Area Panel Minutes 18 June 2008

Meeting held Wednesday, 18th June, 2008 at Bradfield School, Kirk Edge Road, Worrall

Present: Councillors Alan Hooper (Chair), Trevor Bagshaw, Jack Clarkson, Patricia Fox, Graham Oxley.

Parish Councillors:-

Howard House

Officers in attendance:-

Matthew Rush - Area Action Officer

Gillian Capewell - Committee Secretariat

Mike Shaw - Street Force

Kate Clark - Parks and Countryside

Joanne Holt - Sheffield Futures

Approximately 12 members of the public attended the meeting.

………………..

Action

1. Apologies For Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Baker, Kathleen Chadwick, Arthur Dunworth and Vickie Priestley and from John Charlton.

2. Public Questions And Petitions

Councillor Jack Clarkson reported that a constituent from Oughtibridge had contacted him regarding a service vehicle crashing into her car outside her house which had meant that her car had been written off, and queried whether speed enforcement procedures could be introduced into the area. It was agreed that Mike Shaw would contact John Bann from Highways regarding this issue. Members agreed that this was an extremely serious incident and should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Mike Shaw

Councillor Jack Clarkson reported that there were ongoing problems with the Middlewood Road diversion which was impacting upon routes in Bradfield and Worrall.

A member of the public asked the Chair whether there would be publicity regarding the re-opening of Middlewood Road, to which the Chair clarified that there would be relevant publicity indicating the route had been re-opened. It was noted that the diversion route was becoming very worn, with a number of pot holes, due to over use.

A member of the public commented that the junction of Mawson Crescent and Mawson Lane was an extreme danger spot and was an "accident waiting to happen". It was agreed that Mike Shaw would report this fact to John Bann.

Councillor Trevor Bagshaw clarified that he would be discussing the 201 bus service at the Rural Transport Forum on July, 19th, 2008, and that he would talk to members of the public outside the meeting regarding the future of this service.

3. North Area Panel - Priority Sites Implementation Plan

Kate Clark reported upon the Priority Sites Implementation Plan for the North panel area, indicating that the Parks and Countryside Service One Year Implementation Plan had been designed to fit in with the Area Panel Action Plan, and that the Parks and Countryside Plan had previously been a three year plan but had now been reduced.

She reported that the priority sites that had been identified in the North were Angram Bank, Burncross Recreation Ground, Chapeltown Park and Woods, Charlton Brook, Cross Lane Playground, Ecclesfield Park, Spink Hall Playground, Loxley Recreation Ground, Stannington Park, Wadsley Park Village, Wharncliffe Avenue Playground, Wheata Woods and the development of the allotment sites.

She reported separately upon each priority site, indicating what funding was available and what active groups were involved with each area. She commented that the Friends Group at Chapeltown Park had submitted a bid under the Playful Ideas Scheme, part of the National Lottery, and that this would hopefully go towards funding a new playground. She added that there were currently anti-social behaviour issues at Chapeltown Park, and the development of the site hoped to resolve some of these issues. She added that landfill tax monies had been acquired for Cross Lane Playground, and that insurance monies for the arson attack upon Ecclesfield Pavilion should hopefully soon be received, and that a new Friends Group had been formed at Ecclesfield Park in light of this arson attack.

She commented that the old Haywoods Allotment Sites had been lost through the floods of June, 2007, and the subsequent contamination, but that plans for new allotment sites were currently being drawn up.

Kate Clark commented that by identifying 12 priority sites in total, this would be a more achievable implementation plan than had been drawn up in previous years. It was also noted that much work had also been carried out in Grenoside Park and Mortomley Park, although this was not indicated upon the implementation plan that she had submitted.

Members noted this information and the Chair thanked Kate Clark for her update.

4. Planned Improvement For Green Space At Wadsley Park Village

Kate Clark reported upon the improvements to the green space at Wadsley Park Village, commenting that the land had been previously owned by Bloor’s and had been left in a poor condition due to lack of maintenance. She commented that although most of the open space was still under Bloor’s ownership, the playground had been adopted by Sheffield City Council's Parks and Countryside Department, and Parks and Countryside were working with the Environmental Consultancy University of Sheffield (ECUS) to develop landscape proposals for open spaces in consultation with Sheffield City Council. She added that landscape improvement works would be monitored by ECUS and signed off by Sheffield City Council, with Sheffield City Council to eventually adopt the open spaces and maintain them themselves.

She commented upon various aspects of the site, adding that there was a steep woodland area on Middlewood Drive. Initial thinning works were carried out earlier this year and this area would require further tree works from July, 2008, after bird nesting season to the Langsett Road end of the site which would complete the works had previously been reported to the North Area Panel in January 2008 by Nick Sellwood from Trees and Woodlands Section Additional works to the steep woodland would include the clearance of tipped materials and the creation of new habitats, all with a sympathetic naturalist feel, adding access footpaths into the woodland and the addition of boundary railings. She added that wild flower seeding would also take place to maintain a natural feel to the site.

She went on to report on the Middlewood Road frontage improvements and that currently there was one solitary ‘K’ barrier at the site, which was not very effective, and that walls and railings would be added to improve the frontage of the site along with improved access to Middlewood Road.

She added there would be improved public access from Wadsley Village to Middlewood Road via an existing footpath from Middlewood Drive East to Northwood Drive. Additionally a new footpath would be created to run from Northwood Drive to Middlewood Road. She added that brambles would be cleared to allow the creation of the footpath however, brambles would be retained in the area to ensure maintenance of a naturalistic feel to the area Other improvements would include the clearance of tipped materials and improvements to the boundary railings and old tarmac paths and fencing to be removed

She then commented on proposals to the central open space area adjacent to Middlewood Drive, Glenwood Ct, Church Glebe and Church Fold. Improvements in this area would include tree and shrub planting, a combination of formal and informal footpaths, seats and bins, a levelled kickabout area and access control (railings and k barriers)

She commented that Phase 3 of the Public Open Space Development would take into account the open space adjacent to Middlewood Drive, Westwood Avenue, Westwood Close, Queenswood Gate, Queenwood Road and Worrall Road and that survey work was currently taking place to anticipate what works needed taking place on these sites during 2009, but these proposals were likely to include the earth works and drainage works, improvements to footpaths and of attention of woodland and habitat creation. She added that consultation would be carried out during 2008 to gauge public opinion as to what should be happening with these areas of open spaces. It was noted that part of the site was a site of specific scientific interest (SSSI) and that this would be considered throughout the development.

Kate Clark added that the ECUS Project Co-ordinator was Kristina Eveson.

Councillor Trevor Bagshaw emphasised his vision of maintaining the history of the area within the developments, citing the example of the fossilized forest which was an important piece of the City's history, alongside the historic development of the Middlewood Hospital, which was no longer there. Councillor Bagshaw added that he hoped interpretation and appropriate signage indicating these historic pieces would be included in the proposals. The Chair suggested the introduction of a woodland trail, for visitors to the area to engage with the history and environment.

Councillor Jack Clarkson pointed out that Bloor had applied for a management contract for 450 homes at Deepcar, and he added that he felt Bloor had made promises in the past they had not kept for example with the maintenance at Wadsley Park Village and as a result it had taken a long time to subsequently make these things happen, due to the original planning agreements.

It was noted that there were further issues surrounding the Wadsley Park Development within the pond within the Phase 3 development area and subsequent drainage issues, and it was agreed that there would potentially be a special meeting of the North Area Panel in the future to consider this development, with Kate Clark and Kristina Eveson to be invited.

Members noted this information and the Chair thanked Kate Clark for her update and presentation.

5. Parish Council Issues

Councillor Graham Oxley commented that the Parish Council were in the process of installing two benches in Mortomley Park, with the official opening of the gardens to take place on the 9th July. It was agreed that Kate Clark would contact the Chair regarding this issue.

An issue was raised over Post Office closures in the Bradfield Parish and it was noted there was a deadline of the 9th August for Post Office closures to be announced.

It was commented that many rural British Telecom (BT) phone boxes were being removed, and it was agreed the Area Panel would formally ask Bradfield Parish Council what their views were on the removal of BT phone boxes in the area of Bradfield, Ecclesfield and Stocksbridge. This had also been an issue raised at the Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) meeting held on Tuesday, 17th June, 2008. Chair

6. Minutes Of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the Area Panel meeting held on the 21st May, 2008, were approved as a correct record, and there were no matters arising.

7. Rolling Action Checklist

The Area Co-ordinator submitted a Rolling Action Checklist to the meeting, containing actions that were outstanding from previous Panel meetings and the following updates were noted relating to the numbered items-

(1) Questionnaires had been distributed and local residents had been talked to in the area and the goal posts would be installed into this isolated community; (2) Resurfacing work was scheduled at Loundside, with the resurfacing due to be completed in September, not the diversions, as indicated on the Rolling Action Checklist; (3) Bolsterstone to Morehall Lane, Mike Shaw had read a site investigation report today which had recommended that land there be stabilised with a site inspection to be completed nearer the time; (4) It was noted that the proposals for the wind farm at Westwood Country Park had been abandoned by the new administration; (5) Chapeltown In Bloom - there had been no entry for this competition; (8) It was noted that new signs had been erected on Penistone Road pointing out that Middlewood shop services etc. were open for business, and (15) Councillor Graham Oxley said the sign should read ‘Burncross, Parish of Ecclesfield’, but Members of the meeting felt that this may be too wordy.

8. Date Of Next Meeting

It was noted that the next meeting of the North Area Panel would take place on Wednesday, 16th July, 2008, at 6.30 p.m. at Chapeltown Library, and would include presentations upon flooding issues, the Area Plan 2008/09 and Children’s Centres.

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