Minute of  a meeting of the Pleasant Residents’ Association

AGM MINUTES

12^th J
12^th June 2013– 7.30 pm

Present:-

Chairman James Pocklington             Eilen and Eric Howard         Brenda Nutt         Keith and Linda Scott          Dave Heal

Gary Dray              Sylvia Scott            Mr and Mrs N Overton       Betty Pinfold        Paul Overton        Mr and Mrs Beadle

Sarah Dodds          John Hough           Patrick Purves

Apologies – Richard Scott, Brian Shaw, Di Dray

Minutes of last meeting – circulated, read and approved

Arising – Chairman reported the hanging baskets were in place.  John Hough has passed on to CC Highways the messages about Watts Lane

Development – 82 Mount Pleasant – There were still concerns about the density of the current plan, and the impact on local amenity. The Architect, KPW in Leicester, had been contacted and refused to discuss with residents.  The access was not going to be wide enough to take two footways.  John Hough advised adjoining owners to take legal advice about encroachment. James Pocklington was going to attend a Town Council meeting and Alan Beadle mentioned a contact at Waterloo Housing, a Brian Burnett,  Waterloo having filed the plan in partnership with ELDC.  Residents of Spire View were co-ordinating objections with assistance from Liz Beadle

John Hough offered valuable guidance on timing and procedure, as did Sarah Dodds.  Dave Heal spoke of the intransigence of ELDC, but Councillors present felt this was a different kind of issue, and explained factors affecting amenity.

Sylvia Scott echoed the concern of many that there was to be a fourfold increase in dwellings on a private road, and  foul and stormwater drainage issues were stressed.  Sarah Dodds would carry those concerns to Michelle Walker at the Council.

Development – Newmarket – James Pocklington reported the Co-Op had won an appeal to build a large convenience store on the old Browns Garage Site. Eileen Howard voiced concerns over the impact of another 6 houses using Watts Lane as access.  Sarah Dodds mentioned the increased urgency of sorting out the signage and other issues.

James Pocklington suggested the Co-Op be approached about these concerns and asked to sort out the road surface, speed bumps, signage etc.

The customary short historical seminar took place on the background

Youth provision – the fence adjoining the Leisure Centre was being used as a football target late at night, with much noise on the wire fencing.  Sarah Dodds would raise the matter of locking the grounds after 10 pm when the Centre closed.

Parking – John Hough mentioned the withdrawal of free parking by the Cattle Market and the impact of this on street parking all over Louth.  Buses were now getting stuck on Church Street instead of Mercer Row.  There was a lot of concern and the general feeling was that ELDC had scored yet another massive own goal..

Communal activity Patrick Purves suggested it would be right to thank Committee members and washers up following the Big Lunch

Subsequently the meeting closed at about 8:50  pm

Boundary Commission : Proposed changes to Louth electoral wards

At the last meeting of the residents, Cllr Sarah Dodds highlighted the proposed changes to the Louth Wards.
I agreed to write and express our concerns about the proposals..here's the text I submitted.


"My name is James Pocklington, I am the Chairman of the Pleasant Residents' Association which would be affected by the changes proposed. Our catchment area is currently bordered by Watts Lane (see 1:). This seems to be a natural boundary. The Robinson Lane Estate which you propose to include in the St Mary's and St Michael's Ward is only accessible by vehicles from Priory Ward as Watts Lane is an unadopted road.
Additionally we have grave reservations about the proposal to have 2 councillor wards in our town. This extends the geographical area for prospective candidates to cover and seems an odd way to extend electoral equality as residents in two councillor wards get two votes as opposed to wards with single councillors. This will complicate the electoral process and further alienate our electorate, too many of whom fail to vote at all.
I fail to understand why equal size electorates are such an important issue. The idea that to make our system more democratic councillors should represent wards of similar size, might seem reasonable in theory but in practice it is meaningless. The democracy of a community is only as good as the councillors that represent it, regardless of whether the councillor might represent 15% more or less residents.
Making these changes will not improve the commitment of councillors which, in my view, is the only factor that can really make a difference to the community. In fact making the boundary twice as large for 2 councillors to cover will deter many more decent folk who might have thought about standing as a prospective councillor. The only people who benefit will be the local printers, (twice as many flyers needed in each extended ward) and the cobblers! (All councillors will have to walk double the distance of a single councillor ward).
I realise that once a review is called for, recommending the status quo might seem a difficult decision to make, but certainly in the case of these proposed changes to Louth Wards, the status quo is the only sensible decision.
Thankyou "


Here is a link to the Boundary Commission website if you'd like to know more
http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/east-midlands/lincolnshire/east-lindsey-fer

If you wish to leave a comment on the consultation then you can do so before the 5th August
Click here for more details
https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/793/la=126

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.