Durley Parish Council held its Monthly Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 12th January, 2016 in the Ken Stainer Suite at Durley Memorial Hall, Durley. 7 Parish Councillors, County/District Councillor Humby, District Councillor Ruffell, the Clerk – Mrs Anne Collins, Kirstie Baines (Headteacher) and 2 representatives from a developer were present.

Apologies were received from PCSO Nolan.

The drainage at The Sawmills is still ongoing and a Contractor has not yet been agreed.

Parking at Beech Corner is still causing sight-line problems when coming out of Stapleford Lane and Church Lane. Photographs have again been sent to WCC to show how dangerous the situation is. The cones at the entrance to Manor Road have helped to stop vehicles from parking on the junction, but the situation will be kept monitored.

The Durley Emergency Plan is being updated and a letter was agreed to send out to all households in Durley to update those residents who would need help if an emergency arose to get to the Emergency Station (Durley Memorial Hall), and those residents who would be willing to help in an emergency. Durley Parish Council will keep a list of residents willing to help with first, aid (doctors, nurses, qualified first aiders and other medical professionals), farmers who would help with heavy work/machinery, drivers who would help with transport, catering and any other skills that residents would have to offer. It is hoped that an emergency will never occur in Durley, but we would still like to be prepared.

Flooding at Beech Corner is still causing concerns for residents who live in this area, The Emergency Planning Officer, the Environment Agency and HCC Highways have been trying help resolve the issue. A Meeting will be held with all Agencies to discuss the situation. CC Humby has also been offering his assistance and valuable advice. The School flood barriers are working well and have been in use throughout the wet months.

Cllr Burton is updating the village website and will soon have a Parish Council link which will take over from the present Parish Council website and the older information which is on the village website which was set up by Clive Frost. The Parish Council has paid for the website and it is hoped that this will be used by all village organisations and groups.

Kirstie Baines was present to update Councillors on the progress of the proposed school lay-by. A Consultation has been held and it is hoped that work will be able to commence during the Easter holidays.

Councillors were reminded of the Parish Plan Public Meeting to be held on Thursday 18th February at 8.00 p.m. in Durley Memorial Hall. It is hoped that some of the Groups which residents showed an interest in forming will be able to start after this Meeting.

The Clerk has asked HCC Highways about the cleaning out of drains along Durley Street at 4.00 a.m. and a response was received stating that sometimes it is necessary to clean or jet out drains on busy dangerous sections of road during the early hours as it was a safer time to carry out this kind of work. Councillors understood this and accepted that Durley Street is dangerous but also felt that perhaps the residents could have been informed of the disruption as it did disturb residents during the early hours.

County Councillor Humby reported that he has met with Paula Reynolds regarding Post Offices, met with the Police to discuss fly-tipping and how the Police are now able to use cameras to catch offenders. CC Humby spoke about the Revenue Support Grant and its implications on services. The Traffic Survey is in the process of being carried out.

District Councillor Ruffell spoke about the new Ward Boundaries and the Coca Cola lorry which arrived in Winchester on 17th December. The arrival of the lorry brought the footfall up in Winchester on that date up by 40.5% which was good news for the trade in Winchester. DC Ruffell also updated Councillors on the planning proposal for Chessil Street.

Cllr Farr reported that the gas installation road diversion in Gregory Lane is now complete and the road is now open. Flooding has been the main highway issue this month and measures have been taken to try and help the situation.

Bags full of Christmas rubbish were dumped in the Recreation Ground car park over the festive season, bearing a card with “Katie, Michelle & Ruby, Merry Christmas, Lots of hugs and kisses Nanny Tracy & Pops xxx”. Durley Parish Council do not feel that it is acceptable to dump private rubbish into public spaces or Parish Council bins as it is not fair on residents to have to pay for a service to pick up and dispose of rubbish which has been dumped. If anyone knows who dumped these Christmas bags of rubbish then please let the Parish Council know.

There being no further business the Chairman declared the Meeting closed.

Anne Collins
Clerk to Durley Parish Council
durleypc@homecall.co.uk