Colton Parish Council Newsletter Summer 2009

THE BIGGER PICTURE - COLTON 2020 ?

It’s hard to believe that the Millennium was almost a decade ago, and that we’ll be jumping into 2010 in a few months time! Although it may feel as if life is much the same in this quiet rural corner of NW England, I’m sure you can think of quite a few changes since we welcomed in that new century.

In 2002 Colton started work on its first Parish Plan, to bring together local ideas, opportunities and issues at the start of the 21^st century. The Plan, with updates, is on our website for you to have a look at. However, things have moved on and it’s time to start talking and thinking again. These days, Community Plans, as they are more commonly called, are really being taken notice of, at district, county and regional level, and local aspirations and initiatives can have a significant impact.

So, now WE NEED YOU! A handful of enthusiastic folk have started the ball rolling, but your views and ideas, your hopes and concerns for the next 10 years are crucial ....before we can even think about an action plan we want to explore what it is that will make this place tick, ten years from now? Colton is a scattered parish geographically, with several quite separate settlements, so the challenge of hearing everyone’s voice is greater, but we’re hoping to organise some unusual and exciting events over the next 6 months, to help provoke discussion and ideas from EVERYONE.

COLTON 2020 is the headline to look out for, and your first chance to find out more is at Rusland Show in a few days time (August 15^th). Come and visit our stand, and find out how you can express your views. Perhaps you have some ideas about how we can secure the long term future of our lovely part of the world, and the people who make it thrive, in these uncertain times? All opinions welcome – however wacky, controversial or impossible they might seem! And if you can’t make it to Rusland, then watch this space for those promised events in the autumn!                                                                                                              

Cllr Brenda Fishwick

COUNCIL CHANGES

We welcome our new Parish Councillor, John Taylor (pictured). John and his wife Joan came to Finsthwaite in 1977, following his retirement from the Royal Navy. He served in the RN for 30 years (Cmdr John Taylor OBE MA), teaching and then as a meteorologist in most parts of the world. John continues to keep daily meteorological records and is a member of local history societies, the Milestone Society, the Lake District Horticultural Society and the local branch of the Royal British Legion. He is keen advocate of alternative energy initiatives, particularly local generation of electrical power by water.

We also welcome a new County Councillor, Mr Rod Wilson, who has already attended two of our meetings and been active in helping us pursue solutions to the green lanes issue (see below). We thank our outgoing County Councillor, Ted Walsh for all his hard work on Colton’s behalf during his term of office.     

Clerk

CONSULTATION ON THE UPLANDS

Your Council submitted a response to the Commission for Rural Communities’ Uplands Inquiry, set up to identify the major challenges facing England’s upland communities. This asked for evidence from ‘businesses and communities on their fears and hopes as farmers and food-producers, tourism and recreation resources, and as guardians of landscape, wildlife, heritage and natural resources’. A meeting of local farmers and businesses was held in The Manor at Oxen Park to gather opinion. Key issues included: the severe financial difficulties and uncertainty facing farming; the closure of local facilities, support services and employers in favour of large centralised businesses; tourism pressures and related environmental damage; the increase in second home ownership; and the lack of affordable housing and employment opportunities for local people.  

Clerk

MEETING ON GREEN LANES AND OFF-ROADING

The Parish Council held an additional meeting on Monday 6^th July to consider aspects of 'green lanes' and off-roading.  The well-attended meeting had two substantive agenda items: i) the condition and maintenance of green lanes (unsurfaced Unclassified Country Roads) of which there are 8 in the parish (one or two so badly eroded that farmers cannot use them to reach their stock), and ii) the behaviour of off-road users.

John Robinson of Cumbria Highways Department said that green lanes were part of the County's adopted road network and were therefore the responsibility of his department.  However, there is barely enough money in the budget to maintain ordinary roads, let alone unsurfaced routes and he could see no obvious improvement in the situation in the foreseeable future.  Tony Hill, our National Park ranger, confirmed that, since the NERC Act, the National Park was now able to implement Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to restrict access, but explained that the process was not straightforward (especially in view of recent legal challenges in the Yorkshire Dales NP).  He said that there is money for Rights of Way improvement but that this did not include UCRs. He wondered whether some sort of initiative similar to the Fix the Fells project might be implemented for UCRs  and agreed to discuss this with Highways.  Steve Pighills of the Cumbria Countryside Access Partnership said that some off-roaders were happy to help with volunteer work parties but these could only achieve temporary improvements.

The meeting then considered the behaviour of some off-roaders who were responsible for much of the current track erosion, extensive track-side and fell-side damage and had even delivered verbal and physical abuse towards farmers who had remonstrated with them.  Steve Pighills felt that this group was a small minority which was causing problems for everybody but others felt that the problem was more widespread.

Our Community Support Police Officers, John Baldwin and Diana Wilcock said that they would act on reports of illegal behaviour but due to the nature of the terrain, and the vehicles involved, it was particularly difficult to apprehend culprits.  Nevertheless, they urged the public to report any incidents witnessed. A number of other suggestions were made that might help reverse a deteriorating situation and the Council will consider these at future meetings.   

Cllr Colin Barr

PRESENTATION ON BOUTH VILLAGE GREEN

A presentation was made on Bouth Village Green on Wednesday 1st July in honour of the retiring Chairman of the Village Green Committee, Roderick Smith. The event was attended by Bouth villagers, including folk who had worked on the original construction of the Green, the new Chairman of the Village Green, John Osborne, and Parish Councillors. The Chairman of the Parish Council, Colin Barr made a short speech of gratitude for Roderick’s hard work over the years. The presentation of a pair of binoculars and a bottle of 'bubbly' was by Mrs.Susan Dean. Roderick will be 'A hard act to follow'!   

Cllr Penny Lovegrove

News in Brief

Community Police Officers: PC Diana Wilcock (pictured) has joined PC John Baldwin as part of our Community Policing team. Diana is based in Ulverston (Tel: 01229 848535). See http://www.cumbria.police.uk/thewaywework_5213.htm.

Highways: We are very pleased that re-surfacing work has at last been carried out on the worst roads in our Parish, notably Finsthwaite to Backbarrow. Work is scheduled for  Rusland Cross to Crosslands during October.

Race for Life : Mandy Lane (Parish Clerk) Judith Dove (ex Clerk) and Penny Lovegrove (Parish Councillor) all took part in the Race for Life in Barrow Park on Sunday 7th. June to raise funds for Cancer Research. It is an inspiring event with people of all ages and fitness levels participating with great good humour (+ pink hair and bunny-ears! - no room for photo …. shame….! Ed.)  - oh but there is on the website! :-

Forthcoming Parish Council Meetings

Your Councillors