October 2021

SNAPE WITH THORP PARISH COUNCIL

NEWSLETTER – October 2021

1. The Parish Council (PC) met on Tuesday 28 September.  This newsletter provides an update on a number of issues discussed at the meeting and other matters of general interest.

2. Outline Planning application for up to 32 houses on the Manor House (Prices Pavings and Tile Ltd) site (reference 20/02047/OUT).   There has been no decision on this application as yet.  The Council understands that there are two remaining issues – Highways and Affordable Housing.  The Environment Agency (EA) has recently confirmed a revised flood risk for the site from part 2 and part 3 to an overall assessment of level 1 (lowest flood risk).  They have also withdrawn any objections they had to the planning application.  The PC has asked for further information on this revised assessment. If you have not already commented on the application there is still time to do so.  Please go to Hambleton District Council’s Planning portal or contact the Clerk who will assist you in finding the appropriate website.
3. The Police were represented at the meeting and presented a report on recent offences in the wider ward area.  Residents are reminded to take precautions to secure their homes, garages and outbuildings as there have been opportunist burglaries in the locality.  Security is especially important now the longer nights have arrived.  Overleaf is guidance from the police for your information.

4. For anyone who is not already receiving it the Police operate the North Yorkshire Community Messaging.  This is a free email messaging service which lets people register to receive latest news, crime notifications and information for their local areas. Signing up only takes a few minutes and there is also an App that can be downloaded on IOS and Android devices. Users are also able to reply direct to their local neighbourhood teams and take part in surveys.  The website is: www.northyorkshirecommunitymessaging.co.uk

5. The Contractor will commence work on the kerbing later in October.

6. A small group exists to undertake maintenance activities eg cleaning out the beck, repairing village benches etc.   If you are interested in being involved please contact Sara Pringle (contact details are given below).
7. The Dog Warden is taking an active interest in issues occurring in the village and reported to him.  Further incidents of bagged dog pooh being left on private property have occurred.  Also there have been sightings of dogs being permitted to stray and then fouling in the village.   

8. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated over the weekend of Thursday 2^nd to Sunday 5^th June 2022. As no-one contacted the Parish Council to be involved in organising events over the weekend the PC and Institute Committee will work together to organise a single social event.  Further details will be issued in due course. 

9. Possible further development of the southern end of the playing field.  Please find attached information regarding this.  The Council invites you to indicate your view about this matter by the return of the short pro forma attached.

10. Bilsdale Mast - as you will be aware the replacement mast is now live and Snape should be fully covered by this new transmitter. A Help and Support Scheme has been set up, initially prioritising people over 65, the clinically vulnerable, and other vulnerable people with carers who are still having problems.  If this is the case please contact the Bilsdale Project Restore Support Line on Freephone number 0800 121 4828 OR you can fill out the Helpline Form at www.bilsdalemast.co.uk to request assistance.  Engineers will be scheduled to visit people who need help retuning TVs or having an aerial repointed.

11. Meetings are now held face to face and are always open for members of the public to attend unless the Council advises otherwise.

12. If you have any queries or comments to make regarding the Parish Council please contact the Clerk. 

John Duck

Chairman

Contact details:                                                         Website: www.snapewiththorp.co.uk

Sarah Lowe (Clerk)	01677 470444	07522820850	clerk@snapewiththorp.co.uk
John Duck	01677 470707	07885515747	Colin Hodges	01677 470445	07585048245
Liz Watson	01677 470714	07715002910	Sara Pringle	01677 470197	07976597719

Security tips (from North Yorkshire Police)

Homes with no security measures in place are five times more likely to be burgled than those with simple security measures. Good window locks and strong deadlocks can make a big difference.

Taking just a few steps can make a big difference in keeping your home safe from burglary. Here are a few tips:

• Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you’re just out in the garden, remembering to double-lock UPVC doors (lift handle and turn key)
• Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through the letterbox)
• Install a visual burglar alarm (as part of a suite of prevention measures – a burglar alarm on its own will not prevent entry to your home)
• Consider installing CCTV to cover your property and put up a sign to declare that you have CCTV for your neighbours and potential intruders to see.
• Install good outside lighting and make sure your security lights are in good working order
• Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property
• Leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied
• Make sure the fences around your garden are in good condition, especially rear fencing
• Secure bikes at home by locking them to an immoveable object inside a locked shed or garage
• Keep ladders and tools stored away; don’t leave them outside where they could be used to break into your home
• Ensure side gates are locked to prevent access to the rear of the property
• Improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges
• Get your property marked and registered with our free dot peen property marking system
• Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme or a Mobile Rural Watch scheme
• Remove valuables from view of ground floor windows
• Store any high value items (i.e. jewellery, passports) in a properly secured safe or bank vault

We urge residents to be on lookout and report suspicious activity or vehicles at the time any suspect activity occurs using the national 101 non-emergency number.

Always dial 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.

Consultation on the possible further development of the playing field

1. Following difficulties in sourcing funding for the overall development of the playing field the Council found it had to make changes in a phased way over a number of years as funds became available.  Approximately 4 years ago the Council raised the final funds to install the last piece of play equipment – the zip wire.  During the development the Council had the middle part of the field drained, levelled and re-seeded for ball games.  The remainder of the field has been left untouched except for grass cutting and tidying of the hedge bottoms.

2. Recently, the Council received a request from a parishioner to develop the southern end of the field to plant a selection of trees and shrubs (30 to 50 in total) to give interest and wildlife benefits to the area. In addition, they proposed to have two other types of planting – a mix of woodland flowers and an open area planted up as a meadow.  It was also proposed to include paths and seating to allow ready access and to allow people to sit and be quiet. The proposal included other landscape features eg bird feeding stations, nesting boxes, hide, forest classroom areas etc.

3. The Council wish to seek the views of parishioners about the possible use of the remainder of the playing field.  Possible options are outlined below. 

4. The Council needs to stress the following points:

1. 1. The final decision on whether a development would proceed would be made by the Council taking into consideration the responses received;
   2. Regulations regarding play areas mean that the whole field would remain a No Dog area;
   3. As the Council owns the field any developments would need to meet appropriate levels of safety etc and be covered by the Council’s insurance.  This has the potential to increase costs and workload due to the need for regular safety checks etc;
   4. The Council has no available funds to undertake a major project so if external grant aid was not forthcoming any agreed development would need to be funded from increases in the precept via increased Council Tax;  and
   5. The Council would not wish to take on any development projects.  A group or groups would be needed to lead on the agreed development under the direction of the Council.

5. Please note:  Options 2, 3 and 4 may require drainage works to improve the area first as this part of the field is very wet particularly after wetter weather.  This would result in increased costs to the Council.

Options	Brief description	Potential impact on the Parish Council
1 No change	The area remains as at present (as an open area) leaving options open for one-off events. Perhaps staging for an outdoor performance – play, folk concert, etc.	No change – the cost of grass cutting and other maintenance is included in current costs and precept.  Insurance cover is in place.
2 Further equipment is added	Further equipment – play and/or adult exercise equipment is added in this area.	Funds will be needed to purchase and install equipment.  There will be additional maintenance; H&S check and insurance costs.
3 A meadow is created	The top of the field is planted as a meadow and a path mowed through it	Limited cost implication eg additional grass cutting costs
4 Enhancement of the  area	As per description in para 2 above.	The cost for this development will be significantly in excess of current costs and will have on-going additional costs.
5 Other options eg Use for additional allotments; Create an area for a Park Run	The Parish Council would be interested in receiving other options for this area	These suggestions may increase Parish Council costs depending on what is adopted

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tear of slip

Please respond by completing this tear off slip and returning it to the Clerk, Laurel Grove, Snape (next door to the Methodist Church) by MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER. 

Response:

I/We wish to support the following option: ………………………………

OR

I support option 5: Other options: Please indicate what your other option(s) is:

Would you be personally willing to participate in any voluntary group that may be required to achieve your preferred option – fundraising, initial development, ongoing maintenance, H&S checks, etc:                                 YES/NO (please delete as appropriate)

Name(s):

     

Address:            

Tel no/email address: