April’s Council Meeting
Alston Moor Parish Council meeting, Monday 7 April, Garrigill Village Hall
Public participation
Laura Seaton reported on the loss of funding for the Miners’ Arms project, in common with many other projects, due to the sudden ending of the Community Fund. She requested that the parish council object to the planning application for change of use to residential. This was agreed.
Following this, an application to register the Miners’ Arms as an Asset of Community Value (see https://mycommunity.org.uk/what-are-assets-of-community-value-acv ) was raised by the Chair and discussed. This was also agreed.
Westmorland and Furness Council
Councillor Mary Robinson reported that the new jet patcher, for pothole repairs, is coming first to Alston Moor. We noted that there had been almost no response to our letter following last year’s W&F cabinet meeting in Alston. Cllr Robinson suggested that we write again prior to the forthcoming cabinet meeting in Alston, and include our concerns about the lack of notice of road closures. It had been noted that there is a lack of care places for those with learning disabilities, including autism, within W&F.
Nenthead Ward Meeting
Ten people were present at the ward meeting, and Cllr Alastair Robertson became vice-chair. He expressed concern that the two (of the possible four – there are unfilled vacancies) councillors representing Nenthead do not live in Nenthead. There is plenty going on in the village. The next meeting is on 19 May.
Alston Fitness Centre
There are various plans to create more room, to enable classes, a sauna and plunge pool. The gym is asking to upgrade various things and replace the back door with windows and upgrade all doors. It was decided to arrange a separate meeting of councillors to discuss all the details concerning the gym.
North West Ambulance Service
NWAS had advertised the recruitment of new Emergency Medical Technicians very poorly, with only three applications, which Cllr Dee Monk has been told were all living outside Alston Moor. Cllr Martin said she knew of one applicant who does live locally. Cllr Monk will contact NWAS again to get a new closing date and more advertising.
Traffic Management
Cllr Martin, who has been trying for the last three years to get this problem addressed, had taken photos as requested of the corner of the Butts where parking outside Rannoch House blocks access by emergency services, to whom she had spoken about the issue – all agreed it was crucial to deal with this.
Matters arising from minutes
- No other suggestions having been made, the benches for Tyne Willows are to go by the monitoring station. Benches are being progressed in Garrigill and Nenthead. The Alston ones are yet to be decided and Cllr Hanley and Cllr Robinson said they would look and report back, based on the previous list.
- As requested, Cllr Martin had investigated changing the parish council’s domain name to a .gov.uk address. This would affect the email addresses and website address. She has discovered that it has to be done through government-approved companies and, with the Clerk. has settled on one that covers what we need and is good value for money.
- The issue of the Gauging Station agreement is ongoing, as no response has been received.
- The Sexual Harassment policy needs to be discussed and updated.
- Westmorland and Furness are keen to take on the street lighting, and make sure they use the best lights, replacing old with new as appropriate to each place. Unanimously agreed we should go with this.
- We have received one tender for the resurfacing at Tyne Willows.
Planning applications
The Bruntley Meadows application was refused, owing to problems concerning drainage and more.
Over Lee House at Garrigill and the listed building consent for High Mill were both agreed.
Nenthead Fountain
Cllr Robertson reported that listed building designation allows cosmetic work to be done and it was agreed that this should go ahead. AMPC has money set aside to pay for relevant materials.
Tyne Willows to Cumberland Inn permissive path
Still awaiting a response regarding the post needed. W&F Cllr Robinson enquired who was failing to respond, and suggested copying her and Cllr Hanley in to future communications so they can follow these up.