Page 17 - Phonebox Magazine October 2008

Whirly Pit Pond sign
Following up on last month’s item about litter in and around the pond, and the view that a sign would help matters, Debbie Brock reported that a sign would cost around £500 but that it would be cheaper if provided as part of a project involving a number of signs. Thus, the provision of this sign will wait for now until such a project occurs.
Off licensed premises
Debbie Brock asked if, in the light of Tesco's off licence application for its new Market Place shop, the Council should approach Milton Keynes Licensing Authority with the aim of ensuring that no further off licences should be granted in the area. Councillors agreed and voted to contact the Authority.
Driftway
Last month, Councillors had agreed to invite Stephen Gillions, MKC’s Highways Adoptions Engineer, to this meeting. This invitation was extended and, although Stephen did not come to the meeting, it did provoke a response. Stephen had met Wimpey to discuss the remaining work. Wimpey claimed that the verges had just been sprayed with weed killer, that the required landscaping would be done ‘next week’ and that the earthworks had been completed.
Tony Evans reported that the area around the Yardley Road roundabout still had not been top soiled or seeded with grass, and that he’d not seen any work being done on the main verges, in spite of him using the road two or three times every day. He asked why, as it was clear that Wimpey wouldn’t do anything, MKC wouldn't sort out the problems itself.
Debbie Brock replied that MKC wouldn’t do the work as it’d be seen as rewarding a contractor for not doing what it was supposed to. David Rumens noted that MKC could not do the work because the road had not yet been adopted.
The saga continues.
Olney Bowls Club
The sub-committee set up in May to find a solution to the issue of stones from the gravel path adjacent to the Bowls Club being thrown at people in the Club had made its report. Its proposal consisted of two options, first to resurface the pathway between the Bowls Club and the children’s play area, and second to resurface the wide pathway between the Bowls Club and the all weather court that runs from the children’s play area towards the tennis courts.
A discussion on the second option followed, which included its possible negative affect on drainage and the use of grass matting to improve the surface while still allowing water to drain. Councillors then agreed the first option and planned to seek Parish Partnership Grant funding to improve the surface towards the all weather court at a later date.
Youth involvement
In last month's meeting, Councillors had agreed to invite pupils from Ousedale School to a Council meeting so they could give their views on problems in the area and suggest ways to sort them out. David Rumens suggested that an informal meeting would be more productive, and Rachael Passee agreed to work with Chris Ford, absent from this meeting, to move this forward.
Wot no Phone Box?
BT had written to OTC to say that it planned to remove the Phone Box on Weston Road, one of just two phone boxes in the town. Some Councillors were concerned about this and some weren’t, Dave Price citing an example when, ten years ago, workers accidentally drilled through the cable to the box in Newton Blossomville yet there wasn’t a single complaint. The Council will write to BT to object, then see what happens.
Emberton Park
Dave Price noted that he and Steve Clark had attended a meeting of the Park Liaison User Group (PLUG). They’d arrived early during a meeting of stakeholders, to which it appeared that OTC had not been invited. Debbie Brock explained that this was likely an administrative error, with an old OTC email address having been used.
David continued that Savills had been commissioned to review options to generate money for the park and that, as 14 static caravans at the park
were currently up for sale, it was logical to assume that people were concerned about the possible outcome. He concluded by noting that the old layby may be reopened, this time as part of the park itself and that the gatehouse may be moved nearer to the café.
Alms houses
Tony Evans reported that the upgrade programme for the Alms houses was progressing well and that two houses would be available to let towards the end of this year or early in the next. Anyone interested should contact Tony, the Chair of Trustees of the Ann Hopkins Smith Charity, by calling 01234 711392. The broad selection criterion is that
applicants must be elderly ladies who’ve either spent most of their lives in Olney or who have very strong connections with the town.
Bits ‘n’ bobs
Debbie Brock reported that residents of the new Pegasus building opposite the top of Midland Road have asked for a bench to be placed approximately half way along the High Street. They have a sponsor for the bench, and the subject will be added as an agenda item to next month’s Council meeting.
Nigel Birrell noted that the gentlemen’s toilets in the Market Place were ‘disgusting’ and, quickly pointing out that he’d interviewed a lady emerging from them, the ladies' toilets were ‘pretty disgusting’ as well. Some other Councillors felt that they weren’t that bad and that, to an extent, there was a compromise between them being vandal resistant and being especially pleasant. To judge this, Jock Smail volunteered to pay a visit. K
Copy deadline for the November issue of Phonebox Magazine is 15 October email yvonne@olney.co.uk
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Phonebox Magazine 17
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 6th October in the Council Chamber in The Olney Centre. Members of the public are always welcome to attend and, if they wish, speak at the start of the meeting, or at any point that the mayor decides is appropriate.