1. Present: Mr A.Bowditch (Chairman) plus five Councillors of the grouped parishes, plus twelve members of the public, plus Councillors M.Woodhall (HCC) and N.Whiteley (TVBC) plus the Parish Clerk.
2. Apologies: Councillors A.McKenzie and D.Rimmington
3. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 12 May 2003.
These were signed by the Chairman, A.Bowditch, at the monthly meeting of the Parish Council on 9 June 2003
4. Matters raised and discussed by members of the public
(The Chairman invited those present to take the floor and to raise or discuss any matters of concern).
West Tytherley Primary School
In response to a question about the proposed extension to the school Mr Mousley said that confirmation on the availability of funding and starting date was still awaited.
The School would be celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2005 and a committee had been formed to identify projects and prepare events under the title West Tytherley 150. Louise Falcini was acting as secretary to this committee and summarised some of the proposals now being considered. These included an Anniversary Garden (although the proposed building work at the school presented location problems); a stained glass window in the school to be made by a local craftsman; a history of the school involving former pupils (the Mid-Thorngate Society was intending to hold an evening of reminiscence next November); commissioning Forest Forge Theatre Group to work up these reminiscences as a play; a flag staff (subject to planning permission – funding would be available from a former pupil). Events might include a Grand Village Show involving the Church, the PTA etc – to take place on the Recreation Ground – to be followed by a supper with local people providing the entertainment: a special church service (provisionally on 17 July 2005); and a school reunion in the village hall in May or June 2005.
Mobile Phone Reception
A petition initiated by Cerri Connelly aimed at phone companies with the intention of persuading them that mobile phone reception in the area needs improving was circulated by Mrs Falcini. Sites for masts had been offered or identified including Lockerley Church tower and West Dean. Apparently West Tytherley church tower is not suitable. The Countryside Commission was said to have funds available until October to support the installation of masts.
First Responder Scheme
Liz Marsden gave an update on the scheme, referring to recent incidents, including a road accident. First Responders are called out by the County Ambulance Service and it their policy not to involve the responders in road accidents, which accounted for their absence at the recent serious accident in the centre of the village. Lack of cover at the time the other two incidents occurred was the reason for the absence of responders on these occasions. In the absence of mobile phone reception responders have to work in pairs for safety reasons under HCC policy. If reception was better it would be possible to maintain cover with only one responder on duty. She stressed that funding was not a constraint on cover, there were still insufficient volunteers to maintain full-time cover. Volunteers worked 4 hour shifts, weekends included, and currently there was up to 75 per cent cover in some weeks. So far responders had attended five incidents. They were subject to six-monthly assessments.
Road Traffic
The problem of congestion on the roads around the village school, especially in the morning when school starts, when children being delivered face hazards from traffic passing through the village, was raised. Several children travel from West Dean, and although Wiltshire CC say that Dean Road is too dangerous for children to walk, 8-11 year olds are not entitled to free school transport so parents bring them by car, adding to the traffic problems. Land on the west side of Dean Road, as it enters the village area, was said to have been given by Mr Charmley many years ago expressly for children to walk on safely. Traffic turning left into Dean Road from Church Lane was liable to meet on-coming traffic forced into the middle of the road by vehicles parked on this west side while children are being delivered to the school. There is a perception that speeding is still a problem through the centre of the village.
Old Churchyard
This is maintained by TVBC. Concern was expressed that the churchyard was mown in April at a time when wild flowers, notably cowslips, were at their peak flowering period.
Village Map
This had been erected at the Black Horse and had received positive feedback from the public.
Waste Collection
The new arrangements for collecting household waste, especially garden waste, which had recently been introduced by TVBC, were proving very unpopular. The borough council's letter to tax payers explaining the scheme had caused particular offence.
5. AOB
There being no other business the Chairman closed the Parish Meeting at 1958h
Minutes of the combined Annual Meetings of the two Parishes held on 10 May 2004 at 1923h at King Edward's Hall, West Tytherley