OTTERHAMPTON
OFFCUTS
Snippets
from the November & December 2014 Parish Council Meetings
|
Whilst we are trying to
canvass interest in putting together a community newsletter, we would like to
update you with items the parish council is working on and involved with, as
this ultimately affects many if not all of our parishioners. In the interim
therefore, we will produce a ‘mini newsletter’, probably on a bi-monthly
basis. If you would like any
further information on any of these items, please either ring or email me: Aly Prowse 01278 652426 (Parish Clerk) Or contact one of your
parish councillors |
PARISH COUNCILLORS Barry Leathwood
(Chairman) Tel 01278 652399 Tim Jones (Vice-Chairman) Tel 01278 653829 Dick Best (Steart Ward) Tel 01278 651063 Mervyn Brown Tel 07834 633460 Paul Gripton Tel 01278 653240 Liz Sidebotham Tel 01278 653028 Reg Wilkes Tel 01278 652339 SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCILLOR John Edney Tel 01278 653026 DISTRICT COUNCILLORS Julie Pay Tel 01278 732619 Mike Caswell Tel 01278 732564 |
|
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS We have
carried out some, and are in the process of further enhancements on and
around the Common. You may have noticed the benches adjacent to the river
have been refurbished together with a new football net and basketball ring
which were erected during the summer. In the children’s play area, we have
replaced one of the beams; a litter bin and bench have also been ordered for
the play area. Two disabled car parking bays have been requested on the car parking strip alongside the Common (at the Anchor Inn end) so that people with mobility issues can at least get reasonably close to the Steart Marshes area. |
Garage
for Sand and Grit Storage We have
secured a garage from Sedgemoor District Council at Brookside to enable the
storage of sand (for sand bags in case of flooding - as residents of Estuary
Park ‘almost’ experienced last winter) and grit to place on icy roads. The Chairman
and Clerk hold keys to the garage in case of an emergency. We are
awaiting permission from Somerset Highways to install a grit bin at the
roadside on Otterhampton Hill (on the Steart side). |
|
EDF UPDATE – COMBWICH WHARF WORKS Ross Edwards from EDF attended the parish council meeting on 6.11.14 to update us on the provisional timetable and implications of the wharf works; briefly: Q4 2014 – Select preferred contractor – award of contract early in 2015 Q1 2015 – Modicum of work including early ecological works (reptiles/birds/tree lopping) Q2 2015 – Upgrade the Access Rd (C182 to the wharf) including culverts, est. 2 months work Q3 2015 – Planned deliveries for Hinkley Point B Outage Q4 2015 – The new wharf quay (October, est. 6 -7 months to build) Q4/Q1 2016 – Main Quay works (Dec/Jan) 15 -16 month sequential build time (L-shaped quay) Q1 2017 – Lay-down facility (when wharf works are finished) 12-15 month construction period Q2 2018 - First delivery for Hinkley C by boat (June) · Building works and working hours will be in accordance with the Development Consent Order · Pile Driving – it is hoped ‘pile installation’ will be the method used rather than ‘tapping’ (although tapping cannot be ruled out) · Complaints – there is a manned 24 hour complaints hotline; tel 0800 096 9650 |
|
Anti-Social-Behaviour
(ASB) Problems We have been
working with the Police and other agencies in trying to understand and
resolve the ASB problems we have been experiencing. The Police
have reiterated the need for help from the community to inform them when ASB
incidents occur. The latest incident for example was a fire in the bus
shelter at the beginning of December. Any incidents
you witness PLEASE ring 101. Your name will not be given to the perpetrators. |
WHARF
(HAUL) RD ACCESS ISSUES We recently
held a meeting with Hinkley B representatives and the land owner to try and
resolve the blocked access problems, particularly prior to works at the Wharf,
as we do not want HGV’s travelling through the village. Hinkley B are
considering replacement gates (taller and stronger) and new signage. The private
road belongs to EDF and the gates should be locked at all times. There is no public access along this
road. |
|
Hinkley
C Community
Impact Mitigation (CIM) Shortly we
hope the Otterhampton Parish Project Team (OPPT) made up of volunteers’ parish
wide, will be formed. They can then begin the process of community
involvement to ensure all potential CIM projects are given due consideration and
the maximum opportunity for their implementation, subject of course, to the
CIM criteria. The Project
Team will not be campaigning for particular projects, but will be available
to advise and support community groups to make successful funding
applications. |
PARISH
PRECEPT We have
submitted our Precept (budget) request for the 2015/16 financial year. The
precept has been maintained as per this year i.e £17500.
The fixed obligatory costs are for example; Annual Insurance, Audit, Clerk’s
salary, Grass cutting, Children’s playground inspection, Emptying dog and
litter bins, Wharf Rd Maintenance etc. We also need to budget for ad hoc
costs such as repairs and maintenance, enhancement projects, defibrillator
and subscriptions – and for 2015, £1000 in case there is a contested
election. We also like
to be able to make grants to various groups within the parish, such as the
£1000 awarded recently to help with the Village Hall refurbishment. |
|
FUTURE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS - 7PM - OTTERHAMPTON
VILLAGE HALL Thursday 8 January 2015 Thursday 5 February 2015 Thursday 5 March 2015 Parishioners are welcome to attend the
meetings which commence with a short open public session where you can raise
issues of concern, including agenda items. Agendas are placed on the notice
boards up to 5 days prior to the meeting(s) |