FRP Minutes
Committee Meeting on 12 November 2009 at 6.45pm at Broadwater
Present:
Derek Reed (DR), John Brock (JB), Jonathan Dean (JD),
Sivaraman Kumeravel (SK), Tom Rouncefield (TR).
Apologies: Alan Brownscombe (AB), Wendy Gladwyn (WG).
1. Minutes of the Meeting on 7 October 2009
The minutes were read and approved.
2. Matters Arising
Item 8 (Broadband)
This was discussed and it was acknowledged that the complaint about its slow speed was applicable to the county as a whole. The updating of the infrastructure would be a considerable expense. JB reported that Cornwall Council will be working with BT to introduce Super Broadband into the county next year.
Item 10 (AOB)
1) The seat at the end of The Point had been donated in 1984 and so was 25 years old. The painting of its horizontal timbers had improved its appearance but the two vertical concrete uprights into which the timbers were slotted were not rigidly fixed in the two slots provided for them in the concrete base and so the seat could rock sideways. JB said that the maintenance of the seat had not been a subject for discussion at the last Parish Council meeting but he would raise it at the next opportunity.
2) JB reported that the flooding of the road beyond Ferris Garage was well known to the Parish Council and that requests have been made to Cornwall Council for action by the Highways Department to remove this dangerous hazard. Councillor Jim Currie knows about this problem and requests from the Parish Council are ongoing.
3) The desirability of a St Mawes sign at Four Turnings has been discussed by the Parish Council. JB said that in association with the proprietors of the King Harry Ferry, the Council are intending to make a proposal to Cornwall Council Highways Authority about the provision of a sign.
3. Arrangements for the Antiques Road Show (19 November at 7pm)
DR reported that David Lay, the auctioneer, had requested a parking place near to the Church Hall and this will be made available. DR also needed to park near the Hall for the delivery of the wine and the glasses. General parking will be at the Church Hall car park and overspill can park in the Vicarage driveway. It was thought that no guides or signs would be necessary for this. During the past week, advertising has been established around the parish in the form of plasticised signs on telegraph poles (JD and JB) and flyers in letterboxes and public places (DR and WG). It was decided not to advertise on Radio Cornwall for security reasons.
Members of the Committee agreed to help in setting up and taking down the tables and chairs on the night of the event. DR volunteered to order the wine and the glasses and bring a tablecloth. JD agreed to collect the entry fee of £5 per person at the door. TR will help the public to find where to put their coats, their goods, and to collect their drinks. He will also look after the collection of any late subscriptions. A pound will be paid for each item valued at the assessment table.
AB sent apologies for missing the event due to a clashing engagement.
4. Membership Secretary’s Report
AC has a work commitment this evening but he has given the following information. We currently have 32 paid-up members; last year the final total was 41. The updated list will be delivered to the Secretary.
5. Treasurer’s Report
Cheques have been issued for the printing of AGM literature (£32.00) and the hire of the hall (£13.00). The bank balance is now £655.38. DR is to countersign the cheques which will be delivered to the Secretary.
6. Planning Applications
JB reported that there were no applications of importance as regards The Point this month. There had been one application for the lopping of a small tree.
Since the Parish Council started the pilot project to qualify for the Local Development Order which would enable it to make minor planning decisions, the handling of planning applications has changed. The applications are considered individually by the Parish Councillors each week as they arrive. Their decisions are then collated and sent back to the Central Planning Committee at Carrick within that week. An annual grant of £15,000 has been allocated to Feock PC to fund an additional assistant and extra hours for the Parish Clerk.
7. Sign at Marble Head
The Chairman said that he had spoken to James Lewis, a stonemason, who expressed interest in preparing the mounting stone for the ferry sign. A suitable stone that was easy to source was granite, probably from the quarry at Mabe. The Secretary showed the Committee some text for the sign with maximum letter-eight 4mm (16 point). It was suggested that the height should increase to 6mm (24 point). The Secretary said he would prepare a draft with this size lettering for the Committee to consider.
8. Website
The Chairman drew the attention of the Committee to the fact that the website over the past few years had attracted thousands of visits from a hundred or more countries. The use made of it by our local residents was thought to be much more modest. The Secretary was asked if he had monitored the website. TR replied that he had. JC had continued to add interesting news, articles and photographs. The present practice with regard to the running of the FRP website was that its content should be in accord with the methods of working as given in the Constitution of the FRP.
9. Parking at the end of The Point
JD reported that though he had not sent another letter to the Parish Council, his concern to banish illicit parking remained undiminished.
The Committee was in agreement with his concern and knew that the Parish Council agreed in principle with the control of illicit parking; but it also knew, via Councillor Jim Currie, that there was no money available in the current year for yellow lines and its priority rating in the list of highway developments was low.
10. AOB
1) The AGM
The Committee felt that the AGM had been successful. The invited speaker, Roger Clemens, had been both knowledgeable and very entertaining with his anecdotal account of Cornish hedge-building. He requested that his fee as guest speaker should be given to the charity of his choice, Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC).
A question from Wendy Letcher in the business section of the meeting gave the Secretary an opportunity to make clear that the heritage sign proposed for Marble Head was not to commemorate the site of a sawpit, the existence of which cannot be substantiated, but to commemorate the Restronguet Ferry which had operated between the beach at Marble Head and the foreshore at Restronguet Passage from mediaeval times to the 1950s.
2) Local Developments
It was noted that Trenhayle had now been demolished and that Mr Murtagh’s helicopter field, which had been up for sale for about two years, now had a “Sale Agreed” sign posted on its gate.
11.Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 6.45pm on Thursday 7 January 2010 at Predeaux House. The meeting ended at 8.15pm. Tom was thanked for his hospitality.
Tom Rouncefield
28 November 2009
Committee Meeting on 7 October 2009 at 6.45pm at Providence
Present: Derek Reed (DR), John Brock (JB), Jonathan Dean (JD),
Wendy Gladwyn (WG), Tom Rouncefield (TR).
Apologies: Alan Brownscombe (AB), Sivaraman Kumaravel (SK).
1. Minutes of the Meeting on 2 September 2009
The minutes were read and approved.
2. Matters Arising
It was agreed that matters arising from the previous minutes will be dealt with in the course of the present agenda.
3. Arrangements for the AGM
The Chairman confirmed that the speaker would not be using projection equipment.
It was agreed that the break for refreshments would follow the main business of the AGM and would last for about 20 minutes. WG, Christine B and Carolyn B would all help with the preparation of the refreshments (WG bringing the tea, coffee and biscuits and Christine the milk).
4. Membership Secretary’s Report
The Chairman recalled that the AGM was a useful opportunity for the collection of subscriptions. AB, the Membership Secretary, has communicated that he would be pursuing that opportunity on the night. The number of paid-up subscriptions in September has remained at twenty-three.
5. Planning Applications
JB reported that the Parish Office has received no applications from the Restronguet Point area this month.
6. Sign at Marble Head
The Committee discussed the materials for the heritage sign and how the sign would best be mounted. JD informed the Committee that Restronguet Point was located in an area where the dominant local stone was Mylor Slate. This was dark grey in colour and could be seen in his boundary hedge at Kelvin at the end of The Point.
The Committee thought that a large piece of this type of stone about three to four feet high would make a suitable mount and blend with the other stones nearby. The sign plate could be securely fixed to an inclined surface cut at the top of the stone. Such a mount should be robust and weatherproof. There was a variety of materials from which a durable sign plate could be made. The chosen size of the of the sign was A2. The other details, concerning the size of the two pictures and the number of characters used in the text, were requested from the Secretary in order to obtain estimates of cost. Some members of the Committee said they would make enquiries about the products of local signmakers and also about the availability of Mylor Slate or similar stone.
7. Antiques Road Show (19 November at 7pm)
WG showed the Committee a set of encapsulated A4 posters advertising the antiques road show which had been made by David G. These were thought to be very suitable for display around the parish prior to the event. The Committee asked WG to pass on their thanks to David for making these. WG and JB agreed to pin them up at appropriate sites about a week or so before the event. It was also agreed that fifty flyers should be printed by DG and permission sought to leave some at public places in the neighbourhood (pubs, post offices, shops).
The Chairman said he would obtain the drinks from Sainsbury’s who would supply the glasses free of charge. It was thought that an eight-bottle case of red wine, an eight-bottle case of white wine and a four-carton pack of fruit juice would suffice.
8. Broadband
There was general agreement that broadband was very slow in our neighbourhood, being commonly less than 1 megabits/sec. It was also recognised that in our rural location the updating of the infrastructure for transmission had not kept pace with that of city centres. There must be many people throughout the parish who are frustrated by the poor performance of our local provision of broadband.
The Committee suggested that we request the Parish Council to inform a higher authority of this concern and that we are willing to raise in our area, to add to that of other groups in the parish who must have the same problem, support for a petition to improve the inadequate provision of an important facility. JB agreed to convey this message to the Parish Council.
9. Parking at the end of The Point
JD reported that vehicles were continuing to cause obstruction by illicit parking. He claimed that this was due to the lack of provision of yellow lines. JB reminded the Committee that the Highways Department of Cornwall Council had no funding at present for this work.
10. AOB
The following topics arose:
1) The maintenance of the seat at the end of The Point.
2) The flooding which appears after heavy rainfall in the road beyond Ferris Garage.
3) The possibility of a St Mawes sign at Four Turnings.
Topic 1 appears to fall within the remit of the Parish Council and Topics 2 and 3 appear to fall within the remit of Cornwall Highways Department. If members wish to pursue any of these topics further, please report their findings to the Committee.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 6.45pm on Thursday 12 November at Broadwater. The present meeting ended at 8.10pm. Wendy and David were thanked for their hospitality.
Tom Rouncefield
28 October 2009
Committee Meeting on 2 September 2009 at 6.45pm at Predeaux House
Present: Derek Reed (DR), Alan Brownscombe (AB), Jonathan Dean (JD),
John Brock (JB), Wendy Gladwyn (WG), Tom Rouncefield (TR).
Apologies: Sivaraman Kumaraval (SK).
The Chairman reported that he had received a letter from Charles Hancock who was resigning for personal reasons. He will be writing to thank him for his service to the Committee.
1. Minutes of the Meeting on 5 August 2009
The minutes were read and after discussion it was decided to reduce the amount of detail reported in minute 4, 5 and 12. They were then approved.
2. Matters Arising
The Chairman reported that he had written a letter of thanks to John Crowther for the valuable service he had given to the Committee. JD reported that he had not yet drafted the letter to the Parish Council about yellow lines.
3. Barbecue Report
Thirty-five residents and friends had attended the barbecue and everyone had commented on how enjoyable the occasion had been. The Chairman expressed the Committee’s thanks to WG for providing such a pleasant environment and for organising the excellent food. It had been a successful social event.
4. Membership Secretary’s Report
AB reported that the number of paid-up members was twenty-three.
The subject of membership cards was raised, with the suggestion that in the next print run for the cards a space should be left for the year of membership to be written in. This would enable surplus cards to be used in succeeding years. The Committee agreed and AB said he would contact John Crowther who had volunteered to print last year’s supply.
5. Planning Applications
JB reported that there were no planning applications for the Restronguet Point area this month but that he had news of a development which would interest the Committee.
Feock Parish Council had been successful in applying, via Cornwall Council, to engage in a pilot project which would eventually qualify the Parish Council to make minor planning decisions.The process is described as evolving a Local Development Order (LDO) which initially will be restricted to minor planning applications from the Carnon Downs area of the Parish. Such applications will include infill development, extensions, garages, conversions and outbuildings. There are only five such pilot projects by the National Planning Advisory Service and so it is a noteworthy distinction that Feock PC has been awarded one of them. The Committee were impressed by this achievement and asked JB to pass on their congratulations to Alan Truan and the Parish Council.
6. Treasurer’s Report
AB reported that thirty-five people had attended the barbeque which, after the payment of £20.00 for the musician’s expenses, made a profit of £83.31. A cheque for £43.30 had been issued for the payment of the Newsletter printing and nine more subscriptions had been received. The balance in the bank was now £690.38.
7. History of Marble Head
The Secretary informed the Committee that JD had been mistaken when he reported that the bell found in the attic of Marble Head Cottage in July was the Restronguet Ferry bell. This bell had disappeared over fifty years ago from the end of The Point.
John Crowther has recently visited Mrs Tabb at Marble Head Cottage to obtain a photograph of the bell. It is a small hand bell and not a large ship’s bell such as was used to summon the ferry. John received confirmation of this when he showed the photograph to Terry Blackburn, who in his youth had operated the ferry with his brothers.
8. Sign at Marble Head
The Secretary confirmed with the Chairman that when the preliminary layout of the text
and illustrations for the sign was complete, it would be shown to the Committee.
9. AGM Arrangements
A question was raised as to whether the speaker at the AGM will be needing projection equipment. The Chairman said he would check with Mr Clemens if there was such a need.
With regard to the AGM literature, the Secretary and Chairman agreed to meet on Friday 4 September at 2pm at Broadwater to review the final details before taking the material to the printers. This year there would be 80 sets.The printing and distribution would be organised by the Secretary.
10.Antiques Road Show (19 November at 7pm)
It was decided that the Chairman would produce an advertisement for display in the St Feock Newsletter. The Secretary would proof-read it and send it to Frances Buckingham before the deadline on 4 September. Further advertising using posters and flyers will be needed - the posters to put on local telegraph poles about a fortnight before the event and flyers to put through letter-boxes. WG said she could arrange to have the posters laminated to make them more durable.
In a revision of previous ideas it was decided not to provide hot drinks at the end of the evening in addition to the offer a glass of wine or non-alcoholic drink when the guests arrived at the hall. WG said she could arrange to obtain a sufficient number of glasses from Sainsbury’s hire department. It was also decided not to issue tickets on receipt of the £5 entry fee. JB said that parking for the speaker would be available in the lower car park, the area outside the hall entrance. The Chairman thanked WG for her welcome offers of help regarding the lamination of posters and the hiring of glasses.
11. Letter from John Crowther
The Chairman read out a letter that he had recently received from John Crowther.
John suggested that the Constitution of the Friends should be revised to eliminate any involvement with the consideration of planning applications because they were divisive. The Friends should concentrate on social activities which they have shown they are capable of doing well. Such activities help to integrate our community.
The Committee discussed the content of the letter and agreed that social activities were important but felt that keeping a watch on planning development on The Point was important too. It need not be divisive if it is done sensitively. The Committee wished to retain that role. The Chairman said that he would write to John.
12.AOB
JD reported that he had contacted the Parish Council about trimming a leaning Acer tree on the common land just outside his boundary. JB said he was sure that this would be attended to in due course.
13. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 6.45pm on Wednesday 7 October at Providence. The meeting ended at 8.35pm. Rosemary and Derek were thanked for their hospitality.
Tom Rouncefield
20 September 2009
Committee Meeting on 5 August 2009 at 6.45pm at Predeaux House
Present: Derek Reed (DR), Alan Brownscombe (AB), Charles Hancock (CH),
Jonathan Dean (JD), Tom Rouncefield (TR).
Apologies: Sivaraman Kumaravel (SK), Wendy Gladwyn (WG), John Brock (JB).
1. Minutes of the Meeting on 24 June 2009
The minutes were read and adopted.
2. Matters Arising
(a) The Chairman said that he would be writing a letter of thanks to John Crowther for the valuable service he had given to the Committee. John will be regularly updated with our activities because the Secretary sends him our minutes to put on the website every six weeks. It was agreed that we should also invite him to the Committee meetings from time to time when we are dealing with matters which would benefit from his advice.
(b) With regard to Item 11 (FRP Newsletter) in the previous minutes,The Committee thanked the Chairman for the work he had done last month in producing and distributing our FRP Newsletter. It went to seventy households on The Point and carried a report of our activities to date and advance notice of our forthcoming events: the Summer Barbecue in August, the AGM in October and the Antiques Roadshow in November. The revised date of the AGM is 8 October.
3. Barbecue Final Arrangements
The barbecue on Sunday 16 August is now only ten days away. Though WG was not present to report, there was confidence that the barbecue preparation was in competent hands. The following details were discussed:
(a) The acknowledgement of money received.
(b) The notification of postponement should the weather forecast be bad.
(c) The return of money in the event of cancellation.
AB said he would ask Caroline if she would send out receipts for the money and repeated his offer to help with the cooking. JD said that he and Sally-Anne were helping with the preparation and cooking and was confident that the present volunteers could organise the postponement notice should the need arise. DR, who was organising the live music, offered to assist Caroline.
4. Membership Secretary’s Report
AB reported that as a response to the Newsletter, he had received 14 membership subscriptions. .
5. Planning Applications
The Secretary reported that JB had informed him of four planning applications in our area during the last six weeks.
(1) TP07/0894/09/F Mrs J Kemp of Porthgwidden (for Porthgwidden Management).
For the removal and pruning of trees.
(2) PA07/0902/09/R Mr A Murtagh of Porthgwidden Field (Second application).
For the demolition and rebuild of the dwelling.
(3) PA07/0903/09/R Mr A Chilcott of The Anchorage.
For the demolition and rebuild of the dwelling.
(4) PA07/0773/09/R Mr C Hancock of Seaways.
For the construction of a garage and studio.
The Committee considered the applications and decided that none of them warranted action by the Committee in accordance with its policy on planning matters.
6. Treasurer’s Report
AB reported that the total funds in the bank was £605.37. So far, fourteen people had paid their subscriptions for the present year.The Committee unanimously agreed that DR should be paid for the printing of the seventy copies of the four-page Newsletter. A cheque for the £43.30 bill from Staples was approved.
7. History of Marble Head
JD informed us that the Restronguet Ferry bell has been found in the attic of his mother-in-law’s house, Marble Head Cottage. It had gone missing over fifty years ago when the cottage was occupied by a Mrs Hichens who had lived there since 1905.
Mrs Tabb, the present occupier, said that she was given the bell by Mrs Joan Foster of Trevean who knows more about the story of the bell. The Secretary thanked JD for this information and said he would be grateful on some future occasion to receive permission from Mrs Tabb to come to photograph the bell.
8. Sign at Marble Head
The Secretary reported that work on preparing material for the sign was continuing. The photograph of the horseboat could be expected to be out of copyright as it was over 70 years old but there might be a modest charge for a copy if the original can be traced.
9. AGM Arrangements
The AGM is on 8 October and notices about it will be sent out one month before that date. The Chairman and the Secretary will meet after the next Committee meeting to organise the preparation and distribution of the literature.
10. Antiques Roadshow
The Chairman informed the Committee that Mr David Lay is happy with the arrangements.
11. Broadband Reception
Tha Chairman informed the Committee about a letter received from Mr Coleman who lives at Tregarthan near the fields by Porthgwidden. He asks if our organisation would support his proposal to the Parish Council that they should take up the issue of improving the slow broadband speed on behalf of the residents. The Committee were in agreement with this proposal and the Chairman said that he would send a reply to Mr Coleman expressing our support.
12. AOB
JD wanted to know why Loe Beach has now been provided with yellow lines and yet nothing has been done to install yellow lines at the end of The Point.
TR recalled that JB had said that the Parish Plan had given it low priority. JD said he was prepared to write a letter on behalf of the Committee to the Parish Council about it. The Committee agreed that he could do so but wished to see the letter before it was sent.
13. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 6.45pm on Wednesday 2 September at Seaways. The meeting ended at 8.12pm. Derek and Rosemary were thanked for their hospitality.
Tom Rouncefield
13 August 2009
Committee Meeting on 24 June 2009 at 6.45pm at Broadwater
Present: Derek Reed (DR), John Brock (JB), Charles Hancock (CH),
Tom Rouncefield (TR).
Apologies: Alan Brownscombe (AB), Sivaraman “Kumar” Kumaravel (SK),
Jonathan Dean (JD), Wendy Gladwyn (WG).
John Crowther
The Chairman announced that he had received the resignation of John Crowther.
John, a founder member of the Friends, has served on the Committee for over seven years. It was through his initiative that the Committee supported the Village Design Statement (VDS) in 2005. Such a document is nationally recognised as a useful tool in the provision of good design for new development in rural areas. It was his energy and commitment that brought about the production of the Restronguet Point VDS (now known as the Design Statement) which set a benchmark for other communities wishing to maintain and to improve their local environment. John also set up the FRP website, which carries a continuously monitored version of the Design Statement and maintains ongoing news about the Friends’ activities.
John, now in his eighties, is retiring from membership of the Committee but is willing to continue to fund and administer the website and, as in the past, is always available to comment on any matters of design, architectural or otherwise.
The Committee readily agreed to accept John’s generous offer regarding the website and was grateful also to take up his offer of ongoing advice on all matters of design.
His departure leaves a sense of loss. The members of the Committee expressed their gratitude for all the work he had done.
1. Minutes of Meeting on 20 May 2009.
The minutes were read and adopted.
2. Matters Arising
(a) With regard to Item 13 (AOB) in the previous minutes, JB reported that Dr Flanagan had met several members of the Parish Council and had expressed interest in being involved in the future production of the Feock Village Design Statement.
(b) With regard to Item 2 (Matters Arising), the Chairman informed the Committee that Mr Clemens, the proposed speaker for the AGM on 17 September, was not free to come on that date but could come three weeks later. The Chairman has therefore moved the date of the AGM to Thursday 8 October, having confirmed with JB that the Church Hall was available at this later date. JB has since rebooked the Hall.
3. Undergrounding of Cables
The Chairman said that with regard to Western Power, he would consult with JC and review the correspondence before taking any further action to press for a reply.
4. Membership Secretary’s Report
In anticipation of his absence from the Committee meeting, AB sent the Secretary the following message: With regard to the annual subscription, due 1 July, he is satisfied to leave it at £5 per household. The membership remains at 42 households.
5. Planning Applications
There has been one application from Peter Howell to build on an extension to Restronguet House, the new bungalow at Harcourt Farm. It is to accommodate his elderly father. The drawings show the extension to be largely hidden behind the main house and not making any adverse impact on the immediate environment. JB reported that the Parish Council had recently recommended acceptance of the application.
6. Treasurer’s Report
The message from the Treasurer, via the Secretary, was that there had been no change in the bank balance which remains at £535.37.
7. History of Marble Head
The Secretary reported that because of matters of higher priority he may not produce an article on The Restronguet Ferry by the deadline date for the St Feock Newsletter.
If this comes about, he will produce the article at a later date.
8. Sign at Marble Head
After discussion with CH, it was decided that the pictures of the horse ferry and bell should be enlarged to occupy appropriately the width of the sign in the landscape orientation. The text would then be located in two panels below the pictures.
Permission for use of the picture of the bell had already been given. TR is now seeking permission for use of the other picture.
9. Barbecue Event
DK reported that he intends to organise, at his own cost, some live music at the barbecue on the 16 August and that he will be asking WG where she thinks the music site should be at Providence. The Committee was sure that this would enhance an already enjoyable occasion and warmly welcomed this generous addition by our Chairman.
10. Antiques Roadshow
The Subcommittee (DR,JB and TR) met on 11 June at 8pm at Predeaux House. The following were confirmed:
1) Our expert, Mr David Lay, FRICS, Chartered Antiques and Fine Art Auctioneer, has been booked for Thursday 19 November 2009.
2)The location for the event has been booked at Feock Church Hall to start at 7pm.
The proposed charge will be £5 per person paid at the door plus £1 per item examined, paid at Mr Lay’s table. The charge will include a glass of wine or non-alcoholic drink before the proceedings and a cup of hot beverage afterwards.
It is proposed that the audience sits facing the long side of the hall, grouped around tables (max. 8 people per table) with the Mr Lay and the Chairman at their own table at the front. Mr Lay is expected to walk around the exhibits on the tables to select items he favours for his initial scrutiny. Anything of sufficient interest may be brought for valuation. All residents of Feock will be invited to the event by advertising in the FRP Newsletter, in the St Feock Newsletter and by the distribution of flyers prior to the occasion. The duration of the evening is expected to be about two hours with valuation activity occupying about one and a half hours of that time. Two members of the Committee will be needed at the door to control entry, the collection of ticket money and the issue of simple tickets.
Mr Lay is giving his time to this occasion free of charge and wishes to donate the profit from the evening to the charity of his choice, the Parkinson’s Disease Society. It is expected that members of the Committee and their spouses will help with the running of the evening. The Hall is to be made ready, the drinks prepared and distributed and afterwards cleared up. There also needs to be somebody to ensure that the visiting expert has a space in the car park to park his car. In addition, the flyer and the Newsletter articles need preparation and forwarding. For the St Feock Newsletter the deadline is 9 September for the Oct/Nov issue.
11. FRP Newsletter
The Chairman informed the Committee that he wanted to circulate the Newsletter a full month before the date of the barbecue to give residents time to reserve that date in their diaries. He was including a booking form for the barbecue in the newsletter and also a reminder that the annual membership subscription of £5.00 was due from 1 July 2009.
12 . AOB
The Chairman informed the Committee that John Harding, a former resident, is seeking photographs to illustrate a book he has written about Feock.
13. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 6.45pm on Wednesday 5 August at Predeaux House. The meeting ended at 7.20pm. Derek and Rosemary were thanked for their hospitality.
Tom Rouncefield
20 July 2009
Committee Meeting on 16 April 2009 at 6.45pm at
Bellevue
Present: Derek Reed (DR), John Crowther (JC), Alan Brownscombe (AB), John
Brock (JB), Jonathan Dean (JD), Sivaraman “Kumar” Kumaravel (SK),
Wendy Gladwyn (WG), Charles Hancock (CH), Tom Rouncefield (TR).
Apologies: None. There were no absentees.
1. Minutes of Meeting on 5 March 2009
The minutes were read and adopted.
2. Matters Arising
Matters arising from items in the previous minutes will be dealt with as these same items arise in the present agenda.
3. Undergrounding of Cables
The Chairman acknowledged the valuable work JC had done in developing a good relationship with Western Power through his on-going correspondence. He felt that in order to expedite the undergrounding project we should next clarify what Western Power would be willing to do in our area and under what conditions.
The Committee anticipated that if our area was given sufficient priority amongst the competing AONBs, Western Power with British Telecom would probably fund the removal of all the poles and would place the main supply cables underground in the road verges or under the road itself. It was thought that the cost of making underground connections to the main supply from individual properties would be charged to the owners of the properties themselves. There was an awareness that some residents would not want their gardens or driveways disturbed and others who would not be willing to pay to have their connections undergrounded. The Chairman observed that a survey would be needed to determine the attitude of all residents to discover the degree of support for the scheme. JC said he would write to Western Power to obtain an update of costs and conditions.
4. Membership Secretary’s Report
AB reported that the membership total remained unchanged at 42 households. The Chairman commended a proactive approach towards those residents who were not yet members. The larger the membership we represent, the greater the impact we will have in making representations to the authorities.
5. Planning Applications
JB reported that:
(1) The application for the replacement dwelling at Porthgwidden Field had been refused by the Carrick Planning Committee. It was expected that the modern design with extensive glazing would be modified and resubmitted.
(2) There had been an application for a slight modification to the planning permission for Bosanneth to include additional roof lights and small completions.
(3) There had been an application for a slight modification to the planning permission for Trenhayle to include the use of internal voids for storage purposes.
6. Treasurer’s Report
AB reported that there had been no change in the bank balance which remains at £535.37.
7. History of Marble Head
The Chairman wondered how soon the Secretary could write an article about the Restronguet Ferry for the Feock Newsletter. TR said he would not be able to write it in time for the next deadline at the beginning of May but could submit it for the following one. JD offered to talk when the opportunity arose, to Mrs Tabb of Marble Head Cottage about the historical photograph he believes he has seen there and also about the location of the missing ferry bell.
8. Sign at Marble Head
The Chairman asked the Secretary if he would prepare a sheet for the Committee to show what he envisaged as a heritage sign about the Restronguet Ferry. The Secretary said he would make a draft.
9. Barbecue Event
The Committee discussed the proposed barbecue. It had already been agreed that it should be held in mid-August on a Sunday at lunchtime. The dates of 16 August and 23 August were proposed. The Chairman suggested that a small subcommittee should be formed to plan the event. WG with JD and CH agreed to form this subcommittee.
10. Antiques Roadshow
JC reported that he had contacted the antiques expert David Laye who would be pleased to give his services to the Friends for about one and a half hours on an evening in November. He would like any profit made at the event to be donated to a charity for Parkinson’s Disease. The Committee was pleased with this outcome and thanked JC for the work he had done to achieve it. The dates of Thursday 12 November and Thursday 19 November were proposed. The Chairman suggested that a small subcommittee should be formed to plan the event. DR with WG, JB and JC agreed to form this subcommittee.
11. FRP Newsletter
The Chairman reminded the Committee that at some point in the future he would be composing a newsletter for the membership. Any input from the Committee on topics for inclusion would be welcome.
12. Speeding
In February, DR’s survey results had the desired effect in persuading County Councillor Jim Currie to put forward a request at County level for the implementation of traffic calming on The Point. He has informed us, however, that this year there is no funding available.
13. AOB
(a) With reference to the Friends’ website, JC informed the Committee that it had recently received favourable reference in an article on sustainable communities in the nationally-distributed prestigious Design and Industry Association journal received by manufacturers and designers countrywide.
(b) JD raised the topic of yellow lines. If yellow lines are now established on the approach road to Loe Beach, why are they not being implemented at the end of The Point? JB said that it was Jim Currie’s initiative to do this because of severe parking problems at Loe Beach. DR said that the Roads and Transport Group in the Feock Parish Plan favoured putting yellow lines at the end of The Point but that there was no money to do it.
(c) The Secretary suggested that we book the Church Hall for the September AGM before other organisations fill up the available evenings. The Committee agreed that Thursday 10 September or Thursday 17 September would be suitable. JB said he would contact the Booking Secretary without delay.
14. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at 6.45pm on Wednesday 20 May 2009 at Seaways.
The meeting ended at 8.20pm. John and Gunni were thanked for their hospitality.
Tom Rouncefield
30 April 2009
