Agenda item

Discussion:

a)   Highways Issues – Including Road Safety and Maintenance.

 

b)   Environmental Issues – Improving Biodiversity and Increasing Resilience.

Minutes:

Highways Issues

Following on from the Highways presentation parishes contributed to the discussion as follows:-

  • Chilton Trinity PC – would like to see “Rumble Strips” or alternative traffic calming measures introduced on the main road through the village, especially on the approach to the pedestrian crossing. There had been a number of near misses, and it was just a matter of time before a serious accident occurred. Bev Norman commented that there was no money set aside at present for new projects, and residents in other areas where rumble strips were laid, had complained about the noise.

 

Community Speed Watch – Chilton Trinity PC had been advised that it would not be safe to engage volunteers to undertake a Speed Watch as the traffic was travelling too fast, and it would be too dangerous to implement.

 

Grit Bin Maintenance – It was suggested that it was a waste of money to employ an operative from Somerset Council to inspect the grit bin, when several parish councillors regularly passed the spot, and could report back if re-filling was required.

 

  • Holford PC – The clerk for Holford/Kilve PC reported that better communications were needed around recent road closures especially along the A39 corridor. Recently Utilities had advised that a road closure would be in operation which would completely close the A39 between Holford and Kilve overnight. As such businesses including the local pub decided to remain closed, only to learn that the road closure did not in fact take place. They subsequently lost out on business, which was totally unnecessary. They also have to wait to determine when the works will take place instead and potentially lose another night of trading. It is vitally important to rural communities that any postponements or amendments to the work are communicated ahead of time!

 

Road Safety Vitally important that the Police are involved with traffic management and slowing motorists. Signage needs to be clear and visible so that motorists can comply with the required speed limits. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is currently being talked about between Holford and Kilve to reduce speeding.

 

  • Spaxton PC – Who is the contractor for verge trimming and hedge cutting? It would be beneficial if the workers liaised with the parishes prior to undertaking the work. It would also be useful to understand the requirements and service standards as stated in the contracts.

 

Drains are blocked following hedge cutting and verge maintenance and there was no way to pass this information back to Somerset Council. A Highways sub-group such as employed on Exmoor would be good for Dowsborough. Could such a sub-group be implemented?

 

  • Stogursey PC Stogursey currently employed the services of a Parish Lengthsman. Cllr Chris Morgan queried whether it was possible for some of the other parishes to reinstate/implement the Parish Lengthsman scheme so that they could share a workman and the cost?

 

  • Wembdon PC – Could a bit of joined up thinking be employed please? Ditch maintenance alongside roads should coincide with the drain/gully emptying and resurfacing work. All these works have a direct impact on each other and need to be coordinated to ensure benefit.

 

Bev Norman advised the LCN, that work to pilot a Highways Steward scheme on Exmoor had been very successful, and Somerset Council were evaluating how this project could be extended to other LCNs. This was overseen by a Highways working group made up of parish council representatives and highways officers. They met every other month to discuss suitable ways of working and communicate ongoing projects. This has been well received by the parishes and they are keen to continue.

 

Julian Gale asked if it was possible to communicate to the street sweeping team of the requirement to sweep the road following resurfacing.

 

Environmental Issues

For future meetings the Chair would like to extend an invitation to officers working in the Quantock Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This would be to provide an update on work currently being undertaken in the Dowsborough Area, and how the Dowsborough LCN may be able to contribute.

  • Vernon Hughes (Friends of the Quantocks) said he was still waiting on a Freedom of Information request which was submitted in May 2023, and was now beyond the specified time frame for an answer. This concerned environmental issues in Spaxton.

 

Other discussion points

  • Lorna Edwards (online) suggested that a Planning tile was required to cover the aspects of work around enforcement, new homes coming forward and the impacts on local communities.

 

Cllr Ian Dyer (Cannington PC) questioned the sustainability of the Dowsborough LCN as there was less engagement from the parishes and other stakeholders than there had been at the launch meeting. He was concerned with the budgetary pressures that Somerset Council faced, that it was not cost effective in terms of officer time and money to continue in this format. The Chair addressed his concerns by stating that this was only the start of a much wider process and it was important that all representatives of the LCN fully engaged to make it work. There was a will on the part of Somerset Councillors to ensure it did.