Open Session:

There were two members of the public present. (see attached notes).

Present:

Cllr N R G Clarke (Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr Mrs B Charlton (arrived at 3.30pm)
Cllr D R Cole
Cllr M F J Daly
Cllr B H Terry

In Attendance:

Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk

P/4243 Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr N C Wood.

P/4244 Declarations of Interest

There were none.

With the agreement of the Committee, planning application number 85865 was considered next for the benefit of a member of public present (see Annex `C' for observation) - (on the PDF version).

P/4245 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 16th September 2005, having been circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record.

P/4246 Walking & Cycling Working Group

Members considered an update on issues currently being addressed by the Walking & Cycling Working Party (Annex `A').

It was noted that the widening of the footpath in Southampton Road would not take place in the current financial year and that the £40,000 set aside in the County Council's budget for this project could be used to address other issues identified by the Group. The Chairman of the Group had suggested alternative measures and these were briefly discussed.

RESOLVED:

1) That the Deputy Town Clerk's update be noted.

2) That the following schemes be put forward as alternative measures for use of the £40,000 set aside in this financial year for widening of the footpath in Southampton Road:

Drop crossings in School Road, Southampton Road, Meeting House Lane, Castleman Way, Bickerley Road, Christchurch Road and Hightown Road.

Gorley Road - short pedestrian link to shops, subject to adjoining landowner agreement.

Hightown Road - hedgerow cut back to improve visibility at existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing.

P/4247 Bus Shelter

Members noted that the brick bus shelter in Southampton Road, Poulner had now been demolished, following repeated attacks of vandalism, which had left it in an unsafe condition.

It was noted that there had been no requests from members of the public asking for the shelter to be replaced. However, it was agreed that the Deputy Town Clerk should look at options for a more robust shelter for consideration by members.

RESOLVED: That the Deputy Town Clerk investigate the options for a replacement bus shelter and report back to the Committee at its next meeting.

P/4248 Community Safety Initiative (Street Lighting)

Members considered the Deputy Town Clerk's report (Annex `B') and considered the locations put forward by Ringwood Police that would benefit from improved street lighting. It was noted that the entrance to Toad Corner playarea off North Poulner Road was not well lit and, as new play equipment had been installed this year and the entrance gave way to a busy road, it was agreed that this location would benefit from one additional streetlight.

Carvers Recreation Ground was also considered to be a priority, particularly in view of the amount of vandalism and anti-social behaviour this area had suffered from in recent months.

RESOLVED:

1) That a bid for the following locations be submitted to Hampshire County Council for possible inclusion in the Community Safety Initiative (Street Lighting) programme for 2006/07:

Entrance to Toad Corner playarea, off North Poulner Road
Public footpath across Carvers Recreation Ground

2) That £2,000 be included in the Committee's budget for 2006/07 to allow the Council to match fund these bids.

P/4249 Training

It was noted that Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils (HAPTC) had organised a planning training seminar for parish and town councillors, in association with Planning Aid South. This event would be held in Marchwood on 14th December, at a cost of £20 per delegate.

RESOLVED: That Cllr Mrs Charlton be authorised to attend the training event and her reasonable travel expenses be paid.

P/4250 Planning applications Considered

Planning applications in respect of the weeks ending 13th, 20th & 27th September and 4th October were considered.

Cllr Mrs Charlton arrived at 3.30pm, during discussion of application number 86047.

RESOLVED: That the observations as shown in Annex `C' be submitted. (on the PDF version)

P/4251 Urgent Business

i) Appeal by Mr & Mrs Miller

It was noted that Mr & Mrs Miller had lodged an Appeal with the First Secretary of State against New Forest District Council's decision to refuse proposed bungalow and detached garage at land rear of 22A Eastfield Lane (Planning Application Number 84875 refers).

The Town Council had recommended that this application be granted permission and had submitted the following observations: "The scale and nature of the development is appropriate for this well screened location. The officer's concern re. neighbourliness is overstated bearing in mind the whole area is uniform ex-council house estate. The proposal will have no detrimental impact on the surrounding properties. Permission was given for a property on an equally confined site at 56 Eastfield Lane (PP 81556 refers)."

RESOLVED: That the Town Council make no further comments on the Appeal by Mr & Mrs Miller.

ii) Minerals and Waste Development Framework

It was noted that a consultation document on the Strategy ­ Issues and Preferred Option had been received, and that this document contained 54 questions. The Deputy Town Clerk would therefore liaise with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on a response and would report back to the next meeting.

RESOLVED: That this information be noted.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 3.45pm.

Annex `A'

Walking & Cycling Working Group

The Walking & Cycling Working Group met on 4th October 2005 and here follows a brief update on current issues:

1. Quomp Experimental Road Closure

Traffic Surveys from the first closure (between College Road and Woodstock Lane) show an increase in traffic travelling northbound along Christchurch Road (an additional 1000 vehicle movements), a reduction outside Ringwood Junior School and no increase in Woodstock Lane.

The second closure is now in place and traffic surveys are currently being carried out on this trial. These results will be available in mid-November and a summary of all results will be held on deposit in Council offices and the Library. Residents in the area will also receive a letter outlining the next stages of the process.

It was agreed to make the Prohibition of Driving Order in Woodstock Lane permanent, as this appears to have had the desired effect of preventing its use as a rat-run.

There is £50,000 in HCC's capital programme for 2006/07 to implement a permanent closure, if that is what is agreed. This will also cover improved street lighting in the road.

2. 2004/05 Capital Programme

The following schemes are now almost complete, with the exception of a few snags that have been identified and will be rectified shortly:

i) Southampton Road/Parsonage Barn Lane ­ footway widening and pedestrian refuge alteration.

ii) Southampton Road/Mansfield Road B3347 junction ­ pedestrian and cycle refuge island alteration/improvement and re-instatement of two lanes from Southampton Road to the town roundabout.

iii) Mansfield Road B3347 Service Road ­ new footway, cycle link and cycle parking area.

iv) Southampton Road ­ on-road Cycle Route upgrading.

v) Southampton Road and Gorley Road ­ pedestrian improvements ­ the drop kerbs are too high and will need to be redone.

3. 2005/06 Capital Programme

There is a need to take land from 4 properties in Southampton Road in order to widen the footway. Two owners are in agreement, one is not sure and one is unwilling. It may therefore be necessary to obtain the land through Compulsory Purchase.

However, in order to do this, HCC must look at all alternative options. These include decreasing the width of the footway on the opposite side of the road and moving the road over or creating a build-out, which would require traffic leaving town to give way to incoming traffic. Traffic and pedestrian counts would now be carried out and residents of Linden Gardens and surrounding roads would be consulted on the options. This scheme will now roll-over to 2006/07.

4. S.106 Developer Funded Works

The group discussed how the £100,000 contribution from Waitrose would be used and it was agreed to have a site meeting to look at the following projects:

i) School Lane/Quomp ­ improvements for pedestrians ­ dropped kerbs and raised table, tidy up signs and cut back overgrown foliage

ii) Quomp to The Close ­ cycle link ­ upgrade pedestrian crossing to toucan crossing. Take out special paving (where flower planters are located) and create shared cycle/pedestrian route to crossing.

iii) The Close ­ footway widening

iv) Southampton Road ­ drop kerbs at exit from The Close and on opposite side of road

v) Meeting House Lane ­ drop crossings

It had originally been intended to look at hard landscaping improvements where The Close meets Southampton Road and to provide better cycle parking. However, this scheme is on hold pending a decision by NFDC as to whether an environmental enhancement scheme will be included in its capital programme for 2006/07.

5. Bridge Parapets ­ Poulner Flyover

It was noted that the Highways Agency would be replacing the bridge parapets over the A31 and had asked whether there was a requirement for the parapet on the west side of the Poulner Flyover to be raised, in order that it could be used as a cycle track in future. It was agreed that HCC should ask for this parapet to be raised.

Annex `B'

Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Street Lighting

1. Each year Hampshire County Council invites bids for inclusion in the CSI Street Lighting programme.

2. Following public consultation last year, the Committee agreed to submit a bid for 2 additional lights in the areas of Somerville Road/White Hart Fields and Bickerley Road/Deweys Lane.

3. The Council has been informed that the bid for an additional light in the area of Somerville Road/White Hart Fields has been successful and will be included in the 2005/06 programme.

4. The unsuccessful bid and other sites put forward for consideration have been forwarded to New Forest District Council for consideration under its Lighting Improvements Programme. As yet, we have not had confirmation that any of these will be implemented.

5. In order for a scheme to be considered, it must meet the following criteria:

Provision in response to a strong local need

Provision in response to a known or accepted night time crime issue

Provision of a demonstrable highway safety benefit

6. Ringwood Police have therefore been consulted and asked to identify any locations that would benefit from improved lighting and meet the above criteria. As a result, the following locations have been put forward for consideration:

i) Cloughs Road
A narrow road with high-density housing. It is on a route used by school children and for most of its length is not paved on either side. It is also a busy route for local traffic.

ii) Carvers Lane / Carvers Field
Lighting along the footpath would assist in monitoring the area and make use of the footpath by residents more practical.

iii) Toad Corner Play Area, North Poulner Road

iv) Dr Little Gardens, Southampton Road

v) Area immediately around Highfield Drive, particularly Northfield Road
This area was suggested by a member of public and is supported by the Police. There are few lamp columns and the footpaths/pavements area quite narrow or non-existent.

7, Members are asked to consider:

a) Whether to submit any bids for possible inclusion in the CSI Street Lighting programme for 2006/07;

and

b) Whether to allocate funds in the Committee's budget for 2006/07 for the provision of street lighting.