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Alston Moor Parish Council meeting, Monday 3 March, Alston Town Hall

The meeting was chaired by Ron Robinson, Vice-Chair, as Raymond Miller, Chair, has almost no voice currently.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.  There was no Chair’s report this month.

Westmorland and Furness Council report

Michael Hanley, Westmorland and Furness councillor (as well as parish councillor), reported on a number of matters, details of which will be available on the AMPC website in the recent reports. Among the points presented, EV charging strategy is being developed, with the intention of providing on-street chargers for those without off-street parking.  From the Health And Wellbeing Board, MH reported that the focus is on reducing ‘bed-blocking’ through provision of more ‘re-ablement beds, like the two we have at Grisedale now.  Westmorland and Furness is balancing a large deficit.  The second homes premium has brought in £10 million, of which half is to go on affordable housing, playgrounds etc.  Councillor Robertson suggested that the second home premium might be used to support the rural areas where most of the second homes are.

Mary Robinson, Westmorland and Furness Councillor, reported that it is intended that parish council elections will be retimed to happen at the same time as Westmorland and Furness elections, which will save a good deal of money.  

Other reports

• Place Action Group Work on developing a housing needs survey is progressing.
• Alston Moor Partnership Sarah Stamford has been appointed as the Community Development Coordinator and will begin work in the week beginning 10 March.
• NWAS Alston Moor Working Group Nothing progressing despite loss of one EMT (leaving one), and of CFRs.  No further information regarding planned specialist training.
• Traffic Management Group Online meeting.  Many potholes reported.  The A689 is going to be resurfaced probably in August, entailing a full week’s closure.  The Leadgate road also.  Residents were urged to report road problems on line, ideally using what-three-words to indicate the site.  Parking issues were noted – at top of town, parking opposite the bus stop makes problems when bus waiting.  The problem in the Butts with parking prevent access for emergency vehicles continues to be discussed – apparently the relevant land is not part of the highway.  Bollards by the Co-op are to be resited.  The school signs at the old primary school will be removed.  A 40mph limit on the A689 will be investigated.

Matters arising

1.  Benches: councillors are asked to see where they think the two benches available for Tyne Willows should go.

2.  E-mails and tablets: investigation into tablets continues, all now have e-mails.

3.  Environment Agency gauging station renewal: still ongoing as no response received.

4.  Letter to Garrigill Recreation Ground: agreed to send letter draft, to clarify their precept request.

5.  Street lighting: the Clerk and the Chair met with a representative of Westmorland and Furness to discuss the proposed W&F takeover of responsibility for the lights.  They looked at all those which are broken, the wrong colour, etc.  Nothing can be done until the Cabinet meeting in mid-March, but the representative was very positive, including about new lights.  It could be 12-18 months before work can begin.  It was suggested we might install solar-powered lights before then and they would be taken over in July if all goes ahead.  We will be asked to make a formal response regarding the future arrangements after the Cabinet meeting in mid-March.

6.  Neighbourhood policing: volunteers are sought to be local representatives on a neighbourhood policing board to raise local issues.

7.  Emergency contacts: Nenthead is making a list of vulnerable people for emergency contact.

8.  Annual Parish Meeting: 23 April 2025 at 7pm, Alston Town Hall

9.  Road at Tyne Willows: tenders sought for resurfacing

Planning applications

Applications for Aimshaugh, Greenacres, Loaning Head Farm and Low Park were all agreed for approval.

An extension has been requested for Over Lee and the Miners’ Arms applications.  There is puzzlement about why W&F is concerned about the Miners’ Arms designation when nothing has been done concerning other places where a residential flat is continuing to be used after a business has closed.  It was urged that a W&F planning representative be asked to attend the next meeting, or at least provide some explanation.

Assets

Firs Walk – the path under the bridge is now dangerous, and repairs will be arranged.

Pavilion, Alston Fitness Club – the alternative possibilities for the provision of water and electricity for groups using Tyne Willows were discussed.  Rather than a flat charge, it was suggested that specific meters could be easily installed, and charges made accordingly.  Further discussions with the gym management were proposed, perhaps at the next meeting.

Defibrillators Agreed to give remaining defibrillators to South Tynedale Railway, registered to AMPC and with STR paying for installation and power.

Nenthead Fountain A range of possibilities for simple improvements were discussed, with matters including a sand-blaster to be researched.

Grant applications

An application by a group of Garrigill residents for an event to mark VE Day, especially for children, was refused on the basis that the group were not constituted.  Two parish councillors agreed to create a working group which could take the application forward.

The official minutes can be found here

Next parish council meeting will be on Monday 7 April, 7pm, probably at Garrigill Village Hall.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO GET OUR CASH POINT BACK.

THE MORE PEOPLE FROM ALSTON MOOR WHO WRITE TO THEM THE MORE WE WILL BE LIKELY TO GET OUR CASHPOINT BACK. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE OR TO OTHER PEOPLE.

As a result of vandalism, Link removed the cash machines in the Co-op and outside Spar.  Despite the parish council and other groups and individuals contacting them, LINK says we can just get cash from a Post Office and need nothing else.  We continue to contact them, but it would be very helpful if everyone on Alston Moorwho has ever used our cash machines would also write.

It would be especially useful if you could point out any of the following issues as they apply to you:

• difficulty of accessing our Post Offices during their opening times;
• problems of reaching Alston Post Office given mobility problems, dealing with the cobbles and steps;
• being a customer of the Cumberland Building Society, whose accounts are not accepted by the Post Office system;
• knowing of visitors to Alston Moor arriving and expecting to be able to access cash;
• rarely being in places where cash machines are available, but needing cash for several Alston Moor businesses;
• anything else you know is a problem.

Send your message to accesstocash@link.co.uk

or by post to LINK Scheme Ltd (Cash Access Request), Central House, 

Otley Road, Harrogate, HG3 1UF

Make clear in your message that you are on Alston Moor.

Notes from the February meeting of Alston Moor Parish Council

Meeting held on Monday 3 February in the Annexe of Alston Town Hall

At the start of the meeting in public participation, a member of the public, Damon Hall, described his plans for a mass photograph like the one in 1999, to take place in September this year.  He was not seeking funding but asking for general support and help with information.  The council expressed their full support.

The chair asked that the record of decisions on motions should include who voted for, against or abstained.

Our Westmorland and Furness councillors, Mary Robinson and Michael Hanley, talked through the key points from recent meetings.  

• The possibility of establishing an electric vehicle car club was discuseed with members of the established Derwent Valley group.  There are difficulties for our area as insurance alone would cost more than £10,000 and requires more than three vehicle.  Discussions are ongoing about other possible option.
• Westmorland and Furness cabinet voted for devolution for the whole of Cumbria (W&F and Cumberland) as is being proposed by central government, but the timescale is regarded as unrealistic.  A final decision will be made in the autumn.
• The proposal for an Alston to Penrith bus service has failed as tenders were too expensive.  However, more funding may be available in April.
• The £6,000 available to be allocated before the end of March for the Alston Moor and Fellside ward has been agreed to go equally to a new Fellside food bank (on the Alston Moor model), play areas in Melmerby and Langwathby, and for a housing needs survey.

Reports from groups

1.  Nenthead Ward Meeting

• An update is awaited from the Coal Authority on whether the Haggs Bank and Carrshield treatment works ar functioning as expected.  
• The flooding issue at Nenthall seems to have been resolved.  
• The Miners’ Arms bid by the local group has failed because the government discontinued the relevant funding source.  All donations will be refunded.
• There were complaints that the Village Hall generator had not been in action during the recent power cut, but the problem has now been addressed and there are many volunteers now ready to spring into action when needed.
• There is concern about the lack of WiFi at the Village Hall and they are seeking financial assistance for set-up and monthly costs.
• The Community Toilets continue to receive compliments from visitors using the tourists, with gratitude to the volunteer local community who maintain them.

2.  Alston Moor Partnership

Several applications for the post of Community Co-ordinator have been received, with the closing date this Friday (7 February).  Interviews will then be arranged, and news of the appointed person will be available for the next meeting.

3.  Alston Moor Traffic Management Group

The Clerk and W&F Councillor Robinson are awaiting suitable dates to arrange a Zoom meeting.

Ongoing matters

• Oak timber has been offered free of chargeto repair one of the Garrigill benches, and on this basis the Council voted for repairs to go ahead.
• No decision has yet been reached on the location of the Women’s Institue centenary bench.
• All the defibs have been registered and are working
• All the bus shelters have been cleaned, and it was resolved that further work, including painting, will commence when there is more suitable weather.
• It has been suggested for some time that each parish councillor should have a tablet and e-mail address dedicated to their council work, with the tablets to be handed back at the end of a councillor’s term.  It was agreed that separate councillor e-mail addresses would be issued, and that the Clark and Councillor Martin would source and purchase appropriate tablets.
• The Clerk is still awaiting a response from the Environment Agency concerning the gauging station financial renewal.
• Councillors Bondi and Grew attended the webinars regarding the switch of analogue phone lines to digital.  Cuncillor Grew suggested that BT should be invited to come and talk about the changes, and hear local concerns and questions, at the Town Hall.  Councillor Grew and the Clerk will arrange this.
• A new date is to be arranged for the walkabout with W&F officers to look at the street lighting.
• It was resolved to send a letter of thanks to Janis Goodfellow on behalf of the Parish Council for her continued help and support with the distribution and invoicing of the Christmas trees around Alston Moor.

Planning Applications and Decisions

• The proposed replacement, at Salvin House, of single-glazed timber windows with double-glazed uPVC windows was discussed, and the confusing nature of the planning and listed building consent advice was raised.  The motion to support the application was passed by a majority.
• The replacement of stable buildings with a hoeoffice-storage building at 3Wardway Foot was supported.
• The Council heard that the discharge of conditions on the listing building consent at Ivy House, Garrigill, had been agreed.

Finance Report and Accounts

• The current balance of the Community Account is £121,792.50,
• Outstanding payment for the cleaning of the bus shelters was agreed.
• Cllr Bondi has agreed to become a signatory for the HSBC account.

Correspondence

A very unsatisfactory response had been received from LINK, refusing to look further into the provision of a cash machine.  A draft further response was agreed to be sent, and it was decided to ask local people to write individually to LINK, and post this request on Facebook groups, noticeboards, and in shops.  A member of the public was asked, and refused, to post such a request on the Facebook group she administers.

The next meeting will be held in Alston Town Hall annexe at 7pm on Monday 3 March.

Notes from the January meeting of Alston Moor Parish Council

The meeting was held on Monday 13 January, rather than the first Monday, 6 January, which was postponed owing to the difficult driving conditions in snow and ice.

A planning issue, concerning Flinty Fell Quarry, was taken at the beginning as two members of the public were present in relation to that item.  The council unanimously agreed to support the application, having had clarification on the original concerns.

The Chair, Councillor Miller,  gave his report, with thanks to those who had helped practically and financially with the Christmas lights and the big Christmas tree. He asked that all votes on agenda items should be recorded with the information of which councillors had voted for, against or abstained, as outlined in the Standing Orders.

Councillor Hanley reported from his rôle as a Westmorland and Furness councillor that W&F has been invited to become an area for devolution along with Cumberland, which would be a three-stage process.  More information will come soon.  He also reported on the Nature Recovery Strategy which will include a focus on red squirrels.

Councillors had received the police report, and hoped that there could be a representative at the next meeting.

Reports from groups

• Councillor Robertson said there would be a Nenthead Ward meeting in the next fortnight, and information will come to the next parish council meeting.  
• The Alston and Fellside Place Action Group will meet in February.  
• Alston Moor Partnership had been successful in the funding application for a community co-ordinator, and advertising for the post has gone out.  
• The Alston Moor Traffic Management Group will be arranging a meeting soon.  
• NWAS Alston Moor Working Group reported that a rôle specifically for our community has been devised and these new recruits will join our two remaining EMTs.  All will work together with the Community First Responders.

Ongoing matters

• Tenders for the initial Nenthead Fountain work were being reassessed.
• A quotation has been received for repairs to the Garrigill benches, and other benches are awaiting further information.
• Fairhill now has a defibrillator and it will be installed and registered, and the fire station one is already registered on the circuit.  There will be a defib map of the area.
• The website is to be adjusted to provide separate sections for parish council and Westmorland and Furness reports.
• VE Day guidance has been circulated but no councillors wanted to take up the options.  Warm Hub attendees might be interested.
• The parish council’s solicitors are working with the Environmental Agency to establish a new lease for the gauging station on Tyne Willows.

Planning applications

• The council voted to support an application for change of use from agricultural to equestrian with creation of an arena at Low Galligill
• The council voted to uphold the original decision regarding the Horse and Wagon Caravan Park and object to the application for variation of condition 8 concerning planting.
• Westmorland and Furness Council has decided to permit the removal of the holiday let restriction for Leadgate School House.

Finance

A draft budget will be discussed at the precept meeting on 20 January

Assets

• Westmorland and Furness are intending to offer parish councils the choice of W&F taking on responsibility for all footway lighting, or individual parishes managing their own.
• A price has been given for storage of the Christmas trees and lights at High Mill, and some of the Christmas tree brackets need replacing, and the same person who put the lights up on the market cross and town hall could do this work and a quotation will be sought.  The council agreed to the storage cost and obtaining a price for brackets work

A new taller post is to be requested for the footpath sign agreed.

Tree work for those causing problems and potential problems will be addressed urgently.

The Clerk reported that she had received a request that would take considerable time and cost to fulfil and is seeking legal advice as to how to proceed.

The precept meeting will be on Monday 20 January in the Town Hall Annexe, and the next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 3 February, also in the Town Hall Annexe.

If you live in the Eden, or South Lakeland areas and your usual collection day is:

• Monday 23 December, your collection will be made on Saturday 21 December (blue refuse bags in Eden);
• Tuesday 24 December, your collection will be made on Monday 23 December;
• Wednesday 25 December, your collection will be made on Tuesday 24 December;
• Thursday 26 December, your collection will be made on Friday 27 December;
• Friday 27 December, your collection will be made on Saturday 28 December.

Collections on Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December will be on the normal day.

EDEN HOUSING ASSOCIATION HAVE CONTACTED THE
PARISH CLERK WITH THE FOLLOWING:-
We have a vacancy coming up at Park View Lane next
month, it is a 3 bed family house and currently advertising
on Cumbria Choice. As you are aware we have a local
letting policy for the Alston Moor area as we look to house
families with local connections first. I was hoping that you
would be able to share this vacancy within the parish to
ensure we reach all households that may be in need.
If you need any further information, please come back to
me.

Kate Murray Housing Officer
Eden Housing Association
Blain House, Bridge Lane, Penrith, Cumbria CA11
8QU
01768 861418
* kate.murray@edenha.org.uk

RSN facilitated an exclusive event for RSN Local Authorities and members of the Rural Services Partnership to hear from BT on the Digital Home Phone Switchover and what it means for their rural communities.  

It is important that Local Authorities and rural organisations can signpost their residents to trusted sources of information about the switchover and where to go for help.  The resources below will support you with this process.   

There is a video of the presentation given by Vicky Hicks, Head of Engagement at BT below which can be shared with your colleagues.  In addition, the slide pack is also available and has lots of relevant information.

Read More

Or you can download the presentation from here.