W&WRA General Meeting Minutes, 2nd April

WESTGATE AND WESTBROOK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE WESTBROOK BOWLS CLUB ON MONDAY 2ND APRIL 2012 AT 7.15PM.

PRESENT
Tom King, chairman and councillor, twenty two members and visitors, KCC Cllr Robert Burgess and Cllr Simon Moores.

The chairman welcomed all attending.

APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from James Brazier, Debi Day, Diane Groombridge, Allison Moores, and Julian Smith.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
1) Sainsburys’ Application. This had been given a good coverage on Radio Kent today. There is to be a public meeting at the Carlton Cinema on Monday 16th April at 7.00pm
2) Television Reception. Many local residents are having problems with this. Rosalind Morton has found out that the BBC is responsible for all reception, but can only be contacted through the web. Information given was that the high pressure weather is responsible and that they could not help this, it would appear therefore that the official channels are not listening, and that the complaint should be escalated up to MP level and it was agreed to write to Roger Gale. Numbers and websites will be published in the Gazette this week.
3) Events Funding. This is now available and a bid will be put in for Westgate Lighting funds.
4) Local Guide. This has little or no reference to Westgate or Westbrook

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (12th March 2012), which had been circulated, were adopted on a prop by Lorraine Hambidge sec by Mike Emery, and signed.

MATTERS ARISING
None.

COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
KCC Cllr Robert Burgess:
1) Kent Highways. There is a little funding to mark drop kerbs with white lines, and any additional ones not already included should be reported to Robert Burgess.
2) Cliffsend. Traffic calming is in use, and the new road opens on 23rd May.
3) Olympic Torch. This will be carried through Thanet on 19th July, via Cliffsend Ramsgate Broadstairs Margate Westbrook 1.06pm A28 Westgate and leaves Birchington at 2.36pm.
4) Make Kent Quicker. Broadband improvements to be completed by 2013 to 2015 will give an improved high speed service.
5) Dent de Lion Road Subsidence. This has now been sorted out with the help of the MP and Robert. Any problems should first be reported to the Highways tel 08458 247247. A problem had arisen in the pavement outside the Westgate butchers.

From the floor a member told the meeting that a dead tree had been removed from 163 Westbrook Avenue leaving a large hole and a mess. The resident had phoned TDC and been told there was no money available, but to “try your parish council!” which in this area does not exist. Another member had noted that a number of trees had been planted in the Avenue. A useful telephone number for trees was given as 01622 666421.

Cllr Simon Moores:
1) Superfast Broadband. Cllr Moores said he would check with Roger Gale how this was progressing towards Westgate.
2) The Grove. There had been a meeting with Network Rail and TDC. The area is to be cleaned up, a dog bin supplied, and there was a commitment to refurbish the bridge although the precise timing for this was not clear. It had been established that the bridge lighting was the responsibility of TDC but persistent vandalism had been taking place and CCTV was being considered.
3) Tennis Courts Westgate. Groups had been playing football and damaged two of the nets. Signs had been put up and the nets replaced although there was no official budget for the courts.
4) The “Fido” dog mess cleaning vehicle has been seen in action locally.

CORRESPONDENCE & PLANNING
1) 2/62 and 3/62 St Mildred’s Road. Retrospective applications.
2) Sainsbury’s. The official application has now been received.
3) 5A Station Road. Application for premises licence.
4) Library. Application for phone mast on adjacent land. Objections had been made by local residents, and the actual need could not be demonstrated and has now been withdrawn.
5) Westcliff House The Deaf School, 37 Sea Road. There is to be a meeting about the future of the building.

TREASURER’S REPORT
Norman had prepared the accounts and sent them to the auditors in preparation for the forthcoming AGM.

EDITOR’S REPORT
No report.

SUNSHINE REPORT
Tom reported that Brian Goodwin, a former W&WRA secretary, has been very ill in hospital.

MEMBERSHIP
Rosalind reported that copies of the Record had just arrived and would be prepared for the road stewards. The leaflets for the “invite a neighbour” campaign will be included.

SOCIAL REPORT
1) St Georges Day Event. To be held on Monday 23rd April at 7.00pm, and is a free event to which members may bring friends. There is a list for names on the Bake House notice board to assist with catering requirements
2) Jubilee Celebrations. Sunday 3rd June at the Bake House, 1.00pm to 4.00pm with cream teas and drinks, followed by an invitation to join with the United Services Club. Volunteers required to make cup cakes for the tea, list for names in the Bake house.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) CAAG. Chris Wyer reported there had been a planning application for the side of the telephone exchange, possibly to do with the new broad band.
2) Dog fouling and DNA. A member reported that some councils have used this technology to bring prosecutions, but a data base has to be set up and the system is very expensive
3) Westbrook Road has experienced a degree of chaos with bins and sea gull proof bags, TDC customer services or Cllr Poole would be the contacts for this problem.
4) New Tesco Express and Car Parking. Some cars have been parked on the pavement, there does not appear to have been any enforcement.
5) Margate Football Club. Although Travel Lodge have pulled out, the club still has the planning permission.
6) Lorries in Westgate. When these are double parked for delivery pedestrians can find it difficult to cross the road.
7) The Margate sign near to the Westgate sign by the golf club has paint peeling off and looks poor.
8) Tesco/Arlington. A member thought that one of the Westbrook councillors favoured this application.
9) Banners. It was noted that banners had been deployed on the sea front where the sea defence work was taking place.

NEXT MEETING
Monday 14th May at the Bake House. This meeting will include the AGM.