MINUTES 22 January 2009

Attendees: Fran Markotic (chair), Claudia Hodds (minutes), Joan & Eddy Smith, Sharon Draper, Brian Francis, Mary Beer, Teresa Hibbs, Tim Graydon, Zuzanna Briscoe, Eunja & Stewart Palmen, Clive Blackmore (Cllr), Graham Hedley (Cllr), PCSO Ella-Maria Badder, PCSO Joe Leeds

Apologies: Mark McLauchlan, Drew Thomas, Sue Gibbs, Karen Tate, Emma Glover.

The minutes of November’s meeting were approved without amendment.

Guest Speakers

February meeting: Claire Pullen to update on planting scheme in Newtown. By then she will know if there are funds from WWDC. If not, then she suggests that we approach the Town Council to ask if any money is available.

March meeting: Stewart Palmen to speak / show DVD about Street Pastor scheme, which is being introduced in Trowbridge. Training starts 31 Jan for 4 weekends, will go life in early March. 22 volunteers have signed up so far.

April meeting: no guest speaker

NARA Events (all to be advertised in Newsletter)

Coffee Morning – February / March
Fran to speak to Mary Carter to find out what has been organised.

Skittles Evening– March / April
To be held either at Wesley Road Club or at Conservative Club on a Friday evening. Fran to ask at former, Ed Smith to ask at latter about availability.

Quiz – May / June
Brian to coordinate the organisation of this.

Car Boot Sale – summer
Further details to be discussed

Front Garden Fiesta – summer
It was decided that we will continue with the FGF. Further details to be discussed at future meetings.

Residents’ Parking
GH advised that the new Wiltshire Council is likely to introduce a residents’ parking scheme in response to complaints by residents that people who work in the town centre park their cars on Newtown. The attendees were against this, but no immediate action is required as it is unlikely to be a priority for the new council.

Police Report
PCSO Maria Badder gave an update on issues that affect the area:
Homeless in the garages behind 66 Newtown: Maria has checked at 7am, they had left for the day. The garages will be sealed up by the owner and Maria has worked with Polish speaker to make it clear to the homeless that if they break into the garage it will be a criminal offence.
Newtown murder: The person was arrested, currently out on bail. The safety of the community is not affected.
Sexual assault in Lower Bond St Buildings: nobody caught yet, it was a very serious assault which took place around midnight and residents should be careful in this area. Near Tesco a woman was pulled off her bike, robbed and also sexually assaulted. The police currently don’t think there is a serial offender.
Graffiti: 3 young graffiti artists have been caught, 2 have admitted it. If you see graffiti, report it to the police.

Lower Bond St Buildings
In order for the council to adopt these alleyways the residents would have to install street lights and it would still be unlikely that the council would adopt them or get otherwise involved apart from maybe a small grant to help improve the situation.
It was suggested that residents put up security lights on their houses to light the alleyway. NARA to support wherever possible. Fran to contact Community Safety Officer, Ishti Turner, to discuss if grants available for security lights. Or maybe for gates to be installed at either end of the alleyway.
GH reminded the meeting that the more individual people get in touch with Jeff Osborne, asking him to take action, the more likely it is that something will happen. Appeal to all residents in next newsletter – under a heading such as “If you do one thing this issue” – to contact Jeff (include Jeff’s email address in newsletter).

42 Bond Street
The owner of this house was going to convert it to flats, then stopped the work and ever since a heap of rubbish is piled up in the front garden. WWDC Planning Dept. will be sending him a letter asking him to clear up the mess. If this does not help, Fran is going to try to contact him on behalf of NARA.

Drains
The drains opposite the Stallards are blocked and always overflowing. Everyone should report this to Clarence and let GH & Jeff Osborne know the reference numbers. They can then chase it up. See box below.

Spring Newsletter – Mark volunteered to write this
 Recycling at Ship Inn  Recycling of Tetra Pak (explain what this is) at HRC  Yellow Pages recycling in black boxes plus telephone number to ring in order to cancel any future deliveries and website www.yell.com  Sustainable Communities Act  Murder on Newtown and Bond St Buildings incident (incl. “If you do one thing this issue” appeal and Jeff Osborne’s email address)  Forthcoming Events  Planting scheme (Sharon to write article)  Contact details for Clarence for any problems with roads / pavements / drains  Meeting dates

Friends of Biss Meadow Country Park
Anybody interested in getting involved with this new group in order to clean up the country park and create a path etc, please ask Fran for contact details. Their next meeting is 12th February.

Sustainable Communities Act
Di Marshall to update next month.

NARA Chair
Fran once again reminded everyone that we still need a permanent chair. Fran would remain secretary and still do the majority of the work, but we need someone to chair the meetings. Plea from Fran & Claudia:
Please would someone volunteer to take on this position? We would be very grateful!

Trowbridge Town Council Activities
Children’s Fun Day – 16/17 February (10am – 4pm each day) in Civic Hall, £5 / day, bring a packed lunch
Pancake Race – 21 February (10am – 12.00) on Fore Street, free entry
Civic Dinner & Dance – 20 March in Civic Hall, tickets £29 p.p.
‘No Messin’ Safety Awareness Day – 6 April in Longfield Community Centre
West Wilts Show – 23-25 June in Civic Hall

The meeting closed at 9:10pm.

Next meetings
Tuesday 24th February
Thursday 26th March
Wednesday 22nd April
Tuesday 26th May
Thursday 25th June

Email for PCSOs: collegeandnewtownnpt@wiltshire.police.uk
Our Police and PCSO team are:
PC 2212 Jo Bagg
PCSO 6163 Ella-Maria Badder
Telephone: 0845 408 7000

Fran Markotic is NARA Chair: 01225 710457
Email: fran.jason@btinternet.com