Lost SD Memory Card on Snipe Ghyll
An SD memory card was lost on Snipe Ghyll by a hand-cyclist taking part in
the Keswick to Barrow Walk in May 2008. The card contains photos and personal
data. If you find it, could you please contact Neil Fleming on 466040 to arrange
its return.
Petition for a Barrow Submarine Class
 Would you like to sign a petition to the Prime Minister to recognise the
contribution made by Barrow-in-Furness to the RN Submarine service through the
naming of the next submarine class?
Royal Navy ships names are re-used over and over and therefore each name
carries a historical significance. Thus it is difficult to introduce a new name
or class and therefore Barrow has never been recognised or honoured by having a
submarine named after it. For over a hundred years Barrow has been a town
synonymous with the development of the submarine. Hundreds of submarines
covering virtually every class have been built for the Royal Navy and foreign
Navies. Following on from the Astute Class it is reasonable to surmise the next
class will all have names beginning with "B". The submarine service does not
have any history of previous submarines bearing names beginning with "B" and
thus there is a rare opportunity to introduce a Barrow Class. Having a Barrow
Class/Boat would be good for morale within the industry, raise the profile of
the UK as world leaders in submarine construction and thus promote a patriotic
pride as well as being the most fitting recognition to those employees and
people of Barrow, past and present, whose skills and efforts have given pride to
the phrase 'Barrow built' and made the name known and respected throughout the
world.
Please click on the following link to view and sign the petition on the "10
Downing Street" website:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Barrow-Class-Sub/
Standish Cote Wind Farm Proposal
 A
site at Standish Cote near Marton has been proposed by Infinergy Limited for a
possible wind farm scheme. The site is on agricultural land immediately to the
west of Harlock Reservoir and Harlock Hill Wind Farm.
At the Lindal & Marton Parish Council meeting in December 2007, the
Councillors unanimously agreed to object to the planning proposal for an
anemometer mast on the grounds that it was incontrovertibly linked to the
development of a wind farm, and that such wind farm appeared to be of such
immense size that it would have a) a devastating impact on the landscape and b)
create unacceptable disruption for local residents during the construction
period.
However, despite the objections of several Parish Councils, Barrow Borough
Council approved the anemometer mast planning application on the 18th December
2007. The mast has since been erected.
The Infinergy
Standish Cote website states that environmental assessment results will be
reported to the public at a community exhibition in Summer 2008. This would
potentially be followed later in 2008 by a planning application for the wind
farm comprising up to ten turbines. A Scoping Report on the website states that
the scheme may also include replacement of the five existing Harlock Hill
turbines, by three of the same design as proposed for the Standish Cote site.
The new turbines could be over twice the height of the existing Harlock Hill
turbines.
Parish Council News
May 2008
Parish Council meetings normally take place on the first Thursday of each
month, and are open to the public. The following paragraphs are extracted from
the Minutes of the May 2008 meeting. The full Minutes are on the
Downloads page. The next
meeting is on the 5th of June. Note that the normal July meeting is cancelled due to holidays.
45/08 Election of Chairman. It was PROPOSED by Councillor Howarth and
SECONDED by Councillor Lord that Councillor Waite be Chairman for the coming
year. Carried unanimously.
51/08 Matters arising. 42/08 (d) The Clerk reported that he had asked
Robinson’s Brewery to confirm their intentions regarding the New Inn, Marton. He
had received a reply confirming that the premises were in the hands of a local
estate agent, being offered for sale as a public house. The Brewery regretted
that they were having to take such a step but indicated that, given the lack of
support from local residents, it was not economically viable to keep the
establishment open. It was AGREED that the Clerk should prepare an extract from
Robinson’s reply for inclusion in “Aspects”.
52/08 Keswick-to-Barrow Walk. Mr Keith Johnson, from the Keswick-to-Barrow
Walk Committee, reported that there had been further discussions involving
himself, the Police and the Highways authorities (vide minute 140/07 – November
2007) on the subject of improving the arrangements relating to the Walk and the
attendant traffic problems in Marton. It had been decided to place the
checkpoint at the foot of Snipe Ghyll, with the field to the eastern side of the
T-junction being used for official vehicles and support vehicles. NOTED. NB
Councillor Mrs Kelly undertook to display some sketches of the proposals in her
hairdressing salon in Lindal.
53/08 Attendance of Officer from Cumbria Constabulary. Police Community
Support Officer John McVea reported that he was not aware of any recent
incidents involving anti-social or criminal activity in either Lindal or Marton.
He had passed over to his traffic colleagues the question of speeding vehicles
in Marton but no further reports of similar incidents had been received. He was
also unaware of any progress regarding the burnt-out vehicle on Snipe Ghyll.
From the floor it was pointed out that there seemed to be many instances of
speeding vehicles on the A590 as it passed through the 40 mph limit within
Lindal. PCSO McVea confirmed that he would inform his colleagues of this problem
and he would also enquire as to the arrangements for routine speed-checks in
villages such as Lindal, particularly on the A590.
54/08 Report of School Governors. Submission of minutes – if any. The minutes
of the Governors’ meeting of 19th November 2007, and 28th January 2008, were
NOTED. The Clerk to the Governors had also written to highlight:- a) The
Governors’ concerns at lack of action in having the school-warning markings
repainted on the road outside the school. b) The desirability of having the 20
mph limit in Marton extended to go past the school and down into Lindal. c) The
need for discussions on the possible impact of HGV traffic passing the school as
and when the new wind farm was developed. It was AGREED that the Clerk would
write to the Governors to confirm that the Council was pursuing all the matters
raised.
55/08 Lindal Village Green. The Clerk reported that Capita had now been
officially asked by Barrow Borough Council to assess the requirement for kerbs
down the western side of the Green with a view to providing a quotation for this
work. From the floor came a reminder for the need for dropped kerbs in the
vicinity of the A590/The Green crossroads to facilitate the passage of
wheelchairs. The Clerk undertook to follow up this matter.
56/08 Planning applications relating to the Parish. a) 6/08/340 Scoping
Opinion, proposed wind farm, Standish Cote. The Clerk pointed out that the
document was not a planning application but was a summary of environmental
considerations which would be addressed as and when the planning application for
the wind farm was submitted, with consultees being given the opportunity, now,
to comment in advance on the scope of any environmental report. After
discussions involving the floor it was PROPOSED by Councillor Waite and SECONDED
by Councillor Howarth that the Council offer Barrow Borough Council the
following observations on the Scoping Opinion, viz:- • Despite the document
referring to “National Objectives” in its Statement of Needs (page 2) there is
no reference to base-load energy requirements i.e., the need for power
generation when climatic considerations are unfavourable – (when the wind isn’t
blowing). • It is disingenuous of Infinergy, the developers, to suggest that the
site can revert back to farm land at the end of its operational life (20 years)
in its booklet accompanying the Scoping Opinion, when taking into account the
fact that energy needs will probably be no less at that time, requiring similar
energy production. (Another wind farm?) • It is insufficient to say that traffic
and access problems will be assessed “in close liaison with the Planning
Authority and local Highways Authority” (page 36). It should be a specific
requirement to include the Parish Council (s) involved. • Whilst a detailed
assessment will take place to determine the visual impact which the wind farm
will have on the landscape (page 28) and whilst many reasons will be offered as
to why such impact will be tolerable, the fact remains that, by definition, the
installation of such monstrous structures as the proposed turbines will have a
detrimental effect on the landscape, notwithstanding the presence already of the
turbines at Harlock Hill. 4 • The document refers to the re-powering of the
Harlock Hill site with three 2.3 MW turbines. It is assumed that this means that
they will be in place of, and not in addition to, the existing 5, smaller,
turbines but this needs to be made absolutely clear. • Barrow Borough Council
needs to specify what noise levels (page 37) will be judged to be acceptable
from any new wind farm and this should be established in conjunction with those
living in the vicinity who might be affected. • It is clear that there will be a
need for a connection of the new wind farm to the National Grid, either of 2 KM
length or 4 Km length. (page7) As this is an integral part of the development it
should form part of a composite planning application in order to assess the
total impact of the development. Carried unanimously. b) 6/08/481. Erection of
agricultural building, Church Farm, Lindal. It was PROPOSED by Councillor Lord
and SECONDED by Councillor Howarth that the Council make no comment on this
application. Carried unanimously. c) 06/08/461 Erection of conservatory,
Roundhills, Marton. It was PROPOSED by Councillor Lord and SECONDED by
Councillor Mrs Kelly that the Council make no comment on this application.
Carried unanimously. d) See agenda item 3 (minute 45/08) Erection of additional
bedroom over existing garage: conversion of garage to kitchen; erection of new
garage to rear of property. (re-submission of application in 2007, subsequently
withdrawn) Reference was made to the previous application, discussed by the
Council on 2nd August 2007, when the Council objected to the applicant’s
intention to remove a mature tree from the front garden and when criticism was
levelled at the apparent stark and unappealing design of the proposals. It was
noted that this application had subsequently withdrawn. The current application
was discussed and it was noted that the application form appeared to have been
inaccurately completed in that the applicant had indicated “no” to the question
of whether the property had a tree within falling distance of the boundary.
Nonetheless, it was also noted that firstly, there had been a declaration that
no trees would be removed and secondly, the exterior design appeared to have
been amended and enhanced by the suggested use of stone cladding. Accordingly,
and only on the basis of such changes, it was PROPOSED by Councillor Mrs Kelly
and SECONDED by Councillor Howarth that the Council offer no objection to the
proposals. Carried unanimously.
59/08 Any Other Business. a) The Clerk reported that he had received
correspondence from Cumbria County Council indicating that they were proposing
to introduce “Highway Stewards” to assist with the routine maintenance of the
roads network. The Stewards would be individuals supplied with a vehicle and
appropriate equipment to enable them to take responsibility for minor repairs
and maintenance for a linked group of local parishes. Further information would
follow. b) Councillor Howarth drew attention to the public telephone kiosk at
the end of the Green and the fact that its door was now missing. The Clerk
indicated that damage to the door had already been reported and that BT might
have removed it to effect repairs. c) Councillor Mrs Kelly enquired as to
whether anything further had been heard about the alleged unauthorised
development at Whitriggs (near Tytup and Primrose). The Clerk undertook to make
enquiries. d) Councillor Mrs Kelly reported that she had been visited by a
highways official to discuss the problem of traffic/white lines outside her
salon in Lindal and it was hoped that some rearrangement of the white lines
would ease the traffic problem. The official also noticed the congestion at the
main A590/The Green crossroads in relation to parked vehicles and the restricted
length of double yellow lines in that area and suggested that it might be
appropriate for the highways department to make an official assessment of
parking arrangements. e) From the floor a question was raised as to the
attendance of District Councillors at Parish Council meetings. The Clerk
confirmed that attendance was spasmodic but he usually received apologies if
such councillors were unable to attend. f) From the floor came an enquiry as to
whether anything further had been heard from the energy company Infinergy, the
proposed developers of the wind farm at Standish Cote, on the subject of
attending the Parish Council and also the establishment of a liaison committee.
The Clerk explained that he had received another telephone call regarding the
company’s willingness to visit the Council but this had not yet been confirmed
in writing and neither had he heard anything further about a liaison committee,
although it was understood that a meeting of such a committee had already taken
place.
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