Minutes July 08

 Registered Charity No.  1110950   

BRIDGNORTH LOW TOWN ACTION GROUP

Meeting Room, Community Hall, Severn Street, Bridgnorth
          Thursday 24th July 2008 - 7.30pm Minutes of Meeting 

In Attendance: E. Marshall (Chairman), B. Jones, R. Ford, S. Robins, R. Hulse, D. W. Smith, P. Oakes, CSO H. Oakley, M. Grocock (Secretary) 

Apologies: PC K. Morris, T. Tibbott, S, Tibbott, C Lee, P.Tacchi, D. Richardson, W. Inkson, M. Ford, J. Brown, Izeham Che Dan, P. Linsdell, M. Calvert, G. Calvert, Inspector A. Thomas, P. Randell, S. Howells, C. Jephcott, T. Bradburn,  L. Shirley, CSO  E. Gatten  

The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone

 
1. Apologies for absence are as listed above 
  
1..  Matters Arising? 
 
1.. Treasurer's report
  We currently have £1002.00 in the bank. No outstanding liabilities. 

1.The New Shropshire (Unity) Council 

  a)       Proposed Electoral Ward Boundaries. The Boundary Committee for England (Part of the Electoral Commission) is conducting a review of the electoral arrangements for the proposed new Shropshire Council. Having received representations from Shropshire County Council, town and parish councils and some individuals, the Boundary Committee earlier this month (July 2008) published their draft recommendations. The initial representations made to the Boundary Committee had envisaged 4 separate single-member wards for the town of Bridgnorth, with some of the adjacent parishes. The Boundary Committee proposes the creation of two two-member divisions for Bridgnorth.  The one of particular interest to us in Low Town is the two-member Bridgnorth East and Astley Abbotts division, which would comprise the current Morfe and Bridgnorth East Wards together with the parish of Astley Abbotts. After discussion it was agreed that we preferred single member divisions. Bigger two-member divisions tend to favour the main political parties rather than independents. b)       Bridgnorth and Morfe Local Joint CommitteeIn their second wave of pilot local action groups, Shropshire County Council has now established the Bridgnorth and Morfe Local Joint Committee.  This committee will cover the following: Stockton, Kemberton, Quatt Malvern, Badger, Eardington, Alveley and Romsley, Chelmarsh, Billingsley, Deuxhill, Glazeley and Middleton Scriven, Chetton, Worfield and Rudge, Beckbury, Claverley, Ryton and Grindle, Sutton Maddock and Bridgnorth Town Council. Note that the two parishes of Astley Abbotts and Tasley, which under the Boundary Committee's proposals are to become part of the two two-member Bridgnorth divisions, are not included in the above list. Each council has one voting member on this committee, and that includes the ONE member for Bridgnorth Town. The four local Shropshire County Council Councillors are also voting members.Members of the public can attend all meetings, and unlike formal council meetings, can be fully involved in all discussions at all times; the restrictions are that they are not allowed a vote or chair meetings. The first meeting was held in Bridgnorth on 10th June, 2008. Margaret Winkler was elected Chairman, and Elizabeth Yeomans Vice- Chairman. Following a comment from the floor that the interests of Bridgnorth people may be different from those living in the parishes, Elizabeth Yeomans said that was a good point. Further, the parishes she represents on this committee, Glazeley and Middleton Scriven, could well be in a different Local Joint Committee group next year. All the above is of great interest, as this committee has the sum of £70,000 to disperse locally in the form of grants during the current 2008/2009 financial year. The main business of this meeting was a presentation by County Officers on road safety and improved traffic management. It was interesting and informative, and made one aware of how decisions are made and actions taken. . 

1. Riverside Enhancement Group
 

Roger Ford presented a report on the work of this group. European funding to the tune of £10,000 had been obtained from the Tourism Action Plan, and Bridgnorth District Council had allocated a further sum of £20,000 for riverside improvements in Bridgnorth, with the proviso that these works must be completed by the end of June. The western bank of the river, between the Quayside and the farmer's field beyond Kings Loade, known as Severn Way, has been levelled, widened to 1.4 metres where necessary, and surfaced with crushed stone. After about 3 weeks, this crushed stone will compact, making it resistant to river flow when the water tops the bank. It is proposed that if there is any surplus money (as yet unknown), to ask Pleydell Smithyman to investigate the cost of having a coloured pebbles representation of Trevithick's engine 'Catch-Me-Who-Can' set into the side of the riverside path, with two small semi-circular pieces of wall to mark the site of the historic Hazledine Foundry.  A member of the Environment Agency had attended their last meeting, and informed them that although the National Rivers Authority had jurisdiction and maintenance responsibilities for the river banks, the Environment Agency has no funds whatever to take on these roles, and will only act where 'health and safety' issues are involved. The proposal by Councillor Sievewright's group for an under-bridge link on the eastern bank has been abandon because of the total intransigence of the Environment Agency. It is now proposed to ask the council to erect notices at the river end of the alleyway running between the Black Horse and the China Diner, and on Doctors Lane at the rear of Leno's, to direct the disabled on access to the riverside on either side of Low Town bridge, bypassing the steps.   Roger Ford intimated his wish to resign from the Enhancement Group so that another person could be nominated to attend on the Groups behalf.      

    
1. Well Meadow Fishing

In 2007/2008, Bridgnorth Town Council lost £500 (actually £488.26) on selling fishing permits in Wellmeadow. After a discussion, it was agreed to make a proposal to Bridgnorth Town Council that we, Bridgnorth Low Town Action Group, would use volunteers from our membership to collect the fees and split the proceeds 50/50 with the Town Council. This would give us an income stream to pay for our administration and room hire for meetings. The Town Council would benefit by always having a positive income from the activity of issuing fishing daily permits.  

1. Trevithick

Plaque presented by the Civic SocietyOn Friday, 18th July, Philip Hosken, Chairman of the Trevithick Society, unveiled a plaque on the probable site of Hazledine's Foundry, Doctors Lane,   where the 'Catch me who can' locomotive was made in 1808.  The plaque, which we subsequently were informed cost around £1,000, was presented and mainly funded by the Civic Society. The Chairman expressed his disappointment that the plaque was not a casting, the normal products of foundries, particularly as it was to indicate the site of a foundry. Roger Ford stated that the Civic Society had been advised that a cast iron plaque would be easily smashed. The Chairman replied that there are grades of cast iron (known as ductile iron) that would not be smashed with a sledge hammer, and that these types of iron had been readily available for decades. There are numerous examples of such castings on the streets and pavements of Bridgnorth, many showing   that they are made of ductile iron. Further, it should be possible to design something that would prevent removal by thieves.  b)       The 2-day Event, Saturday & Sunday, 19th & 20th JulyThe two day Trevithick steam engine rally on Severn Park was considered to be a success. It was agreed that we would support a repeat next year, if the organisers wanted to go ahead. 9.       Communicationsa)       Internet and emails We now have a new website on the Shropshire Community Website, known as Shrop.NET. It is the intention to develop this site, perhaps with minutes and agendas, news and other relevant information. We can also be contacted by email: lowtownaction@btinternet.com b)       Sale Price of the Further Education College site on Stourbridge Road We have written to Mr. Hurst-Knight, Shropshire County Councillor on this matter, but although he replied promptly, he was unable to enlighten us on this matter. At a public meeting held in October 2007, in response to a question, he had stated that he would find out and let us know. We have now written to SCAT asking them to provide us with this information. 

1. Sub-Group Reports and Discussion

a)       Environment A request was made that we write to Park Right re the queuing problems at the Tesco/Esso garage.  The County Council will be improving the bus stop markings outside the Co-op on the Grove. 

b)       Transport.  A 4 x 4 had recently made a habit of parking on the pavement on the corner of the Old Stourbridge Road and Hospital Street.  The police would look into this.A request was made that a mobile warning speed light be set up on Hospital Street to warn speeding drivers.Another problem was speeding drivers coming down Cartway, also parking half on the pavement outside Lavington Court.   

c)       Recreation A tree needs pollarding in Doctors Lane. 

Next meeting at the Meeting Room, Community Hall, Severn Street, Bridgnorth.

Thursday 25th September 2008 - 7.30pm