Page 34 - Phonebox Magazine December 2012

OLNEY
MERCURY REPORT
Mercury report for the Council Meeting of Monday 5th November 2012
Public participation
the Recreations and Services Committee would consult with the allotment holders, as was said in its last meeting. There followed a somewhat arcane discussion on how this information had been passed to the allotment holders. The main point is that they will be consulted.
Councillors passed around pictures of the road and it was clear that things were far from satisfactory, with huge areas of standing water covering much of the surface.
First to speak was Mark Luckin of The Olney Group (TOG). He explained that Fireworks Night was due to be held on Sunday 4th November but, due to heavy rain and the resulting very poor ground conditions, TOG had decided to postpone it until Saturday 10th November – felt to be the best date available while avoiding Remembrance Day. Mark ended with a call for more helpers on the night, as the postponement meant it was proving hard to get marshals and gate people at such short notice.
Hedge laying
Dedire Bethune felt passionately that it was dangerous and a “disgusting tip”. She felt the situation had to be sorted out, in spite of difficulties about who owned the land. Other Councillors backed up Deidre in her view. She noted that uncertainty over who owned the land was a problem, and that there was some dependency on a Planning Permission granted nine months ago, and which remained valid for another two years and three months.
Second up was Elaine Herniman from the Olney Allotment Holders Association. She was disappointed that the Councilʼs Recreations and Services Committee had recommended, without consultation, that on- site bonfires be banned. She explained that Royal Horticultural Society guidelines recommended that burning was the best way to dispose of plants affected by blight, club root, etc. Elaine concluded by saying that this had the potential to undermine the relationship between the allotment holders and the Council.
As reported in an earlier Mercury, back in January 2004 OTC submitted an application to MKC to add a footpath around the Northern and Eastern edges of Doffʼs Field, plus one from around the centre of its Northern edge running diagonally to its South Eastern corner. Later, OTC advised MKC that it wished to remove the diagonal path from the application.
Steve Clark spoke briefly at this point to say that, while the issue had indeed been discussed by the Recreations and Services Committee, its decision was to consult first with allotment holders. It hadnʼt done so yet and so had not recommended anything to full Council.
Youth Centre
Liam Costello reported that work on the toilets was progressing well, and that delivery of the stainless steel furniture was awaited. Tony said it appeared that the hot and cold water sink for the Market traders had been removed from the store room and, as the specification didnʼt say it should be removed, it needed to be returned.
East Street parking proposals
Steve Clark had been invited to Traka, www.traka.com, a local business, in celebration of it being awarded its third Queenʼs Award for Enterprise. Heʼd most enjoyed the day, feeling the tour was “stunning”. As background, he explained that the company had been founded in 1995 with four people, and had now grown to around 100.
Tony Evans reported that, as a result of the recent Public Meeting, the Recreations and Services Committee was recommending to full Council that the planned alterations to the existing East Street Car Park should go ahead. Although the total was not yet costed, 50% of it would be paid for by Milton Keynes Council (MKC).
However, Tony explained that the Public Meeting found the additional car park area at the top of the Nursery Field adjacent to East Street to be much more controversial, with around half the those attending being in favour and half against. In any case, it would likely need planning permission, so the Committee recommended that Olney Town Council (OTC) seek pre-planning advice from MKC, at a cost of around £200.
Traffic issues
OTC had received a quote for £2,300 to hedge the boundary between the Allotments Field and the newly purchased Crouchʼs Field. Tony Evans noted that the right time of year to do the job would be between now and the end of February.
Rights of way
Peter Geary noted that a condition of this Permission was that the road surface should be brought up to standard, with tarmac and drainage, before construction could start. Liam Costello believed that this condition was effectively stopping the development – presumably due to the expense of improving the road. John Boardman concluded the discussion by suggesting that OTC initiate a meeting of all the interested parties. Councillors agreed with this.
Continuing apace, it has now been resolved that there is no evidence that the diagonal path across Doffʼs Field should become a public right of way. The decision on the status of the path around the Northern and Eastern edges of Doffʼs Field and continuing South along the riverbank to the bridge to Clifton Reynes has been deferred until January 2013, to allow any further evidence to be collected.
Market Place toilets
Steve Clark explained that MKC owns the Olney Youth Centre building, and provides a yearly grant towards its running costs. Councillors discussed whether OTC should express an interest in obtaining the building and, it was assumed, the land behind it under the Community Asset Transfer scheme. Peter Geary stated that this could move quite quickly, perhaps being concluded in around six months. A small group of Councillors will be set up to progress this issue.
Traka
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 3rd December 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.
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Councillors all voted in favour the alterations to the existing East Street Car Park bar one against – Ron Bull, who noted that the resulting number of spaces, while greater than that currently marked, was less than that currently achieved in practice. Councillors also voted in favour of seeking pre-planning advice about the additional parking area.
Debbie Brock introduced this item. Sheʼd corresponded with a local resident about traffic issues in the West Street area and noted that, if the Council was minded, it could redirect MKC officers to consider the traffic issues there. At the same time, she acknowledged that it was far from being the only awkward traffic area in the town. This started a wide ranging discussion and, summarising, there were two outcomes. First, the Council would re-assess the Yardley road junction plans, due from MKC shortly. Second, it would consider producing a Neighbourhood Plan, as this would give local people more say over the townʼs development.
Allotment bonfires
Berrells Court
Tony Evans introduced this topic, saying that
The extremely poor condition of Berrells Court, off East Street, is causing concern.
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