Somerset Libraries Review and Consultation – update
PRINTED VERSIONS OF THE PROPOSALS AND QUESTIONNAIRES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE PARISH OFFICE AND POST OFFICE.
Somerset County Council (SCC) are looking at how to deliver library services across the county in the face of an increasingly difficult financial situation. A public consultation period started on 29 January and runs until 22 April. Details are on the notice board, from the Library and the Parish Office and at https://netherstowey-pc.gov.uk/somerset-libraries-review-and-consultation/.
There are two possible options for Nether Stowey Library.:
1) a partnership with the local community to maintain the library building with SCC funding contribution
2) a mobile library service
Representatives of the Parish Council and FONSL first met with Library Services on 24 October. Details were reported at the November Parish Council meeting and again at the December meeting after further details were provided.
Nether Stowey Library has a catchment covering the area from Kilve to Stogursey, Fiddington, Spaxton and Over Stowey, an estimated population of 4,700. The number of users for the whole of this area is estimated at 366, of which two-thirds are Nether Stowey residents, and one-third from elsewhere. These figures were provided by SCC Library Services and can be seen in more detail in the consultation document.
You may have been told that the Parish Council is “doing nothing to save the Library”. This is far from the truth.
It is an attractive proposition to take on the library building as a community asset. But it is a potentially expensive responsibility and not one the Parish Council can take on lightly without consultation with the community who have to pay for it. The basic annual running costs are approximately £13-15,000. This would require an increase to your Council Tax of about £22 per year for every household – Library users or not. We are aware of some issues with the existing building which will probably require funding to bring it up to a reasonable standard. Without a building survey of the building we do not know everything about its condition – we could end up with a hefty bill for unforeseen repairs and we would need to start building up an additional contingency fund.
So we have suggested possible “joint ventures” and had preliminary discussions with some organisations who might be interested. Further meetings are planned later this month. We discussed these ideas with the County Council representative on 29 January. It was agreed that at this stage discussions can only be in very broad outline and nothing can be progressed far until the consultation results have been fully analysed and the County Council have made a decision.
If this path is possible it will mean compromise as to how much of the library’s space can be given up to create viable accommodation for another “occupant”, and there may be work required to achieve this.
We also have to be sure that we can manage sustainable Library Services. This mean an adequate and committed volunteer team for the long term and possibly “buying in” professional librarian services to support the volunteer team – more costs.
These are big decisions and not ones we can take with knowing the community’s views. It would be irresponsible to make commitments without knowing the full extent of that commitment. And none of this can go forward until we know the County Council’s decision.
Important Dates:
Consultation period runs until 22 April
The main consultation documents and questionnaire for this area is available from the Parish Office and the library or online at http://somersetlibraries.co.uk/consultation/. There you will find links to the proposals, more detailed information and the online questionnaire.
14 February from 2pm – Consultation Drop-in event at Nether Stowey Library
Meet representatives of Library Services and join in a group discussion.
12 March – Nether Stowey Parish Council meeting
Mr Oliver Woodhams from the County Council will be joining the Parish Council meeting on Monday 12 March when he will talk about the proposals and hopefully provide some thoughts on the local consultation.
9 April – Nether Stowey Parish Council meeting
The Parish Council will agree the their formal response to the consultation.
Lime Street Pedestrian Safety Works
Phase 2 works will resume on 12 February for a period of 3- 4 weeks, assuming all goes to plan. Arrangements are as follows:
The road closure will be managed as it was in October. A traffic manager will be on site during the works and will allow access to residents and businesses whilst the works are in progress and when it is safe to do so. This may mean waiting, for example, while machinery is operating by the road. This for your own safety and that of those working on the site.
There may be times when the nature of the work requires that the road – or part of it – is completely closed, but you will generally be able to park in the evening. Please take heed of any areas with temporary restrictions
(eg coned or fenced off).
There will be no further trees removed from the bank on the south.
Further work on trimming the trees around the power cable pole. This is under discussion between Somerset County Council (SCC) and Western Power.
There will be some trimming of the trees on the north side of Lime Street on Highways land where this is necessary for the scheme (detail to be decided on site).
The footpath between Lime Street and Coleridge Road will also be closed
Please see also:
Latest version of the plan
Road Closure notice
Footpath Closure Notice
Road Closure / Diversion map
Note all open in new windows/tabs
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY REPORT
In accordance with Regulation 62A of the CIL Regulations, the report on CIL reports for the 2016/17 financial year is available here CIL Return to 31 Mar 2017
Notes from Nether Stowey Parish Council
We have decided that people who don’t read the Quantock Messenger may be interested in reading the article we contribute.Notes from Nether Stowey Parish Council
Leaves are falling and it is bright and frosty as I write this. It’s time to get ready for winter. Please keep an eye on drains near your house – yes, you might say it’s not your job, but if you can take five minutes to do it, it may stop the drain being blocked and help prevent you or your neighbours being flooded. And if you have trees in your garden you’re contributing to the problem, so please contribute to the solution. You can report blocked drains to Highways on 0300 123 2224 or 01278 686622.
If your property borders the brook you have a riparian responsibility in law to keep your stretch of the brook clear of weeds, debris and anything else that might impede the water flow. Your responsibility is usually halfway across but if there is a road the other side you are responsible across the whole brook.
There is apparently some confusion about the May Fair, possibly because it was added to the QM’s events list unnoticed. So to be clear, there will be no May Fair in 2018.
The Parish Council has a Small Grant fund to help local groups for the direct benefits of the community, as well as the larger grants and support given to the Village Hall and Playing Field. In the past groups such as Active Living, Stowey Bears, the Pottery Club, the Stowey Shuttle, NS Football Club and Short Mat Bowls have all benefitted. There is still funds available in this year’s budget so if there is something you need please ask. The Council will also consider requests to help set up new groups. Details can be found at Local Organisations/Groups – Grants
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 11 December at the Village Hall at 7pm. All are welcome to attend and there is time at the beginning of the meeting for residents to raise matters of interest or concern: alternatively you can ask for an item to be included on the agenda for formal discussion – please contact me if you wish to do so by 1 December.
It seems early but – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Caro Slaymaker
Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01278 733779 e-mail: clerk@netherstowey-pc.gov.uk
Lime Street Pedestrian Safety Improvement Works – UPDATE 12 OCT
LIME STREET AND MILL LANE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROJECT
UPDATE 11 OCTOBER 2017
We have passed on to the Project Manager the concerns expressed at Monday’s Parish Council meeting. The clearance of the bank is an essential part of the scheme and the alternative is to cancel the entire project.
We have now been advised – and you will have seen the road closure sign board – that the first phase to clear the bank will start on Monday 23 October and last for one week. A traffic manager will be on site during the works and will allow access to residents and businesses whilst the works are in progress and when it is safe to do so – this may mean waiting, for example, while machinery is operating by the road. This for your own safety.
We are waiting for confirmation as to the extent of the closure of Lime Street and have asked them to consider closing the minimum extent where they are specifically working. We hope to hear further on Thursday.
Further information will be posted here and on the notice boards – at the Parish office, The Cross and Stogursey Lane. A copy of the plan is available to view in the Parish Office and on the website at www.netherstowey-pc.gov.uk/limestreet-works
We do not underestimate the inconvenience this will cause everyone, but would ask for your forbearance for improvements that will be of benefit to the whole village in the long run. If you have a specific need for access during the period of the closure (eg for carers’ visits, deliveries to businesses, etc.) you should contact the Parish Office as soon as possible so that we can discuss appropriate arrangements with you and with the engineering team.
John Roberts
Chairman, Nether Stowey Parish Council
Tel: 01278 733779 e-mail: clerk@netherstowey-pc.gov.uk
Website : www.netherstowey-pc.gov.uk
NOTICE OF CONCLUSION OF AUDIT
Copies will be provided by any person on payment of £2 or are available to download here free of charge:
Lime Street and Mill Lane Pedestrian Safety Improvement Works – UPDATE
We have been advised that works will be carried out to improve pedestrian safety in Lime Street and at the Lime Street/ Mill Lane junction and the Palmers Path entrance. This is something that residents have complained about and for which the Parish Council has campaigned for many years, and while the project does not give us everything we might have liked, it is the best the County Council can afford and we believe that it will still make a significant contribution to making it safer to walk in the area particularly to walk to school and the village shops and for those using the narrow pavement in Lime Street.
Unfortunately, this will mean a lot of disruption during the three weeks that the works will take and some or all of Lime Street will have to be closed to traffic. We are currently exploring with the Road Engineering team options for how best to allow some access for Lime Street residents and to businesses, and temporary parking alternatives whilst enabling them to complete the work as quickly as possible and in a safe environment.
The work is expected to take place later in the Autumn and will take up to three weeks. There is no firm date as yet, despite any road closure notices you may have seen in the press. Further information will be available nearer the time – please check the website or the notice boards in the Parish office and on The Cross. A copy of the plan is available to view in the Parish Office or **here**
We do not underestimate the inconvenience this will cause everyone, but would ask for your forbearance for improvements that will be of benefit to the village in the long run. If you have a specific need for access during the period of the closure (eg for carers’ visits, deliveries to businesses, etc.) you should contact the Parish Office as soon as possible so that we can discuss appropriate arrangements with you and with the engineering team.
The Parish Office is open from 10am-1pm Monday-Fridays, or call (01278) 733779 or e-mail clerk@netherstowey-pc.gov.uk
Lime Street Mill Lane Safety Project
Latest plans are available here:
Sedgemoor Community Safety Project Officer
Sedgemoor District Council have created a new role of Community Safety Project Officer as part of the regeneration of the Bridgwater area and Hinkley Point C project.
Ryan Kelly has been appointed to the role for this area.
Ryan’s role is to deal with matters such as community safety, crime and anti-social behaviour, night time economy issues and various other matters which affect our local communities.
He hopes to be able to join the Parish Council meeting on 11 September to explain more about what he does and how he may be able to help.
If you are concerned about a community safety matter he can be contacted on 0746 498 1758 or by e-mail at Ryan.kelly@sedgemoor.gov.uk. If he is not available by phone he asks that you leave a message and he will get back to you as soon as he can (during office hours).
In an emergency you should still call the Police on 999 or to report a non-urgent incident call 101