Councillors will provide an update on community issues and progress on area board working groups. This will include:
a. Skate board park working group
b. Highways working group (CATG) – The CATG will ask the Area Board to consider and agree priorities for local highway schemes.
c. Calne campus working group
d. Sandpit Road (Section 106) working group
e. Air quality working group.
Minutes:
Councillors provided an update on community issues and progress on Calne Area Board working groups.
(a) Skate Park Working Group
Cllr Howard Marshall reported that tenders for the skate park had been received from prospective suppliers and that these would be considered by a Town Council committee. On 20 August the core working group would consider the designs. An announcement regarding the award of the contract would be made on 23 August.
There had been some reports of anti-social behaviour in the skate park area and a meeting had taken place between the police and local residents to attempt to resolve any problems in the area. It was important to position a CCTV camera in the vicinity and to put bollards across the entrance to the park to prevent late night parking.
There were a number of questions from the public and the following issues were discussed:
· Members of the Community Safety Partnership had walked round this area with the Police and found there was litter but had not seen any anti-social behaviour. It was important that measures were put in place to deal with both of these issues.
· A resident living near the skate park informed the Area Board that she had reported loud music coming from the facility. Although not wishing to close the skate park she was very concerned about the anti-social behaviour and wanted the issues sorted out as soon as possible. Cllr Marshall responded stating that the young people using the facility did have a responsibility to manage it and youth workers in the area would be asked to convey this message to them. It was felt that the introduction of CCTV would help.
· The Town Council would also work with residents to prevent trouble in the area. Efforts would be made to engage with the young people concerned. It was important that local residents were involved to find a solution.
· One resident felt that the consultation carried out about the skate park had been flawed because it had not included all streets that were affected by it.
· The local youth worker stated that it was important to have a dialogue with the young people using the skate park and to work with them to change the culture.
· Cllr Howard Marshall agreed to set up a meeting with local residents and other organisations such as the police, youth service, anti-social behaviour officer and Town Clerk to discuss concerns and to work together to find a solution.
Action: Cllr Howard Marshall
(b) Highways Working Group (CATG)
It was noted that there were plans to put together a Community Transport Strategy for the area. Funding would be provided for the Area Board to ensure that this happens. The Working Group would meet next to discuss this on 1 October 2013.
The Community Area Partnership asked for further clarification regarding the proposed transport plan including terms of reference and timescales. Once more information had been received the partnership would discuss this matter at its steering group meeting. The Area Board agreed to liaise with the partnership and provide the necessary information.
It was noted that changes had taken place to the speed limit review process which meant that the group wished to reconsider its speed limit requests.
Decision
(1) To ask the Calne Community Area Partnership to investigate the production of a Community Transport Strategy for the Calne Community Area.
(2) To reverse the decision taken at the Area Board meeting on 6 June 2013. To withdraw speed limit review requests for the C50 and C112 in 2013/14 and ask that the Highways Working Group assess, and report back in February 2014, other routes that may be appropriate for review.
(3) To ask the Calne Highways Working Group to consider the following as priorities for 2013/14, to identify potential schemes where possible, to undertake feasibility studies where necessary and report progress back to each Area Board meeting:
· Curzon Street – congestion
· Woodsage Way/Braemor Road/North Way/North Street/Lickhill Road – traffic calming
· Springfield School – crossing
· Stockley – bus stop
Action: Jane Vaughan, Community Area Manager
(c) Calne Campus Working Group
It was noted that two meetings of the group had taken place since the last area board meeting. A plan and layout for the campus had been discussed and some revised plans had now been produced. This had caused some delay to the project but the Working Group would be meeting next week to consider costs and move to the next stage. It was agreed that information would be provided regarding the impact of any delays.
Action: Jane Vaughan, Community Area Manager
(d) Sandpit Road (Section 106) Working Group
A special meeting had been held to respond to local concerns about the proposed traffic calming scheme at the junction of Abberd Way and Penhill Road. New plans would now be drawn up and would be circulated as soon as available and then brought to the next meeting for consideration.
Some concern was expressed about how residents would be aware of what was happening. The Chairman suggested that residents liaise with Roy Golding who could keep them informed.
Action: Jane Vaughan, Community Area Manager
(e) Air Quality Working Group
The last Working Group meeting had focused on air quality and health implications. An Air Quality Management Area had been confirmed and a monitoring strategy was now in place for one year. A bid had been submitted to Defra for further monitoring equipment. The group now planned to look into transport through the town including school transport plans and to report back in September.
Residents had concerns about the health implications of poor air quality. It was noted that overall Wiltshire had very good air quality and there were only a few isolated hotspots where problems occurred. Further evidence was required and this would take some time to address, however, the Council was taking this matter seriously.