June 2007
This is the fourth newsletter from the Old Marston Parish Council. This will be produced quarterly to give you information about your Parish Council
In this Issue
Parish Council Web Site
Play Areas
Fourth Edition!
Parish Councillor Resignation
Co-option
Recently Discussed Issues
Parish Council Annual Meeting
Election of hair and Vice Chair
A Profile of Parish Council members
Old Marston Parish Council Web Site
Have you visited the web site yet?
Duncan Hatfield has worked hard to get the Parish Council web sit up and running.
Available to view are
- Details of your Parish Councillors with contact details. (Photographs of Councillors to be added soon!)
- Parish Council Bulletins
- Minutes of Parish Council meetings.
- Parish Council Accounts
- Details of 19 local organisations and other useful information.
- Photo Gallery of Old Marston views
- Links to other Parish organisations history. Duncan requests information on the history of Old Marston to build this page further.
If you wish to add anything to the web site please contact Duncan Hatfield at duncan@oldmarston-pc.gov.uk or by telephone on 07706-998224
Play Areas
In the last issues we invited people to come forward with ideas for Boults Lane and Mortimer Hall play areas. We have had feedback from children and adults and these will be considered in the planning. Its not too late to put your ideas forward or join the sub committee. Please contact one of the Parish Councillors.
Please note that the Parish Council play areas are maintained and run by the Parish Council and therefore will not be included in the City Council closures.
Fourth Edition !
This is the fourth issue of the Old Marston Council Bulletin and at the outset it was agreed to produce the Bulletin for a year and then to review it. At the last meeting it was agreed to continue with a further four issues and Gill Cox who has been the editor, will hand over to Hugh Deem who will be the editor for further issues.
The Parish Council would like to hear your views on the Parish Bulletin.
Have you gained more information about the Parish Councils duties and property it owns? Should the Parish Bulletin continue? Are there any articles/information you would like included?
Please send your comments to the Editor. – details on page 4
Resignation
In March John Batey resigned from the Parish Council. John had been a Parish Councillor
since 1997 and Vice Chairman for the last year. John had represented the Parish Council
on the City Council’s Standards Committee, where he represented the four parishes
in Oxford. He also represented the Parish Council on the city’s North East Area Committee.
John was Chair of the Marston Saints Football Club and Old Marston Parish Council steering group and put a lot of hard work into securing the grant for the drainage of the Boults Lane Recreation ground.
John will be missed and the Parish Council expressed their thanks to him at the March meeting.
Co-opted member
Due to the resignation of John Batey a vacancy was declared and at the March meeting Roy Jones was nominated to fill the vacancy.
Wally Cox was elected to Vice Chairman
Recently Discussed Issues
- Planning Applications
Boults Lane – Storage container for Marston Saints Football Club – no comment.
34 Mill Lane – single storey art studio/workshop in the rear garden – strong objection to commercial use.
86 Oxford Rd – extension – refusal appealed.
53 Oxford Rd – conversion from one dwelling to two dwellings - no comment.
38 Cherwell Drive – rear extension –no comment
27 Nicholas Ave – side extension to provide 1x2 bedroom dwelling – building in front of building line, car parking on busy corner – refusal strongly recommended.
Consultation document on telecom's planning received. Graham Swift agreed to review and comment on this document.
- Planning Decisions
20 Horseman Close – extension refused.
Colthorne Farm & 34 Oxford Road – 2 x 4 bedroom houses renewal of 2000 consent – no comment.
Church Farm, Church Lane –pedestrian gate in wall – approved.
17 Mill Lane – Alterations and internal work – approved.
1 and 3 Nicholas Avenue – side/rear extension to No .1 Rear extension to No 3 Conversion of extended building into 8 flats. – strong objection - inappropriate in every aspect. Parish Council had objected – withdrawn.
NB All planning applications and decisions can be viewed at www.oxford.gov.uk
- Land between 3 &13 Cavendish Drive.
The fencing has now been removed. It is understood that due to court action by the residents, who have rights to park on this land that, houses may not be built on this land. The land has been left in a poor state. City Councillor Mary Clarkson to investigate what can be done to make the area safe.
- Boults Lane Development Project
Draft finances show an excess of £1389 and it was agreed that Marston Saints Football Club (MSFC) to be offered £1000 to assist with pitch hire.
A meeting took place with Total Turf and White Horse Construction regarding the drainage work.
A strip of land under the hedge adjoining the allotments to be cut back and reseeded at a cost of £250.
MSFC give permission to provide new gate opposite the pavilion for access to the field for mowing.
Kissing gates to be provided on the public footpaths.
Following a meeting with the City Council Planners the plans for the pavilion are being redrawn to reduce the height of the building.
Once the plans are received they will be made available for local residents to view.
An Environmental Health officer had visited the existing pavilion and made recommendations re the existing external doors. Quotes required re this work.
- Burial Ground
A seat is to be placed under the tree.
Alterations were made to the conditions of burial. ( available from the Clerk).
One or two of the memorial stones are not secure, these will be laid on the ground or reinstated if families wish to carry this work out.
Approval was given for the purchase of an additional mower to assist volunteers in the mowing.
- Finances
In line with National Association of Local Councils it was agreed to increase the Clerks salary by 2.95%.
“Post Watch.” Campaign on post Office Closures
Michael Cadd agreed to represent the Parish at any meetings to save the Post Office in New Marston.
A photocopier is to be purchased for use by the Parish Council Clerk.
- Trees
There are several cases in the Parish of trees overhanging the pavements. The County Council will be asked to request householders to cut them back.
- Dog Fouling
Complaints have been received regarding dog fouling in the alleyway,paths and roads around St Nicholas school. Dog owners are asked to clear up after their animals.
- Notice Boards
Three new notice boards are to be purchased. Two to be placed at Mortimer Hall for use by the Hall and Parish Council and one at the Jack Russell public house. These will replace existing notice boards.
- Controlled Parking Zone. (CPZ)
At the May meeting concerns were expressed at the impact of the CPZ on Old Marston area.
Also noted parking restrictions inadequate at Cherwell Drive shops. Restriction could adversely affect trade.
Improved cycle racks are to be placed at the shops in Old Marston Road.
Parish Council Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting took place before the Parish Council meeting on 1st May. In addition to the Parish Councillors one member of the public attended.
The Chairman presented a report summarising the work of the Parish Councils during the year. A finance report was presented.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
At the Parish Council meeting following the Annual Parish Meeting meeting Charlie Haynes was elected as Chair and Wally Cox as Vice Chair of the Parish Council for the year.
Profile of two Parish Councillors
I was born on Barton Estate, Oxford in 1948 and spent my childhood there. In 1965 I joined the Oxford City Police Cadets becoming a Police Officer in 1967. I married Gill (also a Parish Councillor) in 1972 and moved to Old Marston. I retired from the Thames Valley Police in 2003 and am now the Grants Manager for the Oxfordshire Community Foundation.
In 1983 I attended a public meeting regarding the state of Mortimer Hall and subsequently became Chairman of the Management Committee, a position I still hold. In 1984 the committee raised £36,000 through grants to carry out essential work at the hall. Today we need to raise £200,000+ to replace the roof, provide accessible toilets and other alterations to meet current legislation.
Through my work on the Mortimer Hall Committee I joined the Oxford Federation of Community Associations, which looks after the interests of all Community Centres in the city. I later became Chairman, a position I held for 8 years before resigning on being elected to the Parish council.
I am a committee member of both the Oxford City Police Association and the local branch of the National Association for Retired Police Officers.
I became a Parish Councillor in 2006 and was elected as Vice Chairman this year.
I was born in Wallingford and grew up in the village of Cholsey. I studied Geography in Liverpool and later moved to Oxford, and have lived in Marston for eleven years.
For a many years I worked in care work, before moving onto administration and then retail. I have also run holiday playschemes for children. For a number of years I helped to run a youth club and children's club in Marston until they closed. I am keen to see better facilities for our local young people and children.
I have been involved in local politics for many years and joined the Parish Council in 2006. I am also responsible for setting up and running the Parish Council website.
Comments on this newsletter are welcomed, plus any contributions for the next newsletter, the deadline date will be 14th August. Please contact the editor
Hugh Deam hughie.deam@oldmarston-pc.gov.uk Telephone 01865 247574
If you have any items regarding the Parish that you would like brought to the attention of the Parish Council please contact The Clerk or one of the above Councillors
Minutes of Parish Council meetings are displayed in the notice boards at Mortimer Hall, The Jack Russell Public House and on the website www.oldmarston-pc.go.uk Parish Council meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month (except August) at 7.30pm at Mortimer Hall, Oxford Road, Old Marston
