MINUTES 25 September 2008

Attendees: Fran Markotic (Chair), Mark McLauchlan, Mary Beer, Drew Thomas, Mary Carter, Hilly Prendergast, Eunja Palmen, Lisa Etherton, Doug Chisholm, John Holt, Norma Freegard, Sharon Draper, Steve Daniel, Emma Glover, Clive Blackmore (Cllr), Graham Hedley (Cllr), PCSO Maria Badder,

Apologies: Claudia Hodds (Treasurer) Justin Hodds, Stewart Palmen, Sarah Cundy, Maryrose Mantle, Nicola Horrell, Sue Gibbs.

Fran opened and welcomed newcomers. The minutes of last month’s meeting were approved without amendment.

Minutes of NARA meeting – Thursday 25th September 2008

Apologies from Sue Gibbs and Claudia Hodds

Newtown Front Garden Fiesta Prize Giving
Several neighbours attended in order to receive their prizes: Steve Daniels of 30 St. George’s Terrace; Lisa of 30 Bond Street; Norma of 47 Park Street; John Holt of 18 Bond Street Buildings. The gardener at 28 Wingfield had advised she would be unable to attend, but noone came from 100 Newtown. FM to deal with this. We agreed to give a large pot-plant to Maryrose Mantle as a token of our appreciation for all of her assistance this year.

Trowbridge Discovery Day -Sunday 2nd November 2008 from 11am – 4pm
Derek Adams of College Estate Residents’ Association was kind enough to come and tell us about the Trowbridge Discovery Day at the Arc Theatre. This will be a day for many different groups from Trowbridge to show what services they offer for the area. There will be themed areas within the college with their own representatives, e.g. Health: The Primary Care Trust, Health & Safety; Police, Ambulance and Fire reps will be there too. Sports & Leisure – Town Council Sports programme, etc; Environment: Hills Recycling, etc; Youth Groups: College Students’ Council, Sea/Army/Air Cadets, etc; Neighbourhood Partnership: reps from the Residents’ Associations – Derek said that we should let him have our Association information again, suitable for presentation, and perhaps some photos of the winning gardens – FM to provide. Derek informed us that there are 2 new Residents’ Associations – Dursley Road and Lavender Fields. There will also be groups for the Older members of the town, e.g. the Sunday Club, etc. There will be free transport to the event for the elderly from several pickup points and these will be notified in due course. There will also be representatives from the Polish, Afro-Caribbean, Moroccan and Chinese groups, and also from the big employers in Trowbridge, such as Apetito and Airsprung. The building companies, which are responsible for the new regeneration areas, e.g. Riverside, will also be present Wiltshire County Council will be there to talk up the new unitary authority. The Theatre Bar will be open for the duration and volunteers are encouraged to contact Derek, as much help will be needed to set up the different themed areas.

Community Area Futures Meetings
Fran said that she could no longer attend these meetings due to work commitments. Volunteers were asked for, but there were none forthcoming at this time. If anyone can attend 2 meetings (usually on consecutive weeks) over 3 months on a regular or shared basis, please contact Fran Markotic, NARA chair.

Fran brought information about a website for sports events: www.activetrowbridge.co.uk from Maryrose Mantle at the Town Council. Active Trowbridge is run by Trowbridge Town Council and is designed to promote healthy living in schools and the local community through the sports roadshow and links with partner organisations.
For Youth this means activities, afterschool sports clubs, holiday activities, special sports events all year round, coaching provided through youth clubs. in addition to a Skatepark, BMX Track, Basketball and football Hard Courts which are just some of the facilities provided in the town.
Who is involved?
Active Trowbridge also has partnerships with: Wiltshire County Council , West Wilts District Council , Wiltshire Police , Wiltshire Fire Brigade, WASP (Wiltshire and Swindon Activity Sports Partnership), WWSSP (West Wilts School Sports Partnership), The FA, SPLASH, DC Leisure Club Health Gym, ASDA , The Consortium , Trowbridge Rugby Club , Trowbridge Basketball Club , Lacrosse Association , Trowbridge Wanderers FC , And many more local clubs. For Adults this means information on all the local sports and leisure activities and events as well as local clubs in all one place.

Mention was made of the Parish Stewards again. They are in the Trowbridge area about 3 days per month and can be contacted via CLARENCE. Or bring it up at the next meeting….

Parking
Clive Blackmore is trying to get a single yellow line removed from the top or Park Street, where it meets Frome Road – this is redundant and should be removed. Sharon has also lodged an appeal with Joanna Neale for another redundant yellow line on Newtown. With parking at a premium in this built-up area, any yellow lines which serve no purpose should be removed and we are encouraged to lodge appeals with either Joanna Neale or give the precise details to Graham Hedley and he will pursue the matter for us.
Graham asked PCSO Maria Badder to have a word with her colleagues to see if a security light/lamp post could be installed over the footpath near 60 Newtown as it is currently being used as a latrine.

Police news
PCSO Maria Badder said that there have been a few incidents of car damage (keying, letting tyres down) of a couple of cars at the end of Gloucester Road near John of Gaunt School. There have also been several reports of empty houses (for sale, to let) having their earth wires stripped for their copper content. Also, the post box at the intersection of Gloucester Road and Westbourne Road was set on fire by youths and the contents destroyed.

Recycling
Emma Glover was present from Wiltshire County Council. She said that there had not yet been a meeting of a focus group, which she had spoken about the last time she attended. Mary Carter said that she would be happy to meet with her, as did Sharon Draper. For anyone else who wants to get involved Emma’s telephone number is 01225 776655 ext. 134. Her email address is emmaglover@wiltshire.gov.uk
Emma mentioned a Yellow Woods Competition put on by Yellow Pages. Newtown Community School has entered and the 3 schools which collect the greatest number of Yellow Pages books, in order to recycle them, will win a cash prize. The deadline is in a couple of months. Therefore, please take your old Yellow Pages to the school so that they can collect as many as possible!

Planting scheme
Sharon Draper has been in contact with Claire Paulin, the council’s Street Scene Manager. She has the council’s backing to make some planting scheme improvements in Newtown, e.g. hanging baskets on poles, large planters, etc. Volunteers are called for to help drill holes in walls so that hanging brackets can be put up. Hilly Prendergast said that her husband could possibly help with this, time permitting. Sharon also mentioned that Curious & Collectibles has a great bonsai garden through the back of the shop, with all of the plants for sale. Eunja Palmen said that the hoardings by the Bethesda Baptist Church are coming down soon and that they will be improving the garden frontage there.

The meeting closed at 9:00pm

Email for PCSOs: collegeandnewtownnpt@wiltshire.police.uk
Our Police and PCSO team are:
PC 2212 Jo Bagg
PCSO 6142 Mike Caine
PCSO 6163 Maria Badder
Telephone: 0845 408 7000

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