MINUTES OF A
SPECIAL MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 2ND
NOVEMBER 2004 AT 8 30 PM IN THE URC, BRAMBLE HILL, BALCOMBE.
Present: Mr Graham Gosney, Mr Robin Williamson, Mr
George Wiginton, Mr Gary Marsh, Roland Burke, Neil Infield, Mesdames Katherine
Gunning & Alison Stevenson.
1361 Public Participation
None
1362 Apologies for absence
Mrs Sheila Illsley (holiday), Messrs. Simon Greenwood & David Miners (both overseas)
1363 To resolve what further action on Traffic Calming now needs to
be taken by Balcombe Parish Council
The Chairman referred to Minute 1351 of the last
regular meeting, which inter alia included the following:
“Concern was expressed for residents who felt that they
had been “left out”, as a result of the present decision. Letters received on this subject had been
circulated to all Councillors. It was
unanimously agreed that the Parish Council is resolved to actively &
urgently re-plan a suitable substitute for the remaining sections of the
village not currently featuring in the plan.
With this in mind a Special Meeting would be convened shortly.”
Background information on earlier schemes, including
recommendations from TRL, had been circulated prior to the meeting. With this in mind the Chairman suggested
that this meeting concentrated on the following main points:
1.
To consider the past history
2.
Community Speed Watch & forthcoming address on November 16th
by Ian Jeffrey of Sussex Police
3.
Determining the sections of the Haywards Heath & London Roads need
to be tackled & to agree the priorities amongst ourselves
Part of this work was to be delegated to the present
Highways Working Group (HWG) for their report, which ideally should be in place
by December. However new guidance was
required from those Councillors who cited “poor value for money” in respect of
certain features contained in the latest scheme.
Detailed discussions then took place & included
suggestions such as introduction of interactive signage; count down speed
restrictions in particular, with concentration deemed essential commencing in
the vicinity of the Balcombe Bakery & Kemps Farm. Consequently it was decided that rather than making a detailed
request to WSCC for precise features we should outline our overall requirements
& after initial consultation request their accredited contract engineers,
Owen Williams, to come up with a “value for money” low cost scheme
incorporating these locations.
With this in mind Mrs Stevenson, seconded by Mr
Burke, proposed that the following brief be accepted and form the basis for our
negotiations with WSCC & their consultants:
We
propose approaching WSCC for advice on pursing the following with a view to developing a strategy for reducing vehicle speed on
the 3 major approaches to the village by:
1)
Effecting a stepped speed reduction on all stretches leading to the village by
use of count down speed signs, rumble strips and red road markings. Areas
identified for this are,
- north
of the village at the Old Balcombe Bakery
- south
side of village entry on Haywards Heath Road
- south
side of village entry on London Road, around Kemps Farm.
2)
Developing the TRL design for 2 locations at the south of the village, on both
Haywards Heath and London Roads.
Initial
thoughts based on previous experience would be to pursue short, affordable
sections of traffic calming at these two locations. The TRL report shows
priority give ways, which may be developed as the solution, however the
consultant should be allowed freedom to develop a suitable scheme. Any solution
must, however, not increase the likelihood of rat running along Oldlands
Avenue.
After
guidance from WSCC we would then ask the consultants Owen Williams, or others
suggested by WSCC, to provide us with costs for the design work.
Put
to the vote this was accepted unanimously
1364 Exchange of Information
Mrs Gunning – Langley Vehicle Hire. Lack of litterbins in certain locations.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.07 hours.
Signed…………………………………………..
Date……………………………………………..
RG/HS