Durley Parish Council held its Monthly Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 12th September, 2017 in the Ken Stainer Suite at Durley Memorial Hall. 3 Parish Councillors and the Clerk – Mrs Anne Collins were present, along with 4 parishioners. Cllr Smith chaired the Meeting in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman who were on holiday.

Apologies were received from County/District Councillor Humby, District Councillor Mclean, District Councillor Miller, Cllr Charles, Cllr Watts, Cllr Pitter and Cllr Farr. PCSO Slater also sent her apologies.

A successful Meeting was held to discuss Church Copse with George Hollingbery MP, CC/DC Humby, DC Miller, DC Mclean, Forestry Commission, WCC Planning Officers, Parish Councillors and residents to share concerns about the tree felling which has been occurring. The replanting should be carried out by April, 2018 and any further destruction will be reported to the Forestry Commission for Court proceedings to commence.

Volunteers on the Community Payback Scheme are working well at Durley Recreation Ground cutting hedging and digging out the ditches. The multi-surface play equipment will be re-painted when the present work has been completed.

The wet pour has been ordered for the resurfacing of the play area in The Sawmills. The swings will also be replaced. The drainage is working well. An enquiry was made about providing steps to the climbing frame, but Councillors felt that this might not be possible as it is an integral climbing frame. The manufacturers will be asked about the possibility when they lay the wet pour.

An Enforcement Notice has been served by the Legal Department at WCC on land next to Berkeley Farm, Durley Street. However, this has now been put on hold as the applicants have put in an Appeal against the original Refusal of the Planning Permission.

A resident attending the Meeting asked if CC Humby could give an update at the next Meeting about any HGV restrictions through Durley as the lorry traffic appears to be increasing. He also asked if a letter could be written to one lorry owner who has lorries in Wintershill if he would ask his drivers to turn right when coming out of their Yard onto the Winchester Road, rather than turning left and coming through Durley.

A memorial seat has kindly been donated to the village by the family of Pat Parker. Pat was born and breed in Durley and was well loved by residents. Pat ran Durley Post Office until it was forced to close and spent many happy times at village functions at Durley Memorial Hall. The family would like the seat to be sited outside of the Hall for anyone to enjoy who wants a rest during their walk around the village. Councillors thanked Pat’s family for this kind gesture.

An enquiry was made about the frequent short electricity cuts which appear to be happening in Durley. Although the electricity is only off for a short time it triggers alarms and some household items need re-setting. It appears that the sensors are very sensitive and this is why the power goes off for short spells. If you experience a problem then please phone 105 – it is a free number and they will keep you updated as to when your power is likely to come back on again.

The Insurance for the forthcoming year was agreed.

Cllr Delmege, Cllr Smith and Cllr Bartlett will be attending the Winchester CAB AGM on behalf of Durley Parish Council.

Parish Councillors felt that the recent report in the Parish Magazine regarding fly-tipping was unjustified and some of the comments did not reflect the work that Councillors and the Clerk have been putting in to try and tackle this antisocial behaviour. This is not a problem just in Durley, but all villages. A separate response will be put into the Parish Magazine.

Cllr Pitter and the Clerk attended a Meeting with George Hollingbery MP and other local parish councils to discuss the impact the Eastleigh Borough Council proposed development plans will have on the highways network for this area. Environmental damage was also discussed and District Councillors, County Councillors along with George will all put pressure where they can at a higher level.

Nofication has just been received about a Public Consultation on the proposals for Uplands Farm Estate. The Exhibition will be on Friday 22nd September from 2 – 8 at the Botley Centre and Saturday 23rd September from 10.00 – 4.00 at Hedge End 2000 Centre, St Johns Road, Hedge End. Notices will go up on the village website and on the noticeboards.

The October Parish Council Meeting will commence at 8.00 p.m. to enable the Chairman and Clerk to attend a 70th Anniversary Presentation by the Hampshire Association of Local Councils in Winchester.

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