Guilden Sutton Parish Council

Guilden Sutton Parish Council

Newsletter

December 2007, no 123

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMPETITION

GUILDEN SUTTON PARISH COUNCIL CORDIALLY INVITES HOUSEHOLDS TO ENTER THEIR HOUSES

JUDGING IS NOW TAKING PLACE FOR A SMALL PRIZE

FOR DETAILS CONTACT

Cllr TRISHA PATERSON, 300307

Community Safety

Drink driving.

Who’s driving you home? Cheshire road policing officers are paying particular attention to partygoers this month. Officers say they are already seeing an increase in the amount of drink or drug impaired drivers being arrested.

Their advice is that as you plan your Christmas night out or family get together make sure you designate one person, who will not be drinking, to drive. Some pubs will offer the driver free soft drinks over the Christmas period. Or pre book a taxi.

The loss of your driving licence can often result in a loss of employment but more importantly, could you live with the knowledge that your drinking, or a relative’s drinking, destroyed someone’s life this Christmas, ask officers. And don’t forget that alcohol could still be in your blood the morning following a night out.

Police File.

This is the time of the year when there is a natural increase in thefts from and around both domestic properties and commercial premises, says our PC, Mal Baker. The long, dark nights give increased opportunity for thieves to operate so this is a timely reminder to check the security of your property and possessions. Keep vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

One crime that is showing a sharp increase is the theft of metals and scrap. You may well have seen the national publicity about this with a surge in prices paid for scrap metal. Favourite targets for this are local schools and churches where lead is stolen from the roof. Copper lightning conductors are also stolen and all types of electrical cable and fittings such as copper are attracting very high prices. Again report any suspicious activity.

Ward walks.

PC Baker regularly makes himself available for what are known as `ward walks’ around the parish.

These are not just for parish councillors but for anyone who has something they want to raise with Mal. Walks are publicised on the parish noticeboards or details of any forthcoming ward walk can be obtained from info@guildensutton.org.uk

Calls can also be made to Mal on 0845 458 6394. Mal says he would welcome the chance to speak to any members of the community about issues which concern them. People can also call in at Mickle Trafford Police Station next to the primary school.

Local bus service.

Concerns have been reported that the C35 has been suffering early departures. This has been raised with the operator. Guilden Sutton’s County Cllr Eleanor Johnson and City Cllr Stuart Parker are pursuing a request for the 1300 departure from Chester to be brought forward to 1200 to reduce the time people have to wait in town.

Speed matters.

The Council used public speaking time at a County Hall meeting of Chester’s highways and transportation local joint committee to raise two issues. With a review due to be carried out in due course of the speed limits on minor roads, a request was made for the number of properties on both Wicker Lane and Hare Lane within Guilden Sutton parish to be assessed under the new national guidelines. These broadly provide for a 30mph limit if there are 20 or more properties on a 600m stretch and 40mph if there are 10 properties.

A reduction in the speed limit on Hare Lane would also be supported by the neighbouring county councillor who lives in Pipers Ash.

Rubbish dumping.

Although the vast majority of occupiers dispose of their garden refuse through the City Council’s brown bin scheme, by taking it to the tip or by composting, the Parish Council remains concerned that some rubbish is still dumped in areas such as the dingle at the back of the Oaklands estate.

As the parish inevitably suffers from fly tipping due to its proximity to the urban area, this is disappointing.

The Council hopes people would think twice before dumping their garden rubbish to the detriment of the appearance of the village.

If you do come across fly tipping, usually on Belle Vue Lane and Guilden Sutton Lane, our city councillors Brian Bailey and Stuart Parker suggest you should not approach those concerned but should take details including the time, date and any car description and registration and report these to the City Council.

Summerfield Road shops.

The Summerfield Road shops were built before access issues were seen to be as important as they are today. The Parish Council has approached the Town Hall to see if any advice is available as to what, if anything, might be done to improve access to the shops, for example, for those who use motor scooters.

Parish playing field.

Repairs have been carried out to the badly worn goal mouths on the field on Guilden Sutton Lane and to other smaller areas. The goal mouths have been reseeded by the Parish Council’s contractors, Messrs Gresty of Wood Farm and fenced to allow the new turf to become established for next summer.

In the meantime, the goal posts have been removed and stored.

Bus stands.

Overgrowth which was affecting the two bus stands on Guilden Sutton Lane and School Lane has also been removed by Messrs Gresty.

No smoking.

The enclosed bus shelter at the entrance to the Wilding Business Estate strictly qualifies as premises in which no smoking is allowed under the new legislation. A suitable sign is to be displayed although the Council is not aware of any problem.

Bulb planting.

Each year for a number of years, parish councillors have planted two or three sacks of bulbs to brighten verges in the parish in the Spring. This year, planting took place on Guilden Sutton Lane near the Heath Bank steps. Watch out for the results when the lighter days are with us.

Remembrance Sunday.

Many residents will know that each Remembrance Sunday, the names of the fallen of the second world war are read by the chairman of the Parish Council. The question was asked as to why the names of those who gave their lives in the Great War were not similarly commemorated.

Inquiries suggested this had been considered in the 1960s but it appeared that no conclusion had been reached. Research by the Council eventually confirmed the names of four people from the village who should be included and it was found the graves of three of them had been visited by a resident.

They were read for the first time at last month’s service.

The Parish Council would particularly like to thank Messrs Gresty of Wood Farm for kindly attending to the area around the memorial garden immediately prior to the service and officers from the Cheshire Constabulary who were present.

Cllr Bob Armitage

A special meeting of the Parish Council was held, attended by the Sheriff of Chester, Cllr Andrew Storrar and his Lady, Cllr Jeanne Storrar, to present a scroll to former Cllr Bob Armitage on his retirement from the council after 30 years.

Those present included former councillors Cathy Carter, Michael Gartland and Julie Proudlove.

The Chairman, Cllr Ron Bayton, welcomed the civic party, Mr and Mrs Armitage and former councillors, He said former Cllr Armitage had a willingness to listen and take account of the views of others.

He had made sure that everyone, including new councillors, had a fair hearing and had qualities of fairness, thoughtfulness and kindness.

The Chairman invited the Vice Chairman, Cllr Danny Fisher, to read the following commendation:

Whereas

Cllr Robert Michael Armitage

has resigned from Guilden Sutton Parish Council

after 30 years exemplary service,

the Chairman and Members of the Council

hereby place on record their deep appreciation

of his contribution to the Council and to the Community.

The Chairman then invited His Worship The Sheriff to present the scroll to former Cllr Armitage.

His Worship commented that it rarely fell to somebody to be able to make a presentation to recognise 30 years service which had gained respect. At meetings at which former Cllr Armitage had been chairman, people had always felt they had a fair say. He felt the presentation also recognised the support which had been given by Mrs Gill Armitage. Describing former Cllr Armitage as a very modest person, His Worship believed that thirty years community service deserved recognition and both former Cllr and Mrs Armitage could take very great pride in that.

Responding, former Cllr Armitage said that although 30 years seemed a long time it was not the record as former County Alderman William Dutton had served as a member of the Parish Council for almost 50 years from 1927 to 1976.

He was pleased that during his time as a councillor he had seen a closer relationship between the Parish Council and Guilden Sutton Community Association and between the council and the primary school. Allotments had been provided for a 15 year period, the village hall had been built and bulb planting, which had taken place over the past 10 years or so, provided a splash of colour in the Spring.

The children's play area had been provided and a parish playing field had been rented, bus shelters and noticeboards had been introduced and the possibility of the green lane being redesignated as a byway open to all traffic had been successfully resisted.

More recently, the introduction of a dual taxation grant by the City Council, for which the Parish Council was very grateful, had been particularly welcome.

Former Cllr Armitage expressed the hope that those who were serving as parish councillors now would have as much satisfaction and as much pleasure as he had enjoyed.

A personal gift on behalf of the Members of the Council and the Clerk, Mr David Norbury, was then presented to former Cllr Armitage by the Chairman.

Light refreshments were taken for which His Worship The Sheriff and His Lady were pleased to remain.

Budget – have your say.

The Council will agree its budget for 2008/09 in January. If you any ideas about what might be included, contact any councillor (see below) with your suggestions. Details of this year’s budget are available from info@guildensutton.org.uk

Smoke alarms.

Free home fire safety checks, smoke alarms and special vibrating and illuminated smoke alarms for people who are hearing impaired are available by calling free phone 0800 389 0053.

Useful numbers.

Cheshire Constabulary, non urgent calls 0845 458 0000

Domestic Violence outreach service 01606 351 375

Freephone 24 hour domestic violence help line 0808 2000 247

Child Line 0800 11 11

Chester Samaritans 01244 377999

E mail jo@samaritans.org

Street light out – or on during the day?

Phone the Guilden Sutton highways depot on 01244 603475 with the road name and column number.

Special collections.

Every household in Chester District is entitled to one free special collection of large unwanted items, such as furniture, fridges, etc a year. Just ring the City Council on 01244 402477.

Anti social behaviour.

The City Council's number for reporting anti social behaviour such as rubbish dumping and graffiti is 01244 402477.

Vehicle fires.

If you have any information about vehicle fires or any other crime, ring community safety officers on 01244 616183 or make a free, confidential call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. To get abandoned vehicles removed or if you have a vehicle to dispose of ring 01244 402477 or email callcentre@chester.gov.uk

Information. The Council's e mail address is info@guildensutton.org.uk and its web site is at www.guildensutton.org.uk

Future meetings: Future meetings of the Council are due to be held in the Village Hall on Mondays 7 January, 4 February, 3 March, 7 April, 12 May, 9 June, 21 July, 1 September, 6 October, 10 November and 1 December 2008. All meetings are preceded by public speaking time and residents are welcome to attend and address the Council.

Contact Councillors Ron Bayton (Chairman) 301286, Imogen Brown 300812, Danny Fisher (vice chairman) 301398, Derek Hughes 300185, Bill Moulton 348473, Trisha Paterson 300307 and Mike Roberts 300684 or the Clerk, David Norbury, 1 Orchard Croft, Guilden Sutton, CHESTER, CH3 7SL, 300783. Mrs Pat Astbury 318276 and Cllr Roberts 300684 are the Local Bus User Contacts and Brian Lewin 301501 is the Parish Paths Warden. The Parish Tree Wardens are Cllr Bayton 301286 and Mr Alan Young 301558. Cllr Roberts is the parish recycling champion.

Connect2Chester

Would you like to see the Millennium cycle route extended to Guilden Sutton? If so, read on.

Chester is one of the places listed to benefit from lottery cash if the public gives the city its backing in a TV vote in December. The Connect2 programme is an ambitious bid to the Big Lottery Fund, which is offering a grant of up to £50 million for their Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.

It is being developed by sustainable transport charity Sustrans and aims to transform local travel and quality of life, by making it easier to walk and cycle for local journeys.

In Chester the project is aimed at extending the current cycle network for everyone, with particular attention to the Greenway currently covering Upton, Newton and Blacon, but with a plan to extend it to Guilden Sutton.

Another project under consideration is to link the Greenway and the canal cycle paths to Sealand Road and the Greyhound retail park.

Chester’s project one of 79 community-based projects around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that make up Connect2. Nearly two thirds of all car journeys are less than five miles, and Connect2 will provide an alternative to those journeys by creating new walking and cycling routes and building bridges over rivers, railways and busy roads. This would enable many more of us to reach the places we want to get to in a way that’s good for our health, and the environment, says Sustrans.

Connect2 is up against five other applications in the running for the £50 million – the final decision will be made in the televised public vote on Monday December 10.

The City Council is urging every resident of Chester District to cast their vote for the Connect2 scheme.

`Not only is cycling a more sustainable way of getting about, but it can give us new and different perspectives on our city. These schemes will open up some more attractive views both for recreation and essential travel and for cyclists they will be much safer to use than the routes they will replace,' said a spokesman.

New-Look Dial A Ride Service

The County Council says `PlusBus’, the new name for Dial A Ride services in the Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston areas, proved a hit in its first week on the road, with over 800 people registering for the service and the number of users tripling.

The five-strong fleet of brand new, fully accessible minibuses in a distinctive green ‘PlusBus’ colour scheme is designed to help residents who cannot use public transport due to disability.

Funded by Cheshire County Council in partnership with Chester City Council and Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council the service operates seven days a week except Bank Holidays.

The county council believes the introduction of ‘PlusBus’ will enable many more people who cannot use local transport to travel throughout the districts.

The new vehicles, with added features, should also make journeys much more enjoyable and stress-free.

The County said it is pleased to see new members registering with the service as well as those who made use of the previous Dial A Ride.

Referring to the increase in the number of passengers, the City Council says it hopes the service maintains this level of success, `offering a service that remains invaluable to a number of local people who otherwise would not be able to travel.'

Anyone interested in using the service should call the ‘PlusBus’ booking line on 0151 357 4420.

Local bus services.

Following the take over of Chester City Transport by First, services to the village are now operated by Helms of Eastham. Details of the timetable appear in the centre of this newsletter.

Local bus services (continued).

Following the disclosure at the end of July that the C35 services were to be deregistered, the Parish Council immediately contacted the County Transport Co-ordination Service and was assured that replacement services were in hand.

Although the Council had a number of letters objecting to the change, inquiries confirmed that passenger numbers are low. The route was said by First to be a loss maker and not all the services have been replaced.

The situation is to be reviewed after three months and the advice is the familiar `use it or lose it.’

County Cllr John Burke.

The Parish Council was sad to learn of the death of County Cllr John Burke

(Conservative) who had represented the Gowy division, which includes Guilden Sutton, at County Hall.

In a by election held on Thursday, September 27, Cllr Eleanor Johnson (Conservative), who is the City Councillor for Barrow ward, was elected in his place.

County Cllr Johnson can be reached at eleanor.johnson@cheshire.gov.uk telephone 01244 300339 or by writing to The Oaks, Long Green, Great Barrow, Chester, CH3 7JU.

John Boughton Award

In an award established by the City Council’s Gowy North Area Committee in memory of the late City Councillor John Boughton, who represented Christleton ward, which includes Guilden Sutton, at the Town Hall, Joan and Keith Emerton of Oaklands received commendation certificates for their hard work with and support for the Badminton Club and their work with children and young people through summer play schemes over a number of years.

The Parish Council is delighted with their well deserved recognition.

Mobile phone mast.

Continuing concerns about the T Mobile mast on land at Tile Farm, Wicker Lane led to representatives from Littleton Parish Council and Littleton residents attending public speaking time to give their views. The meeting also had a report from City Cllr Brian Bailey who had been involved. As a result, the Parish Council, which objected to the installation on Green Belt grounds, made a further representation to the planning authority.

Councillors said they maintained their objection to the 37.5m high mast and welcomed a proposal by T Mobile to reduce the height by 5m. They supported the belief of Littleton residents that the height should be reduced by a further 5m to 27.5m.

Councillors also asked for clarification by T Mobile as to why the original plans for a 22.5m mast would not meet their requirements.

City Cllr Bailey has now indicated that a reduction in the height of the mast by five metres will be achieved. Steps are also to be taken to make the top of the mast less conspicuous.

PC Mal Baker.

Parish councillors regularly join PC Baker for ward walks and take the opportunity to raise concerns. PC Baker says he would welcome the chance to speak to any members of the community about issues which concern them. He can be contacted through 0845 458 6394 or people can call in at Mickle Trafford Police Station next to the primary school.

Speed matters.

The highway authority has confirmed a review will be carried out of the 40mph speed limit on Guilden Sutton Lane. This will follow revised national guidelines which allow for speed limits to be increased as well as decreased.

A request has been made that when Wicker Lane is reviewed as part of a county wide programme, consideration should be given to whether the number of properties qualifies as a `village’ under the new guidelines with a lower limit than the present 60mph.

Uneven flags Summerfield Road

The condition of uneven flags near the shops in Summerfield Road has been attended to by the private landowner who lives outside the village following a request by the Parish Council.

Overgrown hedges

Concerns have been expressed that due to the conditions this summer, which have been ideal for growth, a number of boundary hedgerows and shrubs in the village have been encroaching onto adjoining footways.
Parish councillors are grateful to landowners and residents for keeping an eye on their boundaries and ensuring that footways are kept clear, particularly for elderly people and those with prams and pushchairs. For those with impaired vision, a very wet overhanging hedge following rain can be an unpleasant hazard.

Street light out – or on during the day?

Phone the Guilden Sutton highways depot on 01244 603475 with the road name and column number.

Information. The Council's e mail address is info@guildensutton.org.uk and its web site is at www.guildensutton.org.uk

Future meetings: Future meetings of the Council are due to be held in the Village Hall on Mondays 12 November and 17 December, 2007, 7 January, 4 February,

3 March, 7 April, 12 May, 9 June, 21 July, 1 September, 6 October, 10 November and 1 December 2008. All meetings are preceded by public speaking time and residents are welcome to attend and address the Council.