HUNGERFORD TOWN COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Highways and Transport meeting held at 7.00pm on Monday 17th March 2008 in the Corn Exchange Complex, Hungerford.

 

Present:  Cllrs Hudson, Harries, Booth, Liddiard, Wilson, Werrell, Buckwell, Desmueles (arrived 7.30pm)

 

1.                   Apologies for absence
Cllr  Bullock

2.                   Declarations of Interest
None

3.                   Minutes of  meeting held on 12th February 2008
Proposed Cllr  Harries, seconded Cllr Buckwell, 6 in favour, 1 abstention

4.                   Christmas Lights Update and Review
Cllr Desmueles updated the committee. Still a little bit more money to collect - £480.  Burroughs, Broadmead, Three swans, Nat West and Greatworth still to come.  The overspend at the worst will be £212 at the best £132.

5.                   Street Lights
- Lighting between Prospect Road and Church Way
Cllr Hudson looking into either having the wiring provided via a local resident or using a solar power light option
Action – Cllr Hudson to continue to investigate

Cllr Nesbitt is moving from Highways and Transport Committee to Recreation, Amenities & War Memorials Committee.  Cllr Buckwell to fill the role of Street Light monitor for 2 months.

6.                   Public Footpath
- Pedestrian sign to Croft area
An e mail has been sent to Cllr David Holtby, and a letter to John Conn, waiting to hear back.
Cllr Booth reported a sign has the light on 24 hours a day, needs to be reported to streetcare at WBC.  New street signs for The Croft, costs etc need to be got from MEC Signs in Newbury.
Action – Cllr Buckwell, Harries, Hudson, Booth – Report to Streetcare and get costs from MEC

- Marsh Footpath issue following site visit
Cllr Harries and Buckwell have carried out a site visit.  The Ramblers Association want the bridge over the Dunn replaced, they are taking WBC to court, original cost for the bridge was £30,000, now £10,000.  The committee felt this was unnecessary expense as there are two other bridges on The Marsh that can be used.  Cllr Liddiard suggested that the Ramblers should be asked to contribute towards the cost.

7.                   Street Cleaning

- Chewing gum on High Street
Cllr  Booth has contacted Biffa who have no knowledge of machines to remove chewing gum off pavements.  The new waste contract starts with Veola from 01/04/2008.  Cllr Booth to contact in a few weeks.
Action: Cllr Booth to continue to find information


- Provision and location of dog toilet bins
Cllr Thompson to check how many bins there are and where they are currently being stored.  To contact WBC to arrange for emptying out.  Suggested that this item is raised at the Parish Meeting. 
Action: Cllrs Thompson and Harries to round up bins, Cllr Hudson to raise at Parish Meeting

- Litter Collecting Day
Annual day planned for Sunday 30th March, Cllr Desmeules organises the event.  The day has to be advertised, Cllr Desmeules will organise posters, advertisements and tell people at the Parish Meeting.  Suggested that all homeowners should have tongs to pick up litter outside their own properties.  30 – 40 % of people who drive throw litter out of their cars. Laws for throwing litter are not enforced.
Action: Cllr Desmeules to organise Litter Picking Day 

8.                   Hungerford Rail Station
- Update on adopt the station issues
Cllr Hudson to speak to 2010, to consider development brief, to find out about grants for new buildings and information re SEEDA grants.  To investigate proposals for development of the old Oakes site, contact Brian Little at WBC.  The old Oakes site is currently allocated for employment, if HTC and 2010 wanted to put in for local consultation for future use of the area and put it in to the LDF.  Cllr Hudson to put to planning committee for comments.  Cllr Hudson to speak about the railway station at the Parish Meeting.
Action:  Cllr Hudson to speak to 2010 & to find information on grants etc.

9.                    Public Seats
- Cllr Booth to report on benches – locations and issues
Three new benches are being moved to The Wharf, the old ones will be scrapped unless there are any requests to purchase them.  One will be moved to St Saviours Cemetery to replace the damaged one.  Sixteen benches have dedications on them.  Fifty-two benches are blank, suggested we try and get businesses to sponsor them, possible cost £250 per bench and benches will have a plaque.  Cllrs Booth, Harries, Hudson to carryout a review, discuss and progress and develop a system for charging.  One bench is for the library, Cllr Harries to contact Christine Owen re the bench and tree for the library garden.
Action:  Cllrs Booth, Harries, Hudson re to develop system for charging and to contact Christine Owen re library seat

10.                Pedestrian Bridge Crossing of Canal
Responses have been received from Cllr Holtby and WBC (Miles Robert), currently looking for an architect to do the design.  Waiting to hear from WBC.
Action :  Cllr Hudson to progress

11.                Street Trading Licence Consultations for High Street Vans
Cllr Buckwell collating comments from residents re street trading vehicles in the High Street.  Cllr Booth clarified that comments at Committee from Members were being given as Members not residents.  Cllr Buckwell was speaking to residents and users re locations, the High Street or Car Park.  Has spoken to WBC re hygiene checks, last ones were carried out last July.  Any responses that had been sent to Cllr Buckwell by e mail to be forwarded to all.  Cllr Werrell expressed that the street traders were reliant on passing trade and they would not be so visible in they were moved to the car park.  Cllr Hudson proposed that the street trading vehicles are relocated to Church Street Car Park, seconded Cllr Wilson, all in favour.
Action:  Cllr Hudson to contact Brian Leahy at West Berkshire Council

 

 

 

 

12.                Speed limit on the common
- To consider WBC’s response to (Cllr Harries)
WBC will review in October, Cllr Harries had written to WBC twice, working with Town and Manor.  Disappointment by the committee that progress cannot be made earlier.
Action:  Waiting for WBC to undertake a study and review in October

13.                Hungerford area wide Traffic Regulation Order
- update on issues and discussion with WBC
- parking on grass areas
Cllr Hudson has met with Alex Drysdale for a 6 monthly review re parking on grassed areas.

He explained that no updated traffic order will be made until April 2009, which was a serious disappointment, considering we were assured by WBC that a second order mopping up the remaining problems would take place after 6 months.
Cllr Booth raised concerns re parking on pavements and grass verges causes obstructions, in Priory Road on Sundays outside the Catholic Church, suggested that the Police or PCSOs are contacted.
Action:  Cllr Hudson to include area in the next parking survey

 

14.                Flooding
- Update and Flood Action Plan (Cllr Harries)
- Drainage  maintenance response from WBC
Cllr Hudson has written to WBC re drainage maintenance in the Hungerford area.  A response had been received by WBC detailing their maintenance programme.  Where, the drains are not clear this is causing flooding.  Future problems should be reported to Streetcare. 

15.                Low Flying Night Aircraft
Flights from Bournemouth flying North at 4,000 feet at 5.30am, erratic problem.
Action:  Cllr Hudson to contact Peter Bish

16.                A338 North of Hungerford – Road Safety and Signage
Cllr Acworth expressed concerns that the red eyes at the Folly crossroads are too widely spaced, there is also a sign out, the kerbs need to be painted so they show up better at night.  Cllr Acworth has sent an e mail to Cllr Hudson.  The chevron sign on the A338 in the front of Eddington House needs replacing.  There is also some debris from an accident that needs to be removed, suggested there recovery vehicles remove debris from the accident sites.
Action:  Cllr Hudson to send a note to WBC to fix/move eyes in for the first 30 metres.  Cllr Hudson to contact  Streetcare.

17.                 Risk Assessments
No update at this meeting

Amendments.........................................................................................................................................

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Signed…………………………………        Chairman of Highways and Transport Committee

Date…………………………………..