You may have noticed a group of people, clad in fluorescent yellow jackets, whizzing around the parish in Bert Vile’s MPV on 29 November, and, from time to time, clambering down and engaging in earnest discussion.  What were they doing (apart from having an unintentional traffic-calming effect)?  The answer is that they were members of the PC Roads & Road Safety Committee looking at the many areas of our parish where there are problems of road safety, and compiling a “wish-list” to send to Wokingham DC.  Some of the “matters considered” were the positioning and sizing of 30mph signs, and the inconsistencies of some speed limits, as well as the possible extension of footways.

Road Safety measures have been undertaken by WDC, but problems still exist and the Parish Council is anxious that these be addressed as quickly as possible.  We ended our “tour” at California Crossroads, and, no, we haven’t come up with a magic solution!  Any ideas?

The Roads & Road Safety Committee presented its report at the PC meeting on 1^st December.  Earlier that evening the Planning Committee met to discuss a consultation document on Changes to Settlement Boundaries put out by WDC.  Development is not normally allowed outside these Boundaries, so any changes could affect us all. Councillors did not find the document “user-friendly” and questioned the need for change.  At the moment, large areas of our Parish are outside settlement boundaries and, therefore, protected from development.  Due to the “indigestible” nature of the document we shall need to meet again to discuss it further.  Anyone requiring some bed-time reading can obtain a “PS1” from WDC!

The container library is being used by many people; thanks to Councillor Ian Milne for organising the banner outside the Ratepayers’ Hall.  The mobile library still visits Avery’s Corner car-park on Tuesdays.

Councillor Pam Hughes has done a magnificent job of co-ordinating advertisements for the new Parish street map, and all spaces have been filled.  The map will be distributed to every household in the Parish in the Spring.

Although the Footpath Committee had not met, Councillor Wally Chapman reported that two of our kissing gates have been stolen, and also several large gates belonging to private individuals.  So beware; it’s not the first time that this has happened.

There was discussion about our five-year-plan, and it was agreed that each committee would produce its own.  These would be compiled into a single document.  This is not the same as a Parish Plan, which is essentially a statement of how a parish sees itself developing in all its aspects.  It does not have to be produced by the Parish Council and must involve the whole community – a daunting task, especially in Finchampstead, where there are two separate wards.

The meeting closed a little earlier than usual to allow councillors to enjoy a glass of excellent champagne provided by our Chairman, and to sample the first of many mince pies.

The Parish Council hopes that you have all had a happy Christmas, and that 2005 will be a good year for Finchampstead and its residents.

Cllr Chris Driver

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

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council