Blackthorns Community Association
Minutes 2010
BLACKTHORNS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (BCA)
MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: 20 JULY 2010
Held at Blackthorns C.P. School
1. Apologies for Absence: (household not represented)
Margaret Molloy (19), Susan King (35), Des Adams (38), John and Jean Martindale (45),
Isobel Jones (7 Blackthorns Close), Caroline Cook (30 Pickers Green).
2. Minutes of Last Meeting:
Acceptance of the Minutes of the meeting of 27 July 2009 was proposed by Alec Fruin, seconded by Colin McFarlin and agreed unanimously by the Meeting and signed by the Chairman.
3. Matters Arising:
There were no matters arising which would not be covered elsewhere at the Meeting.
4. Membership:
The Secretary reported that at the beginning of the Association's year there had been 28 member households. Currently, membership stands at 29 households.
5. Environmental Issues:
a) Mid Sussex District Council
Refuse Collection
i) The Chairman reported that there had been delays with the landfill collection during the December/January heavy snowfall. For Blackthorns, priority had not been given to landfill waste despite assurances from the District Council.
ii) There were current problems with the collection of garden waste coinciding with the school run. The District Council had acknowledged the problem which they attributed to specific information not being fully communicated to a new crew. Hopefully, this matter has been resolved.
Gritting
At the same time, the need to grit Blackthorns, particularly the road to the School, had been raised by the Chairman with WSCC Cllr Christine Field. Resulting from her intervention, the road should have been gritted but, unfortunately, the gritter was wrongly sent to Lindfield School .
Other Community Associations
As our Association is registered on the Mid Sussex Community Contacts Database, the Secretary asked the Community Planning Officer for contact details of other Associations that may share our community interests. Unfortunately, he is not permitted to give us that information but has given contact details of the Lindfield Police Community Support Officer.
b) Environment Agency
Stream Maintenance
i) The Agency has removed silt at the French Gardens end of the culvert.
ii) There had been an intention to remove the weedscreens at both ends of the culvert and replace with an improved design to permit better flow of water and debris. However, financial constraints will not allow this for the time being but it is still on the list to be done. The screen (gate) at French Gardens was opened for the Winter and although recently closed, should be re-opened in time for Winter. Christine Clarke suggested the E.A. should give us a date the grill will be opened – the Chairman agreed we would ask at the next site meeting but thought it unlikely they will commit themselves to this in advance.
iii) A telemetry system has been installed at the bridge by The Witch. This is linked by automatic telephone to the E.A. The rate of flow should indicate if water levels become high and will show if the stream/culvert is becoming overloaded. The installation is currently being tested.
iv) The garden at No 47 had been used as a construction site during installation of the culvert. Unsatisfactory work afterwards had left the garden in a very poor and waterlogged state. The EA has now carried out further restoration work including additional drainage and proper top soil and grass. So far, this work seems to have been successful and we are grateful to the EA for having resolved this long standing problem.
v) The annual site meeting with the Agency took place on 15 September.
Riverside Owners' Guide
The Secretary reported that in November he delivered a copy of the booklet ‘On the Edge' together with a letter from the Environment Agency to all properties in Blackthorns and West Common Drive which back onto the stream. The letter, which was provided at the request of the Association, referred specifically to the West Common Stream and was very forthright – pointing out that penalties of allowing waste to fall into the stream included, ultimately, fines of up to £50,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment or both!
c) West Sussex County Council
Fire and Rescue Service Training
In May, the old Nursing Home was used in a training exercise which used synthetic smoke and created some low level noise. Householders very near to the Home had been advised rather late by the Service. As the exercise is likely to be repeated, more warning, and to more residents, would be helpful in future.
Street Light Column Locations
A Tesco van had reversed into the street light opposite the bottom of the School hill. The column was badly damaged and was replaced but erected on the pavement. Following a request by the Chairman to Cllr Field the new column had been very quickly re-erected near its original position on the verge.
d) Lindfield Parish Council
Traffic Study Group
Unfortunately, this Group had been dissolved as its primary purpose, the placing of a mini-roundabout at the High Street / Lewes Road junction, was not going ahead. Consequently, consideration of traffic problems in Blackthorns will not be considered but the BCA Committee will continue to regard it as an ongoing issue.
e) Blackthorns School – Coaches
This continues to be a problem mainly of timing which can coincide with the school run. This needs to be monitored. However, it will not be a priority for Local Authorities as there have been no accidents!
6. Ashton Healthcare:
No work on demolition or construction has taken place during the year. Planning Consent was obtained in June 2008 and is believed to be valid for 3 years, (ref. Condition 1; Grant of Planning Permission), during which time work should commence or Consent may need to be renewed. It is unclear what would constitute commencement of work. The BCA Committee will continue to monitor the situation, as there are several details still to be agreed by MSDC before development can proceed.
7. Neighbourhood Watch:
i) The Chairman welcomed Geoff and Val Wagger (No 37) who are Watch Co-ordinators for the West Common end of Blackthorns. There has been no Co-ordinator for the Appledore Gardens end for a few years.
ii) The Watch Co-ordinators are willing to extend distribution of periodic information to the whole road, including Blackthorns Close; assistance, if required, would be arranged by the Committee. However, the best method of communication would be by email for those households with access to it. A flyer will be issued to all households.
iii) An appropriate Neighbourhood Watch sign should be available free from the Police and could be affixed to the post at the French Gardens end of Blackthorns.
iv) Mike Nichols advised that there has been no activity regarding the Neighbourhood Panel.
8. Website:
i) Our website has been updated. It can now be found via Google Search (but not by simply using “BCA” which is heavily overpopulated!).
ii) We are now shown on the Communities Page of the Lindfield Parish Council.
iii) Mike Nichols suggested that our website could include a discussion forum.
9. Financial Report:
The Treasurer presented the Accounts for the year to 30 June 2010 and distributed copies to Members present. Acceptance of the Accounts was proposed by Geoff Wagger, seconded by Nigel Fletcher and agreed unanimously.
10. Re-Election of Officers:
In terms of the Constitution, no new names for Office had been submitted. Re-election of the current Officers was proposed by Colin McFarlin, seconded by Alec Fruin and agreed unanimously.
11. Any Other Business:
i) There was some discussion about an “abandoned” and untaxed car which had been parked in Blackthorns for a couple of weeks. Previously, it had been parked for months in West Common Drive . There was conjecture that it may have been a “Police sting” but probably we shall never know!
ii) Colin McFarlin suggested that the Association could hold a record of suppliers/tradespeople etc. who have provided good levels of goods/services to members of the Association. The information could then be made available to members on enquiry. This was well received by the meeting and will be progressed by the Committee. Colin McFarlin also raised the idea that members could group together to bulk buy goods on favourable terms.
The meeting was attended by 28 members.
John Richards
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