Parish Clerk - Mrs S R Crow Email clerksmpc@dsl.pipex.com Tel: 01691 655385

(Please address all correspondence to: 3 Fernhill Close, Gobowen, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 3PW)

Chairman: Ms Alison M Baseley

Vice Chair: Mrs Sue Schofield

The Parish Council is charged with looking after the best interests of the Parish and is made up of unpaid volunteers guided by our Clerk, Mrs Sue Crow. Whilst we do get involved with interesting projects that can take up time, most of us spend a few hours a month on village issues. The Parish Council is involved with planning applications, street lighting, roads and footways, obstructions, parking, play areas ,new legislation, and also county, regional and Government decisions affecting the community. We enter into discussions, confer and often object to decisions taken at district and county level. There are sub-groups dealing with specific issues when required. We are members of both SALC (Shropshire Association of Local Councils) and NALC (National Association of Local Councils), and are able to raise important issues with government department, as we have done over the porposed over-head power lines and the consultations on local border reforms.

We meet on the second Thursday in the month (except August) and the public and press are invited to attend. The first 15 minutes of each meeting is dedicated to the public being able to ask questions . If the council is unable to answer at that meeting then they will be answered at the next.

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SMPC & SC re Open Space Meeting 28^th April 2010

Attended by Councillors Ms A Baseley, B Herbert and A Wright. Shropshire Councillor S Davenport, Shropshire Council Officers Adrian Cooper, Karen Jones ,Mark Blount +1 and the The Clerk.

Notes; a good meeting where the SC reps LISTENED to what we said and hopefully we can get a good result for the Parish· The need for more leisure space was discussed– sites for consideration field off

· As there is only two years left on the football field lease it was considered that it would be a waste of money to alter anything at this stage.

· LDF and future 106 agreements –land behind

· Looked at Muga site – noise problem was brought up by SC officers the effect on residents may be an issue and is to be addressed during the consultation process.

· Sources of funding need to be investigated including the availability of 106 monies.

· Pointed out that the allotment/pond area now open space belonging to the parish council.

· Rhyn Park School not a consideration as it is out of the village and historically use has been difficult and depends on the attitude of the Head. Additionally, public liability insurance and charge to use issues could be attached

· Lack of use of the sports hall at Rhyn Park was flagged up.

· Pointed out to the officers that fields to the West of existing Play Area towards

Ohe SC officers stated that finance would be very restricted over the next five years and opportunity for new rec play area may be via a trade off with new housing development. The point was made that our 2 main issues were lack of Rec Play space and Sewerage problems and some councillors feel these issues must be addressed alongside any new housing developments

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Clerks Lane

has very pronounced contours for a rec.play area.

Overton Rd

off

Colliery Rd

– if built on asked that a drop off park and walkway to Ifton School be included.

Colliery Rd.

On the RHS off

Colliery Rd

- understood this could be considered for recreational Play area although need to be aware of effect on residents, may need to choose either Play area or Housing development. Other Field LHS not big enough and larger Field nearer old Colliery is contoured and also has multiple service lines and Poles; the field behind Cross Keys was looked at.

ShropshireLink…

Since the launch in November 2008, ShropshireLink has seen a continued increase in usage with December 2009 recording the most passenger journeys in a single month - despite the bad weather! Feedback from users contacted as part of the recent review confirms ShropshireLink is providing a valuable service to the passengers, with 89% satisfied or very satisfied with the service overall.

“A great service which I was very pleased to use”.

Tim Andrewes – ShropshireLink Passenger

We are aiming to inform and encourage even more members of the public to take advantage of this service for transport to and from rural areas.

So we would like you to give it a try. We invite you to register for ShropshireLink to get a first hand experience of what the service has to offer, and hopefully help more people in your parish to get involved. If you or someone you know could use public transport to access shops, medical centres, work places etc or would simply enjoy a day out in the local market town, ShropshireLink may be of help…

As an incentive to trial the service, we are offering all newly registered customers their first return journey for free, and we would appreciate if you could help to spread this message. Please find enclosed a number of flyers, for distribution to Councillors and for the attention of any other residents who may wish to use the service.

To register or for more information on how ShropshireLink could help you please call Shropshire Council’s Customer Service Centre on 0345 678 9068 or register online by visiting www.shropshire.gov.uk/traveltransport.nsf

Claire Evans

Transport Marketing and Publicity Officer

Passenger Transport Policy

Development Services

Telephone – 01743 253036

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Anyone who is interested in being co-opted please write, giving brief details about yourself and why you would like to be considered for the vacancy to the Clerk.

All applications should be sent to the Clerk by 1^st July please

Sue Crow, Clerk to St Martins Parish Council,