Minutes
of meeting of December 11th 2002
Venue: Cockburnspath
Primary School, 7pm
Present: : John
Hay (JH- Chairman), Mr Clifford Bertram (CB - Vice
Chairman), Mr Paul Wheelhouse (PW - Secretary),Mrs Jane Hood (JHd) , Mrs Marnie
Magregor (MM), Mrs Jean Virtue (JV), Mr Matt Deeming (MD) and Mrs Deeming,
Councillor John Elliot (JE - Duns and District North, SBC) and Sergeant Andy
Jones (Eyemouth Police Station, Lothian and Borders Police).
1
Apologies
§
Lorna Shand
(Treasurer)
2
Adoption of Minutes for November
2.1.1
PW apologised that
due to upcoming wedding arrangements, he had been unable to provide typed
minutes for the November meeting. These
were to be supplied at a subsequent date (probably in the New Year).
3
Briefing by Sergeant Andy Jones, of
Eyemouth Police Station
3.1
SAJ reported that
although crime was low in the area, there had recently been a spate of three
break-ins within the area, some 3 months ago.
These had been committed by opportunist thieves operating out of
Galashiels. There are occasionally
circumstances whereby criminals will drive around areas such as Co’path,
because they are adjacent to the A1, looking for houses which might be good
targets and while this is sporadic, Saj urged local people to be vigilant and
report anything suspicious.
3.2
Jean Virtue reported
a theft of a purse from the Village Shop some six weeks previously.
3.3
MM, JV and JH
highlighted the poor street lighting in the vicinity of the lane leading from
Square, following the renewal of street lights. PW to follow up with Lisa Chiles at SBC and if necessary report
back to the police for advice.
3.4
JH and PW,
respectively, reported that there had been numerous incidents of vandalism of
benches, and the railway underpass was covered in graffiti.
3.5
PW reported there had
been night shooting of foxes or deer reported by residents in Cove in the
fields to the rear of Cove hamlet and that this posed a significant risk to dog
walkers, residents and pets. SAJ
thought it may have been poachers and urged anyone witnessing such an incident
is urged to report this activity immediately and it will be taken very
seriously by the local police. PW also
mentioned the incident reported by MM that there were fox tails pinned to trees
in an area used by children and it was agreed that this is an unpleasant
practice and one upsetting to small children but probably nothing sinister,
albeit we would ask those responsible to desist from this.
3.6
In general SAJ agreed
to investigate whether some increase in local patrol activity might be
undertaken to help deter opportunists / vandals, etc. and there would hopefully
be more frequent attendance at the meetings in future (as first item on the
agenda so officers are not delayed).
SAJ also provided contact details for the community liason officer,
Shona Turnbull, who is based at Coldstream (01890 882 402). However please call 999 for emergency calls
as at present.
4
Secretary’s Report on
Correspondence Received Since Last Meeting
4.1
Correspondence received from
4.1.1
Local liason officer
for the RAF
4.1.2
British Energy
regarding the future of Torness and announcing resumption of supply
4.1.3
Safety reports for
Torness, including poending legal action against BE for a release of waste
water from the plant kitchens from a storage tank, by accident, which may have
contained trace levels of radioactivity.
4.1.4
Community training
opportunities (see noticeboard) for those interested in:
4.1.4.1 standing for office i the forthcoming local authority
elections
4.1.4.2 Leadership / representing the Community (Voluntary Work)
5
Matters Arising
5.1.1
PW reported that a meeting
had been held at Benjamin Tyndall’s request to discuss a proposed ne w road to
Cove Harbour and cliff repairs. This
was held at Inverbrae, Cove, with reprsentatives of SNH, SBC and at which JH
and LS were in attendance and at which options for funding the estimated £100K
cost were discussed.
5.1.2
JV/JH reported that
the bench in Callander Place had been repaired.
5.1.3
JH thanked Mr &
Mrs Dale of Whiteburn farm, Abbey St Bathans, for the lovely Christmas tree in the village square
and Mr David Brading, Mr Allan Patterson, Callum Brown and Mr John Evans for
erecting the tree and for arranging for the lighting. It was agreed to use funds provided by SBC for lights to purchase
a bottle of whisky for each of those involved as an expression of the gratitude
of the village. PW to obtain a cheque
from LS and JH would buy the whisky.
5.1.4
JH raised the
possibility of using the Link to get news round to the village, as this
excellent newsletter reaches all households.
The next issue is due out on 1st February and any submissions
can be discussed at the next meeting, for example a plea to reduce dog fowling
in public spaces.
5.1.5
Cockburnspath Primary School: Cllr Elliot reported that Cockburnspath Primary School is in line for further expansion/
improvements by Scottish Borders Council along with a number of other
Berwickshire schools, but there are possibly some six local schools (including
Burnmouth) which may close as part of SBC’s Building for the Future initiative.
5.1.6
Councillors have
debated controversial plans for a £38 million investment in Borders school
buildings, of which 90 per cent is expected to be funded by the Scottish
Executive through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. This involves
renewal or replacement of up to 23 schools in the first phase of the scheme
which will focus on the Berwickshire area. The proposal is for rationalisation
of schools in Berwickshire and the creation of central cluster schools where
resources would be pooled.
5.1.7
The consensus of the
community council was that any additional investment was to be welcomed at
Co’path, although members of the community council expressed concern that any
school should have to close, while further detail was sought to understand
where additional facilities would be provided on a cramped site. It is known that resources in terms of
teaching space and the human resources of Mr MacAleese and staff are stretched
at present and, if Co’path was to expand (e.g. at further Tollview phases),
then extra capacity would be required at the school.
5.2
Planning Matters
5.2.1
PW reported that he
had received no feedback regarding the revised planning application for the
proposed development of 3 houses at the Station
Yard Site (Sports Tune Ltd) had been received. JE confirmed that this had yet to be discussed at Committee,
hence the delay.
6
Any Other Business
6.1
Mrs Hood (JHd)
reported that at the latest meeting at Viridor, near Dunbar, it had been
announced that a new larger flare was to be fitted to vent methane gas. It had also been announced that in future
greatyer restrictions will be placed on what can go into the landfill site and
that there had been problems of possible contamination of the ground water due
to higher anticipated (and recent) rainfall.
6.2
JHd reported the road
is breaking up at the bottom of the farm access road at Cove Farm, due to cars
using the entrance as an unofficial passing place. JE recommended contacting Darren Silcock, Area Network Officer,
for SBC at Duns.
6.3
A large pothole has
been reported on Crofts Road.
6.4
Drains on the Old A1
and at Hoprig Park are inadequate / blocked.
7
Date for next meeting:
Confirmed as Wednesday 8th January 2002 at 7:00PM