Page 17 - Demo

May 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 17May 2025 footpaths at Dinglederry has been agreed but the date for the work has yet to be provided. Plans for the development of Johnsons Field are being revised following the feedback that OTC provided on behalf of residents and there will be a wider engagement process when they are available. She said herself, Councillor Richard Hillier and Chris Curtis MP had met with the residents of Osier Way to see fi rsthand the problems that they have with the crane site and also the problems caused by the apparently inadequate sewage system.PCSO%u2019s reportThere was no PCSO present and no PCSO%u2019s report so no crime fi gures are available for this month.Yardley Manor play area and community centreWith no hint of irony Jane Brushwood reported that the developers were now %u2018playing ball%u2019 and a very positive meeting had been held with representatives of the developers, residents and the MKCC Section 106 offi cer, which had been very positive and there had subsequently been a lot of communication. The deadline for completion of the community centre is now November this year (as opposed to the August date given at a previous meeting, which no one present then seemed to believe). The art installation made and paid for by the developers is currently sitting in a warehouse and a possible unveiling ceremony in conjunction with The Cowper and Newton Museum%u2019s John Newton 300 anniversary is being considered. The pathways have been completed and fencing removed where practical. The play area is completed and Jane said she had tested the roundabout herself and could confi rm that it is now fully functional! The football pitch will be rolled and cut within the next few weeks and the BMX track should now be completed, she said. The residents were now much happier, said Debbie. As a resident Mary Prosser said machinery was on site and the developers were getting everything slowly in place.Data results of the Speed Indicating Devices (SIDs)Deputy Clerk Rob Mungham presented the results for 4th February to 3rd March. The unit on Yardley Road near Yardley Manor, vehicles travelling south, counted 45,312 vehicle movements and the average speed was 22.63 mph with 85% travelling at or less than 28.5 mph in a 20mph zone, which is an increase from the comparative set of data in October last year. He noted that the total number of vehicle movements was up by 13,000, probably due to the road closure in October, which he said would have an impact. The average speed was up by just over 1 mph and the percentile speed was up by 3.6 mph. On High Street Maya Restaurant end (other good restaurants are available, said Rob), travelling North 169,308 vehicle movements were counted and the average speed was 21.76 mph with 85% travelling at or less than 25.7 mph in a 30 mph zone. On Bridge Street travelling south 140,659 vehicle movements with an average speed of 24 mph with 85% travelling at or less than 28.4 mph. Colin Rodden thanked Rob and the team for their time spent erecting and moving the SIDs. David Chennells observed that chaotic parking, narrowing by car parks and high volumes of traffi c are far more eff ective forms of traffi c calming than gadgets and speed humps. If its visually diffi cult to get through people slow down, he said.Update on River water testingDebbie Whitworth reported that Mark Butterfi eld and team from Olney and Clifton Fishing Association have recommenced testing of the water quality at three sites on the River Ouse. The object is to understand what is going into the river both from agriculture and Anglian Water, she said. Riverfly testing to identify the instance of various species of fl y which is then used as a benchmark has commenced. The initial results at the weir were %u2018dire%u2019 said Debbie, with little or no sign of life. The work would be greatly enhanced with more volunteers, said Debbie. VE Day celebrationsThe Barnfield beacon will be lit at 9:30pm on Thursday 8th May. Debbie proposed that OTC encourage community celebrations and remembrance by displaying fl ags on the High Street and bunting on the Market Place. Jane Brushwood noted that the %u2018Christmas tree%u2019 holders on the High Street were actually on private properties so residents would need to give permission for fl ags to be displayed.Deidre Bethune noted that some residents may wish to continue to display fl ags in support of Ukraine.Signage to Cowper and Newton MuseumAn email had been received asking if OTC would consider erecting direction signs to the museum around the Market Place since they believe that as the building curves away from the pavement, it cannot be seen at all from Costa because the window of an adjacent building blocks visibility. Waymarker signs would make all the diff erence, they believe. The proposed locations were discussed with a number of opinions expressed. Deidre Bethune thought the signs rather excessive and not required since it was a beautiful building with the word %u2018Museum%u2019 written clearly across the front. Others thought the signs rather %u2018impactive%u2019 and %u2018not very subtle%u2019. Richard Hillier questioned the need to have a sign in the Market Place since the Museum was clearly visible from there. There was a concern that there was already too much signage in the area which could distract drivers. After more discussion Deirdre Bethune reluctantly proposed that there should be no more signage on the Market Place which was agreed and passed by a majority. There was then a proposal for a single sign from Christina Diamandopoulos and yet more discussion followed by another vote, also passed but by a smaller majority. David Chennells said the council couldn%u2019t vote twice on the same subject so eventually it was agreed to go with the fi rst vote and decline the request for signage.Marked parking bays on the Market PlaceDebbie Whitworth reported that there had been request from some residents for marked bays on the Market Place, due to inconsiderate parking and vehicles blocking in other vehicles.Deirdre Bethune said this issue had been discussed many times before and investigations had revealed that marked spaces would considerably reduce the number of vehicles that could park. As a compromise the white line had been marked down the centre, she said. Jane Brushwood noted that as owners of a private area OTC were entitled to mark out whatever sized spaces they wished, implying that they did not need to comply with a specifi c regulation size. This had been done in the East Street (Rugby Club) car park she said. David Chennells agreed that it was a bit of a free for all but one that had worked for years, so why change it? Some people park so badly, effectively diagonally over three potential parking spaces it was not surprising that they get blocked in, he said. Marked bays would lead to fewer spaces, more frustration and lead people to park diagonally across someone else. Chris Tennant was fundamentally against the idea. It is not a car park, he said, but it is a space used for parking only when it is not in use for the Thursday and Sunday markets and other events. Chris Shaw agreed saying it is selfregulating at the moment, albeit not always successfully but largely it works. Richard Hillier agreed that it is primarily an events space and secondly a market place and marking spaces would most likely only lead to more complaints when events were held and parking suspended.Town MeetingThis will take place on Friday 16th May at 7:00pm in the Olney Centre and is an opportunity for residents to fi nd out what the council has been doing over the last year and raise any issues of concern. The next meeting will be held on Monday 12th May at 7.00pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Public Participation section at the start of the meeting, or any time the mayor deems appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.