Present: Cllrs Colvin, Doyle, Monaghan and Whatmore
- Public Forum: no members of the public were present
- Matters arising from previous meetings
- There has not yet been a decision about diverting footpath 13c.
WDC planning enforcement officers are investigating a possible illegal
disturbance of the footpath by earthworks.
- To approve changes to street lights in Wadhurst:
- Comments received from parishioners were reviewed. The following
lights will not be changed: 112 Osmers Hill/Wood’s Green; 77
and 80 Holmsdale Close; 116 Turners Green. The following lights
will be added to the list to be changed: 10 and 11 Mews
Cottages, Greyhound Lane. [list here]
- A total of 74 lights will be fitted with half night cells. An
estimate for the work has not yet been received. Spending of up
to £2500 was authorised.
- Column 122 at the junction of Gloucester Road
and Old Station Road was fitted with an unsuitable lantern by ESC
contractors. Costs of up to £300 were authorised to replace it
with a swan neck and conventional lantern.
- Lighting policy was discussed. A written policy will be drafted
for the next meeting.
- The old-style lanterns in the centre of the village are nearing
the end of their life (10-15 years). Suitable replacement lanterns
will cost approximately £600 each, which may add £9000 to our costs
over the next 2-3 years. The PC will be asked to approve placing
any Highways, Transport and Lighting surplus into an earmarked
reserve to help cover this cost. Residents of George Street and
Wood’s Green who paid some of the cost of the original lamps will
be asked to contribute. In future money will be put by to cover
these costs.
- The large light in the Greyhound car park was discussed. It is
very tall and casts yellow light over a large area of the village
beyond the car park. Several solutions were discussed, including
replacing it with 2 smaller lights, and changing the lantern. A
compromise of replacing the lantern so that light is cast downwards,
and replacing the yellow bulb with a white one will be investigated.
- The policy for changing sodium bulbs to white was discussed.
96 lights are still sodium. The cost of changing to white bulbs
during the Feb/Mar maintenance session would be £23 per bulb. White
bulbs need to be changed every 2 years, whereas sodium lights need
to be changed every 4. The existing policy, of a gradual change
as bulbs need to be replaced will continue.
- Energy efficient/PLT light bulbs have become available. They
use approx 2/3 the energy of conventional lights and are dimmer,
and were considered by the committee to be more suitable for residential
and rural areas than the bulbs currently being used. The cost will
be investigated.
- Network Rail is unsure whether the grass verge outside the station
(identified by the station survey as a hazard when overgrown) is
their responsibility. They do however have it trimmed twice a year
and feel that cutting it fortnightly in the summer “would not be
commercially viable for the gain”. PH will be asked to investigate
who owns the land. If it is ESCC then Highways will be asked to trim
it more frequently. WPC may need to add it to their cutting schedule.
- The minutes of the Wealden Local Partnership meeting setting up
a community bus service were reviewed. Wadhurst is already well served
by public transport and has many shops and services.
- No estimate has yet been received for the V.A.S. on Cousley Wood
Road. A resident there has asked that it not spoil her view.
- To review results of recent SID deployments: none has been received
recently, although SID deployments continue,
- To discuss proposed improvements to speed enforcement in rural
areas. PC Stephen Etherington is being issued with a speed gun and
trained how to use it. It will also be available for use by trained
parishioners.
- Tom Doyle 31st January 2007
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