RHUDDLAN ENVIRONMENT GROUP
COMMITTEE MEETING
WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER 7pm
AT
THE RHUDDLAN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
Welcome to the committee.
Apologies for absence: G.Williams, Mike and Jean Demack, Susan Hilton, all suffering from the flue. Bill Holt on holiday, Congratulations to Dave & Maureen Tomkins on the birth of a baby grand daughter, Dave is minding the baby.(Malcolm Flynn is still unwell) we wish him well from our group.
Present. Andy Smith, Barbara Borders, Mervyn Roberts, Margaret Titcom, Gill Roberts, Paul Hughes, Brenda Taylor, Freddie Taylor and Margaret Chapman.
Minutes of the September meeting passed as a true record on view - the web and in the library.
Chairperson report:
Regarding the right of way for the 400 metres of the Old Rhuddlan Rd (A525) 200 metres is still classed as a Highway with its rights to pass and re-pass on the side walk or on the road. It has been confirmed to me by Bill Cook DCC that a letter will be coming out to me very soon regarding this problem. The diverted road is still classed as a Highway for 200 metres and can't be changed due to the utilities under the road and access to same. The fibre optic cables, drains, water mains and the electric cables all utilities for maintenance purposes require access and it would cost to much to divert these facilities. The Footpaths rights of way officer has informed me he has nothing to do with the right of way being blocked on the Highway it is Highways who are responsible for blocking it off. He has received a letter of complaint regarding the Station Rd entrance being blocked off, and I believe it may have been him who had the gates removed that had been blocking the stile. Either way for people who enjoy walking the dog, just walking to work or enjoyment the road remains blocked unless you decide to take the risk, it is DCC responsibility and I trust they have themselves insured should an accident occur. We have made a complaint and do not agree with this type of dangerous blocking off. Our bund was reasonable and we allowed access to all save large vehicles. I need to send a letter to Raymond informing him that the road is blocked off and ask him to take care of this problem, I have already sent emails to complain about our right of way and being unable to gain access to do our work. (Brenda asked the committee if they had been in favour of this letter and it was agreed). The public footpath along the private road has long use, (over 25 year is prescription)it is registered on the OS map but so far I have been met with an exemption section 22(1) for confirmation on the registration this matter is being taken care of as we speak. I will give you the news very soon one way or the other. Maps past and present were shown to the committee and also proof of the date of registration back in January 1985 the path had been marked with a sign since 1967 and that is the date we as a family started to use it. The signs could have been up before that date but as far as long use goes we have many years behind us.
The information regarding our legal position is very good, we do have equity and estoppels and restitution, but I am amused with Garry Davies statement and have not really taken in this new Revelation. At the last LNR meeting, Garry claimed he is the one responsible for the 25 year management agreement not the Environment Executive, Garry claims he dictated it, I asked him if he signed it also and he did not reply, Raymond moved the meeting on at this point. This admittance could be a problem but we will have to wait and see. This information is all we have on hand at the moment save for the fact that things have been broken down into sections to be dealt with due to the fact that I am having some problems with my health and may not be able to deal with them all as one parcel. Are you all in agreement to me passing the matters over to more advantaged personnel? Is everyone in favour of this action. All members agreed. Brenda reported that Bill Holt stands by his objections to the holding depot and is sorry he was not able to come to the meeting but any vote against he will continue to support. Mike and Jean sent an email supporting our objections against the holding depot and wondered if we had any negotiations on the way. I reported to Mike that we had sent a letter some weeks ago to call a meeting to prevent legal action being taken and so far the response has not arrived. George Williams is dead set against the Holding Depot and believes the foundation to the reserve should be as we all agreed, a nature reserve is all we want, and not a holding depot on any part of the site. Susan Hilton has already sent a letter to Raymond informing him of her objections and although could not attend because she is full of cold she has confirmed that she is strongly against a holding depot. That makes the committee almost unanimous on this matter, we are waiting to hear from Dave Tomkins. The group have already voted against and until I have been given a change of heart from the group I will continue to progress our rights.
Freddie reported he has photographs of the footpath signs in place and after the removal they were just thrown behind the bushes by the gate to the wet field. DCC have not put up any notices or called a meeting to advise or request a change to our right of way. This is the rule they have to follow and they normally put a notice in the paper, but this time they have gone over board by just turning up and blocking off the entrance and exits.
We have checked all the deeds out and they confirm easements and a right to pass and re-pass. We also have long term use of the footpath and road which would be very difficult for DCC to defeat.
DCC did not give notice to Mr & Mrs Dawson or us as a group who have a 25 year management agreement with DCC.
DCC Moira Young ecologist has agreed to most of our plans for the ongoing development of the site and they have been added to the management plan, we still continue to work within this plan and the 25 year management agreement.
Barbara reported DCC promised us all via letter, the media and email to remove all the rubbish and the clay mounds, so far they have reneged on the management agreement and a written promise to remove all that had been imported by them.
DCC have crushed contaminated materials up on site and left a mess that no one can understand, it is actually behind the bund and according to Denbighshire County Council and Rhuddlan Town councillor Ann Davies we will have this material mixed with green waste and spread on the site for landscaping. Ann Davies has made it know that she is for the holding depot. It would appear by her recent flyer she is running the LNR and is telling all of Rhuddlan what they are having, so far the feed back we are receiving from the residents is that no one wants the holding depot. Everyone laughed. I think B & Q sales will go down if mixing stone and waste works. I had an officer from another county on site, he reported that he made the very same mistake about five years ago, and they are still paying the price which was in excess of what it would have cost to remove all the crushed materials to landfill. They can get grass to grow but as far as trees or any other plans go the results in growth have been very poor, most of the bushes and trees died off before they could become established. He also reported it was OK to use on golf courses which are just grass but nothing else the waste should be taken off site.
Barbara reported Brenda and I had a meeting on site with Ken Thomson and we took him and showed him the asbestos sheeting which was broken up in different places on the mounds which had been separated for crushing. He said" I know hen, and that is why I am giving it back to Highways and having nothing to do with it."
Brenda reported according to Iwan P Jones Ken Thomsom had no knowledge of any asbestos sheeting.
The permitted development order which DCC is claiming, is proving to be wide open to interpretation and they definitely do not have any agreement from Mr & Mrs Dawson or us as a partner in this development.
Dave has now gained the chain saw certificate we need and the cost is £190 can we pass this for payment now. All are in agreement.
Barbara reminded the committee about the Christmas celebrations and that we had asked for feed back at the last meeting but as Brenda and I have a few ongoing health issues it would be safe to say a December celebration is out of the question. With this in mind we thought it would be nice to have an early Christmas celebration at our next group meeting on the 4th November in the community centre and have buffet after the meeting. Maureen Tomkins has agreed for us to use the centre for our celebration so is everyone in favour of the buffet and having no meetings in December and January making the next meeting February 2010.
All agreed.
Brenda reported that work is still ongoing on the site and will continue as per the projects agreed. The Knot-weed project has not quite finished but as soon as the burning has taken place a line can be drawn under that until the spring. The fitting of the new balustrades & gates can go ahead when we can gain access.
Barbara passed a picture around showing how the project at the entrance of the nature reserve by the apple tree at the Station Road entrance could look, everyone was excited about it. Barbara has discussed this with Moira Young and she was happy with the idea. What we can do next is turn it into a project for development and submit the drawings and plan for development by agreement at LNR.
Barbara reported that she and Brenda had recently met with Moira to go over the plans in the glen and all had been agreed. Moira was in agreement with partial planting in small areas of the flower meadow and wet field in the spring and Moira had also asked Garry Davies to open the road for access for us to carry on with our works.
Gill and Margaret reported the Land-life visit was very interesting and the information given was of great importance regarding the management of the fields and planting on site.
Paul has agreed to help with the new flyer informing the residents as to the none progress on the reserve, this flyer will be done as soon as possible.
Andy asked for copies of the new pictures acquired regarding the station and was made up with the photographs of the old station house. Brenda reported that she had been offered quite a lot of memorabilia but had no place to store it, it was offered to raise funds for the cancer unit and a decision will be made when we see what actually turns up. Sometimes people meet you and make offers and it never transpires, however it would be difficult to understand someone coming all the way from Manchester to make such an offer and not carry out. Either way Brenda will report back on any memorabilia when it is confirmed, and is very grateful for the four new photographs she had just had posted through her door.
Brenda reported - our group had offered to pay for 2 cuts in both the wet field and flower meadow in 2010 at the LNR and Reg Davies will be doing the work. DCC are paying for the one cut this year, but we hope next year to catch the thistle before seeding.
Brenda reported that she and Barbara had been on a one day course regarding meadow management and how the volunteers removed the thistle from the ground with a special tool, very odd but it works however it would take many volunteer hours and I believe it will be best left to DCC as to how they manage both of these fields, we can plant the flowers and they are best placed to take care of the invasive weeds. REG volunteers have already cleared the entire site for this year in relation to the Ragwort and it was not as bad as last year. We had not been able to get DCC CS Garry D to allow the cutting in the fields before the seeding, so whatever happens next year with the spread it will be down to others we gave it our best shot. We also contained the Himalayan Balsam from the site and removed it fingers crossed that it does not come back, it is prevalent across the river by the castle.
Freddie reported a recent site visit with two friends who mentioned an interesting way to remove dead and unwanted trees, they also made note to the management of the flower meadow fields. Brenda will type up a report when she has more time.
The meeting for cutting back on carbon emissions is November 18th Llangollen Pavilion, any one wishing to attend is welcome. 10am - 5pm
The litter pick last week was very good we even got our picture in the paper.
We are doing another litter pick next Thursday 2pm 15th October with the students from Pengwern Hall, everyone is welcome to join us on the pick and after for a meal in the NEW INN the landlady is putting on a reduced price two course meal.
It is now 8 o'clock and thank you for attending, I look forward to the next meeting/celebration on the 4th November 7pm, and if anything crops up in the meantime as normal you will all get a phone call. Barbara and I are trying to cut down on work for the next couple of months and will not be taking any further works on. Thank you for attending this evening and we hope you don't catch the flue that is going around do stay well and remember about the Civic celebration at 11am this Sunday in St Mary’s Church
Meeting closed at 8pm.
