February 1997 PC Meeting Report

The monthly meeting of the Parish Council was held on 4 February with Mr AD Walmsley in the Chair.

 

Bushfield Camp.

A Press Release from Winchester City Council was circulated in which they expressed disappointment that their plans for transformation of the derelict army camp into a countryside and recreation area had failed to win Millennium Commission Funding. The City Council are to look at other ways to fund the project. Given the Parish Council’s previously stated opposition to a Park and Ride scheme on Bushfield Camp without improvements to Bushfield roundabout, it was decided to take no futher action at present.

Hampshire Waste Services – proposal for a Liaison Group.

The clerk reported that HWS have proposed to Otterbourne Parish Council that a Liaison Group be formed to keep abreast of developments at the Poles Lane Materials Recycling Facility. It was decided to seek membership of the Group. It was agreed to submit the name of Cllr R. Whitaker to HWS for acceptance as the representative of the Parish Council.

Trees at the Memorial Playing Field

As the long standing problem of tree works and felling has now been completed, members decided to follow up the generous offer of Mr George Beckett to provide replacement trees.

Lease negotiations/pavilion replacement.

A meeting is planned to be held with the Sports Club within the next two weeks to assess feedback on the draft design and terms of a new lease. After some discussion it was unanimously agreed to aim to reach Heads of Agreement for a Lease within three months. Cllr Whitaker submitted, for the attention of the subcommittee, coloured photographs of the Royal Green Jackets’ new timber pavilion building, which has an area of 140 sq. metres (but no showers or changing room), and cost £40,000 (forty thousand pounds).

Parish Hall Land

The Inspector’s Report into the local plan has now been published and supports the Parish Council’s position that development should be allowed subject to the normal planning process. After discussions with SVRA members, the subcommittee recommended that the council write to five housing associations to assess their interest in developing the site. The suggestion is that if the development proceeds on these lines it would consist of six units, two of which would be on a shared equity basis.

Resiting of telephone kiosk at Shawford.

A planning application has been received for resiting the kiosk to the east side of the railway bridge, on the south side of the road, in the position agreed by all interested parties.

Annual Parish Meeting

To be held in Shawford Parish Hall on Tuesday 22 April 1997, commencing 7.30 p.m.

White Star Line plates

The Parish Council had accepted the offer, reported last month, to sell all but a few of the White Star Line plates. In all, over £8,000 has been realised from the sale of almost 200 plates. Nine plates have been retained.

Plans for refurbishment and alterations to the Parish Hall.

Four different architect’s schemes are to be perused individually by committee members who will try to select the best features of each design.

Street lighting to garage compound Martins Fields.

Now that the street light is installed and working the contractor should soon be able to set up the floodlight to illuminate the garages.

Height of parapet on Shepherds Lane Bridge over M3.

A letter received from the Highways Agency stated that this was not designed as an equestrian bridge and that a normal 1.0 metre height is sufficient. Members expressed dissatisfaction with the letter, and also expressed their continuing concerns for safety. As the heights of parapets seem inconsistent, it was decided to check the heights of parapets to the bridges immediately north and south of Shepherds Lane and, if warranted, write the Highways Agency further.

Speed Restrictions – repeater signs.

Signs erected in Compton village proved to be non controversial, but signs erected in Compton Down were considered unnecessary by some residents and some were unhappy with signs on their grass verges. Following extensive and detailed discussion with HCC and by repositioning two of the signs it proved possible to remove two of the signs. Before pressing the case for speed restrictions in Southdown, the Southdown Residents Association are to be advised that some residents will have repeater signs on their grass verge.

Hurdle Way – proposed No Through Road sign.

The Parish Council has been following up a request for No Through Road signs to be erected. It seems that the views of residents are mixed on this subject. The Parish Council will try to contact the residents’ association to establish the majority view.

Parish Hall Centenary Celebrations.

The Parish Council expressed their unanimous thanks to the authors of the Centenary Celebrations Review published in January’s Parish Magazine and echoed their thanks to all who had contributed to make the Centenary such a success.

Civic Service.

This year it is our turn to host the annual joint Civic Service of the parishes of Compton & Shawford and Otterbourne. Since the Parish Council meeting we have received a letter from the Rector suggesting that the service be held on October 12th.

D W H RICHMAN, Clerk

6.2.97