A Perfect Storm?

Well it is so flaming quiet at the moment, with absolutely nothing happening of interest anywhere, you get the distinct feeling that something is going to happen to shatter this bliss.

So far the 'Welcome' signs have not gone up, or if they have I need some new glasses.  Some villages have 'Drive Carefully' signs, which would be much more appropriate given that speeding through the village seems to be the norm.

If you go through Mattersey be mindful of the fact that they have put two ginormous humps at either end in, that are the biggest I have seen yet and  designed to peel the underneath of your car off like a tin of sardines.  Not so bad in daytime if you can see them but hardly seen at night.  It would be interesting to see if they have had many complaints  yet.  Not that I am advocating them for Misterton, more trouble than they are worth and only hack people off.

I suppose the next big thing will be the Neighbourhood Plan.  Not read much about it other than there is money involved and more money if you have one.  I harvested these bits from the Government website:

Neighbourhood development plans

A neighbourhood development plan establishes general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood, like:

• where new homes and offices should be built
• what they should look like

The plan can be detailed or general, depending what local people want.
Neighbourhood plans allow local people to get the right type of development for their community, but the plans must still meet the needs of the wider area. In most cases we expect this will mean that neighbourhood plans will have to take into account the local council’s assessment of housing and other development needs in the area.
More and more communities are taking up the right to produce a neighbourhood plan. At August 2013, 3 plans have successfully been through a community referendum and have been brought into force by the local planning authority.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Parishes with a neighbourhood plan will receive 25% of any Community Infrastructure Levy arising from developments in their area compared to parishes without a neighbourhood plan who will receive 15%.

Role of the local planning authority

The local planning authority has a duty to support communities making their neighbourhood plan. For example, it will organise the independent examination of the neighbourhood development plan, neighbourhood development order or Community Right to Build order. This is to check that the plan or order meets certain minimum conditions.
The local planning authority is responsible for organising the neighbourhood planning referendum. The referendum ensures that the local community has the final say on whether a neighbourhood development plan, neighbourhood development order or a Community Right to Build order comes into force in their area.


At the moment we have the Newells site with around 70 houses not built and bits of infilling here and there.  Our infrastructure is struggling to cope with what we have already.  Some places can stand more houses being built in large numbers, can we without changes.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  Still at least  we are having say in that.

Yet Another Public Consultation

Well although I haven't actually received my parish council newsletter yet I have been able to look at one.  So why devote 12 paragraphs of space to tell us what is going to happen to the War Memorial and then in the penultimate one start asking for our views.  They ask us to fill in a poll on their website.  Just what for I don't know, all cut and dried so why try and chivy us into taking an interest now.  Now they have made the decision are they uncertain of what they are doing and just want us to say yay so they can confirm that they have obtained the views of all residents of the parish.

Quite frankly I suspect that most of us aren't that bothered and those that are probably don't have an Internet connection (or want one), to fill in the magic poll that absolves them of all responsibility of spending any money on it.  It doesn't really say much for their decision making skills when they make one and then start dithering.  Still at least it filled in a vast space on the newsletter, so they didn't have to think of anything else, other than dog crap, litter and depriving elderly residents of a little Christmas bonus.

There was not even an update on the Victoria Institute current status, or the behind the scenes activity regarding the old library.  Things we want to know about they keep us in the dark, especially since that will be one enormous money pit and any lack of information on that subject will make us all extremely suspicious.

Come to think of it, not even a Merry Christmas either!


 

The Packet Inn and other stuff

Well they are putting the old sign back  for the Packet Inn.  At least I think they are, the item was so poorly worded in the parish council minutes for October,it could have related to something entirely different.  Bit funny really, can you imagine, some wag knocking on your door asking for a pint of bitter or whatever.  Tempting providence there I think.

As far as the Christmas charity money is concerned, I suspect that the money is going to sit in the vaults for years doing nothing.  Who the heck do they think is going to fill in a form and admit to the parish council they are brassic.  Beggar confidentiality, it gets out sooner or later, either big mouths or pillow talk.  Not made themselves any friends with that decision. 

Hillysyde want their street lighting on again and sending in a petition.  Will that create more petitions from other street residents?  Can you really create a precedent?  I suppose they are hinging on the fact that it includes Swallow Court, and I suspect that the hours there are no lights  wont bother Swallow Court residents too much.

Victoria Institute:  "It was noted that any potential purchase of the building for use by the Parish Council would be considered by the Future Office Working Group."

Like a dog with a  bone on that one and whatever happens you can bet your bottom dollar it will cost residents in the end with these mad money spending ideas.

New signs going up soon. don't exactly say which, again poor reporting, but I assume the ones that are supposed to say "Welcome to our Village" or similar, we will have to wait and see.  Whatever they say they will have been a waste of money and totally unnecessary in these austere times.

Well all the activity down by Station Road was for the canal lock gates, leaking.  Lots of activity, standing looking, standing observing, standing watching and even some working.  Then you wonder why things cost a lot to get done.

Bit too much information

I've seen the Parish Magazine and while it is full of useful information there is one bit that could have done with a pencil through.  While I appreciate that dog  crap in the village is a problem, was there any need for the parish council to devote a whole fat paragraph to it, and describing in graphic detail what we already know.  We're not that stupid.  Talk about rubbing our noses in it, especially if we don't have a dog.

In fact there was little else really of any interest to your average resident in the Misterton parish council news, which makes you wonder what they do talk about,  given that they are intent on spending our saved cash in the bank on a  vanity project or maybe two, depending on who you talk to.  I suppose the little nuggets from those discussion will be kept well and truly hidden in case anybody starts complaining.

Oh and another thing, I've heard complaints about this new system for dishing the charity cash at Christmas.  Enough to know the parish council has dumped themselves in the dog crap with that decision, so if I were them I'd think again and stop blaming the Charity Commission, because they don't care a brass farthing when peanuts are involved.