Information

Parish objections to proposed 2,500 house development along Grove Lane

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Whitminster Parish Council have submitted the following:
The following information is required to enable the proposal to be properly assessed:-

1. A full and detailed assessment of the impact that a development of the scale proposed would have on:-
a) The capacity of the local road network, particularly the A38, the A419, and Grove Lane,
b) The M5 in its function as a Strategic National route,
c) Junctions 12 and 13 of the M5, and
d) Thepotential impact on access to the railway stations at Stonehouse, Cam and Dursley, by both private car and public transport.

2. The assessment required in 1. above must take full account of:-
a) The Outline Planning Permission recently granted for the construction of a new football stadium within the North-eastern quadrant of Junction 13
b) The impact on the ongoing development at Great Oldbury, which also includes employment land.
c) The proposal to include further employment land off the A419, opposite the proposed football stadium, and
d) The effect the proposal would have on Grove Lane as a recognised cycle route.

3. An assessment of the public transport needs to access local shopping centres, such as Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester and Quedgeley.
4. An assessment of local health services, including Doctors and Dentists centres.
5. An assessment of primary, secondary and further education capacities.
6. A full and detailed analysis of the impact the proposal would have on the Landscape of the Severn Vale, particularly when seen from the Cotswold Escarpment, and more locally, when seen from Whitminster village, looking towards the escarpment, and from nearer high vantage points such as Claypits at Eastington.
7. A full and detailed assessment of ground conditions within the site, including possible contamination caused by spoil dumped within the site when the Stroudwater Canal was excavated prior to infilling when the A419 between J13 and the A38 roundabout was built. Also to include the spoil dumped to the rear of Granny Shepherd’s Wood, when the M5 Motorway was built.
8. An assessment of the impact that the development would have on,
(a), the high pressure gas main running south to north through the whole site,
(b), the impact on the gas governor station situated on Grove Lane, and the branch gas main from there to Stonehouse.
(c), the impact on the two high pressure water mains pipes traversing the whole of the site.
9. An assessment of the affect of the telecoms mast currently within the site, and any possible harm caused to occupiers of the houses to be constructed.
10. A Habitat Regulations Assessment of the likely impact on wildlife currently found within the site, particularly the wooded areas, including deer, badgers, birds of prey, songbirds and so on. A tree, hedgerow, flora and fauna survey would also be required, with particular emphasis on any protected species.
11. An assessment of the possible effect such a development would have on pluvial flooding issues within the northern portion of the suggested site.
12. Further detailed information is required indicating how the proposed development site is to be serviced with foul drainage. Local treatment works are totally inadequate for a development of this size, and the site is remote form any other main treatment works.
13. A detailed assessment of the impact of noise caused by demolition works, traffic noise,
artificial light emissiaps, and loss of air quality to both existing and proposed new dwellings caused by the development of this proposed site. This to include an acoustic barrier need for noise emanating from the M5 motorway on dwellings built near to it. An assessment of the impact this proposal would have on the adjoining Grade 2 Listed Building, The Old Forge, other Listed Buildings found locally, as well as other notable buildings found nearby.
14. An assessment is required of the effect of coalescence of the villages of Moreton Valence, Whitminster and Eastington, currently separated by green fields. Included should be the loss of Public Rights of Way through green fields, and an assessment of the loss of productive agricultural land.

Meeting Notes – June 2022

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These are brief notes from the June 2022 Parish Council meeting in advance of the formal minutes. They do not constitute a formal record of events!

Public Forum

There were six members of the public at the meeting and during the public forum they raised concerns that, even though there is now a solid island at the junction of the A38 and Grove Lane, drivers were still ignoring the “Left Turn Only” restriction..  Chairman Jones stressed that the island design had been approved by the Highways Dept at Glos County Council. As a result of the observations the Police have been contacted and they have agreed to monitor the situation.

 

County Councillor Stephen Davies agreed to engage with the Highways Department on a number of outstanding issues to improve the site including extending the southbound bus stop to enable buses to completely pull in off the main road. Other Highways issues raised included the condition of the pavement on the A38 (north of the crossroads) including overhanging hedges, excessive grass, and weed growth. Cllr Davies indicated he would take these issues forward with the Area Highways Manager.

Finally, concerns were raised at the amount of dog mess being left around the village which seems to have increased in recent weeks.

 

Planning 

There were no Planning decisions or applications to consider. Council agreed to write to the local Member of Parliament to enlist her help in negotiating a fair Community Benefit Fund from the developers of the approved Solar Farm.

 

Highways and Byways

There’s a new bench installed at the junction of The Close and School Lane, this is a Jubilee bench donated by Highfield Garden Centre.  A commemorative plaque will be attached to the bench shortly.

The public right of way between Hyde Lane and School Lane has been sprayed out, and the rusting post for the road sign immediately west of the mini roundabout on School Lane has been replaced. 

There’s a short stump left behind in the Kidnams Walk footpath where a bush has been removed. It will be assessed by the Public Rights of Way officer to see if it’s an obstruction that needs further work. 

A meeting will be set up between the Parish Council and the Highways Dept regarding the new road island from Grove Lane to A38, to address the issues seen.

County Councillor Stephen Davies reported on the County Council initiative on Safer Streets, and encouraged the Parish Council to apply for funding from the scheme, with a view to making our local roads safer. This initiative will be taking place over several months. It’s likely this would entail a plan to support 20 mph speed limits on side roads throughout rural areas, and as far as Whitminster is concerned that this could apply to all roads apart from School Lane. Other road safety measures in this initiative (that could be applied on School Lane) could include a vehicle activated road sign to warn users where they are exceeding the speed limit.

Large vehicles have been reported using Hyde Lane which is unsuitable for that type of traffic.  

Meeting Notes – March 2022

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Interim notes from Whitminster Parish Council meeting on 2nd March

Council was asked by a member of the public present to write to the owners of The Copse adjacent to the playing field, thanking them for the swift removal of the trees blown down in Storm Eunice recently.

It was noted that Whitminster Village Hall was used as a respite shelter during that storm, and that about ten people from the locality made use of the premises during the day it was in use. As the storm abated during the afternoon, the Hall usage was stood down.

The recent spike in anti-social-behaviour taking place in our area seems to have died down somewhat , but residents are urged to stay aware of any recurrences, and to report it immediately to the Police.

The planning application to remove four trees to facilitate the replacement of Stonepitts Bridge has been allowed, Councils comments on replacing those trees were noted, and this will form part of the wider landscaping programme as the Stroudwater Canal is regenerated through the Parish. All other decisions on outstanding applications are awaiting determination. A new outline application to build up to 45 houses on land behind Schoolfield Close was discussed. The parcel of land identified in the application is included in the SDC Draft Local Plan for up to 40 houses, which is 10 more than requested by the Parish Council. The Draft Local Plan is still some way off adoption by SDC, as it does not go for the examination in public until later in the Spring., and could go on for 6 to 9 months.  Council resolved to object to the application, on it being premature, it being more than the allocation identified in the Draft Local Plan, therefore over development, and the fact that the applicant had made no direct consultation approach to the Parish Council, contrary to Stroud DC’s Statement of Community Involvement.  All other comments will be made at the Reserved Matters Application stage, whenever that comes. Council also asked for the application to be determined at Development Control Committee, not by Delegation to Officers. The agent for the Moreton Lane Solar Farm has advised that he hopes the application will go to DCC in Stroud later this Spring.  The alleged breach of the demolition times condition at the demolition site locally has been acknowledged by SDC, along with possible Environmental Health issues emanating from those works.. Other planning enforcement matters are still ongoing.

It was noted that The Lagger footpath running between Kidnams Walk and School Lane has been resurfaced, although an issue with a blocking bush remains. Details of the closure of Grove Lane were received, this to facilitate works at Grove End Farm, and hopefully the formation a better junction with the A38 to make all vehicles exit Grove Lane to the left. The failure to place proper notices of closure in the immediate area has been taken up with Highways.

These are the main points from the March PC meeting full minutes will be available after they are agreed at the next Council meeting on April 6th.

Meeting Notes – February 2022

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These are brief informal meeting notes in advance of the formal minutes being available.

Brief notes from Whitminster Parish Council meeting, 2nd February 2022.
Information was circulated on the recent anti-social behaviour occurrences on the playing field, when broken glass from alcoholic drinks bottles was found on the driveway, the children’s play area and other parts of the field. In addition, two holding blocks on the ramp to the front door of the pavilion have been kicked out, and a hole dug in the centre of the football pitch, with the spade that was used left behind.

This is now inside the pavilion, if anyone can identify it. A couple of the posts holding the rope around the cricket square also being damaged. The local police have been informed, and measures proposed to combat this sort of behaviour include installation of a Community Safety Partnership wide-angle CCTV camera as soon as one becomes available, as well as increased patrols as manpower permits. The recent spate of door knocking and running away, mud throwing at doors and other nuisance behaviour at night has resulted in Police involvement, and anyone who might have CCTV pictures of these incidents is urged to contact Police on 101.

An Outline planning application to build up to 3 dwellings on land south of Prestwick Terrace on the A38, with all other matters reserved for future consideration, was considered. Council resolved to object on current Local Plan Policies, as being outside of the settlement boundary and over development of the site. This objection is in line with refusal reasons given for similar applications nearby. The new Eco-Park application east of Junction 13 is still being validated at Stroud District Council, and will be available for commenting on next month, should Council be invited to do so as a neighbouring Parish. The agent for Moreton Lane Solar Farm has indicated that this application, which affects both Whitminster and Moreton Valence parishes, is expected to be determined, for approval or not, by the Planning
Committee at SDC in the Spring. Modifications to various parts of the application have been made to incorporate comments made during the initial application consultation, although talks are still being held to try to improve more.

On Highways, notification had been received of the expected closure of Grove Lane from Feb 21 st to 21 st March to enable works at Grove End Farm to go ahead. If the anticipated works are completed before the closure ends, then it will be lifted. A reported hazard on the pavement between the entrance to Parklands Orchard and to Upton’s Gardens was expected to be resolved shortly. A report by a parishioner of a fence appearing in a field adjacent to Hyde Lane was discussed, and efforts will be made to ascertain the reason for its appearance. Notice has been given of The Lagger footpath between School Lane and Kidnams Walk being resurfaced later this month. This was welcomed, as Council has been pressing for many months for this work to be done.

On finance, it was decided to increase the Parish Precept by a few hundred pounds, however, with more houses being built and occupied in the village this last year, it will mean that there should be very little or no increase in Council Tax for the Whitminster Parish part of Council Tax bills, although the County Council, District Council and Police and Crime Commissioner elements of the Bills are expected to rise by the amount allowed.

It is hoped to be able to meet a representative from a potential Skate Ramp builder later this month with a view to getting a replacement Ramp in place later this year.

Ideas were discussed to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee later this year. These ranged from a celebratory mug for all Primary School age children in the village, to a marked metal bench placed at the entrance to The Close, with more suggestions welcome. More discussions will take place next month.

The Annual Open Parish Meeting date was decided to be on April 28 th at 7-30pm in the Village Hall. This is the public’s opportunity to hear the working of the Parish Council and other village organisations over the last year, and to raise any concerns.

These are only the relevant points of the February Parish Council meeting, full minutes will be available, when approved at the next meeting on March 2 nd

Election job opportunities

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Elections Job Opportunities (Stroud District Council)

Have you ever considered working at one of our Polling Stations?

We are looking to recruit motivated staff to fill a number of important paid role on election day.

On Thursday May 6th 2021 the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, County, District and Parish Council elections will be taking place.

Planning is already underway and we would like to reassure you that our highest priority is the safety of our staff and our electorate. We will be adhering to Government Guidelines, so our Polling Station may look a bit different. And in order to deliver this plan, we will need extra staff at many of our Polling Stations

These are paid roles across the whole of the Stroud District. And the Elections Team are keen to hear from you.

More information about the role and how to apply can be found here: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/elections-job-opportunities

Applicants must be over 18, eligible to work in the UK and not affiliated to any political party.

 

WHITMINSTER PARISH COUNCIL – ELECTION 2020

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The current term of office for Whitminster Parish Council Councillors finishes at the end of April this year and an Election is due to be held on Thursday 7th May 2020 (some rescheduling may take place if we’re all infected by then!)

Nomination papers are now available from Stroud District Council offices.

Anyone who wishes to offer their experience and knowledge to the Parish through Parish Council work can find out more by contacting Daniel Lord (Parish Clerk), whitminsterpc@outlook.com or by contacting the Stroud District Council Election Office in Ebley Mill (elections@stroud.gov.uk / 01453 754 887) or speak to one of your current councillors.

More information on the role of a Parish Councillor is available on the Stroud District Council website.

 

Nomination forms must be submitted by hand to Stroud District Council Offices between 24th March 2020 and no later than 4pm on 8th April 2020.