| Welcome to |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Housing developments in the village With larger housing developments DMBC planning can agree concessions with the developer for which the developer agrees to provide services or money. Any payment agreed can be used for a number of projects and is called "106 money" This is usually paid in staged payments, as the development is completed, direct to DMBC, not to the Parish Council; DMBC control its use. Since the last newsletter representatives of the parish council have corresponded with and met DMBC planning department twice, the DMBC Neighbourhood Manager, and the Ward Councillors. Our aim is to try and ensure that, if possible, any 106 monies arising from housing developments in the village are used to enrich the lives of Finningley residents rather than being designated by DMBC for use in other parts of the Borough or Ward. Latest news — Following the meetings we are pleased to announce that the 106 monies_ associated with the proposed Manor House Farm (Barrett Homes) development have been earmarked for Finningley. The agreement has been signed and the money ring fenced to pay for half the cost of the necessary work restoring the duck pond and the remainder going towards developments on the playing field.
Allotments We are still trying to make headway with the owners for the provision of a piece of land next to the patch owned by the Parish Council near the Chinese takeaway, but the responses to our requests are slow. We have recently identified an alternative piece of land in the village that might be available for allotments. The Parish Council does not own the land so is currently in discussion with the owners to explore the feasibility of developing it as an allotment area. Latest news — At a recent meeting with the new airport site director, your Parish Council representatives were told that he is generally in favour of the village having a piece of land between Church Lane and the runway, but he will have to get approval from Vancouver Airport Services who are now the owners of the airport and its immediate surrounds.
Village Hall The Village Hall is nearing the completion of a number of refurbishment and improvement projects. Further details will be provided in the next newsletter.
Police The new telephone number for non-emergency calls to the police is 101. This will become the new national number for non-emergencies but is only available for use in some areas at present. The number is now active for South Yorkshire and replaces 01142 202020. For emergency calls you should still use 999.
The Christmas tree Messrs Higgins & Co. donated the Christmas tree in 2010 to celebrate their 50th anniversary of business based in Finningley. It's been a tough summer for the tree; parish councillors working a rota system have watered it almost every day, even now it is checked if there is a dry spell. Let's hope our efforts pay off. We will light up the tree as usual for the Christmas season.
The Pond Please see the attached note below with details of our recent work regarding the pond.
Playing Field There was a problem recently with cars accessing the Lindley Road car park late in the evening and causing nuisance to local residents. Members of the Joint Playing Field Committee therefore decided to close the car park in the evening and re-open the following morning. The nuisance seems to have stopped but they will continue to operate the barrier throughout the winter months. Please make sure your car is removed from the park before dark. The police have been made aware of the problem. Also, we have had complaints from residents of Lindley Road, Harvey Close and Chapel Lane about parking along Lindley Road on Saturday and Sunday match days. We know it is difficult for users of the field to find places to park, but would ask that users park responsibly and do not cause obstruction to traffic using Lindley Road. Please leave room for possible emergency vehicle access. One solution to the congestion would be a larger more secure car park, which the Joint Playing Field Committee is considering incorporating into the new pavilion plans.
Surgeries Dates for Parish Council "surgeries" for the next few months are:
All are on Saturday morning in the Village Hall from 10:00 to 11:00 am with two councillors present. Surgeries are an opportunity for residents to have more in-depth discussion with a councillor than is possible at a council meeting, where public participation is limited to 15 minutes. The councillor to whom you speak can, if you wish, bring your concerns, views and opinions to council meetings; it is your choice. Alternatively we can refer any issues to DMBC or other appropriate authorities. Just a reminder – you can read the minutes of every Council Meeting on the notice boards by the pond or at the village hall, or on the council's website www.finningleyvillage.co.uk Residents may also attend meetings of the Parish Council, which are normally held at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of every month in the village hall.
Your Parish Councillors
And finally, the Parish Council would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
David Lindley, Chairman, for and on behalf of Finningley Parish Council
FINNINGLEY PARISH COUNCIL - POND NEWS The pond has recently given rise to a number of complaints. Your Parish Council shares your concern. Some residents have stated they remember that fifty years ago the pond was a dried-up muddy puddle in the summer and refilled itself in the autumn and winter, and this has probably been the case long before that. Many years ago a clay lining was installed by the Parish Council and more recently repaired by councillors and helpers to prevent the water from leaking into the ground. The "crazy paving" was also put down around the edge of the pond to allow access for people without them having to paddle in mud. The stone ramps were also built to help the small ducklings to leave the pond. Three years ago a separate water supply was installed for topping up the pond. The willow trees surrounding the pond have not always been there. They look fine from a distance, but now they are mature the trees drop most of their leaves (and a few small branches) into the pond, which, together with duck faeces, help to clog up the bottom and reduce the depth of water. This has meant that every few years the pond has to be dredged, which has been done again this year — on this occasion advantage has been taken of the long drought to let most of the water evaporate to allow contractors to see the size and shape of the problem and access for the workmen to remove the build up of sludge. Another by-product of this build-up of sludge has been an increase in nutrients, which encourages algae to thrive, giving the thick green colour to the water. The council has consulted various experts, and an oft-quoted remedy for these green algae is to introduce barley straw to the water, which will soak up much of the algae. Barley straw has been placed in the pond (by parish councillors) for the past couple of years but the effects have appeared to be negligible. The council is currently investigating the possibility of a long-term solution to solve the problems by increasing the volume of water in the pond and to give forced aeration in an attempt to improve the water quality. It has involved discussions with various departments of DMBC, environmental agencies, the local electricity company to provide the necessary power supply, and other organisations providing advice on large ponds. The search for companies who would quote for the work has also taken a long time as several local specialists who have been approached have said that a project such as ours is outside their normal remit. Whilst the necessary investigations are in progress, the appearance of the pond unfortunately has to take second place. The total costs are expected to be high and we are looking at various ways of raising the necessary finance. It has always been and remains our intention that the pond will continue to be a focal point of the village and a feature of the green area for many years to come. The duck population has decreased of late. The main reasons are: We are grateful to a local resident who regularly checks on the ducks and treats any ailments — all at their own expense. Following completion of survey work by a third contractor on 2nd November and subsequent dredging work, the pond has been refilled. We are also grateful to two residents for their generous donations to meet the cost of the survey and dredging work. Within a couple of days eleven mallards and a moorhen were observed on the water.
David Lindley, Chairman, for and on behalf of Finningley Parish Council
|
|
|
|