|
Lechlade Town Council Newsletter October 2001
1.
The Town Council office will be open to members of the public for six
hours per week at the following times. Monday 1000-1200. Wednesday 1400-1600,
Thursday 1800-2000. The Council believes that this new arrangement will
enhance the service provided to the community. These times may be revised in
the light of our experience. Should you wish to discuss a matter with a
councilor the Clerk will arrange it. The postal address is The Town Council
Lechlade on Thames. P.O. Box No.5GL7 3YP. E-Mail to TownCouncil@tinyworld.co.uk
Tel/ Fax 01367 252338 2.
New Seats have recently been positioned on the playing field and at the
Gassons flats Bus Stop, it is with regret that we have to report that they are
being vandalised by damage to the protective plastic covering. 3.
In previous newsletters we have requested that hedges and shrubs be
pruned back to the owners’ boundary. There are still a considerable number
of boundary hedges around the town, which need a prune to ensure the comfort
and safety of pedestrians passing by. In some cases the overhang is
approaching a metre and drastic shrub surgery is needed. The longer it is left
the more difficult it is to cut back. Please refrain from dumping your garden
cuttings on roadside verges and ditches, or even in black plastic bags
adjacent to some other souls drive, as has recently happened. Green bags are
available in the post office at 41 p each or there is a free garden refuse
recycling collection twice a month by C.D.C. Leaflets on this service have
been distributed and are available in some of the town’s shops 4.
A decision has been made that the Youth Hut has reached the end of its
useful life. Once empty it will be razed, and a committee has been set up to
decide the way forward. There are many questions to be asked and answered
about the viability of a new build. What form it should take. What
organisations wilt use it, and what activities would they want to use it for.
What impact will the increased capacity have on the existing buildings
business plans? This is the first major project since the skateboard park, and
new ideas and volunteers to drive them will be most welcome. An outline
drawing (by Peter Blair) of a possible design for a replacement for the
current wooden hut already exists. This is a discussion drawing and copies can
be made available to all interested organisations. Comment and constructive
suggestions on the project including:- heating, lighting, floor covering, wall
covering, sound insulation, window, acoustics, etc, are welcome Once a policy
has been finalised on what is required, the project can move forward to the
next stages. Interested then call one of the following Curs. Chase, Cawsey,
Clarke or Dover. 5.
The Footpath from the recreation ground to The Loaders is due to be
constructed during September whilst the builders are doing some renovation
work on the adjacent property. 6.
Plans for the revamping of The Market Place have been produced by
Whitton Associates, with minor comments from GCC, they have been passed to CDC
for agreement. When this is obtained they will be reviewed by the Town
Council. Hopes should not be raised as a new system for prioritising funds
recently introduced has put this project well down the priorities list. 7 .The
Bledisloe Cup was judged at the end of July. Lechlade was Highly Commended and
awarded third place in the Large Village section. 8.
Volunteers are still needed to join the team of community volunteers
who man the police station on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
from 1000 to 1300. Interested then call in at the police station and speak to
Sgt Pat. Taylor, or speak to one of the team. The Police are due to move back
to Fairford in the autumn. It is hoped that by the time the move takes place
some alternative arrangements will have been made to allow the service to
continue. 9.
C.D.C recycling service. You may now place BT Phone Books and Yellow
pages in your kerbside recycling box. Mobile telephones can be handed in at
CDC for recycling. Most other large items of redundant household equipment and
furniture can be collected free of charge, and where possible it will be
refurbished and passed on to the needy of Gloucestershire. For this weekly
service call 01 285 653491. Garden and building waste is excluded. 10. The Periodic Electoral Review is now complete, but subject to appeal. The main thrust is to ensure an equality of voters to each District Councillor. The resulting proposal affects us, in that although not connected or linked in any way, Kempsford and Lechlade together become one ward with two District Councillor’s. This proposal would give the town a greater representation on C.D.C. than it currently has but it is being resisted strongly by Kempsford. I 1.The
Plans for more social housing in Lechlade are produced by the Housing
Association involved. The fact that they change their minds and put in an
application different to what they showed the public, is probably as a result
of comment by the public either at the presentation or by post. It is only
when an application is made that the Public or Town Council get to know what
is being proposed. It is at this stage that comments may be made on the plans
to C.D.C. (Copy to T.C.). The T.C. planning committee holds meetings open to
the public when it formulates its views on all building proposals. These wilt
generally be held at three-week intervals in the T.C. Office, and a notice of
such meetings will be promulgated. Major planning considerations will be
placed on the agenda for normal T.C. Meetings. For the record the Council
registered an objection to both of the schemes proposed by Fosseway Housing
Association for the Gassons Estate. 12.
On Monday August 6~, a meeting was held with Mr. J Whittaker from GCC
at the Wharf Lane 13.
Crime in the local area continues to cause concern. Alloy wheels stolen
from parked cars. Car fuel pipe cut and petrol stolen. TV sets and video
recorders being sold from the back of a van, buyers beware! Cotswold roof
tiles and stone walling stolen from remote-secluded buildings and walls.
Gopeds and a welder stolen from local buildings. Garden sheds are also
targets, and personal effects —mobile phones-bags-coats etc have also been
stolen. Vandalism of property and vehicles continues to cause problems for the
owner. The wall opposite The Shrubbery on the A36 1 is a typical example. This
wall is currently a danger to the public and in particular children, and
efforts are being made to ensure repairs are put in hand. Please keep your
eyes open and call the police if you see anything suspicious. 14.
Association Day 22~ September. Town Council sponsored an Open Morning
in the main hall. The object was to allow all local organisations to provide a
small display about their activities. Refreshments were available, and an
opportunity to meet Councillors from L.T.C. and also your Councillors from
G.C.C. and C.D.C. was provided. The morning was well supported. 15.
With the support of the Lechlade Chamber of Commerce, and Cotswold
District Council, progress has been made with the Lechlade Town Council
Website. It is anticipated that within the next few weeks the T.C. will
preview of the site, with a plan to launch the project shortly afterwards.. 16.
The B.P. Site continues to be an eyesore, and B.P. does not wish to
allow a tenant on the site for a short-term lease whilst remediation is in
progress. The site seemingly becomes one of the many made redundant around the
countryside. 17.
Cllr. Theodoulou who has replaced Cur Gayler as our County Councillor,
addressed the August T.C. meeting, He spoke about the loss of the Eastern
Spine Road upgrade, but indicated that he believed a new roundabout would be
built at the intersection with the A4 1 7 near the Shell Filling Station,
along with other minor works over the next four years. He also spoke about the
British Canal trust and the need for a link to move water across country into
the River Thames. 18.
It may be worth reminding again those organisations that are
considering asking for financial assistance that there is a set procedure to
be followed. An application pack may be obtained from the Town Clerk. Copies
of the organisations’ balance sheet and current financial state will always
be required. 19.
New notices have been erected on the New Memorial Hall spelling out
what is not allowed. Youngsters are still making themselves a nuisance in the
car park:- cycling, skating, interfering with, and causing damage to parked
vehicles. Utter is still a major problem in the recreation area particularly
in the vicinity of the skateboard park. Dogs are only permitted whilst on a
lead. 20. Residents are reminded that the land at the lower end of Bell Lane down to the riverbank is under the protection of the Town Council, and may be used to launch craft into the river. Cars must not be left parked on this strip of land, which is generally known as the Old Town Ditch/Free Wharf. 21.
Gloucestershire Highways have now completed their work, which involved
removing a large tree stump near the exit to the cemetery. They have piped a
stretch of the ditch and covered it with soil, and repaired the bridging to an
adjacent house and the drive to the cemetery. Sadly they may have disturbed
some water voles, but we hope the voles will re-colonise now that the work has
been completed. 22.
The lighting of an occasional bonfire is not against the law, but
consideration should be given to your neighbours. Toxic materials must not be
burnt, and garden waste should be dry to minimise smoke. A copy of the leaflet
on the subject can be obtained from the Town Clerk. 23.
The Lechlade Probus Club has kindly agreed to sponsor this years main
Christmas tree which is placed in front of the Church. New lights are being
obtained, and it is hoped that we will have a “Lights On” ceremony. The
date will be December 5th ”. Subject to confirmation, and this
will provide an opportunity to sing some carols in the Market Place. 24.
Cllr. Robert Long has agreed to represent the T.C. at future meetings
of the Twinning Association. 25.
The handrail in Mount Pleasant has now been repaired, and the tree
stump at the cemetery exit has been removed. The ditch has been piped at this
point, and covered over, It is hoped that flooding will not now be caused by
the restriction at this point. 26.
A number of comments were received on the Council Draft Action Plan. A
meeting of Cllr’s has been convened to consider the points raised, and as
pointed out previously this document will always be under review due to the
fast moving nature of change in our town and environment. 27.
No volunteer came forward to stand for election to the Council at the
first time of asking. As ten parishioners requested an election, it is not
possible to co-opt to the Council. The vacancy will continue to be advertised
until the position is filled. |
Send mail to doakey@ntlworld.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
