Craster Parish Council

COMMUNITY TRUST
PARISH COUNCIL

Agendas & Minutes
Accounts

Minutes

Thursday 21^st June 2012

Village Hall 7.15pm

Present

Chairperson    Joan Angus.

Clerk                  Helen Brewis.

Parish Council Members Joyce Shaw, Margaret Brooks, Elizabeth Pearson,

Alan Punton, Michael Robson, Bryn Owen & John Gallon.

In Attendance CC John Taylor.

                            Hannah Standen & Kate James from Artichoke.

Members of the public Mrs P Owen, Mrs M Gallon & Mrs M Taylor.

1474.        Apologies for absence.
Michael Craster & Pauline Baird.

1475.        Confirmation of minutes of last meeting.
The May Minutes were accepted as a true record.

1476.        Dunstanburgh Castle Peace Camp 2012.
Hannah Standen is an Events Producer @ Artichoke based in London & Kate James will be Artichoke’s Dunstanburgh Castle Site Manager who is based in Durham.
Hannah gave a presentation on the forthcoming Peace Camp 2012 art installation as part of the run up to the Olympic Games.
They have carried out a leaflet drop outlining this large encampment at night made up of white tents lit from inside playing love poems.  Famous people & regular people with varied dialects will be broadcast reciting the poems as you walk through the encampment.
They are working with the Greys & using their farm & equipment to set up the event (which will take approximately 5 days) to avoid disruption to Craster.  It will take a further 2 days to dismantle after the event.
John Gallon – what number of visitors are expected with it being a free event?

It’s difficult to gauge, but people book a slot on line & there will be 150 slots bookable for each hour.  The majority of people will book online, as they will have to drive to the location & will prefer to have a ticket.  People who turn up on spec – there is some flexibility & the stewards will manage the flow enroute by holding people back if the event looks to be getting crowded The Jolly Fisherman may extend their opening time by 1 hour if there is trade.

John Gallon – where will all the cars park?

NCC & the Greys overflow car parks & they will speak to William Curry about potentially using the football car park.  They will steward the traffic to avoid the event traffic entering Craster & the public toilets will be open all night & NCC will keep them topped up.  Michael Robson is allowing the Artichoke staff to park at Bark Pots.

Marion Gallon – how will they stop people dropping rubbish, being noisy & urinating in the residential areas?

There will be stewards along the whole route from the car parks to the castle who will talk to people, giving information & managing the flow.

Marion Gallon – what about all the litter?

The stewards & volunteers will have bin liners with them & will litter pick during the event & they have an obligation to the tenant farmer  & the National Trust to keep on top of any litter.  There will be no food or drinks available at the event, but the burger van will be in the car park at Craster.

Marion Gallon – there are only 3 ladies toilets which will not be adequate will they be organising more?

They are liasing with NCC & they have an agreement that the Peace Camp will be manned & topped up with the possible addition of 5 porta loos in that car park area.

Marion Gallon – how will they stop late at night traffic?

Alan Punton pointed out that Craster is public roads & the stewards will not be able to stop through traffic but will guide them towards the car parks.  They will also put as many measures in place as possible & if busier they can increase the amount of people who can help & they are working closely with NCC.  The police are aware of the event & will attend if there are any problems.  There will be 5 stewards at the tented areas, separate stewards on route & at the car parks.

Joyce Shaw – is there any provision for people with incapacity?

They will make an audio available so people can download the soundtrack & headsets will be provided on the flat area through the gate to the castle so they have the view & can hear the soundtrack, but they cant use vehicles to the castle to ferry people.

Michael Robson – could the footpath opposite the Tourist Information Centre not be used to avoid noise in Craster & the dangerous coastal path at night?

That footpath would not be wide enough & dangerous with all the tree stumps etc.

Pam Owen – is there many local people putting in poems & any financial benefit?

The event is free & non-profit the investment comes from the Olympic Committee & 8 local authorities that will use the events for tourism advertising.  The staff, accommodation & hire of field etc. will need to be paid for - Artichoke is a charity about taking art out to people not just seeing it in galleries.

Bryn Owen – are you aware that it will never fully be pitch dark? – Yes.

Bryn Owen - what if one day the weather is bad & they come on the second day?

The stewards will stagger their journey to the castle along the route holding people back to control the flow, the stewards will have radios so the can communicate with each other.  Also some people may stay for a long time while others leave after 15 minutes.  Any visitor with a dog must keep it on a lead.

The Parish Council thanked Hannah & Kate for attending the meeting.

1477.        NWL Sewerage Update.

Bryn Owen is concerned about the sewerage odour problem in Dunstan.  Both locals & tourists are complaining about the smell & the farmer doesn’t think the burn has been cleaned out lately.

Action Point: Clerk to email Charles Harman @ NWL to liase with Bryn.

 
1478.        Craster Community Trust Matters.
None.

 
1479.        Parking Sub Committee Update.
Michael Craster will have a meeting shortly with Scott Grey about the length of the field lease.

1480.        Neighbourhood Plan Sub Committee.
NCC are busy holding consultations concerning the Local Development Plan Core Strategy.
Action Point: Clerk to invite NCC to attend the July Meeting. 

1481.             Matters arising from minutes of last meeting.
Dunstan Water Leak.
CC John Taylor will check when the roadwork will take place, the delay has been caused by priority being given to the Olympic Torch route.
Bus Timetables for Dunstan & Craster West End bus stop.  Done.
Village Hall Refurbishment. 
Ongoing & CC John Taylor is organising some funding towards the cost.
NCC – Dunstan Steads request to move from Craster to Embleton Parish.
Ongoing, this will go before a County Council Meeting in July.
NCC – Review of public rescue equip. & signage 2011-12.

An email has been received from Mike Jeffrey @ NCC thanking us for our feedback. 
Mrs E Pearson – Heugh Road water leak.
CC John Taylor is still trying to locate where the water is coming from.
The Haven/Coquet View boundary. 
Action Point:  Clerk to email Sale & Partners concerning Craster Estates land boundary.
Water Leak at the bottom of Tower Bank.
Joyce Shaw rang NCC about the water problem at the bottom of Whin Hill, NCC cleaned out both areas.
The Methodist Church Sale.

Joyce Shaw spoke to the minister who is in correspondence with GF White & NCC, there is concern about the access onto Dunstanburgh Road. 

Mr M Taylor–Footpath by the Church between Heugh Wynd & Whin Hill. Action Point: Clerk to circulate form copies & start completing the paperwork received from NCC.

1482.              Planning Matters.
CC John Taylor declared an interest.
A/2008/0289 – Former Nursery Gardens – amendments.
Negotiations still taking place between NCC Highways & the agent.

 
1483.             Financial Matters.
Bank Balance                                                          £  5,614.23 
LTSB Higher interest                                               £15,000.00

1484.             Correspondence received.

Archaeology in Northumberland.  In circulation.

NCC–Local Development Plan Core Strategy Issues&Options

Consultation Document 2012.  In circulation.

NCC – Proposed changes to on & off street parking tariffs structure.

Noted.

NCC – Planning Northumberland future. Noted.

CPRE – NE Newsletter Summer 2012. Noted.

NCC – New Standards Regime – update. Noted.

Rita Smith – Mobile coverage at Craster.

Mrs Smith’s email was read out highlighting her concerns about the lack of mobile phone reception on the walk from Craster to the castle.

Action Point:  Clerk to forward copies of letters we sent to the mobile phone providers & Alan Beith to try & secure mobile phone reception along the coast.

John Gallon – Registering the Jubilee tree.

Action Point:  John Gallon will complete the paperwork.

Dunstan C of E School.

Action Point:  Clerk to contact Jane Lowdon at Sintons for a copy of the details of the trust & information on their holdings.

Public footpath behind RNLI Building

Action Point: Clerk to contact Steven Ternent and add the striming of this

footpath to the work he already carries out for the Parish Council.

Light below 32 Heugh Road.

Action Point:Clerk to contact NCC & find out when the light will be replaced.

Overgrown bushes at the entrance to Craster.

Action Point: CC John Taylor will look into the overgrown bushes, which are hiding the road signs.

Rubbish in Craster Bus Shelter.

The bus shelters from April 2012 are now our responsibility.

Jubilee Beacon.

Action Point: Clerk to write to Dougie Hogg to pass on our thanks for the

Basket he made for the Jubilee Beacon.  Alan Punton will speak to Mr Hogg about the future use of the basket.