Singleton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Village Hall, Singleton
on 25 August 2016 at 7.15 pm
Present: – Cllrs Gallagher (Chair), Smith (Vice Chair), Bailey, Chew and Lee, and the Parish Clerk, Verena Henderson, who took the Minutes. Also present were County Councillor Paul Hayhurst and 9 residents.
1. Apologies – None
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting and any Matters Arising
The Minutes of the two previous meetings held on 23 June and 28 July 2016, having been previously circulated, were agreed to be true and correct records and duly signed by the Chairman.
There were no matters arising.
3. Open Forum
The Chairman introduced himself and welcomed the residents to this meeting. The Chairman explained the procedure whereby the monthly Parish Council meeting was opened up for public discussion for a period of 15 minutes. This was to ensure that the rest of the agenda could proceed and also that one item did not dominate the evening. The Parish Council would be discussing the proposed bypass later in the meeting, under item 9, when members of the public would not be permitted to interject at that point.
All the residents had come along to find out if the Parish Council had any further information on the proposed bypass. Councillors had also received many phone calls and emails from equally concerned residents. The Chairman had put together some information, although some of the residents had received more information directly from Highways England than the Parish Council had. In the Chairman’s pack were the following:-
• Copies of the old blue, red, yellow routes etc. – cost prohibitive
• Copy of the local Wyre plan, August 2016. Noting the A585 and the need for housing.
• The Gazette cutting, December 2014 re works to the A585 with picture of local MP Mark Menzies
• Snap shot from Mark Menzies’ website, December 2014
• Councillor Chew’s correspondence with Mark Menzies, December 2014.
• Recent email correspondence and maps of options 1, 1B and 2.
Highways England, who are in charge of these plans, seem to be only supplying limited information and appear only to wish to deal directly with landowners and home owners at the moment. The Parish Council has been kept somewhat in the dark, and has had to request copies of letters sent out and associated maps so that it can advise residents. The Parish Council will be inviting Mark Menzies MP to a future parish council meeting or even to a one-off meeting, whichever suits. We will also invite him to the public consultation event as he was instrumental in procuring the funding.
Highways England did give a presentation to the Parish Council of 3 options at their last meeting held on 28 July, and details of this presentation are documented in those Minutes. One resident at tonight’s meeting brought along maps which had been supplied to her showing the road cutting across Singleton Hall entrance and Barnfield Manor entrance. She estimates that she will lose 2 acres of land.
It is the Parish Council’s understanding that Highways England want us to direct residents with queries directly to them or to advise residents of their consultation events on 16th and 17th September at the Village Hall. The Parish Council would, however, like to remain informed and plans to send a copy of these Minutes to Highways England and Mark Menzies MP. The Parish Council would ask that it is copied into all correspondence so that it may help with liaison with Highways England and keep residents informed via the website. The situation is also complicated by a number of councillors having a personal interest in whichever option they proceed with. The County Council is not involved in any of this and indeed it was only after much persuasion that they managed to get copies of the maps even though the routes go across LCC roads.
Cllr Chew told the meeting that discussions about how to by-pass Singleton traffic lights had been going on for over 30 years. They have not been able to find an answer and get something workable and acceptable in monetary terms. On this occasion, Highways England was instructed by the Ministry of Transport to come up with 3 options. The first of these was problematic because of land conditions near to the river and it would have meant displacing a lot of people. The second route is gyratory and is not going to fulfil all the requirements of an improved traffic system away from the traffic lights. The third route cuts across fields from Garstang Road to the south side of the village and this is the route they are favouring at the moment.
A new Enterprise Zone is being created at the former ICI works and Wyre Borough Council wants to build a lot more houses. They cannot do this before the road network is improved and therefore the 3 MP’s in Wyre are putting a lot of pressure on this. Our own MP, who procured the funding, needs to stand up for his residents and try and find a solution that will be acceptable to all.
Cllr Chew explained that all Parish Councillors have to sign a declaration when they take office whereby they must remain open-minded. Three of them are affected by these proposals but they must be very careful about what they say otherwise they will be precluded from future discussions. They have to listen carefully to both sides and come to a view which is not personal. Residents, of course, are free to voice their opinions and write letters as individuals. Letters are more effective than a petition.
Highways England will be doing a leaflet drop which should arrive on 5th September giving details of the consultation process. Villagers were encouraged to attend the consultation events on 16th and 17th September at the Village Hall.
4. Declaration of Interests – Cllrs Bailey, Chew and Gallagher declared a personal interest in the by-pass. They are all affected by the different routes proposed but this is a personal interest rather than prejudicial, as none would gain financially.
5. Planning Matters and Decisions
• 16/0583 – Applegarth, Church Road, Singleton FY6 8LN – Outline application for erection of dwellinghouse – No specific observations.
• 16/0597 – Land to the West of 178 Mains Lane, Singleton – Returning site to previous condition – No specific observations.
• 16/0616 – Rear of Bankfield Farm, Pool Foot Lane, Singleton FY6 8LZ – Erection of dwellinghouse and detached garage – new listing – no information received yet.
• 16/0638 – Newbrook, Old Mains Lane, Singleton FY6 7LA – Alterations to convert existing bungalow – new listing – no information received yet.
Decision
16/0331 – St Anne’s Church, Singleton – Erection of single storey rear extension and access ramp – Granted. Noted.
6. Police and PACT Report
No Police report received this month. The Clerk had asked Inspector Horn if she could arrange another `bike watch’ for between 6.00 and 8.00 on a Sunday morning as this was the time bikers seemed to gather around the village.
The Poulton Horse Fair had taken place from 18th – 22nd August but no reports of trouble had been received in Singleton.
The Police and Crime Commissioner had sent a survey about policing in Lancashire and this would be completed.
7. Traffic and Highway Issues
Cty Councillor Paul Hayhurst reported that Cllr John Fillis is pushing through the 20mph speed limit for the village despite obstructions from some officers. This has now to be cleared by County’s legal department.
8. Correspondence
• Briefing received concerning the Wyre Local Plan. It was unanimously felt that there is an urgent need for consultation between the two authorities of Wyre and Fylde. These two authorities should be looking together at what facilities are here and how these are going to be affected by both proposing adjacent developments. Issues need to be addressed such as schooling, health services, flooding etc. Development of one area should not have a detrimental effect on another area. Dementia is another area in urgent need of resources and mental health provision is woefully inadequate.
• District Parish Liaison meeting. The Clerk had asked if future meetings could include questions and feedback from other parishes. The next meeting is to take place on Wednesday 19 October at 6.30pm at the Town Hall.
• Thank you letter from Ray Cottam, Auditor, for the Parish Council’s donation of £50.
9.
Proposed By-Pass
Again this matter was discussed at some length. There are a substantial amount of commuters travelling to British Aerospace and BNFL every day and numbers would only rise after Wyre BC had built more houses. Making Mains Lane one-way was suggested, as well as blocking off Lodge Lane. At the moment none of the suggested schemes were acceptable to the residents. They were putting one group of residents against the other. We need a compromise scheme which gives everybody something. All elements are unacceptable in their present form and the Parish Council looks forward to further information being given in the consultation events. All the Parish Councillors would be attending either event. Mark Menzies MP will be invited to attend and to a Parish Council meeting or on a separate evening – whichever is better for him.
10.
Feedback from meeting with Singleton Trust
A convivial meeting. The Trust wanted to pursue the idea of them and the Parish Council sharing the cost of a lengthsman for the village and parish as a whole. The Clerk had already received one quotation and another name was mentioned, a gentleman used by Hambleton Parish Council, and the Clerk would seek information about him and report back.
Problems with Ash Die-Back, which had affected a lot of trees on Trust land. They are liaising with Fylde BC about this.
Village Green and Peace Garden – they are looking at possible other sites and may move the Peace Garden towards the Church and are consulting on this.
Potential access to car park for shop – In the case of something happening about a shop being created, the Parish Council would consider this request favourably.
Worsick’s Farm. They have sacked the consultant architects and are having to start the whole process again. Do not know when they are going to start the work.
11.
Consultation on Fylde Borough Council’s Local Plan
A repeat of the Parish Council’s response to Wyre Borough Council’s Local Plan whereby the Parish Council is asking both authorities to work together for the good of both areas.
12. Wish List
Could all councillors give this some thought for the next meeting? The Clerk would provide a financial update for the meeting.
13. Accounts and Cheques to Pay
The official auditor had requested confirmation of what the balance was owed by the Parish Council on its 2 loans taken out from Fylde BC for the village’s car park. The Clerk had checked with the Senior Accountant at Fylde BC who reported that the figure outstanding was now £9,150, which was as recorded on the Parish Council’s audit sheets. The last payment would be due in March 2022.
Lancashire County Council had sent an order for grasscutting to the value of £377, which would be paid into the Parish Council’s account. Fylde BC had also paid in an amount of £300 from its Discretionary Fund.
• T A Pawson – SPID – £60.00 – Proposed Cllr Gallagher, Seconded Cllr Smith. Agreed
• PEI Delta – Xmas tree lights £373.54 – Proposed Cllr Bailey, Seconded Cllr Chew. Agreed.
• PEI Delta – Security lock for defibrillator – proposed Cllr Bailey, Seconded Cllr Chew. Agreed
• Clerk – Salary and Expenses for July/August – £298.18 – Proposed Cllr Gallagher, Seconded Cllr Smith. Agreed.
• Auto Graphix – New signs – £72.00 – Proposed Cllr Bailey, Seconded Cllr Chew. Agreed.
14. Any Other Business
• Request of financial help from Bowling Club – Two requests received at the last meeting and Cllr Chew had given them information about applying for grants. Any grant needs to be match-funded and they will need to seek help from elsewhere too. Cty Cllr Paul Hayhurst said that he would be happy to award them a grant of £250 but they would have to produce an invoice and this would have to be in by the end of February. The Parish Council would also be prepared to award a grant of £250.
• Confusion as to who has planted a 7ft tree next to the entrance of the Church. They do not know who has done this.
• Cty Cllr Hayhurst reported that the no. 75 bus has had its route extended and is now going through to Fleetwood from the Preston bus station. The service still runs every 2 hours.
14. Date and Time of next meeting – 15 September at 7.15pm.
As there was no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00pm.
Signed …………………………………………… Dated ………………………………………
Verena Henderson
Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01995 670455