MINUTES OF YEOVILTON AND DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL, TUESDAY 11th JULY AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, LIMINGTON
Present: Mr J Scott (JS) (Chairman), Mr S Hodgson (SH) (Vice Chairman), Mr P Crang (PC), Mr A Hickman (AH), Mr R Moffatt (RM), Mrs N Moore (NM).
- Apologies: Rev B Faulkner (BF), Mrs S Thomas-Webb (STW), Mr A Elliott (AE).
- Minutes of the Previous Meeting:
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 6th June 2023 were signed as an accurate record.
3. Declarations of Interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
4. Wessex Internet:
Unfortunately, the representative did not attend the meeting. NM will contact him to invite
him to the next meeting. 5. Matters Arising:
5.1 Feedback from Flood Meeting – PC and SH attended the meeting. It was felt that the representative from Galliford Try did not understand the points that were being made. They were confident that the attenuation ponds had done their job. PC mentioned the rented fields along the A303 of which one has a ditch running towards Podimore; the representative did not seem to realise the effect this may have had. A significant part of the drains goes to Podimore and the meeting were told that this issue will be looked into. The Environmental Agency were also represented and did not appear to have been briefed on what had occurred and had not conducted any research. PC and SH were unimpressed by these responses.
The meeting was told that a Section 19 would be produced for the meeting. No further action for the Parish Council was required at the present time.
5.2 Mingle Bin – In STW’s absence, RM provided the update as he had attended the bin display. Somerset Council will build a concrete base and sort out the installation. It was decided to purchase the soft close option. The bins are larger than anticipated and it was felt that the area by the chat bench was not suitable and perhaps to situate the bin at the top of Duck Lane. The meeting discussed the siting of the bin and it was decided that it should be placed at the weir with the smaller dog bin from the weir being moved to the chat bench area. Action: STW
5.3 Yeovilton Noticeboard – The present noticeboard is too small. RM discussed mounting one onto a building in the village but would need to request permission from the owner. A further suggestion was that it could be erected in the phone box. Action: RM to carry out further investigation
6. Open Session:
6.1 Somerset Councillor’s Reports: No Somerset councillors attended the
meeting.
6.2 RNAS Matters: Lt Col Sutton sent his apologies and will attend the next meeting. PJ represented RNAS and informed the meeting that he and Lt Col Sutton had visited some Limington residents and communication is ongoing. The runway is not being used quite as much at the present time.
6.3 Church Matters: BF was unable to attend the meeting. 7. Planning Matters:
22/00962/REM land adjoining Pilgrim’s, Weir Lane. Reserved Matters for appearance, landscape, layout and scale. Following outline approval 19/01996/OUT for the erection of a dwelling – awaiting decision.
22/01966/HOU at Broadmeads, Weir Lane, Yeovilton to demolish existing garage and utility to be replaced with a two-storey side extension and rear extension. Existing rear dormer to be extended – awaiting decision.
22/02251/FUL at Three Acres, Limington Road for change of use of land and buildings to provide canine daytime facility, erection of fencing and enlargement of hard standing (retrospective). Awaiting decision. JS has resubmitted objections to the County Council Planning Officer.
22/02741/OUT on land off Bingham Lane, Yeovilton outline application with all matters reserved except for access for the development of 4 self-build residential plots – awaiting decision.
23/01010FUL, Agricultural barn at High Farm, Podimore – Conversion of part of an existing agricultural building to flexible commercial use (Class E) under Class R of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (As amended) – awaiting decision.
23/01497/PAMB land at Limington Road Limington. Prior approval notification for change of use of agricultural building into a dwelling house – awaiting decision.
23/01711/TCA Rapsons, Duck Lane, Limington. Notification of intent to fell no 4 trees and carry out surgery works to No 13 trees within a conservation area – awaiting decision.
23/01757/TCA Tigh An Allt Church Street, Limington. Notification of intent for the removal of various hedges and trees within conservation area – waiting decision.
23/01681/COL RNAS, Yeovilton. Certificate of lawfulness for the proposed erection of a Battery Charging Facility Workshop – awaiting decision.
8. Financial Matters:
Balances at 11th July 2023:
Current account: – £12278.94
Business savings account – £9146.64 (of which £5373.93 was the Limington Fund).
It was agreed to transfer some money from the current account to the business account. Payments:
Laptop and printer – £701.94, Hire of VAS – £50.00
Receipts:
Precept – £6251.00
7.1 The meeting agreed to NM attending the clerk’s course at the cost of £30.00 (x3) per session.
9. Traffic Matters:
9.1 A303 Dualling:
SH is trying to organise a site visit and will propose some suitable dates. Action: SH 9.2 Podimore Traffic Report:
SH produced the traffic report from the VAS which was situated in Podimore facing the Podimore Inn from Friday 16th June until Saturday 24th June 2023. In that time 62% of vehicles were over the speed limit. The average speed was 30.9 MPH with one vehicle being recorded at 60.1 MPH. Discussion took place regarding this as not being representative of the whole village and does not reflect the general speed of vehicles that takes place. The Council explained that this is the data that was collected and it is very difficult to get the highways, police or Somerset Council to act without recorded incidents.
A number of suggestions were put forward, including residents keeping a record of undisclosed incidents or perhaps paying for traffic calming measures like those in Queen Camel. SH stated that any measures would need Highway’s approval.
9.3 Signage:
JS noted that Somerset Council had clarified, to some degree, their approach to supporting the introduction of 20MPH speed limits. Each community would have to pay £15000 (in our case it was unclear whether this was for the Parish Council or £15000 per village) and future works will be based on evidence gathered from collision and traffic data. The Parish Council therefore felt there was nothing to be gained in pursuing this.
The Parish Council agreed to submit a grant application to National Highways to fund the speed sign gates. If the application was successful, the Parish Council would fund in a rolling programme, beginning with Podimore. Action: JS and NM
- Flooding Issues: Covered in Item 3.
- Tree Matters: Nothing to report.
- Rights of Way:
Overhanging branches near the Lamb and Lark was discussed, this is down to the landowner to maintain.
- Correspondence: Nothing to report.
- Any other Business: No further business.
- Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 12th September 2023, St Bartholomew’s Church,
Yeovilton at 7.30pm.
The meeting closed at 8.35pm.