Albrighton Civic Society

Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the

Albrighton & District Civic Society

held at APC Office, 82B High St, Albrighton,

on Monday 4^th August 2011 at 1pm

Present :

Peter Woodman - Chairman

Rod Smith – Secretary

David Hughes - Treasurer

John Bulmer

Hugh Hughes

Ron Kidson

David Beechey – ex-officio, representing Donington-with-Boscobel PC

Michael Ward – ex-officio, representing Albrighton PC

1. Apologies received from Peter Leigh, David Murray and Mike Pitchford

2. Minutes of Meeting of 4^th July 2011 were approved

3. Main Current Issues

a. Entrance Scheme.

Entrance at Patshull Rd/A464 A letter of complaint had been received from Bob Tummons concerning the two areas where the plants were in a bad state. These were the areas damaged by the flooding caused by the burst water main but he had not realised that this was the cause of the poor appearance. JB confirmed that he and HH had made a first clear up once Severn Trent had finished the repair. He had contacted Boningale Nursery, which has donated 97 plants to be planted in the autumn. PW has sent a claim to Severn Trent for the cost of repairs to the plantings. ACTION: PW would circulate a draft reply to Bob Tummons.

LJC Grant payment: DH confirmed receipt of the second tranche (£1250) of the LJC grant.

Maintenance Programme. JB tabled a draft Management Plan for the Planted Entrance Areas for comment and development – ACTION: RS to circulate them with the minutes..

Request to the four Parish Councils for a grant. Cllrs F Shelley & R Blincoe had suggested ADCS apply for grants. PW said that Albrighton PC had offered an immediate £500 without match funding and a further £1000 if we can provide match funding of £1000 (which may be cash or the value of donations of plants, materials and labour). PW said that this was a very generous offer and all members agreed. On behalf of the Society, PW thanked both MW and DB and asked them to pass on all our thanks to Albrighton Parish Council for their very generous grant.

Tong PC had said that they are not providing a grant. Someone will speak to Tong PC to see what they would like us to do to improve the appearance of Tong.

PW suggested that as the Entrance planted areas will take a couple of years to mature we should also consider implementing improvements which will have an immediate impact – this could be hanging baskets or planters set at various points in the village. RS suggested that the Society could also replace some of the old benches with new ones rather than wait for SC to do it. ACTION: PW will speak to Sue Pate to see if the Flower Show Committee (FSC) will participate in a hanging baskets scheme – ADCS providing them and possibly the FSC maintaining them.

b) Albrighton Station.

Bridges & Platforms. We have received a second reply from NR Community Relations Department confirming that the rail-over-road bridge will be refurbished at the same time as the footbridge and platforms in 2012/3.

Station Building. Shropshire Council has confirmed to PW that no council tax is charged as the building is listed.

4 a) Local Listing. DB has received a letter from Matthew Knight (SC Conservation Officer) supporting “local listing” of buildings which the community feels appropriate. ACTION: PW to invite Mr Knight to one of our next meetings to explain the procedure and for advice on the matter. It may also be appropriate to ask him to speak at our AGM on 24^th October.

(Post Meeting Note: Mr Knight will come to our Committee meeting on 3^rd October).

ACTION: MW will continue the search for the list of “village treasures” ready for meeting Mr Knight.

b. Stroudley’s Yard. Conservation Officer has objected to the second application. Planning Committee Meeting to be held at Ludlow 2pm 9^th August – officer’s report recommends approval. Both Mike Clough, Planning Officer and Rob Mills, Planning Manager at Bridgnorth have both left SC. Officers dealing with this Application are: Lynda Jeavons, Planning Officer (01743 252738) and Stuart Thomas, Planning Department Manager (01743 252665), both based at Shrewsbury.

c. Fayre Day DH reported the following:-

Subscriptions taken, including those from the flyer, was £228. (2010 fayre day took £150).

Members List shows 201 individual and family members including 18 Life Members.

Committee expressed grateful thanks to MP who organised the flyer which brought in useful numbers.

ACTION:- RS to write to thank those organisations who provided the flyer photocopies.

d. School Civic Awards. An article, with photos of the Award Ceremony at Fayre Day, appeared in the Bridgnorth Journal.

JB/PL met Wendy Taylor, Head Albrighton Primary School, who has agreed to participate in next year’s awards.

JB/RK met with John Rowe, Head St Mary’s Primary School, who has agreed to participate in next year’s awards.

JB has tried on several occasions to contact Peter Bourton, acting head Idsall School, without success. JB will speak to Don Hickman who is a governor at Idsall to open up the contact with them.

PW reported that Birchfield School will participate next year.

Closure date for next year’s awards will be at Easter.

JB tabled a list of places where native flora and fauna may be seen (attached hereto).

d. Flower Show. JB reported that the Flower Show organisers were pleased with the Society’s support. The Committee expressed grateful thanks for JB’s work on the Society’s behalf at the Flower Show.

5. a Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve Committee is submitting an application for funding and have asked that the Civic Society endorse their application.

ACTION:- PW will sign their application.

Next meeting: 2 p.m. Monday 5^th September 2011

Following Meeting will be at 2pm on Monday 3^rd October 2011.

All Committee Meetings, unless otherwise noted, are at Alb PC Offices, 82B High Street, Albrighton WV7 3JA (T: 375455)