Minutes of Yeovilton Parish Council held on Tuesday September 8th 2020 at St. Peter’s Church, Podimore at 7.30pm.
Present: Mrs. R. S. Jones, Chairman, Mr. P. Browncey, Mr. D. Board, Mr. A. Elliott, Mr. A. Hickman, Mr. R. Luck, Mr. M. Lewis, County Councillor, Mr. A. Capozzoli, District Councillor, Commodore Niall Griffin, Mr. R. Graydon, CRO, RNAS, Rev. B. Faulkner and Mr. P. Horsington, Clerk.
Six members of the public attended.
The meeting was held with strict social distancing, with sanitiser being available, due to the Covid 19 epidemic.
15. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr. B. Barlow, Mr. C. Hull, District Councillor, Mr. P. Rowsell, District Councillor,, PC. Stefan Edwards & PCSO Thelma Mead.
Mrs. Jones welcomed Commodore Niall Griffin to the meeting, wishing him every success with his new posting.
16. Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting held on July 14th , having been circulated, were signed as correct.
17. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of Interest.
18. Open Session & County & District Councillors’ reports
Mr. Capozzoli, District Councillor, informed the meeting that SSDC Full Council had approved the proposals for Limington Parish to join with Yeovilton Parish Council. The number of Councillors will remain at seven.
After discussion, it was agreed by the meeting, that the new Council should be named Yeovilton Parish Council, Yeovilton Parish Council covers Podimore, Bridgehampton and Yeovilton village.
Mr. Capozzoli stated that SSDC were proposing the creation of two new Authorities rather than the one Unitary Authority, being proposed by Somerset County Council.
Mr. Lewis, County Councillor, informed the meeting that the County Council has funds, with the major cost to the County Council, being Child Services & Adult Care provision.
Mr. Lewis reported that the Secretary of State for Transport is at present mindful to refuse the A.303 dualling upgrade proposals by Highways England, on grounds of potential ‘Bird strike’ impact on RNAS Yeovilton from the proposed attenuation ponds to prevent flooding and issues with the design of the Hazelgrove roundabout. Mr. Board stated that Podimore village needed protection from flooding.
Mrs. Murray expressed her concern at the impact on her property, due to its size, of the proposed application 20/02127/HOU at Beaton House, Weir Lane for the erection of double garage.
Mrs. Murray thanked Mr. Luck for tidying the area by Yeovilton Weir.
Mr. M. Purchase expressed his concern at the amount of traffic using Podimore village both early mornings & late evenings, asking where do the vehicles go and highlighting speeding issues. Mr. Graydon stated that any RNAS personnel using Podimore, are regularly reminded of existing speed limits.
Mr. Holt stated that Podimore bear the brunt of the traffic in early mornings & late evenings, and stated that there have been no publicised plans to address this issue, with any form of traffic calming. Mr. Holt stated that some form of physical barriers would slow traffic, such as speed chicanes as in other villages, or speed humps, being in his opinion, more effective than any visual warnings.
Mr. Capozzoli recommended that residents set up a ‘Speedwatch’ scheme, for which the Police would assist with advice, training and equipment.
Mr. Lewis suggested that County Highways are asked to put speed recording lines in Podimore.
Mr. White stated that the road linings from the Podimore Services need to be repainted.
Mr. White asked what was the situation regarding the Telephone kiosk in Podimore, as it had never had the
promised use when it had been acquired by the Heartbeat Charity. The Clerk stated that he would again make contact with the Community Heartbeat Trust, Trust and ask for an update.
The issue of parked vehicles in Pyle Lane, Yeovilton from Manor Farm was highlighted, causing access issues, with another comment stating that there is also frequently a large lorry parked in the same area. These points were noted.
Mrs. Hickman reported difficulty in riding on some Bridle Paths due to the height of overhanging hedge growth, being no issue for pony riders, but difficult for those on fully grown horses.
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19. RNAS matters, Police, Community & Church matters
Mr. White, supported by Mr. Holt, stated there are now a lot of aircraft flying over St. Peter’s Church, Podimore. Mr. Graydon in reply, stated that the difficulty has been that the Merrifield site, at Ilton, has been closed for most of the Covid 19 period, meaning that more flying has been concentrated at RNAS Yeovilton. Mr. Graydon stated that the number of complaints has increased over this lock down period.
Mrs. Hickman stated that helicopters mainly Merlins, have been hovering over her property in Yeovilton village.
Mr. M. Purchase stated that he has major issues with lights on Helicopters at night time, shining through his windows and asked was it necessary to have these on. Commodore N. Griffin stated these lights are an integral part of Helicopters, necessary for good safety reasons.
Mr. Graydon stated that the new Perimeter Fence was being progressed and was near completion.
Commodore Niall Griffin stated that he had found the meeting interesting, Mrs. Jones thanked for him for attending the Parish Council meeting.
Rev. Faulkner informed the meeting that Harvest Festival will be held outside at St. Peter’s, Podimore on September 20th. There will be the Annual Sausage Sizzle & Cider event in Ilchester on Saturday September 19th.
20. Planning matters
The Council noted application SCC/3633/2019 at the Podimore Recycling Centre, Lower Farm, Podimore for the extension of existing recycling facility to include erection of topsoil shed, lorry workshop and improved staff facilities and the creation of a perimeter embankment had been granted.
The Council noted that application 20/00969/LBC at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton for carrying
out internal & external alterations to re-instate the Chancel blocked Priest’s door on the south elevation had been granted.
The Council noted application application 20/01256/FUL at West Farm, Pyle Lane for conversion of
former traditional agricultural buildings into 4 dwellings and use of adjoining building as ancillary storage / communal space had been granted.
The Council noted that applications 20/01811/HOU & 20/01812/LBC at Manor Cottage, Weir Lane, Yeovilton for replacement Sun Room had been granted.
The Council noted that application 20/01810/HOU at Fairway, Pyle Lane for the erection of a detached workshop / garage had been granted.
The Council noted that there was no decision on application 20/01996/S73 at Pilgrims, Weir Lane to remove planning condition 4 (agricultural tie) of approval 781603.
The Council considered in detail application 20/02127/HOU at Beaton House, Weir Lane for the erection of double garage. After some discussion, it was agreed, by a majority vote, to recommend refusal on the grounds of its adverse impact on the Street scene and impact on adjacent properties.
21. Financial matters
The Council noted that the balances as at 29/07/20 were as follows – in the Current A/c £1,129.69p with £5,805.64p in the B/P Account.
Payments received – £36 Stackhouse Poland – refund
Payments made
08/09/20 08/09/20 08/09/20 08/09/20
100427 £54 100429 £421.11 100430 £306.40 100431 £34.20
Vision ICT Ltd – website update Glasdon UK Ltd – litter bin
P. Horsington salary &expenses R. Luck materials for litter bin
The above payments were authorised and the cheques signed.
The Clerk reported that the Audit return has been acknowledged and put on the Website.
22. Highway matters
The Clerk reported that Highways have confirmed that the agreed road signs on the B.3151 to Yeovilton village are in hand as are the agreed Flood warning signs.
The Council were informed that Ilchester Parish Council have now bought the VAS device, and it had been used. It was agreed to request if it can hired by the Council.
The Council noted the discussion earlier on the speeding issues and agreed to contact County Highways to ask for recording lines to be put in Podimore to record traffic numbers & speed, and to ask for the 30 MPH speed signs to be trimmed to make them more visible. It was agreed to put the issue of putting 30 MPH signs further towards the A.303.
Mr. Elliott stated that existing lines in Podimore need to be repainted & felt that rumble strips from the Services’ area would highlight safety issues.
Mrs. Jones recommended that the Police are asked to monitor the speed within Podimore, this was agreed.
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23. Flooding issues
Mr. Browncey stated that there is a lot of weed in the river Yeo, and it was agreed to contact the Environment Agency reporting the weed in both the rivers Yeo in Yeovilton and Cam at Bridgehampton.
24. Tree matters
Mrs Jones highlighted dangerous willow trees on the river bank in Bineham Lane, Yeovilton. It was agreed to contact the Environment Agency.
25. Rights of Way.
Mr. Luck informed the meeting that there is a Footpath by Orchard House, Yeovilton, which is blocked by a padlocked gate. It was noted that this has been a long standing issue with the various owners.
Mr. Luck stated that he has asked for an update on the Footbridges that are unsafe. The Council noted the comments made earlier by Mrs. Hickman.
26. Correspondence
The Council noted the Somerset Waste Partnership newsletter & Clerks Direct.
27. Items for report, or for the agenda of the next meeting
Mr. Hickman reported that there had been a sewage spill in Yeovilton and he had been overtaken dangerously on the B.3151.
The Council confirmed the date of the next Parish Council meeting for Tuesday October 13th 2020 at 7.30pm, with the venue being either St. Peter’s Church Podimore or St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton.
Thanks were expressed to Rev. Faulkner for making the necessary arrangements for holding a safe meeting. There being no further business, the Chairman thanked all present, and declared the meeting closed at 8.52pm.