HINDLEY GREEN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MEETIN= G

Held at Hindley Green Family Church at Bethel on Wednesday 4^th February 2009

PRESENT: &nbs= p; Debbie Birchall - DB, Jim Burto= nwood, Eric Dickens, Mike Lynch, Ron Shuttleworth - RS, Ken Ellison,

= &nb= sp; Julie Bradshaw, John Vickers - = JV, Jeff Unsworth, Barbara Unsworth, Cllr. Bob Brierley - CBB, Mike Walsh,

= D Pye, P Hilton, Avis Shone, Sheila Woodward - SW, Lynn Collier, Maxine Armst= rong - MA, Julie Butler,

= I= vy Dickens

= &nb= sp;

APOLOGIES: &n= bsp; were received from John Hatton,= Cllr. Louise Fagan, Cllr. Barry Fagan – CBF, Malcolm Coe - MC, <= /span>

= &nb= sp; Barbara Lane, Dawn Draper

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>1.&n= bsp; MINUTES: of the meeting held on Wednesda= y 3rd December 2008 were circulated and Proposed by Jim Burtonwood and Seconded by Eric Dickens. The minutes of = the meeting held on 7^th January 2009 were also circulated and Propos= ed by Eric Dickens and Seconded by Mike Lynch.

2. &nbs= p; MATTERS ARISING:

i. &nbs= p; Guest Speaker

<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Pauline Gregson of Wigan MBC Ad= ult Services attended give details of the new Carer Centre which they are hopin= g to open by 8^th June (during Carers Rights Week), in Anrich House, Frederick Street, Hindley and will be funded by Adult Services for 3 years, available for all ages. Full details of this service can be found on our website http://hgra.web.officel= ive.com/events.aspx and also in February’s newsletter http://hgra.web.off= icelive.com/newsletter.aspx

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ii. &nb= sp; Committee

<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>At the last Committee meeting o= n 14^th January the Committee received a resignation from Ron Shuttleworth which was left in abeyance for further consideration. As no response was received by the= date given, it is therefore with regret that Ron’s resignation was accepte= d.

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iii. = Leigh Road=

<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Kerb = replacements will take place Thursday 5^th/Friday 6^th February and possibly continue the following Monday.&nb= sp; Leigh Road will definitely be closed weekend 7^th/8^th February for resurfacing works between = Pauline Street and 221 Leigh Road. Apparently, when works of this nat= ure are planned by WMBC they do not have confirmation from the contractors of t= he exact date in which works will be undertaken. Therefore, three different dates a= re given to keep options open. Anti-skid surfacing will be put down approximately two weeks later together with a new central hatched area.&= nbsp; Hopefully this will drastically reduce the accidents on this stretch= of road.

= iv. Bethel Lease

All Committee members have now = been issued with a copy of the lease. The Committee are to come back to the Secretary with comments and suggestions. The Constitution states that the Committee can act in this nature without consulting members. There is a mine shaf= t to the side of the Bethel.

v. Boundary Signs

The Engineer does not think he will need to digitize the photograph. He has identified four locations f= or the signs, back to back with existing signs: Wigan Road, Leigh (Tamar); Bickershaw Lane; Atherton Road, Hindley and Corner Lane. The Westhoughton/Hindley Green bou= ndary will not be considered by the Engineer as they fall under different Councils. The Engineer sugges= ted Green Lane = as a possible 5^th sign although MC thinks he may mean Swan Lane, exact location to be identified. ACTION 106 DB.= The cost of the signs are &pou= nd;600 each. CBB questioned the cost= s are the signs are made in-house and asked how many suppliers tendered.

vi.= = Coupland Road Play Area

Consultation letters have been issued by Wigan Leisure Culture Trust to those affected by the proposed play area. WLCT have organized a meeting on Thursday 19^th February between 3.30pm and 5.30pm at Body Image Fitness Centre on Swan Lan= e. JV to find out addresses letters w= ere issued to ACTION 107 JV

Following SW’s complaint to Wigan Evening Post regarding the lack of gritting on Coupland Road, WMBC have now confirmed that this road w= ill now be gritted as a matter of course during icy weather conditions.

vi. H= arlea Avenue

WMBC have advised that there are no planned works for Ha= rlea Avenue during 2009.

A flyer is to be put together for Harlea Avenue residents. The road in front = is full of potholes. Apparently, unadopted roads are not cleaned by WMBC however, Brecon Drive and Beaumaris Avenue are.

vii. Planning Matters=

A list of the latest planning applications was circulated amongst those present.

viii. Hindley Green Ward Boundaries

MA provided a list = of residents to be included within Hindley Green ward. MA to check with residents of Smith’s Lane. Refer to = Action 03

ix.= = Engineer’s Fund

There is £1,4= 00 available for HGRA to spend on highways/environmental related issues. The purchase of HGRA noticeboards = was suggested as the recently provided Westlake noticeboards are inadequate and inaccessible. Different locations were discussed= and signage above a certain size may be subject to a planning application. Additional lighting on Hawthorne Avenue was considered to be a Council issue. Should HGRA set a precedent in funding this type of works we may not= get any works done in our area as it may become an expectation. This type of project would far exc= eed the £1,400 available. H= GRA will follow this up separately. Additional lighting on = Westlake may be objected to be residents as amalgamation of youths is already an iss= ue in this area. Guardrails on <= st1:Street w:st=3D"on">Leigh Road,= WMBC have already advised that the pavement is too narrow to facilitate. Previously additional lighting was installed in the bus stop outside Jeyes Factory on = Atherton Road caused problems with youths. However, since remova= l of the lighting there have been no further issues.

x. = Highways Capital Project

= WMBC propose to put in place a pedestrian refuges island at the bottom on Long Lane/Richmond Road and to build up the paved area to the front of Soltan. Works to be completed before the e= nd of March 2009. These works will = cause hazards for buses and shops and the loss of parking spaces. CBB was unaware of these works and= will follow up with WMBC. ACTIO= N 108 CBB

xi. &= nbsp; Alley Gating

&= nbsp; Leaflets made available with advice. No planning permission sought for alley gates at Lulworth Road/long Lane at a cost of £1,000. To install alley gates to the rear of the hairdressers would = be greater. All residents must be agreement for gates to be installed, CBB advised that they were. However we were advised that it was looked into 5/6 years ago and the land was said to be privately owned. Residents from Tavistock Avenue who utilize this r= oute as access would be unable to use this route, CBB advised that they were abl= e to obtain gate keys. Cinnamon Av= enue garage has been gated off. Wi= th regard to the passageway between the hairdressers on Atherton Road a consultation process would need to be followed with all residents agreeing. The Swan car park is locked during= their closed hours therefore reducing parking around the immediate vicinity. Write to Swan requesting access for parking, ACTION 109 DB

<= span style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>xi.&= nbsp; Sponsorship=

&= nbsp; Obtaining sponsors and donations is a very difficult task. A volunteer is needed to carry out= this task as JU is busily utilised in other areas. Some business would prefer to prov= ide a gift rather than cash. We do = have a sponsor page on our newsletter and website advertising sponsors and letters have been issued thanking them for their kind donation. There is no need to move away from= how sponsors have been obtained to date unless other suggestions prove more fruitful. Obtaining grants is dependent on having premises. Suggestions welcome!

xii. = Fund Raising=

&= nbsp; It was agreed not to progress with a Lottery licence. It was agreed to hold a monthly ra= ffle at each meeting utilizing the prizes already donated. This would inevitably target the p= eople regularly attending meetings. Should anyone be unable to attend a meeting and would like to buy ra= ffle tickets please contact a Committee member.

&= nbsp; A suggestion was made that we approach St. John’s Church for a stall at the Spring Fayre allowing HGRA an opportunity to advertise.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> ACTION 110 DB to co= ntact Church

3. FINANCE

No financial cha= nges since last month. The sum of £12.50 has been raised from the sale of refreshments during the last three general meeting. <= /o:p>

The sum of £23.67 has been raised from the Easyfundraising donations during the fourth quarter of 2008. A che= que for which is expected during February.

4. &nbs= p; COUNCILLOR ITEMS

= i. Cllr.= Barry Fagan - No rep= ort received.

ii. &nb= sp; Cllr. Louise Fagan - No report received.<= /span>

=

         = iii.&= nbsp;    Cllr. Bob Brierley

·      =    Clean up works b= ehind the parade of shops on Ath= erton Road is commencing this weekend with alley gat= es being erected in April. Shop frontages are owned by WMBC although shop owners have agreed to assist with funding to replace grassed area wit flags.

·      =    On-going project= s are old folks home in Brasswood; Lulworth Drive (Long Lane) end, CBB funding alley gatin= g; 3-9 February alleyways are being cleaned up.

·      =    Streets, roads a= nd footpaths should be cleaned every 12 weeks. CBB suggested every 5 weeks unempl= oyed should carry out street cleaning and WMBC do every 6^th week then Unions cannot become involved. He would supervise and motive people. Work on Oak Avenue is being carried out by = people on Community Service.

·      =    Pricing has gone= out to 4 different companies to tender for the proposed .

·      =    Pricing obtained= to fence off Westlake= play area.

5.&nbs= p;     ANY OTHER BUSINESS

i.          &nbs= p;   Bexhill Drive Play Area - We were advised that this proje= ct is now complete.

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ii. &nb= sp; Additional Lighting Carr Comm= on Road - An additional street lamp has been positioned at the bottom of Carr Common Road where there has no= t been any for the past two years. <= b>ACTION 111 JV to investigate

iii. Buchanan Drive/Edinburgh Drive Alleyway - Over the past few weeks there have been numerous incidents involving vandalism caused to residents property near the alleyway in that a wheelie bin was set alight with aerosols inside, fencing panels damaged and a concrete panel stolen. Dog fecets and urination is also a problem. A couple of resident= s will carry out a survey and report back to next meeting as to whether residents = wish to have this walkway blocked off, which is sad when this sort of action is taken. The area is only clean= ed as and when requested. Residents= have attended the Police Surgery and also tried to contact Cllrs. Louise and Bar= ry Fagan. Write to all local Councillors requesting action. ACTION 112 DB

iv.= = Working with Other Agencies - The question was raised does HGRA work with other agencies? Yes we do. Dispute was raised as to the posit= ion of Homewatch Co-ordinator which we are advised the Police no longer consider t= his as a recognized position. Hin= dley Green Homewatch is now managed by our local PCSO’s. It was advised that this issue be = taken up directly with the local Police.

v.<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> = B&Q 40^th Anniversary -= As part of their 40^th Anniversary B&Q are running a scheme where organizations can receive between £2k to £10k and they plan to = fund 40 schemes across the country. All applications to be submitted by Friday 27^th March 2009. ACTION 113 JV to apply for application form.

vi.= = Bail Hostels - Clearsprings are setting up bail hostels around the country, WN2 and WN7 and included. They are under no obligation to let people know where. ACTION = 114 JV to investigate further.

vii= . = Thomas Street – Residents on Thomas Street would like to see it = made into a one way system between Organ Street and West Street. A list of objections to be raised.= ACTION 115 DB to raise at TE&E Sub Group= .

6. &nbs= p; DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 4^th March 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'>03	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>07/05/08	Confirm which ward Maxine Armstrong of 7 Bankhall Clos= e, Hindley Green, WN2 resides	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>MA/CBB	Ongoing – Details given to CBB. Further info to be sought by MA<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>29	= 06/08/08	Investigate how standards of play areas were achieved = in Bolton	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Ongoing
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>34	= 03/09/08	Report to be submitted regarding Coupland Road	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBF	CANCELLED
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>43	= 01/10/08	Clarify area covered as Harlea Avenue	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB	COMPLETE
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>46	= 05/11/08	Liaise with Wigan MBC regarding accidents on Leigh Road on behalf of HGRA	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	COMPLETE
<= 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'>DB/ <= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB	E-mail sent to CBB 28/11/08 – awaiting response = from WMBC – Chased CBB 20/01/09 & 02/02/09
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>48	= 05/11/08	Forward copy of Bethel lease to Treasurer also to all other Committee members<= /p>	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV/CBB	COMPLETE – Copy now obtained
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>50	= 05/11/08	Obtain frequencies of activities for Play Area Inspect= or	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	COMPLETE - Weekly
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>52	= 05/11/08	Liaise with CBB regarding gating between the two hairdressing shops on At= herton Road	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB	COMPLETE – Refer to Action 103=
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>54	= 03/12/08	Challenge Planning at Township Forum regarding proposed barriers on Lancaster Ro= ad	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Ongoing
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>55	= 03/12/08	Discuss future requirements of <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Bethel	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Committee	Ongoing – 13/02 – Having difficulty arrang= ing meeting with Church
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>56	= 03/12/08	Write to Martin Kimber requesting confirmation of work= s to Harlea Avenue	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	COMPLETE
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>59	= 03/12/08	Print poster regarding alley gating<= /p>	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV	Ongoing
2009 ACTIONS
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>101	= 07/01/09	Investigate current position of = Bethel lease and advise Chair at next Township Forum meeting	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>MC/JV	Ongoing – MC awaiting response=
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>102	= 07/01/09	Follow up boundary signs from Engineering Department	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>MC	COMPLETE
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>103	= 07/01/09	Check if planning permission is required for alley gat= ing and take copy of process to next meeting	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	COMPLETE – Information leaflet obtained and distributed
<= 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'>105	= 07/01/09	Discuss suggestions for Engineer’s Fund and take information to next meeting	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>All Committee	COMPLETE – See report
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>106	= 04/02/09	Identify exact location of possible 5^th boundary sign	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	E-mail sent to CBF 14/02/09
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>107	= 04/02/09	Identify addresses Coupland Road play area consultat= ion letters were sent to	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>108	= 04/02/09	Investigate Highways Capital Programme works outside s= hops at the bottom of Long Lane/Richmond Road	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>CBB	12/02 CBB has temporarily stopped all works
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>109	= 04/02/09	Write to Swan Hotel requesting access for parking	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>110	= 09/04/09	Write to = St. John’s Church re stall at Spring Fayre	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>111	= 04/02/09	Investigate additional street light Carr Common Road	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>112	= 04/02/09	Write to local Councillors requesting action for Edinburgh Drive/Buchanan Drive	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB	15/02 E-mail sent to Councillors. 17/02 CBB wrote to I Harrison
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>113	= 04/02/09	Apply for B&Q 40^th Anniversary applicat= ion form	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>114	= 04/02/09	Investigate proposals for bail hostels	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>JV
<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>115	= 04/02/09	Submit proposals for one way system on Thomas Street to TE&E Sub Gro= up	<= span style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>DB

2008 ACTIONS

2009 ACTIONS