Lambourn Parish Council Meeting Report: April 2021
7th April 2021
In this article I have recorded some of the discussion points from the Lambourn Parish Council Meeting which was held by zoom with some members in attendance in the Memorial Hall. This is not an official set of minutes and I have augmented some points. Minutes will be issued by the Lambourn Parish Council following the next meeting. The meeting was chaired by Moz Bulbeck Reynolds in the absence of Michael Billinge-Jones.
The minutes of the March meeting were approved and can be read here.
Having approved the previous month’s financial statement the Council discussed two planning applications:
21/00374/REM – Upshire House, Greenways, Lambourn – Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approved application 17/02170/OUTD: Matters to be considered: Landscaping. Action TN
Lambourn Parish Council has no objections to this proposal.
21/00496/FUL – Land Adjacent to M4, Membury Airfield, Lambourn Woodlands – Installation and operation of an asphalt plant and associated ancillary development. Action BJ.
Bridget presented the proposal and informed LPC that there are 40 objections filed to date. Andrew Turvill, a member of the public with an interest in the plant, explained some details of the application and confirmed that the 5 jobs which will be created will be local jobs. The plant will recycle old tarmac and mix it with new tarmac to create new surfacing material. He clarified that there would be an additional 32 traffic movements per day and asked LPC to support the proposed development. There was discussion regarding the potential odours from the plant since the process involves melting tar products at high temperature. The application did not specify the level of odours to be expected.
Lambourn Parish Council decided to object to the proposal because of the level of traffic the plant would generate as well as commercial creep and environmental concerns. As with all planning applications, West Berkshire Council will make the final decision having taken into account the submissions received from individuals and Lambourn Parish Council.
The Upper Lambourn cemetery landowners have declined the Parish Council offer of a reduced sum and the land will be sold off for development. There was no further discussion in relation to this item. Outside of the meeting some parishioners had raised questions if this means that the cemetery will be full at some stage and burial places may be limited. Maybe the Parish Council can comment on this at a future meeting.
Government is considering removing the permission of councils to hold virtual or hybrid meetings. LPC took a poll if Councillors would like to continue hybrid meetings. 5 Councillors were in favour, 3 were against. Susan Cocker observed that the public participation was significantly improved since hybrid meetings were started. Howard Woollaston explained that West Berkshire council is in favour of hybrid meetings continuing.
Vicky Rieunier presented a proposal to encourage community litter picking under the auspices of the Lambourn Parish Council. The council would purchase gloves, high viz jackets and litter pick sticks to equip volunteers. A number of volunteers would be trained in health and safety relating to litter picking. A request for approximately £300 was approved and Councillors thanked Vicky for a tremendously valuable initiative. West Berkshire Council operate a scheme called Community Clean Ups where they supply litter picking equipment, high viz jackets and rubbish sacks to local communities in support of litter picking initiatives. West Berks also removes collected litter.
Moz asked for feedback and input relating to the West Berkshire Council Environment Strategy from members of the Council which she will consolidate.
The issue of speeding cars in the Parish was discussed. Howard reminded everyone that speeding should continue to be reported. The Council has tried many times to find effective ways to stop cars speeding. The process for reducing speed limits or introducing traffic calming measures is long and requires a great deal of evidence.
The state of repair of the Market Cross was discussed. The cross is both a Scheduled Monument and a Grade 2 listed building. Consultation with WBC’s Conservation Officer, the local Inspector of Ancient Monuments and (possibly) Historic England are in hand. If repairs are possible, Scheduled Monument Consent will be required. The Council commented that Historic England is closed at the moment and thus any consideration or assessment of the work may take some time.
As part of the Local Neighbourhood Development Plan a drone survey along the river Lambourn has been carried out with great video footage of the river and the surrounding area. The survey will provide a permanent record of the state of the river. Moz suggested that some of the best pictures taken could be made available for sale to raise money to fund the work of the Local Neighbourhood Development Plan.
The Council then went into a private discussion to address a number of agenda items including the resignation of the assistant clerk.
Christian Noll
Speeding is a problem in the village we live on Newbury rd opposite Woodbury estate that stretch of road although being a 30 is speed down being straight.
I am not sure how you want us to gather evidence of speeding. Come and stand on the road and you will see how fast they go.
I agree there is far too much speeding in the village and lack of respect by a few drivers for drivers, pedestrians and residents is unacceptable – I also find the heavy building lorries – low loaders through the village worrying- the farm and horse vehicles are fine- any building in the area will need complete renewal of sewage and water supply in the area – I have recently moved into the High Street – I became very quickly aware of the need for more efficient speed sign and, like other villages, a 20 speed limit through the village –
Big Lane Lambourn is a real concern with speeding vehicles. The other day, a car took out a wall on the corner of Essex Place, when the driver lost control of it. Sooner than later, someone will be killed here and then it will be too late to do something.
Agree with all the speeding in lambourn, coming into village, baydon road, hungerford hill, wantage road , upper lambourn road, also cars still turning left at bottom of high street at no turn left sign, are their cameras in square, are they working, are any of these people being fined or prosecuted, it appears not otherwise wouldn’t still be happening. Cars still going straight across square from high street without stopping. All of these an accident waiting to happen, in some cases again. I could go on, but won’t 😡
P