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Craster Parish Council |
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COMMUNITY TRUST CHURCHES LOCAL GROUPS
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Craster Parish Meeting 20 th April 2016Report from County Councillor - Kate CairnsApologies for my absence (I am in London representing NCC at a conference); I send a brief update on the main areas of work in the parish.1. FloodingAs I mentioned at the last parish meeting I raised the long-standing issue of flooding at Dunstan and the bottom of Church Bank with the county council. This has resulted in significant resources being deployed on solving this problem with much remedial work taking place clearing culverts and drains.There is still a problem with drainage in the top field of Dunstan with satellite image showing discoloration in the southeast corner of the field indicating that the land drainage isn’t working properly and the water is coming onto the highway via a resident’s garden. Ideally this would have been fixed before the road was resurfaced but it has been complicated due to the sale of the land. This is now being taken up with the new landowner. The PC chairman has been working hard on this issue and liaising directly with officers and may be able to provide further information. 2. ParkingParking was discussed at the last parish meeting and at subsequent parish council meetings where there have been proposals of a residents’ permit scheme alongside an extension of the quarry car park, and ‘gateway’ infrastructure at the entrance to the village.A feasibility study is to be carried out on the extension of the quarry car-park. I have met the Parish Council parking sub-committee to explore options and I also organised a meeting at County Hall with representatives from the AONB, parking services and highways. Whilst we await the outcome of the residents’ survey when we can investigate the preferred options of the majority of residents the following points were made: • It will be sensible to wait until works to extend the existing car-park are complete • Depending on cliff investigations anywhere between 16 and 38 extra bays will be created • All officers felt that a residents’ parking scheme within the town would be unworkable and extremely difficult to enforce • In the meantime, we all felt that improving the gateway signs / road markings to the village, which would direct visitors to the car-park would be a sensible option. • In addition, we could consider the introduction of a 20mph speed limit to further improve road safety in the village • The Parish Council cannot run a residents’ parking scheme, as it has no enforcement powers. 3. PlanningPlanning is an on-going issue in this tiny and sensitive village and I continue to work with individuals and the parish council to ensure the views of residents’ are heard and are considered in the decision making process.Please do contact me directly on these, or any other issues, if you think I can help. Please contact me if you would like a copy of this document. Kate.Cairns@northumberland.gov.uk |