Draft minutes of the Marlesford Parish Council meeting, held on
Friday 27th August 2021, 7.00pm, in the Marlesford Community Centre.
- Present
- Chairman Lord Marlesford, Vice Chairman Roger Waterfall, Cllr Diana Howard, Cllr Sam Catling, Cllr Heather McConville, Cllr Lesley Bensley & Cllr Richard Cooper
- In Attendance
- 1 member of the public and the Clerk.
Apologies for Absence
SCC Stephen Burroughes, ESC Carol Poulter.
Declaration of Interests
None
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting Held on Friday 28th May 2021
The minutes were approved correct by the council and signed by the Chairman, proposed Cllr Waterfall, seconded Cllr Howard.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
None.
B-17 Solar Farm, Old Airfield, Parham
Cllr Waterfall reported that a cash offer from Low Carbon/developers to Gt Glemham, Parham and Marlesford Parishes is as good as is likely to get. However no consideration has been given to inflation, therefore payments could be worthless in years to come. This is the stumbling block at present and the parishes have not agreed to anything as yet. Low Carbon also needs to guarantee that if they go on to sell the land, any payment agreement is carried over.
He feels dis-heartened by the district council that they are going to back the project of the solar farm. This could have something to do with the fact that ESC will get 100% for business rates from the development and will meet its carbon neutral statement. However ESC planning has not yet consulted on the application.
The Chairman does not agree that the solar farm should be on the right hand side of the Marlesford road, it should be contained on the airfield. He suggests that the Parish Council writes to ESC to flag up the concerns regarding the principle and design. It will have an adverse effect on the countryside and we do not want it to encroach any further into the village. Cllr Waterfall will draft a letter and liaise with Professor Wheater, who stated that the height of the proposed panels are 3 mtrs, the current solar farm panels are 2 mtrs high and are less intrusive.
Finance
- Statement of Accounts. Bank balances as at 26th August 2021, Barclays Community Account £9,581.20 (inc. £3105.76 CIL money), Business Premium Account £839.59. The statement of accounts was approved by all and was signed by Cllr McConville. The Clerk also gave the councilors copies of the Spend Against Budget to date.
- Clerks Pay & Expenses – Invoices to pay Clerks pay £330.10, P30 £82.40 and expenses £52.28 which includes the Data Protection renewal fee of £40.00 and the Clerk has paid for this.
- Renewal of Annual Subscription for the CPRE - The Countryside Charity. It was agreed by all to renew the annual subscription, £36.00.
The above payments were all approved, proposed Cllr Bensley seconded Cllr Catling.
To Receive Reports from East Suffolk District Councillor Carol Poulter & Suffolk County Councillor Stephen Burroughes
Reports from both Councillors have been forward to all prior to the meeting.
Cllr Bensley would like to bring to the attention of the PC the SCC schools exclusion rates report. 50% of the excluded children (out of 4000) are flagged as special needs or have learning disabilities.
The figures therefore highlight that SCC are failing these 50% of children and that the report needs to be investigated. The general public needs to know about this and that the report should be published for all to see.
Cllr Bensley will draft a letter to be sent to SCC Stephen Burroughes, all agreed.
Sizewell C - To Include Four Village Bypass (SEGway) & Proposals for Park and Ride at Wickham Market
Cllr Cooper has laid out the plans for all to see, which are referred to in his notes for the EDF Proposals for A12 Mitigation in Marlesford;
The best results must be achieved for the residents of the two villages, whilst continuing the fight for the 4 village bypass and progress has been made. It is helped by the numerous references by SCC and ESC to the adverse effects that Marlesford and Lt. Glemham will suffer, particularly in terms of noise, and vibration, fear and intimidation and community severance. All are issues that rank high on PINS priority list and they are asking EDF and ourselves what progress is being made to address them – so they are “on the case”. EDF give nothing away – they are always arguing that mitigation can only be proportional and they should not be providing measures that address issues that are not of their making. For example, they will not contribute to pre-existing traffic issues and they will certainly not contribute to our section of a FVB, on the basis that the A12 through Marlesford and Little Glemham has sufficient capacity to deal with their traffic. On this they are supported (technically) by SCC but we are using other arguments to justify our FVB position. The proposals are made up of the following elements;
- Alteration to Speed Limits - The current speed limit through Marlesford is 40mph. As part of a wider alteration to speed limits, it is proposed that speed through Marlesford is reduced to 30mph. This would take effect from just west of the Marlesford Road junction for traffic travelling north. 30mph roundels will be painted onto the road between Marlesford Road and Ashe Road junctions with the A12 and at Bell Lane.
- The speed limit would revert to 40mph just to the east of Milestone Farm and step down again to 30mph on entering Lt Glemham. We should be asking for the 30mph limit to be continuous from south of Marlesford through to north of the Buttons Road/A12 junction. It is important to note that the A12 at the Fiveways interchange will reduce to one lane travelling north and all traffic already on the A12 will merge into the outside lane. This is to allow traffic coming from the Park and Ride to join the A12 from the existing slip-road. A 40mph limit will be in operation on this short stretch of road between the Fiveways roundabout and the point at which it joins the A12. A 40mph limit will apply just before the A12 merges into one lane under the interchange.
- This should help reduce the speed at which traffic comes down the hill from the northern end of the Wickham Market bypass. It is debatable whether slower traffic will help vehicles turning right from Marlesford Road – one consequence may be a “bunching” of traffic that actually makes it more difficult. But overall, a reduction in speed should be welcomed.
- New village “gateways” will be erected at the change to 30mph at both ends of the village.
- Footways and Pedestrian Crossings - We have been campaigning for safe pedestrian crossings in the village and we appear to have got “in principle” agreement on two locations.
- A non-signalised crossing with a central refuge between the junctions of Marlesford Road and Ashe Road.
- A signalised crossing to the east of Marlesford Bridge.
- Most of the north side of the A12 through the village will get improved footways. We are asking for these to be upgraded to pedestrian and cycle ways (see below). Some footway work will also be carried out to the west of the Farm Café as far as Ashe Road. Please be aware that services need to be provided to the signalised crossing and the feasibility of doing this has not yet been evaluated. We should be aware that a signalised crossing (red for oncoming traffic only when pedestrians are crossing) will slow traffic down. ESC has a concern that traffic accelerating away from the lights will add to air pollution in the village. My own view on this is that it is a relatively minor consideration by comparison with the need for a safe pedestrian crossing.
- Quiet Surfacing - There is general agreement that the A12 through both villages should be “quiet surfaced”. At the eastern end it stops at Milestone Farm – I will be arguing that it should continue up to the start of the 30mph speed limit for traffic travelling south – this would improve road noise before traffic enters the built areas of the village.
- Please note that quiet surfacing reduces tyre to road noise, but it cannot mitigate against engine and lorry body noise. These remain concerns and we are asking for a full set of baseline studies of noise, air quality and vibration to be carried out before the main site construction starts.
Bell Lane Junction Layout
We have repeatedly made the point that cars turning right from Bell Lane onto the A12 should have improved visibility when looking to the left. So far, little more than vegetation trimming has been offered (I will be pushing for more).
I have repeatedly said to PINS, EDF, SCC and ESC that the measures being proposed are “sticking plasters” and do not address the fundamental problem that the A12 through Lt Glemham and Marlesford is an unimproved stretch of a strategically important road and needs a strategic solution (FVB) to resolve the problem. However, we must grab what we can whilst it is on the table or risk having a less than optimal solution imposed on us.
None of the above should stop us from pushing for additional mitigation and we should be making progress on:
- Provision of a cycle and pedestrian path from Marlesford to Fiveways Roundabout (To connect with a path coming from Wickham to the Southern Park and Ride.
- Baseline noise/air quality/vibration data for properties adjacent to the A12 – the meeting regarded this as highly important, because without it, we will have no basis for making a judgement on impacts once the HGVs and buses start using the A12. The in tension would then be for ongoing monitoring throughout the SZC build period.
- Linked to this, I am tabling a request for double glazing to the front elevations of all properties on the A12We should expect to see more detail on the current proposals and firm commitments from EDF.
- We should be ensuring that the EDF Park and Ride bus fleet is “all electric”.
The above notes could be circulated via the village website and Nextdoor to seek wider views from the community.
The examination process should come to an end mid-October, however may get extended for a further 3 months. The planning inspectorate will then have 3 months in which to write a report, which will in turn, go to the Secretary of State to determine.
The Chairman expressed grateful thanks to Cllr Cooper for the marvelous amount of work which he has put in.
Scottish Power North Sea Wind Farms
Cllr Cooper informed that the enquiry has now ended and will go to the Secretary of State to determine. A decision might be expected in the New Year 2022.
Reports from Parish Representatives
SALC – Cllr Bensley advised that she is unable to attend the meeting scheduled for 30th September.
Planning – Cllr Waterfall advised that a planning application has been received to extend a shed on the airfield, no objection from the Parish Council.
Disappointed at ESC granting permission to Meadow Cottage to allow plastic windows.
The Parish Council had objected to the original plan to extend The Boot House, however it was granted by ESC and then it was discovered that a whole 1 ½ metres extra was built on. The owners now want to install Dormers windows facing west plus a roof light facing north. The Chairman emphasised that the impact on the roof scope, will overlook the parish and is in the heart of a conservation area. It was agreed that the Parish Council will object to the planning application. The Parish Council will also object to any development at the site of Holly Cottage.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Waterfall for his work.
Firs Bowling Green – Cllr Waterfall informed that a cheque has been sent to the Land Registry for the registration.
Footpaths & Access – Cllr Catling informed that his son continues to cut and clear the footpaths.
Highways - Cllr Howard has nothing to report.
Website – Cllr Howard has nothing to report.
Environmental Dimension of all other Policies – Cllr Sam Catling has nothing to report.
Cllr Waterfall reported that there is a proposal called “The Katch Bus”, for an electric bus to be in service from Framlingham to Wickham Market railway station, however it is not intended to pick up in Marlesford. He will raise this with SCC Cllr Burroughes.
To Review the Standing Orders and Financial Orders
Cllr Bensley confirmed that she recommends the Financial Orders need no amendments made to them.
However the Standing Orders need to have an amendment made to them in Clause 18 F & G – Public Contracts. The Clerk will carry out the necessary amendment. The Parish Council are happy to therefore approve both the Standing & Financial Orders, proposed Cllr Bensley seconded Chairman.
Correspondence
None.
Any Other Business
None.
Date of Next Parish Council Meeting
This will take place on Friday 19th November 2021.
Meeting ended at 8.25pm
Signed ……………………………………………… (Chairman) Date ………………………………