Highlights from the Annual Parish Council Meeting of the Much Hadham Parish Council on Tuesday 4th July 2006.

Footpaths

It was reported that a sign at Dane Bridge had fallen and this will be replaced. Two new dog litter bins are now being purchased and will be sited on footpaths were it was thought the greatest problems with dog waste occurred.

Stansted Airport

You may be aware that BAA have made a formal application for use of the existing runway to be extended to increase its capacity. If granted this would result in more flights and more noise and the knock on effect of more people coming to and from the airport.

However a recent development has been that a Spanish company has purchased a major interest in B.A.A. It was thought that they would require finance for development at Heathrow and Bristol airports. The major concern for us has been the threat of a second runway at Stansted, although the recent purchase of B.A.A. could mean that more use will be made of the existing runway but that no formal application is made for a second runway.

Harlow North

The Inspector who chaired the recent Enquiry in Public has now published his report into the East of England Plan for development in this area. He was aware that there were problems concerning water supply, transport and environmental issues. He also felt that a “satellite” settlement at Harlow North would be unlikely to assist with the functioning and regeneration of Harlow itself, rather it would be a rival to it. His conclusion was that there should not be development there or at the North Weald Aerodrome site. His report is now to be considered by the minister of state, Ruth Kelly, and it is hoped that she will endorse his recommendations. There will then be a further period of public consultation.

You can keep informed at www.stopharlownorth.com

A second runway at Stansted and a new town of 20,000 houses at Eastwick and Gilston would have been great threats to our village and our way of life. It is to be hoped that these threats may be receeding.

Highways and Traffic

The works concerning traffic calming and the repair to the road at Gingercress Farm have been costed by the local authority and we await to hear when they will be commenced.

Sadly, there were reports of many motorists not obeying the traffic regulations. In particular the use of the one way restrictions in Malting Lane at certain times. A recent survey indicated that in the region of 70 vehicles were driving up Malting Lane between 7.00 and 9.30 PM each and every weekday in contravention of the one way restriction at that time.  No doubt the offenders offend according to their perception of being caught. The police have advised us to take the registration numbers of vehicles seen to offend and they will then be cautioned by the police. Taxi drivers, who should know better, are frequent offenders and their numbers can be passed to the local authority who grant them licenses and who can threaten that these will be removed if they continue to offend. Please pass any information you have to Sandra McAdam.

There are some potholes to be seen in some of our roads. If you wish to report any faults in the highways please contact the customer service centre at Herts Highways on 01438 737320 or at www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults and the work is then issued to the relevant works team from the customer service centre.

The Parish Council has decided to take over the cutting of the verges on the Causeway leading to the church from the High Street and also the triangle of grass next to the village hall car park.

There has been concern at the installation of new street and footway lighting at Windmill Way. Lighting is being installed outside bedroom windows, even though the regulations say this should not be done. Our District Councilor will be suggesting that the local authority have a further survey conducted so that the residents should be consulted before further work is undertaken.

The War Memorial

 This is a listed monument and we have now obtained permission to replace the old memorial that had to be removed. Various applications were made for grants and financial assistance, but without luck. One organisation informed us that they thought that use of the “stump” of the old memorial would and should suffice. That was not the view of the residents or the Parish Council and a replacement stone memorial is now being made and we hope it will be in place in time for Remembrance Day. The cost will be in the region of £12,500 and there will a brass plaque attached to record the names of those who died.

You may wonder how the Parish Council raises and how it then spends money. We are allowed to incur expenditure on work which is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to the exercise of the powers we have under the Local Government Act 1972. The expenses are chargeable on the parish and we obtain our funds from what is called a precept, which is sent to the local authority (East Herts D.C.) who collect this from the council tax payers and then pay the amount to us. However we have to have a “responsible financial officer” who maintains the accounts. The Parish Council have to agree these and they have to be audited and publicised. In previous precepts   we have included a provision for the cost of a new war memorial, as we have not been certain that any grant would be available.

Parish Plan

Some years ago a Parish Appraisal was produced. It is now necessary to convert this into a Parish Plan. This could then be adopted by the local authority and they would have regard to it when considering planning and other matters. There is funding available for this and we will be taking this proposal forward. Little Hadham Parish Council have completed their Parish Plan and we are to have a discussion with them to see how best to go about our plan.

Children’s Play Equipment at the Sportsfield

The matting underneath the swings and the merry- go- round has now been replaced with a new “safety grass” surface and the other pieces of equipment  have had their individual bases weeded, repaired if necessary, and filled with new bark.

Vacancy on the Parish Council

Following the retirement of Gill Sayer formal notices were posted concerning any possible election to fill the vacancy.  No response was made by 5th June and so the procedure is that we can now co-opt a person to fill that vacancy. Three names were put forward of people interested to be co-opted and we are in the process of seeing these people to explain what the job involves, before any final decision is taken.

The members of the present Parish Council are required to resign next May, and if there are more people wishing to stand than posts available, then elections will be held.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 12th September at 7.30PM in the Green Room of the Village Hall. The meetings are open to the public and there is the opportunity to make comments and air concerns. We would like to see as many residents as possible at these meetings.