Minutes of WHRF meeting held at Wookey Hole Club 26th August 2021
Present Julia Scarth-Chair, Sarah Mardle-Secretary, Doug Robinson, Roger Hancock, Sarah Chambers, Charlie Chambers
1: Apologies for absence. Chloe Parish
2. Minutes of last meeting 16th June 2021 were agreed and signed & will be posted on Wookey Hole Website
3: Treasurers Report - Sarah C
Sarah C reported one expense for Public Liability Insurance £96
The current bank balance is £1588.50 (£520 being held for Parish council grant) and we are holding £540.73 for LWTST leaving WHRF's balance of £527.77 minus £96 = £431.77
4. Traffic in the village (Sarah C)
Sarah reported that the village traffic count will be taking place this week. Tony Hathaway from the Parish Council has requested as full a picture of the situation as possible, including pedestrians, horses & cyclists so manual count is very important.
Chloe P has agreed to liase with Ed Danson & gather all the information together & create a report of the findings. Individual surveys, photo's, examination of signs, bends etc. have already been completed, just need the traffic count to complete the findings. The village will be asked to review the report before it is submitted to the Parish Council & then SCC.
6 automatic counters are being installed by SCC & they will share their findings.
5. Future events - Bring and Share supper and date for AGM (Roger H)
It was agreed that the annual bring & share supper will be held on 22nd January 2022 in the community hall. Ticket price £3. Roger H said he would sell tickets to his group & Sarah M would sell the rest of the tickets, log names & dishes to be brought along.
Julia to find a volunteer to do the quiz. Sue Lee has said that she will help with the raffle again.
It was agreed to hold the annual WHRF AGM in the community centre on 18th November 2021 cheese & wine will be served & Sam Mills from Wookey Ales has kindly agreed to provide some Ale.
A pre meeting will be held the week before on 11/11/21 to make final arrangements.
Julia to check what is needed re voting procedures and such like
Charlie has agreed to create some posters & leaflets for the AGM.
Roger to check dates are ok for the Community Hall with Jenny Lewis.
Julia to ask Sandy Witters if the WH Fair is to go ahead next year.
Julia reported that the Film Club are meeting 31/08/21 & aim to start showing films again in October.
6. Local planning applications updates
Sarah noted that the Coombe Brook/Homestead Park application is still on hold pending the outcome of the phosphate issue.
Trout Bend – Melitta has spoken to SCC about the footpath and also had quite a lot of responses from people in the village. Partly as a result of pressure of work she has however decided to step down from pursuing the goal of getting the footpath reinstated. She would be happy to share her findings with anyone else who might want to take it on.
Julia will do a notice asking for a new volunteer.
Julia to ask Ed Danson if WH Caves gained or needed planning permission for the fenced off rubbish dump.
Pyrocore- Pyrolysis site at Haybridge - Because of the time lost during Covid, SCC have granted Pyrocore another 1 year temporary license until July 2022. Pyrocore will continue to use the site to display the equipment to potential customers. Pyrocore have reported that they have bought a plant at Avonmouth to manufacture pyrolysis equipment to sell.
Land at back of LA Moore site - Haybridge Residents have been voicing their concerns about the large area that has been cleared recently & asking what was being planned for the area.
Julia to speak to Mike Pullen.
7. Parish Council (Julia)
Julia reported that Ed Danson has confirmed the Parish Council has approved plans to restore the old bus shelter at the bottom of School Hill. Notice boards & benches are to be built & the history of the village & an information hub will be displayed here.
8. AOB
The Parish Council have informed us that Take Art Funding is available again, to get comedy & music performers into the village, we have forwarded on the email to the mailing list. Sarah C to contact Dave Hudsmith to see if interested.
A report is still awaited from Mendip District Council explaining how the concrete paths on Holeground are permissible.
John Grange has renewed the website licenses for another year, it was agreed that Sarah M would put on each agenda the number of hits the web site receives.
9: Next meeting
AGM pre meeting - Thursday 11 November 2021, 19.30. WH Club
Thank you to those who ventured out on a wet windy night last Thursday to attend the WHRF AGM. The minutes of the meeting will follow in due course but a couple of things that we wanted to flag up now are:-
Wookey Hole Residents’ Forum Low Carbon Competition
At the WHRF AGM Joanna Davey suggested an idea for a competition to encourage villagers to reduce their carbon footprint.
At an early stage the broad idea is to run a competition seeking ideas for reducing our use of carbon either individually, or collectively, in our local area. There would be a cash prize to put the winning idea into action.
We are all aware of the damage human activity is having on our world; reducing bio diversity, increasing environmental degradation, and adverse climate change. All leading to a world that is more hostile to life; plant, animal and human.
We each have a part to play in finding solutions so we can live in greater harmony with our world. Many positive things are already happening; increasing use of renewable energy, (some generated by individuals and community groups) more bio-degradable packaging, more recycling, shifting to electric vehicles. There is much more we can do and the purpose of this competition would be to encourage us to do a little more by raising awareness, sharing ideas, and supporting everyone to play their part.
To put this idea into action WHRF is setting up a working group and we are seeking volunteers to help make it happen. We think this is a positive response to the challenges we face and expect broad support from our villagers. To find out more or volunteer to work on putting this into action, please contact Joanna Davey -
Items needed for Wells Food Bank
We continue to collect items for Wells Foodbank. The need is still great and all that is donated is very gratefully received. See list below of things most needed currently. There is a box in the porch at church so you can put things in there at any time. Sandy and David then take these gifts to the Food Bank on the last Wednesday of the month.
This year we will be holding our AGM at the Community Hall 7.30pm this coming Thursday, 18th of November.
In recognition of the fact that Covid numbers are still pretty high in our area we plan to conduct the meeting cautiously.
We will be keeping some windows open so do wrap up warm. If it is appropriate for you to wear a mask we would ask you to do so.
It would also be most helpful if you are planning to come to email
I
Dates for your diary
Tuesday 2nd November 2.30-4pm
Ladies Club - We will be making decorations under the guidance of our lovely Sue Williams. She sells her own cards in Wells and is great with getting us non-artists making amazing decorations.
Thursday 18th November
Wookey Hole Residents’ Forum (WHRF) AGM
Saturday 22nd January
WHRF Bring and Share Supper
Grant available for Environmental Improvement to our village
St Cuthbert (Out) Parish Council are offering Environmental Grants of up to £500 to each of 4 villages, 1 per ward.
Tree planting, rewilding, renewable energy projects, repair workshops and improving footpath and cycle links are all examples of what could attract parish council funding.
Easton, Wookey Hole, Coxley, Polsham, Dulcote, Dinder and The Horringtons all lie within St. Cuthbert (Out) and the Council would like to award a £500 grant in each of its four wards. The closing date for applications is 30th November 2021.
For further information visit St Cuthbert (Out) Parish Council - contact us
Trouts Bend Footpath
Melitta has decided to step down from the role of looking into the possibility of reinstating the Trout’s Bend footpath. If anyone else thinks they might be interested do let us know. Melitta has gathered quite a lot of information that she would be happy to pass on to anyone else who might like to take this on.
Food Bank Donations
A year ago, following last years Harvest Festival, we started monthly collections to donate to Wells Food Bank. Thanks to everyone who has supported this over the last year. Our donations are still needed. There is a box in the church porch and donations can be left at any time throughout the month and will be taken to the Food Bank on the last Wednesday of the month. All gifts are welcome but things that are always needed are tinned meat, tinned meals, Fray Bentos pies , tinned fruit, coffee, cereals. laundry pods, toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel. Undamaged egg boxes are also very useful.
Minutes of WHFC meeting held at Wookey Hole Caves’ picnic tables 16th June 2021
Present: Julia Scarth (Chair), Doug Robinson, Roger Hancock, Sarah Chambers, Charlie Chambers, Chloe Parrish
1: Apologies for absence: Sarah Mardle
2: Minutes of last meeting 14 April 2021 agreed and signed
3: Treasurer’s report (Sarah C)
As at the previous meeting, the current balance is £1588.50, of which £520 is being held for the parish council neighbourhood plan grant and £540.73 held for LWTS, leaving a balance of £527.77.
4. Traffic in the village (Sarah C)
Sarah C reported that all street surveys are now completed, awaiting Milton Lane report. Traffic count to take place in summer.
Two offers materialised from Julia’s email requesting help with the traffic counting and surveys, one of which offered to help with the lighting survey. Sarah C confirmed that street lighting is included within the group’s remit.
The next working group meeting will be used to clarify what’s being looked at by the group and the surveys.
Thanks to SCC and the Parish council for their support and funding of traffic counters.
Help is required to put together and format the final report. Julia to request volunteers in the next email.
Julia noted that traffic was one issue raised and considered by the inspector as part of the Armchair Fields planning application review (see 6, below).
5. Future events - Bring and Share supper and date for AGM (Roger H)
Roger felt that, without a venue in which to hold the B&SS and/or limits on numbers allowed to convene together due to Covid-19, the complex logistics involved in arranging separate events in people’s houses made this idea untenable at present. He also felt this approach lacked the sociability of a large village group event.
Julia has been informed by Alec Lewis that the village hall requires building/maintenance work and is unlikely to be available for use before September. The Club was suggested as a venue but it was noted that the room upstairs has accessibility issues due to the stairs. There are also similar access issues at the Church, and as it lacks a kitchen it was felt this was not an appropriate alternative venue for the B&SS.
Sarah C suggested holding the event later in the year, when the hall may be ready. She also noted that, if the club remains closed on Wednesdays, we could potentially hold it there, downstairs. The club has the added benefit of excellent kitchen facilities.
Roger suggested asking WH Caves if it could be hosted by the hotel.
The various options will be revisited and discussed at the next meeting, with a decision made then once Covid regulations for the rest of the year are likely to be clearer, following the expected announcement on July 19. Likewise a date and venue for the AGM will be discussed and agreed upon at the next meeting, once we have a better understanding of Covid-Related regulations regarding numbers at public gatherings etc.
6. Armchair Field and other local planning applications updates
Julia explained that the developers had appealed MDC’s decision to deny planning permission, leading to a public enquiry. The inspector heard all arguments and visited the site. He upheld MDC’s decision, primarily on the basis of the effect on the landscape of the proposed development.
Thanks was expressed to Ivor Tetley for all his hard work convening residents and enlisting the help of a Chartered Town Planner.
Julia noted that, as yet, no decision to appeal the refusal of planning permission has been lodged by Gladman for the Glencot Road site.
Sarah noted that the Coombe Brook/Homestead Park application is on hold pending the outcome of the phosphate issue.
7. Parish Council (Julia)
Julia informed the group that Ed is keen to see an information or notice board installed at or in the old bus shelter. The shelter however requires maintenance works. Colin has kindly had a look and suggested some ideas for seating.
The Assets Management Committees of the Parish Council has suggested that villages might set up Village Participation Working Parties who would take responsibility for looking after council-owned property in the village. The working parties would comprise of 4 members, of whom 2 would be Parish Council members and 2 other village residents. Any works would be covered by Parish Council insurance. Other council-owned assets in the village include the allotments (which have their own management committee) and the triangle.
Suggested members for the Wookey Hole Village Participation Working Group are Ed, Colin Babb, Julia Scarth and Paul Cannon. The suggested members were agreed.
Julia to keep the group informed of developments.
8. AOB
An update on the footpath at Trout’s Bend - Julia said Melitta Izzard was having problems accessing the necessary form on line and was intending to phone the relevant SCC Department. However it may be a slow process - at a recent NFU webinar on public access it was highlighted that in 2019 SCC received 303 applications and processed 3!
A report is awaited from Mendip District Council explaining how the concrete paths on Holeground are permissible.
9: Next meeting
Thursday 26 August 2021, 19.30. Venue TBC.
Minutes of WHFC meeting via Zoom 14th April 2021
Present Julia Scarth-Chair, Sarah Mardle-Secretary, Doug Robinson, Roger Hancock, Sarah Chambers, Charlie Chambers, Chloe Parish
1: Apologies for absence. none
2. Minutes of last meeting 10th February 2021 were agreed and signed & will be posted on Wookey Hole Website
3: Treasurers Report - Sarah C
Sarah C reported one expense for the shelving in the phone box.
The current bank balance is £1588.50 (£520 being held for Parish council grant) and we are holding £540.73 for LWTST leaving WHRF's balance of £527.77
4: The Phone Box book exchange
Colin Babb very kindly built some shelving for the phone box. A team of 6 volunteers have taken on the task of monitoring it & keeping it organised. It is now filled with a good selection of books, puzzles & seeds.
5. Road working group.
Sarah C reported that they have been working on the road sheets supplied by Ed, marking where current signs are & highlighting possible obstacles & parking areas. This information will be passed to the Parish Council to be submitted as part of a report to be submitted to Somerset County Council.
Julia to send out an email asking for volunteers to help collect information.
SCC have just funded some Automatic Traffic Counters to measure the traffic flow in & around the village. This data will be collected during the summer months.
The residents of Priddy have managed to get some roads taken off Satnavs via a web site that links to Google maps & Satnavs. Sarah M will speak to Paul Cannon to see if he knows how they did it.
6) Future Events - Roger
Roger has emailed Julia a list of ideas, we will discuss these further at the next meeting when we know more about the easing of lockdown.
The village hall is not due to be available until September due to works needed to the roof.
Julia reported that there will be a village picnic in the church grounds on 18/7/21 after the church service.
7) Trout Bend Footpath - Julia
Melitta Izzard is leading this project & has received a few residents witness statements. Melitta has been trying to download the form from MDC to submit the statements but has been unable to. She is waiting for MDC to get back to her & help her.
8) Food Bank Donations - Julia
The donations are tailing off but the collections will continue on the last Wednesday of the month for the foreseeable future.
9) Planning Applications - Julia
Armchair field - The Planning Inspectors hearing is taking place via Microsoft Teams on 5th May. Daniel Foster has submitted an objection & is attending the hearing on behalf of the 37 residents who have funded an appeal.
Coombe Brook - No decision has been made yet
Concrete paths at Holeground - Doug has written to MDC & an enforcement case has been started. Jim Hardcastle from AONB has been informed by a number of people & has notified Historic England & Natural England who are both doing a site visit shortly. Ros Wyke, leader of MDC has been notified.
Julia to speak to Mike Pullen & Ed Danson
Land at back of LA Moore site - Haybridge Residents have been voicing their concerns about the large area that has been cleared recently & asking what was being planned for the area.
Julia to speak to Mike Pullen.
11) AOB
Ed Danson is trying to get a Village history/ Information hub set up in the old bus shelter at the bottom of School Hill.
Julia to put out a request for volunteers to help maintain the garden around the shelter & repair the roof.
12) Next meeting will be held 16th June 7.30pm, venue to be confirmed.