JULY 2017
SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL
Mark and Wedmore Ward
Polly Costello – polly.costello@sedgemoor.gov.uk 01934 713564
Will Human – will.human@sedgemoor.gov.uk 01278 641795
Polly Costello and Will Human attended a 3 hour Axe Brue Drainage Board meeting this month to discuss proposed changes to the way drainage boards are made up, reports on works being carried out around the area, approving the accounts of the board and noting various planning applications that affect drainage. The Board's work is vitally important to our communities as they maintain and improve the rhyne networks. They have been doing this for many years now and are quietly successful in this task.
Polly and other members of Wedmore Parish Council and the community are hoping to create a Community Park on some PC-owned land near to the centre of Wedmore. Currently there are no recreation facilities for slightly older children and it is hoped the committee can create, with the help of the community and surrounding villages, a special space for all to use. We hope to include out-door gym equipment, skate ramp, basketball area and much more and will need as much input from the public as possible. We shall be at the Neighbourhood Plan consultation at Wedmore village hall on 24th June from 2-7 pm and will have an informal site meeting on the land behind Worthington Close (entrance in the public car park off Cheddar Rd), on Saturday 8th July between 10am-12noon. Please do come along to look at some plans, see the site and give us your much valued opinions! For any other info contact Polly on 01934713564 or polly.costello@sedgemoor.gov.uk
MARK PARISH COUNCIL
MARK NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH – PETER HIGMAN
Peter Higman has retired from Mark Neighbourhood Watch after 25 years’ service. A founder member, he developed our network of volunteers and for 20 years was our Village-Co-ordinator and link with the Neighbourhood Watch Office in Bridgwater, and was instrumental in developing our monthly Crimewatch in the Parish Magazine. On behalf of the Parish of Mark, we thank Peter for his unstinted commitment to the safety and security of the Parish. Geoff Francis is taking over as Village Co-ordinator.
PLANNING
- 33/1/00015. Erection of an agricultural building to be used as a fodder store and lambing shed, Bowbridge Farm, Southwick Road, Mark – Recommended.
- 33/17/00017. Erection of a single storey extension to front elevation, The Larches, The Causeway, Mark – Recommended.
- 33/17/00018. Erection of an agricultural building for the storage of hay and machinery, Moorhouse Farm, Southwick Road, Mark – Recommended.
FEEDBACK FROM 8 MAY COUNCIL MEETING On behalf of the Parish Council, I, as Chairman, would like to apologise for not permitting the taking of images at the Parish Council Meeting. The Council was unware, at the time, that new rules had been issued relating to the taking of photographs at and the recording of public meetings.
Some people have inquired about the comment made in last month’s Parish Magazine about the disturbance. In brief, the Council had adjourned the meeting and invited members of the public to make statements about a controversial project. When the Parish Council formally reconvened, a member of public, who had already made a statement, asked to make another one but on being refused, insisted on doing so, in spite of being invited to desist. The Council therefore moved to another room to complete its business.
While most constitutional bodies, such as Parliament, the Courts and county and local authorities, have staff, such as sergeants-at-arms, police and security, available to manage such interruptions, Parish Councils rely very heavily on public courtesy and goodwill to conform to constitutional protocols. Fortunately, such incidents are rare, nevertheless, they are prosecutable as Disorderly Behaviour within the 1986 Public Order Act with aggravating factors being 1) the Council relocating and 2), the victims, namely the Parish Council, had either been elected or selected to perform a public service. Regrettably, an apology has not been forthcoming to the Council and, more importantly, to members of public in attendance.
HARP ROAD FINGER SIGNPOST
You may have noticed that the finger signpost at Harp Road has collapsed. Unfortunately, Somerset County Council no longer finances the repair and/or replacement of iron signposts, of which there are several in the Parish, and would rather replace them with easily maintained plastic ones. Nevertheless, the Parish Council is investigating the repair of the existing signpost with a local company.
BUS ROUTE 67
The Somerset County Council Transport Department are resuming their meetings with all Parish Councils along the route to try and resolve the closure of the 67 Bus service. Mark Parish Council will attend.
NEXT PARISH MEETING
The next Parish Council Meeting will be held at the Village Hall beginning at 7.30pm on Tuesday 4 July 2017. Members of the public are invited.
Nick van der Bijl
Mark Parish Council
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