CEMETERY COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY, 26TH APRIL 2010

Present:              Cllr H. Wright (Chair), Cllr J. Godwin, Cllr J. Hart, Cllr A. Maycock

1.           Apologies for Absence

Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle

2.           Declarations of Interest

None.

3.           Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

4.           Allotments

a)           Allotments to the rear of Malthouse Court

It has been reported to the Clerk that barbed wire has been erected on the wall between the church and allotments.  The Allotment Society had previously been refused permission to erect a fence at this point.  The Clerk has spoken with the Chair of the Allotment Society to advise that the barbed wire must be removed immediately; this has not been done to date.  It was made clear that the works were not carried out by the Allotment Society but individual plot holders.  It was agreed the Clerk will formally write to the Allotment Society to stress that these actions are not acceptable.  The committee made suggestions on how the security of the site might be improved.  It was agreed that it would not be possible to completely secure the site due to the many points of access.

Reminders have been sent to plot holders who have yet to settle the rent due for the coming year.  Notices have been sent to allotment holders who have failed to tend their plot advising they must be brought up to standard by the end of May.

b)           Allotments at Brackley Road Cemetery

The Clerk confirmed that one half-sized plot at Brackley Road has been relinquished and will be offered to the person/s at the top of the waiting list.

c)           Additional Land for Allotments

The Clerk referred to the areas of land discussed at the previous cemetery meeting.

Sponne & Bickerstaffe Land (off A5)

The issue with this area is the flood defence gate; this forms a substantial part of the town’s flood defences and cannot be used on a regular basis.  There are no options for another entrance to the site.

Former Hesketh Land (bottom of Northampton Road)

The Clerk advised that the trees on this site are too densely planted for it to be considered.

Hesketh Land (overgrown open space at the bottom of the Shires Estate)

There is not vehicular access to the site and no water on site

Land at Belle Baulk

The developer for the extension of Belle Baulk has earmarked an area for the provision of allotments as part of the S106 arrangements.  The size of the area set aside is not clear and so it is difficult to gauge how many plots it can accommodate.  The Clerk will follow this up.

Land between Burcote Fields/Marlow Road

As with the development at Belle Baulk; it is hoped the TC could secure a site for allotment use as part of the S106 arrangements on any future applications.

Former Football Ground, London Road & Land at Green Lane Nurseries

Both of the above sites have been earmarked for residential development and can be discounted.

The Clerk agreed she will contact Ian Morgan of Paynes Nurseries concerning the potential of land owned by the nurseries and report back to the committee on the outcome.

5.           Cemetery Chapel

              Refurbishment Works

The Clerk will be meeting with the Surveyor, Paul Brown, and contractor on Wednesday 28th to discuss the schedule of refurbishments due to commence at the beginning of May.