Nocton Parish Council

The following report was received today for publication:

Parish Council Report

"This month the Parish Council will be meeting three times!

1st May was the Council’s Annual General Meeting.  Councillors Kate Tyler and Ian Goldsworthy were re-appointed as Chair and Vice-chair respectively of the Parish Council for 2012/13.

The meeting also agreed a wide range of policies and procedures which will govern the way in which the Council is required to operate.

The Council also agreed to appoint a Planning Sub-committee to improve the way in which it makes comments on those planning applications it receives for consultation purposes.  Larger applications will still be considered by the full Council.

Finally, the meeting considered a report by the Chair highlighting the work of the Council over the previous twelve months.  Details of the report will be made available to villagers in due course so that they can see exactly what the Council has been up to on their behalf!

8th May. The ordinary monthly meeting was attended by Alan Brown from LCC Highways, who came to update the residents and the Council on:

• The February traffic census in Nocton
• Where we are with dealing with the traffic problems on the B1188
• Issues over Nocton Fen Road

The census revealed that there had been no significant increase in HGV movements or traffic volumes generally since the previous survey in 2006.  Rather worryingly, however, the average speed of traffic entering the village had increased to an average of 38mph.  This was clearly of considerable concern to both the Parish Council and LCC Highways and Alan Brown was asked to report back to the meeting in July on possible ways in which this problem can be addressed.  Details of the survey are available on the Nocton blog dated 9th May.

The proposal to impose a 50mph speed limit on the B1188 from Branston to Sleaford will shortly be the subject of consultation and we are hopeful this will be implemented as this Red Route is the only one in Lincolnshire where deaths are still on the increase.

Nocton Fen Lane is one of the many fen roads to have suffered from the effects of lack of maintenance which has been exacerbated by the prolonged lack of annual rainfall.  Unfortunately, however, Lincolnshire Highways Authority has been unable to secure additional government funding to repair these type of roads.  The good news is, however, that lorry movements to the new Anaerobic Digester at Wasps Nest are to be limited to an average of eight per week and that two-thirds of all material to be used in the AD will have to be sourced locally.  Parish Councillors have been invited to visit the Digester and to meet with the owner in order to see for themselves how the facility is intended to operate and to ensure that this will not be to the detriment of local residents.

Both of the rail bridges in the village will shortly be subjected to modernisation.  As such, the Parish Council will be asking that Network Rail that at the same time as these works are carried out, a footpath is constructed on the bridge over the B1202 and that a footpath be provided under the Wellhead Lane bridge.  Although for financial reasons it is unlikely that Nocton will get a proper footpath along the entire length of this road in the near future, it would be at least one step further to achieving our aim.

Gary Allbones has recently been appointed as Village Keeper.  We are hopeful that he will assist us all in caring for Nocton, with clean and tidy public places and keeping everything “Shipshape and Bristol fashion”!

Finally, please do take the time to attend the third of our meetings, the Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday 22nd May in the Village Hall starting at 7.00 p.m.  This is your opportunity to have your say and to discuss openly any topics brought up for discussion with your fellow residents and Councillors.  Currently on the agenda there is to be a presentation on the work of CLAN and a session devoted to topics raised by residents.  These will include the problems of hedges, etc which are overgrowing our footpaths, the Village Beck and a Neighbourhood Plan.  Wine and nibbles will be available!

Councillor MaryAnn Williams"

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