Uplyme Parish Council

A Personal View

Very and possibly just a bit biased

Of the Meeting Held on 9th.April 2003

The chairman Beryl Denham and her deputy Brian Mason both being indisposed Peter Burton took the chair after the necessary formalities. All other councillors were present and there were 10 members of the public.

Due to unforeseen technical problems I am afraid that I am at the moment unable to post my report of the April meeting. I may be able to do so eventually, but don't hold your breath.In the mean time as a reporter from the Lyme Regis News attended the meeting can I suggest that you read his report in the newspaper. 11th April 2003 I can now add a few notes but as the Lyme Regis News has done such a good job with its coverage of the meeting I am not going to repeat what the paper has said quite adequately. For my far-flung readers, yes I know you are there in Brazil, I apologise. I will just add details of any subjects to which the News did not do justice. Special constable Andrew Turner spoke to the assembly before rushing off to an operation. Although John Steven was not present there was considerable concern over events at Barns Meadow and some time was given over to airing these views (available on the BM pages). The official business kicked off on cue at 7:32. Matters Arising Uplyme Emergency Plans This was covered quite well in the News, but Chris Sellers had delivered the item very much with tongue in cheek, although reading the report you would not know this. This light hearted mood stayed throughout the evenings proceedings. Could this be due to the absence of the head and her deputy? Planning Application Refused by EDDC The communications mast at The Coach Road was turned down. The application for a second house to be built in the grounds of Lidwell House was rejected. After the parish council had recommended to the EDDC that the mobile home at Wellhayes be given the go ahead the district council refused the application. The owners now appear to have little choice then to move it within the curtilage of the house where I believe it will stand out like a sore thumb in this AONB. Application Considered by the Planning Sub-committee They recommended refusal for the retrospective application for alterations to the original planning application at Harcombe House. Enforcement Notice The mobile home remains at Windfall after all requests to remove it have gone unheeded. If it is still present after 28th April 2003 proceedings will be taken leading to serving a notice of criminal intent. Chris Sellers suggested that it could be a further three months before this matter is cleared up, which will by then be almost a whole year from the mobile homes first appearance. This does suggest that anyone complete with mobile home can move from site to site staying for up to a year completely foot loose and fancy free. Finance Grass Cutting Contract I did not refer to this matter when it turned up recently for I thought the open discussion of contracts and fees was not appropriate. Unfortunately the item did not escape the attention of the press, and in their article indicate that Mobey Hill udercut himself by a considerable amount. Mr Hill, and this was not necessarily as a result of the "News" article, has now approached the parish council with his concern that if during his three year contract inflation is let rip he will be seriously out of pocket. He wishes to address this problem by having the option of increasing his charges. The council very reluctantly agreed to this, even after it being widely know that in Mr Hill they have a bargain. After this I think it would be advisable if when discussing such sensitive matters the members of the public and particularly the press were asked to temporally leave the hall. I know that such a move is open to abuse, you have only to see how much of the business of the Lyme Regis Town Council goes on behind closed doors, to be concerned, but it could be agreed which subjects would need this treatment. Cemetery The decision as to which half of the cemetery dividing trees will be coming down still has not been made. Colin Pratt skirted around the decision by suggesting that the top two and the bottom two could come down but emphasized that it was only a suggestion. One of the contractors on the list who will be offered to tender a price, Mr Loveridge, has said that he does not want these tree to come down! Lets hope that we can wait a little longer until the breeding season is over before these trees are felled for in the last few weeks I have seen a sudden surge in trees being cut down, work that could and should have taken place during the dormant season. Playground Gabions that were advised to be put in the river, to combat erosion, by the Environment Agency will now be removed because the effect will be to un-naturally alter the course of the river. This order has been given by, wait for it, the Environment Agency! A change of officer has brought this about. Sounds like individual preference rather than agency policy or just bloody mindedly stamping his mark. Any Other Business Uplyme will not Vote for the Parish Council There only being nine candidates for the ten parish council seats there will not be an election. Eight of the present councillors will be returning to their seats. They are Peter Burton, Robert Crabbe, Beryl Denham, John Duffin, Ann Hebden, Brian Mason, Colin Pratt and Chris Sellers. The only new member will be Jonathan Clarke-Irons. What you may say happened to the other four candidates that came forward when Robert Crabbe and Chris Sellers were co-opted toward the end of last year. It will be interesting to see if they show up when the council initiates the proceedure to co-opt the tenth place on the council. Incidentally there will be an election on 1st May for the one seat on the district council. There are three candidates, they are Peter Burton (Cons) the present incumbent, Ken George (Lib Dem) and a new face on the election scene Jane Melanaphy (Green Party). In a two way fight at the last election for this seat Peter Burton narrowly won over Ken George. With the green candidate being more likely to take votes from the Lib Dems than the Conservative Mr Burton will probably increase his majority. Spring Head Road Seat. After it was agreed, at a previous meeting, that the net would be cast to find someone to repair the Spring Head Road seat, Chris Sellers was surprised to find Mobey Hill's name connected to this and wonders if Mr Hill has a monopoly with parish works. The official business finished at 8:50 The May meeting will be held on the 14th.

Topics on this Page: Application Refused by EDDC Harcombe House. Windfall Grass Cutting Contract Cemetery Trees Playground Spring Head Road Seat Other UPC Meetings: 8th January 2003 12th February 2003 12th March 2003 14th May 2003 11th June 2003 9th July 2003 13th August 2003 10th September 2003 8th October 2003 12th November 2003 10th December 2003 14th January 2004 With Links to Pre-2003 Meetings 2004 Meetings Other Relevant Pages Strawberry Field Sports Complex Barnes Meadow Development Rhode Hill Gardens Home Page Introduction Page

Disclaimer: This page cannot be guaranteed to be void of mistakes. It is sometimes, in the hall, difficult to hear some of the councillors, for a number are determined not to use the amplification system available. An example of what can happen was at the September meeting when I heard the word "included" as "include" when a letter from John Steven was being read out. This threw an entirely different meaning to the sentence. The interpretation that I came to was so important that I put the news on the website as soon as I could. It was not until I read the Lyme Regis News that I realised how wrong I was. I even more speedily removed the offending story. If you were one of those that read the original then I apologise. If you have any doubts concerning the validity of anything you read please check with the parish clerk. Can I also suggest that you contact the Parish Council and request that the minutes of the meetings are posted on an official Uplyme Parish Council website and that the subject is accordingly added to the agenda of the next meeting.