CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 20th March 2025 at 7.30p.m.
Present. Cllrs. F. Winup, J. Mackelden, J. Prior, G.CleggLittler, S. Bettles, Unitary Cllr. N. Botterill, Clerk S. Parker
Four members of the public.
Apologies for absence. Cllr. Blair. And Cllr. J. Halliday
Declarations of interest. Cllr Bettles re item 7b Gable Cottage and Stonewood.
Minutes of the meeting of 16th January 2025 and the extraordinary meeting on 20th February 2025. Cllr. JP proposed they are both approved, seconded by Cllr. SB. All agreed.
Matters arising -.
4a. (i) Area Board
The next meeting is on 2nd June following the May elections. Cllr Winup will attend subject to relevance of agenda items.
(ii) Parish Forum
Cllr Winup attended on 26th February.
The police attended for the fourth time in succession as they find it an excellent way to update parishes.
The Chief Constable also attended which reinforces this view.
The police now have night vision drones reducing the need for expensive helicopter call outs.
Speeding is an issue in various locations with 600 infringements daily is Sutton Benger, many at double the speed limit.
Sutton Benger is investing in speed cameras capable of identifying insurance and mot status as well as registration numbers.
4b. Parking Review There were 9 bookings in January and 26 in February.
The proposed change in the appeal process for changes in speed limits is not yet in place. Once this is clarified we can pursue options for the B4039.
4c. Footpaths. The golf club has laid hardcore on the muddiest parts of the path between School Lane and Park Lane. Cllr Bettles will ask them to lay more in those areas most likely to be affected by wet weather.
He will also deliver slabs to the Roman Bridge and liaise with Cllr Mackelden to lay them with help from Gareth Hare.
Wiltshire Council has asked Parish Councils to write to landowners where paths are overgrown. In practice a quiet word is invariably sufficient.
4n. Congregational Chapel Car Park. An offer has now been received as detailed in the 20th of February minutes. Both sets of solicitors have been instructed.
8a Impact of visitor volumes. Several highway changes will be trialled following a meeting with Highways.
These include revisions to the area around the Market Cross to enhance safety by improved road markings and signage, posts on the B4039 at top of the hill (like those by the river), short extensions to the yellow lines at the top of the hill and near the toilets, new signage at Whitegates.
Further possible changes (such as restricting access to the village on peak days, extension of the car park or use of overflow parking sites), will await the success or otherwise of these.
- Finance: –
- Balances
Lloyds current account on 27th of February 9689.53
Shawbrook 1yr fixed 15729.11
Shawbrook 100 day account 8523.90
Payments
Octopus electric for VH Feb 5.29
Octopus electric for VH March 36.92
Cllr. Mackelden reimbursement re website annual fee payment 300.00
Lloyds Bank account fee 9.09
- C. Village Hall hire charge 60.00
Cllr. Winup Digiprint newsletter invoice 63.80
Cllr. Winup sign for drone at car park 96.47
Income and expenditure items reviewed and agreed.
Latest reconciliations are to be reviewed at the year-end prior to submission to our internal auditor.
Cllr. FW said as Cllr. JP is not re-standing we will need someone to take over the quarterly bank reconciliations.
- Correspondence – Email regarding a piece of land at the Gibb. Little information provided and nothing further heard. The clerk reported that the person will check with Grittleton to see if it is in their parish and will speak to Wiltshire Council regarding a pre-application.
- Planning Applications Determined. None.
7b Planning Applications Under Consideration:
PL/2025/01911. Park Lane cottage – reduce beech tree crown by 30% – supported.
PL/2025/02172 LBC and PL/2025/01966 Gable Cottage – extension & alterations together with provision for a garden building and hot tub. This property appears to have a joint listing with next door but the application indicates that no neighbour consultation has taken place. Unitary Cllr Botterill will check with the planners regarding normal procedure in such cases. Concern was expressed by one councillor at the extent of the proposed internal changes, but the main concern of others was the potential external impact on the adjoining property. Any hot tub installation should be subject to a 10pm curfew. The response date is 2nd April but our objection (on the basis of Core Policies 57 and 58) will be held in abeyance pending the response from Unitary Cllr Botterill.
The Stonewood planning application was submitted last week and should soon be available on the council website.
- Unitary Councillor Report. Cllr. N. Botterill said that Wiltshire Council is now in purdah until after the election.
Cabinet had discussed Lime Down proposal for 11 square miles of a solar farm, with panels 4.5 metres high that move with the sun, which will be noisy. They do not think it is a good idea on good farmland. The UK and Ireland are the worst countries in the world weatherwise for solar panels. Cabinet and all other political parties agreed it is not good for WC and object to it. The final decision is not made by WC but by Central Government.
- Playing Field Cllr. JM said there is nothing to report.
The CC Circuit report: Cllr. JM gave an update on the meeting on the 19th of March, there will be one day less racing this year. The Spring Action Day is the biggest event of the year. The CC will try and limit the numbers for the Motorbike events. They have planted whips at the new entrance and are getting rid of more Ash trees with dieback.
Cllr. FW asked about the noise sound recordings, Cllr. JM will remind them.
- Play areas reports by Cllr. JM for the lower play area. Cllr. JM said he will get more bark before the summer starts.
Upper Play area. Cllr. JP said the new football goal is very good he will treat the surface when the weather improves.
- Highways Cllr. JH. In Cllr Haliday’s absence, the chairman reported as follows:
Upper Castle Combe:
B4039 Repainting as soon as possible of white lines and road markings has been requested on the bend and are now in the system. The road will be closed overnight 31st March between UCC and The Gibb for surface repairs.
Whitegates:
The Golf Course will cut back further growth on the boundary.
The Hill
The streetsweeper has not visited this month but hopefully will shortly tie in with the Parish Steward dates.
The fallen tree on the hill should be removed very soon.
Main Village:
Repainting of the yellow lines has been requested.
Drains and gullies:
Highways and the Parish Steward are now regularly clearing the gullies and drains.
Bybrook River Erosion:
Wiltshire Council are arranging contractors to undertake repairs. Will require a temporary road closure.
Parish Steward:
Continues to do an excellent job. We are lucky to have him.
- Village Environment. Cllr. GL. Need to agree date for Market Cross maintenance check. Cllr. FW will email cllrs to see who can help do the check.
Unitary Cllr Botterill will enquire re the availability and collection arrangements of large bins in view of the vastly increased visitor numbers. The clerk will check the accounts to see where the last ones came from.
Cllr. FW asked about the local nature recovery strategy. Cllr. NB said it is for specific areas for nature recovery to increase biodiversity. Cllr. FW will put it in the parish newsletter.
- Whitegates. The new goalposts have been installed and a few diseased trees removed.
Councillor needed to take over Whitegates following Cllr Prior’s resignation.
- TV Committee. Cllr. GL reported that there are 15 subscriptions still due, most people pay by bacs. The committee will discuss how to get prompt payment for next year. He said 1 resident has reported problems with the connection, a member of the public said they also have a problem with connections. Cllr. GL will contact the TV company to look for the problem.
- Village Hall. Cllr. FW reported that they had to call out Megarod to clear a blocked drain, and it is now resolved.
- Parish Council election 1st May
Cllrs thanked Cllr. JP for all he has done for the parish and the parish council.
We await news on whether there will be a contest, i.e. more nominations than seats.
If contested, we bear 50% of the costs. If uncontested there are still some costs but extent much less.
- Next Meeting
Confirmed as Thursday 15th of May 2025 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall, Castle Combe for the Annual Parishioners’ Meeting followed at 7.30pm by the Parish Council meeting.