Aust Parish Council

This is a small rural parish with a large acreage but an electoral roll of only about 400. The Council does not own any property or land nor does it provide any services like grass cutting or cleaning of public places. There are two very small parcels of registered Common Land in the parish. These are The Pound by the side of the Village Hall, Aust and The Pond in Rushen Lane, Littleton. Oversight and care of these sites are the responsibility of Aust Parish.

Councillors aim to promote the wellbeing of the parish and protect parishioners' interests. Council meetings are normally held on alternate months on the second Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday the 11th November 2008 in the Elberton Village Hall.

Main tasks are reviewing Planning Applications and submitting written comments and recommendations when necessary, and monitoring the conditions of roads and rights of way.

Noticeable achievements in recent years have been obtaining speed controls through Elberton and Aust villages and a 7.5 ton weight restriction on Passage Road, Aust.

Councillors

Chairman - Michael Hawkins

418249

Vice-Chairman - Ronald Gwyther

412258

John Alway

632591

Gina Dobbins

632306

John Pullin

633143

Stephen Meredith

411065

Peter Ellis

412463

   

Clerk to the Council:

 

Tom Fothergill, Hill House, Aust, BS35 4AZ

email: tom.fothergill@boltblue.com

632379

  
Council Meetings

The most recent bimonthly meeting was held on Wednesday 10 September 2008. Apologies were received from Ron Gwyther. Attendees were Peter Ellis, Stephen Meredith, Mike Hawkins, John Alway and John Pullin. Ward Councillor Matthew Riddle attended but no one from the public.

Presentation on Woodhall Meadow

Before the meeting, there was a presentation about Woodhall Meadow, Field Lane, Littleton on Severn by staff from South Gloucestershire Council. The meadow consists of 8 acres of grassland that have been offered for sale to the local authority.

Dave Villis, Ecological Officer, explained that the grassland had not been treated by chemical fertilizers or herbicides or any form of improvements so that the land remains as it as been farmed for centuries. A firm of consultants had reported a wide variety of grasses (some rare) and wild flowers including native orchids. They advised that the meadow was worthy of retaining as a Nature Reserve.

Richard Aston, Partnership and Projects Officer, spoke about a mechanism for saving the meadow. South Gloucestershire Council valuers had estimated the 8 acres to have a sale value of about £50,000. He said that South Gloucestershire Council could obtain grants, mainly from the English Heritage aggregate extraction fund (Harnhill former quarry is still eligible) with Aust P.C. making a small contribution. Ownership would be registered in Aust P.C. When asked why South Gloucestershire Council would not own the land, he explained that it was policy to enter into partnerships with local Councils for Nature Reserves. To further concerns about Aust P.C. liabilities, Richard said that South Gloucestershire Council would enter into a legal agreement with Aust P.C. to manage and maintain the site. There is a public footpath crossing the meadow so the public will always be able to go through the meadow and see the panoramic view over the Severn.

The Chairman thanked the speakers and opened the Council Meeting at 8pm.

Main items of business:

The first item on the agenda was Woodhall Meadow. Councillors expressed concern that South Gloucestershire Council would not be rigorous in protecting the site from undesirable activities such as camping/caravanning, queried why the valuation was at the high end of agricultural land prices and why South Gloucestershire Council would not own the land itself. They had experience of slow processing of travellers Planning Applications and of pressing Enforcement Notices. Points in favour were: preservation of some ancient pastures; there is public access by a footpath; Olveston School expressed interest; good views; and the outcome of public auction could be problematic.

Councillors agreed and approved that Woodhall Meadow be bought in the name of Aust P.C., subject to a satisfactory legal agreement with South Gloucestershire Council for them to manage , maintain and protect the site from any illegal occupation. Additionally Councillors approved that £500 should be paid from Parish Council funds towards the purchase of the site.

Councillors approved a donation of £15 to Marlwood School towards the purchase of a book prize at the forthcoming speech day.

The situation at Greenacres remains uncertain. South Gloucestershire Council Enforcement Officers are still collecting evidence to take court action. The failed Planning Applicant has removed his mobile home but now there are caravans with Irish numberplated vehicles on site. A Planning Application for 5 permanent pitches has been submitted but has not yet been registered. Last time, South Gloucestershire Council Planners spent nearly all 2006 trying to advise the Applicant on an appropriate Application without success before registering the application made in December 2005. Planners state that they have a duty to assist disadvantaged persons and minority groups in preparing satisfactory Planning Applications. In this case the Applicant did not respond.

The Highways Agency case officer dealing with the illegal caravan site in Sandy Lane, Aust has informed us that she expects to be in a position to make a recommendation on this case by 30 September 2008.

Tull Properties, the owners of Whale Wharf Business Park, are due in the Magistrates Court on 26 October 2008 to stand trial for not obeying Enforcement Notices served by South Gloucestershire Council. Tull Properties' tactics are not understood. Earlier this year they changed solicitors delaying Court appearance, engaged Planning Consultants, submitted 4 separate Planning Applications relating to the Inspector's refused external standard lamps and the track inside the fence, and then on the 29 August withdrew these 4 Planning Applications.

There were no new minor Planning Applications since the last meeting.

The Chairman set the next meeting for 7.30pm. on Tuesday 11 November 2008 and closed this one at 10pm. The day of the week for meetings is reverting to Tuesday by request.

Cheque issued:  No.236   15 September 08   Marlwood School   £15

 

News

There is a vacancy for a part time Clerk for Aust Parish Council to replace the present one who wishes to retire after many years of service. Persons interested should contact the Chairman, Mike Hawkins, on 01454 418249.