Edenthorpe  Parish Council - Chairman's Report Year April 2004 - March 2005

As the current Chairman of the Edenthorpe Parish Council I would like to present a report on the work of the Council for the year April 2004 - to March 2005, in what has proved to be a very busy period.

What is not always appreciated by some residents is the amount of time which individual members give to not only attending Parish Council meetings, but to representing the community at various group meetings such as the East Forum, Parish Council/DMBC Liaison Group, School Governors as well as investigating many individual issues which are raised.

Opinions are often voiced that "nothing has been done about such a matter" or "what is being done about ?". Residents can be fully assured that whilst the actual powers of the Parish Council are fairly limited every issue which is brought to the attention of the members is discussed and action requested through various organisations and in particular the DMBC. Unfortunately action is not always as quickly forthcoming as is hoped and often further requests have to be made before anything is achieved. In order that local residents are aware of what actions are implemented copies of Parish Council letters are put in the local library.

During 2004-05 a considerable amount of Parish Council time has been spent on a variety of planning matters. Regular inputs have been made to the Tesco application to build an "Extra" store and as a result the original plan has been completely altered so that any development will take place on the site of the current store by extending forwards and sideways - which was the suggestion of the Parish Council. Tesco have also agreed to plant specimen trees in the car park area and improve the boundary frontage along Thorne Road. The Parish Council are still requesting improvement to the waiting situation of HG's service vehicles in Farfield Road. Whilst no decision has yet been finalised on the revised application, Tesco have indicated a willingness to consider providing a 'library/information' building on the site.

Unfortunately the Council have continued to have to deal with a number of issues which have evolved from planning decisions made by the Doncaster MBC. These have particularly related to applications located on the Mere Lane Bridlepath, Eden Grove Road and Thorne Road. In each case the Parish Council had drawn attention to possible problems but all were ignored by Planning Officers and elected members with little real knowledge of the local area. The members of the Parish Council then have to try to resolve the problems with little help from the officials. As a result the concerns felt by members of the Council a senior member of the Doncaster MBC Planning Department has been asked to attend a Parish Council meeting.

The Council have mounted as strong as opposition as possible to the proposal of the telecommunications company 'Orange' to site a beacon mast at the junction of Thorne and Eden Grove Roads. Meetings have taken place and letters sent to Orange, Rosie Winterton MP, Ward Councillors, Planning Officers etc. Unfortunately current Government legislation relating to beacon masts imposes little restriction on the sites for masts below 15m in height. The Doncaster Council however have not helped by not clearly defining the areas of land in their ownership for which they reject mast applications. This has enabled Orange to use the question of land ownership as an excuse not to consider alternative sites suggested by the Parish Council.

A close watch has also been kept on the proposed Hungerhill Business Park. Various plans have been put forward but none actually implemented as yet.

Another area in which the Parish Council has been very active has been the local environment. Close liaison has taken place with the Community First Team particularly in respect of repairing vandal damage, as well as removing graffiti and litter. The Team made particular efforts to tidy the village at the time of the Britain in Bloom Competition and following strong representation by the PC to the Doncaster MBC, constructed a gate at the Doncaster Road end of Hungerhill Lane, which it was felt would prevent fly-tipping. This is an example of how local residents can see problems and make suggestions to solve them. Fly-tipping at the bottom end of Hungerhill Lane has been virtually eliminated.

In support of the Britain in Bloom Competition the Council and the Community Centre Association jointly funded brackets and hanging baskets along the Thorne Road Shopping Precinct.

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Unfortunately a number of complaints were received from local residents concerning the maintenance of certain environmental areas around the village. Hungerhill Lane was only strimmed twice, and the Mere Lane Bridleway only once for a small part of its lengths. Both should be cut three times per year. The Lyndale Avenue grassed open space was not cut from early August. Whilst Parish Council put forward a reasonable and considered programme of maintenance to the Community First Team this has in no way been implemented.

One environmental problem which has continued to plague certain parts of the village - Thorne Road from Herald Road to Tescos, Hungerhill Lane, Church Balk, and the West Moor Link Road in particular has been litter. Thanks again are expressed to Mr & Mrs Radley and Mr John Stephenson for their "litter collections" and to the Community First Team for their efforts in removing litter. Unfortunately much of their good work is quickly spoilt by the irresponsible actions of individuals in immediately dropping more litter.

It is obvious that more litter bins are required in certain parts of the village which are regularly emptied but equally important that residents and students alike use them. Perhaps an occasional visit by litter wardens might prove beneficial.

Thanks are expressed to the Community First Team for their clean up efforts around the village during the February "Madd Week" and for the provision of a rubbish skip at the Community Centre.

The Parish Council have made strong representation to Sainsburys concerning the overgrown state of the 'right of way' pathway adjacent to the store, together with the litter in surrounding hedgerows and the pond at the rear of the store. Action has been promised by the company.

A variety of other general environmental matters have been regularly dealt with by the Council including the repair and replacements of Street signs and lights and the removal of graffiti. It has also sought improvements to the control of HGV's down Church Balk. Some measures have been implemented by the Doncaster MBC but it is still felt that drivers exiting Hatfield Lane and the West Moor Link Road need much earlier guidance.

BT have been approached with a view to removing or repositioning the telephone box situated on the green at the junction of Eden Grove and Thorne Road but at present are disinclined to implement any change since the current site is a very viable proposition.

The question of providing stone village name plates plinths has been considered by the Council and whilst it is felt they would enhance the entrances to the village the quotations obtained so far have been extremely costly, especially when three are required - Doncaster Road and each end of Thorne Road.

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One of the major concerns of Council members over the past year has been the marked increase in anti-social behaviour and crime in the community. Attention has been drawn to the regular occurrences of vandalism - the smashing of windows in a number of public buildings, bus shelters and telephone boxes, graffiti damage to residential property and drinking (often by those under the statutory age) in various public places. Unfortunately the majority of these problems are related to the behaviour of young people, many of them from neighbouring communities. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of 'gangs' or groups of youngsters congregating around the village in the past year.

A study of reported crimes over past years, including 2004-05 has shown a considerable increase when taken together with the neighbouring communities of Kirk Sandall and Barnby Dun. Indeed the crime rate now equals that of some local communities considered to be deprived and with far less advantages than Edenthorpe. A new community constable, PC Nicki Fulton was appointed in 2004 but apart from a visit to the Parish Council meeting in September 2004 no contact has been forthcoming and indeed it appears from resident reports, only a limited presence in the village.

Similarly the Community Safety Officers who were first appointed in October 2003 have had their impact diluted through supporting Armthorpe, illness and transfers to other areas. One other factor which mitigates against the Officers in the local area is the distance between the extremities of the three villages - perhaps the provision of cycles could bring benefits.

In generals terms it is only fair to report that only a limited amount of information on crime and anti-social behaviour has been received from the Community Safety Wardens and Community Constable and according to many residents only a limited presence. Factors influencing crime and anti-social behaviour prevention were fully acknowledged previously but it is hoped that in the forthcoming year more information a more consistent present in the village can be achieved. Unfortunately many residents are increasingly asking whether they are getting value from the Police element of their Council Tax demands.

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On a more positive note it is pleasing to report that a number of developments have been progressed by the Council during the past year.

The Church Balk Community Building has had a re-roofing, upgrade of the electrics, asbestos checks by a specialist company and a new main gate provided for the Playing Field.

A considerable amount of work has been made to progress the Church Balk Playing Field Project which will involve the construction of a new pavilion, extended car park, improvement to the playing surface and the provision of new children's play equipment. Extensive discussions have taken place with the Edenthorpe Panthers JFC and sources are currently being explored for funding assistance. The Community Centre Association has promised a donation of £6000 + and the Parish Council have continued to set aside precept money. The JFC who could well be the main users of the improved facilities have still to fully engage in fund raising.

The Council have made a significant advance into the world of modern communication and established a village website. The site is still in its development stage and will be gradually added to over coming months. All local businesses are to be approached to see whether they would like to make a contribution in return for an information spot. Four issues, jointly funded with the Community Centre Association of the village newsletter, have been distributed to as many homes as possible.

In conclusion I would like to thank my fellow Council Members and our Clerk Trevor Ambler, most sincerely for their help and support to me personally for their work and on behalf of all the residents of Edenthorpe. Edenthorpe is a pleasant place in which to reside and the Parish Council tries to maintain the environment and facilities to the best of its abilities. Improvements can be made. In the forthcoming year I would like to see the production of a timetable of environmental maintenance by the Community First Team, the provision of more litter bins in the village, increased action by the Police and Community Officers to reduce anti-social behaviour, further progress on the Church Balk Playing Project and some definite action by the 'Green Space Strategy Team' to upgrade the Mere Lane Playing area.

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