Parish Council Notices and Village News Items

18 May 2010

The Annual Parish Meeting preceded the May Parish Council Meeting, and reports were given by representatives of the village charities, Councillors Hughes (ENC), and Langley (NCC). The Parish Council Clerk also summarised the Councils activities to those present. These reports are available on www.woodfordpc.co.uk

At the Annual meeting of Woodford Parish Council Mr Peter Bird and Mr Ivor Vaughan were once again elected as Chair and Vice Chair respectively. A report from the Police revealed that six crimes had been reported during April. The Clerk informed Councillors that a public bench had also been removed from the top of Church Green, the police had been informed and anyone with any information should contact the Police. Councillors learnt that William Davis had appealed against the planning refusal recently made by East Northants Council. The main grounds for appeal were that ENC was not providing enough land for houses to meet Government targets. Parish Councillors agreed that the Clerk write to the Planning Inspectorate stating that the Council did not believe that the developer had given sufficient reasoning as to why this site should be considered ahead of other sites within the village, or the district. The hearing is expected to be towards the end of August. Following the resignation Ms Blanchard from the a vacancy now exists and Parish Councillors will be co-opting at the next meeting. Any elector interested should contact the Clerk on 01832 734329 by 14th June.

Reports of nuisance and anti social behaviour were once again aired and the chairman stressed that the only way increased Community Policing would be achieved would be if the incidents were reported. This should be either by completing a form available from www.woodforpdc.co.uk (or the Clerk) or by telephoning 03 000 111 222  and asking for East-Northants Central SCT. Whilst reporting an incident to this number would not necessarily result in a Police Officer attending the incident, it would be recorded and as a result affect the level of policing in the following months. The priorities for the summer for the Community Policing team will be set on 8th June and will be based on the reports received by the Police by that time. If you have concerns now is the time to make your voice heard.

April Parish Council Meeting

The Council received a resignation letter from Ms L Blanchard who has now left the village and a Vacancy was declared. If a formal request is not received by East Northamptonshire Council for a bye election to be held by 10 May, the council will be free to co-opt an elector from the village after that date.  

It was noted that planning permission had been awarded by East Northants Council  for a further property in Daventry Farm at the top of Pound Lane. It was also noted that the application for a further 50 houses in the form of an extension to Paddock Road had been refused.

Anti Social Behaviour was discussed with the Police and it was stressed that such acts should be reported to the Police (03 000 111 222) or follow links from www.woodfordpc.co.uk. Whilst the Police acknowledge they are not always able to attend such incidents, once the incident has been logged it will be used by the police to identify where preventative measures are required to avoid further occurrences.

Only a couple of young people had expressed interest in a new Youth forum. If any other 11-18 year olds are interested in becoming part of the new forum they should in the first instance email the Clerk – Mr P Bird – clerk@woodfordpc.co.uk giving their name.

The Polling Station for the forthcoming General Election will once again be the Baptist Chapel in Rose Terrace. Electors can cast their vote between 7.00am and 10.00pm on Thursday 6th May

31 March 2010

The Development Control meeting of East Northants Council considered the planning application for phase 2 of the Paddocks development, and in doing so refused Planning Permission. The main reason being that such a development would contravene the emerging Rural North and Oundle and Thrapston Plan, and County and East Midlands plans which presently seek to direct developments to the perimeters of urban areas.

19 March 2010

At the March Parish Council Meeting Councillors discussed the potential for restarting the youth forum. This was, in the past, an opportunity for the youth of the village – 11-18 year olds to have their say on what concerned them and what they would like to see in the Woodford. Anyone who is interested in becoming part of the new forum should in the first instance email the Clerk – Mr P Bird – clerk@woodfordpc.co.uk giving their name.

Plans for a further property in Daventry Farm at the top of Pound Lane were discussed and there were no objections.

The state of the roads / potholes and blocked drains were discussed with County Councillor Langley.

Reported crime in February was four incidents – 2 criminal damage, 1 theft and one theft from a motor vehicle.

No news had been received regarding additional fifty houses off the Paddocks.

Mrs Sharon Robinson of Rose Paddock was co-opted onto the Council following the resignation of Mrs Liz Reid who has moved from Woodford.

Mention was made of recent flooding in and near The Paddocks following heavy rain. The chairman reminded Councillors that whilst the issue is outside the remit of the Parish Council, the Council and other local residents had pointed out this potential problem to the Planning Authority at the time planning permission was sought. Whilst a new land drain was incorporated into the design of the development it appears to have either been inadequate or become blocked.

16 February 2010

At the February meeting of the Parish Council the main topic of debate was the proposed extension to the Paddocks. Those present unanimously objected to the proposal as it would be on agricultural land outside the village development zone. Other topics of discussion included the fence around the children’s playground and the many potholes that are appearing around the village. Cllr Langley NCC said that in order for a pothole to be filled it needed to be approximately nine inches or more in diameter and be more than one and a half inches deep.

A total of eight crimes had been reported to the Police in January taking the total since last April to 42.

ENC had not received a request for an election to fill the space on the council vacated by Mrs Reid, so the council is now free to advertise the vacancy and fill by co-option. Anyone interested should inform the Clerk (Mr P Bird 01832 734329) by 12th March so that the matter can be addressed at the next meeting.

The dog warden is making visits to Woodford, however, in order to catch irresponsible dog owners he needs your help. If you are aware of a dog owner who does not clear up after their pet please inform the Clerk (clerk@woodfordpc.co.uk), with as many details as possible about the animal and the owner. The information will be passed to the dog warden for further investigation.

 26 January - Woodford CE Primary School

The school is celebrating 150 years this year with various event planned, one of which will be an exhibition. If any reader has any photographs or stories relating to their time at Woodford School, that they would like to share please contact the school on 01832 733221 or see further details on the school website www.woodford.northants.sch.uk. Any photographs or memorabilia will be copied and promptly returned.

24 January - The Paddocks Development Phase 2

Plans have now been submitted to East Northants Council for the extension of the Paddock Road site. The planning application can be found online at http://otportalsrv.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/pap/index.asp?caseref=09/01980/OUT (click on the document listed on left hand side).

Some documents are quite large – consequently could take a long time to down load  

Brief documents can be accessed on this site by following this link

January Parish Council Meeting

At the January Parish Council meeting councillors listened to a presentation from a group against the construction of 5 wind turbines on land between Ringstead and Raunds adjacent to the A45 roundabout. These windmills will be some of the tallest in the country and the height to the tip of the blade is about three times the height of Ringstead Church. It is not thought that Woodford would suffer from any ill effects such as television interference but the height of the wind turbines would stand out well above the horizon when looking across the Nene valley. The group hope to fly a tethered helium balloon over Ringstead demonstrating the height the tip of revolving blade will reach. http://www.stopturbinesatringstead.co.uk

In the interest of balance the company planning the construction is Volkswind - http://www.ringsteadgrangewindfarm.co.uk

The police reported a very quiet December but January has seen much more criminal activity. Commercial properties and vehicles have been broken into and also a number of garden sheds. Please remember to lock your outbuildings.

Dog Fouling is a growing problem especially on the Playing Fields and on the pavements in Mill Road. The dog warden has been alerted to these problems and will be patrolling these areas. Please remember that failing to clear up after your dog is a prosecutable offence unless it is on farmland.

The Council understands that William Davis Ltd is planning to extend “The Paddocks” and is to lodge a planning application to develop the field between the top of the existing development and the playing fields. No other information was available at the time of the meeting or when this article was written.

No feedback has been received regarding the recent consultation on the proposed Conservation Area.

The Parish Council received the resignation of Mrs Reid who is moving away from Woodford. Consequently a vacancy has been declared and official notices regarding the filling of the vacancy will appear on the website www.woodfordpc.co.uk and the notice-board in the High Street or details are available form the Clerk Mr P Bird on 01832 734329, clerk@woodfordpc.co.uk. The Council wishes to thank Mrs Reid for her enthusiasm, attendance and help over the past (almost) seven years.

The school is celebrating 150 years this year with various event planned, one of which will be an exhibition. If any reader has any photographs or stories relating to their time at Woodford School, that they would like to share please contact the school on 01832 733221 or see further details on the school website www.woodford.northants.sch.uk. Any photographs or memorabilia will be copied and promptly returned.

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