October 2020

4 Buckden Roundabout October 2020 Buckden Parish Council Buckden Parish Council News... Council Website For more information, please visit the new Parish Council web site at www.buckdenpc.org.uk. You can automatically find out what ’ s going on by subscribing to our Newsletter service using your email address. Parish Council Meetings All Parish Council, Planning and Advisory Group meetings will be online only for the moment. If you wish to attend an online meeting you will find instructions on the web site. Planning The holds on the proposed developments at Silver Street and Mill Road have been extended for a further 2 months until the end of October. Highways England and the Council continue to have concerns about the proposals to mitigate the amount of traffic generated by the developments and the traffic con- gestion that will be experienced in the village particularly along the High Street and Church Street. Planning White Paper You may be aware that the government have issued a White Paper proposing significant changes to planning legislation. The Council will work with our District and County Councils to respond to the consultation on behalf of the village. Hedges and trees overhanging the Public Highway We have noticed that there are several places where people ’ s hedges are overhanging pavements and footpaths, this makes it difficult for those with mobility problems and people with pushchairs and buggies. Please check your hedges. The fol- lowing is the guidance to the legal issues in relation to hedg- es. Property owners/occupiers have a legal responsibility to en- sure that paths and roads next to their property are not ob- structed by any vegetation from their property. If we become aware of such obstructions, we will usually ad- vise the property occupier of the problem and if necessary, refer the issue to HDC. If the issue is not dealt with within a reasonable time HDC may issue a formal notice for the work to be undertaken, and if that is ignored, they can do the work and charge the owner/occupier. You may not be aware of what the requirements are. Alt- hough specific measurements are not laid down the require- ment should be met by: • For pedestrian areas, minimum headroom of 2.3m (7ft 6 inches). • For carriageway and an area immediately adjacent to it (for a distance of 0.45m (1ft 6 inches)) minimum headroom of 5.2m (17ft). NB If the tree is subject to a Preservation Order or is situated within the Conservation Area approval must be obtained from HDC. Cycle Path Highways England are now extending the cycle path under the old railway bridge and linking it up to the Mere Lane By- way. Many thanks to Amy Burbidge for continuing to press for this improvement. Council Meetings The next Council meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13 th October. The meeting will include a 15 - minute open forum. If you want to speak at the meeting, please let us know what you want to say, by contacting the Parish Clerk. You will get a three - minute slot. This meeting will be an on - line only meeting. If you want to join the meeting instructions are on the web site. The Council Planning Committee will also meet if required. This will be an online meeting. Agendas for these meetings are posted on the Parish notice boards no later than the Sat- urday preceding the meeting. Office opening hours The office is currently closed, and the Parish Clerk is working from home. All of the papers and reports for Council meetings are available on the Thursday before the meetings on the Council website http://buckdenparishcouncil.org.uk . This provides the opportunity to see the agenda, reports of work carried out by the Coun- cil as well as reports from our County and District Councillors. Any questions or comments on this report should be addressed to the Parish Clerk at: Buckden Parish Council, Buckden Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden, PE19 SUY Telephone 01480 819407 Email clerk@buckdenparishcouncil.org.uk