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Present: Jenny Billington Pete Brewer Charles Exley Fred Gaskin Mike Goldsworthy Ivor King Bob Langton Peter Milner Brian Murphy Fay Powell North Somerset Council Liz Moore Yvonne Rees Arthur Taylor EIG Parish Council Sue Tuckwell
Apologies: Gary Colosimo Madeleine Bickle Elspeth Davis Paul Kent Ralph Whiting
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MG apologised for Paul Kent’s last minute absence and offered to chair the meeting.
Agreed as an accurate record except for a correction to the Big Green Party details, which will be held during the afternoon and evening of Saturday, 7th March. Flier should have been included with current Pill Paper.
None.
None.
AT introduced this topic with a presentation covering the background, the results of the questionnaire distributed following the public meeting, an outline of the current village centre illustrating some of the “problems” and some examples of what could be done.
MG explained that, while no firm decisions had yet been taken, 2 courses of action were likely to be required, one covering short-term minor improvements which could be implemented at minimal expense and a second major longer-term plan which would involve external consultations and fundraising. There followed a brainstorming session where members put forward suggestions, summarised below.
General Suggestions:
1. Pursue major project but also proceed with cosmetic changes 2. Shops should face into precinct not outwards to Pill Street 3. Try to improve Pill Street 4. Angled parking on Heywood Road 5. Redevelop garages 6. Cycle racks a problem 7. Plant trees in centre of precinct 8. Change bus stops to make more of an interchange 9. Consult police about 'design out crime' possibilities 10. Paint garages different colour 11. Get rid of flat roofs 12. View through Precinct to Victoria Park important
Cosmetic Changes:
(Look at what has been done on Bourneville Estate – 16 different lottery grant opportunities) 1. Remove garages 2. Plant trees 3. Screen off recycling area – Virginia creeper / proper management of area 4. Move / resite cycle racks 5. Anti-skateboarding surfaces 6. Improve / paint under arch 7. Pill Street pavement fragment could be used for planting
FB, Local Plan officer at NSC, suggested that there were some very similar situations in Weston-Super-Mare on the Bourneville, Old Mixon and Coronation Estates where substantial improvements had been completed in conjunction with the owners, NS Housing. She offered to arrange a visit for members to see the improvements first-hand.
PM and other members emphasised that the precinct works OK and nothing should be done in improving its appearance, which could damage its current operation.
PM explained that in preparing a grant application it was found necessary for the Forum to have a formally adopted Child Protection Policy. A draft, prepared by PM, had already been distributed to members and a brief discussion followed.
Formal adoption of the Child Protection Policy, as drafted, was proposed by Yvonne Rees, seconded by Liz Moore, AGREED.
FG presented a statement of the Forum’s current finances. This showed a balance available for new projects in the current year of £1,050 assuming all previously allocated funds were taken up. The summary did not include a sum of £400 subsequently transferred from EIG Parish Council in connection with the sundial project.
It was agreed that members needed to consider new projects for the current year AND new projects for the financial year to justify a request for funding from EIG Parish Council. Members to submit details of possible projects for discussion at next meeting.
To be confirmed. BL suggested that it would be desirable for the next Forum meeting to be held before the Parish Council’s March meeting at which the PC will be deciding on funding for next year.
Meeting ended at 8.55pm. Mike Goldsworthy 26/02/09 |
