Report of meeting held on Tuesday, 6th January 2004

Footpaths – Bruderhof Community . Agreement has now been reached and formally agreed with all parties regarding change of footpath course. The gate on Sandwich Road which is the entrance to a footpath beside the road is very muddy also the spring on the gate is extremely powerful and if someone let is go in error injury could be caused. It was requested that the representative for the Bruderhof Community who attended the meeting could look into this.

Road Signs -The Clerk is having a meeting with representatives of K.C.C. Highways unit tomorrow at 3.15 p.m.

Parish Precept 2004/5 As this had stayed the same for the last two years it was decided to increase it this year to £5000 from £4500. Approximately £1000 would be carried over in April 2004 but the Parish Council needs additional income to cover costs possibly buying picnic tables and installing waste bins in the playground. Furthermore under the Disabilities Discrimination Act it is a legal requirement to have any play areas assessed for suitability for use by disabled people - which has been arranged with Wicksteed Leisure. On receiving their report we will have to implement any recommendations they make to comply with the Act.

Grant requests were received from Nonington Dolphins, St Mary the Virgin Church, Nonington Cricket Club, Nonington Village Website, and Nonington Playgroup (subject to consultation).

Bus Shelter – The safety officer at D.D.C. is not happy with the possible siting of a bus shelter on the opposite side of the road where the children wait in the morning and he saw the siting as a possible danger to children. He cannot approve of something which may make the question of safety worse than it is at the moment. A meeting is being arranged between the Safety Officer, Highways Engineer and Parish Councillors. A traffic analysis has been done by Baxter & Associates on behalf of SEEDA. The figures are as follows: In a 12 hour period (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) towards Sandwich = 812 vehicle movements, in the same 12 hour period towards Snowdown = 770. Between 8 – 9 a.m. (peak period) towards Sandwich = 83 the same period towards Snowdown = 145. Evening peak period (5 – 6 p.m.) towards Sandwich = 106 and the same period towards Snowdown = 66. This gives the total vehicle movements in a 12 hour period from 7a.m. – 7 p.m. as 1582.

Speed Watch – Volunteers are needed to be trained in the use of the GATSO Speed Equipment to monitor the speed of vehicles through the village. Volunteers would have to supply reflective jackets and will not be covered by Police Health and Safety Insurance. Please contact the Clerk on 840410.

It was reported by Cllr Craggy that complaints had been received regarding overhanging bushes in Butchers Lane. Clerk to contact Melvyn Twycross.

Green Day – Councillor Craggy is hoping to arrange another Green Day in the middle of March, which it is hoped will be as successful as the last two years. Details will be placed on the notice-board and the web-site when a date has been agreed.

Mr Abbott stated that the flooding by the Church wall opposite Farthingales was very bad. Possibly a quarterly maintenance visit instead of an annual one would be sensible. The Clerk to contact relevant department and see if soak-a-way could be improved/pumped out.