BAYDON PARISH COUNCIL
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
MONDAY 20th MARCH 2017 AT 8.00PM IN THE BYPA HALL, MANOR LANE
In Attendance: Councillors: Tamsin Witt (Chairman), Kevin Howell, Amy Bryan, Brian Billington, Sarah Chidgey, James Lawrence, Clerk Charlotte Booth, 18 residents and Cllr James Sheppard.
MINUTES
Cllr Sheppard welcomed everyone to the meeting, introduced himself, and reminded people to have patience, be courteous, not to repeat arguments already heard and to allow everyone to speak. He then handed over to the Chairman.
1. APOLOGIES
None received.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None declared.
3. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
a) The residents present were reminded that they are only invited to speak in Public Question Time, and any discourteous behaviour will result in the meeting being suspended until the disruptive resident has left the meeting, as per Standing Orders.
b) The main topic of discussion for this meeting is to re-open the discussion on the proposal for buildouts at the Western End of Ermin Street, due to new information received in the Briefing Document from Wiltshire Highways.
Best practice, but not a legal requirement is that a resolution shall not be reversed within six months except by a special motion, which requires written notice by at least 50% of councillors to be given to the Proper Officer.
The Clerk received written notice from three councillors to re-open this discussion in light of the new information.
Cllr Witt summarised the Briefing Note received from Wiltshire Council who are not in agreement with Baydon Parish Council that the western build-out should not go ahead due to safety concerns. They suggest safety could be improved by cutting the hedge alongside Manor Farm. Highways have also stated that they would be unsupportive of a single buildout (i.e. half the project) going ahead as previously proposed by BPC.
In addition Highways have reiterated that there is no other possible location for the western build-out and the 30mph limit cannot be moved further out of the village. Other traffic calming measures such as platforms cannot be installed until build-outs are in place.
4. PLANNING
a) Application: S/OUT/13/1555
Location: 2380 dwellings, mixed use local centres, community users, care accommodation, two primary schools, green infrastructure. Sports facilities, engineering works, other infrastructure, demolition and new accesses from the A420, Old vicarage Lane and Thornhill Road, north of A420, Eastern Villages Swindon.
Comments: Cllr Billington was concerned that the access road from Wanborough through to Foxhill would be used as a through road. At present this is an access only road but has never been enforced. The question is whether this will be enforced and therefore prevent this being used as a through road for the new development. Clerk to forward these comments by 21st March.
5. SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED BUILDOUTS
Cllr Witt summarised the proposal for two buildouts on Ermin Street as per the plans received from Wiltshire Highways, along with a brief history of traffic calming efforts in the village dating back to 1960. This summary included all proposals which had been presented and refused by Highways.
6. SUMMARY OF THE OBJECTIONS RECEIVED
Cllr Witt summarised and responded to the objections already received and circulated to Councillors and discussed in previous PC meetings.
Mr Alan Moxon letter dated 11th September 2016.
Mr and Mrs Norman letter dated 26th June 2016.
Mr Tom McGowran email dated 19th March 2017.
Mr and Mrs Turner (verbally received)
Mrs Coyle (verbally received)
Cllr Witt summarised the Head Mistress of Baydon School's email dated 16th March 2017 which was supportive of traffic calming for Ermin Street and referred to Baydon's Village Plan in which residents highlighted traffic calming and parking as the number one priority.
Copies of the plans and the relevant traffic calming pages of Baydon's Village Plan were made available to members of the public in the meeting.
7. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
The meeting was suspended to allow members of the public to speak to the Council. Several objections were repeated from Item 6 of the agenda and previous PC meetings. There were also some comments of support.
8. DECISION ON PROPOSAL
Councillors discussed the proposed plans, the objections received and traffic calming options already exhausted.
Cllrs noted there was no alternative traffic calming scheme available for Ermin Street.
Cllr Bryan proposed to continue with the proposed western build-out enabling the complete traffic calming project for Ermin St to go ahead. The motion was seconded by Cllr Lawrence.
The vote was unanimous.
Cllrs Chidgey and Howell wanted it noted that their vote in favour was on the grounds that there were no other options available and it was their duty of care to bring down speed in the village.
It was agreed that Baydon Parish Council would pay for and assist with cutting back the hedge at Manor Farm to improve sightlines and to purchase a highways mirror if Mr and Mrs Norman so wished.
Cllr Lawrence requested BPC liaise with Highways to limit the period of road closure so as not to inconvenience the shop too much.
The meeting was closed at 21:30
Signed Chairman Date
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