Minute of  a meeting of the Pleasant Residents’ Association

AGM MINUTES

8^th May 2013– 7.30 pm

Present:-

Chairman James Pocklington, John Prior, Sylvia Scott,  Cllr John Hough, Brian Shaw, unfortunately I did not pick up the attendees list at the end of the meeting.

Apologies – Brenda Nutt, Richard Scott, Alan Beadle, Cllr Sarah Dodds

Minutes of last meeting – circulated, read and presumably approved

Arising – John Prior reported the micro- building site halfway down Church Street was on sand and needed piling at a cost of about £10,000.  The plans were on the ELDC website.  There was a discussion about access, and the time machine was again urgently required to travel back to 2006 and object to the plan, which was compared to a pigeon loft.

The development at 82 Mount Pleasant  - application had not been lodged yet but elevations and a block plan had gone in. It was likely that Spire View would be changed from a cul-de-sac into a through road

Watts Lane was discussed again.  Until we had a figure for the repairs it would not be possible to consider this aspect.  However John Hough confirmed Highways at LCC were being pressed to make more visible and prominent signage.  Highways had also offered to extend the parking restrictions at the top of Little Lane.  The Mount Pleasant one way section was currently on an advisory rather than weight restriction basis.  Bollards were mentioned,  John H explained about the use of road markings to show a narrower approach.  If weight restrictions went in, there would be problems with bin collection and delivery vehicles.  It was also agreed a No Through Road should be put at the East end of Mount Pleasant.

There was mention of rampant pavement parking on Little Lane.  James P would have a word with the owners concerned.  The developers were also cluttering up the thoroughfare..

John Hough reported that a No Through Road sign was also being considered for the foot of Little Lane, as lorries were going up there and getting hopelessly lost.  All this was approved.  There was then yet another time-machine requisition to go back several years to put right what had already happened.  The Secretary would try to book the Starship Enterprise for the use of the various Space Cadets who keep bringing this up.

James P then turned to the true purposes of the meeting.  The basket of flowers idea for Louth In Bloom was being actioned with flyers being circulated to selected properties The idea of padlocking the hanging baskets was mooted in view of the likelihood of horticrimes on the streets.

The Big Lunch was set for Sunday 2^nd June.  James had some lettuce seeds to offer to the willing and able.  No takers

James and others had carried out a litter pick on the old Brown’s Garage site.  This would be resumed that Friday.  A planning inspector had been seen on the site, alone, re the appeal.

The Festival of Bees flyers were mentioned.

Patrick reported on the slow and laborious process of discovering which , if any, Watts Lane properties were on record as owning the road bed (none so far).  A discussion of archive documents proving (inter alia) that the Old Vicarage did not exist, and that Watts Lane was in Marshchapel, and was aligned with the Pyramids (or something).  Patrick expressed a preference for relying on current records, especially if it meant that the road-bed did not in fact belong to the properties, whose owners would therefore not be responsible for repairs.

The meeting closed at about 8.45 p.m.

Hanging out the baskets

Patrick admiring the new addition to his garden....the hanging basket that is, not Brian.

Minute of  a meeting of the Pleasant Residents’ Association

10^th April 2013– 7.30 pm

Present:-

Chairman James Pocklington             Eileen and Eric Howard       Sylvia Scott           Mick Kingswood

Dave Heal              Liz Beadle              John Prior                              Gary Dray              Brian Shaw

Patrick Purves      John Hough           Di Dray                                   Brenda Nutt         Betty Pinfold

Cliff Cowling          Rachael Cowling   Cathy Kearnan                      Anita Hammond 

Apologies – Richard Scott, Sarah Dodds

•               Minutes –read and approved save that Brian Shaw was at last meeting

•               Arising –   BUSES – James, Dave, Brian and Gary went to the Town Hall  bus round table meeting.  Other areas wanted the route to continue on Church Street, Dave Skepper had promised to review this, and it remains under review until the parking issues on Mercer Row were solved.  There was a discussion of the issues, including Blue Badge disabled parking – this does not extend to loading bays (John Hough clarified this).  It was suggested that the facility be time-limited.  The next meeting on 2^nd May would be reported on in due course.

BROWN’S SITE – evidently more potential developers were interested in this, though there is to be a site visit soon by the planning inspector in relation to the appeal by the developers for the Sainsbury’s proposal.

PLANNING – 82 Mount Pleasant.  Sylvia reported the plans had been validated.  John Hough explained this meant the application was now officially in and the infrastructure and environment aspects had been considered. John Hough explained that there had been a meeting with residents and Graeme Butler of LCC Highways with regard to a number of traffic issues in the area , further details to follow.

WATTS LANE – John Hough reported on the meeting on 2^nd April with Dean Myhill of LCC Highways.  He suggested concentrating on the bad section by getting a contractor to cut out and fill the holes.  After settling LCC would surface dress, which would last for up to 12 years.  That part would cost up to £3.50 per square metre.  Dave Fairburn should be invited to consider the job, and proposed speed humps.  The discussion followed the old paths, bollards, policing, why things that were so, were in fact so, and could not be rectified without a (expletive) time machine.  However, some progress took place in that Patrick Purves offered to buy copies of titles from the Land Registry to show who owned which bits of road , it was agreed that this would be paid for out of association funds.  It was also agreed the signage on the entrance to Watts Lane needed clarifying.

FORTHCOMING YEAR – the meeting turned to the Lovely Louth initiative, and hanging baskets to be provided to all who would display and care for them.  Brian Shaw agreed to get some materials.  A summer Big Lunch with food, music etc would be set for Sunday 2^nd June, in St. Michael’s Parish Hall.

BRIAN SHAW – raised the issue of Councillors’ non-financial interests no longer being declared.  There would be a petition to require Councillors to declare these.

OTHER BUSINESS – John Hough was meeting Dean Myhill again and would report at the next meeting.  John Prior raised the remarkable 7 Town Houses on the fag-packet sized plot on the Church Street/Monk’s Dyke junction and the mud and spoil on the road.  Sylvia mentioned the proposal to charge for removing green waste, and the recycling of such things as tea-bags, peelings etc.  The meeting felt there was a tendency there to deter recycling and encourage fly-tipping.  Not everyone wanted a compost heap, for fear of rats.  This was agreed to be a backward step, if implemented.

QUIZ – Brian mentioned the 26^th April Quiz. There being no other business the meeting closed at about 8:40 pm

AGM MINUTES

10^th April 2013– 7.30 pm

Present:-

Chairman James Pocklington             Eileen and Eric Howard       Sylvia Scott           Mick Kingswood

Dave Heal              Liz Beadle              John Prior                              Gary Dray              Brian Shaw

Patrick Purves      John Hough           Di Dray                                   Brenda Nutt         Betty Pinfold

Cliff Cowling          Rachael Cowling   Cathy Kearnan                      Anita Hammond

Apologies – Richard Scott, Sarah Dodds

•              The AGM took place. Chairman made a financial report, on income and expenditure.  It was proposed to spend some funds on Louth in Bloom, providing the materials for hanging baskets.  There was also a report on a successful year in which we had challenged the Sainsbury proposal, had dealings with bus routes, celebrated the Jubilee, organised outings to Rushmore Park and the Pantomime (not to be confused with ELDC Planning meeting attended by Sarah Dodd, Patrick Purves and others – the other pantomime)  We had had great support from our Councillors John Hough and Sarah Dodds, and a vote of thanks was passed for Brian Shaw’s efforts with the Bonus Ball

•              Committee members were elected as follows:-

Chairman – James Pocklington

Vice Chairman- John Prior

Fundraising – Brian Shaw

Secretary – Patrick Purves

Treasurer – Gary Dray

Committee members – Sylvia Scott and Dave Heal

The AGM finished.

There being no other business the meeting closed at about 8:30 pm

Sunny Sunday afternoon

A small but select gang of local residents (sorry Gary and Judy I missed you during the photoshoot!) enjoyed a lovely open air "Big Lunch" on Sunday. The sun came out on cue and we shared some wine and home made food over conversation and bird spotting peregrine falcons that performed an aerial display high above!
We made up two more hanging baskets to be happily adopted by Di & Gary.

HANGING BASKETS R'US!

We'll be hanging out more adopted baskets this week..we have a grand total of 17 to find homes for, so if you'd like to care for one over the summer and you have a prominent street side location then please get in touch.