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Vale of Glamorgan Council

STATE OF THE AREA DEBATE

REPORT of the State of the Area Debate held on 19^th June, 2007 at Wick and Monknash Village Hall, Wick.

Present:

Councillor Mrs. Audrey Preston, Deputy Mayor, welcomed all present to the Wick 2007 debate and thanked the audience of approximately 120 for having attended.

Councillor Moore, Deputy Leader, advised that the composition of the Cabinet had changed in December and it had been decided to adopt a fresh approach to the conduct of the State of the Area Debates.  Local residents had been invited to choose items for the agenda and Councillor Moore advised that approximately 30 minutes would be devoted to each of the top three topics for the area.  The audience was advised that after the first part of the meeting there would be a general question and answer session as it was known that there would be other issues that residents would wish to discuss.

The top three topics chosen for discussion by residents were:

Road and Traffic –

-         Heavy Goods vehicles

-         Traffic Calming

-         Road Repairs

Leisure Facilities –

-         Leisure facilities for youth

-         Provision of a village hall for our community (Ogmore by Sea)

-         Village sports facilities

Waste and Recycling –

-         What was being done to spread and promote recycling?

-         Rubbish dumping in lanes

Other popular topics with residents were public transport and the development of Cowbridge and St. Cyres  Comprehensive schools.

Councillor Rob Curtis, Cabinet Member for Visible and Building Services, advised that it was difficult to provide 20mph zones other than as part of the Safe Routes to Schools initiative as it was too difficult for the Police to enforce. 

There was a £3m backlog of repairs throughout Wales  and, despite residents generally highlighting problems, the Vale of Glamorgan was acknowledged to have some of the best roads.  The Welsh Assembly Government had allocated more funds and £660k would be spent on road repairs in the next year.   This included various works to improve the B4265 and local roads.

Councillors were aware that increased heavy goods vehicle traffic from quarries through villages was a major problem.  Considerable correspondence had been received from residents on this particular issue.  Increased traffic, which resulted from the transportation of ash from Aberthaw Power Station, had been routed through villages on a trial basis.  This had compounded difficulties caused by the use of heavy goods vehicles by other local businesses.  The Council had tried to promote rail transport with the businesses involved and would continue to explore ways of mitigating the problems caused by heavy goods vehicles in the area.

A resident indicated that it was not just the disposal of waste that bothered local people.  Residents had to travel out of the area and often met lorries from a major haulier in Llysworney.  Lorries were unable to pass each other as the road was too narrow and this caused significant delays as drivers decided which one of them should reverse to let the other through.  Another resident produced pictures which illustrated that lorries had to mount pavements in certain area and the mirrors often projected over people as they passed.  Lorries were on the roads at the same time as the school bus and this was a safety issue.  Reference was also made to the poor quality of road surfaces, which needed proper repair and not just a top dressing.  A proper wear surface was necessary to reduce noise levels from the heavy goods vehicles traffic.

Miles Punter, Head of Visible Services, advised that only £500k had been received from the Welsh Assembly Government for road works and the money had to be shared throughout the area.  Planned works would assist but not completely address problems.  The Traffic Section of South Wales Police were quite strict and could be asked to come up with a code for hauliers.

Rob Thomas, Head of Planning and Transportation, indicated that weight restrictions could be applied but ‘established’ businesses had a right of passage.  There were lots of industrial units in the area and businesses did not need planning permission to be there.  Rob stated that he was willing to attend any meetings arranged between the local council and hauliers.  Councillor Neil Moore confirmed the Council could try to impose weight restrictions but the Police would have to agree to enforce this.

Placement of speed cameras was a Police matter and a decision was only reached after they had undertaken various processes.  Residents could advise the Council of any specific problems in relation to Corntown Road and this information would then be passed on to the Police Authority.

A resident advised that local companies would not object to a 20 mph speed limit on a safe route to a school.  Councillor Moore suggested that local businesses could be asked to restrict the timing of lorries to avoid school times on a voluntary basis.  Ian Maxted stated that many discussions had taken place with Inspector Chris Patterson, community policeman, about the need for a speed limit.  It was thought that speed cameras placed on either end of the long straight roads each side of Wick would address the problem and perhaps the Police Camera Partnership could help.  Sergeant Nick Gull, deputising for Inspector Patterson, confirmed that the speed of traffic through Wick was a regular complaint.  Hand held speed cameras were often used in the area as the highest number of speeding drivers were recorded in Wick. 

Alan Cairns AM advised that the Headmaster of the local school had asked for speed of traffic to be monitored after a child had been injured in a road accident.  It appeared that drivers of vehicles carrying aggregate often telephoned each other to advise when mobile speed cameras were used and a permanent solution was needed.

Councillor Gwyn John, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure introduced the topic of Leisure Facilities and indicated that he was delighted that a State of the Area Debate was being held in the rural area of Wick.  Councillor John advised that his portfolio included sports provision, leisure centres and Country Parks and the Heritage Coast.  The Council had already provided facilities for young people such as skate parks and football grants were available. 

Councillor John was unsure what residents meant by village sports facilities and asked for more specific information.  There were four leisure centres in Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge and Lantwit Major and all needed refurbishment.  Often the provision of a facility was dependent upon the number of people who would use it and a football or cricket pitch was a possibility.  Councillor John had only been in office since December 2006 and he and other members of the Cabinet would welcome contact by residents about any issues.

The issue of a village hall, for Ogmore by Sea, had been raised by residents but this had been something that the previous administration had been involved with.  Mansel Lalis, resident of Ogmore by Sea advised that the issue of a village hall had been under discussion for over 35 years.  Some money had been raised through a local Trust and when this had been wound up the money was transferred to the Vale Council and subsequently passed back to a new Trust.  In the intervening period the cost of building a hall had doubled.  Mr. Lalis indicated that there was mixed reaction from residents about the provision of a hall as some were for and others against the proposal and this also would have to be considered.  It was thought that perhaps a hall could be provided as part of a larger development.

Councillor Moore confirmed that the Council had looked into costs but these were way beyond any funds that were available.  There were other grants or finances available and Councillor Audrey Preston confirmed that this was still an ongoing project as the land had been identified from the Dunraven Estates on a 999 year lease and planning permission had been granted, all that was needed was additional funds.

Councillor Rob Curtis introduced the Waste and Recycling part of the agenda and the topics of particular interest to the residents, promotion of recycling and rubbish dumped in lanes.  Councillor Curtis highlighted that the promotion of recycling was a major European and National initiative.  The target was to divert 75% of waste away from landfill by 2010.  The Vale of Glamorgan Council was placed 3^rd in the league table of Welsh councils for recycling.  It was thought the Welsh Assembly Government should get tough with major companies on the issue of too much packaging on products as this would significantly reduce the amount of waste material.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council offered a free bulky collection service and had civic amenity sites in the area so there was no excuse for anyone to dump rubbish in lanes.  Miles Punter confirmed that the Council was responsible for the clearance of rubbish dumped on public land and at the sides of roads but did not become involved if it was private land unless it became a health and safety risk.  Whilst it was appreciated that fly tipping was an issue it was not a major difficulty in the Vale compared to the scale of the problem experienced by other councils.

Councillor Neil Moore indicated that although the top three topics, identified through the consultation process, had been discussed a number of people present wanted to speak about the proposed music festival in Wick.  A meeting had been held earlier in the day with licensing officers and Councillor Margaret Alexander, Leader of the Council, had been urgently trying to contact the Police Superintendent Hayes.  The application for a licence to stage the music festival had been received on the 30^th May 2007, and was to stage a concert on 4^th, 5^th and 6^th August 2007 at Cwrt y Mynach, Monknash.  The Council was obliged to follow the statutory process and the consultation period for the licensing application closed on 28^th June 2007.  Any objections by interested parties had to be submitted by this date.  Details of the application could be viewed at the Civic Offices if an appointment was made with Victoria Peregrine from the Licensing Section of the Council.  For any licensing application there were four licensing objectives that had to be considered and these included public safety, protection of children from harm and prevention of crime and disorder.  The Licensing Sub-Committee would consider the application on the 25^th July 2007.  There were fifty seven objections to the application so far and it was anticipated that there could be many more.  Councillor Moore said that as this was a quasi-judicial process it was difficult to say anything further about the application as the Council had to abide by the statutory process.

Jeff Baker, resident of Monknash, stated that it was refreshing to see the Councillors here to meet the public.  Mr. Baker had been well received by three members of the Council’s Licensing Section.  The legislation governing the licensing application was fairly new and he had a different interpretation of this to the officers.  All residents in the area wanted was for the Council to look after their interests as it had a duty of care to them.  It was accepted that the applicant had the right to make money but not at the expense of local residents and the adverse impact on them had to be considered.  Under the Licensing Act 2003 for any activity taking part in a rural area interested parties could be drawn from a much wider area.  With the influx of 5,000 people into the area there would inevitably be a higher crime rate.  It was also thought that the sale of alcohol to 5,000 strangers would not be possible under the auspices of a responsible person, how could this be guaranteed.  On the website to advertise the rock festival the problem of underage drinking had been mentioned.  In addition large screens were to be erected and councillors were asked how a licence be granted as it would be almost impossible to monitor whether suitable material was being displayed.  In the opinion of Mr. Baker and other residents the local authority, if this festival was allowed to proceed, would be liable for damage, theft or other problems caused as a result because this had been highlighted in advance.

Councillor Neil Moore thanked Mr. Baker for his comments and it was appreciated that the legislation was relatively new.  Legal and licensing officers would ensure that its interpretation was correct.  Councillor Moore assured residents that all issues would be considered very carefully and all statutory consultees i.e. emergency services, had to be consulted.

Mr. Dennis Campbell representing the Residents Action Group stated that he had worked in the entertainments industry and had been involved with the staging of major music events.  As spokesman for the Residents Action Group Mr. Campbell stated the organisers appeared inexperienced and disorganised.  Very little consideration seemed to have been given to the problem of people turning up for the festival even if the licence was not granted as it was currently being advertised on a web site.  Mr. Campbell had spoken to a spokesman for the Police Authority and they had been unaware of the application to stage a music festival.  They had since visited the site and were very concerned at the narrow roads leading to and from the proposed site.  The organisers seemed to have made the licence application very late and had been unable to answer questions about safety concerns posed by the Residents Action Group at a recent meeting.  Mr. Campbell stated that this was not just a licensing issue as it concerned public safety as the proposed site for the music festival was in fields close to unfenced cliffs.  Significant numbers of people would be drinking alcohol and could easily stray to unfenced areas and this was a matter of grave concern to local residents.

Sergeant Nick Kilder confirmed that if the application was as appeared today then the Police Authority would object.  However, if the applicants addressed any concerns raised by the Police in an amended application this would receive fresh consideration.  A further site visit would be arranged and Sergeant Gull confirmed that police numbers would be sufficient to manage the anticipated number of people if the event were to go ahead.  A resident  mentioned that this music festival had been discussed by the Events Panel and could not understand why councillors had not been informed about this major event at an earlier stage.  Another resident referred to the Council’s own appeals procedure in respect of the licensing application which could not be met.  There were 21 days after an application was granted in which to launch an appeal and with regard to the proposed music festival this appeal period would expire after the date the event was to be staged.  Councillor Moore confirmed that the legislation would be considered in further detail. 

Residents asked what the Council would do if the licence was refused but the festival was held anyway.  Councillor Moore confirmed that the Council would take the strongest action possible in conjunction with the Police but at present could only deal with the licensing application submitted to the Council. Sergeant Gull confirmed that the Police had specific powers to prevent people travelling to a location and this could be considered if the music festival was not held.  Sergeant Kilder stated that there was evidence of failure to plan on large scale and traffic management issues and police objections would be based around this.  There were contingency plans in place for public disorder anywhere in the South Wales area.  Councillor Gwyn John confirmed that Glamorgan Heritage Coast officers had also raised concerns about the likely impact this event could have on the Southerndown beach area generally.  It was generally felt that the location was inappropriate for such large numbers of people.  Councillor Gwyn John added his support to local residents in their objections to this music festival and would go to the Sub-Committee to raise these matters.

Councillor Margaret Alexander, Leader of the Council, indicated a need to bring the meeting to a close as the hall had only been booked for a certain time.  There had been a comprehensive discussion about the proposed music festival and the Council was unable to provide any further information at this stage in the process.  The Council would work closely with the Police to resolve the issue as quickly as possibly but this would have to comply with the due process of the law.  Residents asked to be kept informed of any further developments and Councillor Neil Moore thought this could best be achieved via communication with local members.

The Leader mentioned that Councillor Audrey Preston, Deputy Mayor, had to leave the meeting early but was aware of local adverse feeling about the music festival and wanted to add her concerns.  The audience was then thanked for their participation and the meeting was brought to a close.