COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

PRESENT:            Cllr G. Harris (Chairman) 

Cllrs: M. Innes, R. Piercey, M. Wellman and H. J. Woodbridge.

In attendance: Andrew Streat (Maidenhead Advertiser) and one member of the public.

OPEN FORUM: Mr Les Callis spoke to reiterate the contents of his letter signed by other residents of Cookham Dean. Mr Callis complains about the state of the village and in particular the black board outside the Chequers pub taking up most of the pavement. He also complains about the footpath at Weesons Hill and the barrier which needs replacing – something that the Parish Council has been asking Nick Clark for some years. Mr Callis also wanted to know why the grass between Dean Lane  and Lea Farm could not be cut more often and the grass picked up rather than left to rot in the gutter. Cllr Harris said that Dean Lane is classed at rural at RBWM and is only allowed one cut per year.

1.                  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS: Apologies were received from Cllrs Hay and Prichard. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.            ALFRED MAJOR GROUND:

a):        Update on new equipment for playarea using 106 fund: Cllrs Wellman and Harris had met a representative from RSS – the company that supplied our present play area equipment.  The Trail Blazer design was discussed along with the additional costs of adding new equipment such as safety flooring and fencing the new equipment. The Salesman agreed to give us a quote for the main section plus all the add-ons for use on the Alfred Major. It was also agreed that the Police could be approached for a grant.

3.            FOOTPATHS:

a):        Review any footpaths or stiles in need of urgent maintenance: FP 48 which cuts across Lightlands Lane has a stile that has disintegrated and could do with a metal kissing gate. It was AGREED to send a copy of Les Callis’s letter regarding Weeson’s Hill to Nick Clark in the first instance. FP 25 from Warner’s Hill to Winter Hill also needs some clearance.

b):        To suggest future use of land formerly leased by Mr McCarthy: The Chairman has been to see this plot of land and it is too small in size to lease out for grazing. The Chairman has an idea of turning the area into a nature reserve however the other

Committee members wanted more time to see the land for themselves. It was AGREED  to put this item on the agenda of the next Footpaths meeting in September.

c):        This item had been discussed by the Committee and Mr Callis earlier in the meeting.

d)         Up-date on signage for Cookham Dean Bridleway: The Councillors were happy with the signs but had one comment to make concerning the use of Dean Lane outside the Herries School. At mornings and afternoons this road is partially blocked by mums parking their cars to pick up children. Traffic has to take turns to file past the school and the Councillors fear that any leaflet advertising this bridleway must issue a warning for this part of the route. The Clerk was asked to contact Sharon Winfield.

2.      GARDENS IN BLOOM 2005:

a)                  Up-date on judging for Thames and Chilterns in Bloom competition 2005: The Chairman confirmed that the judges were set to arrive this week in Cookham Rise and Cookham Village and next week in Cookham Dean. He also confirmed that Cookham Parish Council’s own competition for residents’ gardens was due to be judged before the end of July. Mr Linegar would judge Cookham Rise and Mr MacGowen to judge the Dean and the Village.

3.      ALLOTMENTS:

a)                  Up-date on action against rabbits at Sutton and Cookham Dean: The Chairman confirmed that the allotment holders had started putting rabbit wire up at Cookham Dean allotments. At Sutton the problem was not so easy to resolve. Clearing the site of old sheds was a first step to flush them out. Once the long grass was also cleared it would be easier to set up the wire although this would not be so easy with the brick wall along one side of the allotments. One allotment holder wanted permission to shoot the rabbits but was told that Cookham Parish Council could not support this request.

b)                  Chairman’s plans for water use at Sutton: The Chairman intended to install some 40 gallon barrels at Sutton in case a hose pipe ban comes in to force this summer.

c)                  To confirm dates for judging Allotments: The Chairman confirmed that Cookham Dean allotments had been judged by Cllr Wellman and Prichard. Cllr Innes would do Cookham Rise and would help the Chairman to judge Sutton.

The Meeting closed at 9.00pm.