access on land to the rear of Foxfield and Escots, Aldbourne Road.

Residents of No’s 16 and 17 Newtons Walk were particularly concerned about the extensive landscaping and hedging proposed.  Chairman Andrew Knowles said he felt that to have bigger houses for families to upgrade would leave smaller houses for new families and this would mean more support for the village.

It was pointed out that the objection from the Parish Council last time was because the houses were not 3 or 4 bedrooms as was stipulated in the village plan.  Cllr Kevin Howell remarked that making the houses smaller might mean that the developers would want to increase the number of houses to make building viable.

Other concerns were expressed that once planning had been approved the developer could increase the number of houses, anyway.  Cllr Tamsin Witt asked if it was possible to insist that only 4 houses were built on the site.  Finally a vote was taken and it was agreed to return the application with support but subject to conditions on landscaping and to question the ownership of the lower boundary land.

An application for a side extension plus carport and sun lounge roof at 14 Ermin Close was returned without objection.

A payment of £21.17 to Southern Electric.

Four quotes had been received for the grass-cutting contract. Councillors agreed to continue to use Pittams, even though their quote was high, because of their excellent record. However Cllr Knowles agreed to negotiate with Pittams with a view to getting a better deal.

Cllr Knowles is to attend the forthcoming Marlborough Area Board meeting and will give a report on the Community Plan at the April Council meeting.

Highways have investigated the parking issues and access at the junction of Manor Lane and Aldbourne Road, and have reported that there are no Highway issues. The Parish Council has challenged the decision. It was proposed to talk to PCSO Mills about the situation.

The Wiltshire Library review has been completed and there will be no change to the Mobile Library visits to Baydon.

The meeting closed at 8.54pm.

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