Parish Council

Parish Council Reports 2006

December 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 4th December 2006

East Midlands Draft Regional Plan: This included a requirement for 2 large settlements in the Charnwood area. The Parish Council was concerned that this could reopen the possibility of development on the airfield, which, given the size of development required, could extend to unite the villages of Wymeswold, Hoton, Burton and Cotes.

Section 106: Leicestershire Highways had confirmed that there was no further work required by them to supplement the traffic calming measures through Wymeswold in association with the Wysall Lane development. It was hoped that this could release money for contributions to facilities in the village.

Community Orchard: A response from the Parochial Charities on their views on this was awaited. It was agreed that the area was sufficiently large that a number of facilities (play area, trim trail etc) could coexist.

Precept 2007/08: The various areas of expenditure for the current year were reviewed and possible additional expenditure was considered.

Notice board: Three quotes from suppliers had been received. Some checking was needed to ensure that the chosen design would fit in the space available.

Wysall Lane: There had been some discussions with Leicestershire Highways regarding the timetable for future closures. The road was currently open, albeit it with a temporary surface which was less than ideal. Development Control staff had been contacted about work that appeared not to comply with planning conditions.

May 2007 elections: The number of councillors for the parish had been increased to 7, so there would be at least one vacancy. It was agreed that it would be helpful to raise awareness of the role of parish councillor, to encourage parishioners to stand for election.

November 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council: 6th November 2006

Community orchard proposal: Ian Smith, the secretary of the Hose Community Orchard Association outlined the development of the community orchard in Hose. This seemed a possible use for part of the Washdyke, and it was agreed to contact the owners of the land to obtain their views on this.

Heritage plaque scheme: Three suggestions had been received from the Wolds Historical Association and would be passed on to Charnwood Conservation and Design.

GP facilities: It was agreed that there should be a further round of publicity regarding the community bus services and the Dial-a-ride scheme which could be used to access the surgeries in Barrow and East Leake .

Notice board: The current notice board was too small for the amount of material which had to be displayed and an appropriate replacement would be investigated.

Bins: It had been confirmed that litterbins could also be used for wrapped dog waste and stickers would be put on existing bins to indicate this. Additional bins would also be requested.

Cemetery update: The bench kindly donated by the Garden Walkabout Committee had been installed on East Road . Work was being done on the cemetery records to establish what usable space remained.

Church clock: It was hoped to get an estimate for the illumination of the church clock as the current lighting had failed.

East Midlands Regional Plan: The implications of this plan were being considered and comments would need to be submitted in time for the December deadline.

Wysall Lane development: There had been a lot of disruption caused by the work on the Wysall Lane development. It was hoped to get clarification about future closures of the road and also to meet with staff from Charnwood’s Development Control section to look at work done so far.

October 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 2nd October 2006

Traffic calming: The official opening of the traffic calming scheme on the A6006 would be performed on 3 rd October.

HGV routes: Details of a scheme for improved signage to direct HGVs to preferred routes had been received from Charnwood Traffic Management.

Find the Funds sessions: A number of these were being run by Charnwood Council for Voluntary Service.

Charnwood Corporate Plan consultation: Consultation sessions were being held around Charnwood.

GP facilities: A letter had been received from MP Andy Reed enquiring whether this was still an issue of concern for parishioners.

The Washdyke: It had been suggested that a possible use for the Washdyke was as a community orchard. More information on this interesting possibility would be obtained.

Youth Opportunities Fund: Details of this would be publicised.

September 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 4th September 2006

Police report: There had been five incidents in the village reported to the police since the last meeting. PC Houghton explained that he was working with local publicans to reduce thefts from cars in pub car parks.

Traffic calming: The data from the speed survey carried out by the police comparing speeds before and after the traffic calming had been analysed and sent to Leicestershire Highways

Joint Parish Councils’ meeting: This was scheduled for 24 th October in Wymeswold, and invitations had been sent to the other parishes involved.

Hedges: Arrangements had been made to have the hedge along the side of the churchyard trimmed and the hedge alongside the children’s play area.

Local Development Framework: Comments on this had been sent to Charnwood. Copies would be sent to neighbouring parish councils.

E-enabling parish councils: A response had been sent to Charnwood outlining what facilities would be required to enable the Parish Council to receive and deal with material sent electronically.

Benches: A possible location for the seat to be donated by the Walkabout Committee was identified on Brook Street.

Heritage plaque scheme: Charnwood had asked for suggestions for locations for plaques on relevant buildings to honour the association of the borough with famous people.

Road closures: Details of these would be placed on the village notice board.

Link article: The Parish Council noted with concern that the unsigned clarification published in the Link regarding the “In Touch” party political leaflet had been confusing, and had been used to canvas support for one political party. It was agreed that a letter would be sent to the editors indicating that the Parish Council considered that it was inappropriate for the Link to be used for party political purposes.

August 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 7th August 2006

Police report: There had been a number of distraction burglaries elsewhere in the county, in which individuals had posed as water board officials. PC Houghton emphasised the need to check the identification of any official callers. The visit of the community police van in July had been successful, and a further visit was planned for December.

Traffic calming: The comparative figures for before and after the introduction of traffic calming had been collated, based on a sample of 100 cars. The samples had been taken at different times of the day, which it was felt could have had an effect on the results, but the number of cars exceeding the speed limit had reduced. Further data had recently been received and would be analysed.

Local Development Framework: Comments on this were still being received and would be collated and sent to Charnwood Borough Council.

Meeting with Development Control Staff: The recent meeting had clarified some issues, and notes from the meeting would be sent to Development Control to confirm what was discussed.

Joint Parish Councils’ meeting: It was hope to arrange a meeting in the autumn.

Website: The Parish Council website was now up and running at http://www.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/wymeswold/homepage.html and included an online fault reporting form which could be used to alert the clerk to any problems in the village. Councillors were asked for suggestions for material to include on the site.

Cemetery: Work was being done on drawing up a revised set of guidelines.

Benches: The two benches purchased by the Garden Walkabout Committee would soon be installed. It was hoped to place an additional seat on Brook Street .

Village footpaths: A number of footpaths in the village required maintenance to clear vegetation and overhanging branches. Highways Department would be contacted to arrange maintenance for those that were their responsibility.

July 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 3rd July 2006

Visitors: The chair introduced Donna Dwyer, Wymeswold’s new Partnership Manager from Charnwood Borough Council, who would be working with the Parish Council over the next 12 months. Her role is to be the “default council contact”, and to provide an additional resource to ensure two-way communication between the Borough Council and the Parish Council. A parishioner attended to raise an issue relating to the brook.

Police report: PC Houghton provided copies of the June Neighbourhood Beat newsletter, which identified priorities for the next 4 months. The problem of speeding traffic on London Lane during the current traffic diversion was raised, as well as incidents of parked cars blocking pathways.

Report from County Councillor: RS presented figures indicating a substantial reduction in the average speed of vehicles travelling through the village. Clarification was sought on the timescale over which the data was collected. It was agreed that the traffic-calming scheme had been implemented according to the design agreed with the Parish Council, and additional data would be obtained in the coming months to assess its effectiveness.

It was agreed that a letter should be sent to Leicestershire Highways Department thanking them for their work on the scheme. An official opening was planned for mid July.

The problem of the number of lorries travelling through the village remained, and it was agreed to ask a representative of Leicestershire Highways Department to attend an early morning site meeting to see the scheme in operation at a busy time.

The subsidence of an area of London Lane had only been partially alleviated by recent patching work.

Church clock: It was confirmed that a time switch would be required to illuminate the clock when the floodlighting switched off.

Accounts: The internal auditor had audited the accounts for 2005/06. These were agreed. The accounts for June were also agreed.

Procedural standing orders: A number of minor changes were made to these, including the change of the timing of the meeting to the first Monday in the month. These were accepted.

Local Development Framework: The consultation period for this was over, but there appeared to be a lot of opposition to the plans for sites earmarked for development. IS directed councillors to

for further information on this. The Parish Council was made aware of a strong lobby for the development of the airfield as an alternative site for housing.

Forthcoming meeting with Development Control staff: This meeting was scheduled for 11 th July, to be chaired by CK. Items for the agenda were discussed.

Cemetery update: There had been no response from the parochial charities regarding the damage to the fence. JH and MN had drawn up specifications for memorials in both the main part of the cemetery and the garden of remembrance.

Plans: The following planning applications had been received:

  • 52, Far Street : no objection
  • 276, Wide Lane : no objection
  • 1, Paget Croft: comments

Potential volunteer: It was agreed that there was sufficient work on the cemetery and the pound, and possibly other areas.

Washdyke: A parishioner had written in the Link asking for interested parties to contact the clerk. One response had been received to date.

Parking on verges: This appeared to be on the increase and caused problems for mowing, and a deterioration in grassed areas and amenity for villagers.

Overhanging branches/hedges: Some problems had been identified in the gardens of domestic dwellings. An estimate was being sought for work on the hedge alongside the churchyard, which was the responsibility of the Parish Council. It was not clear who was responsible for the land on the other side of the jitty between Church Street and The Stockwell.

School governor: The Parish Council recorded its thanks to Helen Shaw, who had resigned as their representative on the school’s Board of Governors. It was understood that recent changes meant that there would no longer be a representative of the Parish Council on the Board, although no formal notification had been received.

Heritage warden: A letter had been received from the Community Heritage Initiative asking for a volunteer to act as heritage warden for the village.

Potential Civic Away Day: The Mayor of Charnwood’s office had written suggesting this.

Potential Service Co-ordination event: A letter had been received from Leicestershire Rural Partnership suggesting an event to bring together local key organisations and groups with service providers to work together. It was agreed that much of the intended benefit of such an event had been achieved through the Parish Plan group.

Urgent items to report: There had been no withdrawal of the statement in the recent party political flyer, which seemed to indicate that formal advice was given to the Parish Council other than by the elected County and Borough Councillors, and wardens chosen by the Parish Council. This had been due to appear in the Link.

June 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 5th June 2006

Traffic calming: Final touches to the traffic calming were still to be made, but there was concern that the current measures were having a limited effect, with informal observations suggesting the majority of traffic still entered the village at over 30 mph. More information on this would be sought when the project was completed.

Grass cutting: Comments had been received about the standard of grass cutting performed by the Highways Department around the village and it was agreed to raise this with the department.

Restricted waiting: The Parish Council confirmed its support for the introduction of limited waiting outside the Post Office.

Parish Council Website: It was agreed to use www.leicestershireparishcouncils.org to establish a website for the Parish Council, linked to the community website already in existence.

Clock illumination: There was some discussion about the lack of illumination of the church clock, and it was agreed to look at the cost of repair.

Wymeswold-Hoton footpath: Following the interest shown in the reinstatement of this path by Hoton Parish Council it was agreed to liaise with them to ensure that the two parish councils worked together for maximum benefit.

Road names: The Parish Council had been asked for suggestions for the three new roads to be built on the new development on Wysall Lane. Appropriate names with historical associations with this part of the village would be suggested.

May 2006

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 8th May 2006

Traffic calming: Measures on the A6006 should be completed by 19th May. The village sign “gateways” and vehicle-activated signs were still to be installed. It was too early to decide how effective these measures would be. Concern was expressed about the layout, but it was acknowledged that the need to allow for long vehicles and trailers to negotiate safely precluded a more effective design to slow down smaller vehicles.

Unrestricted waiting: A proposal had been received regarding the waiting arrangements outside the Post Office. Views of parishioners would be sought.

Planning: It was agreed to seek clarification from Charnwood Borough Council regarding the position regarding new developments and affordable housing in the village.

Community Speed Watch: Interest had been expressed at the previous meeting. A parishioner had indicated an interest in being trained. Members of the Parish Council were looking forward to finding out more about this project.

Seats: Mrs Felstead was thanked for her kind offer of two seats for the cemetery. Permission had been obtained from the Highways Department to install the seat in Far Street. This seat had been kindly donated by the Garden Walkabout Committee in 2005.

New Village Website: A demonstration of the new community web site www.wymeswold.com was given which would be launched shortly. The council agreed to pay the running costs of this enterprise for the next 12 months.

Annual election of officers: Councillor Barratt proposed that Councillor Collington remained as Chair, with Councillor Keeling as Vice-Chair. This was agreed.

Memorial Hall play area lease: It was regretted that there had been no response from the Memorial Hall Committee regarding the offer by the Parish Council to take over the lease of this area. It was therefore agreed that the current offer be withdrawn.

Joint Parish Councils: The proposed meeting in May had been cancelled. It was agreed that this initiative was worthwhile and should be supported, and suggested the next meeting could be hosted by Wymeswold.

Plans: There was some discussion on the role of the Parish Council in responding to planning applications. It was agreed that for the majority of applications the views of the Parish Council should be conveyed in writing to Development Control. Only in the case of larger developments or those having a significant impact on the village was it appropriate for a member of the Council to attend the Planning Committee to reinforce the views expressed in writing.

Village Design Statement: A meeting of representatives from Development Control, Parish Councillors and representatives from Burton Parish Council was to be arranged to discuss the use of the Village Design Statement.

Fly tipping: Concern was expressed at the amount of rubbish that had recently been dumped around the village. The relevant authorities had been informed.

Sports pavilion: There had been another spate of damage to the pavilion, which would be costly to repair. The police had been alerted to this ongoing problem. On a brighter note some refurbishment had recently been completed, including the installation of a cooker and fridge.

 

Parish Council Reports 2007

December 2007

The East Midlands Regional Plan Panel Report This had been published at the end of November and a briefing note had been produced by Charnwood Borough Council. The report would now be considered by the Secretary of State and it was anticipated that the proposed changes to the Regional Plan would be published in the Spring.

Brook maintenance A response had been received from CBC’s Senior Ecologist explaining the reasons for the current management scheme for the brook.

Response to proposed Post Office closure It was agreed to oppose the reduction from a full to a part time service, while acknowledging the need to ensure that what was put in place must be the best possible solution in the circumstances.

2008/09 precept It was agreed to increase the precept by 2.5% in line with inflation. The budget would include earmarked amounts for village projects.

Washdyke update The first round of planting had been completed and the remaining trees were due to be planted on 9 th December. Goal posts had been erected in the play area of the field, and this area had been mowed. The planning application for change of use and the construction of a new access had been submitted and hedge trimming round the edge of the Washdyke and sports field had also been arranged.

November 2007

Report of the Parish Council meeting held on 5th November 2007.

Police report. There had been some problems of anti social behaviour in the village, and the police planned to visit residents to discuss their concerns. There were also concerns about the hazards of parked cars near the school at the start and end of the school day.

A6006. Work to install drainage pipes across the A6006 to alleviate the recent flooding problems should be completed in the next four weeks.

Charnwood grants. This information had been forwarded to the Washdyke Association, and it was understood that the Memorial Hall Committee were considering submitting a bid.

Footpath update. It was anticipated that the County Council would be doing work on maintenance and improvement on the footpaths in the parish in December or January. Councillors recorded their thanks to Jon Charley for his hard work on obtaining the details of landowners in the parish enabling this work on footpaths to be done.

Washdyke update. Sponsorship had now been secured for all the trees, and costings and plans for the play area were being investigated. The Parish Council agreed to pay for the mowing and hedge maintenance required, which would be included in the budget for the next financial year.

October 2007

Report of the Parish Council meeting held on 1st October 2007

Police report. PC Houghton introduced PC Lynne Gilbertson, who would be taking over from him. As this was the last meeting he would be attending before he left the police the Parish Council thanked him for his hard work and dedication on behalf of the village.

Bench repairs. An estimate for basic maintenance on the village benches had been received and it was agreed to go ahead with this.

Local Development Framework meeting. Councillor Rumsby had attended the recent meeting on this along with Borough Councillor Bokor. It was agreed that he would provide a summary of the views of the Parish Council to be sent to Charnwood.

Dog fouling. It was agreed that the village should be included in the new borough wide order on dog fouling controls. This would cover the sports field, the Washdyke and the cemetery.

Washdyke update. Sponsorship had been found for the majority of the 120 trees destined for the Community Orchard.

Wymeswold Airfield Liaison Group. This group of interested parties had been established as part of the planning permission for the use of the airfield by Everyman. The construction of the bund was going ahead, but this involved a number of conditions regarding traffic movements and hours of operation which would be publicised.

September 2007  

Report of Parish Council Meeting held on 3rd September 2007.

New Partnership Manager. John Leney, the new CBC partnership manager for Wymeswold was introduced. The purpose of this role is to provide advice and support to the Parish Council in dealings with the Borough Council, and explain their aims and strategies and how they relate to the parish.

Wysall Lane development. Borough Councillor Bokor had been in contact with Wimpeys to arrange for street lighting and the repositioning of the 30mph speed sign now that some of the houses are occupied. The work should be done in the next few weeks.

Maintenance of the brook. A change of personnel at CBC had meant that the proposed site meeting regarding the vegetation in the brook had not yet been held. There was continuing concern about possible increased flood risk due to the state of the brook.

A6006 flooding. Following the site meeting LCC Highways were in contact with utility companies to determine what apparatus was beneath the road, before they were able to make arrangements to bore under the carriageway to improve the drainage. It was hope that this work could be done shortly.

Washdyke update. Progress on this project was reported. This included the staking out of the area for the community orchard to show where trees would be placed. There would be a stall at the forthcoming Duck Race inviting parishioners to sponsor a tree, and leaflets would be distributed around the village.

Goal posts on sports field. Wymeswold Football Club had been informed that the existing goal posts on the sports field were illegal, and were seeking funding to replace them from a variety of sources. It was agreed that as the sports field was an amenity for the village with youngsters using the goalposts for recreation, it was appropriate to provide some funding for this project. It was agreed to make a contribution of £100 to the club for this purpose.

Damage to bus shelter. There had been two occurrences of vandalism to the bus shelter recently, which would require repairs to the guttering. It was agreed that this should be replaced on this occasion, but any further damage could result in the removal of the guttering completely.

The A46 ( Newark to Widmerpool improvement) public enquiry. This would resume on 5th September to hear remaining cases of those giving evidence.

July 2007

Report of Parish Council meeting 3rd July 2007

Police report: Andy Houghton had been working with the school on a number of measures to improve security following the recent vandalism. Only 9 volunteers had come forward from the Wolds villages to take part in the Community Speed Watch initiative, and this was not sufficient for it to operate. It was hoped there might be more volunteers, if the scheme received further publicity.

Flooding on A6006: The recent flooding on the A6006 appeared to be unconnected to the traffic calming, and LCC had recently done work in the adjacent ditches to try to ameliorate the effects of the recent heavy rainfall. A site meeting would be arranged to see if other work was needed to avoid further flooding in this area.

Maintenance of the brook: There was concern that the vegetation in the bed of the brook was increasing the flood risk, and staff from Charnwood Borough Council were due to make a site visit.

East Midlands Regional Plan: report from examination in public on 27th June: Councillor Rumsby and Borough Councillor Bokor had attended this session. Councillor Rumsby reported that the Borough Council considered there was no need for the number of houses proposed in the area, and felt that a development of this size would have a huge impact. It was suggested that 34% of the requirement could already be met by existing plans for development.

Area Forum Consultation: Charnwood Together, a body combining council, business, police, health, other services and the voluntary sector had issued a consultation paper proposing area forums developed for the county. The Parish Council unanimously agreed that this was an additional layer of government which would confuse rather than engage local people, and it was agreed to send this response to Charnwood Together.

Appointment of heritage warden: It was agreed to accept Lorraine Ellison’s offer to act as Heritage Warden for the parish.

Washdyke update: Councillor Holloway had attended a recent meeting of the newly founded Wymeswold Washdyke Association. It was agreed that the Parish Council would be responsible for arranging mowing and hedge trimming, with possible help on the latter from the Young Farmers. It was agreed to give £100 to the newly formed association.

Bus stop on East Road: The new bus stop on East Road was shortly to be installed. This would be for a 6 month period initially, after which time it would be reviewed.

June 2007

Report of Parish Council Meeting 18th June 2007

East Midlands Regional Plan: Borough Councillor Bokor had sent a questionnaire to parishioners, and the results of this would be taken to the forthcoming examination in pubic which would be held on 27th June. Councillor Rumsby would also attend this.

The Washdyke: Following a meeting with members of the community orchard project, a Washdyke Association was being formed to manage the project and apply for funds. It was hoped that all 120 fruit trees would be paid for by sponsorship by parishioners, with funds being sought for other facilities. The first stage of these was likely to be football goals, a track around the perimeter and a youth shelter.  

Procedural standing orders: There were some revisions suggested concerning a quorum and voting procedures , which would be considered at the next meeting.

Responsibilities: The matter of councillors taking responsibility for particular areas was reviewed and it was agreed that all councillors should be involved in all aspects of the Parish Council’s work, with individuals taking on particular projects as and when required. The exception to this was the cemetery for which Councillor Barratt agreed to take responsibility. A representative was needed to be involved in the Washdyke project, and Councillor Holloway agreed to do this. Councillor Barratt also agreed to represent the Parish Council on the Memorial Hall Committee.

Mowing: The clerk had contacted Leicestershire Highways about the state of the verges in the village, which were due to be mowed that week, in advance of the Garden Walkabout weekend

May 2007

Report of Parish Council Meeting 14th May 2007

New councillors: Only Ken Barratt remains as councillor from the previous parish council. The new councillors are Shaun Bokor, Ken Holloway, Joan Hubbard, Ron Jenkins, Derrick Rumsby, and Nick Shaw.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair: Nick Shaw was unanimously elected as chair, with Joan Hubbard also being chosen as vice chair unanimously.

Thanks: Nick Shaw recorded the thanks of the new parish council to the retiring chair, Charles Collington and the other councillors for all their hard work over very many years. The other retiring councillors are Nigel Gravells, John Harrison, Chris Keeling, and Ginny Westcott.

Appointment of representatives: It was agreed that Councillor Shaw should represent the parish council on the Association of Airport Related Councils. Councillors Holloway and Rumsby would be the representatives on the Wolds Joint Parish Councils group.

Police report: PC Houghton outlined the priorities over the next six months, and asked councillors to keep him informed of any additional concerns. It was hoped that details of the Community Speed Watch scheme would be finalised by the end of May. Dismay was expressed at recent vandalism at the school.

Report from Borough Councillor: Borough Councillor Jenny Bokor gave details of the Examination in Public of the East Midlands Regional Plan, and the timetable for further reports and consultation

The Washdyke: A public meeting was due to be held on 16 th May to consider the possible uses of this area, between the sports field and Hoton Road.

Footpaths: Work was being done to identify owners of land in the parish where footpaths were situated, to enable the County Council to work with landowners to improve styles and way marking at no cost to the landowners.

Junior cricket sessions: The parish council unanimously agreed to waive charges for these sessions, and to congratulate Wymeswold Cricket Club on this initiative.

April 2007

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council meeting 2nd April 2007

Police report Some incidents of damage to cars in the village had occurred and PC Houghton encouraged anyone experiencing damage to their vehicles to report it to the police. Dismay was expressed at recent vandalism to the windows in the sports pavilion . There had been some volunteers from the village for the proposed Wolds Community Speed Watch scheme.

Parish Councillors recorded their thanks to PC Houghton for his help since his appointment, and his regular attendance at the monthly meetings.

Report from County Councillor It was hoped that a site meeting between relevant staff from the County Council, Charnwood Borough Council and Wimpeys could be arranged in April to review current concerns regarding the Wysall Lane development. LCC Highways had recently trimmed the hedgerows on Hoton Road that had been restricting visibility.

Parish Councillors thanked County Councillor Shepherd for all his help and diligence on a number of village issues.

London Lane It had been confirmed that the area at the junction of Hoton Road and London Lane was the responsibility of LCC Highways. A reply from them was awaited as to what options there were to improve this area.

Sports field The Scouts had cleared the area where the bonfire was held.

Cemetery A new scale of charges was agreed as a result of the survey of other parishes in the area.

Bench on Brook Street The possible location of the bench near the bus stop was reviewed, and nearby residents would be contacted for their views.

Waymarking A letter had been received from LCC asking for contact details of local landowners/tenants to enable them to arrange for the waymarking of public rights of way, and repair of stiles and gates at LCC’s expense. Work would be done to try to establish ownership of land in the parish to enable this work to be done.

Thanks As this was the last meeting for several of the councillors, the chair, Councillor Collington, thanked all the Parish Councillors for their work for the Council over many years.

March 2007

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council meeting 5th March 2007

Police report Increased emphasis was being put on the safety of vehicles in pub car parks. It was hoped that the village could participate in a Community Speed Watch scheme for the Wolds if sufficient volunteers could be found. There had been some incidents of damage to cars in the village and PC Houghton encouraged anyone experiencing damage to their vehicles to report it to the police. Dismay was expressed at recent vandalism to the windows in the sports pavilion.

Affordable housing Parish Councillors would seek advice as to whether there was any mechanism whereby the affordable housing on the Wysall Lane development could be earmarked for parishioners and their families.

Hoton Road Highways had agreed to arrange to cut back the hedgerows to aid visibility. It had been hoped to reinstate part of the footway to Hoton at the Wymeswold end, but there was very little remaining of it so this would not be possible.

The Washdyke The trustees of the Parochial Charities had agreed to lease this area to the Parish Council for 15 years. The first phase of developing this area as an amenity for the village would be the community orchard, with other areas being considered at a later stage. A meeting would be arranged.

Airfield inquiry The inquiry into the appeal regarding the use of the site at Wymeswold airfield was due to resume. It would be open to the public, and parishioners were encouraged to attend.

Cemetery Charges for other cemeteries in the county had been surveyed, and Wymeswold’s were well below the average. They would be reviewed at the April meeting. Some work to improve pathways was agreed.

February 2007

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 5th February 2007

Report from County and Borough Councillors The closure of Wysall Lane, scheduled to end on 6th February had been extended for a few days. Whilst this was disappointing the road would be opened with a new surface, and there should be no other work outstanding on it.

Police report PC Houghton had been looking into potential arrangements for Community Speed Watch now that the initial pilots were completed. It was possible that this could be set up for a number of Wolds villages working together.

Wysall Lane Confirmation had been received that the pavement and road width were acceptable, and also that the building materials and designs were as agreed. Unfortunately Wimpeys had declined the request for a cash contribution for village amenities which it had been hoped might have been forthcoming as part of the Section 106 agreement.

May 2007 elections The timetable for the elections had been published. Anyone who might be interested in becoming a parish councillor should contact either the parish clerk on 01509 881146, or speak to one of the existing councillors. Nomination packs would be available in March.

Hoton/Wymeswold footway A meeting of interested parties had been held and it was clear that LCC Highways Department did not feel that reinstatement of the footway could be given priority under the current transport plan, which would run to 2011. However a number of improvements could be considered.

Cemetery The Parish Council acting in its capacity as Wymeswold Burial Board agreed that grave spaces in the area around the edge of the cemetery should be made available in the same way as those in the other sections.

The Washdyke An initial meeting of interested parishioners had taken place, and a sketch of a possible layout had been made. An agreement for an extended lease with an appropriate rental was the next step.

The Pound A suggestion had been received suggesting that the Pound could be used as a seating area now that it had been cleared. It was agreed that possible funding sources should be investigated to see if it might be possible to revive this idea which had been first considered several years ago.

January 2007

Report of Wymeswold Parish Council Meeting, 8th January 2007

Report from County and Borough Councillors: The timetable for the public consultation on the Draft East Midlands Plan was outlined.

The county proposal for a sustainable urban development based around Cotes was being reviewed. It was acknowledged that there was a limited number of possible locations for a development of the size required.

Police report: PC Houghton outlined priorities for the coming months that included an increase in visible patrols in the Wolds villages, and addressing vehicle crime and the misuse of vehicles, including speeding.

Bench: Following the replies from residents regarding the possibility of siting a bench on Brook Street, the proposed site would not be pursued. An alternative site could be adjacent to the bus stop on Brook Street .

Wysall Lane: There were a number of concerns over the work already done, details of which had been sent to Development Control.

May 2007 elections: These were to be held on 3rd May. The number of councillors would increase to 7. Anyone interested in standing for election is invited to speak to any of the present councillors, or the clerk for information on what is involved in being a parish councillor.

Hoton/Wymeswold footway: A meeting of interested parties was scheduled for later in the month.

Precept 2007/08: The budget for the coming financial year was agreed.

Clock illumination: A quotation to reinstate the illumination of the church clock had been received and it was agreed that this work should be done.

 

Parish Council Reports 2008

December 2008

Report of the meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council held on 1st December

Police report: The police are continuing to take action on incidents of unsocial behaviour. They are also looking into the potential danger to users of the Scout Hut and Playing Field on Burton Lane due to speeding vehicles to try and find a solution.

Outreach Post Office: The opening hours on Wednesday have been changed to 10am-2pm. Details of all the opening times are now displayed in the Parish Council notice board.

Damage to Queen’s Park: The triangle at the bottom of The Stockwell (known as Queen’s Park) has suffered serious damage over recent weeks caused by vehicles cutting corners and parking on this area. The Parish Council has had discussions with LCC Highways staff and the developers working on Brook Street . It has been agreed that the Parish Council will make a contribution to the repair of the top corner by Highways, which will require kerbing to prevent vehicles driving over this area. The developers have agreed to replace the soil and reseed the damaged areas in the New Year when the weather is suitable, and when visits from lorries and vans to their site have finished.

Kerbs on Brook Street: Part of the planning permission for the new development includes work on both the highway and pavement in this area. The blue bricks have been replaced with conservation style kerbing, and the distance between the road and pavement reduced with a lowered area to make crossing the road in this area easier.

Charnwood 2026 consultation: A response to this has been compiled and submitted to Charnwood Borough Council.

Memorial Hall lift: It was agreed to make a contribution from the current year’s budget towards the cost of installing a lift. Some funding for this project has already been secured and additional grants are being sought.

2009/10 precept: A draft budget for the coming financial year has been drafted and will be confirmed at the January meeting.

Premises licence for Prestwold Hall: Details have been received of a premises licence application for Prestwold Hall. The Parish Council considers that while a limited number of small scale events would be acceptable, the possibility of a substantial number of big events leading to increased traffic, noise and large numbers of visitors to the area is a concern.

November 2008

Report of the meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council held on 3rd November

Police report: There were a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in October, and the police are taking action on these. Two more parishioners have volunteered to take part in the Speed Watch operation.

Post box update: A meeting with Post Office Ltd will be arranged shortly to consider possible locations for the new larger post box to replace the one outside the old post office. The preferred location is currently the north end of The Stockwell.

Drainage channel by The Civic: The work to improve the drainage under the road to avoid the pavement flooding has been completed. The grass will be reseeded at the appropriate time. The new arrangements have been tested recently and have coped with the additional water flow successfully.

Charnwood 2026 consultation: All households have received a postcard detailing events being held, and a number of meetings are scheduled to formulate a response. The deadline for responses is 5th December.

Entrances to the village: A suggestion has been received from LCC Highways that the planting on the traffic calming islands at the entrances to the village should be replaced by tarmac due to problems maintaining these areas. It is hoped that instead the existing planting can be replaced by lower maintenance varieties.

October 2008

Report of the meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council held on 6th October

Police report: There had been no crimes reported in Wymeswold in the last month. The graffiti had been removed form the Bowls Club walls by those responsible together with young volunteers from the village. The problems caused by the lack of street lighting and the speed of cars entering the village on Burton Lane for users of the scout hut were discussed, and it was agreed to investigate possible solutions.

Local Development Framework: The consultation on this will start on 24th October. This will consider the alternative options for the future development of Charnwood.  All households will receive information and have the opportunity to comment. There will be a presentation and discussion at Loughborough Town Hall on 28th October from 7-9pm, and an exhibition in Wymeswold Memorial Hall on 11th November also from 7-9pm.

East Midlands Regional Plan: The plan had previously been circulated to councillors, along with the comments on the previous version which had been sent in December 2006. It was agreed that there was nothing to add to these.

Parking and traffic in Wymeswold: A report had been received from Highways indicating possible ways forward relating to both the damage to Queen’s Park and the area at the bottom of London Lane. Further discussion was needed on both these issues.

Moles in the cemetery: Following continued complaints about mole damage in the cemetery it was agree to arrange for them to be eradicated under licence.

Proposal to erect a flag pole in the village: Councillor Jenkins outlined his proposal for a flag pole in the village, but it was felt that there was not an obvious position in the village for a flag pole to be sited, and that this would not be an appropriate way in which to spend the precept.

Washdyke update: Trees which had died were being replaced, and a pruning session was scheduled for November. Grass around the bases of trees which could not be reached by mowing would be weed killed. Grants for the purchase of equipment for the trim trail were still being pursued. A number of offers to finance the purchase of benches and picnic tables had been made.

Best Village Competition: It was agreed that the £100 prize for the ‘ Best Village in Leicestershire competition (population 1,000-2,000)’ should be donated to The Wymeswold Washdyke Association. Councillors acknowledged the work that had been done by Lorraine Ellison and the Clerk in preparing the application for this competition.

September 2008

Report of the meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council held on 1st September

Police report: There had been two thefts from vehicles in the past month and PC Gilbertson emphasised the need to keep any items left in unattended cars out of sight. Problems caused by vehicles parked outside the school at the start and end of the day had returned with the start of the school term.

First Response Scheme: There appeared to be insufficient volunteers so far for this scheme to operate.

Post Box on Far Street: The Post Office had agreed that a larger post box would be installed in the village. This would be in a different location from the current one.

Community Health Service Review response: It was agreed to that the preferred option was to retain the Walk-In Centre in its present location. The proposal to relocate in within the Loughborough Hospital building complex would cause problems for Wymeswold residents with no transport.

LCC Highways inspection of Queens ‘ Park and London Lane/Hoton Road junction: A meeting had been held with LCC Highways to look at the damage to Queen’s Park caused by lorries, and also the state of the area at the bottom of London Lane caused by vehicles. A written report was awaited.

Washdyke update: Planning permission had been received, and the work on the parking area would commence shortly. The Washdyke Association had been registered as a charity which meant that the gift aid scheme could be operated. A 50% grant had been obtained for new goal posts

Kerbside recycling expansion: This had been expanded to include a number of additional items including Tetrapaks. A poster had been displayed on the notice board.

Mr Jack Bartram: Jack Bartram, for many years a Parish Councillor and had helped the village in countless ways had passed away over the summer. The Parish Council acknowledged his invaluable contribution to the village over many years.

August 2008

No Parish Council Meeting this month.

July 2008

Police report: There had been a number of burglaries from businesses in the area, including from the industrial estate. The police were liaising with the School’s PTA over the security of the building during the summer holidays.

Washdyke update: Replacements would be needed for a number of trees which had died. These would be planted in the Autumn. Work was being done on fundraising for play equipment including a bid to Charnwood. The paperwork for the resubmission of the planning application was nearly completed.

Regulations regarding burial plots: Councillors had visited the cemetery to consider the effect of the current regulations regarding memorials in the Garden of Remembrance . It was agreed that more information on what was available, and practice at other cemeteries, would be helpful in considering the issue.

Post Box: Councillor Holloway enquired whether it would be possible to arrange for a post box with a larger slot to be sited in the village so that larger envelopes could be posted when the Post Office was closed and it was agreed that the Clerk would look into this.

June 2008

Police report: PC Gilbertson reported on a large number of thefts at the recent Glastonbudget festival. It was thought that these were distraction thefts carried out by an organised gang.

Best village competition update: Judges would be visiting the village on 16 th June. A presentation in the Memorial Hall would be given by NS (for the Parish Council and the pantomime) and Lorraine Ellison, Heritage Warden (for the Community Orchard).

Wysall Lane landscaping update: Further details of this scheme had been received from Charnwood Borough Council.. It was agreed that that the suggestion to approve the plans with the proviso that any changes suggested by a ROSPA report were discussed and implemented as appropriate was an acceptable way forward.

Washdyke update: A logo for the Community Orchard had been created, and work was being done on the certificates for sponsors of the trees. Three tenders had been received for the work on the parking area near the entrance to the sports field and a decision was taken to approve expenditure on this work as it would be of benefit to Washdyke development, enhance the appearance of an unattractive area and also improve parking for users of both the Scout hut and the sports pavilion.

May 2008

Police report: PC Gilbertson reported on some recent success locally resulting from registration numbers of suspicious vehicles being reported to the police and urged parishioners to report anything about which they had concerns.

Dog fouling: Councillor Hubbard had recently identified a source of biodegradable bags, and it was agreed to order a supply of these. Granville’s had agreed to make them available.

Washdyke update: Labels for the individual trees were being produced, and the website was being updated giving details of varieties and sponsors. Applications for grants were being made, with many of these requiring matched funding. It was intended that the equipment would be introduced in a phased way, as funding became available. There would be a stall at the forthcoming Duck Race. Quotations were still being sought for the parking area required for planning permission, and the application had not yet been resubmitted.

Review of use of playing field for golf practice: Only 2 comments had been received on this. It was agreed to monitor the situation, and reconsider if it was felt there was a problem. The introduction of bylaws and their implementation would be complex and difficult.

April 2008

Report of the meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council held on 7th April

Community Responders This scheme was described by Mr Wright from Community Responders. It is designed to provide a team of local people trained in the use of a defibrillator who can provide a fast response in the event of cardiac arrest, prior to the arrival of the ambulance service. It is hoped that Wymeswold could join with other local parishes to develop such a scheme.

Church yard trees Charnwood’s Tree Officer has advised that the best solution is a planned programme of planting trees more appropriate for the location, and subsequently removing the lime stumps.

It was agreed to investigate the likely cost. Any work would need to be discussed with the church authorities.

Doorstep sellers The police have supplied some stickers which can be displayed in the window to deter unwanted callers. These are available from the Clerk.

Dog fouling This problem has become worse, both in the centre of the village but more particularly on Wysall Lane . Signage for this area is awaited, as are multi-purpose bins.

Publicity for village events With the imminent closure of the Post Office it has been agreed to make the parish notice board at the top of the Stockwell available for posters advertising community or charitable events organized by village clubs or societies, should space permit. All notices should be forwarded to the Clerk. Notices and advertisements for commercial organizations cannot be displayed.

Wysall Lane landscaping There are still some safety concerns with the most recent plans and Parish Councillor Bokor agreed to clarify the details and raise concerns with Charnwood Borough Council.

Washdyke update The first mowing of the season has been done, and the stile at the top of the Washdyke has been installed. Suppliers for labels for the trees are being investigated, as is a source for the finger post. Parish Councillors were pleased to see that the new football area was being used by young people from the village.

Annual parish meeting The Chair reminded Councillors that the next meeting would include the Annual Parish Meeting, and the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council which would precede the normal monthly meeting of the Parish Council. It will be held on Monday 12th May, and commence at 7pm. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

March 2008

Report of the meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council held on 3rd March 2008

Post Office closure There had been no response so far from Post Office Limited to the request to review the proposed opening hours of the Outreach service to be run from The Three Crowns public house. The Parish Council recorded its thanks to Mrs Sandra Brown and her staff for their service to the village over the last twenty years.

Police report The police had received no reports of crimes in Wymeswold during February. The mobile speed gun had been used in the village recently, and this exercise would be repeated.

Cold calling It was agreed that rather than trying to establish “no cold calling zones” in the village notices would be made available to anyone who wished to deter unwelcome visitors.

Leicestershire and Rutland Best Village competition Parish Councillors considered that both the recent pantomime and the planting of the community orchard were suitable projects to enter into this competition. The closing date was the beginning of April.

Mole problem in cemetery There were signs of mole activity in the cemetery, and it was decided to install a device to repel moles, and also to rake the existing mole hills. The mowing schedule would begin shortly which should improve the general appearance.

Church yard hedge The hedge had now been laid resulting in some gaps, which would need to be filled.

February 2008

Report of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th February 2008

Post Office closure The Parish Council noted the proposals for the closure of the current Post Office and its replacement with an Outreach service for 14 hours from the Three Crowns public house.

These hours would be Monday mornings, Friday all day and Saturday morning. It was felt that this arrangement of hours was unsatisfactory as there would be no service between Monday lunchtime and Friday morning and it was agreed to contact Post Office Limited and Post Watch to see if these hours could be spread more evenly throughout the week.

Washdyke update A meeting with staff from Leicestershire Highways had indicated that the creation of a hard standing area next to the gated entrance to the sports field, and a sign advising visitors arriving by car to park in this area would be sufficient to move the planning application (for the new access and change of use) forward.

Website update The Parish Council website http://wymeswold.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/ had been updated and included a number of new features.

Wysall Lane estate landscaping Discussions were continuing about the landscaping of this area. The Parish Council was concerned about the safety aspects of the two ponds, and it was agreed to check what safety measures would be put in place.

Barrow Health Centre use of 0844 number The use of this number had cost implications for users, and it was not available from abroad. It was agreed to write to Barrow Health Centre expressing the Parish Council’s concerns.

January 2008

Report of the Parish Council meeting held on 7th January 2008

Heritage Warden Lorraine Ellison described her work as Heritage Warden. Recent surveys of wildlife in the village have covered snakes and dragonflies. Parishioners are encouraged to report any unusual sightings to her including photographs where possible. Parish Councillors thanked Mrs Ellison for all her hard work since taking over this role.

Churchyard hedge It was agreed to arrange for this to be laid in the next couple of months.

Proposed Post Office closure A response had been compiled and sent to the relevant department of the Post Office detailing the reasons for opposition to this.

Washdyke update All except a couple of trees were now planted in the community orchard. The Washdyke Association had put on a display in the Methodist Chapel of possible uses for the lower half of the Washdyke encouraging the young people of the village to have an input into the design.

Reporting of street light problems This can be done either via the web http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/highways/road_pathway_maintenance/htwm_location.htm?problem_type=Street_Lighting or by contacting the clerk (details below) if you wish her to report to any defect on your behalf. Alternatively this can be done via the parish council’s online fault reporting form http://wymeswold.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/faultreportform.html which can be used to report problems of any kind to the clerk.

Parish Council Report 2009/10

This report details some of the many issues Wymeswold Parish Council has been concerned with in the last year:

Wymeswold Airfield activities

Last year there was a big increase in the number of noise-related complaints about motor sport activities on the former airfield. The Parish Council convened a meeting of the liaison group and met with Everyman Racing, Charnwood Borough Council and Prestwold Hall to address these issues. Assurances have been given that the number of customers, particularly on Saturdays, has been reduced and that work has been completed on the exhausts of vehicles to minimise noise pollution. This will be monitored and the group will meet again in June.

HGVs in the village 

Meeting were held with County Highways to discuss the use of minor roads in the village by HGVs. As a result, Clay Street now has “Unsuitable for HGVs” signs at both ends.

Willow Trees on Brook Street 

After meetings with the County Council the willows on Brook Street (standing on Highways’ land) have now been trimmed back. It was also established that the remaining trees, not under County Highways’ responsibility, are on private land.

Wimpey development on Wysall Lane 

The Parish Council lobbied Charnwood BC to press Wimpey Homes over the completion of landscaping, the play area and safety railing around ponds stipulated as part of their planning permission. This work has now been completed.

Wymeswold Churchyard 

The Parish Council arranged for the removal of suckers which had grown up around the old tree stumps and planted two new trees on the Church Street boundary.

Post Box and Telephone Box 

The post box by the old Post Office was removed and a new box installed on the Stockwell with a larger opening for bigger parcels. British Telecom was looking to dispose of the telephone box, but after discussion with the Parish Council this is to be retained for telephony and it is hoped that it will soon be repainted.

Housing Needs Survey 

The Parish Council worked with the Leicestershire’s Rural Housing Enabler and last November a Housing Needs Survey was completed with over 170 responses. A small need for affordable housing was identified, but the Council felt that the particular scheme proposed was not suitable for Wymeswold at this time. The project has been left in abeyance for the time being.

Memorial Hall 

The Parish Council recognises the valuable function that our hall serves in the community and has supported the hall through covering mowing costs and paying the majority of the boiler repair costs in the winter. Now that the lift has been successfully installed, Parish Council meetings have moved to the ‘Jubilee Room’ on the first Monday of each month.

Washdyke & Community Orchard 

The Parish Council continues to support the development of this fantastic amenity for the village and wishes to thank the Washdyke Association for all its hard work in securing grants for the play equipment as well as maintaining the orchard. Apart from paying for mowing and insurance, this year the Parish Council has provided the kissing gate at the bottom of the field and arranged to have the bottom hedge cut back to improve visibility on Hoton Road .

Salt Bins 

The severe winter weather highlighted the safety issues on both Burton Lane and Wysall Lane , both of which are used by school buses. The Parish Council arranged for the installation of salt bins at each location and also worked closely with County Highways during the icy weather to grit these problem areas, as well as other untreated areas in the village.

Road Safety and Street Lighting 

Safety is always a key priority and following the accidents at the Burton Lane / Hoton Road junction the Parish Council has again asked County Highways to look at the area’s lighting, signage and speed restrictions. The County Council has now indicated that the 30mph zone could be moved back beyond the Scout Hut, although there are a number of legal issues to address before this can happen. The safety of youngsters walking up to the Scout Hut on dark evenings has also concerned the Parish Council and a quote has been obtained to provide street lighting on Burton Lane. Without the necessary budget for this financial year, this project will be looked at again next year.

Wymeswold Playing Field 

The field is managed by the Parish Council and monies have been spent this year on mowing, and maintenance of the pavilion.

Police Contact 

Representatives from the local police attend every Parish Council meeting and there is constant dialogue over issues such as petty crime, speeding and anti-social behaviour.

Church Yard and Cemetery 

There has been ongoing maintenance of these areas including cutting back trees and path clearing. A budget has been set for improvements in the cemetery, including maintenance of the wall.

Representation on Other Bodies 

The Parish Council is represented on the Wolds Area Community Forum which meets four times a year, and also on the Joint Wolds Parish Councils’ Group which covers the parish councils in the local area.

Parish Council Communication 

Apart from regular updates in the ‘Link’ and the Loughborough Echo , news from the Parish Council is updated on the village website www.wymeswold.com and also on the Parish Council websitehttp://www.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/wymeswold/ .

I hope this summary gives you an outline of some of the many issues we deal with as a Parish Council. There are also many other matters regularly dealt with by the Council every year including mowing, street cleaning, highway maintenance, potholes and rubbish removal.

Parishioners are welcome to attend the regular monthly meetings, normally held on the first Monday of the month at 7.15pm in the Memorial Hall. All contact details are advertised on the Parish Council notice board in the Stockwell, as are the agenda and minutes of the most recent meeting, together with any other relevant info rmation.

I would like to thank the six other members of the Parish Council: Joan Hubbard, Ken Barratt, Shaun Bokor, Derrick Rumsby, Ken Holloway and Ron Jenkins for their support, advice and commitment this year.

I would also like to record our thanks to our County Councillor, Cllr Richard Sheppard, for his help and advice over a numerous matters with the County Council, and similarly our Borough Councillor, Cllr Jenny Bokor, who also liaises with us over issues with Charnwood BC

Finally, I would like to thank the Parish Clerk, Miranda Noble, for her tireless work (much of it often unseen) to ensure the smooth running of the Parish Council.

Nick Shaw
Chairman, Wymeswold Parish Council
10th May 2010