FROM YOUR ON THE SPOT PARISH COUNCIL REPORTER
As the May parish council meeting was also the annual council meeting the first item was to elect the officers of the council. Cllr P Smith was re-elected as chairman and cllr P Ball elected as vice chairman. Other positions were filled as follows: Highways, cllr M Clark; Footpaths, cllr J Kelly; Village Hall and Cumbria Association of Local Councils(CALC) rep cllr, P Smith and Common Land, cllr I Ellison. No dissension and nobody barred from standing!
Neither of the W&F cllrs were in attendance as it was a Bank Holiday.
The Zoom meeting between W&F Highways, cllr D Rathbone and cllrs Smith and Clark had agreed the roads to be considered for a 20mph zone and some where speed limits might change. The 20 mph inclusions would be the current village limits, Fell Close and Rochester Gardens (that's the small development on the east side of the A65). Consideration would also be given to extending the 40mph limit on the A65 southwards to cover the junction with Helm Lane. Some reduction on Natland Rd would also be necessary to give a lead in to the 20mph zone.
W&F initially planned to go out to consultation with these proposals this summer, but the council has since learnt that this will probably be delayed due to the General Election. The necessary regulations would then have to be made and implementation was originally planned for Spring 2025 but presumably this will now be delayed. The parish council spent some time in discussing how widest coverage for consultation and comment could be achieved.
Discussion of improvement to the area in front of the church took some time. The redundant bus shelter is to be removed and it has been confirmed that no planning approval is needed for this. The regulations surrounding siting 'Information Boards' are more complex (a 20 page booklet with 14 clauses) and advice is being sought from CALC before going ahead with re-siting the parish council board.
Some of you will have noticed and commented on the new road markings by the St Mark's school and at the bottom of Oxenholme Lane. I'm trying to be diplomatic and non partisan - but the parish council had no say in this new signage. The Highway Code and Mr Google were consulted for a definition of what the single solid line means. The area giving rise to concern is that the white line on the south side of Oxenholme Lane (where residents have traditionally parked) extends further towards the village green than does the line on the side of the Vicarage. Clarification is being sought from W&F Highways with the possibility that a change might be asked for if the white line does mean No Parking.
Other items noted for possible action were grass cutting on the village green and cleaning of the bus shelter at the top of Oxenholme Lane.
The next meeting will be on Monday 24th June at 7pm
Here is a link to the Parish Council Minutes of the meeting of the 27th May, with details of the speed restrictions which will be introduced after the election.