Draft Minutes of Burton Green Residents’ Association Committee Meeting
March 25th 2024
Present:
Dianne Adams; Hilary Cox; Paddy Deeley; Andy Gibbs; Judi Hibberd; Janet Hickinbottom; Bron Putnam; Rona Taylor; Mary Webb.
Apologies and minutes of the last meeting (January 22nd 2024):
Apologies had been received from Helen Hehir and Faith Ward.
Minutes of the last meeting and Matters Arising
See Minutes of January 22nd 2024 meeting
Matters Arising from the previous minutes:
Check with PC about Red Lane bus stop. This was progressing and there had also been discussions about two further bus stops in the village. Andy said road safety matters had also been considered and a safety audit was to be carried out regarding the new road over the Cromwell Lane bridge. The lack of a lowered kerb on one side of the pavement was considered a problem for wheelchair users and those with prams and pushchairs.
Raise matter of Hodgetts Lane/Waste Lane junction at next PC meeting. Solihull MBC had offset a stop sign so that it no longer overhangs the road where lorries can hit it. Thanks were expressed to Chris Langton who has worked hard for several years to try to get the authorities to improve the safety of the junction.
Add charity donation to the May agenda. Action: Judi Mary would prepare a list of local charities to add to the September Bugle. Action: Mary
Reminder in next Bugle about Open Gardens on June 16th - completed
Find other local printers and compare costs for Bugle printing. Dianne said she had done an internet search and prices were comparable with the current printer.
Funding application to PC completed and agenda item. Judi had sent thanks.
The minutes of the January 2023 meeting were approved.
Village Hall:
Paddy reported that Deeley’s had been back to consider snagging items now that it was 12 months since the trustees had taken ownership of the building. There was still a problem with the flush on the disabled toilet. A ramp was now available to allow wheelchair users access via one of the side doors. Landscapers had been working on the grounds and had dug a ditch to help drain the water from the field. A contact at Warwickshire Wildlife had offered a plan for hedging and wildflowers. This was sponsored by Severn Trent Water.
Events had been a success, in particular the recent ceilidh.
Bookings were good, including some wedding receptions.
The time capsule had been recovered beneath the old village hall and it was to be opened on May 19th at the pop-up plant sale. Decisions about the future of its contents were still to be decided.
There was a problem with rubbish collection and the trustees were moving the contract to Tom White.
Thanks were extended to the Village Hall committee for waiving the hire cost of the hall for the Residents’ Association Community lunch held recently.
Treasurer’s Report:
See: Treasurer’s Report
A report had been circulated as follows:
BGRA Accounts as at 19 March 2024
Current Account net balance: £5,655.37
Deposit Account net balance: £1,018.86
Total Funds: £6674.23
Major Expenditure Since Last Meeting
Christmas card printing - £276
50% contribution to G Illingworth gift - £33.00
Hire of village hall - £11.25
Income Since Last Meeting
Funds from BG Parish Council - £3300
Outstanding Parish Funds to be used by 31 March 2025 - £3300.00
Thanks were given to Dianne for her efficient handling of the accounts.
Residents’ views/concerns:
Red Lane bus service – Rona had heard from Chloe (who had campaigned for a bus service) who had been told by one of the bus drivers that the route was to be extended to cover Red Lane. There were queries about where the bus would have room to turn around to go back into Kenilworth. Rona would contact the service provider for further details. Information would then be made available to residents. Mary would ask the Bugle delivery team if they would be prepared to post information slips on their routes.
Action: Rona and Mary
Concerns over safety at the Hodgetts Lane/Cromwell Lane junction – this had been raised with the PC and would be covered by the safety audit. Rona would contact the WCC Traffic and Safety team.
Action: Rona
Post meeting note:
Rona contacted WCC and received the following response:
Thank you for your email of 26th March with regards to the junction of Cromwell Lane and Hodgett's Lane.
This is a temporary scheme installed and maintained by HS2’s main contractor in the area, Balfour Beaty Vinci (BBV). This scheme has been subject to the consenting process outlined in schedule 4 of the HS2 2017 Act. As part of the consenting process this scheme has been subject to RSA 1, 2 & 3 Audits which have been carried out independently by contractors commissioned by BBV. WCC has been represented throughout this process by one of our HS2 Commissioning Engineers (Road Safety).
The stage 3 audit was carried out on the 29th November, 2023 where the scheme was considered on the whole and the visibility from the Hodgetts Lane junction was considered in detail.
The auditors considered the visibility issues of this temporary scheme ( all be it for some time ) and considering the self-regulating factors of the topography, speed limit and traffic signals considered that with appropriate trimming and maintenance, whilst not ideal the visibility available was sufficient.
We hope this provides some background and some reassurance that amongst all the issues considered with the scheme this facet was one and it received careful consideration. That said, we would not wish to dismiss observations from the local community, this scheme due to it’s temporary nature is one that is monitored and maintained by HS2’s contractors, BBV, whom would be responsible for considering amendments, design, sign placement etc.
Any concerns can be brought to the client and contractors’ attention via the HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk email address, which is the suggested path for complaints or observations to be made.
We trust that you find this email informative and thank you for contacting Warwickshire County Council.
Update on and discussion of Residents’ Association initiatives and issues:
Community lunch – This had been a great success with many attendees sending thanks to Mary and her team. Thanks were extended to the team and to the chef, Paul Spence. Mary said the team would be feeding back about the event and making some minor changes to their plans for the future. The committee agreed to the purchase of 9 aprons and a box of gloves for use at future lunches. Hilary and Mary were to renew their hygiene certificates.
Community Fund from BBV – entrance gates. No further progress.
HS2 issues
Peter’s report:
Interim Report on HS2 Following Teams Meeting on 11 March 2024
Progress with the tunnel on the North side of Cromwell Lane has been going well. The roof slabs have been completed as can be seen from the bridge. The amended plan included holes in each slab to allow excavation from above. This has been completed in the slabs nearest the road and the concrete base will be poured in due course (600 to 800mm. thick). It will be locked to the walls by a corbelled structure.
Excavation at the northern end of the tunnel is being undertaken partly from above and partly through the north portal. At the open end north of the portal the earth with be excavated between the diaphragm wall on the west side and the piles on the right. These will then be bridged with precast
props. Some 39 or so props are currently stored near to the Bentonite Silos.
Work will soon be starting to clear the land for the Transformer Feeder Station. It will be a triangle of land between Hodgetts Lane and the HS2 track.
We were promised that Cromwell Lane would not be closed again in the immediate future. However, the electricity supply to the lights, including the traffic lights, around the bridge has proved unreliable. In order to rectify the problem, the bridge will be closed for 5 days in early April.
There will be public briefings in March and July. The latter one will include archaeological findings as a result of the earthworks and should be very interesting.
There was considerable discussion about the Defibrillators. It was suggested that one should be relocated to Red Lane near the post box to cover that area.
Complaints have been received about the road surface in Cromwell Lane between Red Lane and the bridge. This is the responsibility of Warwickshire County Council and will be taken up by the Parish Council. HS2 have apparently contributed towards the cost of resurfacing.
Complaints have also been received about the surface of the temporary Greenway between Hob Lane and Waste Lane. With all the rain, the surface has turned to a thick paste in some areas, causing danger to both cyclists and walkers. We were promised that the surplus surface material would be raked off.
Peter Stanworth
HS2 rep for BGRA
Defibrillator update
Judi explained that there was now a working defibrillator in a cabinet on the wall outside 18 Hodgett’s Lane. The Parish Council wanted to erect a pole in Red Lane and to use the solar cabinet which HS2 had positioned outside the old village hall. Final location of this in Red Lane needed to be decided.
A decision was taken not to insure the defibrillators and equipment belonging to BGRA.
Mosaic maintenance
Jo Edler was in the process of maintaining the mosaics. There would be a small cost for tins of sealant. Mary had arranged for the plaques to be renewed.
Residents had been asked for a volunteer to mow the Coronation verge. Andy Gibbs agreed to do this but if other residents were willing, this could be a shared task.
Bugle delivery – more deliverers were needed. Lesley Knight had kindly agreed to cover the Broadwell Woods site. Mary had taken on Archie Taylor’s patch.
Garden Open Day 2024 and float.
Plans were in place for this event to take place on June 16th 2024. Seven residents had now volunteered to take part and two meetings had taken place so far. A reminder had been added to the recent Bugle. Judi and Janet agreed to consider circulating information of the scarecrow trail via the school newsletter and on Facebook.
Action: Judi and Janet
PC funding application approved (Bugle funding; bulbs; verge maintenance). A thank you letter had been sent.
Priorities for precept money (standing item): Bugle funding; bulbs; Coronation verge maintenance
Parish Council Report
.
Several matters concerning the PC had already been discussed.
Cllr. Kyn Aizlewood was working on a plan to connect existing pockets of woodland in the area. Cllr. Warwick Webster was doing a tree survey.
Stoneymoor Farm had sought permission for solar panels on its roof.
Plans for the Red Lane play area refurbishment had been drawn up and a working party created. Ideas were being sought for activities on the playground and on the field on the Burrow Hill estate. The application for a battery farm on Hodgett’s Lane was still pending. A barrier was being installed on the Burrow Hill car park. The notice board there was to be lowered.
Any Other Business:
A query was raised about the pods that had been erected to the rear of the Stanworths’ property and had since been refused planning permission. It was believed they had been put up for sale but, at the moment, because the ground was so wet, it would be difficult to move them.
A resident had reported that the owners of Beanit Farm were burying rubbish, including plastic, in the field where there had been fires last year. This was an environmental issue and the relevant parish council needed to be informed.
Faith Ward had agreed to BGRA buying her a shrub in memory of her husband, Nigel. This would happen when Faith was ready.
7. Date of next Meeting:
The next committee meeting was scheduled for May 20th 2024. This would be held at 6:45 to allow time for the parish council meeting afterwards.
Other meetings would take place in 2024 as follows:
July 22nd
September 23rd
November 25th
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