Broughton Town Hall

Duddon Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 27 November 2003 in the Green Room, Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness

Present Cllr Mrs L Burch (Chairman), Cllr H J Barker Cllr J Batten, Cllr J W Curwen, Cllr Mrs V Glessal, Cllr B Hadwin, Cllr D Hoggarth, Cllr Mrs J Johnson, Cllr Mrs E Knowles

A minute’s silence was observed before the start of the meeting to mark the loss of Cllr Alan Harrison.

It was RESOLVED that the Chairman sign the minutes as a correct record.

Re 108/03 Cllr Hadwin reported that Mr Capstick had looked at the fencing in Wilson Park and was to submit a quote for repair work.

Re 109/03 (647) the Clerk reported that she had obtained from Mr Barlow the necessary information about common land at Duddon Bridge but confirmed with the relevant authority that there were no grounds for appeal against its non-inclusion in the provisional map.

Re 112/03 Cllr Knowles reported that she had received an application form for the Living Spaces grant and was pursuing its completion.

Re 113/03:

i) the Clerk reported on the Shop Bridge situation. The strengthening work would be undertaken at night. It would take two to three weeks and was unlikely to take place until the end of April or May next year. Emergency access would be guaranteed.

ii) Cllr Batten reported that he had ordered the Christmas tree and trailer and requested volunteers to help install the tree.

iii) the Clerk reported that it had not been possible to establish who was responsible for the milk delivery wagon: efforts were continuing

iv) it was noted that no action had been taken to cut back trees along Five Arches Road, despite Cllr Curwen contacting Mr Prince and Cumbria County Council. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact the Mr Braithwaite at Holme Farm, who was thought to be the tenant, to try and establish who is the responsible landowner.

No issues were raised by members of the public. PC Howson reported the following:

Between noon on 18 October and 3pm on 20 October a Suzuki Vitara, parked at Broughton Mills was entered and the following property stolen: a black and red fishing tackle box, two Blitz halogen variable power lamps, an Ocean shooting jacket and gloves.

Between 3pm on 31 October and 8.48am on 1 November a petrol Honda portable generator was stolen from a building site on Foxfield Road. The next issue of the Police newsletter would be distributed with the December edition of the Parish Pump.

Cllr Barker asked whether the police patrol could be timed to coincide with the time just after the last bus left for Millom on a Saturday night, as disturbances tended to occur then. PC Howson explained that there were problems guaranteeing the presence of a police vehicle but he would endeavour to monitor the situation and put the case for deploying police then. Members of the public should be encouraged to call the police at the time trouble arises.

The clerk presented the following correspondence received:

After considering the correspondence it was decided to take the following action:

676 Clerk to write to Network Rail to ascertain ownership of the land adjacent to Foxfield station and enquire about its possible use for a passenger set-down/pick-up point.

679 Clerk to request a meeting between Mr Atkinson and Cllrs Hadwin and Knowles to discuss possible projects in Wilson Park which could attract Forestry Commission funding.

686 Clerk to write to Capita accepting the proposals for new signing in The Square.

696 Cllr Curwen to complete the Capita questionnaire

697 Cllr Barker to visit the Broughton Moor Forest site to discuss design plans.

The following applications were recommended for approval:

7/2003/5639 Unit 8, Unit 4 and Fitness Suite two new first-floor extensions to form Broughton Tower kitchen and garden room, including demolition of existing extensions and alterations to ground-floor windows of adjacent units

119/03 Financial Matters

It was RESOLVED to pay the following from the main account:

It was further RESOLVED to donate £100 to the Broughton Mills Reading Room fund in memory of Cllr Harrison. This to be sent with a letter of condolence to Margaret Harrison.

The Clerk updated the Council on progress, having liaised with scheme co-ordinator Chris Pitts and Traffic Management Officer Roger Mallett. It was RESOLVED to order four permanent signs, at a cost of £50 each, to be displayed on the approach roads to alert motorists to the Speedwatch scheme. It was further RESOLVED to request two portable signs for display on site where and when a watch was operating. Purchase of the radar gun was to be deferred until the scheme was ready to start operating.

121/03 GP services in Broughton

Councillors noted complaints from members of the public about services provided by the new practice. These mostly concerned the lack of surgery outside the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, which was causing difficulties for working people, and the delay in getting prescriptions, which was unacceptable. It was RESOLVED to write to the Practice Manager, requesting a response on both issues.

122/03 Any Other Business

The Clerk drew Councillors’ attention to a complaint lodged by Mr Tobias Atkinson with the Standards Board for England. Councillors would be advised of the outcome once the Board had considered the allegation.

After reports from each councillor the following actions were agreed:

i) Clerk to write to the owners of the trailer operating at Wreaks End quarry about the litter problem there, for delivery by hand by Cllr Barker.

ii) Cllr Curwen to pursue the problem of road sinkage in the Duddon Valley close to Rawfold Farm and highway problems at Bridge End bridge and Bridge End Hill, Woodland.

iii) Cllr Hadwin to check the correct siting of fencing erected on land at Foxfield.

iv) Clerk to write to Stuart Pate complaining about width restrictions at Grizebeck andAskam.

v) Cllr Curwen to chase the problems of blocked drains in the Duddon Valley near Browside and Troutal.

vi) Clerk to write to Network Rail requesting new access to Foxfield station by a barrier operated from the signalbox to allow parking at the rear of the station.

vii) Clerk to write to Mark Richardson at SLDC requesting that the flood flap between Skelly Crag and Foxfield station be put right.

viii) Councillors to note that responsibility for sewers was to be transferred to SLDC in two to three weeks’ time.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.40pm and the next meeting set for Thursday 18 December 2003.