www.coltonparishcouncil.org.uk

Ron Mein, who has been your council chairman for the past three years, decided to retire from the council which he did at the Annual Parish Council Meeting on 14th May. He has presided over a period of change in the make-up of the council, in the gaining of Quality Parish status and in the numerous changes and initiatives introduced by the government, LDNPA and County and District Councils. We have been fortunate that Ron has been able to call on his experience as a county councillor to guide us through these changes which he did with professionalism and good humour. He will be greatly missed and we would like to thank him on behalf of all members of the parish and wish him a healthy and happy retirement. Ron remains a loyal supporter of the parish council and his first contribution as a resident of the parish was to make a handsome new notice board, from wood he had in his workshop, for Rusland. This has been fixed on the barn door at Hall Farm, where until now, Julia Crowe has been conscientiously pinning parish council notices directly onto the barn door.

Enclosed is a summary of the chairman’s Annual Report, the publishing of which is a requirement of a Quality Parish. A full version of the report is sent to the Principal Authorities and can be seen on the website, or on request from the clerk.

Following several reports of traffic travelling at inappropriate speeds in parts of the parish, CCC Traffic Management Department loaned the parish council an Electronic Speed Reduction Device, which was placed for a week outside Tottlebank Farm. The flashing sign draws drivers’ attention to the speed at which they are travelling. It clearly had an effect and will be used in other parts of the parish later in the summer.

We have had many favourable reports on the improvements to our parish that are being made by Chris Slater, our lengthsman. However, we would like more referrals from local people about problems such as trees or verges causing an obstruction, blocked gullies, dirty signs, overgrown footpaths etc. At the end of the year we have to evaluate his effectiveness, and lots of local referrals would reinforce the case for the continuation of the pilot scheme. If you see anything that you think needs attention, contact Cllr Penny Lovegrove, the administrator (contact number back page). Don’t forget also that for faults on the road you can ring CCC Hotline 0845 609 6609 or report on-line at:

http://www.cumbriahighways.org.uk/report_fault.php

The parish council submitted a letter of support to the Save Our Post Offices campaign. Although it is not yet known whether or not our local post offices are on the government’s closure list, using them regularly will to prove they are needed by us and improve the chances of them remaining open.

If the government accepts Cumbria County Council’s 'One Council, One Vision, One Voice' proposal for the setting up of a Unitary Authority, one tier would consist of Community Boards, each with about 10,000 voters. These boards would consist of councillor representatives from the Unitary Authority, groups of parish councils from the area covered and other representatives from the wider community, such as the police, doctors, youth workers etc. Colton Parish Council has been invited to take part in a pilot Community Board in the Grange and Cartmel area. Although we may not be grouped with that area if the full Unitary Authority goes ahead, it is essential that the Community Boards run in a way that is truly responsive to local people and shaped around their needs. Hopefully, Colton’s contribution will be to help in that shaping. Meetings will be open to members of the public who will be able to speak in the public participation part of the meeting. Dates and agendas will be displayed on our website, on notice boards and in the local press.

Thanks to all those who took the trouble to complete the questionnaire. Councillors hand-delivered 450 questionnaires and 146 forms were returned. The return rate of 32% is above average for Cumbria Rural Housing Trust surveys, and about average nationally, but is very good considering the number of second homes and holiday lets in Colton parish. Of those returned forms, 23 had completed Part 2 of the questionnaire, saying that they felt themselves to be in need of housing now or would be in need within 5 years. This information is now being analysed and all the Part 2s are being checked to see if they meet these criteria of housing need:

               1. Inadequately housed at present
               2. Unable to afford to rent and/or buy on the open market
               3. Have a need to live in the locality - either live or work in the
                   parish at present.

Congratulations to Cllr Penny Lovegrove for completing the London Marathon last month. She raised over £900 for the Children’s Hospice, Derian House, in Chorley, Lancashire.

Penny’s now back in training for her next challenge.

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. Minutes of meetings are available from the clerk and on the website

Mrs Penny Lovegrove 01229 861091 Mr John Watson 01229 861450 Vacant seat

East Ward (Lakeside & Finsthwaite)

Mr Chris Potts 015395 31735 Mr Peter Harrington 015395 30376

Mrs Sally Baxter 015395 31150.

West Ward (Colton, Oxen Park, Spark Bridge N. & Nibthwaite)

Mr Tony Atkinson 01229 861164 Mr Colin Barr 01229 861408

Mr Ian Cunliffe 01229 861440.

Clerk: Mrs J Dove. Fell View Cottage, Lowick Green, Ulverston LA12 8EA.

01229 885647 coltonpc@tiscali.co.uk

Cumbria County Councillor (Cartmel Division): Mr Ted Walsh 015395 30272

South Lakeland District Councillors: Mrs Anne Hall (Coniston Ward) 015394 41558 Mr G Jenkinson (Hawkshead Ward) 015395 31394.