Minutes of Meeting of St Boswells Parish Community Council of Thursday 24th April 2008

St Boswells Parish Community Council

Present :
Cllrs A.Reed (chairman), G.Mitchell, D.Dawson, A.Drummond, C.Ellershaw, A.Gillan, R.Lawrie, D.Oliver.
PC D.Begg ( Lothian & Borders Police. )
Mr. J. Frater ( SBC )
36 members of the public.

Apologies :
M.Murray, G.Sinclair, I.Skinner, R.Wild.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting :
It was requested that the minutes of the previous meeting on 27th March 2008 be amended, at Item 3, in “Correspondence”, regarding the Cheviot Area Committee:
original wording to be deleted and replaced by “ We will apply to the Cheviot Area Committee for funds to help with cost of transport of new items of equipment for the play park”
With this amendment the minutes were accepted.

Police Report :
There had been a slight increase in the number of calls: 6 calls regarding young people, including 1 regarding motorcycles and 1 in connection with an underage person at the rugby club bar. No significant crimes were reported but police were involved at 2 domestic disputes and 2 neighbour disputes.

Proposed new Parking Restrictions ( TRO ) on Main Street.
Mr. J. Frater from SBC attended ( as replacement for Mr. R Cramb ) to explain the proposed changes to the parking restrictions. As most attendees were already aware of the proposals, Mr. Frater agreed to take questions from the audience. He explained that the proposals were at an early stage, and that mandatory consultations have to be held with other bodies besides the Community Council, including retail traders, Road Haulage Association, Police and elected SBC councillors for the ward.
In answer to the opening question, Mr. Frater said that the reasons for the proposals were to eliminate blockages on the road and damage to the footways, and to improve visibility of and for pedestrians, while keeping as much parking area as possible. Because of the problems caused by any parking on the south side of the road, SBC wished to designate a load/unload area opposite the Co-op supermarket.
The following concerns and questions were raised, some several times and in different ways :
- elimination of parked cars may allow traffic to flow more freely, but would result in increased traffic speeds, as parked cars have the same effect as “traffic calming” installations;
- the proposed unloading area opposite the Co-op seems not to consider the safety of the delivery drivers;
- enforcement of the new proposals would mean that around 20 households who do not have their own off-street parking, would have no daytime on-street parking;
- a maximum permitted 30 minute waiting period may be too short for customers of some businesses and is of little use to residents;
- where parking on both sides of the road may be permitted ( light and dark blue areas on plan ) there may not be sufficient width left for passage of buses and lorries;
- would the proposed restrictions eliminate the present danger to pedestrians caused by vehicles being driven along the footway ?;
- previous restrictions are not enforced ( may be unenforceable because signage does not comply with requirements ), so enforcement of new ones would have a big effect on residents and visitors;
- how would new restrictions be enforced? In reply, it was explained that enforcement is by traffic wardens in the first instance, and that police are not normally involved with enforcement.
Several suggestions and questions were put forward as ways of reducing the amount of heavy traffic coming through the village :
- a one-way system as in Melrose;
- a relief road south of the village, e.g. from end of Benrig road to Greycrook;
- restriction on weight of vehicles allowed to come along Main Street.
There appeared to be no opposition to the proposed extension of restriction at the Hamilton Place junction, and extension of restriction adjacent to the Village Hall on Jenny Moores Road might be welcomed ( depending on proposed changes at the bus terminus ).
However, although the present situation has its problems, the general feeling of the meeting ( more than 2/3 on a show of hands ) appeared to be that it would be best to leave things are they are.
The chairman thanked Mr. Frater for attending, especially at short notice.

Presentation by Mrs. R. de la Hey regarding former Mainstreet Trading premises.
The proposal is to have a bookshop ( emphasis on children’s books ), small gift shop, coffee shop and a small antiques concession. It is also hoped to have a Tourist Information Point. It is hoped to be ready to open by 21st June, to coincide with the Borders Book Festival.
Opening times are expected to be:
Tuesday to Saturday: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm
Sunday : 11.00 am to 4.30 pm
Monday : closed.
Parking will available to the rear of the building: 16 spaces for customers, 2 spaces for the occupants of the upper flat.

Matters arising from previous minutes:
(a) Amendment to minutes of last meeting – see above.
(b) Litter pick – J.White has recently completed one in the village but will try to do another when possible.
(c) Bottle bank area tidiness – A.Reed has written to A.Macleod. No reply yet.

Correspondence and publications received :
1. Letter from Jason Hedley ( Parks Manager ) asking if we wish to enter the 2008 Floral Gateway competion. As we came 3rd last year it was agreed we should enter.
2. Data Protection Act – SBC will run a training session on 28th May, 7 – 9 pm. D.Dawson agreed to attend.
3 & 4. Cheviot Area Committee- minutes of last meeting and agenda for meeting
on 16th April 2008 – no items relevant to St Boswells.
5. Minutes of meeting of Newtown and Eildon community council – next
meeting is in week beginning 28th April.
6. Letter from Clive Twemlow.
7.Association of Scottish Community Councils – membership renewal is due;
A.Reed will ask R Wild to issue a cheque.
8.The latest issue of SEPAview is now available.
9.Forestry Commission strategic plans on climate change.
10.Lothian and Borders Outdoor Diary.
11.Invitation to enter for Calor Village of the Year award – we will not enter.
12.Communication from Mr Chris Wilkinson requesting permission to launch hot
air balloon flights (about 6 or 7 this year) from The Green and enquiring about
our charge. £15 per flight was agreed.
13.The Core Paths booklet is available – also accessible on the web. Map 33 is
most relevant to St Boswells.

Treasurer’s Report and Play Park Report:
Present balance total is £ 11 471.41 ( which includes bank interest £ 67.84 )
The treasurer has applied to SBC Community Fund for a grant of £ 1046 towards the total cost ( £ 12 000 ) of purchase and installation of the climbing frame.
Andrea Gillan has in hand £ 325 from a recent Quiz Night and expects to have at least £ 140 from an Anagram Quiz sheet which has been on sale in several local shops and other places. She will try to organise a car boot sale, and the nursery intend to run a sponsored event. It is hoped to have progressed with installation of remaining equipment before the school summer holidays.
There was a suggestion from a member of the audience to investigate the possibility of getting additional funds from the Landfill Tax or the Aggregate Levy, since the village had experienced some nuisance from heavy vehicles carrying aggregate to Charlesfield.

Planning matters:
Four applications were mentioned :
1. Alterations to the former Mainstreet Trading premises.
2. Alterations at Indaal.
3. Proposed replacement windows at Ivy Hatch, Hamilton Place.) mentioned at
4. Proposed extension and decking at 4 Buccleuch Chase. ) last meeting.

SBC Councillor’s Report.
No SBC Councillors were in attendance.

A.O.B.
1. The height of the hedge behind Narrowgates has not been reduced to make the view visible – A.Reed to contact Erica Hume-Niven.
2. There is also a broken land drain here which needs attention.
3. Flooding on The Croft following the recent rain has caused a problem – may be due to previous work by Scottish Water. A.Reed to contact Scottish Water.
4. Could the double yellow lines on Jenny Moores Road be extended as far as the back door of the hall ? ( Mentioned in connection with TRO proposals. )
5. A rubbish bin is needed at the rugby club car park.

The meeting closed at 8.50 p.m.

Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 29th May 2008, at 7.30pm, in the Lesser Village Hall.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WELCOME FROM 7.30 PM.