NACRA
Newtown Area Community and Residents Association
Monthly Committee Meeting
Date: 16th November 2009
Venue: Strings
Time: 19:00 hrs
Present: Janet Farrow (Chairman) PRESENT
Julie Greening (Sec) PRESENT
Bill Ritter APOLOGIES
Dave Witts PRESENT
Jane Lucking (Treasurer) PRESENT
Steve Tandy (Minutes Sec) PRESENT
Angie Thompson APOLOGIES
John Lucking PRESENT
Peter Aldridge APOLOGIES
Graham Dawson APOLOGIES
TBCllr John McCloy APOLOGIES
CCllr Vernon Smith PRESENT
TTCllr Tina Brookes APOLOGIES
TTCllr Andy Smith PRESENT
CCllr Mike Sztymiak APOLOGIES
Agenda
1 Minutes from last meeting
2 Matters arising
3 Speeding Survey
4 Community Centres
5 Treasurers interim Report
6 Any Other Business
1. Janet welcomed all present.
Janet then asked if the minutes from the last committee meeting were a true record of that meeting, Graham Dawson had asked if two words could be changed to further clarify the statements made in minutes, – the committee agreed
2. Matters arising from the last minutes.
As there are no nominations for the post of Vice Chairman, it was decided that the post would remain open for this year.
TT Cllr Andy Smith gave an update on the progress of the design of the Play Park in Walton Cardiff Lane. Due to the fact that the designer had had swine flu and the postal strike, not allot of progress had been made. He was hoping for something this week. The £10K extra funding for the mugger and goalposts had been refused.
3. Speeding Survey
Pete Aldridge liaised with PC Phil Groom who arranged the use of a hand held speed gun from the end of November. Janet and Julie stated that, they, were going to try and use it around midnight on some nights on the Ashchurch Road, as many large lorries speed down the road and cause much noise. It was hoped that other areas in Newtown might be given the same treatment to catch offenders. It was suggested that at least two people should use it at any time. Areas suggested were Pyke Road, Churchill Grove and Moulder Road. Newtown is also going to get the use of an automated speed detector that recorded number plates and automatically issue warnings.
4. Community Centre
As mentioned in October meeting minutes, Chris Thomas from MACA (Mitton Resident Association) had approached NACRA and suggested that we do a joint bid for a Community Centre. An informal meeting was held with Chris Thomas who detailed the idea further, which Janet put to the Committee. This was put to a vote and all members agreed this a good idea. The two main suggestions for a joint centre were a building at Tewkesbury School, or a unit on the Newtown Industrial Estate. NACRA would arrange a formal meeting with MACA.
5. Treasurers interim Report
Jane Lucking stated that £176.00 was collected for this year’s membership to NACRA at the AGM @ £2.00 a head. There was a donation of £1.00 and the raffle made £57.20. A £100.00 cheque was paid out for plants from Stanborough Nurseries for the Knights Way flower beds. This made a total in the bank of £409.01 and cash of £67.66. Jane paid out two cheques on the night, one for £15.00 as membership to the Severn and Avon Flood Group and another for £20.00 for a wreath at the Royal British Legion Remembrance Day service.
It was suggested that NACRA should have a Summer Fete to coincide with the formal opening of the Walton Cardiff Lane new Park. This was thought to be a good idea and a possible time of May/June 2010 was proposed. This would help raise money for NACRA expenses.
Any Other Business
Janet and Julie stated that despite the rain, the Remembrance Day service they attended on behalf of NACRA was good.
Dave Witts stated that the re-work of ditches down Walton Cardiff Lane had a problem but this would be resolved. CCllr Vernon Smith stated that all the ditches were to be bought up to the correct standard and all the willow trees were to be uprooted.
The Ashchurch Road work on the Knights Way green had disturbed some of the flower beds but that the eyelets were now ready for the new system. CCllr Vernon Smith to find out if the roots from the weeping willow tree in the Canterbury grounds had collapsed any of the drains.
NACRA to write to Nigel Riglar, Director Planning and Economic Development at GCC and Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration and Communications at GCC about the problem with the Easter Park project as a re-cycling plant.
CCllr Vernon Smith talked about current county issues to do with Newtown, Churchill Grove had had some footpath repairs done, Spa Gardens road and path was in very poor condition and Vernon had been contacted by a resident (Mr Tombes) who arranged several of the residents to attend a meeting with council officials and due to ‘people power’ the work is to be done.
TTCllr Andy Smith reported that he was to go to a meeting the next night to do with a possible lorry park proposed for Newtown which may be a problem, he will report back at the next meeting.
Next NACRA meeting Monday 18th January 2010 at Strings 7.00pm
