MINUTES OF THE DIAL POST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION; INCORPORATING THE DIAL POST VILLAGE HALL GROUP; MEETING HELD ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 2002 AT DIAL POST VILLAGE HALL
Present Darren Rolfe Chairman/Caretaker
Jean Rolfe Bookings Secretary/Trustee
Chris Neal Vice Chairman
Mandy Lord Secretary
Vicky Vincent Treasurer
Derek Clayton Committee Member
Alan Childs Committee Member
Pauline Saunders Committee Member
Brenda Woolgar Committee Member
Pat Meed Press Officer
Joe Grout Trustee
Sharon Sloane Committee Member
Apologies Simon Battison WGPC Representative
Absent Nora Franklin Committee member
7 Residents present.
1. Apologies
Received from Simon Battison.
2. Previous Minutes
Darren wanted to make clear under DPRA business, Item 1, which recipients had replied to the DPRAs letter.
Ray Turner, Horsham District Council no reply.
Mrs Howard, District Councilor no reply.
Mr Etherington, West Sussex County Council replied.
Mr Barnard, County Councilor attended the meeting, but left prior to discussions on A24.
Mr Flight, Member of Parliament replied, and will contact us to arrange a meeting.
Minutes taken as read and signed accordingly.
3. Committee Places
Darren had received a proposal for Mr Alan Childs to become a committee member; he put this to Mr Childs who agreed. Formally proposed by Chris Neal and seconded by Darren Rolfe.
Vicky Vincent had approached Sue Gill, who also has agreed to become a committee member (not able to attend this evening). Formally proposed by Vicky Vincent and seconded by Pauline Saunders.
VILLAGE HALL BUSINESS
4. Correspondence Sent
Mrs S Battison, re: our thanks for all her time and involvement with the committee.
Mr Poulton, re: for trustee information and to request if Pat Meed may approach him to ask further questions on becoming a Village Hall trustee.
West Grinstead Parish Council, re: 2 quotes about floor, and ditches to be dug round hall. Disappointed that not receiving money for the Dial Post post, but will forward updated specifications shortly. Also enclosed updated accounts showing £500.00 float. Queried why they need to see our accounts when we are governed by the Charities Commission.
5. Correspondence Received
Nil
6. Roof
As per Simon Battisons request at the last meeting, two roof quotes are on their way. Quote for removal of whole roof, including asbestos, and replace with fibre glass tiles.
7. Previous Quotes for Floor, Drainage Ditches, etc
All quotes have been forwarded to Parish council.
8. Hall Cleaner
Now owe the cleaner £60. As nobody other than the regular hall users has booked the hall, could Mrs Vincent please pay the cleaner.
Darren to draw up draft contract for the hall cleaner.
9. Notice Board
The one outside the hall is now finished. What do we want to put in it?
- Minutes + notice of next meeting.
- Clubs to put in Whats On This Week
- Dial Post e-mail address.
- Notice re: renting of Village Hall.
- About the Dial Post Residents Association.
Following on from this a discussion was held about advertising the village hall for hire, and also the Residents Association itself.
Pat Meed was proposed as Press Officer by Darren and seconded by Mandy. Article to be done for the West Grinstead Newsletter, to include dates of next meetings and a write up of the DPRA. Debi Lintott to see if she still has the article she wrote for Shipley Fete and County Times, if so to forward on to Pat.
To make advertising the dates of our meetings easier it was agreed that from November the meetings will be held on the FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
These dates include November 4th, December 2nd and January 6th. It was decided by all present to make the first two meetings social events.
NOVEMBER 4TH 2002 BONFIRE SPECIAL. 7pm start
Everyone to be invited. Bring own food and drink soup, sausages and potatoes, to cook at the village hall. Darren will arrange bonfire.
DECEMBER 2ND 2002 CHRISTMAS EVENING 7pm start
As last meeting before Christmas everyone invited. Pauline will kindly arrange the food.
Everyone who comes to bring a prize for the tombola. Sharon Sloane to write to various organizations for charity donations for the tombola. Darren will purchase the raffle tickets.
Mandy to produce a leaflet to advertise forthcoming DPRA events. Darren will reorganize the area representatives to do the leaflet drop.
The old notice board to be re-sited at the corner of Honeybridge Lane and the road leading to Potthill Farm. Darren will take out and extend posts. Marilyn and Chris to re-site.
10. Furinture
The clubs using the village hall have not submitted any requests for cupboards.
Sharon proposed that each club supply their own cupboard purchased out of their own funds. Mandy proposed that we supply the cupboards and the clubs then lease them.
Chris proposed that we supply the cupboards, to our own specifications, and allow the regular clubs to use one of them for the time being. And make part of our advertising that we have secure storage for regular users. This to be reassessed in the New Year.
Those club members present felt that either supplying or leasing cupboards would have an adverse effect on their clubs, which were already struggling. Therefore Chriss proposal was deemed the best option. Proposed by Chris and seconded by Vicky.
The issue of insurance was discussed, as to whether the items stored by the clubs were covered under the village hall insurance? Mrs Vincent has a copy to be looked at next meeting.
11. Any Other Business
Does the DPRA want to raise its own funds, separate to those of the village hall? Various ideas were discussed. Debi Lintott said she felt it would be a good idea to have in writing the closure of the Dial Post Village Group bank account. Darren agreed.
Darren proposed a donation box, whereby people put in every meeting to cover tea, coffee etc. If proves too expensive then it will stop.
The potential of the Residents Association becoming a Parish Council was discussed. The majority of people felt would need a certain number of residents. Would it be better to try and form something now to limit any proposed development, rather than wait until development has taken place and the village has more residents? Pat to investigate with the National Association of Local Councils.
Darren proposed that the secretary be paid expenses to cover paper, printer ink, stamps etc. This to come from village hall funds. Seconded by Vicky. Mandy to present receipts to treasurer for payment.
Mandy to complete a committee address and phone list.
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION BUSINESS
1. Correspondence Sent
B.T.C.V., trees for thickening hedge at back of playground ordered. 100 trees will come once leaves have dropped.
2. Correspondence Received
A24 Ashington to Southwater Gap Closure and Junction Improvement Study.
This covered:
A review of comments following the public information exhibition; review of comments from consultees; and recommendations following consultation.
Darren contacted Mr G Steers to ascertain if a response following our meeting would be in order and he stated it would.
Darren read out extracts relating to Dial Post from the report. The report is heavily in favour of the Dial Post east junction (middle of village).
Quote, 4.19 of report states:
In conclusion it is determined that there is a slight weight of preference form consultees, and interested parties for a junction to the east of Dial Post. This option also provides better contribution to the Governments objectives for transport, especially access for public transport. It is acknowledged that this option is currently at odds with the preference of the Dial Post Residents Association, however, it is considered that the views of the DPRA can be mollified by their inclusion in the detailed development of the design and mitigation of the Dial Post East junction. Further investigation of the Horsham District Council alternative proposal will be undertaken to assess its viability, with further consultation with interested parties. Unquote.
3. A24
In the above mentioned report it is stated that Horsham District Council are not in-favour of either of the proposed junctions, and have suggested a height-restricted underpass as an alternative solution. WSP go on to state that further investigation will be undertaken of the alternative proposal suggested by HDC.
Following this WSP sent the DPRA new plans for an alternative East junction option 2D. The report accompanying the map covers our last letter point for point on how the issues we raised will be covered by this new proposed junction.
The junction has been moved 90 metres further into the field away from the village hall. There is a 7.5 tonne weight restriction on the underpass, but no height restriction. The bus bay has been moved. Using their 100, 200, and 300 metre radii, they claim that less properties will be affected by the noise. The report also mentions traffic calming measures along Worthing road, similar to those used at Ashington.
The consensus of those present was that we were not mollified and need to put solid points together in our letter to Mr Steers. These to be based on the safety of the junction, noise levels, and shortcutting through the village down Swallows Lane.
Mrs Neal felt that we should write to the County times about this new junction, especially as they have ignored the views of the residents. It was agreed that an open letter should be sent to throw it open for public debate. Darren to contact Mr Harris from the County Times who attended our June meeting.
4. Any Other Business
Awaiting to hear from Parish council re: works at Old Barn Nurseries, as requested at last meeting.
Mrs Neal contacted Horsham District Council to complain, as planning permission has not yet been granted, she was asked that if an inquiry was to be held would she attend? Mrs Neal agreed.
Expansion of the Nursery is planned with another Tearoom, a Fishery, a new barn, a through roadway, a 2-storey goods inward and other items.
Next meeting to be held on Monday 4th November 2002 Bonfire Special at the Village Hall at 7pm
