Page 31 - Phonebox Magazine January 2013

OLNEY
FMERCURY REPORT
Public participation offenders, with possible prosecutions. Jeremy Farmersʼ Market hot food
irst to speak was Peter Gage on the Rawlings wondered that if the ʻprofessionalsʼ As reported previously, the council have agreed subject of dog fouling. Peter said he said there was no problem and Peter Gage was to overturn the ban on hot takeaway food being attended a recent Neighbourhood Action of the same opinion then perhaps it was not an sold at the market and as a result have had a
Group (NAG) meeting in order to dispel some of issue. Deidre Bethune disagreed, saying that request from a start-up Olney company wishing the myths around the issue. The NAG was even if responsible dog owners picked up their to sell Paella. Tony Evans suggested that before
claiming that a recent survey had shown this to be the biggest concern in the minds of the people of Olney, but this was ʻnonsenseʼ, he said. The survey had only interviewed 80 people, which is around 1.6% of the population. An inspection of the recreation ground by enforcement officers from Milton Keynes Council (MKC) had concluded that it was as clean as anywhere in Milton Keynes. Peter said that he regularly refereed football matches for Olney Town Colts and had personally only experienced one occurrence of dog fouling on the pitch, but he did concede that it was more of a problem on the main pitch in front of the Football Club. He did not think that a Dog Control Order (DCO) forcing owners to keep their dogs on a lead would make any difference. This subject was a later item on the meeting agenda.
dogsʼ mess it often got ʻsmeared aroundʼ leaving some behind. Jeremy wondered if dog faeces is actually more dangerous than that of the wild animals that would naturally use the field. Mayor Steve Clark said that the problem is Toxocara Canis and Toxocara Cati that is present in dog and cat faeces, respectively. John Sharp suggested that the solution might be to ban dogs altogether from marked out pitches and fines could be imposed for offenders. Peter Geary observed that the enforcement officers cannot be there all of the time and it was no surprise that owners cleared up while they were there observing. He suggested that there could be three distinct areas:
Dogs not allowed
Where dogs are allowed on a lead
Where dogs are allowed to run free
Peter Gage interjected, saying that a DCO was not appropriate, considering that most pitches were only used for two to three hours a week during three or four months of the year. Tony Evans pointed out that the recreation ground is used for other events, such as the highly successful Olympic Opening celebration, when two to three thousand people had sat down on the grass. He described dog fouling as an ʻevil thingʼ. Peter Geary said there would be no point in imposing a DCO if it was not enforced. Deidre Bethune said that unless something is illegal the police would not be interested in enforcing it and Jeremy Rawlings was of the opinion that dog fouling is not actually illegal unless it is on the public highway. John Sharp suggested using the Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) but Peter Geary said that would only be possible if Thames Valley Police agree and the Chief Constableʼs view would no doubt be that PCSOs should concentrate on crime prevention. He recommended that the council press ahead with seeking a DCO otherwise the issue would continue to go ʻround and roundʼ with no resolution. Steve Clark closed the subject by saying that Rob Ward from MKC Environmental Services would be invited to the next meeting of the Recs and Services Committee.
Market Place parking
This issue is frequently discussed at meetings of OTC. The council have always resisted the idea of formally marked out parking spaces because it would reduce the theoretical number of spaces that are available due to ʻimaginativeʼ parking. However, this relies on the first cars that park each day doing so in a manner that allows two rows down the middle. If this does not happen then the number of spaces is considerably reduced for the rest of that day. John Sharp said that the council had previously suggested the marking of a single white line down the centre of the car park to show where cars should park nose to tail. Ron Bull suggested that this should be done on a temporary basis to see if it is adhered to. It was agreed that a small group of councillors will investigate this option.
giving them the go-ahead on a permanent basis they should be invited to have a ʻguest spotʼ so that they can be audited to ensure that they use locally sourced ingredients, where possible. Mercury understands that they use poultry from a local farm, so presumably this wonʼt be an issue.
Next to speak was Berrells Court resident Carol Barrett on the subject of the poor state of the road surface in that area, following the discussion at last monthʼs meeting. She said she had raised the issue a year ago but nothing had happened, apart from the fact that it had actually got worse and one resident had had a fall due to the problem. She reminded the council that planning permission for building had been granted, subject to renovation of the surface, but that could be a long time coming, she felt.
A letter had been received from the organisers of this event on Friday June 7th 2013, requesting reserved parking spaces for about 45 cars. Councillors agreed that the obvious place for this would be the Market Place but recognised that closing the Market Place for any length of time could impact trade. The upside could be that it might attract visitors and the exhibitors would possibly eat in the town. John Boardman said that it would only attract visitors if the event was sufficiently well advertised and hoped that the organisers would do so. It was suggested that the market would be closed until 3.00pm and Deidre Bethune would consult the Chamber of Trade.
Berrells Court
A letter had been received from Olney Town Colts informing the council that this popular event would be taking place on Saturday June 29th 2013. This was noted and agreed, but also pointed out that this should have come in as a request because it is held on OTC land. Tony Evans said that he really did not like the title of the event as it sends out completely the wrong message..
Although this did not appear to be a formal agenda item this month, it was discussed at last monthʼs meeting so the discussion continued under Matters Arising. Deidre Bethune said the situation was a ʻcrying shameʼ and she fully supported Carol Barrettʼs efforts. John Sharp said that the Land Registry show that Berrells Court has not been adopted as part of the public highway. He had spoken to a number of property owners, some of whom had indicated a willingness to pay for the repairs but, equally, there were those who would not. No formal estimate appears to exist to indicate how much the remedial work would cost but MKC Ward Councillor Peter Geary said that in his opinion one should be obtained in order to ʻmop upʼ any unclaimed grants from MKC. If a simple covering of tarmac was laid it would probably need doing again in two to three years, he said, and thought the best option would be to lay proper drainage and seek adoption by MKC. Deidre Bethune pointed out that the required standards for adoption are very high but agreed that it should be the preferred option. Carol Barrett spoke again, saying that adoption and repair would mainly benefit the developer who would be building and then selling the proposed new property and she, personally, would be happy for remedial work short of adoption.
Dog fouling on recreation ground
Following the recent inspection and report by MKC about the issue, Tony Evans said it was news to him that there is NOT a problem! He thought that getting the MKC enforcement officers involved would identify persistent
Odds and sods
For the Council Meeting of Monday 3rd December 2012
Model T Ford Rally
Booze on the Ouse
Steve Clark reported that the refurbished toilets on the Market Place were now open, but did not say if he had performed an official opening ceremony.
Andrew Dooley has resigned from the council due to work commitments, so a vacancy now exists. The period during which residents can demand a by-election was due to expire at midnight on the day of the meeting so it is assumed that the vacancy will be filled by co- option. Any resident wishing to stand should get in touch with the Town Clerk at the Olney Centre.
Rosemary Osbourne asked when the issue of extending the yellow lines at the entrance to Chantry Rise would be resolved and Peter Geary said that the process of consultation is on-going, but he had received a letter asking that the existing lines are NOT extended.
John Sharp noted that the overhanging hedges by Emberton Park had still not been cut back by MKC and Peter Geary replied that it was on the list of work to be done but the recent bad weather had caused a back-log.
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 7th January in the Council Chamber in the Olney Centre. Members of the public are always welcome to attend and, if they wish, speak at the start of the meeting, or at any point that the mayor decides is appropriate.
Phonebox Magazine 31