HINDLEY GREEN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MEETIN= G

Held at Hindley Green Family Church at Bethel on Wednesday 2^nd September 2009

PRESENT: &nbs= p; Debbie Birchall - DB, Jim Burto= nwood, Mike Lynch, Mike Walsh - MW, John Vickers - JV, Jeff Unsworth - JU, Barbara Unsworth, Dawn Draper - DD, Lynn Collier, David Dodswo= rth, Margaret Wright, Alan Wright,

= &nb= sp; Barbara Lane - BL, Julie Bradshaw, Ken Ellison, Cllr. Bob Brierley - CBB, Cllr. Barry Fagan - CBF

APOLOGIES: &n= bsp; were received from Maxine Armst= rong and Joan Blundell

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>1.&n= bsp; MINUTES: of the meeting held on Wednesda= y 5^th August were unavailable at the time of the meeting. Apologies were given by the Secret= ary.

2. &nbs= p; MATTERS ARISING:

= i. &= nbsp; Engineer’s Fund/Bethel Proposed Works

Two q= uotes have been obtained although we are now informed that it is normal practice = for the Council to arrange a Contractor. CBF advised that this is sometimes best practice. Arguments were aired for and again= st. Awaiting confirm that the proposed contractor is acceptable to WMBC. ACTION 142 – Malcolm Coe = (MC)

ii.&n= bsp; Sponsorship

Assistance required to obtain funding from various sources.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>

iii. Thomas Street One Way System

No further developments.= JU to contact Stephen Bell, WMBC. ACTION 143 - JU<= /p>

iv. HGRA Proposed Projects=

We were advised that funding is available from the Platt Bridge Forum. A proposal was to impr= ove the footpath around the Clayhole Alternatives materials were discussed. Fur= ther suggestions are welcome. Appa= rently this area was never intended as a park but a scene. It is a nice area for young childr= en but not teenagers. A fence would = take away the open aspect, more swings will attract youths. Please give some thought to improv= ements or projects you would like to see happen around Hindley Green and let us ha= ve your thoughts and comments for discussion and hopefully to undertake. Harlea Avenue was suggested as a projec= t.

= v.&nb= sp; Traffic Issues

= We were advised by CBB that <= span class=3DSpellE>Coupland Road has not, a= s yet, been adopted with contracts still to be signed by both the Council and the Builders.

= The signage directing traffic at the traffic lights of = Atherton Road/Leigh Road is small a= nd requires placing higher up. C= BB has held a meeting with Stephen Bell in this regard.

= Speeding motorbikes along Leigh Roa= d seem to be on the increase.

= CBB has requested yellow lines be places on Broadway, <= st1:address w:st=3D"on">Atherton Road, Swan Lane and all major highways in Hindley Green.

= We were informed that new crossing signs have been placed on Castle Hill Road and more on Atherton Road in an endeavour to slow traffic down.

= Works outlined on the drawings as part of to the LPT Capital Project for Atherton Road/Leigh Road= has not been carried out. = CBB/CBF to chase = ACTION 47 refers

= Parking is still a big issue near = Atherton Road hairdressers. Some residents want alley gating f= or which two rules apply (1) a lot a complaints or (2) inconvenience by reside= nts who want them. The Council do not take responsibility, details to be given to CBB= .

vi.&= nbsp; Planning Matters

= ; There are 6/7 planning applications on = the website, all except one are residential developments for conservatories / extensions. The other is for = the play area on Coupland Road.

3. FINANCE

= The current bank balance stands at £967.41, with an income of £28.18 from the sale of refreshment and raffle at July’s meeting. A cheque in the sum of £6.00 payable to Land Registry still remains uncleared and has now expired it’s six month validity. <= /span>

4. &nbs= p; COUNCILLOR ITEMS

i. &nbs= p; Cllr. Barry Fagan

· = Save our Schools – The Government are making the education system boroughwide rather than local. Three motions have gone into the C= ouncil (CBF was unable to elaborate on this).&nbs= p; There is a considerable amount of money available to Hindley Green of £6m.

· = Hindley Green have not received any regeneration monies.= £19.6m has been earmarked fo= r Bickershaw. When challenged the response was that no Counci= llors had applied for funds.

· = Hindley Green are also not to receive any Coalfied Funds. We seem to be hitting = brick walls. CBF has asked for figu= res.

ii. &nb= sp; Cllr. Louise Fagan - No report received.

= iii.&nbs= p; Cllr. Bob Brierley

· &n= bsp; New footpaths and lamp posts have been identified from the 2010/11 budget. Foot= paths in Athol Crescent, Breco= n Drive and Beaumaris Avenue to be considered in the near future.

· &n= bsp; Flags have now been replaced out Kebab King and = the Sunbed Centre. Flags purchase by CBB the shops employing their own contractors. Gating to the rear has also been completed together with the tidying up of the back alley.=

· &n= bsp; The Beat It Team were= given a detailed list of areas to be cleaned up.= Hindley Green is becoming a cleaner place to live.=

· &n= bsp; At the time of the meeting the roof was leaking, water dripping on to the Committee’s table. CBB advised that he had requested a structural survey of the Bethe= l. The Church have recently replaced window, new battens around the building although CBB advised these have been placed over the top of rotten battens.&nbs= p; CBB was of the view that the Church were = being made scapegoats as the Council should be carrying out these works. CBB also advised that under the old lease the Church are responsible for the footpaths outside the building.

· &n= bsp; The alleyway at the side and to the rear of the hairdressers on Atherton R= oad is to be cleared, money should be available in t= he next two weeks.

· &n= bsp; Donated £250 to Brunswick Gala together wi= th gazebos and non-perishable items.

5. &nbs= p; ANY OTHER BUSINESS

i. = Westlake/Clayhol= e

Problems still being encountered with youths amalgamating on the park, not necessari= ly from Hindley Green. Problems were encountered at 6.30 this morning with youths on the park rattling the swings. WLCT do not appear to be intereste= d and advise residents to contact the Police.&nb= sp; Please do contact the Police and ensure you receive a log number. Three calls in rapid succession wo= uld receive higher priority. PACT encourage residents to contact the Police to reco= rd incidents. Should problems no= t be reported then there is no record of the incident and goes unnoticed. Once fed in PACT about 50 people a= re contacted for feedback. The l= aw must be broken before action can be taken, results from which are good. Unfortunately the swings cannot be locked up at night as cemeteries due to limited amount of income funding. Both Councill= ors present were asked to put pressure on WLCT. ACTION CBF/CBB= HGRA have previously made enquiries for cos= ts to place wrap around swing chains, DB to chase. ACTION 144 - DB.&nbs= p; Residents are looking = for more consideration i.e. no ball games, no horse riding and signage to the affect as previous signage has been removed. ACTION 145 - CBF to l= iaise with Rodney Hill.

Gun shots were heard at approximately 2.30am on Sunday morning 4 quick bursts and then another four.

ii. Councillors

Members do not feel= Hindley Green is receiving support from it’s Councillors. Prior to CBB being re-elected CBF attended meeti= ngs .

iii. Local Development Framework Core Strategy

JU has written a draft objection letter and one has already been sent in to WM= BC. Place on website and bring copies = to next meeting. ACTION 146 -= JU

iv. Buses

= South Lancs Travel have gi= ven notice of withdrawal of the 652 bus service to Leigh via Westhoughton. Children attending Westleigh High School will now have to leave= home earlier to either walk or to change buses.= Parents should complain to the School, the more complaints received = the more chance of something being done. South Lancs Travel we understand is the = worst bus company in the area. The Council retains their own budget controlled by L= ord Peter Smith. CBF will liaise = with GMPTA. ACTION 147 – = CBF

v. Harlea Avenue

It seems unlikely t= hat the adoption of Harlea Aven= ue will not take in place in the foreseeable future. Twelve roads have been adopted in = Abram which do not form part of the generation project. There are currently 80/90 unadopted roads in the Borough with up to three per y= ear being adopted due to costs. C= BB to investigate the pecking order as Harlea Avenue have been near the top of the list for the past 24 years. ACTION 148 – CBB. Properties on unadopted roads are cheaper as standards of = the road are not met.

6. &nbs= p; DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Wednesday 5^th October 2009 commencing 7.= 00 pm at Hindley Green Family Church at Bethel.

= Apologies for any errors and omissions.

Ref	Date	Action	Owner	Comments
2008 ACTIONS
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>47	= 05/11/08	Request further footprint be carried out at Atherton Road/ Leigh Road junction from Wigan MBC	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB/CBF	E-mail sent to CBB 28/11/08 – awaiting response = from WMBC – Chased CBB 20/01/09 & 02/02/09 02/09 CBF/CBB to chase
2009 ACTIONS
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>104	= 07/01/09	Contact Wigan MBC regarding inadequate lighting on Ludlow Avenue	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	Ongoing - E-mail sent 21/01
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>114	= 04/02/09	Investigate proposals for bale hostels	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Ongoing - No further information available at present<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>119	= 04/03/09	Obtain information regarding the PACT Process from Township Forum	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Ongoing - Not at last meeting
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>120	= 04/03/09	Raise at Township Forum problems with vehicles parking= on grass verge Blair Avenue=	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Ongoing – Greenspaces investigating
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>121	= 01/04/09	How do Highways consult with residents regarding propo= sed projects/plans?	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>122	= 01/04/09	What can we do to encourage our local Councillors to support us?	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Currently in hand
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>124	= 01/04/09	Who owns the land on Leigh Road, the old railway gap	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>126	= 01/04/09	Add waste collection details to website	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JU
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>130	= 03/06/09	What proposals do Cllr. Ba= rry and Louise Fagan have in the pipeline for their Brighter Borough Funds	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	COMPLETE – Have projects lined up but like to ke= ep a sum set aside
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>131	= 01/07/09	Chase 5^th boundary sign at Westhoughton boundary	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	E-mail sent to Malcolm Coe
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>132	= 01/07/09	Arrange for shrubbery to be cut back to the rear of the land adjacent the Bethel	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>135	= 01/07/09	Put forward traffic issues to TE&E Sub Group<= /o:p>	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	E-mail to M Coe & Traffic Dept
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>136	= 01/07/09	Who is responsible for Bexley Street?	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	E-mail sent to D Jenkinson=
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>137	= 01/07/09	Add Local Development Framework to website<= /span>	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JU	COMPLETE
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>138	= 01/07/09	Provide list of sources available for funding	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>139	= 05/08/09	Add details to website regarding development framework consultation	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JU	COMPLETE
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>140	= 05/08/09	Collate further information regarding the development framework consultation	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>141	= 05/08/09	Visit shop owners requesting consideration be given to residents regarding parking	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>MA
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>142	= 02/09/09	Confirmation awaited that proposed Contractor for Bethel works is= acceptable to WMBC	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>MC
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>143	= 02/09/09	Liaise with Stephen Bell, WMBC regarding Thomas Street one way system	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JU
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>144	= 02/09/09	Chase WLCT for costings to= place wraps on swing chains, clayhole	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	E-mail sent to Debbie Freeman
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>145	= 02/09/09	Liaise with Rodney Hill regarding signage around Westlake	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBF
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>146	= 02/09/09	Upload Local Development Framework Core Strategy objec= tion letter and bring copies to next meeting	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JU	COMPLETE
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>147	= 02/09/09	Liaise with GMPTA regarding bus services and the withdrawal of the 652 service	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBF
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>148	= 02/09/09	Investigate pecking order for adoption of roads	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB

Assistance required to obtain funding from various sources.=

2008 ACTIONS

2009 ACTIONS