News

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.

A fond farewell from Reverend Steve Harrison

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We share below the letter from the Reverend Steve Harrison and wish him good luck with his new congregation in Bream!

Dear friends
Some of you may have heard by now that | am leaving the Stroudwater Team as | have been appointed Vicar of the Benefice of St James, Bream. Bream, for those less knowledgeable of the Forest of Dean, is about 3 miles inland from Lydney, not too far from the Welsh border.

My time here has been challenging and stretching, especially for someone moving country and settling into a big Benefice having led single parish ministries in the past. Overriding those feelings though is a sense of incredible gratitude for the opportunity | have had to minister in this place. People have been very kind in their comments, and | have been deeply touched by people thanking me for what | have been able to contribute and expressing their congratulations and recognition of the opportunities Bream offers.

| have also been very touched by the comments made by people | have been privileged to connect with through baptisms, weddings and funerals. | must have stood before a few thousand people in my five and a half years here as Rector, how amazing to be given this responsibility. Thank you for entrusting me with your tears and laughter as w e have journeyed these momentous times in your lives and the lives of your families.

| need to sit down at some point and calculate how many church services | have led in this time, and again, such a privilege to share from God?s word and celebrate communion together. You have been consistently encouraging and | feel we’ve had a lot of fun together in amongst the very serious work of church.
Talking about fun, thank you for so many Opportunities to do and be the church in interesting places. There?s a long list of great moments, but I think being invited, and invited back can you believe it, to open the Frampton Country Fair with the biker bunch sums up a lot of what rural ministry can like. Watch out for the opening this year, you may recognise the person riding the bike that Rev Liz comes in on.

This Team, the people, the beautiful Cotswolds, the ancient buildings, the canals and fields and so much more of this beautiful part of creation have been indelibly imprinted on my soul. | hope | have enriched some of your lives to some degree, because I know I am the richer for having been here and having known you.
I am so pleased that Rev Liz is taking over as Interim Team Rector, and that Rev Dave will continue t o minister as Team Vicar and that what w e have started as a Team will continue.

My last Sunday will be the 14th May, and I know that as I give the dismissal at that last service, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” it will be with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes, gratitude for the past and hope for the future.

God bless everyone
Rev Steve Harrison

Meeting Notes – December 2021

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In advance of formal meeting minutes, these are some brief informal notes taken during the meeting;

At the start of the meeting, Council received a presentation from two members of the Cotswold Canals Connected partnership on the Missing Mile planning application. This application will cover the length of the Stroudwater Navigation, between the A38 roundabout, eastwards to the M5 then onwards to Pike Lock at Eastington. The works proposed will include digging the channel, building a lock adjacent to the A38 roundabout, with a “parking marina” for narrowboats and a car park and perhaps a café alongside the A419 just off the roundabout. The M5 canal crossing will use the same underpass as the River Frome, but at a lower level, with another lock to be built in that area, then onwards across towards Eastington via Westfield Bridge. Also included for our Parish are further planning applications to replace Stonepitts Bridge and Whitminster Bridge with Bascule-type bridges, similar to Lodgemoor Lane Bridge in Stroud, and to replace Walk Bridge on Whitminster Lane with a “hump-back” bridge, to allow boats to travel underneath. When Walk Bridge is replaced, although pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained over the canal, vehicular access will be closed, meaning that the road to Frampton, Saul and other areas in that direction will be closed for what could be about 16 weeks. It is proposed that areas of wetlands and support to wildlife, flora and fauna will be created on the line of the canal, with the majority of the canal banks and edges being “soft”, i.e., not piled with wooden or steel piles, but grown with rushes, and bushes and the like. Council will endeavour to keep everyone informed of the application’s progress in the coming weeks.

Council received a visit from PCSO Mike Trebble, who gave some statistics on crime in the village. They showed that reported crime in Whitminster remains low, and that this area is still a safe place to live, although it does mean that everyone needs to remain vigilant to keep it that way.

Support was given to the revised Listed Building Application for Parklands Farmhouse, and the clerk will be writing again to Planning Enforcement at Stroud District Council with reference to apparent breaches of Planning Consent within the parish

A report on the meeting with the Area Highways Manager (AHM) on perceived Highways issues on School Lane showed that statistics of recorded Road Traffic Collisions, injury or otherwise, with speed surveys results and any others would have to meet the necessary Highways criteria to enable further action to be considered. Previous speed surveys carried out on School Lane have shown that the average percentile speed on School Lane is within acceptable limits. The AHM advised that it is possible the County Council could adopt a blanket 20mph limit on urban roads, such as School Lane, next year, and suggested that a wait and see position be adopted until more information is known. Other items included the condition of the surface of Hyde Lane, with repairs needed in several places, the pavement northwards from the Crossroads, and the broken drain cover on Packthorne corner. The AHM said he would keep these issues in mind for further budget requests. (NB, Council supported a request previously from an organisation in the County for the proposed 20mph limit)

A meeting with a possible Skate Ramp builder is likely to be arranged shortly, to further discuss positioning and costs. A request for financial help from the Village Hall and Playing Field Management Committee, to remove and pollard some of the diseased and dying trees on the playing field was approved, so that all users of this Community Asset are kept safe.

These are only summary notes of the meeting, full minutes will be available when they are approved at the next meeting.

Meeting Notes – November 2021

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In advance of formal meeting minutes, these are some brief informal notes taken during the meeting;

Matters Arising

First reminder – that Remembrance Sunday is on the 14th and there will be a ceremony at 11am held at the War Memorial, and then wine, tea or coffee at the Village Hall afterwards.

The village defibrillators have now been registered with “The Circuit” – national defibrillator network for the ambulance service – thanks to Councillor Younger.

Community Safety

Little Holbury & Kidnams Walk play areas corrective work – no progress, Persimmons has not carried out anything yet.

Two trees in the Playing Field have been identified as possibly being affected by Ash Dieback and a local tree surgeon will be inspecting them on 4/11 to determine whether they need to be removed. There’s consideration of possible replacements with two oak tree saplings.

Planning

Newland Homes has queried why we objected to their proposed developments at Upton’s Gardens. We reviewed the previous correspondence and confirmed that this was primarily rejected because the proposed development is outside the existing development boundary – The new local plan has not yet been adopted. Further points were that Newland Homes has proposed 11 houses rather than the 10 that are in the proposed Local Plan, and we also had outstanding queries regarding the boundary treatment of the wooded area towards the Playing Field.

Pegasus leaflet to the village for up to 45 homes west of Schoolfield Close. We agreed that at this stage the Parish Council would object on the basis of only 30 houses being proposed in the local plan (not 45). Furthermore, this is premature because the existing local plan does not cover this site and so is outside the existing development boundary and would not come within the development boundary until the local plan is adopted.

The Stroud District local plan is now submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and should be a decision on acceptance will appear by the end of the year.

Enforcement.

Nothing has come back from enforcement, either relating to unpermitted development in the village, or noise complaints. This will be followed up by the Parish Clerk.

Footpaths/Highways

The PROW at Whitminster Court and poor state of the Lagger were discussed. The PROW officer will follow-up on Whitminster Court, and the Lagger needs to be repaired. However, the tree which has broken the surface would need to be removed first, otherwise it will just happen again. The PROW officer will check with Councillor Davis for funding for repairing the footpath in this area.

It was highlighted that there is a bush growing out the footpath from Kidnams’s Walk to the field behind Paynes Meadow. This will be raised to highways for removal.

The plastic fencing stacked at Hyde Lane junction with School Lane has been left by Wales & West and should be gone in the next few days. This was apparently just a convenient area for them to store it. They’re not due to carry out any work in the village.

Mud on Hyde Lane was reported to the County Council. A road sweeper has been down the road to clean it, and the responsible party  informed to take precautions so that this didn’t reoccur. However, it’s been reported that this has reoccurred and the County Council will be contacted to clean the road again.

It was noted that an old pear tree at Vaisey Field appears to have developed a large hole at the base. This will be reported to the District Council as is a hazard to local pedestrians.

District Council Highways department will meet with the Parish Council next week for a discussion on potential safety improvements near the school which may be joint funded by the Parish Council and District Council.

Skate Ramp

The builders references and warranty for the skate ramp are still being chased and funding from urbaser Community Fund is not yet confirmed. Once this is confirmed we will approach the Public Works loans board .

Other points

Councillor Paynter has finished replacing the plexiglass in the bus shelter. This is was installed on 3 November and is a significant improvement on what was there previously.

The Parish Council should actively canvas for proposals for improvements or small projects in the Village these can be maintained on a list and reviewed when funding is available.

Correspondence was received from David Hennesey, and the Parish Clerk agreed to respond to the points raised and share the requested information.

Next Meeting

Additional agenda items should be the proposed budget for the Parish Council, and discuss the precept and also discuss what should happen within the village for Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

 

Meeting notes – July 2021

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Notes from the July Whitminster Parish Council meeting.

There was a full complement of Councillors in attendance, and the Clerk, with two Members of the Public present at the start.
A representative of Newlands Homes gave Councillors a brief presentation of how a potential application for land they have an interest in, off and between Upton’s Gardens and the village playing field. Although currently outside of the Village Development Boundary, it has been included in the Stroud District Council Draft Local Plan for development. Newlands Homes plans would include 9 market value and 2 affordable homes, one of which would be a bungalow. Works to the wooded area next to the playing field would make it more user friendly, and consultation with the village school was advised to take place to achieve this. Further consultations should take place before a planning application is submitted.

It was noted under Community Safety that Katie Markwick has moved on from her position as Neighbourhood Warden for our area, she has been replaced by Simon Jarvis, simon.jarvis@stroud.gov.uk He hopes to introduce himself to Council as and when duties allow.

On Planning, Council resolved to support the application to renovate Packthorne Farmhouse, but felt that more information was needed for the proposal to place automatic gates at the road entrance in Whitminster Lane to the driveway to the farmhouse. This entrance is also the start of a bridleway which leads on to Moreton Valence, and Councillors felt that this could be obstructed and prevent its use by walkers and horse riders alike, if automated access were to be installed at that point, without information of gaining access being supplied.

It was also noted that the plot of land included in the SDC Draft Local Plan, between the playing field and the track leading to the Stroudwater Canal, had had its number allocation increased from 30 to 40 dwellings. Council resolved to make an objection to this, as it had originally been allocated 30 dwellings, in line with Council’s objective.
On Highways, notification had been received that Yakub Mulla has replaced Harriet Osborn as Area Highways Manager, and Council will be asking for a meeting with Yakub in the near future to bring his attention to several issues that it feels need examining in the village. Cllr Paynter gave an update on his meeting with the Public Rights Of Way Officer from Gloucestershire Highways.

In discussion on replacing the Skateboard Ramp, and to help gain consent for a Public Works Loans Board loan, it has to be demonstrated that Parish-wide consultation has taken place. It was resolved that a flyer would be produced, and hand delivered to all houses in the parish to get reaction from residents. Council hopes to make its decision on this at the August meeting.

These notes are just a summary of the July meeting; full minutes of that meeting will be published after approval next month.