News from the Parish Council - August 2010

A Parish Council meeting was held on Tuesday 27th July 2010 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall.

Madeleine Singleton and Sheila Dalzell talked about the judging of Cumbria In Bloom - The judges were met at the Village Hall as usual. The judges were Mrs Jean Airey, who previously lived in Threlkeld, and a gentleman who was very particular. The War Memorial display was complimented upon.

The broken seat at Milliard’s Corner was picked out, but also that it was a tidy end of the village as a whole. It was noted that grants can be obtained to paint old fashioned signs like those for Wescoe. Mrs Airey thought that Kiln How was great and the planted area very nice, though the willow theatre was a mess. It was suggested that the school could have more involvement doing their own flowers, maybe with the Woodland Trust and that interpretation boards could be put up with information on what is planted and where. Councillor Gillian Winter, a school governor, has already been involved with an ‘Ecoteam’ bronze award activity, but it has been decided that litter-picking is too dangerous for children due to the busy main road. The judges seemed very keen on community compost heaps, although it was explained to them that a green skip was available in the village. One point made was that there were no posters about Cumbria In Bloom around the village. However, Cumbria In Bloom had been publicised in the Parish Newsletter. It was also suggested that a ‘Best Garden’ competition could be run, just within the village. Two representatives will be attending the Awards Ceremony on 2nd September. County Councillor Albert Richardson had noticed the lovely and impressive display around the Bus Shelter. Madeleine Singleton, Sheila Dalzell and Les Dalzell were thanked for their talk and their work for the Cumbria In Bloom entry. Thank you is especially due to John Pickering for tending the War Memorial for so many years.

The bench at Milliard’s corner - This bench was donated to the village years ago by the Women’s Institute. It has been repaired many times and is now beyond repair. It will soon be removed, but will be replaced in the near future.

Empty houses at St. John’s Gate - Eden Housing Association has said that they would not be able to recoup the cost of the houses through their means of social renting. The Parish Council are pursuing other enquiries to push for completion of these houses.

Planning Authority statement - “We have commissioned Judith Derbyshire (Cumbria Rural Housing Trust manager) to do this re-survey because the current Housing Need Survey is almost 5 years old and as a consequence needs updating. The new HNS will not affect housing policies, but they do have a bearing on how we implement policy. When assessing a planning application for new housing development we require evidence of housing need to ensure the development does ‘contribute to the identified housing needs of the locality’ as stated in policy. Housing Need Surveys at Parish level are recognised across the county as being the most appropriate mechanism of providing this information.” Also: officials from LDNPA will be attending the Parish Council meeting on 28th September 2010.

Dog Waste Bins The Parish Council has been made aware of the lack of emptying of the dog waste bin near the bus shelter. The community wardens will be contacted about this and also about ongoing concern about dogs fouling in the Kiln How area.

Escaping lambs - A few lambs have been seen at St. John’s in the Vale road end near to the A66. They may have been escaping under the parapet footpath which has recently been finished. Also, the gate at the first bridge on the railway footpath has been left open a lot recently, raising concerns of similar events happening there as well.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 28th September 2010.