Spring 2008 News Articles:
Changes in May to Colton Parish Council may not have attracted the level of media attention as that accorded to Boris Johnson in London (!), but they are significant for us locally. Two of our Councillors have resigned: Sally Baxter and Tony Atkinson. Both have worked hard for our community and the Council. Peter Harrington remains as a councillor but has resigned from the vice-chairmanship due to other commitments. Chris Potts has taken on the role. Many thanks to them all. Two new Councillors have been co-opted:
Changes in electoral boundaries mean that Colton now lies completely in the Hawkshead District Ward, so we say goodbye to Coniston district councillor Anne Hall and also to Gordon Jenkinson who has retired. Both have worked hard for us and we are most grateful to them. Our new district councillor is Colin Davies to whom we extend a warm welcome. One suggestion from the recent parish questionnaire was that there should be 'surgery sessions' where people could discuss concerns with Parish Councillors.In response, the Chairman has agreed to ensure that he arrives at least half-an-hour before each Council meeting (see dates on back page) and would be pleased to have a chat with anyone who has something to discuss.Meanwhile, it is hoped that parishioners will know who their local councillor is, and will feel able to contact him or her, as and when issues arise. With your last Newsletter came a questionnaire inviting you to say which issues and concerns were of most importance to you. This was to help update the Parish Plan which is happening right now. We thank the encouraging number of people who completed and returned the forms. The top six issues were: · Increase in volume and speed of traffic, and condition of road surface · Lack of affordable housing · Protection of peace and quiet in the area · Cost of Council Tax · Protection of visual amenity of the Parish · Managing the effects of the changing and ageing population Inevitably, the Parish Council cannot solve all the problems but we can bring pressure to bear on those who might be able to help, and we will be writing, lobbying and generally campaigning to encourage progress in these areas.We are hoping, for example, that being part of the Grange & Cartmel Area Community Board will help achieve some things that a single parish cannot do on its own.As well as the frequently expressed issues, there were a number of suggestions for new things that the council could do. These ranged from holding 'surgeries' for residents to chat with councillors (see front page) to planting daffodils in the roadsides of our parish.Our response to these and other suggestions is being put up on the website (www.coltonparishcouncil.org.uk). The Affordable Housing Working Group met in March, inviting Simon Hughes (South Lakeland Housing) and Judith Derbyshire (Cumbria Rural Housing Trust) to talk about policy and procedures for affordable housing. We came away with a good deal more understanding of how the system operates. Housing needs can be complex and changeable as young families grow up, and that need is also linked to the availability of rural employment. The working group will being assessing the best way forward to generate sustainable affordable housing schemes in the area that meet local needs. We stress again that it is important that those in housing need should register with S. Lakes Housing: ring 01229 584424 or see www.southlakehousing.co.uk. Please also be aware of the planned construction of 7 houses and flats for rent on the site of the former Satterthwaite School, by Mitre Housing Association. All the residences will be subject to a local occupancy clause which extends to surrounding parishes, including Colton. Further information is available from Mitre Housing Association on 01768 861400, or email: enquiry@edenha.org.uk .
Responsibility for trail routes and off-road traffic has changed: the 'Cumbria Access Partnership' oversees all recreational needs, and off-road traffic comes under the 'Motor-propelled Vehicle Sub-group', on which the LDNPA have a representative (the LDNPA's 'Hierarchy of Trail Routes' scheme has been dropped.) Park rangers are now responsible only for the day-to-day monitoring of traffic and its effects.
Incidents and behaviour (good and bad) should be reported to Tony Hill for him to log on the Trails Register. Contact Tony on: 01539-724555 or email tony.hill@lake-district.gov.uk. (copy to HQ@lake-district.gov.uk). Report any road traffic offences to the police on 01768-891999. Although County and Defra have unfortunately withdrawn financial support for the Lengthsman Scheme, we are pleased that funds for this year have been found from three sources: Colton Parish Council's own precept (one-third of the cost), the Grange and Cartmel Community Board, and further funds via our local County Councillor, Ted Walsh (who has been very supportive of this scheme), through his allocation from County. The County’s new Highway Steward will be active in the area in the future and will work in collaboration with Chris Slater, our Lengthsman. Councillor Penny Lovegrove has agreed to liaise with the Highway Steward as well as with the Lengthsman. Please remember to contact her on 01229 861091 or Lovegrovebouth@btinternet.com if you have requests for work.
News in Brief Post Office Closures: The deadline has now passed for registering views about our local post offices at Greenodd and Leven Valley. The parish council sent in its own objections and also joined with those from other councils in the area. As we all know, if the post offices go, many other amenities associated with them could be forced to close as well. Let us hope that reason will prevail! Grizedale News: As Phase I of the Grizedale redevelopment nears completion,are said to be at least two opportunities for local people to share the new facilities.First, a new community resource centre called 'The Yan', especially important for educational activities, will be officially opened on 23rd June.The second opportunity, part of Phase II, is the creation of a small number of 'work units' intended to fulfil the pledge to help create more employment in the area.For details of these and other aspects of the developments, please contact the Forestry Commission at Grizedale on 01229 860010. Future Parish Council Meetings
All meetings
begin at 7.30pm. Agendas and authorised minutes of meetings are
available from the Clerk,
Your Councillors
|
There is increasing concern about the extent of the
damage being done to our rural lanes, moorland and fields by
off-road vehicles. In some cases, the damage has rendered the
routes impassable for farmers. Your Council has written to Cumbria
Highways - they reply that they cannot find the funds for repairs.