All of the parish councils in the Churn Valley have just held their Annual Parish Meetings and various issues have been raised.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (right) with Cllr John Hughes (Shadow Environment Spokesman) - plastics was a hot topic at the annual parish meetings

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson spoke at each meeting with a report back on what had been happening both locally and CDC-wide in the last 12 months.

Paul said, “It was great to see lots of people at North Cerney, Baunton, Rendcomb, Coberley and Bagendon parish council meetings in the last ten days.”

“Locally, I spoke about littering of verges along the A435 and the Whiteway in particular and how people can call CDC on 01285 623623 to get the are cleared quickly. Also, the state of some roads is appalling! Potholes are an ongoing bugbear and I report them as I see them, but residents can do the same direct to GCC. I can get on the case if they aren’t fixed promptly.”

“People also wanted to know how the Churn Valley Safer Cycle and Walkers Path is developing. I told them about how the existing bridlepath is being brought up to the correct standard and how the route could now be extended to Rendcomb from North Cerney.”

“There was lots of good feedback on the news that CDC will be introducing kerbside hard plastics recycling from the autumn – something I’ve campaigned for vigorously for the last 5 years. The poor decision of CDC’s administration to recommend 24/7 car parking charges across the district was also discussed and there was relief that in the end they had only gone ahead with this in one car park.”

Colesbourne has a parish meeting rather than a council and no date has yet been fixed for their annual meeting.

The Churn Valley Safer Cycle and Walkers Path was up for discussion last week.

Rendcomb

A meeting of the volunteers group which has been working on the path for four years was held at Rendcomb College on May 1. The meeting – chaired by Cllr Paul Hodgkinson – heard about a number of options for extending the path from North Cerney to Rendcomb.

Cllr Hodgkinson said, “The path at the moment runs along the existing bridlepath between Stratton and North Cerney, winding its way through Baunton and Perrotts Brook. Now, we are considering a number of potential routes so that walkers and mountain bikers can safely go to Rendcomb without having to use the more dangerous A435.”

Members of the group will walk various routes shortly and are working with Glos County Council Rights of Way officer Mike Barton to find the best route.

Paul added, “We’re talking to landowners to make sure that any route is fine by them. Using existing bridlepaths means we keep the costs to an absolute minimum whilst getting something in place which will be of real value to the local villages and College.”

We will keep you posted on the route when more has been agreed.

At the Cotswold District Council meeting on Tuesday 1 May, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson will be asking the Leader of the Council the following question:

“The Council’s detailed budget booklet 2012/13 (Coded Budget) lists all the items which the Council has allocated funds to in the current financial year. When the various budgeted items are calculated this Council has allocated a staggering £12,300 for the purchase of magazines and publications. Given the huge cuts in funding which this Council has experienced and the significant rises in parking charges, leisure centre, museum and other fees which his administration has overseen in the last few years, how can the Leader justify spending of this size on magazines? Does he see this as a priority for this Council to spend money on?”

Paul says the answer will be important to show how the Council’s administration chooses to spend our money, “If you – like me – want wasteful spending to stop, you’ll be very interested to hear the answer to this question. One thing’s for sure – this doesn’t look good in the light of the Government expecting councils to cut their spending.”

Update 1/5/12: Council Leader Lynden Stowe replied to this question by stating that in fact £7,364 was spent last year on magazines and periodicals. Cllr Hodgkinson asked why there was such a large increase in budget and said, ‘Doesn’t it look indulgent to expand the budget in this area at a time of austerity?

Concerned about litter, potholed roads and the lack of affordable housing in our area?

Take a look at this video and see whether you agree with Paul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8ZDtNqj2Zk&feature=youtu.be

After the frosts of the winter, very low temperatures in February dipping to minus -13c in the Cotswolds and recent rain the roads have taken a battering.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson at one of the offending potholes in the Churn Valley

Lots of residents are reporting damaging potholes on roads in the area.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson is concerned about the way potholes are mended, “My observation is that – although Glos County Council Highways repair the damage when requested to – alot of repairs seem to quickly turn back into potholes again.”

“Surely in the longer run it would be better value if the Highways crews patched the bigger area around the pothole to make sure it doesn’t crumble so quickly. The patching of areas seems to be much more effective than simply filling the pothole with tarmac.”

If you spot a bad piece of road you can contact Glos Highways direct via http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=8611 or ring 08000 514514.

Alternatively, if you don’t get the response you’re looking for, contact Paul direct and he’ll ask Highways to sort it.

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Have you noticed how much litter is accumulating on the verges in our area?

The verges along some parts of the A435, A436 and other country lanes are full of discarded plastic bottles, cans and crisp packets.

If you see any ‘grot spots’ contact Cllr Paul Hodgkinson or ring Cotswold District Council direct on 01285 623123.

Paul says, “I’ve contacted CDC about litter along the Whiteway, the A435 at Coberley and also at Perrott’s Brook. They have sent a crew out within days to clear it up. I urge people to do the same or let me know and I’ll make sure the area is cleaned up.’

Many residents have asked for some time when we’ll be getting a recycling collection of plastics from the kerbside as many other councils do.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson says it’s a subject he feels passionately about, “The good news is that CDC has just announced that there will be a collection of ‘rigid plastics’ from the kerbside later this year – probably the fourth quarter.”

“‘Rigid plastics’ are things like bottles, margarine pots, tubs and containers. This should reduce substantially the amount of waste in our black bins and therefore what goes to landfill.”

There’ll be further announcements nearer the time which we’ll let you know about.

You may not know it, but in your black bin there’s a tiny microchip in the lid.

These chips were inserted four years ago and little has been said about them, not it seems has much been done with them.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Churn Valley) has therefore submitted the following question to the CDC Council Meeting next Tuesday 28 February:

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson to Cllr Fowles:

‘In 2008 when the new waste service was introduced, your administration endorsed the decision to insert microchips into every resident’s black bin at a cost of £40,000. In subsequent years I have asked your predecessor for what purpose the chips have been used – answers have varied from ‘monitoring the performance of the bin contractors’ to ‘being ready for any pay as you throw legislation’.

Now, four years later, can you please confirm:

-how many time the chips have been used and for what purpose?

-what information the chips have provided and on whom?

-how will they be used in the next year?’

Update 28/2; at today’s Council meeting, the Conservative Cabinet member for waste services answered this question and confirmed that the chips have NEVER been used that there is no plan to use them at the moment.

Cllr Hodgkinson replied, “Given that these chips cost the taxpayer £40,000, would you agree that purchasing them was an indulgent shopping trip and that it is an inexcusable waste of public money which could have paid for other valuable services?’

The Churn Valley safer cycle and walkers route is making progress to linking with Rendcomb.

Paul (right) with keen cyclist and ex Cirencester College prinicipal Nigel Robbins at the Baunton stage of the path

At present, the route follows the existing bridlepath between Bowling Green Lane and North Cerney via Baunton and Perrott’s Brook.

Now, the group responsible for bringing the path up to the required standard is actively researching how it can carry on from North Cerney to Rendcomb.

Chair of the group Cllr Paul Hodgkinson says its important for the route to carry on as far as possible, “We undertook a survey of Rendcomb students a while back and there was a lot of support for a safer route for mountain bikes and walkers to avoid the A435 which is dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.”

“As a group we’ve been talking to landowners and walking the possible routes from North Cerney, using Conigre Woods and possibly the Whiteway before dropping down into Rendcomb. However, it is still early days and we want to make sure everyone is happy with this before communicating to people. Having the consent of landowners is paramount.”

Please watch for further updates.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Churn Valley), opposition group leader at Cotswold District Council, has welcomed moves by the Liberal Democrat Postal Affairs Minister, Edward Davey, to secure the future of the Post Office under a 10-year deal which will give certainty to local postmasters.

Paul (right) with Eric and Pam Dukes of Rendcomb post office and stores

The Coalition Government has secured long-term arrangements between the Post Office and Royal Mail before the two are separated under controversial privatisation plans.

The move – just announced – has been widely welcomed by sub-postmasters because it will give them the confidence to make long-term investments in their businesses.

Cllr Hodgkinson commented: “This is a tremendously good result for sub-postmasters in the Cotswolds and it has to be good news for everyone in the district, especially those who rely upon village post offices which could well have been threatened if this deal had not been done.”

“This has protected the Cotswolds from the sort of devastating closures we saw under the last government when we lost 7,100 post offices nationally and the losses we have faced locally. In 2008 we campaigned hard with residents to save the local post offices which were under threat. Those campaigns resulted in both Rendcomb and Colesbourne keeping their post office facilities. Last year, Stratton got its post office back – a move which many in Cirencester and neighbouring villages very much welcomed.”

” The Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have played a vital role in stopping the closures and helping put both Royal Mail and the Post Office on a sound footing.

“The arrangement demonstrates our commitment to ensure a sustainable future for both organisations. Post offices play a vital role in our local communities with residents in many villages, especially pensioners, relying heavily on the services they provide.”

Mr Davey said: “Concerns people had about the Post Office becoming independent from Royal Mail were always misplaced as that separation is part of our cure, but the 10-year deal struck between Royal Mail and the Post Office will give sub-postmasters and others greater confidence. Coupled with winning new contracts and the successful pilots of new operating models, the signs are extremely encouraging for the future of the Post Office.”