PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Recreation Field Committee held on Monday 21st February 2005 at 7 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse
Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman)
Cllrs. R W G Butt, Mrs. E V Latchem and C Rich.
Also present: Cllrs. Mrs. R M Rich and J P Rich.
Twelve members of the public mainly from Church Road, Hillcrest and New Buildings.
Apologies were received from Cllrs. J S Bolwell and Mrs. Lewis-Mason.
Public Session
A petition of 260 names was handed to the Chairman by Mrs. Dixon of Hillcrest protesting at the proposal put forward by POP for a BMX Track in the Recreation Field. Seven other members of the public spoke of their worry that the track planned for bikes would soon be taken over by motor bikes and other rowdy operations, quite often late at night and at weekends.
The Chairman assured the residents that their worries would be addressed later in the meeting when the request would be again formally considered.
These minutes, which had been previously circulated were taken as read, agreed a true record and signed by the Chairman.
The Clerk, for information, announced that the tender from B&NES for grass cutting in the Rec. had come in a little below estimate. Noted with satisfaction.
The Chairman reminded members that this request had been taken back by him at the Council meeting as he wished to put forward further evidence.
He said that POP had now come forward with three possible sites in the Rec. and a plan was passed around the meeting.
Cllr. Mrs. Latchem said that, whichever site was thought suitable, the residents of Hillcrest still insisted that the Rec. was not the right area for the Track and asked that the scheme be dropped now and Council recommended to abandon the idea.
Cllr. Butt said that he was still not sure that POP had proved a need for such a project, even after a great deal of consultation. He quoted from POP's own analysis of the questionnaire filled in at the demonstration held at the Cricket Club and felt that the answers had shown a 50/50 split between residents of Hillcrest and Belle Vue Close - he could see the figures reflecting a NIMBY situation.
Cllr. Butt felt that a meeting of all parties, whether for or against the proposition, should meet and proposed:-
"that this Council calls a meeting of all interested parties, i.e. POP, FAST, Youth Centre, together with residents from Church Road, Hillcrest and Belle Vue Close to form a Working Party to find a way forward and report back to this Committee in time for a recommendation to go forward to the Council meeting due to take place on 21st March 2005".
Further: "that he would personally call the meeting and invite the interested parties".
The proposal was seconded by Cllr. C Rich.
Cllr. Mrs. Latchem said that she would vote against, as she wanted the idea dropped at this meeting.
On being put to the vote the motion was carried by three votes to one.
Cllrs. Butt and C Rich would attend the meeting on behalf of the Parish Council.
Meeting closed at 7.50 p.m.
Signed . Chairman Date ..