| CHAIRMAN'S
REPORT FOR 2002/2003
Your
Parish Council has been very active over the last twelve
months and good progress has been made in improving the
facilities in Rufford and Holmeswood.
CCTV
has been installed to improve security for users and buildings
at Holmeswood Village Hall site.
CCTV
at Rufford Recreation Ground has been upgraded
to improve cover on the car park area and entrance road.
Road
Safety has been a high priority and pressure
on the Highways Agency and Lancashire County Council has
resulted in a 30 MPH speed limit to replace the existing
40 MPH zone together with a light controlled crossing
being approved. The 40 MPH limit will be extended northwards
beyond the Croston Road Junction. We have been informed
that the work will be completed in the next two months.
We have asked for speed checks to be applied on Holmeswood
Road, Cousins Lane, Tootle lane and Brick Kiln Lane. LCC
have also been approached in an effort to have 20 MPH
limits applied within the village.
Jubilee
Celebrations were marked by the distribution
of medallions to younger children of the village.
Financial
support has been given to Rufford Scout Group
and to Rufford Cricket Club to assist with one-off legal
and administrative costs and also to the village halls
at Holmeswood and Rufford, in order to assist towards
the cost of non-chargeable community use of the halls.
In
partnership with the Holmeswood and Rufford Village Hall
Committees schemes are in place to improve facilities
at both sites and grant applications have been submitted
and others are being prepared.
A
Five-year plan was commissioned for the northern
woodland area at Rufford Recreation Ground – This
resulted in grants being obtained from Lancashire County
Council and West Lancashire District Council to put into
effect some of the proposals of the Five-year plan. Tree
Protection Orders have been placed on all the trees in
the southern most area of the Recreation Ground.
Phase
one of the works has been completed and a hard surface
path constructed and benches located alongside the path.
The path has been designed to accommodate wheelchairs.
The total cost of the scheme over two years will be about
£16,000 of which over £13,000 is covered by
grants applied for and received. The second phase will
involve considerable planting and screening together with
bird feeding stations.
Maintenance
schemes to cover grass cutting, hedge cutting
and tree pruning were put in place at Holmeswood and Rufford.
Rufford
Recreation Ground Drainage. A problem exists
at the West end of the property and investigations so
far have not proved fruitful. District Councillor Colling
is taking this matter up with West Lancashire District
Council.
Holmeswood
Recreation Ground Drainage.
A problem exists at Holmeswood and this is being investigated
Risk
assessment and maintenance programmes have been
introduced in Holmeswood and Rufford in respect of council
owned land, trees, play equipment, seats, litter receptacles,
notice boards and bus shelters. Salt Bins have been obtained
from WLDC for winter use in Rufford and Holmeswood. A
part time lengths person has been employed to assist in
maintaining standards in the parish and on the recreation
grounds.
The
Parish Council in partnership with Community Futures
set up the REAL project and meetings have taken place
during the last few months. Good progress has been made
and Action Groups have been formed to study the concerns
of residents. The project will continue, providing a Community
Audit Report and a Parish Plan.
Transport
Policy – We are working jointly with Tarleton,
Hesketh Bank and Banks (Forming the Northern Parishes
Group) on a unified transport study. Financial grants
are available and have been applied for.
Budget
reserves have been put in place to cover the
cost of extra Community Warden Patrols. We now understand
from newspaper reports that the warden scheme has been
abandoned by WLDC. In view of the decision by WLDC Rufford
Parish Council will use this funding to provide alternative
schemes to increase the security of Rufford and Holmeswood
residents.
Observations
have been made to WLDC with regard to planning applications
and where it was considered that applications were not
to the benefit of the residents, or against planning policy,
objections have been recorded. The attention of WLDC has
been drawn to planning breaches on the Fayre Game site;
Rufford Goods Yard site and the Sluice lane area and we
have been awaiting a response since November 2002. Complaints
with regard to public footpaths have also been monitored
and action taken where necessary.
The
Clerk has maintained proper financial records
and an audit certificate has been received.
Your
Councillors have met at regular intervals, attended
training courses, seminars, forums and meetings throughout
the year. Contact has been maintained with WLDC, LCC and
organisations providing local services, such as bus companies.
I
express my particular thanks to Councillor John
Gordon and the Finance Committee for their vital contribution
and to Councillor Fred Lee for coordinating the various
projects which have been put in place during the year
and to the rest of the members for their support.
Your
Council will continue to act for the benefit
of the electorate until May of 2004 when a new council
will need to be elected.
P.G.Grace
Chairman
Rufford Parish Council
17 March 2003 |
