MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PORTSKEWETT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
HELD IN YSGOL-Y-FFIN SCHOOL TUESDAY 15th APRIL 2008

Mrs Powell from Wedgwood Drive asked if there had been any progress on the Barratts development.  This was dealt with under Matters Arising item m).

Mrs Chandler from Sudbrook asked if Members knew anything about the shipyard site.  This was dealt with under Matters Arising item l).  She also asked about the school site once Ysgol-Y-Ffin moved to Sandy Lane.  Councillor Fox advised that the site would be sold and the money reinvested into new schools in the County.  A robust business plan would be needed if any group or individual wished to purchase it for a Community Centre.

1.         SIGN THE ATTENDANCE BOOK

            The Attendance Book was duly signed. 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
   
   No apologies had been received.
   

3.         MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 
It was proposed by Councillor Fox and seconded by Councillor Griffiths and agreed that the minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true record.

4.         MATTERS ARISING

1. Traffic Calming and Warning Signs for School
   Mr Dave Harris of MCC would write to the company putting the proposal together for a progress report. 

c)   Designation of Bridleway
No progress to report.

1. Brow of Hill on Crick Road
   No progress to report.  Clerk had requested an update from Traffic and Development.  She had been advised that the roads in the area were under review awaiting the outcome of the Barratts application.
   
2. Proposed Section 106 Money
    The Clerk had contacted Mike Moran from MCC who advised that, subject to the ten day call in, the monies would be available.  No further comments.
   
3. Map Case in Sudbrook

             Awaiting the case to be re-sited outside Walker Flats.

1. Interpretation Boards Following Time Team Visit to Harold’s Park
    Awaiting quote for printing.
    
2. Pavements in Camp Road ,Post Office Row and Sudbrook Road
    No progress to report.
   
3. Surface of Manor Way
   Clerk reported to Highways that the potholes are breaking down almost as soon as they have been filled.
   
4. Future of the Mill Site.
   The equipment was currently being removed from the site. 
   
5.  Additional Land Purchased by Barn Developer
   Councillor Fox had spoken to Mike Grace and had been advised that as CADW were opposed to the sale of the land, the issue was ‘on hold’.  However the owner of the barn was possibly going to approach CADW himself.  No further comments.
   
6. Potential Future Use of Shipyard
   The Clerk had received a call from an agent working on behalf of one of the developers interested in the site.  He had asked for a meeting with Councillors.  Clerk to advise him to attend the meeting in June if he wished to discuss.
   
7. Planning Application for 40 Dwellings on Sudbrook Road
    No progress to report.  In response to Mrs Powell’s question, Councillor Fox advised her that there was unlikely to be any progress until after the elections.  He reiterated was what said at the last meeting, that the Highways and Planning Officers had taken on board the views of residents who attended the public meeting.  Highways have the biggest concerns.  Barratts would only purchase the site if approval was granted.
   
8. Dog Fouling Signs in Harold’s Park
   Awaiting installation.
   
9. No Access Plate on Weight Limit Sign
   No progress to report.
   
10. Surface of Road Through Sudbrook
    No progress to report. 
    
11. Uneven Pavement in Southbrook View
    Clerk had reported to MHA.  This had been added to the planned maintenance list for the new financial year and was considered a priority.
    
12. State of Highway in Crick Road
    Clerk reported to Highways. Potholes had been filled.  No further comments.
    
13. Parking in The Close
    Clerk had contacted MCC Highways to ask if the green could be removed to make way for more parking.
    

1. REPORT FROM LOCAL POLICE REPRESENTATIVES
   
   PC Turner was unable to attend the meeting but had forwarded a report to the Clerk.  15 incidents had been reported between 14th March and 14th April 2008.
   
   Three incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area. 
   Two thefts from vehicles on the industrial estate.
   Two reports of criminal damage at St. Mary’s Church – one to the Church wall and one to a parked vehicle.
   A burglary occurred at Leechpool Holdings and electrical goods were taken.
   
2. SHORT UPDATE FROM SEVERN TUNNEL ACTION GROUP
   
   Mr P Inskip and Mr C James gave a short update on the developments. He distributed notes with details, a copy is attached to these minutes.   Mr James showed Members leaflets that had been produced by some train operators, to encourage people to use the trains at off peak times. A Partnership could involve Community Councils and other groups.  Schools could become involved by having art competitions etc.  It would be Councillor Fox advised that the Community Strategy may be useful. 
   Members then commented including:
   The train fares can be extremely expensive and this would deter people.  Mr Inskip advised that there was a vast difference in fares, depending on the operator and type of ticket. 
   Councillor Griffiths asked what the difference was between a Park and Ride scheme and what Severn Tunnel Junction currently offered.  He was informed that a Park and Ride would have a manned station and waiting facilities.
   Councillor Evans asked if it would be more cost effective to develop STJ rather than open a new station in Magor.
   Mr Inskip advised that train operators were not contracted to provide timetables other than in stations, it would be helpful if they could be placed in some towns and villages.
   Caldicot station had recently been extended to take four carriage trains.
   
    The Chairman thanked the gentlemen for their time and they left the meeting at 8.pm.
   
3. TRAINING FOR COUNCILLORS
   
   The Clerk had tried to obtain more copies of ‘The Good Councillors Guide’.  She had been advised that no more were available but had downloaded one from the internet.  This could be given to new councillors.  She had also contacted WAG who had advised that One Voice Wales were going to provide training for councillors (at a cost).  A Calendar of Events would be forwarded to the Clerk.  Clerk would contact the Mor Hafren Area Manager to ask if MCC had any training courses that could be useful.
   
4. APPROVE PAYMENT OF INSURANCE PREMIUM 2008/2009
   
   The Clerk had received the premium renewal at a cost of £754.14.  It was proposed by Councillor Nurcombe and seconded by Councillor Parker that the amount be paid.
   
5. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES
   
   
   a)      Governing Body for Ysgol Y Ffin
            Councillor Nurcombe advised that all children going to comprehensive school in          September had now got places at their preferred choice.  This was as a result of an          agreement drawn up by the four County Council’s who had pledged money.  It was    hoped that a proper arrangement would be in place by next year.
   
   b)      Governing Body for ARW Primary School
            Councillor Standing advised that the budget process was in progress.  203 children          were attending the school.
           

10.       REPORT FROM REPRESENTATIVE ON OTHER COMMITTEES
 
a)         Area Forum
            A new representative would be appointed after the election.

c)         New Play Area Committee
            Councillor Evans reported that a meeting would be held to discuss the items of          equipment that would be purchased with the S106 money.  There was a potential for        match funding but would depend on members of the group raising money by holding       fundraising events.

d)         Magor Flood Group
            Minutes of the recent meeting placed in circulation file.

11.       DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY COUNCILLOR
 
Councillor Fox reported that he would be standing for County Council in Portskewett again as were two other candidates.  All other issues had been dealt with under the relevant part of the agenda.

12.       NEW CORRESPONDENCE

1. MCC Planning Committee Agenda.  Circulation
   
2. WAG  Draft Fire and Rescue National Framework for Consultation.  Circulation.
   
3. WAG  Statutory Guidance on Developing and delivering Community Strategies.  Circulation.
   
4. GAVO  The Monmouthshire Network  Newsletter.  Circulation.
   
5. PC A Turner  Police Report Feb-March 2008.  Circulation.
   
6. MCC (by email).  Request to eradicate the moles on The Quest as the molehills were damaging the cutting machines.  Clerk to contact P&P Pest Control.
   

Planning Applications Received
00354  Change of use garage to bedroom.  Beudy Bach, Central Farm, Leechpool.  Approve.
00430  Timber framed garage and stone boundary wall.  Barn at Severn Farm.  Approve.
00410  Erection of kitchen extension to rear.  16 Main Road Portskewett. Approve
01327  Two dwellings rear of 40 Main Road.  (Amendment).  Approve as long as robust drainage was installed to protect dwellings from flooding.


Planning Applications Approved
 00079  Change of use – maintenance and repair of skips, storage of 200 tonnes recycled stone, re-arrangement of circulation on units.  Units 7 and 7b Severn Bridge Est.
01280  Erect business signs.  Unit 8 Lodge Way (Hicks Logistics).
01474  Erection of ground floor extension.  43 Leechpool.
01470  Erect 5 storage units.  Packsafe, Severnbridge Est.
01675  Change of use – offices from ancillary B1/B8 to independent B1 use.  Land off Norman Way.
00125  Erection of 2 storey extension and demolition of existing.  30 Main Rd, Portskewett.

Planning Applications Refused
 00042    Erection of new detached dwelling.  Land adjacent to 18 Black Rock Road.
01421  Alterations and extensions.  10 Leechpool

13.    ANY OTHER BUSINESS
 

1. Councillor Watkins reported numerous large rats had been seen during the daytime at Black Rock picnic site.  Clerk to report to Countryside.
   
2. The land belonging to the mill at the rear of Stone Cottages was very overgrown.  Clerk to write to mill owners requesting the site be cleaned up.
   
3. Concerns regarding the new dwellings at the Old Smithy site.  The footings seemed to be nearer to the highway than the approval condition.  Clerk to contact Enforcement Officer.
   
4. Planning approval on the Old Dairy was granted with the condition that the building was limewashed.  At present it had been rendered.  Clerk to check if this was in compliance with the conditions.
   
5. Councillor Fox reported that the layby on the B4245 between Mitel roundabout and Parkwall was very untidy.  Lorries park there overnight and throw rubbish out as there are no bins.  Clerk to ask Highways if a bin can be provided.
   
6. Gypsy Lane, near to the gate into Bushy Close, the verge has sunk away and could be dangerous if a bus or lorry were to fall into it.  Clerk to report to Highways.
   
7. A resident of Treetops had reported to the Clerk that she had slipped on moss on the pavement outside no 84.  She also complained that a tree was overhanging the pavement.  Clerk to report the moss to Highways and write to the resident regarding the tree.
   
8. Councillor Evans had been asked by a resident of Castle Court to investigate the alleged breach of planning on a neighbouring house.  This was being dealt with by MCC Enforcement Officer.  Clerk to write explaining this.
   

14.       FINANCE

The Clerk had received a Worksheet from the Caretaker, Mr Spooner for 4 weeks £220.08
The Clerk’s salary had been increased to £9.24 per hour, as she had moved up to SCP20 with effect from 1st April 2008, in line with NALC, salary awards for Local Council Clerks.

It was proposed by Councillor Evans and seconded by Councillor Griffiths
that the above-mentioned payments as well as the following payments be authorised: 

           


15.       DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING


The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and gave the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 20th May 2008 at ARW School Portskewett. The meeting was then declared closed at 9.15 pm.

 

SEVERN TUNNEL ACTION GROUP
                                                                                                                   

subject - Update Notes for Community Council Meetings

Background
Rail Services
There are basically two trains per hour from Cardiff that go through Bristol Temple Meads leaving half an hour apart and this has been the pattern for several years.
Historically these have been alternate services along the Bath / Westbury/ Portsmouth route and the other along the Weston Super Mare / Taunton route.
Severn Tunnel Junction was served by both services.
The December 2006 service saw the proposed total withdrawal of all the Portsmouth services from Severn Tunnel Junction. The Severn Tunnel Action Group (STAG) has been campaigning to re-instate all these services ever since, with partial success.
The reductions in services were based exactly on the DfT specification for the new Greater Western Franchise. Following examination of the new Cross-Country franchise specification it was apparent that the three Cross Country services were also potentially at risk.
Integrated Rail Transport
The Portsmouth services when they stop at the Junction provide connections in each direction with the Gloucester Line services.
The Taunton services do not connect in either direction with the Gloucester line services.
Neither the Taunton nor the Portsmouth services connect in either direction at Newport with the Gloucester line service.
Except on the occasions of any re-instated Portsmouth line services, passengers from and to east Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean are forced to wait fifty minutes for the onward rail journey.
Integrated Bus Transport
Monmouthshire County Council has for years provided a local Bus Service (No.62) through the main part of the day. This is the only Bus service scheduled to call at the station. The service completes it circular route every one and a half-hours.
Prior to the December 2006 Rail cuts the Bus connected alternately with the Taunton and Portsmouth services.
Since the cuts alternate busses no longer connect with any rail services at the station.
Subject to resolution of an appropriate turning space Monmouthshire County Council have developed proposals for a dedicated Rail Link Bus service to cover the morning and evening peak rail services that are not at present covered by the local Service 62 Bus.
Other statistics
In the year after the December 2006 cuts 90% of all journeys from Severn Tunnel Junction were still to one of the thirty stations on the direct route between Cardiff and Portsmouth.
The withdrawal of the through services has resulted in a reduction of off peak long distance travel from Severn Tunnel Junction to Portsmouth (20%), Fareham (9%) and Salisbury (5%)
Commuting travel still continues to grow strongly, in the last twelve months the numbers to Bristol, Filton Abbey Wood and Bath have grown by 17.7%

Progress
Not all the progress is a direct result of direct STAG campaigning.
Re-instated First Great Western Portsmouth line services
The following eleven Portsmouth line services now call at Severn Tunnel Junction: -
06:55, 07:55, 16:55, 17:55, 18:54 from Cardiff towards Bristol
06:15, 07:14, 17:14, 18:14, 22:16, 23:16 from Bristol towards Cardiff
Proposed Re-instatement
Following campaigning First Great Western had proposed the re-instatement of two more services in the next May 2008 timetable, the 08:30 from Cardiff (08:55 STJ) and the 18:54 from Bristol (The 18:35 from Bath, 19:14 STJ).
Network Rail have blocked the re-instatement of the 08:30 but accepted the 18:54.
STAG has undertaken further investigation into this, the problems are a pathing confliction at Salisbury and potentially also at Westbury. As a result First Great Western are looking again at this and it is hoped it may be possible for this service to be re-instated in the December 2008 Timetable change.
Arriva Cross Country Services
The following three services have been retained at Severn Tunnel Junction: -
07:25 Cardiff to Newcastle
07:40 Birmingham to Cardiff
19:49 Newcastle to Cardiff
Following consultation the following three additional services are proposed to be introduced in December 2008: -
07:02 Cardiff to Nottingham
21:02 Cardiff to Nottingham
06:56 Gloucester to Cardiff
Arriva Trains Wales
From December 2007 the thirteen services a day to Gloucester have been extended to Cheltenham, providing fast onward connections towards Birmingham and the North.
Future service improvements
We believe we have about reached the limit of re-instatement of services through direct consultation / engagement with the Train Operating Companies.
Further improvements to services will only come if

1. The DfT/ WAG can be persuaded of the wider Social Economic benefits of having integrated transport services, or
2. Increase the present low off peak usage, ( Severn Tunnel Junction has less than half the off peak usage per head of local catchment area population compared with other stations e.g. Chepstow)
3. The station is developed as a Park and Ride hub for east Monmouthshire.

Station Development
Backing the development and enhancement of the station has been an option for Monmouth County Council / SEWTA for several years.
A long-standing aspiration for Monmouthshire County Council has also been the opening of a new station at Magor.
Network Rail have stated that any new stations between Cardiff and Severn Tunnel can only be on the Relief (Slow) lines, which they intend to upgrade and increase the line speed as part of the present re-signalling to accommodate 'Class 2 - Local or Stopping' passenger services.
Network Rail have also stated that it is possible to have a station at Severn Tunnel Junction or at Magor but not both.
The question of whether any potential development money should be directed by SEWTA towards Severn Tunnel Junction or Magor has been a dilemma for several years. One aspect of this has been a reluctance to spend any minor upkeep expenditure on a station that potentially may be destined for closure.
Last Autumn Monmouthshire County Council held a site meeting and a workshop to examine the options of diverting all funds to a new Magor station and close Severn Tunnel Junction to putting all funds towards developing Severn Tunnel Junction and for the immediate foreseeable future shelving plans for Magor. All variations and options in between were also considered.
While STAG was involved in the workshop, Monmouthshire County Council have requested that no details of what was discussed are disclosed pending further consultations by Monmouthshire County Council and an executive decision at Cabinet level.
Independently of what any Council decision may in the future be, other aspects continue to evolve as they cannot be held up pending the Council decision making process.
Development items
The station car park has been tarmaced and lined and improved lighting has been provided.
The station is now in the DfT programme for the provision of disabled access within the next two years.
Under the Newport resignalling the disused Platform 4 will be brought back into use by Network Rail as part of the plans to improve the track layout, speeds and maintainability, probably 2009 or possibly 2010.
Consultants for Network Rail are at present working up Improvement options for the station as it has been included as part of the National Station Improvement Plan.
Arriva Trains Wales have started some minor Maintenance improvements, (Faded Station signs have been replaced)
Welsh Assembly Government is developing the business plan for the new M4 project that includes link road and other potential arrangements suitable for a Park and Ride station which is one of the WAG policy objectives / requirements for the new motorway. It is expected this business plan will be put to the Minister for consideration by July 2008.
All of the re-instated train services itemised above are classified by the Railway as 'Class1 - Main Line' services. That means there are at present fourteen daily 'Class 1' services using the station, and by December 2008 this will be at least up to eighteen and probably nineteen. Consideration would need to be given on how they would be dealt with if there was only a 'Class 2 - Local' replacement facility at Magor.
Future Actions
Pursue via Assembly Members and Members of Parliament access to the DfT to develop discussion on Wider Economic Impacts if the Franchise Specifications are revised to re-introduce integration with other services.
As marketing is excluded from the Train Operating Company's contracts, develop local marketing to raise the profile and usage of the existing services (particularly off peak) to justify further developments and provision of services.