Parish Pump January

What to stick in the High Street

The Parish Council has been wrestling with plans to improve the environment of the Conservation Area of Kinver. The County, District and Parish are involved and  it has been suggested that the speed humps be  removed and replaced by traffic pinch points and a speed limit of 20mph on the High Street. This would be at the start and the end of the 20mph section, two gateway pinch points would need to be located near the Burgesses and near the Berkley car park entrance.

All signage in the High Street would be kept to the minimum by reducing the speed limit, the signs can be located at the gateway points  detailing all parking restrictions and speed limits.

Further plans involve seating areas and the pavements will be made wider outside some of the shops so as to dissuade drivers attempting to park on/near pavements where they should not.

Trees will be aligning the High Street. They will have root barriers in the ground to force the roots down as opposed to being across the pavements and towards the buildings. The base of the trees will be covered in resin to stop the stones being kicked around  the High Street but they will be porous to allow the trees to get water. Vandal resistant lighting will be an extra feature.

At the gateway points there will be a feature stone housing the 20mph sign and behind this there will be cycle racks. At the various pinch point locations there will be these type of features with planters and seats. The advantage of doing this type of set up is to dissuade drivers from attempting to drive too fast through the centre of the area when people may be sitting and walking across the road. The pinch points will be cobbled so as to make crossing points for pedestrians.

Car park signage will be improved and the entrance to the car parks will be coloured in a different brick so as to make it  obvious  that the entrance is there. The County Council are arranging a meeting with the owner and management of the Spar/Co-op to look at the possibility of making the car parks behind one car park with an in and out driveway.

The bus stops will be retained in a similar position to where they are, a new shelter will be located by the Burgesses, again bespoke in design to blend with the surrounding buildings. The structure will be made of stone and oak.

The paving will be regular paving blocks which if driven over would not break the slabs but also have a rough surface so they are not slippery.

The drains in the area of Vicarage Drive will be realigned (as flooding down that road is an issue) and a survey is currently taking place.

Clash over KSCA

Confusion has reigned between the Parish Council and the KSCA over who is in charge. The position of the Custodian Trustee (the Parish Council) is to hold the land in trust and to assist the Management Trustee (KSCA) if required.

A custodian trustee is a corporation appointed to have the custody, as distinct from  the management of trust  property. When  a custodian trustee is appointed to hold property of a charity, the administration of the charity is left in the hands of the charity trustees (Management Trustees).

Mr J Gosling was concerned that not all Parish Councillors are aware of  the role of the Custodian Trustees and he felt it should be reiterated again to all members of the Council. Councillor Mrs R Davis said it was very clear from the Charity Commission documents that the Custodian Trustee "has no power  to interfere with the day to day running of the charity even if some members think that they do".

More tickets demanded

Councillor J.K. Hall is concerned over the lack of tickets issued by the Parking Attendants in Kinver. (Have you seen any?). Councillor Mrs E.D. Ray reported that there are only three attendants to cover 27 parishes in South Staffordshire. Time for a couple to be taken on  by the Parish Council.

Some sporting councillors

The KSCA are issued with a grant of £3000 to be  distributed equally between the three sports clubs (cricket, bowling and football) as has taken place in previous years -  this to be funding for this year only. It was soon clear that the progressive element backed this proposal. Those in favour were: Mrs J Barlow, J.Gosling, Mrs S Harris, Mrs E.D. Ray, Mrs M Rogers, R.L. Simmons and D.M. Wiseman. Those against were: M. Davies, Mrs R Davis, D. Hadlington, Mrs L Hingley, J.K. Hall and H. Williams

Wot! No Country Fayre?

Well, it's clear there will be no Country Fayre this year due to very extensive road works. This will give plenty of time to get a team together to consider a stunning event in 2011.  An innovative and exciting Fayre is needed with stalls only for Kinver organisations and not commercial  bodies. A big and colourful parade without too much Risk Assessment checks to kill it should restore this once very popular event.

The end bit

It's not right and it's not fair

What isn't?

A Zulu's left foot