MINUTES OF THE OPEN MEETING OF HAVERAH PARK WITH BECKWITHSHAW PARISH COUNCIL

 

TUESDAY 6th April 2010

 

Location:        The Village Hall, Beckwithshaw

 

Present:          Cllr M Clarke, Cllr I Galloway, Cllr D Naylor, Cllr Mrs K Wilson, CCllr J Fort, DCllr R Grange and Parish Clerk Jasmine Naylor.

 

The Open Meeting commenced at 7.30pm

 

Cllr Galloway welcomed all to the meeting.

Traffic Calming in Beckwithshaw.

 

Following the meeting in June 2009, it was reported that Cllr Naylor had continued to contact North Yorkshire County Council and discuss proposals for traffic calming measures to be introduced in Beckwithshaw. North Yorkshire County Council have agreed to introduce a programme of work to improve road safety which includes:

  • New/improved warning signs on the approach to the bend Otley Road (i.e. approaching the Norwood Lane junction). the signage will also indicate an advisory 30mph limit.

·       The installation of improved junction warning signs on the bend itself which will incorporate the words “Side Road Ahead” (i.e. Norwood Lane), as well as  “Reduce Speed Now”

  • Install junction edge of carriageway road markings and verge marker posts immediately before Norwood Lane.

·       For traffic travelling north (i.e. in the direction of Leathley), the two existing “Bend Ahead” signs will be removed and replaced with ones which incorporate the advisory wording “Maximum Speed 30mph”.

  • Prior to the existing 30mph restriction signs (i.e. for vehicles approaching from the Leathley direction) new 2900mm”Slow” road markings will be introduced.

 

Unfortunately, North Yorkshire County Council cannot confirm when the programme will be initiated due to a dependency on available budget/funds.

There was a concensus that traffic speeding through the Village remains a major concern and additional measures were discussed/requested to improve the situation, these included:

  • Installation of a pedestrian crossing between the Smiths Arms and the Church.
  • Introduce speed cameras (Investigation had been made into the viability of training nominated parishioners in the use of speed guns – Cllr Galloway reported that NYCC in conjunction with the Police were looking into the feasibility of introducing speed cameras in the County and that a pilot was being undertaken on the A1.
  • Installation of a chicane system.
  • Introduce a mini roundabout at the junction between Shaw Lane and Otley Road: CCty Cllr Fort agreed to look into associated costs for a mini roundabout.
  • Introduce a speed limit of 20mph outside the school although it was agreed that this would be difficult to enforce.

 

The majority of suggestions are dependent on funding and it was reported that due to the current economic climate funds/grants were not readily available.

 

It was agreed that to escalate the issue with North Yorkshire County Council, the Village and School should work together and that a survey should be sent out to parishioners and school parents to determine which initiatives should be progressed. 

Cllr Galloway confirmed that the next Community and Police meeting was to be held in Beckwithwshaw Village Hall on 2nd June 2010 and suggested that these concerns are raised at this meeting.

Proposed new waste site at Penny Pot Lane.

 

It was reported that planning had been approved for this site. Detailed plans were circulated to attendees. A number of concerns were expressed at the choice of location but it was explained that North Yorkshire County Council had agreed that it was the most appropriate location for a new waste and salt distribution site in Harrogate.

 

Local Development Framework.

 

It was reported that the Planning Inspector had taken three and a half days to review the documentation relating to the proposals. In conclusion, the Planning Inspector had recommended that there were many smaller alternative sites in Harrogate which should be considered for development before any consideration be made to developing the three proposed main sites (Jennyfields, Knaresborough and Otley Road).  Harrogate Borough Council are to review the recommendation and assess alternative sites.

A review of the future planning detailed in the Core Strategy will be undertaken over an eight week period commencing on September 10th 2010 and results/findings will be available in early 2011.

A vote was held to determine if the parishioners wished the Parish Council to continue to object to the proposed development on Otley Road; it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council should continue to object on behalf of the Parish. 

 

 

 

 

 

Any Other Business

 

  • Horse muck: a number of parishioners reported that it was unacceptable for horses to be exercised on the public footpaths as horse muck was being deposited, making it difficult for pedestrians, particularly on Otley Road. The Parish Council agreed to investigate this issue.
  • Sandringham House: It was reported that good horticultural practices were not being adopted in this area as trees and shrubs were becoming overgrown making it difficult for pedestrians. In addition, the drainage work recently completed had not solved the issue of flooding outside Sandringham House: it was agreed that the flooding may be caused by the lack of maintenance on a nearby ditch. CCty Cllr Fort reported that a site survey was shortly to be undertaken by North Yorkshire County Council and that he would report these concerns to the site inspector.
  • Litter Pick: It was reported that unacceptable levels of litter were being deposited in and around the Village. Cllr Galloway said that a litter pick should be organised before grass cutting commenced and thanked all the parishioners who had assisted in the last litter pick and who continued to clear litter.

The Open Meeting terminated at 8:40 pm.