Tatham Parish Council

Present: Abi Cox from Lancaster City Council (direct) Services, District Cllr Stuart Langhorn, Parish Councillors Melanie Winstanley, Michael Mason, Ruby Murray, Andrew Taylor, Bill Deller and Jim Harrison, PCSO Peter Wood and the Clerk, Mary Taylor and 14 members of the Public. – Andrew Staveley, Catherine, Stephen and Alan Taylor, Norman and Ann Dawson, Olive beard, Margaret and Eric Baker, Carole and David Butcher, Helen Wilkinson, Jeff Higgin and Esther Nimmo.

Chairman Cllr Winstanley welcomed Miss Cox who spoke on the new Refuse Collections in Tatham. She displayed the three recycling boxes, one for plastic bottles, one for paper and metal and one for cardboard and glass. There is also a grey wheelie bin for normal refuse including food waste. She answered many questions and was thanked by the chairman, she then left the meeting.

Many complaints have been received about a party on Ivah Great Hill on Saturday 6 September; loud music could be heard all over the valley and the road was blocked for larger vehicles, residents had called the police.

The Parish Council had contacted LALC who said it was a matter for the City Council, Environmental Health, 01524 582935 or e mail Lin Turner lturner@lancaster.gov.uk.

Cllr Langhorn spoke about the use of agricultural land for private parties. He with Martin Brownjohn from Environmental Services and Martin Culbert from Planning are to be invited to the next meeting.

PCSO Wood said to ring the police on 01524 63333 at the first sign of anything like this occurring in the future.

A letter is to be sent to the owner of the land Andy Stocks; there was a similar event on 3 September 2005.

1. Apologies: Cllr Dawson who is away.

2. Minutes: of 17/7/08 have been circulated; they were signed as a true and correct record, proposed by Cllr Deller, seconded by Cllr Mason.

3. Police & Community Together: PAC newsletter: PCSO Wood reported the theft of a quad bike, trailer and gate in Tatham Fells. He warned people to beware of bogus callers.

4. Tree: The owner of the fallen tree near the footbridge between the Old School and Lowgill is to be reminded that it is still there.

5. Lengthsman: June and August timesheets. Also an e mail from Tarja Wilson re raise in Lengthsman’s funding by £80 to cover the rise in the cost of petrol. This was not agreed, Cllr Harrison is to investigate.

6. Telephone Box: Cllr Winstanley has applied to have the Red Telephone Box in Lowgill listed; she has received a postcard from English Heritage saying it is receiving attention.

7. Finance: The up to date Receipts & Payments Book was open for inspection.

Cllr Harrison signed the bank statements.

(a) Bank Statement: current 24 May – 24 July £4,131.95

Reserve: Interest 24April – 24 July £4.91 (no interest) July –August £772.97

(b) Cllr Deller proposed & Cllr Mason seconded that the following be paid

Cheque No 312 Melling with Wrayton Parish Council; Lengthsman £2,120.00

Cheque No 313 – Parish Plan Andrew’s Bentham Print shop £942.00

8. Plans

Refused: Hard standing area, pond & nature hide at Ivah Great Hill for Mr Andy Stocks. Planners are to be asked to ask him to remove the hard standing area.

Withdrawn: Garage, Workshop & garden room at Snap Cottage, Lowgill, for Mr Philip Stone,

Permitted: New track to Raw Ridding & tree preservation order confirmed.

Permitted: Equestrian area at Parkside Farm for Mr Paul Taylor.

Further Information: 08/00708/FUL extension at Low Wood for Mr & Mrs Wattam.

New: 08/00992/FUL Erection of extension to utility room at Middle Barn, Lowgill for Mr & Mrs McIntosh.

There were no objections.

9. City Council: (a) There were no comments on contaminated land (b) no more road names were requested (c) information of Countryside Alliance Awards.

10. County Council: (a) Lancaster Local-Lancaster District minutes June, July & August, agenda July, August & Sept. (b) Parish Charter documents, no comments.

Highways: Reply from Mr Robson: Concern has been expressed about trees and hedges encroaching onto the Church Road in Higher Tatham, the owners are to be informed, also a hedge encroaching onto the road opposite Maiden Bridge. Mr Robson is to be informed of (a) flooding at Mrs Wikinson’s, Ivah (b) flooding at School House, Old Moor Road.

Footpaths: Landowners are to be informed of problems on footpath 9 in Lower Tatham from Blands to the Station.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Appeal to DEFRA under paragraph 4(1) of schedule 14 Lancashire

(A) Delete parts of Public Footpath No4 & 6a, Tatham, City of Lancaster.

(B) Add a Public Footpath from Public Footpath No4 to Public Footpath No 6a, Tatham, City of Lancaster.

Time has been extended to 9 October to study the document, comments will then be sent.

Lancaster- Minutes July, Agenda September & Sustainable Strategy Thematic Groups, Core membership & Priorities.

County –Conference, workshops & accounts.

National –Magazines: We do not want to change the name of the Parish Council

12. Community Futures: Parish Plans have been delivered to all households in Tatham. Utilities are to be contacted with the relevant results. In response to the plan a series of history lectures are to be given at the Old School, chaired by Cllr Taylor – on 8 November. 22 November & 6 December.

13. Correspondence: (a) Lancashire Age Concern offer to speak at a meeting (b) The Playing field newsletter (c) One Voice (d) Fire & Rescue Service report & action plan (e) Steve Loy, clerk for Melling has arranged a training day in November, no one was interested (f) The Old School (Entwistle House) in Lower Tatham, (deeds with Blackburn Diocese) is no longer used by MENCAP.

14. Next meeting: Nov 18 at 7.30pm in the Old School, Tatham Fells.

The meeting closed at10.50pm.

Pictures kindly donated by Mike Winstanley and ICTMatrix Project
Parish Information provided by Mary Taylor - Clerk to the Parish Council