Hungerford in West berkshire

The primary role of the Steering Group is to provide overall project guidance and support and specifically:-

2010+ HUNGERFORD TOWN PLAN

Summary of minutes of the Steering Group

The 2010 Hungerford Town Plan was published in December 2005 and launched on 17^th January 2006 at a public meeting in the Royal British Legion Hall. It was then distributed to every household and business in Hungerford and the surrounding area and has subsequently been adopted by Hungerford Town Council, West Berks Council and the Downlands Forum.

Below is a summary of the minutes of 2010 Steering Group meetings 2006 and 2007

10^th January 2006

Preparations for plan to be presented to Downlands Forum

Printed version of plan viewed and accepted by all as job well done.

Updated production costs – 6000 copies in total, £3445

Plans for launch evening made and for delivery asap after event

2^nd February 2006

Action Plan is nearly ready

Review of action group membership with volunteers for first meeting by end of Feb carried out and procedure to start ball rolling.

SG structure and role discussed and agreed to stay as it is with 6 monthly review.

Approx £1200 left in budget.

Format for correspondence discussed and agreed

4^th April 2006

Member to attend COC AGM.

Update on action group progress given.

Decided that pedestrian island at Somerfields entrance would be suitable project for 2010 completion grant.

Draft response to LDF agreed and ready to submit.

27^th April 2006

Feedback from COC AGM. Some actions in progress.

Concept of action groups reviewed. New strategy is to use existing local organizations to progress appropriate actions based on subject.

IT Community Learning Initiative to be discussed with WBC etc.

Somerfields Manager will investigate property aspects wrt pedestrian island.

Aerial photo of Hungerford will be procured.

Library planning application coming up. Nothing found during archaeological survey.

Site of new crossing in Charnham Street being moved owing to objections and type changed to Zebra instead of Puffin.

25^th May 2006

10% actions completed

Aerial photo purchased on CD for use as required.

Members will investigate action group progress to identify weak areas and invigorate proceedings.

Key issued wrt LDF discussed and member will attend LDF WG to put 2010 point of view to committee.

Library is due to be started in August with completion in May 2007. Discussion on interior designs and funding for artwork.

Councillors will meet WBC officers to investigate delays in acting on parking survey. Also reported that recommendations not being implemented until after Christmas.

13^th July 2006

Action group areas will be shared out between members and check on progress.

Plans for September public meeting were progressed.

WBC update covered the following: Amended LDF document, Library progress and start date, delays to the parking survey proposals, the Arts Centre and PCSO introduction in Hungerford.

5^th October 2006

Somerfield island. There is no commitment in plans for it to be provided.

NAG plans a Roll Call in October, focusing on 1 street with Q&A at a local venue. NAG now includes Inkpen and Kintbury.

Low attendance at the September public meeting was discussed and concluded that nothing controversial was on the agenda.

The parking survey recommendations will soon be implemented with the next stage being a Traffic Order Notice.

The future of the Built Environment group was discussed in light of the chairman leaving 2010. The possibility of them joining HTC Planning and Environment sub-committee will be investigated.

Concern was expressed that 2010 funds that are held by HTC are not ring-fenced. HTC F&GP sub-group will be consulted to establish written commitment on this.

The 2010 entry in the HTC newsletter was disputed with HTC on the basis that it was not as drafted by the author. Possible amendments were agreed and a compromise reached for the final version.

The possibility of brown tourist signs being installed as a 2010 commercial project, were discussed. No conclusion was reached.

16^th November 2006

A meeting will be held at the Croft Field about the arts centre initiative.

The library is now due to start in the new year.

The A4 crossing in Charnham Street will be delayed until after Christmas to avoid the pre-Christmas rush.

The poor state of the High Street crossings is now dealt with and they will be re-painted in the next fortnight.

The NHS dentist will now be set up in the One-Stop shop in Fairview Road.

It has been decided that 2010 will fund one of the speed reactive signs. The location will depend on traffic statistics.

The Traffic Order for the parking proposals will be in place by the end of the year so that work may start in the New Year.

A professional garden designer will lead on the Library Garden project. A Big Lottery Fund application will be made and detailed design and costing information produced.

The amended LDF document was accepted and a response will be made to that effect.

Newbury Volunteer Bureau will be approached to find someone to lead on funding applications.

1^st February 2007

The Library Garden project was progressed with the following points covered: Insurance, Big Lottery Fund application and detailed plans.

The Built Environment WG members will be invited to HTC Planning and Environment group meetings on a quarterly basis.

There is £3.5K available for the speed reactive sign.

LDF housing strategy will incude specific numbers and locations much sooner than expected. It was agreed that our District Councillor will approach land owners to discuss potential development sites.

The next meeting will focus on the forthcoming parish meeting.

6^th March 2007

The Library Garden design has progressed further with the bin store and the tree preservation order issues addressed.

The Arts Centre meeting addressed all relevant issues and was productive.

2010 is required to provide £750 to assist with installation of the speed reactive sign.

24^th April 2007

The space available for the Library Garden is in doubt and will be checked on-site. The result of the funding application should be heard in May. Maintenance after work is completed was discussed.

The Chamber of Commerce will be approached about the possibility of an £80K commercial project.

The HTC Climate Change group is now established and includes members of 2010.

The Priory has been identified as a possible Rural Exception Site for development. HTC will be informed by WBC at the next sub-group meeting if that is the case.