Annual Parish Meeting
Every English Parish Council is required, by law, to hold an Annual Parish Meeting, on a date that falls between 1st March and 1st June and starting no earlier than 6pm.
An Annual Parish Meeting provides an opportunity for your Parish Council, as well as for village charities and organisations to report on their activities during the year and for residents to ask questions and provide feedback to all those groups. A short break for refreshments during the evening can be relied upon to prompt topical discussion and provides an opportunity for villagers to mingle. A guest speaker then ensures we all head for home with some new thoughts or ideas.
So make a note in your diary to come along to Buckland’s next Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 23rd April 2012 in the Reading Room, Old Road.
Parish Council Meetings
Buckland Parish Council welcomes members of the public to its meetings and provides an opportunity to speak at the start of each meeting in an Open Session.
The Council is always willing to discuss topics proposed by members of the public; your Parish Councillors are here for you so please share your thoughts and ideas. As each agenda is prepared a week in advance (to be legal it has to be publicised for at least five days), you will need to advise your topic (to the Clerk) at least eight days before the meeting.
While you are welcome to raise a point that does not relate to an item on that evening’s agenda, council’s discussion might need to be deferred (to allow a specific item to be included on a future agenda) in order to ensure any decision taken will be binding in law.
Garden Maintenance
Please take the opportunity, during the winter dormant period, to prune back any of the plants rooted in your garden that have extended beyond the boundary of your property and are obstructing village pavements or roads. Thank you to those residents who have already taken steps to prune their plants and clear any debris that has fallen onto footpaths.
Buckland Lane BOAT
During 2011 the Parish Council, with support and input from Surrey Police and Buckland Estate, asked Surrey County Council (SCC) Countryside Access team to review the status of the track that leads northward from the north end of Lawrence Lane toward the top of the North Downs. This track has, since 1981, been designated a Byway Open to All Traffic ("BOAT") and is referred to as Buckland Lane BOAT. Unfortunately the SCC team, who inspect the route twice each year, still consider the surface condition of the BOAT does not warrant any measures to restrict access to motorised vehicles.
Last winter vehicles repeatedly deviated from the BOAT into adjacent fields and woods; damaging crops and woodland and demolishing a boundary fence alongside a protected site. Damage to important habitat was also caused by cyclists deviating onto footpaths.
The Parish Council expressed grave concern that the prolonged and steady increase in the number of motorised vehicles using this steep and narrow track has created a serious safety concern for local walkers, horse riders and cyclists.
Our local Police are now using off-road motorcycles to target the illegal use of BOATS by untaxed off-road vehicles. If you observe any motorised vehicles on the Buckland Lane BOAT that are not displaying a number plate please call 999. If you observe any anti-social behaviour please report this to the Police by calling 101 (or 01483 571212).
Mole Valley District Council Consultation
The draft Dorking Town Area Action Plan (DTAAP) was agreed by the Council on Tuesday 17 January. It contains proposals for around 100 new homes; a new supermarket; enhancements to the appearance of the town and improvements to the roads to accommodate the level of traffic arising from the planned new development.
More information can be found at www.molevalley.gov.uk/index.cfm , including a link to a copy of the Plan. Representations about the draft Plan must be submitted to MVDC by 2 March 2012.
Surrey 2012
Surrey 2012, the team preparing for the road cycling events to be held on 28th July, 29th July and 1st August, is keen to provide opportunities for local residents to meet with a 2012 representative to express points of views, ask questions and so influence arrangements.
If there is sufficient interest we can suggest either the Annual Parish Meeting on Monday 23rd April 2012 or the Open Forum at the start of the Parish Council Meeting on Monday 14th May 2012.
Please contact me to register your interest and to express any preference between the dates.
Sheena Boyce