18/09

FELBRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month (except January and August)

at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

 

Minutes of the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING held on Thursday, 7th May 2009

at 7.00pm in the Village Hall

 

 

Present:            Mr Ian McBryde (Chairman)

                        Mr Brian Apps

                        Mr Jeremy Clarke

                        Mrs Joan Harwood

                        Mrs Bridget Huntington

                        Mr Jacob Woodd

                        Mr Ken Harwood (District Councillor)

                        Mr Ken Rimington (County Councillor)

                        Mrs Rosalind White (in attendance)

 

The Chairman introduced himself and welcomed 22 people to the meeting including Parish Councillors and speakers.

 

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mrs Linda Hainge, Mrs R. Bingham, Rev S. Bowen, PCSO Julie Watson, PC Moira Cocks, Mr P Wickenden, Mrs A Tucker, Mr and Mrs S Atwell, Mr I Marshall, Mrs M. Winn, Mrs K. Probert.

 

2.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

            The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Thursday, 1st May 2008 were noted, having been signed previously.

 

3.         MATTERS ARISING

 

            There were no matters arising.

 

4.         REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN OF PARISH COUNCIL

 

The Chairman welcomed County Councillors, District Councillors, Felbridge Parish Councillors, residents of Felbridge and visitors:

 

It is my great pleasure to report to you on the work of the Parish Council over the last year.  On the wider global scene we have seen a momentous year- a complete melt down of the world’s financial system, the nationalisation of the banking system and the country firmly in the grips of recession.

 

Against the back drop of these events life in Felbridge seems relatively calm, at least on the surface. However, I doubt whether many residents will not have been touched in some way by what is happening in the wider world.

 

One way, positively, that Felbridge has been affected by the goings on in the economy is the drastic reduction in the number of planning applications for new homes.  Whereas your PC realises the need for further appropriate housing and renewal of the housing stock, it has constantly opposed the mass development and the urbanisation of Felbridge that has taken place over the last few years.  We had got to the stage


19/09

 

where virtually every back garden was ‘up for grabs’.  Now the state of the housing market has meant that even those developers on site are finding difficulty selling their units and are slowing down the construction of new units, awaiting better times.  Tandridge DC have also altered their category of this area, and Felbridge is now ‘Green Belt’ as opposed to a ‘Green Belt Settlement’.  The presumption is against further mass development and infilling and even sizeable extensions to existing houses may not be allowed.

 

Everyone will have noticed the appalling state of the roads in the Parish.  We have reported virtually every defect to SCC many times but little gets done and progress is slow – some of these potholes are well over a year old.  Councillor Jeremy Clarke cycled every road in the Parish - There were 107 defects and a serious pothole every half mile.  Even when roads get resurfaced, the potholes are not filled in.  I can tell you that we have had reams of correspondence with SCC Highways and the SCC Local Committee about this matter.  The fact is they ignore us but I will come back to that later.

 

Staying on the Highways issue, FPC fought for the reduction in speed limits on Crawley Down Road and Copthorne Road, up to the Shell petrol station.  These were approved by SCC 3 years ago but we have not seen the introduction of the new limits due to incompetence within SCC.  However, a glimmer of hope - our MP has received a letter from Jenny Isaacs, Head of Surrey Highways saying that the legal speed limit order and site works are planned for this financial year.

 

What is obvious within SCC is that there is a total lack of responsibility and common courtesy seems to be missing.  We have written many times to SCC, both officers and members but we do not seem to get any reply.  Jeremy Clarke has taken up the cudgels with the Customer Relations Team but I will name Councillors Nick Skellett and David Hodge as being prime offenders.

 

You will all have read about the Puffin Crossing.  After years of lobbying, Felbridge finally got its crossing, in the best location opposite the big gate.  Within weeks of it being operational, a proposal was made to get it moved because Linden Homes wanted to develop Eden Place and there was insufficient room (so we were told) between the crossing and the exit from the new development.  The PC fought hard to retain the Crossing in its existing position suggesting that the exit road could be moved or redesigned.  We even showed examples where crossings had been installed close to junctions in other parts of the County without problems.  The crossing was dismantled at considerable expense to the developers, moved a few yards up the road right in front of someone’s house providing difficulties for them to exit their property.  I am sorry to report that this was a battle which Felbridge lost.

 

I am pleased to report other areas in which FPC have been involved during the year.  As a boost to security we provided a further camera to the CCTV system which covers the Hall and surrounding areas.  We have updated the ‘What’s on in Felbridge Leaflet which has been distributed and is available in the hall and the church.  For this I thank Linda Hainge.  We have on your behalf supported several local groups – Felbridge Bowling Club – new dishwasher; Felbridge Luncheon Club – Christmas meal; Fun And Friends Carer and Toddler Group – craft material and toys; Felbridge History Group - exhibition on 13th Sept as part of Heritage Open Days Scheme; Village Hall Committee - new lights for Christmas.  We have also as part of the ongoing Road Safety campaign supported Community Speedwatch.

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We have also engaged with the developers of the various sites in the Parish, on such matters as parking of contractors’ cars and vans, reinstatement of grass verges, planning matters not complied and light pollution.

 

On our agenda at the moment are further facilities for the youth of the area.  The bike/BMX track on the District Council Land behind the hall had become a focal point for a few of the boys and girls in the village.  We are aware that TDC felt that the use had become a little out of hand and had to step in.  The rights and wrongs of this have been argued in the local press and are not for debate here but what it did highlight is that Felbridge is lacking in activities for older children. 

 

We are also campaigning for vehicle activated speed signs on the A264 and possibly Crawley Down Road, and it would be good to see these installed in time for the new limits.

 

I wish to thank my colleagues on the Council for their work in the last year.  Our newest members are Jacob Woodd and Joan Harwood.  Brian Apps has continued as Finance Officer and has kept a very tight control over the budget.  Bridget Huntington has enjoyed her freedom from being Chairman last year.  Linda Hainge is dedicated to the village and of course Jeremy Clarke has continued to advise the Council on planning matters generally.  We also thank DC Ken Harwood who has continued to work tirelessly with the Parish Council on matters which are just too numerous to mention.  

 

We are sad to say goodbye to Ken Rimington who is stepping down as County Councillor for this area.  We thank Ken for all his hard work and attending our meetings and we wish him well in retirement.  We cannot say goodbye without mentioning Judges Corner, the accident black spot at Snowhill.  Ken has campaigned tirelessly for improvements to the road junction which are now taking place. Judges Corner will now be known as Rimington Roundabout.

 

Lastly, I must thank Ros White, Clerk to the Council, who has helped me find my feet as Chairman and without whom the Council would completely disintegrate into chaos.

 

5.         MANPADS – Gatwick External Neighbourhood Policing Team

 

            The Chairman welcomed PCSO John Chisholm and PCSO Chris Hardstone who are part of the Gatwick External Neighbourhood Policing Team and looking to work very closely with the community with the objective of keeping everyone safe from any terrorist attack and reducing the threat to aviation security.  They wish to raise awareness of potential risks and encourage the local community to work in partnership with the police to help strengthen overall security, by reporting any suspicious activity close to or under the flight path.  If local residents see anything unusual or are uneasy about activities surrounding a property, they should contact the Police on the Anti Terrorist Hotline – 0800 789 321 or email aviation.watch@sussex.pnn.police.uk.  The threat level at Gatwick has been at ‘severe’ for the past 2½/3 years, which means an attack on an aircraft is quite likely.  John Chisholm showed a very interesting and thought provoking new DVD from the National Counter Terrorism Group about a fictitious terrorist attack on a shopping centre and the days preceding this attack.  John would be happy to speak to any local groups who might be interested in the team’s work and stressed the need for the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour.  The Chairman thanked John Chisholm and Chris Hardstone for their very interesting presentation.


21/09

 

6.         ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

Lesley Robinson thanked the Parish Council, on behalf of the Website Team and Felbridge residents, for their tireless work.  Mrs Robinson also mentioned the track which is appearing across the village green from the puffin crossing and asked if a permanent path could be laid.  It was pointed out that Tandridge District Council do not like to lose any grassed area of the common land and may wish another area to be grassed in return for a path.

 

            On behalf of the Village Hall Committee, Jacob Woodd thanked the Parish Council for their help over the past year.

 

The Annual Parish Meeting closed at 8.10pm.

 

11 May 2009

RW