2019 AGM Minutes
Minutes of Welshwood Park Residents Association Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 7th May 2019 at Wycliffe Baptist Church Hall, Parsons Heath
Apologies were received from ten residents.
Minutes of the AGM held on Monday 8th May 2018 were approved.
Matters Arising these would be covered later in the meeting.
Chairman’s Report This has been another year where planning applications have very much been to the fore but as this is the next item on the agenda, I will not dwell on it at this point.
You will have noticed that the dead wood has been removed from many of the Council owned trees on Welshwood Park. This was done at the request of your committee who felt that this was becoming a danger especially in the strong winds we had been experiencing of late. As usual we have not been as successful with regard to the dreadful state of our pavements, although we believe that The Glade may soon be receiving attention but not perhaps to everyone’s satisfaction as we are given to understand that the slabs are probably going to be replaced with asphalt. This is inevitable given the number of tree roots that are causing the paving slabs to be uneven and which the County Council is no longer prepared to chop out in case you decide to sue them for killing trees on your property. At least we have seen our roads resurfaced and with a minimum of inconvenience, although we could have done without the date change which caused some confusion.
The leaf collection was a great success with in excess of 14 tons being collected over the two days. We felt that getting the local scout group involved also helped those of you who would welcome some assistance and we will seek their help again this year.
I hope those of you who participated in the garden walk thought it worthwhile and a warm vote of thanks is due to those brave folks who were prepared to let their gardens be viewed.
Neighbourhood watch is still a problem for me as there is still no one to taking on this role. I continue to receive the weekly reports and am pleased to say that we get off very lightly with regard to burglaries and other problems in our area. Over the last twelve months there have been only two incidents, one in Woodlands and one nearby in Deben road plus an attempted break in in the Glade. We must not become complacent and I urge you all to immediately inform the police if suspicions are aroused and then let me know.
There have been two incidents of fly tipping which I am aware of. In one case around twenty used nappies were deposited in the path which runs between Woodlands and Welshwood Park Road. Later a couple of bedside cabinets were left close to the entrance to Welshwood. Your committee continues to work hard on your behalf and some new blood would be very welcome and there is an urgent need for a new Treasurer as Geof will be stepping down after delivering his report. My thanks go to him and to all my other fellow committee members but especially to Paul Smith who continues to give us excellent service and is still our main liaison point with our local Colchester Borough Councillors.
Planning Matters
The Residents Association objected to the location of the “Welcome to Colchester” sign which was to be positioned on the grass to the left of the entrance to Welshwood Park road it has now been relocated to the original location near the entrance to Shaws Farm.
Building work has commenced on the land opposite Welshwood Park Road on Parsons Heath for four houses.
Building work is well under way on the former Watts garage site on Parsons Heath for 11 houses, however some are very close to Parsons Heath road.
The Gladman new development off Bromley Road for 145 houses has been approved at appeal by the planning inspector, Gladman will get a builder to develop the site, however this is considered to be phase one.
It is thought Persimmon have expressed an interest in the fields behind Woodlands and Welshwood Park Road to build on, which could be difficult to oppose if West Tey garden village does not go ahead.
The field to the north side of Welshwood Park Road which was for sale has now been withdrawn from sale by the owner, possibly because Persimmon has an option to buy.
Persimmon may want to build 800 houses on the fields between Bullock Wood and Harwich Road. No action from them yet.
A proposal by Bellway to build 150 houses on the north side of Bullock wood. (within Tendring District Council) No official action from them yet, your committee will monitor this.
The Local Plan which includes the garden villages is awaiting approval from the planning inspector to allow Colchester Borough Council, Tendring and Braintree councils to proceed. The infrastructure will be put in place in the garden villages which may not put increased pressure on Colchester’s existing services.
The government has invested £1m in the garden village scheme already, however Colchester Council is still required to build 1000 new houses per year to meet government targets.
The roundabout road works at the bottom of Harwich Road and Ipswich Road are already 20% over budget and not on schedule.
Neighbourhood Watch this position on the association is still vacant, Keith Baines reported there were few incidents in our area, as mentioned in the Chairman’s Report.
Finance Geof Brumfitt prepared the accounts for 2018/19 showing a bank balance of £4467.35. Keith proposed that the voluntary subscriptions be kept at £5 for the coming year.
Keith thanked Geof for his good work as treasurer now he is standing down.
Election of Officers
Geof Brumfitt is standing down from the committee
The committee consisting of Keith Baines (Chairman) Vacant (Treasurer) Terri Frost, Kent Stabler, David Furse (Secretary) John Cordran and Margaret Lee were prepared to stand for another term, the election of all was proposed by A M and seconded by J P.
Any Other Business
Concern was raised that the farmer has been placing barbed wire to block paths that are not official foot paths which we believe is required so the paths cant be deemed as long standing and therefore become permanent as he can say he tried to stop people trespassing on his land, it may also be because Persimmon has put an option to buy the fields if the West Tey garden village does not go ahead then the field could be built on.
Concern was raised that a significant number of healthy mature trees have been heavily pruned and within a few years have died and are then allowed to be chopped down, reducing the character of Welshwood Park. Before a tree can be taken down a replacement trees has to be agreed with the council tree officer at the time of the request to remove the tree, however this does not seem to be happening.
Keith will speak to the council tree officer about the loss of trees in Welshwood Park and the policy to replace them.
Discussion took place to plant trees in other public areas, this was thought to be possible especially if it is to commemorate an event (a new royal baby).
Posts are to be installed at the entrance of Welshwood Park Road to protect the grass verges; this is in addition to the double yellow lines that should be installed as part of the planning approval for the four houses on Parsons Heath.
The residents association now has a web site where current information from the association and local neighbourhood watch information can be viewed, please look at the following web address:- https://welshwoodparkra.co.uk/
Chairman Keith Baines once again thanked Geof Brumfitt for his good work as treasurer and thanked all residents for coming, the meeting closed at 9.00 pm