Minutes of Meeting of St Boswells Parish Community Council held on Thursday 25th October 2007

St Boswells Parish Community Council

Present :
Cllrs A.Reed (chairman), D.Dawson, A.Drummond, C.Ellershaw, A.Gillan, J.Grieve, R.Lawrie, M.Murray, D.Oliver, I.Skinner, R.Wild.
S.B.C. Cllrs. Jim Brown and Len Wyse.
2 members of the public.

Apologies:
G.Mitchell, G.Sinclair.
PC D.Begg.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting :
The minutes of the previous meeting, on 27th September 2007, were accepted as a correct record.

Police Report :
As PC Begg was on leave, and Lothian & Borders Police were unable to provide a replacement, there is no police report this month.

Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
a) Hedges on Jenny Moores Road - contrary to what was reported at the previous meeting, it has been noticed that not all hedges have been cut. The chairman has been informed that SBC will cut hedges only once per year. There was discussion as to whether hedges along a “country lane” should be closely trimmed, but we probably have to accept the SBC allocation of resources for hedge trimming. However, we would like the accumulated litter cleared up.
b) Access to garage in Orchard Park – still no clear response from SBC and no reason given why one particular householder has been singled out.
c) Paved areas at Southfield – two of these areas will be allocated for car parking. Not clear if a disabled person can have a specially allocated parking space.
d) Cheviot Area and Eildon Area committees – no reply from Alan Niven, but Robin Wild had been in touch with J. Greenwell and firmly expressed our views. It seems we are not alone in being dissatisfied with the new arrangements.
e) School Travel Plans – Andrea Gillan had attended a meeting at the school on 2nd October. The aims of the campaign for School Travel Plans are to make travel to school safer, healthier and more environmentally friendly. Suggestions raised include parking at the rugby ground and letting children walk through ( Park and Stride ), possibly forming a “walking bus”. A survey will be done, asking parents to complete a questionnaire, to find out how children come to school. Points which need to be addressed include (i) there are no “School” warning signs on The Green or The Croft; (ii) one of the “20’s plenty” signs is obscured by an overgrown hedge ( owner to be contacted); (iii) possible need for a crossing (with patrol?) from The Croft to The Green. Findings will be collated by P. Gilhooly and
K McGrath. There will be a further meeting on 20th November 2007, which Andrea Gillan will attend.
(f) SBC Community Council Network meeting – only 33 attended from 66 community councils. Three members attended from our community council.
(g) The house in Springfield Terrace, where the garden had become very overgrown, is now vacant and ahs been taken back by the owners. We expect the garden will be attended to in due course.
(h) The installation of further “20’s plenty” signs will be dependent on the drafting of the School Travel Pan.

Correspondence and publications:
(a) letter from Amey Infrastructure Services regarding Border Route Variable Message Signs – existing VM signs will be replaced with up-to-date technology, and additional signs will be installed at strategic points.
(b) E-mail from Colin Ovens informing of new 30 mph signs at south end of Jenny Moores Road, of footway improvements and bollard installation opposite the Buccleuch Arms, and of possible other pavement work in Main Street.
(c) Letter from SBC Planning and Economic Development re achieving community benefits from commercial windfarms.
(d) Letter from Cllr Moffat asking for suggestions for the Scrutiny Panel to consider.
(e) Letter from The Borders Party setting out views on the proposed new Strategic Development Planning Authority for the Edinburgh City Region.
(f) Letter from membership secretary of Scottish Borders Elder Voice ( read out at the meeting), together with copies of the October 2007 newsletter.
(g) Information from NHS Scotland and NHS Borders on better healthcare and draft strategy for food, nutrition and health.
(h) E-mail regarding Border Women’s Aid in Galashiels.
(i) E-mail regarding on-line access to planning application papers and on-line submissions from Community Councils in response to planning applications and other consultations.

Playpark in Weirgate Avenue:
Not much more done since previous meeting. Now waiting to hear from “Awards for All”, also hoping to receive a grant for £5000. Andrea Gillan will postpone further fundraising until the beginning of 2008, but will now forward payment for the “adventure trail” to Jim White. The park continues to be popular and well used – Andrea recently counted 23 children, ranging in age from 2 to 14 – and gets good reports from children and parents. The grass needs one more cut before winter. Andrea will ask for more litter bins and for the self-closing gates to be modified.
A detailed breakdown of everything done so far will be prepared.

Treasurer’s Report
Since 30th September 2007, ( when the annual statement was prepared ), the treasurer has received :
- £450 grant from SBC for path maintenance ( less than last year );
- £1409.34 towards the playpark fund, being the balance of funds raised previously for playpark equipment and held previously by K.Ovens.
The funds available for Community Council spending (apart from the playpark funds ) now stand at £942.29, and £953.84 remains in the playpark fund.

Planning Matters:
An application for outline planning permission for a dwelling house at Mainhill farm. Papers were passed round at the meeting and it was decided to enter no objection from the Community Council.

SBC Councillors’ Reports
Jim Brown had tried repeatedly to progress a solution to the parking problem at Jean Lawrie Court. There is a suggestion to put double yellow lines on the passing places but no date is given for this. There will be an SBC meeting on 5th November regarding various traffic issues in St Boswells, and depending on the outcome, there will be consultations about the suggestions. It was pointed out by several Community Council members that in numerous places parking restriction yellow lines need to be reinstated and/or extended, for example at the junction of Main Street and Hamilton Road. ( contact Russell Cramb for a plan of the village and present restricted areas.) Also contact the Galashiels office regarding the builder’s skip which has been in Main street for some time.
Collections of garden waste will end in week commencing 29th October; next year collections will probably be extended into November.
Len Wyse reported that SBC are starting a major campaign against dog fouling, and people are asked to contact the Environmental Services Officers to report any incidents. It is intended to provide 60 new dog waste bins in this area. We are still requesting one for the A68 end of the Croft footpath, and one at the Kelso road end of the Green opposite the entrance to the tennis club. At the SBC meeting on 25th October the Reporter’ findings and recommendations were accepted. The proposed expansion of the Charlesfield industrial estate has been left in, some proposed housing areas have been left in while others have been recommended for deletion. There are some restrictions on the southward expansion of Newtown St Boswells.
There will be a final 12 week consultation period, only on the Reporter’s recommendations, at he end of which the Planning Department will make decisions.

AOB
1. C. Ellershaw had been informed of a “near miss” involving a car and a child on a bike at the Weirgate / Thoartergate junction. A barrier at the end of the path from Inchdarnie would prevent this happening again.
2. C. Ellershaw asked whether the question of access by cars on to the Green (eg for car boot sales ) had been resolved. It was stated that we would not make any changes at present.
3. R. Lawrie asked what we had received in donations for use of the Green. The treasurer replied that in 2006-07 it was £55. R.Lawrie asked if we should be asking for perhaps 10% of takings?
4. I.Skinner asked whether permission should have been sought before the installation of some railings on the steps of a house in Main Street. It was also noted that there may be restrictions on door colours.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at approximately 9.00 pm.
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 29th November 2007, at 7.30pm in the Lesser Village Hall.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WELCOME FROM 7.30 PM.