Annual Parish Meeting

Usually regarded as a dry necessity, the Annual Parish Meeting is typically attended by a few diehard residents plus Parish Councillors. This year however, it bucked the trend and the meeting room at the Village Hall on 9th April was packed to capacity with about 40 villagers. Perhaps it was the advert in last month's Communicata that attracted this bigger than usual gathering, especially the phrase 'you will have the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns you may have about what is happening in the village', as this is what most people had come to do!

The meeting was chaired by Suzanne Wyche, who is also chair of Fleckney Parish Council. Suzanne started by giving a resume of the work of the Parish Council over the past year, most of which has been reported in the Communicata. Plans for the coming year include finalising the Neighbourhood Plan and carrying out a feasibility study on the future of the Sports Centre. She also mentioned that there are currently two vacancies on the Parish Council.

Following these introductory remarks the meeting was opened up to the public for questions and comments and, not surprisingly, most were on the subject of housing developments in Fleckney. Bernie Stribling started by asking for a time frame on the Neighbourhood Plan and received the answer that the draft would be presented to the Parish Council at the meeting immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting. However, the Plan then needs to go to public consultation, then HDC, then the government inspector and each of these processes takes about 6 weeks, meaning that it will be September or October before the Plan can be adopted. In the meantime, as Darren Parlby pointed out, there is a rush of speculators getting planning applications in before the plan is adopted!

Gerry Holman stated that, even when an application is refused and goes to appeal, local councils are ignored and inspectors do not listen to valid points raised. He quoted the recent Persimmon appeal as an example. The chairman agreed with this and said that hundreds of hours had been spent over Christmas and the New Year by the Parish Council putting together reasons why 290 houses should not be built off Saddington Road, but they still failed, even though planning consultants had been hired to advise.

Many people agreed with these comments and David McCluskey stated that Gladmans, who currently have plans for housing estates on both Saddington Road and Arnesby Road, are land speculators and 'bully boys' who are throwing money at potential sites. Everyone agreed that Main Street and Arnesby Road are not suitable for the increase in traffic flow that inevitably follows a development. It was then pointed out that the Harborough Local Plan has already been submitted to government (see article in this issue of Communicata on the subject).

This meeting certainly gave villagers the opportunity to vent their feelings, but the overwhelming conclusion is that local voices are not heard. Steve Bilbie representing HDC and Blake Pain, representing LCC had a difficult time in justifying all that is happening from District and County Council perspectives, but said that they are under pressure from Government to deliver more houses and have to stick to the National Planning Policy Framework.

As the discussion on housing took up most of the meeting, there was only time to raise two other subjects. The continuing issue of dog fouling was raised again and irresponsible dog owners were blamed - especially those who actually pick up their dog's mess, but then throw the plastic bag in the field or hedgerow. No-one could understand this type of mentality.

On a different subject, Tom Emery asked why the street lights are still switched off during the night now that the bulbs have all been replaced with energy saving LED lights. Blake Pain answered that the County Council is committed to reducing carbon dioxide and energy emissions and that when lights are on during the night, crime is encouraged as burglars can see where they are going! This does not appear to be the case in Fleckney as recent examples of both car and house crimes committed whilst the streetlights were switched off were given! Blake went on to say that streetlights are controlled individually, so if you would like a particular one kept on during the house of darkness, you can contact him at blake.pain@leics.gov.uk and he will look into it for you. The meeting ran well over the allocated time and Suzanne Wyche is to be congratulated in the way that she gave everyone the opportunity to express their views whilst keeping the meeting running in a controlled and orderly manner.

Courtesy Of H.Bentley Reporter, Fleckney Communicata