Parish Council

Notes on the Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 2 July 2013

Network Rail GNGE Project
Mark Walker and his team from Network Rail gave a presentation to the Parish Council and some of the residents on the recent works that have been carried out on the bridges and tracks in our area as part of the multi-million pound project to upgrade the line from Grantham to Doncaster.

In 2008, the East Coast passenger rail line was at full capacity and Network Rail decided to upgrade the passenger and freight lines, so that in the future more freight could travel on the existing lines and all trains run faster.  Tracks, signaling, tunnels and additional infrastructure have all been upgraded and this has resulted in the potential for “our” track to take four more trains an hour, should the need arise.  Trains can now travel at least 30% faster, meaning quicker journeys and less time waiting at the barriers.

The government has to make CO² savings to meet emission criteria and getting any additional (or even existing) lorries off the roads would make a significant saving.

Concerns as to lots of additional trains and hazardous freight were dispelled.  At the moment, it is not envisaged that any extra trains will run and hazardous freight is not carried on this line.  The Wellhead embankment has been tidied up and the planting of hedging on the B1202 is being addressed as the contractors are bound to replace the area to its original state as far as possible.  Unfortunately, we can do nothing about the design of the finished bridges!

Police
Two crimes of theft were reported last month – at one of the pumping stations and red diesel from Wasps Nest.  The police (after giving chase) managed to apprehend the person suspected of taking the red diesel and he is now in custody.

Best Kept Village
A big thank you was given to all who had participated in the recent ’Tidy Days” clean up.  Regrettably, however, the BKV Inspectors had already carried out the first round of judging a few days earlier although it is hoped that enough had already been done to get Nocton through the first round and we are now really ready for the second inspection.

However, the cutting back of verges and long grass uncovered quite a lot of dog mess, especially along the Dunston bridle path and in the church yard – so owners please clean up after your dogs. 

Village Hall
Sadly, Philip Franklin has had to retire as Chair due to health reasons.  I, personally, will be sorry to lose him as Chair of our Village Hall Working Party that is making good progress in getting the constitution sorted out, so that the future of our Hall and how it is run and maintained is secured.

Bridge and McFarland (solicitors) are to be asked to make sure that the documents are on the right track as they have already had similar dealings with another local Village Hall.

Central Lincolnshire Allocation Preliminary Consultation
It is proposed that some 42,000 new homes should be provided in the Central Lincolnshire area over the coming years, with some 2,375 of these being located in the smaller hamlets and villages (of which Nocton is classified as one).  All residents are encouraged to submit their own comments as part of the current consultation process on this extremely important matter.  Further details are available on the Central Lincolnshire Joint Planning Unit’s website at www.central-lincs.org.uk/ldf.

The Council has submitted its own comprehensive response to the proposals expressing concern at the impact which they might have on the area in general and on Nocton in particular.  reference has been made to the views of residents as expressed in the recently adopted Parish Plan which is against further large-scale development in the village.  Residents are invited to view the Council’s response which is available on the Parish Council’s own website.

Given the importance of having a Neighbourhood Plan for our area, it was agreed that the Chair contact Potterhanworth and Dunston Parish Councils with a view to exploring the potential for developing such a Plan covering all of these villages.

To close on this theme and to highlight the impact of having a Plan, a company with interest in putting in a solar farm on part of the old hospital site has contacted the Parish Council.  Our clerk will pass the owner’s (LEDA) details onto them, and let them know that the Nocton Parish Plan demonstrates that this kind of development is perfectly in keeping with residents’ wishes.

There will be no Parish Council Meeting in August so we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 3 September at 7pm.

“it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... it's summertime!”  
Councillor MaryAnn Williams