Each month, as the local borough councillor for the parish of Saughall and Shotwick Park, Simon presents a report to their regular meeting. The most recent one is reproduced below which was submitted prior to the meeting held on Monday 5th August 2024.
Joint surgery report – from 13 July 2024
Thanks to PCSO Wendy Leason and Parish Councillors Jenny Young and Steve Powl for attending this joint surgery. It was relatively ‘light’ on specific issues to take up but I have actioned two as below:
- Land to the rear of Park Way / off Thomas Wedge Road. The grass here has been cut recently but overgrowth around the perimeter is pushing against fences etc and potentially causing damage. Matter raised with the County Land Agent for resolution (cutting). Update (30/07): He has been out to site to inspect and raised the matter with the tenant farmer for attention.
- Concerns about people accessing the ‘North Drive’ permissive path via the gate and field off Thomas Wedge Road. Suggestion made that this gate may benefit from being secured more firmly. Again, matter raised with the County Land Agent for consideration. Update (30/07): “I am trying to identify who has been mowing a pathway through to the drive and a padlock and chain will be put onto the gate.”
The next joint surgery is scheduled to be held on Saturday 26th October, 10am. Parish Council attendance would be appreciated, as ever.
Implementation of adjustments to ‘double yellow lines’ on Church Road (and other places, e.g. Aldersey Close)
The proposals that we have previously discussed are proving frustratingly slow to implement. Our CWaC Highways contact on these matters has been chased for an update in the last week and the response as follows: “No update on the processing of future TROs (Traffic Regulation orders) other than the new software has been installed and the training over the digital consultation process is ongoing. I have requested that an additional officer is brought in to assist here as we have a couple of larger scale construction projects on the horizon that I have been requested to assist with.”
Subsequent to the above, I asked whether there is a likelihood of this work being undertaken this year. The reply as follows: “Definitely this year and highly likely to commence consultation in the next 3 months.”
Public Right of Way issues logged with CWaC PRoW officer, 17/07/24
(Images to accompany these notes were supplied to the officer but are not attached here owing to the number and overall size of them).
I am aware that parish councillor, Mike Johnson, has also spent considerable time walking these routes with the PRoW officer also which is most welcome. Progress will be made on a number of these points, subject to resources and staff availability – there are many similar challenges reported across the borough just now.
Issue marked ‘1’
Saughall FP17 – path that runs parallel to Shotwick House – overgown (nettles in various sections) – requires cutting back. Images x2:
- Saughall FP17 - Shotwick House parallel - overgrown 1 - 17.07.24
- Saughall FP17 - Shotwick House parallel - overgrown 2 - 17.07.24
Issue marked ‘2’
Where FP17 becomes FP16 (goes both directions) – whole route, both left and right is heavily overgrown with nettles and other vegetation. The PRoW here should run next to the ditch on that side of the fence. Walkers are using the field on both sides to trace the route but they should be on the other side of the fence next to the ditch. Images:
- Saughall FP16 right turn overgrown - 17.07.24
- Saughall FP16 - mid section overgrown towards left - 17.07.24
- Saughall FP16 - field being used rather than footpath - 17.07.24
- Saughall FP16 - front on image where goes left or right - 17.07.24
Issue marked ‘3’
Saughall FP16 – oak tree blocking whole route in this section. 3x images marked:
- Tree - Saughall FP16 (left) 1 - 17.07.24
- Tree - Saughall FP16 (left) 2 - 17.07.24
- Tree - Saughall FP16 (left) 3 - 17.07.24
Issue marked ‘4’
Saughall FP16 – Dingle Wood entrance area – illustrates the overgrowth in this area as also referenced above. Image x1:
- Saughall FP16 - Dingle Wood end entrance - 17.07.24
Issue marked ‘5’
Saughall FP16 – right hand route where it enters the wooded area – bridge over this area. Wet patch. Would benefit from introduction of gravel or other surface to improve surface here if possible. Image x1 supplied:
- Saughall FP16 - right hand route - bridge into wood - wet area - 17.07.24
Issued marked ‘6’
Intersection of Saughall FP16 / Saughall FP1 / Saughall FP4 – post is ‘down’. Image x1 supplied:
- Saughall FP4 intersection - post down - 17.07.24
Issue marked ‘7’
Saughall FP4 – runs off Church Road into the fields to the rear of houses. Overgrown (nettles etc) – needs cut back. Images x2 supplied:
- Saughall FP4 - growth - from Church Road 1 - 17.07.24
- Saughall FP4 - growth - from Church Road 2 - 17.07.24
Kingswood Lane issues
Following a note from the Clerk and also having had correspondence from a resident, I have raised (in some cases again!) numerous issues on Kingswood Lane, as follows:
- Pothole – near number 7 – reported on 29.07.24, ref. CE634593909. This has been repaired (as I observed on 02/08/24).
- Road surface cracking – extensive along the whole of Kingswood Lane. May be associated with the extensive lorry movements with material which was being tipped further along on the lane by the then owner of the property, Kingswood Lodge (it has since changed hands). Concern expressed and the section of the road reported to CWaC for their inspection on 29.07.24, ref. CE634594826.
- Drainage gullies – silting and blockages. Once again I have reported (29.07.24) all gullies on Kingswood Lane which are in a poor state of cleansing. Individual reports logged as follows: junction of Kingswood Lane and Fiddlers Lane (x2); Outside Orchard House (x2); Outside number 4 (x2). Reporting ref. CE634595360. Some limited action seems to have been undertaken – I observed on 02/08/24 that the first gully on the left hand side as you turn off Fiddlers Lane appears to have been cleansed as has the left hand side on outside Orchard House, but nothing else!
In response to the final bullet point I received this reply on 30/07/24: “Thank you for your enquiry regarding gullies Kingswood Lane this is due to blocked watercourses on private land which is currently being investigated by our Flood Team.”
And subsequently the following further updates from one of the CWaC Highways engineers:
Initial reply (30/07/24)
“I will ask [N] from the flood team to update you on progress with residents who have built over the ditch course at the rear of their properties on Kingswood that takes the surface water from Kingswood Lane. It was discovered that the ditch course runs up to the A540 but turns left towards the culvert next to Fiddlers lane, it would appear that much of the drainage in the surrounding area leads to this point, much work has been undertaken on the culvert and drainage lines and landowners are looking to carry out works on their land that the drainage systems feeds into.
Further works are to be scheduled at the junction of Fiddlers lane and the A540 to map and clear the last section of the line bringing the surface waters from Kingswood Lane to the culvert crossing the A540 Parkgate Road that then runs around the rear of the Wheatsheaf P/H and the Car rentals business which then crosses the A540 again into a water course running through land at the rear of Crabwall Manor.
I have drawn the map below to show the course that the surface water follows from Kingswood Lane, as you may imagine it has been a very time consuming and complex matter to resolve. Please advise residents that works are ongoing downstream, that we hope will resolve the ongoing issues that residents have faced over the past Winter and appreciate their patience whilst we resolve the issue."
2nd reply (31/07/24):
“Please share the information with any affected residents.
The gullies in Kingswood lane are shallow pots with the outlets at the bottom if the outlets are clear they will be operating, I will ask Tony to check them today, if necessary we will arrange adhoc cleanses, although after we have carried out the works on Fiddlers Lane at the junction with the A540, we will be following this with a cleanse of the main line from the gullies in Kingswood Lane and the culvert crossing at the junction with Fiddlers Lane as there will be silt and sediment to clear.”
Shotwick Park Estate – proposed land sale
Following the July meeting of the parish council, I asked the Chief Executive of CWaC for an update, as I indicated I would. This coincided with a meeting of the full Council (in mid-July) where a question was posed on this subject too. An answer was given by the relevant Cabinet Member, but only orally. I await a written copy of the responses to all questions at this meeting to be published and will send a copy of this to the parish council in due course.
Miscellaneous reports / issues
- On behalf of a resident, Greenway – overgrown hedge. Request for a cut back notice to be issued. Logged on 13/07/24.
- Multiple issues relating to overgrown hedges and the need for weed control along the walkway between Church Road and Park Way. All logged on 28/07/24 x4 individual issues.
- On behalf of a resident, edge deterioration between 53 and 63 Hermitage Road (possibly as a result of utility works). Logged with CWaC on 01/08/24, ref. CE635549044.
- Enforcement case – former K’s Nursery. CWaC officers have been in touch on this in the last week which means they are now actively engaged in the case and looking into it further. I will continue to update colleagues accordingly.
- Longstanding drainage challenges in the area of The Ridings continue to be discussed with CWaC officers. I have provided a further detailed report to them on recent issues associated with the impact of rainfall, even when moderate. I hope to have a date for the proposed site meeting to consider various here in the very near future.
CWaC HWRC consultation
I circulated details of this to all parish councillors by email on 08/07/24. Please consider responding on an individual basis (or collectively) as this is an important matter, not least in a parish like Mollington where flytipping is a known and persistent problem (and may increase as result of some of the measures proposed). Various options are available to allow you to complete this, but the most simple is perhaps as follows:
Visit the CWaC website: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/HWRC-Consultation where you can find out more and complete a survey.
