Maxton & Mertoun Community Council - Minutes of the Meeting of 30th August 2007

MAXTON and MERTOUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES of the MEETING held at Maxton Village Hall on 30th August 2007 at 7.00pm

Present:
Andrew Leitch Chairperson, Trudy Leitch, Penny Harvey,
Ann Collie, Isobel Veitch

In Attendance:
Duncan Begg Community Police Officer, Councillor Len Wyse, Mr Ronnie Elliot, SBC Roads Dept Representative.

Apologies:
Vera Holbrook, Community Councillor

Members of the Public Present: 6

Chairperson:
Andrew welcomed Ronnie Elliot, Councillor Wyse and Duncan Begg to the meeting, it was agreed that we should deal with matters relating to any policing issues before the business of the meeting to allow Duncan to attend St Boswells Community Council Meeting. This will be followed by an open discussion and answer session including members of the community present, Ronnie Elliot and members of the community council.

Community Police Report:
Duncan had no major police issues to report for the area covered by the Community Council, equally there has in the past month been no calls logged from members of the public in this area. However, a number of issues related to row of cottages in the village have caused concern for one resident. Duncan suggested if other residents experience problems related to this particular neighbourly issue they should contact the police office in Melrose or Crime Stoppers, giving your name but ask for the complaint be dealt with in a confidential manner not releasing the name of the complainant.

One resident drew attention to a cottage that has become very abandoned looking; he felt the risk of vandalism, as nobody was aware of the occupancy situation it was agreed that residents would report any such incident to Duncan.

Once again no residents have phoned in about speeding vehicles through the village, residents present expressed their concern at having to phone in after each car, one resident suggested it would be more appropriate that people phone in with a number at the end of each day or a given period of time, Duncan felt this would be an appropriate way of at least getting public complaints registered with the police.

A discussion followed on the effectiveness of traffic calming measures, it was generally agreed that speed bumps etc would be good for slowing traffic but an increased nuisance to villagers, it was agreed the matter could be carried forward to the next agenda item with Ronnie Elliot, SBC Roads Representative.

Councillor Wyse’s Report and Public Discussion on Roads etc:
A comprehensive and very open discussion was held with Councillor Len Wyse and Ronnie Elliot (representing Scottish Borders Councils Roads Department), during which members of the community and Community Councillors had the opportunity to discuss issues related to Maxton Village, these included: -
Ų Excessive speeding through the village, this has been an ongoing issue with residents for a number of years, however it appears our previous Local Councillor and the Eildon Area Committee in March 2006 did not feel it was appropriate to support a review of the 40 mile an hour limit, as a result Maxton was not included in the last roads review process. (as we had no Community Council at this time the local community had no opportunity to contribute other than through our council representative, to nobodies knowledge were any of the community consulted for their views). It also appears there has been no reports of ‘injury collisions’, even though Ronnie Elliot stressed that neither the police or the local authority were looking for blood or physical injury before a reduction of the speed limit could be considered. In addition those present were informed that in recent recordings of traffic through the village the average speed is working out at less than 40 mph., residents felt the average speed is always going to show less than 40 mph due to the placing of the recording systems, in the vicinity of a parked car, this will naturally make traffic stop/slow down to allow on-coming traffic through, hence sometimes as may as 10 cars etc move off at 5 to 10 mph. Ronnie Elliot offered to have cables laid across the road for a full period of a week covering weekends and report back the findings, residents ask this not be recorded as averages, but actual numbers of vehicles doing more than 40 mph. It was pointed out by a resident that he had recently witness a fast moving heavy lorry which took approximately 75 yards to slow down enough to avoid hitting a local child crossing the road to the play park… tyre marks were still visible.

It was agreed that the introduction of traffic calming measures through the village would only add to the noise nuisance to the properties along the main street of Maxton. A number of residents suggested that more regular or permanent warning signs such as Mr Smilie or Vehicle Activated Sign to alert the motorists that they are doing more than 40 mph can be effective, it was agreed this can prove to be a warning to all but the determined fast drivers, consideration could be given to these ideas.

Ų Paving, it was suggested that it would be useful to have the safety of paving on the side of the road where the trees were removed, it was agreed after discussion this would not prove to be particularly practical or aesthetically to the village and the addition of paving and curbing outside Eastend Cottages would disadvantage residents ability to park off the road as they do at present.

Ų Possible installation of curbing along grass verges through the village and reinstatement of verges damaged and eroded after the removal of trees to allow the road through the village to be re-surfaced. Most of those present agreed that curbing would add to the potential for accidents involving vehicles parked on the opposite side of the road. It was also pointed out by Ronnie Elliot that curbing would add to the drainage problems without additional trains being installed, the costs would be prohibitive for such a small gain, however he would take all these comments to John Henderson for consideration. He did not see that the re-alignment of the verges to their previous position would be a problem, but again would have to report back on this matter.

Ų Excessive water collecting at the end of the vennel between Maple Cottage and Glebe View and the huge puddle that forms in the front of Stonewall Cottage and to a lesser degree outside Glebe View, (a number of photographs were presented to the meeting showing the water after moderate to heavy rain fall). Ronnie Elliot agreed to take this away for further consultation with the relevant bodies however he fully supported the residents in their concerns and condemnation of the present situation and the apparent lack of action to rectify this situation, particularly in relation to the risk of ice forming in the winter weather.

Councillor Len Wyse’s Report:
Councillor Wyse provided those present with the following list of responsibilities/remit our three Councillors for this area hold and therefore the most appropriate person to contact with the different concerns both the Community Council and Local Residents may have.
Councillor Sandy Scott: Social Welfare
Councillor Jim Brown: Planning Committee
Councillor Len Wyse: Environment, Open Spaces, Waste Management

In relation to waste management, dog fouling is always a big issue across the region and in some areas disposal bins have proved quite effective in others not so due to them filling quickly, therefore people are leaving bags by the bins, causing a health hazard in the warmer weather and a danger to wildlife. It has now been agreed that owners of dogs can place bags in their own dustbins for disposal at the local landfill site.

Both Councillor Wyse and Ronnie Elliot agreed to take forward all the matters discussed and feedback to the Community Council the outcome of any discussions they had within the Council Departments. The Chairperson thanked everyone for their involvement in these particular issues and hoped now we have had the opportunity to air them we may get some results.

Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Proposed as a correct record by: Isobel Veitch
Seconded by: Penny Harvey

Matters Arising from the Minutes of 28th June 2007:
NONE

Correspondence:
a) Notice of the following SBC Meetings, Education Executive, Executive, Scrutiny, Development and Building Control, were circulated prior to the meeting where appropriate.
b) SEPA Consultation document
c) Community Council Scheme Review
d) Notice of Ministerial visit
e) Planning and Standards Focus Group Meeting
f) Notification of Adult Mental Health Day Services Review (07-09-07)
g) Core Path Draft Planning Consultation Document
h) Notification of Temporary Road Closure Mertoun Bridge 18-09-07 from 12 – 5.pm
i) Information about SB Community Council Network day Sat. 6th October 9.30 to 2.45
j) Notification of vacancy for CC Membership of Cheviot Area Committee
k) Letter from Michael Moore MP reference Digital Switch Over

Treasurers Report:
Treasurer reported little change in the accounts from the previous report apart from receipt of both the annual grant and the reimbursement of £54.00 which the council had agreed to pay for the hire of the hall for the Steering Group Meetings.
The Account stands at £1,146.94 as of 27th July 2007

Report of Meetings attended by CC Members:
None

Concerns Raised by Public:
a) Grass cutting both the village verges and the play park appear to be being done every 3 weeks instead of the 2 week cycle of previous years, with the exceptionally wet weather this has led to unsightly verges and difficulties for the children to play in the Glebe.
b) Disposal of garden waste… i.e. branches of shrubs etc, not everyone has the facilities to shred these or space in their gardens for long-term composting, fires are also not an option for the majority of villagers.
c) Concern was raised by a resident at the meeting about a proposed planning application for a large garage and storage area at a residential establishment in the village. After discussion it was agreed that no formal objection should be placed by the Community Council, but a number of concerns should be put forward for consideration by SBC Planners, Access, Storage of Chemicals and Health and Safety Issues for now and the future.

Action Point:
Councillor Len Wyse will look into issues a) and b) and report back to next full meeting.
Secretary to write to Planning reference c)

A.O.C.B.
DATE, TIME and VENUE for next meeting:

Date: Thursday 27th September 2007 is the Annual General Meeting (the minutes above will be dealt with at the first full meeting of the Community Council after the AGM)
Time: 7.00pm
Venue Maxton Village Hall