ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
PLANNING MEETING
Thursday 5th February 2009
Minutes of the Planning Meeting held at the Red House on Thursday 5th February, 2009.
PRESENT: Cllrs. P Lusk (Chair), D Beechey (Vice Chair), R Balkwill, R Blincoe,
N Hester, M Holden, P Illes, R Kidson, D Johnson, D Murray, J Nelson, M Pate, S Pate,
S Pledger.
Public Session on Youth Provision in the Village.
The Chair welcomed 15 members of the public to a specially arranged debate on youth provision in the village. He stated that there were a number of questions which the Parish Council needed to address which related to the range of youth facilities, gaps in provision, sources of funding and the role of the Parish Council. A survey in 2007 had shown that a number of facilities were deemed to be missing by young people in the village and several initiatives had arisen from the this survey. A new skateboard park was due to open in March 2009, the play facilities at Abney Avenue had been extended and extra football pitches at Newhouse Lane school had been created. Further possibilities existed in the proposed development east of Shaw Lane.
Cllr Kidson pointed out that approximately 90 babies were born in the village each year which meant that the 13-17 year old cohort consisted of around 450 people. He located the existing provision on a map he displayed and said that his own research indicated that young people wanted a drop in centre and provision for senior football.
Cllr M Pate reported research that showed that when money was spent on young people anti-social behaviour fell by up to 60% and he reported that money was still available to create facilities at St. Mary’s School and bids could still be made to the Youth Opportunities Fund up to the end of February.
Cllr. Beechey reiterated that opportunities will exist in the development east of Shaw Lane and there was debate about the possible use of the Clockmills football pitch particularly as there were drainage problems at the Sports and Social Club pitches at Loak Road. Unfortunately the surface at Clockmills would need to be replaced before it would be suitable for senior football and the absence of changing rooms and car parking were other potential difficulties.
Cllr. Hickman from Donington Parish Council reminded the public that from 2013 all pupils would need to stay in some form of education until the age of 17 and from 2015 this would apply to all pupils up to the age of 18. From April 2009 everyone under the age of 16 and over 60 would be entitled to free swimming in the county.
The issue of a drop in centre was addressed and Mandy Medlyn reported that she will be asking the Red House Management Committee for permission to start a drop in session which she would supervise with a small number of assistants. There was discussion relating to the location of a pool table and a table tennis table which used to be available for young people locally. It was stated that both were in Bridgnorth and Cllr. Nelson said it was quite clear that when the tables were removed they would be returned to the village when they were needed. Cllr. Murray said he had made a number of enquiries about these missing pieces of equipment but had been unsuccessful in tracking down these items. Cllr. M Pate said he would ask appropriate officers for further information and see if he could identify the missing equipment.
A representative of the Shropshire Youth Association described the organisation’s role in supporting volunteers through initial training. A junior youth club is already operating successfully in the village and the Community Support Officer is actively engaged in plans for a drop in centre to be based at the Methodist Church Hall. The scouts and guides reported increased membership but they were short of funding and their building was in a poor state and needed extensive repair.
There was wide support for a youth council so that the views and opinions of young people could be easily sampled and as a means of encouraging them to become actively involved in new projects. It was acknowledged that there was a small group of anti-social youngsters who were sometimes given access to alcohol and they would have to be managed. A building made available to young people was a possibility and with some shops vacant locally this might be a possibility. There was also considerable support for a youth shelter but deciding on a suitable location was a sensitive matter. Free music lessons were also available at the Harp Public House which would be of interest to many teenagers.
Before closing this part of the meeting the Chair asked for agreement on the way forward and four initiatives were identified as the major priorities for the future as follows:
· The establishment of a drop in centre or centres;
· The formation of a youth council;
· The building of a youth shelter at a site to be agreed;
· The identification of sources of funding to support new projects, perhaps through the ongoing work of the new Joint leisure Committee.
· Mr David Cobham suggested a further meeting for young people with particular reference to the siting of a youth shelter.
The Chair thanked everyone who had attended the meeting for giving up their time and contributing to the debate and promised that the Parish Council would do all it could to take the above agenda forward.
Cllr. G Beechey.
Cllr. D Beechey declared a personal interest in item 4 OUT/08/0907
Cllr. N Hester declared a personal interest in item 4 OUT/09/0050
Cllr. Pledger declared a personal interest in item 4 OUT/08/0907
Cllr. Hester declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 LBC/09/0006
Cllr. M Pate declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 LBC/09/0006
Cllr. S Pate declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 LBC/09/0006
Cllr. Pledger declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 LBC/09/0006
Cllr Holden reported that she written to Mr. P Crosland at SCC about the congestion at the Idsall school bus stop at the end of each school day. A bus stop had been originally proposed on Cross Road by the bungalows at the junction with Albert Road but this had been abandoned. Members felt that this debate could be reopened and Cllr M Pate suggested that the bus company should be involved in a review of the current procedures. Members agreed that the matter needed further attention and were pleased to support Cllr. Balkwill’s proposal that Cllr. Holden should be encouraged to follow up this matter and report back to the Council.
A report by the Chair of the Cross Road Traffic Calming group on the lack of progress in completing this scheme was considered. Phase 1 had been finished but phase 2 which consisted of the completion of a roundabout at the junction of Patshull Road and Cross Road and the addition of a footpath into Elm Road had been postponed and nothing had been done in the last two years. The traffic calming group had written to SCC to ask that this measure be included in the traffic calming capital works for the 3 year capital programme. He asked that the Parish Council give their support to this request and put pressure on the County Council for this item to be included on the list.
Cllr. Balkwill stated that it must have been very frustrating for this group to see only half the work finished and he thanked the committee for all of their hard work in trying to see this much needed project through to completion.
RESOLVED: The Clerk to write to SCC giving support to the traffic calming committee’s proposal urging the county to include phase 2 of this project in the capital programme.
Planning application:
OUT/08/0907 Outline application (including access) for residential development, medical centre and ancillary uses land east of Shaw Lane, Albrighton.
No objections. Council expressed strong support for the surgery being part of the total scheme.
LBC/09/0006 Internal alterations Red House, High Street, Albrighton.
No objections.
OUT/09/0050 Outline application for the erection of a dwelling land adjacent Redroofs, Beamish Lane, Albrighton.
Objections and refusal on the grounds that the land is part of the green belt.
FUL/09/0002 Amended plans for the erection of two detached houses, one pair of semi-detached houses and a detached double garage and construction of vehicular accesses 18 Cross Road, Albrighton.
Objections and refusal. The amended plans lower the roof heights of the proposed dwellings but do not address any of the objections lodged regarding the original proposals reported on 21/01/09
Permission granted.
08/0853 Alterations to buildings to form living accommodation at Cosford Grange, Holyhead Road, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
Shropshire Core Strategy: Issues and Opinions.
Councillors noted the March deadline for consultation on the core strategy document and placed the item on the Parish Council Agenda for 19th February for detailed discussion.
Albrighton West Tree Preservation Order 2009, Bridgnorth District Council.
Received and noted.
RESOLVED: The Clerk to contact Bridgnorth District Council to establish whether Tree Preservation Orders had been placed on the trees on Kingswood Road, Albrighton and whether householders in the Albrighton West area of the village had been circulated with details of the above order.
Shropshire Council’s Highways and Traffic Newsletter.
Noted.
CPRE Battlefield Lunch.
Noted.
Cllr. Blincoe also informed the Council that a meeting to finalise the details of the security cameras at the skateboard park had been arranged for the 10th February in the Red House.
Cllr. Blincoe also asked that the proposed refurbishment of the swimming pool at Newhouse Lane be placed on the next agenda.
Cllr. Illes asked that Parish Council Toolkit for Stop and Drop be placed on the agenda for the Parish Council meeting on 19th February.
There being no more business the meeting concluded at 9.20 pm.
Signed…………………………………Date……………………………….
Chairman