Councillor Tim Hill’s Report to Stewartby Parish Council
Parish-wide Issues
Community benefit from the development of the brickworks site - The current draft of the Local Plan has unsurprisingly in it a bid by the site owners for it to be identified as a development site. Following a contact made by a community benefit specialist, I have arranged a meeting on 3rd Sept for your Chair and I with the specialist to discuss how our local community might benefit from any such development. Initial ideas are very welcome.
Ward Facebook Page
For those with a social media inclination, I have set up a Ward Facebook Page. It gives another opportunity for local residents to keep up to date with local issues. The page can be found at: www.facebook.com/ElstowandStewartbyLD
Covanta - Representatives of Covanta and the Environment Agency attended a public meeting at 6.30pm on the 21st June to answer questions from Councillors who sit on Bedford Borough Council's Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. I would like to thank the more than 60 local residents who turned up and helped me give the representatives a real grilling.
Victory on Chimney Corner - I'm very pleased to report that the National Planning Inspector has dismissed the formal Appeal from the landowner of Chimney Corner against the Enforcement Notice to remove the Used Car Dealership from the site. The Decision was issued on the 4th July 2018 and the landowner has 2 months from that date to comply with the requirements of the Enforcement Notice. Otherwise, he will face prosecution.
Local Issues
Litter in lay-by near by-pass bridge on B530 - The two wheely bins in the lay-by by the by-pass bridge on the B530 were always overflowing after weekends and had sometimes been pushed over. I asked the Borough to provide an extra wheely bin and to make all three secure in the ground. This has now been done.
Double Glazing at Sir Malcolm Stewart Homes - I am working with the Trust's planning consultants to progress planning applications for the double glazing, giving them advice on gathering evidence of other double glazing successful applications in old buildings elsewhere in the Borough, and both them and I intensively lobbying each Planning Committee member to support the planning applications. As I type this report, I am meeting Trust representatives at the Common Room on Mon 13 Aug to progress this.
Bottle Bank by the Shop - The bottle bank is continually overflowing, especially the brown container. I have reported this and also asked for it to be emptied more often.
Clothes Bank and Litter Bin by Shop - I reported the Salvation Army Clothes Bank and Litter Bin by Stewartby Village Shop were both full, and that there were piles of fly-tipping next to them. Some of the fly-tipping items have names and addresses on. I've asked for those people to be prosecuted. This is totally unacceptable.
Handover of Sports Field - Persimmons have confirmed they have told Maxplant to ensure the site is made secure from illegal encampments. This includes re-instating the earth bunding at the two entrances.
Open top lorries littering Manor Road - I have reported to the Borough Council, several instances of open top lorries travelling along Manor Road. Following some work I did several years ago, it is against the law for lorries to travel along Manor Road without a cover on their loads.
Land north of Manor Road - I am dealing with various planning issues relating to this land, including unauthorised drainage works and an unauthorised change of use.
Empty property at Railway Cottages - I am very pleased to report that this was compulsorily purchased by the Borough Council after being empty for some time. It has been renovated and will soon be put up for sale.