Present: Cllr AD Walmsley; Cllr NJ Campbell-White; Cllr R Wilmshurst; Cllr. AP Lockett; Cllr Mrs JM Millar; Cllr TJ Threlfall; Cllr R Whitaker; Cllr WJ West; County Cllr Mrs A Bailey; District Cllr Mrs. M Campbell-White, Pol Con C Barham and 53 Parishioners.
Hello and goodbye At last year's Annual Parish Meeting we said goodbye to four retiring councillors:
Rodney Peake, Mary Davis, Pat Appleton and last but definitely not least Barrie Hazlitt. Barrie as most of you will know, died tragically in a traffic accident quite shortly after last year's meeting - here is a short extract from the appreciation printed in the Parish Magazine:
Barrie was a stickler for detail, he had the ability to cut through HCC and WCC red tape, and he had the patience and tenacity to stay with a problem until it was sorted out.
We will miss his cheery personality, his wit, his excellent and humorous turn of phrase, and, above all, his reasoned views.
The parish owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude.
New Members Tom Threlfall, Ron Whitaker, David Ellis and John West were welcomed to serve on the Parish Council, and a welcome was extended to Margaret Campbell-White, the new City Councillor for the parish.
Significant achievements and progress in several areas were made and he reported on the following A Referendum was held by way of a postal ballot and we were pleased that the electoral officers of WCC undertook the laborious task of counting the votes without charging for their services. In round numbers, two thirds of the parish cast their votes of which over three quarters supported the Parish Council' s intention to develop the land adjoining the parish hall with housing and to generate funds to assist with the renovation of the hall and the replacement of the dilapidated pavilion on the playing field.
Post Office. After many years, Joy Gibson gave up running the Shawford Sub-Post Office. To avoid losing the post office facilities it was agreed to adapt part of the parish hall as a post office, which is open Monday and Thursday mornings and managed by Vanessa Smith.
Centenary of Parish Hall. We celebrated the 100th birthday of the Parish Hall and noted that Ray Wilmshurst had served on the Parish Council for thirty years. The Hall Centenary Celebrations were a tremendous success with numerous exhibitions and a very good attendance The carved wooden Roll of Honour of Past Chairman of the Council has been updated in gold leaf and on permanent display in the hall. White Star Line plates. We sold the last plates having made about £8000 overall, and thanks are due to Jean Millar and Nick Campbell-White for all their work in effecting the sales.
Returned M3 Surplus Land. After at least four years' of sometimes difficult negotiations with the Highways Agency, we have now bought the parcel of about 0.6 hectares, or one and a half acres, to add to the playing field, for £2500.00. All in all a highly satisfactory result.
Bus shelter, 30 mph limits, lights for Martins Fields garages. We acquired a new bus shelter opposite Southdown Road to match the one at the end of Compton Street; lighting is being installed at the Martins Fields garage compound, and we have been successful in having the derestriction sign outside the school replaced with a 30 mph speed limit.
Vandalism. Although the parish remains a relatively crime-free area, there have been some worrying occurrences of vandalism this year. A large hole was cut in the fence at the Compton Street Playground and people have driven a car over the Memorial Playing Field late on several Friday nights, creating ruts in the field which could be dangerous. Clive Barham is always willing to follow up incidents like this, but he needs you to give him details.
Bushfield Camp - Park and Ride. The Parish Council opposed the City Council's application for Millennium funds to develop Bushfield Camp. We reasoned that a Park-and-Ride facility on Bushfield Camp would be unacceptable without any corresponding improvements to traffic flow at Bushfield Roundabout. We asked the City Council to consider instead the use of what Barrie Hazlitt had called Tarmac's "base camp" as a park-and-ride site. Of course as the base camp falls within the strategic gap we have to be careful that any park and ride on that site does not open up the gap for any further development. We continue to monitor the situation.
M3. The M3 has been open for some time now, and parishioners continue to suffer to a greater or lesser extent from noise pollution. Negotiations are still going on between agents acting for residents and, in the government's corner, the District Valuer. Agents acting for parishioners are presently meeting with the valuation officers and hope to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion.
Future projects - parish hall development, pavilion, millennium. When I became chairman two years ago, I had hoped that we would by now have made some physical progress on the improvements to the hall or the new pavilion or both. But these things take time. In order to qualify for certain grants we are looking at two specific actions: putting the management of the parish hall into the hands of a registered charity such as CASCA, and combining the sports club lottery application for a new pavilion with providing additional facilities for tennis. We have however over the last year taken some significant steps forward in both of these areas. With the referendum already behind us, the positive result of the Planning Inspector's report, our Finance Subcommittee's prudent budgeting, and some interesting architectural sketches to consider, I am confident that by the turn of the century, when the next Parish elections take place, we will have made improvements to the parish of which future generations can be proud.
Copies of the audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 1996, had been circulated, and were unanimously adopted following a proposal by Mr P Toghill, seconded Mr WK Millar.
Princes Mead School's idea of removing to Appleshaw House has failed but you will have seen the Sale notice with outline permission to replace the derelict old house with a new one. This has recently changed to a SOLD notice and we will watch out, with interest, for any development application.
There have been 14 tree applications which have not been cause for concern for us or our Tree Warden, Tom Threlfall, but there was one case in Shepherds Lane where the neighbours were upset by extensive felling and lopping.
Three latest applications include felling of four Elms and pruning at Meadow Cottage. rear extension replacing flat roofed at Church Cottage, Carman's Lane, and communication tower at Compton House. The Parish Council would ask you all PLEASE talk to your neighbours and explain clearly your intentions. Surely harmony with the folk next door is worth preserving!
We continue to monitor the orange site notices posted to alert neighbours and passers-by to building and tree applications and we supplement them when necessary. Many thanks to parishioners who have contacted the PC with comments. While trying to reinforce genuine causes for objection the PC try in general to take an overview for the whole Parish's good..
Yesterday the Hampshire Voluntary Housing Society held its AGM which Cllr Millar attended on behalf of the PC. Mr Derek Webber is now (at last!) really optimistic that negotiations with HCC will shortly result in agreement to sell the Society a plot of land on which they would build four homes to RENT, partially meeting the need for such housing confirmed by their survey in 1996.
Road Naming. Following discussions with WCC, and having regard to points of view emerged amongst residents, it was decided that the length of road from Bushfield Roundabout to the Otterbourne boundary should be named Otterbourne Road and not part as Main Road and part as Otterbourne Road.
Accidents, Speed limits and Road Signing. Because of an accident to Sandra Beyer, an au-pair living in Compton Village, there was a call at that time for lighting of the island refuge on Otterbourne Road opposite Compton Street, which was rejected by HCC. Nevertheless HCC undertook a review of alternative traffic calming measures, particularly road signing and speed limits, the latter incorporating 30mph limits on public and private roads in Compton Down and Compton Village which was noncontroversial in Compton Village but not so in Compton Down even though the PC persuaded HCC to reduce the number of repeater signs considerably with none remaining on the verges of anyone's property. We understand that there has been a request for speed limit signs in Southdown and Southdown Residents' Assn have been asked, through John West, to consider the matter carefully as it is inevitable that some residents will have 30mph signs on grass verges outside their houses if the proposal is implemented.
Grass Cutting. This was generally unsatisfactory last year with tripartite responsibility for some areas residing with HCC/WCC and the Highways Agency. This complication has been reduced this year. We have received a cutting schedule from WCC and the first cut according to this has been carried out in Compton Village, Otterbourne Road as far as Southdown, and in Shawford, but nothing so far in Compton Down as this is only now being added to the schedule.
Bonfires and Dog Fouling. Both matters have resulted in articles in the Parish Magazine. the latter twice. WCC Environmental Officers would like more composting of garden waste but does not condemn bonfires out of hand. It is accepted that they are sometimes necessary, but not too often and always with due consideration to others. Fouling by dogs is more problematical, both on the Memorial Playing Field and on Shawford Down. There is a serious health hazard involved, particularly with children, as was made clear in Dr O'Sullivan's article which appeared in the Parish Magazine. The Parish Council appeal to all dog owners to clean up after their pets.
Repairs to Parish Property. Damage to notice boards and bus shelters may not have been excessive compared to some areas, but even at the level we experience it is an unnecessary and unwelcome financial burden on the Parish. Cleaning of the subway, the approach pathways and cleaning of bus shelters is carried out on a routine basis.
Bus Shelter opposite Shepherds Lane Bridge. We have applied to a WCC Capital Challenge Project to be in their allocation of monies for a new bus shelter, southward bound, opposite Shepherds Lane Bridge. Applications are heavy and the proposed funding is over subscribed. The bus shelter will cost about £4000.00: and if we are fortunate in receiving partial funding. the PC are prepared to make a contribution as part of a PC Project for 1997/98. However, the project is dependent upon some external funding Footpath and Highway Repairs. The footway in Field Close, an adopted road, has been resurfaced most efficiently by HCC, at the request of the PC following residents' complaints as to its condition. Field Way, an unadopted road, is in need of repair and has been for many years. The problem has been referred to various people and organisations for attention but it has been difficult in getting anyone to accept responsibility in view of the potentially high cost of maintenance.
lntegra Liaison Group Hampshire Waste Services who operate the Otterbourne Waste Transfer Station and Materials Recycling Facility, have suggested that in order to overcome problems which could affect Parishes in the area, we should meet every six months to exchange views and resolve problems which may arise at the facility or on the highways to it. Cllr Whitaker is the Parish Council's representative on the Group. At the first meeting in February. it was stated that the redundant incinerator will be demolished, starting next month, after decontamination. The work will take 3 to 4 months. Concern was expressed that some vehicles are overloaded and spilling rubbish, a problem which Hampshire Waste Services promised to rectify. Concern was also expressed on the increase in number of vehicle movements through Otterbourne Should we experience problems in our Parish, please let the Clerk or any Parish Councillor know.
National Spring Clean Week - Litter Pick. It is all this week until Sunday 27 April. and we would ask for as many volunteers as possible to help. We have approached a number of organisations in the Parish and have been promised help from the Sports Club who will tidy up the sports field including the equipment compound and the southern Field Way area. The Compton and Shawford W.I. have agreed to clean up Hurdle Way, Cliff Way. Clease Way and the northern part of Field Way. The Southdown Residents' Assn will look after Southdown and possibly the Downs. Ray Wilmshurst will organise some help in Compton village. The only areas not covered are Otterbourne Road and Shepherds Lane and the Parish Council would be grateful if we could have volunteers for these areas. If this is not possible it would certainly help if residents would clean the street, verges and hedgerows outside their own properties. Bags and gloves can be collected from Dennis Richman, our Clerk, at the end of this meeting, and filled bags should be returned to the Parish Hall from where we will arrange for WCC to pick them up.
The setback of the year has been the refusal by Hampshire Council of Community Service to consider our hall for a grant under the Acre 21st Century Halls Millennium Fund. This is particularly upsetting as we had attended seminars, filled in forms, and had been virtually guaranteed a matching grant of £60,000.00, subject to a final management plan and drawings that were approved by the funding body. The Lottery Commission had allocated £1.2 million to refurbish the older halls throughout the country, and we totally fitted their criteria apart from salient point which had been overlooked by HCCS - that our hall is owned by the Parish and not the community. The rationale behind this is that parishes are able to fund any of their own development requirements by setting any precept they like, i.e. you, the parishioners, pay. We have on many occasions in the past been refused grants for this reason and at present we are precluded from applying to certain funds because the hall is not a registered charity, or run by a community association. As a result we are actively pursuing with CASCA whether they would take over the management of the village hall. Initial enquiries to the Charity Commissioners indicate there is nothing in their Articles of Association to prevent this. It is now almost certain that the Parish will relinquish direct control of the hall to CASCA within the next 6 months, and lease the hall for 99 years, with the proviso that if this fails, the hall will revert to direct Parish control again. The Parish Council will always have 2 members on the management committee, will for the foreseeable future provide annual grant aid, and for the next 4 years be run by this same committee co-opted by CASCA. Peter Moll will remain Chairman and Philip Gorrod, Treasurer. Other organisations who are members of CASCA will be actively encouraged to help run the hall. There are many details yet to be sorted out. The Parish would ensure that the hall was adequately refurbished, in line with our current policy, but at least CASCA would now be able to apply for grants, perhaps even obtain a 21st Century Hall grant, we think, however, this will all have been allocated by the time we are able to make another formal application. As part of our Centenary Celebrations, we asked 4 architects to draw up outline schemes as to how they would be able to add to and refurbish the hall, including our 14 priorities. We received 4 schemes, 3 of which were worthy of consideration. These were displayed in the small hall, and criticisms and comments invited, but strangely, and disappointingly, we received very few. These schemes are again now in the small hall; there is a 5th scheme, kindly drawn up by Ian Case, embodying what the Hall Committee consider to be the best of the ideas of all 4 schemes. This will now become our working document. Cllr Campbell-White asked the assembly to please make time to look at this DRAFT scheme - which at present is only a suggested scheme - and make your comments and criticisms known.
The plates were given to the hall in 1928 by the then Vice-Chairman, Mr FJ Blake, which realised funds from sale and enabled the Parish Council to suggest some form of celebration. The final sum realised approximately £8500.00, and a display case was made and two spare plates safely kept in case of need. A former Chairman, Bob Jordan, first spotted the treasure in our midst and Nick Campbell-White, who worked on the project with me, made some notable sales. Many articles about the Parish Hall's Centenary were written in the Parish Magazine, also in the Hampshire Chronicle, whose Centenary Review was a good way to set a seal on the whole enterprise. Jean Millar expressed personal thanks to Nancy Emmerson for her kind words of appreciation. The event was a great success, all costs were covered, a good time was had by all and funds were available for commemorative mugs to be given to those who spent significant time and effort contributing to the enjoyment of the series of events.
"Following the result of the referendum held last Summer, when a majority of parishioners voted for the sale of the land adjacent to the Parish Hall, the Committee began to examine ways of developing this land to the best advantage for the Parish, but, at the same time giving proper consideration to the issues raised by Shawford parishioners living in the neighbourhood of the Parish Hall. Initially the Committee wrote to a number of Housing Associations with a view to the Parish retaining an interest in at least some of the properties to the built on the site in the form of shared equity. After co-opting expert advice onto the Committee, the decision was taken to contact a number of commercial developers as well. Although some interest was shown by both Housing Associations and commercial developers in the site, nothing conclusive came of this correspondence at the time. At the April Parish Council Meeting it was decided to try putting the whole matter into the hands of an expert, and to this end a number of Estate Agents were contacted. Negotiations with these Agents are in progress at the moment with the aim of getting the best possible deal for the Parish".
The surplus M3 land has been returned from the Department of Transport at a price of £2500.00 to form an extension to the Memorial Playing Field on terms originally proposed by the Parish Council. except for price. The land will be used for the new entrance to the pavilion, for car parking and eventually for extended play area. Following greater unanimity between the three sports sections, agreement was reached on the preferred layout for the new pavilion and for the facilities required. The Parish Council sought quotations from various architects and in July commissioned Charles M Walker to draw up initial plans to try and cater for all requirements. The initial draft plans and elevations were cumbersome and the design somewhat unsympathetic. 2 modified plans and elevations have been submitted for consideration by the Sports Club and Parish Council, type B and type C, which are on display in the small hall for comment and your suggestions. After all views have been listened to, a final set of plans can be drawn up for submission to the Winchester Planning Authority for approval. The proposed new pavilion is virtually on the site of the equipment compound, at the edge of the current field, with access from the new part of Shepherds Lane. All the existing assortment of current timber buildings would eventually be demolished, the current access gated, with only pedestrian entrance to the field, and one or two tennis courts constructed in the place of the current pavilion, alongside the existing tennis courts. All of this will be dependent on funds being available mainly from the Sports Council area of the Lottery, where prognosis is good. Draft applications have been made out, for submission to the Compton and Shawford Sports Club, with the backing of the Parish Council. The budgeted funding is £200,000.00 for the building, utilities, tennis courts, car park area and landscaping, and £30,000.00 for fitting out, i.e. a total of £230,000.00. This is seen as coming from Sports Club £30,000.00 Parish Council £60,000.00 Tennis Club £10,000.00 Grants from Sporting Associations £30,000.00 Lottery £100,000.00. More accurate costs for the new pavilion and associated works will be obtained once the plans have been virtually finalised; these figures are at present only budgets. The Sports Council area of the Lottery can fund up to 70% of any project. We are intending to seek a more realistic 45% to 50% depending on likely costs. The proposed new pavilion will be owned by the Parish Council, and leased to the Sports Club, initially on a 25 years lease. The Parish Council would be responsible for maintenance of the fabric, the Sports Club for the internal maintenance and repair. There would be no day to day involvement by the Parish Council in the running of the pavilion, but we would at all times have one nominated member on the Sports Club Management Body. A new lease, more suited to the current needs of the Sports Club, is still in the process of being drawn up, but Heads of Agreement have been settled, and it is now a matter for solicitors to put everything into an official document in "legalise". The Parish Council, as landlords of the Sports Field and new pavilion have reserved the right to control the overall use of the Sports Field, and to require the Sports Club to make provision, with due notice, for any other future sports for which a local demand is proved. This is a synopsis of the position as at today.
Cllr Campbell-White undertook to try to answer any questions on points that have not been covered after all the other reports have been made, or at the end of the meeting in the rear hall where the proposed plans are displayed.
The Playing Field Management Committee is responsible for the Memorial Playing Field at Field Way, Shepherds Lane, and the playing field at the junction of Compton Street/Attwoods Drove. On both fields we have playground equipment :- slide, climbing frame, swings and see-saws. We have a contract with Zurich Municipal Insurance to inspect these annually and furnish a safety report. Members of the committee carry out regular visual checks. During the past year safety surfaces have been added to the climbing frame and the see-saw at the Compton Street field. The Memorial Playing was weed killed last summer, and will be continued as found necessary. The playing pitches and cricket square are maintained by the respective sections of the Sports Club and are in good condition, On both fields the grass cutting is contracted to Artel Services Ltd. who did an excellent job last season. We shall shortly be extending their contract to include keeping the returned land tidy until final decision on its use. New signs to prohibit cars, cycles, horses and dog fouling have been erected in Field Way. However, on three occasions we have had a car driven over the playing field during the dark hours which damaged pitches and the cricket square. We ask the public to be vigilant and give a detailed report to councillors or direct to the police of any incident that they witness as this is the only way to combat damage to our village amenities. The 6 foot high fence at Compton Street playing field has been cut from top to bottom and opened up which is causing nuisance to nearby residents. The dead tree felling on the Memorial Playing Field has been completed and all the stumps ground out. We now await suitable weather to replace the trees.
The main event at the school during the past year was the OFSTED inspection followed closely by the Denominational Inspection by The National Society (Church of England) For Promoting Religious Education. The school and staff received very good reports. The OFSTED Inspectors stated that it was a good school. They obviously found weaknesses and the staff, supported by the Governors, are addressing these matters over a staged programme. The school still maintains over 100 pupils and on the last admissions had to hold a meeting as there were more applications than places. The voucher scheme for 4 to 5 year olds is operating. The school and parents are kept well aware of the traffic problems of Compton Street and are repeatedly requested to keep the white lined areas clear for passing, and not drop off children outside the gate. Plans are afoot to have a pedestrian entrance to the school on the corner of Compton Street to enable children coming from the south easy access without having to cross Compton Street twice. Although parental choice is being bandied around the catchment area it still exists and has priority on admissions. At one meeting to do with schools a comment was made "If all children in the catchment areas attended that school, school transport and the car would be less of a problem" - Very true! There have been changes in staff for various reasons but we hope this is now settled.
We have a good village school - long may it be able to continue.