Snapshot…of the Parish Council meeting on 13 December 2016.

Planning Applications
Several applications since the last Parish Council meeting have been received and at the meeting objections were raised to two applications, one for car storage and one for a site for a 2 pitch caravan site.    

Doctors Lane 
West Berkshire Council Rights of Way team have visited the byway again to look at the full length of the byway and have agreed that to make the whole byway easily accessible to use all year round that the section we have raised concerns about needs to be addressed and some funding has been made available.  Weather permitting, works will commence early in the New Year.

West Berkshire Council Library Consultation
West Berkshire Council are consulting Parish/Town Councils for contributions towards the library service.  The suggested contribution for   Chieveley Parish is £2,670 per annum. The Parish Council felt this was too much and would represent nearly 10% of the Parish Council precept sought each year.  Most people feel they contribute to these services through their Council Tax already.
    
BT Public Payphone Removals
Two of the payphones in the Parish have been identified for removal, one near the Bunk, Curridge and one at the East Lane/Chieveley High Street junction.   Statistics showed the payphones were rarely used.  Some local businesses have confirming they would allow a member of the pubic to make an emergency call.  The two phone boxes are not heritage red phone boxes so there will not be a request to keep them.

Road Closure Graces Lane
Graces Lane, Chieveley will be closed from School Road to Oxford Road between 5 January 2017 and 3 February 2017 to allow installation of fibre optic cables in the carriageway and multiple connections to premises, it is hoped the work will not take the advertised length of time. Diversions will be in place via Oxford Road, Downed Lane and High Street. Enquires should be addressed to the company carrying out the work, Gigaclear on 07989397217 for the attention of Matt Gleed.

Oxford to Cambridge Expressway Strategy Study
The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway Study has been carried out as set out in the first Roads Investment Strategy (RIS), publicised in December 2014,  for a programme of new strategic studies to explore options to address road network challenges.    Oxford to Cambridge Expressway Strategic Study

FAQ…of the month
Can a Parish Council enforce the conditions of a planning application?
No; that is the prerogative of the planning authority, West Berkshire Council, to whom the Parish Council may only make representations.

Spotlight…. West Berkshire Council Speed Limit Reviews  
Speed Limit Reviews will only be carried out once a year and only Parish Councils or District Councillors will be able to request these.  The next speed limit review will take place in October/November 2017 so the Parish Council will need to send in any requests by 1st June 2017 so that all data and reports can be produced prior to the speed limit review.

Next Meeting... Date of the next meeting 
Next Parish Council meeting is on Tuesday 10 January 2017 at Chieveley Village Hall & Recreational Centre, High Street, Chieveley, Berkshire RG20 at 7.30pm.

A planning application has been re-submitted to WBDC for the redevelopment of Bluebell Stables on Curridge Road. The application is for the use of the property as a gypsy and traveller caravan site, comprising of 2 pitches each with one mobile home and one touring caravan. It also includes conversion of the existing stable block into a dayroom and farrier's workshop.

http://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OHPNHVRD0E700

This site has a long history of failed residential planning applications, with the most recent appeal for conversion of the stable block into a bungalow rejected by WBDC in 2014.

A dedicated website has been created to provide guidance for residents that may wish to comment on this and other planning applications affecting Curridge, and can be found at www.curridgesaysno.co.uk.

The closing date for comments is Friday 30th December. Note that as this a new application, any comments submitted against the previous failed application in November are inadmissible and will need to be re-sent.

For the Council website page with info, click here: info.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=30715

Starting from your normal collection day...

Monday 26 December will be collected on Wednesday 28 December
Tuesday 27 December will be collected on Thursday 29 December
Wednesday 28 December will be collected on Friday 30 December
Thursday 29 December will be collected on Saturday 31 December
Friday 30 December will be collected on Tuesday 3 January

Monday 2 January will be collected on Wednesday 4 January
Tuesday 3 January will be collected on Thursday 5 January
Wednesday 4 January will be collected on Friday 6 January
Thursday 5 January will be collected on Saturday 7 January
Friday 6 January will be collected on Monday 9 January

Monday 9 January will be collected on Tuesday 10 January
Tuesday 10 January will be collected on Wednesday 11 January
Wednesday 11 January will be collected on Thursday 12 January
Thursday 12 January will be collected on Friday 13 January
Friday 13 January will be collected on Saturday 14 January
Collections will be back to normal from Monday 16 January 2017

Excess Rubbish
We will collect up to 3 bags of excess rubbish as part of your first scheduled collection after Christmas Day. Any excess rubbish after your first collection should be taken to Newtown Road Recycling Centre.
Christmas Trees 
Real Christmas trees can be left by the side of your green bin or taken to one of the recycling centres. Don't forget to remove decorations, lights and any pots before recycling.
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