JULY 2015
MARK PARISH COUNCIL
MARK PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 7 JULY 2015
The Parish Council held a meeting at the Village Hall on 7 July 2015. Here are some extracts.
Play Area
Work to provide new surfacing under the roundabout had been completed and the grant of £2,966 claimed.
Finance
As at 1 June, Current Account £7,822.09. Reserve £16,934.04. £100 given in sponsorship to Neighbourhood Watch.
Mark Church Clock
Agreed to renew a 3 year service level maintenance agreement with Smith of Derby costing a total of £480 + VAT.
School Parking/Mark Cricket Club New Ground Development
James Heappey MP has written to the Somerset County Council Chief Executive seeking a meeting to resolve its objections to the proposals of:
- Moving Mark Cricket Club to a field behind Crofts Farm.
- Developing a one-way circuit behind Croft Farm to provide a safe place for the delivery and collection of children associated with the School.
After another meeting between Highways, Mark School, the Police and the Parish Council to discuss issues relating to the extended Zig Zag markings, it was agreed to:
- Support County Highways Option 1 for Zig Zags to shorten the zone from Syringa to 1 The Croft.
- An enforceable Traffic Regulation Order be installed between 8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm Monday to Friday.
- Highlight that parking in front of drives and, indeed, parking on a pavement, is an obstruction reportable to the Police.
Public Areas Portfolio
Highway Matters
Several defects reported to County Highways.
- County Highways be reminded to correct the road markings at the Vole Road/Pill Road junction.
- Councillor Champion undertook to investigate maintaining the surface of the Jubilee Green lay-by.
- Community Speed Watch had been suspended.
Public Rights of Way
- Councillor Francis reported upon the County Council Adopt a Path scheme in which residents can adopt a path.
- Councillor Champion reported upon the surfaces of Green Drove and Coombe Drove.
Planning Portfolio
- 33/14/00022. Installation of external staircase to first floor above the garage. The Willows, Mark Causeway. Recommended.
- 33/14/00023. Demolition of barn, erection of building comprising two bedroom dwelling for holiday let and formation of access, Crooked Ham, Vole Road. Not recommended.
- 33/14/00025. Erection of outbuilding to the side of The Pines, Mark Causeway- Recommended.
- 33/14/00026. Removal of specified hedgerows south of Yardwall Road, Mark – No observations.
Special Projects - National Grid
Councillor Mrs Corkish reported upon issues relating to a response to National Grid regarding tree planting at Ashtrees and colour of T-pylons. Further details are being sought from Sedgemoor District Council.
Web-site Portfolio
- Councillor Mrs Weekes invites ideas for the development of the web-site.
- It was agreed to include Mark Community Land Trust Ltd on the web-site.
INFRAsTRUCTURE
Mark Causeway
Work is now underway regarding construction of a new pumping station and associated pipework near the Poplar Lane/Causeway junction. This not an Affordable Housing project.
- Temporary Road Closure – Dutch Road: The Highways Agency as authorised that with effect from 7 August for about a month, the Dutch Road junction with the Causeway will be temporarily closed to enable Wessex Water to continue the sewerage network improvement. Further details posted on Parish notice boards and the website.
- From September Pipe laying affecting Poplar Lane, Dutch Road and the Causeway. Details of traffic management likely in August and will probably be disruptive.
Mark Yeo
The Somerset River Authority plan to carry out de-silting work on a section of the Mark Yeo in order to:
- Reduce the weed and silt that has collected in the channel.
- Protect the balanced river ecology.
- Ensure the Yeo continues to meet catchment water level management plan obligations.
The work will focus on sections of the river next to properties on Yarrow Road where riverbed material is about 700mm deep and therefore reducing the capacity and flow rate of the river. It will be co-ordinated with the routine annual weed cutting. A tracked excavator fitter with a long reach mechanical arm will place the silt on the field side of the channel. Contact details is Michael Lake on 01278 484701; Michael.lake@environment-ageny.gov.uk; Environment Agency Rivers House East Quay, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4YS
SOMERSET HEALTHCARE
The Somerset NHS Clinical Commissioning Group has announced a new organisation, the Somerset Doctors Urgent Care (SDUC), to deliver out-of-hours and 111 healthcare services in a more integrated approach across the county. Close collaborative services should relieve the demand experienced by district hospitals last winter when Accident and Emergency Departments saw unprecedented numbers of frail elderly patients and those with long-term conditions being admitted to hospital. The press release states that “Somerset Doctors Urgent Care is successfully providing the 111 and out-of-hours services for people living Staffordshire and Bath and North East Somerset. We hope this same success will be replicated for the people of Somerset.”
The 24-hour 111 telephone helpline providing health advice and signposting the public to the correct service for their healthcare needs remains the number to call for all non-emergency queries. For more information about the NHS 111 visit www.nhs.uk/111.
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL
Roadshows Somerset County Council will be repeating its ‘Listening, Learning, Changing’ roadshows in which the public are invited to help balance the budget and can contribute on how to save £42 million by 2019/2020. There will be 14 roadshows, those nearest to Mark including:
- Wednesday 15 July, Wells Farmers' Market, 9am to 3pm.
- Saturday 1 August, Axbridge Farmers' Market, 9am to 1pm.
- Saturday 15 August; Taunton Farmers' Market; 9am to 3pm.
- Friday 4 and Saturday 19 September, Junction 24 General Market, 9am to 2pm.
People can also suggest priorities by completing a ‘Think Tank’ questionnaire on www.somerdset.gov.uk/listening.
NEXT PARISH COUNCIL METTING
Tuesday, 8 September 2015 at Mark Village Hall at 7.30 pm. Members of the public are invited to attend.
Nick van der Bijl
Chair
Mark Parish Council
Print 