MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD 21st AUGUST 2018

 

Present

Cllrs. Mrs Jackie Allen (JA), Mr Frank Hemmings (FH), Mrs Barbara Humphreys (BH), Mr Terry Evans (TE),
Mrs Sarah Williams (SW), Mr Michael Maxfield (MM), Mr Brian Colley (BC), Miss Lynne Painter (LP),
Mrs Dot Griffiths (DG) & Mr Gareth Baines (GB).

Mr Shaun Jones (SJ), Clerk to the Council.

 

Apologies

Apologies for absence: Cllrs. Mr Mark Holmes, Ms Eleanor Burnham, Ms Kirsty Cottam, Mr Newman James
& Mr Mark Roberts.

 

Declarations of Interest

Item 3: It is noted TE, FH, SW & JA are School Governors.

 

62.      TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF TREE MAINTENANCE AFFORDED TO THE LINE OF 39 LEYLANDII TREES BETWEEN THE CHAPEL LANE PLAY AREA AND YSGOL Y WAUN.

SJ provided background to the issue raised by the Headmaster – Mr John Roberts of Ysgol Y Waun.  SJ, FH, Mr Roberts & Mr Aled Lewis (Tree contractor) met in July and it was proposed to reduce the height of the 39 leylandii trees and trim the sides.  A quotation for the work was provided by Mr Lewis amounting to Ł2,150.00.  This was briefly considered by members on August 7th and a request made for a new quote to be requested to remove the trees altogether – as there was concern that further maintenance costs would continue to be seen.  Members were encouraged to visit all 7 play areas to scope the current issues with bark chip at Black Park and Offa in need of replenishment and the trees causing a nuisance on the school playground at Chapel Lane.  The new quote from Mr Lewis was received on August 9th and amounted to Ł4,500.00.  Members discussed the merits of each approach.  FH had consulted with Mr Roberts who, like him were minded to the initial proposal to undertake a severe haircut.  BC had concern that the original concerns over debris on the playground and the occasional bough breaking away were still present after the trimming work – a clear safety issue.
A proposal to remove the trees, grass over the area and replanting in the future (tree/shrubs smaller in stature and low maintenance) was made by GB and seconded by LP. An amendment proposed by FH and seconded by SW is that the topping/trimming work be approved, leaving the trees in place. The amendment was put first and 3 members voted in favour.  The proposal to remove the trees received 6 votes and there was one abstention – motion carried.

 

63.      TO CONSIDER QUOTES FROM GREENFINGERS LANDSCAPE LTD TO TIDY THE ROUGH PATCHES ON CHAPEL LANE RECREATION GROUND.
 SJ presented quotes for the whole job of Ł2,280 plus VAT and Ł1,510 plus VAT to undertake the work on the 2 larger patches leaving the Eastward patches for the time being (by garages and school boundary).  TE states that the areas have been in this condition for many years.  Probably as a result of fly tipping from the houses that back on to this boundary.  Rather than undertake the suggested clearance work, which may well need to be repeated in future the following was proposed.  Simply keepy the rough areas regularly strimmed back.  TE proposes and GB seconds for this to be undertaken at least 2 or 3 times in the growing season.  In addition SW proposes and BC seconds that the hedges encroaching be side trimmed back.  Be as severe as possible.  Both proposals were passed.  SJ will endeavour to get Greenfingers the grass contractors to get the rough areas trimmed regularly as business as usual.  The hedge cutter will be requested in the near future


 


 

 

64.      TO CONSIDER PLANNING MATTERS – P/2018/0687 AND P/2018/0676.
 Applications for planning consent received from the Chief Planning Officer, Wrexham County Borough Council Planning Authority under the consultation procedures for consideration and comment.

 

P/2018/0687 Ground Floor Bedroom And Shower Room Extension

The Old Post Office Halton Chirk Wrexham
No objection – approved.

 

P/2018/0676 Change Of Use Of Land From Agricultural To Tourism Use For The Siting Of 3 Safari Tents And 2 Camping Pods, Formation Of Associated Access Track And All Associated Works

Forge Farm Pont Y Blew Chirk Wrexham
No objection – approved.

 

65.      TO DECIDE ON ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO ADD TO THOSE ALREADY MADE ON NEW OSB PRODUCTION LINE – KRONOSPAN P/2018/0551.
 Members agreed on the following additional comment to be submitted to the Planning Officer.

After meeting with WCBC Planning Officers it is understood that all our concerns should be passed to you and in the round we hope the WCBC Planning Committee gain the real strength of feeling being expressed. 

ˇ         Members of Chirk Town Council (CTC) have had reason to visit the Kronospan site in recent days.  Some of these members have direct work experience of similar industrial sites and they cannot stress how awful the Kronospan site is.  It was remarked that it is a very dangerous site and only having one access is one of the root causes.  It appears madness that an operation of this size with the number of HGV movements alone must require at least an additional road access point.  The present arrangement is not adequate and increasing HGV movements by 33% if this application was approved is clearly irresponsible.  The B5070 from where all vehicles access the site is a school route, safety and higher concentrations of NO2 are putting residents at greater risk.  We have seen what happens when the weighbridge malfunctions – queuing HGV’s on the B5070 where the usual road users take huge risks in an effort to pass.  Currently it is the view of CTC that Kronospan are already squeezing 2 pints into a pint pot.  There is an immediate need for an additional road access to the Kronospan site.

ˇ         Please also look at the LDP in preparation.  CTC have suggested alternatives to the single site currently included in the LDP for Chirk.  If the LDP remains unchanged then we have some 180 homes with the additional traffic adding to the B5070 traffic volume as well as the additional HGV’s outlined in the OSB Planning Application.

ˇ         Councillors make a very strong appeal for independent monitors of levels of pollution in Chirk.  The real-time readings should accessible by any resident or visitor via a phone app or electronic display panel in a prominent position in the town.  There is huge miss-trust in the current arrangements for monitoring pollution – Kronospan is too close and it is of course not in their interest if levels were on the increase.

ˇ         Finally the Council state that noise levels are of great concern.  Adding a new production line for OSB is going to make matters worse.  Residents are having sleep disturbed as Kronospan operate 24 hours with instances of regular & irregular noise sources being regularly reported. 


CTC wish to be called upon to speak at the Planning Committee meeting when this application is heard.  Will more than one speaker be permitted ?

SJ to write to the Planning Officer soonest.  Members also suggest we make contact with Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales and invite them to attend a meeting to see what submission they will make with respect to this application.  There is a proposal to undertake a vehicle count over a 24 hour period to provide additional input on the current position – ahead of the OSB line coming.  The STOP Kronospan pressure group may be looking to have another Public Meeting.

 

Meeting closed 8.10pm.

 

Signed                                    Chairman                                                                            26th September 2018