December 2021 Minutes EOM
MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF SUDBROOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, SUDBROOKE
PRESENT: Councillors Peter Heath (Chairman), Mrs Tracey Bowman (Vice Chair), Simon Crampton, Paul Fido, Bhikhu Mistry
District Councillor Bob Waller, County Councillor Mrs Sue Rawlins, Mrs Cathryn Nicoll, Chair Scothern Parish Council
41 residents
Mrs Christine Myers (Clerk)
153– 21/22 APOLOGIES: Councillors Andy Cottam, Dave Scott; resident Mr Bernard Bartram
154– 21/22 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON THE AGENDA ITEM - None declared.
155– 21/22 The Chairman opened the meeting by explaining that notification had been received on 25.11.2021 of the following:
Lincolnshire County Councils proposal – Nettleham to Sudbrooke active travel quiet route - The proposed scheme would see a single point closure on Sudbrooke Lane, to the west of Richmond Farm, in order to create a safe walking and cycling route between the villages of Sudbrooke and Nettleham.
If taken forward, a closure will be installed midway along Sudbrooke Lane and will be implemented by using high-quality temporary infrastructure, such as traffic planters.
If it is supported by the public, this scheme would initially be installed temporarily for between a year and 18 months. After this time and following further engagement with local residents and organisations, a decision would be made about whether to make it permanent
He stated that the County Council were engaging on this to make sure it is appropriate and fit for purpose before implementing a trial and encouraged anyone potentially affected by this to complete an online survey and share their thoughts. The survey to close on 17 December 2021 – giving only a period of three weeks for residents and the Parish Council to comment.
He and the Parish Council had received many calls and emails opposing the proposal, due to Sudbrooke Lane being the main route to use the services in Nettleham, i.e. Medical Practice, Pharmacy, takeaway food outlets etc. The alternative route to Nettleham would be taking a right hand turn onto the A158 at Scothern Lane or taking the longer route through Scothern, driving past the busy school and onto the narrow Scothern Lane, Nettleham.
The Chairman continued that he had already responded to County Councillor Richard Davies outlining the above points and stating that on a cynical viewpoint it may be that the measure was to save money by not having to repair Nettleham Lane - something that the Parish Council and residents of Church Lane had been complaining about for many years.
It did also show that the Officers concerned with the proposal appeared to be unaware of the Section 106 Agreement currently in place with developers in the village to construct a footpath/cycleway from the village alongside the road (but protected by a hedge) from the Church to the parish boundary at Oak Cottage.
Discussion ensued with residents opposing the proposals with some of the comments noted as follows, these by no means being exhaustive:-
- What are the requirements for a valid consultation? The survey being only available online this discriminated against those residents not having access to the internet.
- That the Village was expanding with more properties being built but to reduce vehicular access on this road would reduce the access to the village by 30%.
- Extreme concern about using the Scothern Lane/A158 junction as an alternative and unsafe route to exit the village, creating further queuing at an already busy junction and increasing the carbon footprint by taking longer journeys.
- That the Lane should be repaired and continue to be used by vehicular traffic but that funds be used to implement/continue a cycleway/footpath between the parish boundary and Nettleham.
- Scothern residents were also expressing concern about the increased traffic that would be using the narrow roads through their village. This item would also be discussed at Scothern Parish Councils next meeting.
County Councillor Mrs Sue Rawlins was invited to comment and stated that she had been unaware of the proposal until approached by the Parish Council. She had contacted Officers at Lincolnshire County Council Highways Department and been informed that unless there was support for the proposal it was unlikely to proceed. She disagreed with the proposal.
A resident stated that she had started a petition against the proposal and sought residents to both sign it and take away sheets to obtain signatures from neighbours. This was fully supported by all those present at the meeting including the Parish Council. She had also set up an email address Sudbrookelane@yahoo.com for communication. The resident offered to co-ordinate the petition and would liaise with the Clerk and County Councillor Sue Rawlins.
The conclusion of the meeting was:
- To encourage the completion of the survey,
- Obtain signatures on the petition against the proposal,
- The signed petition and the emails that had been sent to the Parish Council by residents, to be forwarded (omitting names/email addresses) to Councillor Richard Davies, M Hill (Leader of the County Council), County Councillor Sue Rawlins, Edward Leigh MP and Democratic Services, LCC,
- A letter from the Parish Council be sent to the above stating the opposition from the village to the proposal and to request that the surface of the lane be improved with the provision of a footpath alongside the lane from Sudbrooke to Nettleham.
Several persons attending the meeting thanked the Parish Council for its efforts in informing residents of the proposal and for arranging the meeting.