COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

PRESENT:            Cllr G. Harris (Chairman) 

Cllrs: R. Piercey, A. Prichard, S. Saintclair-Abbott, M. Wellman and H. J. Woodbridge.

In attendance: Andrew Streat (Maidenhead Advertiser) and two members of the public.

1.                  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS: Apologies were received from Cllr Innes.  There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.            ALFRED MAJOR GROUND:

a):        To discuss the future maintenance of the Football Pitches and any communication with Cookham Dean Football Club: The Chairman said that the football pitches and the training area in front of the Club were “messy”. Cllr Prichard proposed that a Sports Field Specialist needs to be brought in to carry out a re-seeding programme by the end of February or beginning of March. In the meantime, the Club was asked to use the less worn lower pitch. Cllr Wellman said that there may be some money available as part of the 106 developers contributions that could be spent on pitch improvements. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott proposed that the Council seek professional advice for the way ahead. The was seconded by Cllr Woodbridge and agreed.

b)         To discuss the 2006 mowing programme: Cookham Dean Football Club said that they would prefer Thursday or Friday morning for the pitches to be cut. They were happy to pay for extra cuts. Cllr Wellman said that the cutting often depended on the weather but it would be difficult to tie down a supplier to cut the Alfred Major at short notice. The Chairman was asked to discuss the cutting programme with Peter Taylor.

c)         To discuss the care and maintenance of the play area, especially the fencing: It was AGREED to ask Joe Stoneman to quote for repairing the fencing in the play area.

3.            FOOTPATHS:

a):        To discuss the proposed Diversion of Cookham FP49 (part/Maidenhead FP20: The Chairman said the Diversion showed that two paths were due to be replaced and he recommended that the footpath from point E going south towards Maidenhead to FP19 would be an improvement.

4.            ALLOTMENTS:

a)                  Up-date on allotment renewal: Two plots at Sutton, 20ab and 22ab had been cleared and were now ready to let. Mrs Bolger’s plot was also vacant. It was also agreed to let 5 pole plots away from the path edge. There was one vacant plot at Cookham Dean allotments and many vacancies at Cookham Rise.

b)                  To discuss advertising vacant plots at Sutton: It was suggested by Cllr Saintclair-Abbott to try advertising the vacant plots on the Discussion Board on www.cookham.com before putting any advertisements in the local paper.

c)                  To discuss future regeneration of vacant plots: The Chairman was asked to carry on clearing and tidying vacant plots using the help of local contractors as necessary.

d)                  To confirm support for burying the high voltage power cables at Sutton Allotment: It was AGREED to support the residents of Sutton Close who had been lobbying Southern Electric for some time now. The Clerk was asked to ensure that any damage must be made good after completion of the work. 

5.            HANGING BASKETS:

a)         To discuss suppliers for 2006: Everyone agreed that the 2005 baskets had, on the whole, been a great success. Cllr Harris mentioned one plant that died too early but the baskets were still impressive enough to use the same supplier again.

6.            CORRESPONDENCE:

a)         To comment on the Public Rights of Way: Milestones Statement for 2006/7: The Clerk said that the Category one projects were the only ones likely to be afforded for this year. The Councillors asked for the following projects to be given equal billing out of the Category 2 list: 2.13 Creation of a path parallel to the Lower Cookham Road to Widbrook Common; 2.12 Access improvements at Cookham Lock to provide high degree of accessibility to the site; and 2.15 Create a path from Lower Cookham Road at Widbrook Common to the Thames Path.

The Meeting closed at 9.15pm