Longhoughton Parish Council: One-way system and repairs to pavements

○ Works to repair/slurry seal the pavements in Boulmer using her small schemes allowance will start soon, weather permitting.

○ Dropped kerbs in Longhoughton will be a high-priority issue and she will also push hard for a one-way traffic system at Burnside.

○ Traffic management in Boulmer is also high priority and the county council is to conduct a site visit and then present the solutions at a public meeting (to be arranged).

○ About 300metres of Crowlea Road needs resurfacing. This would cost more than what is available in the current highway budget. The project will be added to the list of roads being considered for future Local Transport Plan schemes.

○ The parish council said that it could not support a proposal to operate a coffee cart from Boulmer car park.

Hazel Kennedy is behind the idea, for a seasonal operation, offering tea/coffee, pre-packed food and cold drinks.

But at last month’s meeting, it was heard that a number of objections had been received.

It was therefore agreed that the parish council had to take this into account and could not support the proposal.

Also, Boulmer Memorial Hall wanted to put on record that no approach had been made by the applicant to the committee regarding the proposal.

○ Residents are to be consulted about plans to build a MUGA (multi-use games area) in Longhoughton.

Coun Adrian Hinchcliffe informed the parish council that the main challenge has been obtaining an affordable quote for a feasibility study from a civil engineer/architect. Only one quote has come back – at a cost of £6,300. The parish council found it difficult to justify this cost if the MUGA were not to go ahead.

It was agreed to consult with residents at a village public meeting in March, with a view to undertaking the feasibility study after that, if the response was positive.

The meeting heard that the precept would have to be increased to pay for the annual maintenance/sinking fund, which was estimated to be about £1,000 per annum.

○ New noticeboards for outside Longhoughton Co-op, as well as in Boulmer, are now in position. Various councillors have keys for these. It was also noted that the old Boulmer noticeboard had been offered and accepted by Boulmer Memorial Hall for the committee’s use.

○ Funding is available for communities like Howick and Littlehoughton where broadband isn’t being installed in the current roll-out. The communities need to apply to BT for an installation quote. iNorthumberland, which can help with this, then has up to £2,000 for the works.

○ Various issues will be discussed at the Longhoughton public meeting, which is scheduled for March next year. Items on the agenda include parking on Lacey Street and Crowlea Road, while a report will be presented on the future of the playing field.

○ A resident moaned that the Golden Jubilee cherry trees on Boulmer Village Green had been mulched with grass and trimmed. This was done by Coun Hinchcliffe, as one of them was overhanging land belonging to Herring Sheds Cottage. The council is responsible for the trees.

○ Story Homes has confirmed its offer of a grant of £1,500 towards the purchase of the defibrillator at Boulmer. The parish council said this was excellent news and very much appreciated. The defibrillator is on order with The Stephen Carey Fund.