Slaley, Northumberland

Dog Bin Review

Slaley Councillors agreed to review the dog bin provision every six months. In June 2004 the first report was made.

Review of Dog Bin in Slaley Village
Thursday 10th June 2004

Is bin being used?

The Clerk stopped the refuse lorry on Thursday 10th June 2004 and asked if the dog bin was being used. The men replied that it was, most weeks it was half full, on two occasions it had been almost full and on two occasions it had been empty. The refuse men said that the chap was lives near the bin told them that his neighbour seemed to use it most! (Not sure if he was pleased about this or not!)

Has there been any complaints of smell from the bin?

After several days of very hot dry weather (including thunder storms) the Clerk walked around the bin on Thursday 10th June at 10 a.m. exactly one full week since it was emptied. There was no smell.

Has there been any dog fouling complaints in the village during the last six months?

Yes, one very large heap (about April) was reported to the Clerk it was cleared away by Bobby Johnston in the middle of the day. It would appear that the culprit was a dog out in the village without its owner. On Monday 14th June (the day of the Parish Council meeting) Councillor JK Robson saw a fresh heap outside Slaley House gates.
Note: Several village dogs are prone to be out by themselves. Concern was also expressed about children taking neighbours dogs for a walk. Were these young dog walkers being asked to carry a bag and clear up after any mishap?

Has there been an improvement with dog fouling in the village street since the dog bin was installed?

Clerk asked Kerry Jewitt as she walked home from Slaley School Nursery at 11.30 on Thursday 11th June. Kerry said without hesitation “A big improvement”.

Clerk asked Nancy Myers who deliverers newspapers from Slaley Post Office to Townhead. She replied “A definite improvement”.

Clerk asked Margaret Ward of Slaley Post Office who replied, “since the dog bin had arrived there had been no instances of dog fouling at the village shop and she had definitely noticed the difference in the village”.

The Postman presently delivering the mail was also asked and he told the Clerk that since taking over while Stephen ‘on the sick’ he had never noticed dog dirt in the village.

Colour of the Bin
The colour of the bin being altered to green was asked by a resident living opposite the bin. The Councillors agreed that red is the new colour for dog bins all over the County and the colour actually made the statement.

June 2004 Minutes

The Minutes of June Parish Council Meeting are now published:

Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday 14th June 2004, at 7.30 p.m. in Slaley Commemoration Hall.

1. Apologies. County Councillor Wm Purdue. District Councillor B.W. Massey. Councillors Mrs L. Norris & Mrs A.S. Robson,
Present: Councillor C.J.R. Ferguson in the chair. Councillors: D.G. Baynes, J.K. Robson, A.J. Weir and Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
Public: None Slaley Notes: None.

2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillor Baynes for Agenda item 13.

3. Minutes of April Council Meeting already (circulated):
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by D.G. Baynes, seconded by J.K. Robson.

4. Minutes of May Parish Council meeting incorporated into the Annual Parish Council Meeting (circulated) It was suggested by the Clerk that in future three meetings be held in May the Annual Parish Meeting (reports), the Annual Parish Council Meeting (election of officers) and the monthly meeting. This was agreed.
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by D.G. Baynes, seconded by J.K. Robson.

5. Matters Arising:
a) 7c 5/4/04 a volunteer to co-ordinate a parish spring clean through Slaley Notes produce zero response. Clerk did from Townhead to U8078.
b) 12 5/4/04 Results of Slaley Parish Housing Needs Survey by Monica Burns received she now suggested contact Chris Brinton at TC. The Councillors wished to read the report before contacting Mr Brinton.
c). 13b 10/5/04 Holiday Villa at Slaley Hall for sale Clerk wrote to planning. Reply from H Winter “comments & attachments noted”+ DC B Massey suggested a copy be sent to Cllr Horncastle (chairman of Planning Enforcement Committee) for comment on the issues raised – No reply. The decision was taken to wait until the July meeting for a reply.
d) 7d 10/5/04; 14e 5/4/04 Slaley Hall fly tipping reply circulated - need to monitor.

6. Public Participation:

7. Correspondence:
a) NCC re Integrated Transport Priorities 2004-05 – Cattle warning signs direct response from SET.
b) NCC SET Cattle warning signs – site visit with Mr Dart. confirmation that signs are OK.
c) TC Interim Planning Policies on Housing – thank you for response.
d) NCC Food Hazard Warnings questionnaire results.
e) Northern Electric Distribution Ltd – commencing work in next 4 – 6 weeks disruption to electricity supply – given to Slaley Notes to report.
f) Age Concern questionnaire – given to Moyra Riseborough
g) Copy of Letter from Woodhouse family to Bill Purdue re broken drainage grate. Clerk to check that no work or reply received – if negative then write to Chairman of NCC Highways Division with a copy to Chief Highway Engineer. Also a copy of all NCC top personnel.
h) TC Safety of Memorials in Cemeteries - pass to any burial board –Pass to St. Mary PCC.
i) The Boundary Committee – local Government Review & the two tier areas in the North East (circulating)
j) ADAPT June 2004; Shaw & Sons Ltd; Fitzpatrick Woolmer; Wicksteed; North East Social Enterprise Trade Fair and Awards; Funding Times May 2004 – Community Foundation; Road Link (A69) Annual Report; Clerks & Councils Direct May 2004 issue 33; Poster –The Hexham Riot 19/6/04 – placed on the Parish notice board.

8. Current Planning Applications:
20040697 2 s side extension + ss rear extension (Rev) 6 South Park circulating
20040684 construction of Cattle Shed Flothers Farm circulating
20040680 two storey side extension Laburnum Lodge circulating
20040664 conservatory to side, trellis above existing boundary wall
& conservatory to front Garden Cottage circulating
20040579 Conversion of redundant byre to form lounge,
glazed link, new porch & pitched roof over
existing flat roof. Demolition of existing stores & construction
of new detached garage & tractor shed with study & store to
first floor. Strothers. Concerns completed by JKR
while Clerk on holiday - objections; approvals and some concerns.
Planning decision
20040417 Single Storey Porch Heatherden House granted
20040424 SS side ext + 2 dormer wind Deneside Wooley granted
20040440 2S side ext + ss ext 6 South Park - replaced by 20040697
20040331 Conservatory Slaley Hall Lodge granted
20040313 Change to residential – Old School granted – Clerk to write and ask for clarification on various points i.e. transfer of workshop to toilet block.
Also May 8 & April 14b meetings – conservatory at Moorland View permitted development written confirmation received. a) volume does not exceed 70 cubic metres and the property as not previously been extended, b) height does not exceed 4 metres c) does not front onto a highway or lie within 20 metres of a public right of way. Clerk produced a list of conservatory applications during the last 6 years and the above criteria did not always apply. Councillors agreed that planning remained something of an enigma
Reply from Planning Heatherden House 20040417 pitched roof agreed under previous 2002083.
Planning Re-consultation The Strothers – letter from architect – no proposals to alter the first floor plan. Clerk to reply original comments still stand.

9. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
No 204 Commemoration Hall PC £10.00
No 205 NALC subs + Clerk’s training £5 £90.02
Proposed by Councillor D.G. Baynes, seconded by Councillor J.K. Robson.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £495.18.
Vat repayment received of £260.79
Audit Notice that accounts are available given through Slaley Notes and on Parish Notice Board.
Request from Allianz Cornhill for a risk assessment for using the speed machines. – Clerk replied that no definite decision had been made to use the machines if and when it was made a risk assessment would be produced.

10. Tynedale Crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy (circulated for May meeting).
Changes and additions were made to the report, which is now attached as appendix 1-140604.

11. Meeting at Ladycross Wednesday July 14th.
Clerk to write & confirm attendance of Councillors JK Robson & CJR Ferguson – because of holidays unsure of Councillors Mrs L Norris & Mrs A Robson.

12. Review of Dog Bin in Slaley Village
A report of the use and the Dog Bin was undertaken on Thursday June 10th and circulated. A new “heap” was reported at the meeting outside Slaley House. It was decided to review again in December when the possibility of a second bin could be considered and the Clerk to compose a small article in Slaley Notes that dogs are on the village street unaccompanied and probably responsible for these occasional lapses. The colour of the bin being altered to green was asked by a resident living opposite the bin – the Councillors agreed that Red was the new colour for dog bins all over the County and the colour actually made the statement. Full amended report appendix 2-140604

A.O.B.
a) The chap who is inscribing the Millennium Seat/Time-capsule informed me that the circular time-capsule cover should have been inscribed before it was cemented into the ground. After speaking with Councillor Ferguson we gave the go-ahead to have a plaque inscribed and the plaque screwed into the time-capsule stone cover.
b) Roadside ditch 400 yards north of Slaley Hall entrance (C265) needs clearing (west side of road), the highway surface water is running into the fields and not the drains.
c) Calls for the replacement of the village signs were reported again. – Councillor Weir was persuaded to call and ask for a catalogue from NCC Depot at Burn Lane.
d) Although out of the parish the Clerk was ask to report the danger of the (southern) traffic lights outside the Burnend development. The Councillors feel that there should be more warning notices telling drivers to slow down and the actual traffic light sign needs to be at least 10 yards further south. There was also a comment that the singular sign is perhaps too high.

13. BOATs Update (without Councillor Baynes).
a) The Planning Inspectorate Modification order (No1) 1996 new evidence submitted by Mr A Kind (circulated)
b) Reports from the website of the NCC Definite Map Officers meeting at Blanchland on Friday June 4th (circulated)
c) NCC Application for a Definitive Map Modification Order (Byway 44) – the alleged route will be included in a DFMO in about 12 months time. When the legal Order is made the PC will have a minimum 42 days to make formal representations/objections.
d) GLEAM note from Elizabeth Still wishing us good luck on the above.
e) Debate in Westminster Hall by John Mann re mechanically Propelled Vehicles Circulated.
f) E-mail reply from Northumbria Police – Councillors still feel a full meeting best.
g) No reply from Forestry regarding illegal use of vehicles – Clerk to write to Jonathan Farries for clarification.
h) Reply from Peter Atkinson MP telephone number to book convenient date – Clerk to tel.
i) Copy of letter to Councillor Michael Davey on BOATs from Eastern Tynedale & Western Castle Morpeth Parish Councils’ Forum.
j) Meeting on June 21st to go ahead to try and arrange a format for a joint meeting with AVAC and Peter Atkinson MP and Inspector Kerr Henry

Date of next meeting: Monday 12th July. Meeting closed at 9. 50 p.m.

The Millenium inscription

The stone slab commemorating (and covering) the Millenium time capsule at Townhead has now been inscribed. Both the slab and the date plaque have been beautifully carved by Ray Wetherell, shown below.

New signs for Slaley!

You may have noticed some new road signs around the parish: thanks to the Parish Council following up on the parish plan, some 60 of the highway signs are being renewed.

One of the signs still awaiting renewal is this one. Visitors might well be confused by this reference to a hospital that ceased to exist some 28 years ago - built in 1916 for first world war gas victims, and later a sanatorium, Wooley Hospital closed down in 1976.

The Northumbrian flag

This month's picture shows the Northumbrian flag, said to be "probably the oldest known flag design in Britain. The Venerable Bede, England's first historian, records a banner of purple and gold which hung over the tomb of St Oswald, the 7th century king of Northumbria.
The flag for this ancient kingdom is now generally regarded as having 8 alternate stripes of red and gold. Later, in medieval times, the colours were adopted by the first Earl of Northumberland. The present pattern was granted to Northumberland County Council as its own banner in 1951." See the County Council's page for more about the flag.