Parish Council

Parish Council - Report on last meeting

The following notes from the last meeting have been provided by the Parish Clerk. To open the complete minutes of the last meeting please click here..

May Parish Council meeting
There were three members of the public present. One councillor made their apology. The minutes of the last meeting were approved. Mike Craven-Romain declared an interest in the Village Hall. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman were elected for a new term in office. Norman Cawston was elected as the new chairman and Adrian Joel as vice-chairman.

Village Action Plan: A suggestion was made to widen the road directly outside the shop to enable cars to be able to drive through the middle if there are vehicles parked on both sides. This would reduce the amount of traffic having to park on the road and also stop vehicles having to reverse onto Hargham Road. The general feeling was that many people would not be happy with extra cars parking outside the shop and if rustic posts are put in on the Green opposite the shop, there would be no need for widening anyway. A meeting between Norfolk County Council Highways and the GRP to discuss the rustic posts was to take place at the beginning of May.

Village Hall: A meeting to discuss the proposed recreation area took place between members of the VHMC and the Parish Council on Tuesday 2 May. Various points were discussed and provisionally agreed and both parties are keen for the project to move forward. A provisional date of Monday 22 May was made for this group to meet again. Mike Bartlett congratulated all those involved for the change of attitude and subsequent progress made.
A meeting regarding the the Village Hall car park was held in April between Stephen Edwards (County Council), John Kelly (OBCPS Headteacher), Jean Norton (School governor), Peter Martin (Parish Council) and Mike Bartlett (VHMC). There was considerable discussion relating to the surface of the car park and it was agreed that alternatives should be considered. It was decided that chippings/gravel would be preferable to tarmac, not only from a maintenance point of view but also as a security measure. It was agreed that if the recreation area is to go ahead then the car park needs to be put on hold until this is completed but the serious potholes need to be addressed as soon as possible.
The possibility of double yellow lines near the schools in Abbey Road was discussed as a safety issue.
The Village Hall Management Committee (VHMC) have proposed that the Memorial Room be opened as a 'drop in' centre for the youth of the village. This decision follows a survey carried out some time ago.
The Village Hall fete is to take place on Saturday 17 June and the VHMC have asked if anyone could give their help on the day.

The Green: Councillors discussed the issue of parking on the bridleway/highway that runs from the church, past the Ox & Plough and as far as Sunnyside Farm.
Unfortunately, the extension to the children’?s play area which was recently agreed between the Green Rights Proprietors (GRP) and the Parish Council has now been turned down by the GRP. The Parish Council are awaiting further developments. Norfolk County Council have agreed to make up, to highways standard, two metres of the Green on the opposite side to the shop.

County Council: Concerns were raised over the route which lorries are taking to and from the live chicken site in Abbey Road. The Clerk is to write to Norfolk County Council Highways to get clarification.

District Council: Adrian Joel reported on the Local Development Framework and confirmed that Old Buckenham, along with East Harling and Banham, is not earmarked for any large scale development. The reasons given were education restraints, flood risk and that community consultation in 2005 indicated that residents only wanted small scale development.

Highways: Councillors discussed the gritting of Hargham Road during the winter months following several accidents. The clerk is to write to NCC Highways and request that Hargham Road be added to the gritting route for next winter. Clerk also to report potholes in Hargham Road, on the Green and outside the shop. Councillors also decided that "stop" signs at the Dam Brigg would be preferable to "give way" signs and this is also to be passed to NCC Highways.

Planning permission granted by Breckland: