Milverton Parish Council

Report of Meeting: February 2016

Milverton Parish Council met on 1^st February and discussed

• A new agricultural gateway
• Footpath improvements
• Mud from the Point to Point event
• A Village Clean up as part of the Queen's 90^th Birthday celebrations.
• Street Lighting

Councillors discussed a planning application for the new agricultural access onto the B3187 Wiveliscombe Road. The applicant was in attendance and set out his reasons for opening up the access and why he considered it was safer than a existing gateway to the west. After a long discussion around the road safety aspects of the proposal Councillors agreed that the following comments be forwarded to TDBC:

“Councillors expressed significant concerns about the safety of the access in relation to the 60mph speed limit. They felt that the risks could be mitigated by ensuring that the adjacent hedge was laid to improve visibility for both road traffic and agricultural vehicles.”

The Council was asked to request some footpath improvements from SCC. These were a new handrail and surface improvements on the path from Butts Way to High Street and repairs to the steps on the path from Burgage to Huntash Lane.

Several Councillors expressed concern at the state of the B3187 near the Point to Point course. Apparently there had been a lot of mud on the road but very little effort to clean it quickly. The Clerk has been asked to contact the hunt to make sure that better arrangements are in place for next year.

The Parish Council will be holding a Village Clean Up event in time for the Queens 90^th Birthday celebrations. A date has to be agreed but the Clerk reported that TDBC would be happy to support it by providing hi vis jackets, gloves, litter picks and sacks. TDBC will also collect the rubbish.

Councillors expressed concern at how intrusive street lighting was in and around the village. The Clerk was asked to contact SCC to reduce lighting after midnight away from main roads in line with a commitment made some time ago. He was also asked to enquire whether low intensity directional LED lights could be positioned in the Conservation Area.

The Parish Council spent £723 in January on Salaries, Room Hire and attendance at an Allotment workshop.

Finally under Matters to Report Councillors were delighted to hear from the Vice Chairman, Mrs Hoyle that SCC had scaled back its plans to reduce funding for Community Transport which was great news for the Wivey Link.