LOWER HENLADE AND STOKE ROAD
RESIDENTS’ & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH MEETING
Held at
The Mount Somerset Hotel
on
Thursday 11 October 2007
Commencing at 7.30pm
PRESENT: Gill Ellis, Mike Westlake, Lynsey Gamblin (Police Community Support Officer)
Gwyneth Leighton (District Councillor), Mary Growtage (Parish Council Clerk)
and 26 local residents (20 dwellings being represented).
Thanks were expressed to the Mount Somerset Hotel for allowing this meeting to be held on their premises and for providing beverages and biscuits free of charge; Lynsey, and Gwyneth were thanked for attending and Mary was thanked for attending and also for taking notes.
This meeting was called to allow residents the opportunity to meet socially and to
allow them to discuss their concerns following recent events and to gauge whether
the Residents’ Association should be re-
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Mike Westlake told the meeting that the Neighbourhood Watch had been started 12 years ago, when it just covered Lower Henlade; it had now been increased to cover Stoke Road and Stoke Hill as well.
Lynsey Gamblin explained her role as the Police Community Beat officer covering the
area; the Neighbourhood Beat Sergeant is David Butter and Jo Davies is the Neighbourhood
Beat Manager. Their Team Voicemail is 01823 363287 then 70106; this number is not
for incident reporting. The number for non-
Lynsey reported that there had only been four calls from the area in since January 2007, one was regarding a burglary, two reported incidents and one was an enquiry.
Mike advised that householders should not leave windows open when they were not in the house, even if they were only in the back garden.
SPEED OF TRAFFIC
Concern was expressed by all present over the volume and speed of traffic using Stoke Road and Lower Henlade, and the dangers imposed for anyone walking along the road or posting a letter. Residents spoke of the banks being eroded and of the difficulty of getting out of one’s entrance.
One suggestion raised was that a kerb be put along the road especially near the post box and around corners; this would narrow the road and possibly slow traffic.
Lower Henlade is being used as a ‘Rat Run’ into Taunton for those wishing to avoid the congestion on the A358 around the motorway roundabout and also by those wishing to access south and southwest Taunton.
Residents felt there should be more 30mph signs, one resident had put up their own sign but had been told to remove it by the Hazel Prior Sankey (County Councillor)
Mention was made regarding the purchase of a radar gun, but this would be expensive. Several parishes do own one but there would be insurance problems if one were loaned to another parish or area, and extensive training would be required. No prosecutions result from the use of residents’ radar guns. Sometimes warning letters are written to speeding drivers.
Other suggestions included traffic lights at Bridge Corner and the closure of the entrance into Greenway Lane from the dual carriageway. Mary told the meeting that she had recently given the County Council details of all ‘Pinch Points’ (narrow roads, bends etc) in the parish and had included Stoke Road and Lower Henlade.
Gwyneth suggested that the Parish Council should be asked to request that the SCC carry out a Safety Audit for both Stoke Road and Lower Henlade and Mary agreed to bring this up at the next Parish Council meeting.
FLOODING
Concerns were expressed that the ditches are not cleared on a regular basis and that they are not cleared as well as when they were done manually. Houses have been flooded in the past and Roger Mycock had been unable to live in his house for several months the last time there was flooding.
Rails alongside the ditch are often damaged by traffic.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE A358 AND PROPOSED ‘PARK AND RIDE’ AT CAMBRIA FARM
All present thought this would only make matters worse for the area.
Some thought the Park and Ride would be better located nearer Thornfalcon lights.
Residents were told that the Highways Agency were looking at an alternative route
for the Henlade bypass, passing to the south of Lower Henlade and joining the motorway
south of Holway Road. The results of this will be reported on in an addendum to
the public consultation report. This would be a much more expensive option. A show
of hands indicated that no-
Concern was expressed that there would be more traffic, noise and pollution while these works took place.
The question was asked whether public footpaths would be kept open during construction work and afterwards.
Planning Aid would be able to give advice of any planning issues that may arise. This facility would be available to a Resident’s Association but is not available to local authorities.
LITTER
Disgust was expressed at the amount of litter thrown in the ditches, along the road side and in residents’ gateways.
OTHER MATTERS
It was felt there the area could do with another Parish Councillor, living in the locality to represent the Stoke Road and Lower Henlade residents of the parish.
Mary asked if anyone could recommend a place for the Parish Council notice board to be put in the area.
FUTURE OF A RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
A questionnaire was handed to those present asking if there was a need for a Residents’ Association and other issues.
It was unanimously agreed that it would be a good idea to meet on a regular basis, thereby bringing the community together and being more neighbourly. Also, to address problems immediately they arise.
It was recommended by Gwyneth that the Parish Council be asked for a ‘start up’ donation to get the association underway, as this had been done in other parishes.
The meeting closed at 9.30 pm and thanks were given to Gill and Mike for organising the event.
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With Grateful thanks to Mary Growtage for taking these notes
© 2008 Lower Henlade and Stoke Road Residents’ Association