Page 42 - January Phonebox Magazine 2012

Mercury Report – Olney
Council Meeting of Monday 5th December 2011
Public participation
The first person to speak was Tony Horlock. He’d lived in Olney for a few years and liked the town very much, particularly enjoying the Christmas lights and the crowds at Dickens of a Christmas. He’d noticed that a piece of land off Lavendon Road was for sale and asked if the Council might consider purchasing it to protect the town from further development. Steve Clark replied that the Council had only a limited amount of capital and that he was unaware of the value of the land.
Second to speak was Simon Barker, who started by thanking Olney Town Council (OTC) for its support of the Lifepath Olney event. Next, he explained that the Churches were at the early stages of planning a celebration on the opening night of the Olympics. There were no firm plans as yet, but they intended to meet with further representatives of groups in the town. He wanted the event to be organised by the town, for the town. He concluded by saying that, once a proposal had been put together, he’d be back to ask for permission and, maybe, funding for the event. Later in the meeting, Tony Evans stated that the Council should actively support and assist this event, and that it should be discussed in the next meeting.
Last to speak was Rob Langford. He’d been living in Olney for three years in a house within the conservation area, and wanted listed building consent to create additional space in order to house a family. He felt the property was in desperate need of repair and reinstatement, and that the extra space could be provided by a subtle rear extension with no detriment to the front of the property. Steve Clark replied briefly, noting that OTC was not a Planning Authority in its own right, but could comment on Applications before they were decided by Milton Keynes Council.
Market Place toilets refurbishment
Tony Summerscales reported that the toilet working group had met and was preparing a schedule of works, including interior refurbishment and an additional ladies’ cubicle. The schedule would be placed in an advert in January’s Phonebox, with local contractors being invited to tender for it. With that in mind, he hoped that some prices would be available by February’s meeting.
Finance Committee
Deidre Bethune summarised the latest Finance Committee meeting, only a brief outline of which is printed here. The Cowper and Newton Museum had applied to OTC for a grant of £6,720 for structural repair work. The Committee recommended that the Council pay half this grant, and the Council voted to accept this with all in favour bar one
abstention.
The local Citizens Advice Outreach Service is supported financially by OTC and, with it being well used, the Committee recommended and the Council agreed to pay the £4995 annual cost. This was again carried by majority, though this time with three or four abstentions.
Baptist Church extension
The Council had received a Planning Application for the Baptist Church to build a part single, part two storey side extension. Councillors had attended a site meeting with the architect and were supportive of the application. The Council voted unanimously to give the application its full support.
Circus
Pinders Circus had contacted the Council to ask if it could visit Olney from 7th – 9th May 2012. Councillors who’d heard of the Circus, and some who’d researched it online, felt it looked really good. Steve Clark noted that it was purely a human Circus, and Andrew Dooley highlighted that it was good value for money.
Two possible sites were discussed, The Pyghtle Field and Johnsons Field. Tony Evans was keen to check that the Circus vehicles, apparently not that large, could get to the venue. Steve Clark noted that parking needed to be considered, while Ron Bull was keen that residents near the chosen venue be asked their views. In summary, the Council was minded to support the Circus coming to town subject to a suitable site being found, and a representative from the Circus will be invited to visit the sites in order to help with this decision.
If you’d like a taste of who might be coming, surf to www.pinderscircus.co.uk.
Joint Users Group (JUG)
Tony Evans reported that the last JUG meeting had been well attended and very useful. As reported in earlier Mercury articles, there’s a problem with parking in roads near the Sports Fields at times where there are matches or training sessions. Tony explained that representatives from the Clubs and residents from nearby streets had attended the meeting. The residents had put their case extremely well and the Clubs had taken it on board. Tony noted that the issue is ongoing, and that it isn’t possible to tell people that they can’t park on certain public roads. However, he felt it would be possible to educate them to park in a different place.
Tony wanted new signs to be designed and erected to dissuade people from parking in certain roads and to direct people from both ends of East Street to the car park near the Rugby Club. He concluded that it was important to both the residents and the Clubs
for the Council to press on with this issue.
Fireworks donation
Olney Town Council has, for many years, underwritten Fireworks Night against losses up to a maximum amount. Following a very successful Fireworks Night, The Olney Group (TOG) has for a second year donated £500 to the Council, as a thank you for its continued support of the event and in part recompense for when this underwriting was called upon a few years ago due to exceptionally bad weather.
Drains uncovered
Debbie Brock reported that the problem with metal drain covers being stolen from the Milton Keynes area was continuing. She asked readers that, if they see anything suspicious on local roads, for example a flatbed lorry with workmen working outside normal hours, to report it. Enquiries after the meeting suggest that the best way to do this is to call 101, the new non-emergency number for Thames Valley Police. She noted that the stolen covers were being replaced with new ones which are anchored to the road surface.
Emberton Park
Steve Clark noted that the cafe and shop in Emberton Park were doing really well, with the cafe being open beyond its minimum contracted time. He also explained how well the Park had worked as a venue for the Dickens of a Christmas Park and Ride.
Parking
Parking in Olney, particularly in the High Street, continues to be a significant issue. This time it had been discussed by the Chamber of Trade and, thus, raised in this meeting by Deidre Bethune.
De-priming is seen to be a helpful though long term aim, with Peter Geary explaining that the final decision would be made, after quite some time, by the Department of Transport. Deidre noted the ongoing issue that, mainly due to the High Street parking bays being unlined, vehicles often parked in such a way as to make poor use of the available space. Tony Summerscales suggested that the spaces should be marked, so that vehicles would have to reverse in to them and then drive forwards out, thus avoiding the dangerous situation caused by vehicles exiting spaces, reversing near-blind into moving traffic.
No decisions were made but, as OTC sees the overall parking issue as important, a future meeting will be held to allow a more full discussion.
Personal vs. collective views
This part of the meeting was brief and unusual. Deidre Bethune stated pointedly that when decisions are made, they’re the
42 Phonebox Magazine