Charleton Parish Council.

Minutes of a Meeting of Charleton Parish Council, held on Thursday 4^th September 2003, at 8.30 pm., at Charleton Village Hall.

Present were:-            Mr. Hoggart (Chairman, presiding), Wg. Cdr. Leigh, Mr. Faulkner, Mr. Smith, Mrs Hawkes,          Mr. Brown and Mr. Conboy.

Also present were:-    Mr. Masters (DCC) and Mrs Raymond (Parish Clerk).

 1.      Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Brazil (SHDC).

 2.      The Minutes of the previous Meeting, held on Thursday 3^rd July 2003, had been circulated prior to the Meeting, and were approved and signed as correct.

 3.      Matters arising:-

(a)               Registrable Interest forms:- The Clerk had been telephoned by the Monitoring Officer’s secretary who said that the forms from Mrs Hawkes, Mr. Conboy, Mr. Faulkner and Mr. Hoggart had not yet been received. All these Councillors stated that they had completed and returned the forms to the Clerk for forwarding to the Monitoring Officer, so the Clerk will check the files and investigate whether the forms have been received by the Monitoring Officer. If not, further copies will be sent for completion.

 4.      Public participation:- None.

 5.      Correspondence:-

 Mr. Tryhorn wrote a letter describing the hazard caused to walkers after dark by a low wall at the edge of the footpath approximately 100 metres from the end of Croft Lane, and including observations on  the new virtual footpath. The Chairman has examined the problem and will reply.

 Mr. Halliday requests comments from the Parish Council on the traffic calming measures recently put in the village. The Clerk will respond, stating that the virtual footpaths have been well received on the whole, and have allowed three villagers with mobility problems to use motorised scooters to visit the Post Office. Several people have expressed regret that the virtual footpath does not extend right through West Charleton as far as the end of Church Lane. There have been several minor confrontations between pedestrians and drivers who park too close to the wall at the Post Office, so that pedestrians cannot walk past without being forced to step out into the traffic. Perhaps a notice reminding motorists to allow space for people to walk past could be put  on the wall there. The actual speed limit is not always carefully observed by drivers, especially coming down from Church Lane to the Village Hall in West Charleton, and approaching East Charleton from the Kingsbridge direction, where the warning signs are partially obscured by the hedge, but on the whole traffic speeds have been noticeably reduced. The residents of East Charleton are still anxious about the dangers to pedestrians, and would like to further warning signs.

 Mrs Bence wrote asking if it is still council policy to encourage the removal of ragwort  and Japanese knot weed, if motorists are permitted to drive over/park on the virtual pavements, and is the 20 mph speed limit legally enforceable. The Clerk will reply that both ragwort and knot weed should be removed by landowners wherever it is discovered, motorists can drive over/park on the virtual pavement, but must give priority to pedestrians, and the speed limit, while legally enforceable, in practice has to rely on the social consciences of drivers since the police lack the manpower to monitor it.

 6.      Planning:-

 Applicant:                     Mr and Mrs G Shove

Application No:            09/1381/03/F

Proposal:                      Erection of replacement dwelling

Location:                      The Creek, West Charleton, TQ7 2AW

 The Parish Council had no objections to the granting of this Application.

Applicant:                     South West Property Services Ltd.

Application No:            09/1398/03/F

Proposal:                      Erection of detached garage and new entrance porch and

                                    Pitched roof to replace flat roof over existing garage.

Location:                      Herondyke, Curlew Drive, West Charleton, TQ7 2AA

 The Parish Council; had no objections to the granting of this Application.

 Applicant:                     Mr G Allen

Application No:            09/1451/03/F

Proposal:                      Alterations and extension to dwelling

Location:                      Lynora, Knowle Park, West Charleton, TQ7 2AE

 The Parish Council had no objections to the granting of this Application.

 Applicant:                     Mr and Mrs M L Ashby

Application No:            09/1453/03/F

Proposal:                      Alterations and extension to dwelling

Location:                      Lewin House, East Charleton, TQ7 2AR

 The Parish Council had no objection to the granting of this Application, but advised that notice be taken of the proximity of the gas storage tanks.

 Application from SW Water Ltd., for the installation of two kiosks to house control equipment, at the existing sewage works at Marsh Lane, West Charleton.

 The Parish Council had no objections to the granting of this Application.

The Applications above were all considered at a special Planning Meeting in August, and the forms returned by the Chairman.

 Applicant:                     Mr P Rogers

Application No:            09/1599/03/F

Proposal:                      Timber framed public wildlife watching hide

Location:                      Sea wall to SW of West Charleton Marsh.

 The Parish Council supported the granting of this Application.

 SHDC (Parish of Charleton) (No.6) Tree Preservation Order 2003

Land West of Leat Head and West Waterhead, West Charleton

Serving of new Tree Preservation Order.

 The Parish Council had no objections to the granting of this Order.

 7.      Reports:-

 a)      School:- The new term began yesterday, 4^th September. A regular report will be sent to the Parish Council by the acting head.

b)      Footpaths:- A complaint that the stile at the entrance to the footpath from Church Lane is not user-friendly will be passed on to Mr. Steve Malec by the footpath warden, Mr. Conboy.

c)      Village hall:- Mr. Smith reported that the Committee Room has been painted by the Community Punishment Unit, who will shortly be painting the outside of the building. Five new folding tables have been purchased, so that now 100 people can be seated without the use of trestle tables.

d)      Coleridge Association:- Nothing to report.

e)      Saltstone Group:- The last Meeting, held on 21^st July 2003, was attended by Mr. Hoggart, who reported that there was discussion of financial matters which resulted in the decision to raise the annual subscription, and further discussion of Quality Parish Councils.

 8.      Finance:-

 The following cheque was approved for payment:-

            Cheque no. 100606, for £15.00, to the Saltstone Group for annual subscription.

 9.      Highway and Community matters:-

 a)      Parking:- The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Halliday requesting guidance as to possible sources of funding for the provision of parking spaces on the verge opposite the school.

b)      Footpaths:- see above,

c)      Speed limits:- The Clerk will report to Mr. Halliday as outlined above. Mr. Masters advised that the requested double white lines in the highway may not be permitted if the road is too narrow.

d)      Street cleaning:- Mr. Smith said that the Parish Lengthman continues to work well in both sections of the village. The Clerk reported that there have been complaints about the overhanging hedgerow in Charleton Way, and the badly overgrown escallonia hedge opposite the Post Office. A letter will be sent to the householder concerned in Charleton Way, and to Devon Highways pointing out that the hedge should be cut right back as it not only blocks the footpath, but also obscures the school sign and warning light.

e)      Marsh Lane:- The Clerk was instructed to find out who is responsible for the hole left at the side of Marsh Lane when a pole was removed, so that the hole can be filled.

f)       Flower beds:- The Punishment Unit will be asked to do some work on the village flower beds, which now need drastically cutting back and weeding.

g)      The Adventure playground:- Some of the apparatus has been painted very satisfactorily by an anonymous resident.

h)      The Beacon:- The Beacon and the Millennium Bench have recently been cleaned and painted.

i)        Vintage Ploughing Match:- This takes place on Sunday 20^th September in the field opposite Church Lane. A copy of the poster will be put in the village web site.

 10.  Matters of Urgency:- None.

 11.  Items for the next Meeting:- None.

12.  Date of the next Meeting:-

 Due to the absence of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Clerk, the next Meeting will not be held on the usual first Monday of the month, but on Monday 16^th October 2003, at 7.30 pm., at the Village Hall, West Charleton.

 Signed as a true and accurate Record of the Meeting,