LOWER ALLITHWAITE PARISH COUNCIL
ISSUE No 25 NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2010
Annual Parish Meeting – Thursday, 13th May 2010
The Annual Parish Meeting (not to be confused with a Parish Council Annual General Meeting) is an excellent opportunity for Parish Councils to consult their electors. It is an ideal forum to report on the previous years work, plan for the coming year and also to listen to the views and aspirations of the electors. Unfortunately, Lower Allithwaite Parish Meeting has never been well attended by the electors. It has always been considered that “everyone must be satisfied”. Trustees and Representatives of Charities and Committees are elected at this meeting and reports are received from the present representatives. These include reports for Allithwaite Playing Fields, Holker Upper United Charities, Cartmel Village Hall, Cartmel Institute, Lambert Educational Trust, Cartmel Old Grammar School Foundation, Rebecca Galloway Charity, King George V Playing Field, Cartmel Primary School, Allithwaite School House, Cartmel Cemetery and Cartmel Car Park.
Cartmel Village Traffic and Parking
Additional white line marking has been requested and approved for problem areas in the Village. County Highways will carry out the installation of the extra lines in due course. A pedestrian walkway will be marked on the Causeway. Severe problems occur here and it is hoped that the walkway will prevent parking to allow the free flow of buses and cars. A review will take place next year to assess how well the scheme has worked and whether modifications are necessary. Residents are requested to respect these white lines and not park where a line is marked.
Cartmel Post Office
Several meetings have taken place with representatives from Post Office Ltd organised by
County Councillor Rod Wilson. Options including the Post Office Essentials scheme have been investigated. However, at the latest review meeting held in late February, it was decided that the Outreach service provided a more secure basis for the residents of Cartmel. It was decided not to conduct a full survey of residents but to work with the Post Office to encourage people to use the existing service in place. Please support the Outreach service open in the Spar at Cartmel on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 9.30am – 1.00pm. A full post office service is operated including: bill payment, car tax, foreign currency, personal banking with most major banks, mobile phone top ups, passport checking, savings and investments, all mail services. In addition stationary requirements are catered for and you can even sell your unwanted gold and silver! Also permanently at the Spar at Cartmel you can recycle used batteries!! Please call in and use these valuable community facilities.
Cartmel Residents’ Access Permits for Race Meetings
Cartmel Racecourse, Cumbria Highways and the Parish Council have discussed the problems experienced by residents when trying to gain access to the Village on Race Days. A new “permit” system will be introduced in time for the May meeting which will allow residents access to the Village and also access to designated residents parking areas. One permit will be delivered to residents and must be displayed in the vehicle when entering the Village and parking
in the designated parking areas. Extra permits can be applied for. All illegal parking (in coned areas) may be issued with Parking Tickets as enforcement officers will be on duty. It is understood that the Police will no longer manage the traffic on Race Days, this will be done by a private company who have experience of traffic management at Aintree Racecourse. Cartmel Racecourse will deliver a leaflet with details of road traffic orders etc, and a letter of explanation together with the residents access permit.
South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) Local Development Framework (LDF) – Allocations of Land
This important document sits alongside the main LDF document, the Core Strategy and deals with the specific sites that the LDF will allocate for residential, employment and other development as well as setting out which important open spaces and green gaps will be protected. During consultation on a discussion paper and maps setting out sites under consideration back in February 2009 over 1300 responses were received and many new sites were suggested. Work to process all the comments and assess all the (several hundred) sites suggested against sustainability criteria and the evidence base information, is taking time. This work will feed into the production of a document setting out the preferred sites in June 2010. The preferred sites will be those sites that represent the most preferable options in terms of social, environmental and economic sustainability. The Council will be speaking to town and parish councils and other key stakeholders such as infrastructure providers early in the year to discuss emerging proposals and inform the final selection of preferred options for public consultation.
Additional Allotments in Allithwaite
An application has been submitted to SLDC for extra allotments at the bottom of the Parish Council field (adjacent to the present allotments and up to the boundary of the Playground). Local concern has been expressed regarding additional parking on Church Road for allotment users. Provision of parking within the allotment area will be investigated which will hopefully address the problem.
Dog Fouling in Allithwaite
District Councillor Mary Wilson has reported that the most complaints she has received this year in Allithwaite have been about dog fouling. Most people believe that the majority of dog owners are very vigilant – the mess is caused by just one or two dog owners. This is a real problem particularly to young children. If you do see irresponsible dog owners report them to SLDC on 08450504434 – there is a fine of £50 rising to £1000 for repeat offences!! The dog warden has been asked to drop by so you may see him.
Road Safety
County Councillor Rod Wilson has confirmed that road safety outside schools remains a concern. Cumbria County Council policy is at present not sympathetic to getting reduced speed limits. Problems for cyclists and pedestrians in a number of places in Allithwaite need to be identified and work needs to be done to ameliorate some of the difficulties and to look at the wider aspects of road safety within the Village.
Parish Council Cottage – 1, Vicarage Lane, Allithwaite
Following the death of the tenant Mrs A Leviston, the cottage has become vacant. The Leviston family have lived at the Cottage for over 70 years. Extensive refurbishment will have to take place to bring the Cottage up to present day standards before it can be tenanted again. The Parish Council will be investigating grant provision for funding this.
Cartmel Car Park
Discussions are still taking place regarding early surrender of the Parish Council lease with Cartmel Steeplechases in exchange for building a new toilet block, to be cleaned and maintained by them. All the present arrangements regarding residents permits etc and parking for the sports clubs are included in a Deed of Surrender. A new site for the re-cycling bins will eventually have to be found and the Parish Council are concerned that this could result in the loss of this valuable community facility.
Community Websites
Funded by the Parish Council the “Community News” page on the Cartmel Traders website is currently under construction. Visit www.cartmelvillage.com Early Bird Design Associates are responsible for designing and building the site. Work is progressing with the Allithwaite community website. Armitage Online Solutions is well underway with the design work. The sites will be easy to use for anyone involved and will showcase local community clubs, events and activities. Contributions are invited for these sites.
Dangerous Quicksand
A local farmer has reported dangerous quicksand at the point of Humphrey Head. This area is often used by walkers and families with children. Sheep have already been lost in this quicksand – please be warned and avoid this dangerous area.
Farmers Market
Tony Brocklehurst, SLDC Markets Manager gave a talk to the Parish Council at the March 2010 meeting. Mr Brocklehurst is keen to help in any way he can to set up a farmers market. It was proposed that the community should be invited to express their views on this - would you be in favour of setting up a market, once a month, possibly on a Friday, possibly in Cartmel? Let members know your thoughts.
Vacancy for Parish Councillor
Following the resignation of Ewan Cameron there is a vacancy for a member to represent Cartmel Ward. Applications to fill this vacancy should be sent to The Clerk at the address below. Please include any experiences/attributes which could be contributed if elected to serve Lower Allithwaite Parish.
Parish Council Meetings
Meetings are held in Cartmel Village Hall every second Thursday of the month (except August when the meeting takes place in Allithwaite Community Centre) at 7.15pm. Members of the public are welcome at all meetings.
Lower Allithwaite Councillors
Chairman: David Huggett 36378. Allithwaite Ward: H Allen 36497 (Vice Chair), M Bird 32958, T Derbyshire 36734, E Drinkall 34472, R. Palmer 34875, P Pascall 36207, A Shepherd 36943. M E. Wilson 36673 (District Councillor). Cartmel Ward: A Barker 36493, A Bramwell 36758, D Huggett 36378, M Wilson 36462. Upper Holker Ward: E Fearon 36252, P Unsworth 36507 County Councillor: R Wilson 36673, Clerk:Mrs R Ballance, The Coach House, Flookburgh Road, Allithwaite, LA11 7RJ. Tel: 34044 e-mail clerk.lapc@virgin.net.
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ISSUE No 24 NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2009
South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) Local Development Framework (LDF) – Allocations of Land – Sites under Consideration
Thank you to everyone who attended the open meetings arranged by the Parish Council (PC) to give residents a chance to view the SLDC development plan suggested sites in Allithwaite and Cartmel and thank you to everyone who copied their response to the PC. The areas identified have been opposed by the PC on the basis that they are not appropriate or suitable in the heritage and landscape context and confirming that the PC would put forward alternative smaller sites for consideration. A letter confirming the opposition to the SLDC suggested sites was sent to Tim Farron and he has thanked the PC for questioning the process. He has represented the views of the PC to the Government Office for the North West and has asked for a full explanation.
The PC have also made representations to the Secretary of State and have asked that the target figures for affordable housing numbers in rural areas be revisited. A reply on her behalf has been received from Christopher Bamber, Senior Spatial Development Manager (Cumbria) confirming that it is not appropriate for the Secretary of State to get involved in this process at this stage, as long as they are satisfied that the process is being conducted properly (including being in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement).
A further public open afternoon was arranged for Cartmel residents to view an alternative suggestive sites plan for Cartmel village and hamlets (similar to the Allithwaite plan group suggestive sites).
The Allithwaite Plan Group are still working in Allithwaite to complete the “built environment” part of a Parish Plan – which would be included if/when the PC produce a Parish Plan. Unfortunately, the Cumbria County Council “Community Travel Plan” referred to in the Issue No 23 Newsletter has now been shelved for the next 12 months.
Annual Parish Meeting – Thursday, 14th May 2009
The Annual Parish Meeting (not to be confused with a Parish Council Annual General Meeting) is an excellent opportunity for Parish Councils to consult their electors. It is an ideal forum to report on the previous years work, plan for the coming year and also to listen to the views and aspirations of the electors. Unfortunately, Lower Allithwaite Parish Meeting has never been well attended by the electors. It has always been considered that “everyone must be satisfied”. Trustees and Representatives of Charities and Committees are elected at this meeting and reports are received from the present representatives. These include reports for Allithwaite Playing Fields, Holker Upper United Charities, Cartmel Village Hall, Cartmel Institute, Lambert Educational Trust, Cartmel Old Grammar School Foundation, Rebecca Galloway Charity, King George V Playing Field, Cartmel Primary School, Allithwaite School House, Cartmel Cemetery and Cartmel Car Park.
Cartmel Village Traffic and Parking
Following a public meeting arranged by County Highways, in December 2008, considerable discussion has taken place about the responses received and what was required in the Village for a solution to the congestion and obstruction to the free flow of traffic.
The Parish Council have registered their dissatisfaction at being dictated to and having to accept a minimalist scheme which has been conceived by County Highways – a small amount of unenforceable white lines. Members believe that this scheme will not work and have objected to the way their views have been dismissed, ignored and ridiculed. Further signing to the Car Park will be included but the PC have asked that this should not be to direct traffic down the Causeway where considerable congestion takes place. Residents are urged to report and if possible photograph scenes of inconsiderate parking and congestion. Please report to the Police obstruction of the highway. Only by repeated evidence and reporting of congestion problems can we hope to negotiate further measures to be considered.
Cartmel Post Office
Representations have been made against the closure of Cartmel Post Office. Colin Neeley, Assistant Consultation Team Leader of Post Office Ltd has confirmed that a temporary Outreach service is not a viable option. The setting up of such a temporary service would take just as long as it would to set up a permanent service - they are concentrating all their efforts on establishing a permanent solution. The option of having a Mobile service visiting Cartmel is also unfeasible according to Mr Neeley because they would need to have a Mobile service in the area that would be able to visit the village and unfortunately they do not have one. Tim Farron MP and District Councillor Mary Wilson have launched a petition to put pressure on Post Office Ltd and they hope that everyone will sign the petition and make their voice heard for a full service of this vital facility for Cartmel.
Cartmel Car Park
Members of the PC have proposed to enter into negotiations with Holker Estates Co Ltd to surrender their lease 7 years early. This is on the understanding that some form of agreement can be reached whereby Holker would commit to building a new toilet block. Duncan Peake, Chief Executive does not think the current appearance of the Car Park meets the expectations of their customers or visitors to Cartmel and hopes the agreement might provide an opportunity to improve the facility rather sooner than might otherwise be the case. He has confirmed that whilst the issue of services and the funding of the village toilets still needs to be resolved, he was happy for the current arrangement to continue for now pending agreement on the way forward over the future management and tenure of the Car Park.
CC Highway Stewards
Lower Allithwaite Parish now have a permanent Highway Steward. She will carry-out work on non urgent and small scale highway maintenance, cutting of grips to clear water from highways, filling of small pot holes, cutting back overhanging vegetation, cleaning of road signs, locating gullies, clearing vegetation from footpaths, clearing blocked gullies, minor repairs to road signs, clearing culvert/drainage outfalls. She will be working in the Parish, week beginning 4th & 11th May, 3rd & 10th August, 19th & 26th October, 14th December. The Parish Lengthsman is also still available for small jobs in the Parish, verge strimming tidying etc. Please let the Clerk or any member of the Parish Council know of any work/problems you have identified. Any problem can also be reported to the Highway Hotline 0845 6096609 which is a 24/7 service.
Bonfires
Information has been requested from the PC on the lighting of bonfires. SLDC Environmental Health Department confirmed that smoke from bonfires can cause a nuisance and have an adverse affect on the environment and health. The Station Manager at Kendal Fire Station confirmed “There really is no excuse for burning rubbish in the garden. The District Council provides excellent services for householders to get rid of waste and every time the Fire Service is called out to a bonfire it diverts them from attending potentially life threatening incidents. It is very easy for a fire to spread out of control or for embers to find their way into the eaves of houses where they can smoulder for some time before catching light”. While urging people not to have a bonfire in the first place, the Station Manager offered the following safety measures to anyone who fails to take the advice: consider every other option to get rid of waste before having a fire; never leave the fire unattended; keep children at a safe distance and pets indoors; have a hosepipe or bucket of water available; never place aerosols, gas canisters, soft furnishings, plastics or tyres on the fire, keep the fire small and add more material a little at a time, keep the fire away from buildings and fences and prevent spread to dry vegetation, never use petrol or other accelerants to start the fire. Householders should call Cumbria Fire Service’s Control room on 01900 822 503 before lighting the fire to let them know the address, when the fire will be lit and how long it’s expected to burn for. If a 999 call is then received fire engines do not need to be mobilised. A further call should be made when the burning is finished.
Cartmel Cemetery
It is getting very difficult for our grasscutter to cut the grass without moving an excess of objects placed on and around grave/tablet spaces. The Cemetery regulations allow for only one permitted flower vase for each grave space or cremated remains space, preferably held in a hole in the base or plinth on the memorial /tablet stone and of metal, not glass, china or pottery. Members of the PC agree that this is a very sensitive issue but hope that the Cemetery can be kept as an area of tranquillity and peace and that superfluous items do not spoil the appearance and ambience of this spiritual place. Please could all items that are not suitable for the green recycling bin be taken home or put into the litterbin at the Lych gate entrance to the Cemetery.
Community Website
District Councillor M E Wilson would like to receive expressions of interest for developing a Community Website. She will be arranging a meeting of those interested – please look out for notices of the preliminary meeting.
Parish Council Meetings
Meetings are held in Cartmel Village Hall every second Thursday of the month (except August when the meeting takes place in Allithwaite Community Centre) at 7.15pm. Members of the public are welcome at all meetings.
Lower Allithwaite Councillors
Chairman: David Huggett Tel 015395 36378
Allithwaite Ward: H Allen Tel 015395 36497, M Bird Tel 015395 32958, S Chambers Tel 015395 38921, E Drinkall Tel 015395 34472, R. Palmer Tel 015395 34875, P PascallTel 015395 36207, A Shepherd 36943. M E Wilson 36673 (District Councillor).
Cartmel Ward: A Barker Tel 015395 36493, A Bramwel lTel 015395 36758, E Cameron Tel 015395 32319, D Huggett Tel 015395 36378, M Wilson Tel 015395 36462.
Upper Holker Ward: E Fearon Tel 015395 36252, P Unsworth Tel 015395 36507.
District Councillor: M E Wilson Tel 015395 36673.
County Councillor: E Walsh Tel 015395 30272.
Parish Clerk: Mrs R Ballance, The Coach House, Flookburgh Road, Allithwaite, LA11 7RJ. Tel: Tel 015395 34044.