Once again Woodcray Manor Farm featured in the Parish Council’s discussions at its meeting on 2^nd February.  It has taken a long time for Counsel to consider the situation and to give advice to the Wokingham District Council, but this has finally happened.  The WDC is seeking clarification on some points, but a Planning Contravention Notice has been served on Woodcray requiring them to provide information to the WDC by 11^th February.  Failure to do so will render them liable to prosecution in the magistrate’s court.  Incidentally, the Parish Council have complained to the WDC about the state of the road outside the entrance to the site on Finchampstead Road – strictly speaking, this is Wokingham Town’s responsibility, but they have never taken any interest in what is going on here.

There will be a meeting at the WDC on 23^rd February at which the requirements of a Village Design Statement will be outlined by a planning officer.  Despite what the Wokingham Times reported recently, the Parish Council is intending to be involved in this, but it is not a simple task and we need advice on the best way of approaching it.  A representative from the Finchampstead Society will also be joining us at Shute End.  Doubtless this topic will be raised at the Annual Gathering on Wednesday, 23^rd March.  If you are willing to be involved in this project, perhaps we may see you there.

Another matter that has been on the back burner for some time – the Parish Council chairman had a meeting with our solicitor recently to discuss the implications of the WDC’s continued insistence that it wants a clause in the new Rides lease giving it the right to sell the land for ‘community use’.  Apparently they would have to give 12 months’ notice, and the earliest they could do this would be 2016, so the land is secure until then.  If the WDC wanted to sell or redevelop the land, then they would either have to provide an alternative venue (limited scope in Finchampstead) or pay compensation so that the Parish Council could seek their own alternative.  Naturally, councillors asked whether we had to accept this condition, but the solicitor had advised that if we did not, then the WDC could go through legal channels to enforce it, and that it would not be reasonable for the current situation to continue in perpetuity.  The solicitor advised that the Parish Council should obtain a valuation for the land at present for future reference for whoever is on the Council in 2016.  After discussion, it was decided to see how much it would cost to get Counsel advice on ensuring the current situation prevailed.

Councillors met with officers of the WDC involved with the Safe Routes to School proposals for Finchampstead CE School.  In order to install a zebra crossing in The Village, four streetlights would be required (two on either side of the road) near its siting – probably near the gate to the Memorial Park near the lay-by.  A one metre wide pavement would be installed from the Memorial Park carpark (whose entrance would be widened) to the crossing, and the pavement on the school side would be widened to one metre from there to the School, involving moving the road over slightly.  A further consultation exercise is to be carried out in view of the proposed streetlights.

The precept for the 2005/06 year was approved by the Parish Council at £96,250.  This works out at £17.16 per Band D house (1p less than in 2004/05!).  It has been agreed to seek an assistant for the Parish Clerk (see advert elsewhere in the magazine) who will be responsible for planning and enable the office to be open to the public one additional morning per week.

The new street map, paid for by its advertisers, is now on its way to the printers and will be distributed free to every house in the Parish.  This was achieved thanks to volunteers last time, and we are hoping that this will be the case this time.  If anyone would be willing to deliver in their immediate area (street or estate), please contact the Clerk.

You will doubtless have noticed that the Water Company is relining the water mains in the Parish, which is very good news, but one householder found her domestic pipes became blocked after they had moved on because the scourings of the pipes in the road had washed back into her system.  Be warned and turn off your supply while they are outside your house.

The Parish Council was very pleased to note that the WDC had changed their minds about radically changing the bus token scheme.  The flexibility of the current scheme is to be continued in a revised version, and this must be good news to parishes such as Finchampstead which has such poor if not non-existent public transport.

Have you enjoyed the hanging baskets at the California Crossroads over recent years?  As Chris Driver reported in the December magazine, Joe Hawkins who produced these wonderful creations has now moved and is unable to do these in future, and Colin Cresswell, who has manfully undertaken the watering, would like someone to assist.  Thus if these are to continue, we need some public-spirited person to volunteer.  Please contact the Parish Office if this is you, we will be delighted to hear from you.

Maybe some of the above may inspire readers to attend the Annual Gathering, which as stated above will be at the California Ratepayers’ Hall at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 23^rd March.

Cllr Lauraine Newcombe (Chris Driver is on holiday!)

The date this page was last altered was March 11, 2007.

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council