DURING the time for public speaking at the April meeting of St Mary Bourne Parish Council the following points were made by some of the members of the public present:

Bank Top, Spring Hill Lane, planning application 17/00965/FUL: A resident read a letter previously sent to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council outlining local residents’ concerns about traffic, noise and safety issues concerning the application for eight dwellings on this site. A separate concern was raised about the possible felling of trees adjacent to the site which might be detrimental to wildlife

Bells Meadow development: A resident (on behalf of others) was concerned about the inclusion of street lamps and lighting attached to porches / patios and tall aerials on the site contrary to rural ‘dark skies’ policy. Another resident asked about replanting and landscaping features for the site, previously agreed in the planning approval.

The Ford, Spring Hill Lane: A resident (on behalf of others) raised concerns about the condition / repair and maintenance of The Ford to avoid further damage from vehicles parking and turning. The clerk would contact the Lengthsman about this.

Borough Cllr Graham Falconer’s report: He confirmed that there had been no planning approval for street lighting on the Bells Meadow site and, following numerous complaints, an enforcement case had been opened. He further observed that the Bank Top site application had been unanimously objected to by St Mary Bourne Parish Council on grounds of traffic access, possible site contamination and ‘dark skies’ effect.

Flood and Emergency Group — update: Clem Jones reported on water levels as at 1 April.

Broadband — update: A survey had been arranged through Hill & Valley and Survey Monkey and an open meeting arranged for 25 April.

Recreation ground and lake: Permissions were given for the Bowling Club to access Bell’s Field (for parking) via the recreation ground for the summer season; for a Vitacress football match and for Whitchurch U11s to play football on Saturdays during the 2017/18 season.

Footpaths: Deadline for statements to Planning Inspectorate re making Rope Yarn Lane a Restricted Byway — 6 June.

Following the Annual Parish Council meeting held in May, when formal election of councillors and council representatives for 2017-18 took place, the May full council meeting took place and the following topics were discussed:

Bell’s Meadow — update: All eight of the rental homes as well as the three shared ownership homes had now been applied for by households with a local connection to St Mary Bourne Parish.

Land behind the bowling club: The clerk would ask the council’s grounds maintenance contractor to clear weeds and vegetation from land behind the bowling club.

Flood and Emergency Group: A flood barrier deployment exercise had been held on the recreation ground on 26 April organised by the Environment Agency (EA).

Work on the river bed north of Stoke may be delayed due to the possible presence of a rare species of mayfly. The council are awaiting advice from the EA. Monies (£4,300) for flood protection is being held by the parish council and a further grant from Vitacress was due.

The chairman, Cllr David Peart, will investigate further grant opportunities from the North West Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

River flow and groundwater / borehole statistics were provided from Sarah Cooney (Stoke) and Clem Jones (St Mary Bourne).

Date of next Parish Council meeting: 13 June.