March meeting minutes

WESTON ON TRENT PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish meeting and Parish Council meeting held in the Village Hall on 17th March 2025

Present: Cllrs Green, Harper, Freeman, Neville,Than, Wilkins , District Cllrs Peter Watson and Dan Corbin.

There were 11 members of the public present.

1.Public session - most of the public were there to check on the progress of school parking problems. Cllr Green reported that he and Cllr Than would be visiting the school on Thursday. The issue was raised at the recent Area Forum and the local PCSO will do more visits at drop off and pick up times.

The Speedwatch group is now active having completed the training and 3 successful sessions have been done. They will also concentrate on the area around school at pick up and drop off times, Cllr Green said that road markings will be looked at by DCC . They are looking at several small issues which will hopefully improve the over all situation

. We will also follow up with Cllr Atkin. Dan Corbin agreed to look at the original planning application to see if there was anything in it about the school providing a walking bus and also the possibility of double yellow lines

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

1. Apologies for absence _County Councillor Neil Atkin and Cllr Steadman

2.Declaration of interests – none declared

3.Matters arising from the parish meeting 2024 – covered at the meeting last year

4.Chairman's report – circulated

Cllr Green reported that there will be a small rise in the Parish part of the precept for the coming year.

He thanked the County and District Cllrs for their help over the year.

More Christmas lights were added to this year, we now have Santa's sleigh which was very well received.

Comments were sent on the Local Plan part 1.

Flooding issues in the Yates Avenue are still being investigated- waiting for DCC to host a follow up meeting.

School traffic and parking issues are still ongoing – he thanked Mike Parker for taking over the Speedwatch, 2 sessions have been done and letters from the Police will be going to those caught speeding.

The Council is looking at getting a speed indicator devise similar to the one in Aston.

Cuttlebridge continues to cause a problem for traffic from Weston turning right, we continue to push for traffic lights.

The Council eventually got Network Rail to trim the hedges along Swarkestone Road.

The National Grid is looking to install 50m high pylons, the Council continues to challenge the logic of this and the cost.

New benches and dog bins have been added to the bowling green are and are being well used

Freeport – concerns that this will impact the village with extra traffic ,

Samantha Niblett attended a coffee morning in the village organised by the Parish Council

5. Footpath officer's report circulated

Cllr Green reported that in general the footpath network is in good order. Areas of concern are rights of way / bridleway 6/7 from Kings Mill to the river which floods over in the winter and permissive paths in Long Walk Wood.

6. County Cllr's report – Not available

7. District Cllr's report – Cllr Corbin spoke of his involvement with the mobile phone mast in Astonwhich is being powered up today but not quite finished.

He objected to the National Grid proposals and is involved in the flooding issues around Yates Avenue and Weston Road.

Cllr Watson suggested that Willington Power Station site should be used for housing instead of green belt.

Elvaston Castle is now going to be sold and he hopes that the garden is maintained. He is not aware of the asking price but it should to be offered to the community first.

Parish council meeting

1. Apologies – Cllr Steadman

2.Declarations of Interests – none declared

3. Minutes of the previous meeting held on February 17th 2025, having been previously circulated the minutes were deemed to have been read and were agreed as a true record of the meeting held on 17th February 2025.

4. Matters arising from the minutes of the meetingheld on 17th February 2025

Network Rail – no update

Buses – users are still reporting problems with buses being late or not turning up at all.

Flooding issues – awaiting update from Cllr Atkin.

Wicksteed report on play areas – awaiting better weather.

Coffee morning with Samantha Niblett – this was well attended – 38 people from across the constituency.

Main Street parking – no update.

Speedwatch – 3 sucessful sessions have taken place with several motorists receiving letters from the Police.

School parking issues – covered in the Public session

EMA training flights- Weston Parish Council would like to see a noise monitor in the parish, in the bowling green area. Cllr Green has contacted Aston Parish Council to get their agreement.

5. Reports

Chair's report –Cllr Green reported that he is standing in the County Council elections on Thursday 1st May as the labour party candidate.

Consultation on the warehousing at the A50, / junction 24 of M1 area is underway – he will do a report

Clerk's report -planting of trees around the bowling green- a suitable date could not be agreed with the Scouts so the Council will look at planting the ones that need to go in now and sort a date later with the Scouts for the rest.

The CVS are holding a community drop-in event on Friday 28th March from 10am until 2pm at the Village Hall

The allotment bills have gone out and at the momentit looks as if all the plots are taken and we have 2 people on the waiting list.

The dog poo bin at the bus shelter in Trent lane has been removed – the Council will look at replacing it.

Earth Day is being held in the village on 27th April, Cllr Green will lead a walk on the footpaths. Some help will be needed with road crossings

Footpath's Officer's report – as per previous meeting

6. Planning – none

7. Correspondence

Download 25 residents drop-in session to be held on Tuesday 11th March from 6pm to 8pm at Castle Donington Village Hall

Temporary road closure A5132 Barrow Lane,Swarkestone 08th April – 10th April (19.00 – 23.59 each night)

Connect Fibre update – looking for local publications to advertise in.

Woodland management update from Richmond –They have planted 30 oaks,30 silver birches and 30 wild cherries into the woodland where the damaged trees were removed, which will be supplemented with hazels and hornbeams in the new glade areas. Their plan is to ensure that over the next five years of this plan a total of 100 whips will be introduced into the woodland. They have reviewed the biodiversity plan and have a healthy population of bats roosting in the woodland. It also shows there are muntjac deerand butterflies and moths and birds. Richmond have teamed up with SAVE and hope to put an information board at the entrance to the wood in Maple Drive. As part of the annual maintenance,they will be removing the invasive rhododendrons. They will also be assessing drainage as part of the permissive path is very muddy in parts which mean people find alternative paths which can damage the undergrowth.

Handrails at the back of Aston church – the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate found that listed building Consent was not required so the PCC have applied for a faculty and the work can go ahead. The PCC passed on their thanks to the Council for their support.

South Derbyshire CVS drop in -event at the Village hall on 28th March from 10am to 2pm in the Village Hall

8. Website – no issues

9.Finance

Invoices awaiting payment

Clerk's wages £254.45

Clerk's expenses £38.60

Speedwatch camera calibration £272.00

Wicksteed inspection £360.00

V Cooper allotment lease £1050.00

Cllr Green – leaflet printing £70

The meeting closed at 9.45