Whitmore Parish Council Newsletter - April 2007
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From the Chairman
We have nearly reached the end of our four-year term as Whitmore Parish Council with May bringing the local elections. I find myself reflecting on what we have achieved in the past four years and I feel quite proud given the fact that all our work is voluntary. Our major achievements have been as follows:-
- Supported the Village Hall in installing a CCTV system to protect the property and playground.
- Taken the lead role in establishing the Rural Runabout scheme providing a transport facility for the community.
- Successfully lobbied the County Council to install a Puffin Crossing at the Mainwaring Arms and lower the speed limit to 40 mph.
- Developed a Village Plan that outlines the parishioners' expectations for the future.
- Created a village website that incorporates the Council's activities and provides information such as Parish Council minutes.
- Erected picnic benches at the playground providing more seating for families using the facility.
- Developed and opened an Information Centre at the Village Hall with fax, copying and Internet facilities.
- Arranged for dog-waste bins to be installed at appropriate points in the village.
- Shown our ability to serve the community by achieving Quality Parish Council status.
We should also not forget the routine activities such as providing our input into the planning process, arranging for grass cutting and making sure that the playground is safe for our younger generation.
I would like to thank all who have been involved with, and supported, the Parish Council in the past four years. The commitment shown reflects in the success achieved.
The time has come for the electorate to judge whether we have been a success. Central Government is providing more powers for Parish Councils, which means Parish Councils are going to be increasingly important in the future.
There is undoubtedly work to be done. In the very near future we are going to be fighting the planning application from Clay Moss for Maer Hills. There is also work to be undertaken in developing and progressing the Parish Plan while we also need to build on the needs of the Information Centre. No doubt there will be other challenges for the Parish Council in the next electoral term.
We look forward to your support for the next four year term.
Nick Hopper
NEWS FROM ACTON
I have recently been co-opted onto Whitmore Parish Council and look forward to making a positive contribution to its interests - with a particular emphasis on those of the village of Acton where we have lived since late 1999. I am pleased to have this opportunity to bring you news of two areas of activity affecting the village.
- Improving the general appearance of the village.
This is an on-going area of activity, driven by a small Committee which I have the privilege of being Chairman. 2006 saw two initiatives get underway:-
- Whitmore Parish Council kindly allocated us a number of "hours of work" by the Parish Handyman which we used to clear a long stretch of tangled bramble and nettle from the roadside at the Northern entrance to the village. He did a sterling job, uncovering in the process an attractive old stone wall which had lain completely hidden from view.
- Supported by a small Trust Fund established for the village many years ago, two very fine York stone Village Signs have been installed, one at each end of the village. Carving is scheduled to take place shortly. Further, shrubs, stone "sets" and flowers are being purchased and installed to decorate the area (a) above.
- Green Waste Composting Site
Most of you will be aware that a Green Waste Composting Site is operating on the Mainwaring Estate to the South-West of the village of Acton.
Until now the site was of a limited capacity with all the resulting product being consumed by the Estate. However, Planning Permission has now been given for a very significant increase in capacity and for the commercialisation of the resultant product outside of the Estate. I understand that the required site extension and modifications are due to start shortly, running through to the end of May.
During 2005/2006 a great deal of work was done by the Acton Action Committee, elected to represent the interests of the Villagers of Acton in this matter. A number of significant adjustments to the conditions applied to the Planning Permission and the related Section 106 Agreement were obtained which, it is hoped, will minimise the inevitable impact that the site will have on Village life. A formalised Liaison Committee is being set up, involving the Operator, Acton Village Representatives and the County, Borough and Parish Councils, to hear reports of the Site's operation and to deal with any concerns raised by the Villagers. We in the village await the future with some trepidation....
Ian Webb
The Planning Process & Our Input as a Parish Council
In our last Parish Newsletter my colleague Councilor Murray wrote a report of how he performed his duties and how he saw the responsibilities involved. Part of his comments were with regard to planning matters affecting our area and the total lack of influence the Parish Council had with such matters.
Prior to becoming a Councilor myself, I would have found Councilor Murray's comments most surprising. However, since my appointment some seven months or so ago, my first and biggest surprise was to find that we have really very little scope to offer, more than a passing comment on any plan we receive from the Borough Council. In fact the Parish Council have but one vote - no different from any single householder in the Parish. I personally find this difficult to understand as we have more knowledge "on the ground" in our Parish - surely certainly more than our Borough Council. It soon became obvious to me that however our Parish Councilors approached any plan submitted and thoroughly investigated every avenue, including visiting any neighbours whose properties might be affected by such plans and whose views were sought, and represented with a balanced and fair view by each Councilor, such action seemed not to be forthcoming from the Borough.
Recently our Clerk Bob Haysom and I spent several hours discussing our concerns with Planning Officer Guy Benson of Newcastle Borough Council. We explained the trouble we went to and the lengths we took to reply to each plan with the best interests of the Parish and Parishioners in mind. We also expressed our concern that when some decisions were taken by the Borough Council we were not informed why such decisions were made.
The Parish Council supports most plans, particularly when all the criteria are met. However, occasionally something will present itself with a problem we feel may affect the rural aspects we all desire to protect. On such matters we feel we should have more input when the balance of such matters could cause major concerns.
As stated we made our case and I have to say I was impressed with the interest and explanations we were given. Time will tell whether this is the case. In the meantime we will strive to seek the views of all concerned and act on their behalf.
It has been pointed out to me quite recently, the disruption and general destruction of surrounding areas involved with some recent developments. Roadways left like farm tracks, grass verges used as parking lots and eventually ruined and whole areas left like a builders yard.
This is most concerning and something the Borough Council and Highways Department should follow up and in fact have a duty so to do. Parking on grass verges is an offence and the law could take its toll. However, my concern is that after such damage the area should be reinstated to its former glory and I will endeavour to pursue these matters as and when they occur.
Alan Wilkinson
DEVASTATION for BALDWINS GATE & WHITMORE
Claymoss Properties Ltd are preparing a planning application for 4 wind turbines 120 metres high in Maer Hills.
- The turbines will stand 8 times higher than the present tree line, that is 20 metres taller than Big Ben.
- The noise was described in the Daily Mail on Saturday 10th March 2007, "like the sound of an approaching train that never comes" and "they dominate the skies from 15 miles away".
- Mr and Mrs Davis who live half a mile down wind from five turbines in Deeping St Nicholas in Lincolnshire, have been driven to distraction by the thump of the blades and feeling the whole house resonating around them. During the odd moments of silence when the wind is in the right direction they lie awake still dreading the inevitable return of the "whoompf...whoompf...whoompf..."
- In sunny weather the blades produce a shadow flicker effect as they rotate, making it unpleasant to be outside.
- Produces electromagnetic disturbance to TV, radio and microwave signals.
- Construction vehicles will be a regular feature through Baldwins Gate and Whitmore.
- Claymoss Properties Ltd have obtained a license to fell 13,600 trees and are seeking licenses to clear fell 3 more areas.
The application for 4 wind turbines is imminent. When the application is lodged that will be the time to write your objection to Newcastle Borough Council at the address below. We will advise you when to do so.
The Director of Planning,
The Planning Department,
Newcastle Borough Council,
Civic Offices,
Merrial Street,
Newcastle,
Staffordshire,
ST5 2AG.
If you would like to see the impact this type of developments will have, take a look at the Official Campaign website Cefn Croes Wind Farm.
Send us your e-mail details via www.savemaerhills.co.uk so we can keep you informed of the latest news.
MAER HILLS PROTECTION GROUP
Whitmore Village Hall Regeneration - Update
As you know, in September last year, we applied to the BIG Lottery Community Buildings Programme for monies, which would be a significant contribution to the costs of rebuilding our Village Hall. Subsequent to their Board meeting, on the 15th February we received a letter from the BIG Lottery where they stated that "we have decided not to invite you to send in a stage two application for your project".
This was a real blow to the Village Hall Committee who has worked so hard on the application.
Nevertheless, we, the Committee, are determined not to let this prevent us from continuing to pursue all the other means of funding available to us. We have unanimously agreed to do all we can to meet our and, according to the Parish Plan, your objectives of refurbished and enhanced facilities (including those for healthcare) for our whole Community. With this in mind we have commissioned our new architects to develop ideas for Village Hall refurbishment (as opposed to total redesign) in order to meet our challenging objectives.
Although we have identified a whole range of funding sources and some fund raising ideas, we still need your help in making it happen. It is your Village Hall for you and yours, and we need all the help we can get. Do get in touch with any Committee member or me if you have any positive ideas or, more importantly, if you are willing to help us in this worthwhile venture for our Community.
Dr David Jones
Chairman
Whitmore & District Village Hall Committee
Car Boot Sales at Whitmore Village Hall
As you may be aware the village hall committee hosts a very successful car boot sale on the last Sunday of each month. From very small beginning this has grown to be a very well patronised event, with growing satisfaction from both buyers and sellers. The reasons for this are simple:
- The event can be held either indoors, outdoors or both, depending on climatic conditions.
- Tea, coffee, male, female and disabled toilet facilities are available.
- Adequate supervised tarmaced car parking is available.
- Tables and chairs are provided if required.
- An excellent standard of merchandise is provided.
- The cost per table or boot is cheap at only £5.00
If you have not attended at any of these occasions, why not try the next available one and enjoy the village ambience and help to finance the redevelopment of the village hall for the benefit of future generations?
The Parish Plan ..... Alive and, Well .....
I think it's called progress: The Parish Plan, derived from the Parish Questionnaire of about two years ago, is proving to be far more valuable than many people thought. Some outsiders seem to be taken aback by the certainty that the Parish Plan offers, but the plan is feasible, can be implemented, and should be borne in mind when Newcastle Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and other public services seek to organize our lives.
To date we have made ad-hoc rather than systematic use of the plan. Some organizations have been most appreciative of the Parish Plan when we have sent copies to named individuals, others less so, but no one has expressed doubts as to the relevance of the Parish Plan. With this in mind a small working group helped by the newly appointed Village Agent, Derrick Pitt, is trying to implement as much of this plan as seems realistic. We are able to do this in several ways:-
- Respond to the likes of the Staffordshire County Council and Newcastle Borough council when they approach the Parish Council on routine matters such as town and county planning. (Don't hold your breath).
- Reply to specific requests on things like footpaths, environmental issues, antisocial behavior and public transport.
- Co-operate with people such as the Fire Service and the NHS whose responses to the Parish Plan have been positive and encouraging.
- Perhaps most importantly, persuade, encourage and generally lean on people and organizations who ought to take far more notice of the views of our parish than they otherwise do. And this is the difficult bit, but ...
Sometimes we find an organization very willing to co-operate. For example the police force are enthusiastic about reinvigorating local neighbourhood watch schemes, all we had to do was ask, we hadn't, so we did. With this as an early success the working group might well find that other organizations are just as co-operative.
So that's where we are now. There will be regular progress reports available on the village website www.whitmore.village.uk.net, pinned to the Parish notice boards and in future newsletters.
And if you want a gentle smile, someone somewhere ( for the moment no names) wrote to the Parish Council asking our opinions on bus services. I contacted them and said that the Parish Council didn't have an opinion, but the people of the Parish did – contained in the Parish plan and details from the questionnaire. An amusing (telephone) response:
"It's not what we really wanted, too precise and detailed, not the sort of thing we can get involved with, we are looking for some thing more..." " More what ?" I asked. "Well," said the voice then used a lot of words to say nothing.
Don't worry we won't give up!
Bill Murray for the Parish Plan Working Group
David Jones, Norman Page, Don Lawton, Phil Maskery, David Lovatt
INFORMATION CENTRE
Open Thursday 2:00pm to 4:00pm – Whitmore Village Hall
All residents of Whitmore and surrounding parishes welcome
- County and Borough council contacts
- Schools ( and free school meals)
- Parish Councils
- Trading Standards
- Highways
- Beth Johnson Housing
- Benefits and Pensions
- Local Amenities
- Local Police Officer
- Social Services
- Internet Access
- Use of Computers
- Photocopying and Fax for all to use
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