The Chairman reported that a planning application for the above development would be forthcoming as the proposed barn would be located within 3 kilometres of an aerodrome and would exceed 3 metres in height.

4.5/03/10 Other planning matters: Essex County Council: Developers Guide to Infrastructure Contributions: The Parish Council was invited to comment on the second edition of this Guide. It was noted that it was intended that the Guide would be adopted as a County Supplementary Planning Document and as such local planning authorities would consider its contents a material consideration in the granting and refusal of planning permission.

It was agreed to put one copy of the Guide in the circulation folder and to request two more copies from Essex County Council to be circulated amongst Members. Any Parish Councillors wishing to respond to the Guide would return their comments to the Clerk by 1^st April 2010 so that the consultation deadline could be met.

Notification of a proposal for the Turncole Wind Farm in Essex: Members noted that RES (a privately owned British Company, part of the Sir Robert McAlpine Group) was developing a proposal for a new wind farm, to be known as Turncole Wind Farm, to the east of Southminster and Burnham-on-Crouch. The company wished to let the Parish Council know of its plans and development schedule in some detail at this early stage before the final application was submitted to the Local Planning Authority to give Councillors the opportunity to comment on its proposed community involvement strategy and to give them the opportunity to ask questions.

Members noted that Jonathan Knight (Development Project Manager) had asked for the opportunity to answer any questions the Council may have regarding RES and the proposed site. He was also interested in hearing the Council’s views on the best way to undertake public consultation in the area.

It was agreed to invite Mr. Knight to attend the public session prior to the April 2010 meeting and to commence the public session at 7.00 p.m., 15 minutes earlier than usual, to allow plenty of time for Mr Knight to discuss the proposed wind farm with Parish Councillors.

The Old Rectory, Church Hill: Members noted that The Old Rectory, Church Hill, Purleigh, had been added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest on 23^rd February 2010 by Order of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. It was noted that The Old Rectory was a now a Grade II listed building.

5.1/03/10 Footpath 11, Purleigh: Members noted that Laurence Page (Definitive Map Officer) had written to the Parish Council asking for confirmation of the route of the proposed diversion of Footpath 11. Having walked the path with Nicky Coleman (PROW Officer), Mr. Page had suggested two additional options for Members’ consideration. Mr. Page had also asked whether the Parish Council would be making a financial contribution to the diversion. Members noted that Mr. Page had informed the Parish Council that if it intended to make a contribution, the diversion would be given a higher priority.

Maps showing the proposed routes were circulated at the meeting. It was agreed that the original route (option 3) was perfectly acceptable. Option 1 was further to walk, but by using existing bridges and culverts, avoided any cross field routes. Option 2 was a much more direct route, using slightly more cross field but less distance overall and according to Mr. Page was probably easier to find when approaching from the west.

Mr. Ascott advised that option 1 should be ruled out given that a diversion should not be much less convenient to the public. Option 2 had been suggested by Mr. Ascott when the subject had first been broached in 2003 but had been turned down by the landowner, which left the originally proposed option 3.

It was agreed that the Parish Council would not make any financial contribution towards any diversion. The fact remained that the County Council had a bridge missing from the definitive route, and it had been accepted in 2003 that if the County Council paid for a diversion of the footpath it would be cheaper than putting in a bridge, and was therefore in the public interest.

It was agreed to inform Mr. Page that it was up to Essex County Council either to pay for the footpath to be diverted at its own cost or to install a bridge pursuant to S56 of the Highways Act 1980, and that the route originally agreed in 2003 (option 3) remained acceptable.

5.2/03/10 Extension of the 30mph speed limit: Chelmsford Road: Members noted that the Parish Council had been sent a copy of the Public Notice relating to the extension of the 30mph speed limit in Chelmsford Road. Comments on the proposal were required by 25^th March 2010.

The effect of the Order would be to introduce a 30 mph speed limit on Chelmsford Road from a point approximately 42.2m northwest of the garden boundary of The Rookery, northwest, for a distance of approximately 1,000m. The road was currently subject to a 40mph speed limit.

Members noted that the County Council had given the following Statement of Reasons for extending the speed limit: The existing 40mph speed limit ran through the residential area of Rudley Green where there were properties on both sides of the carriageway, which was only 5m wide in places. It was felt that a reduction in the speed limit to 30mph would be in keeping with the general environment and was in the interest of road safety.

It was agreed to write to Essex County Council supporting the Order.

5.3/03/10 Other highway matters: Drainage in the vicinity of The Limes, Chelmsford Road: The Parish Council received a copy of a letter from the occupiers of The Limes to Essex County Council which asked for kerbing to be installed in front of their property to protect it from flooding.

It was agreed to write to Essex County Council supporting the request for kerbing.

Broken drain, Mill Hill: Members noted that, at the request of a parishioner, the Parish Council had reported a broken drain in Mill Hill to Essex County Council, who had repaired it promptly.

Damage to the verges and haunching outside Le Howe Farm, Howe Green Road: It was agreed to write to Essex County Council asking officers to investigate the damage to the roadside verges to the south of Le Howe Farm, which it was believed was being caused by the amount of heavy vehicles using the premises. Members were also concerned about the amount of water that poured off the farmyard onto Howe Green Road by the 30mph speed limit sign, then crossed the carrigeway and was eroding the haunching. The Parish Council would suggest to the County Council that a new culvert was installed in the field entrance adjacent to the (currently missing) 30 mph speed limit sign.

New salt bin, Walton Hall Lane: Members noted that the salt bin had been installed and that the County Council would fill it with grit as soon as possible.

Upgrowth on the verge in the vicinity of Threeways, Birchwood Road: It was agreed to ask the County Council to cut back the upgrowth on the verge in the vicinity of Threeways, Birchwood Road, which was making it difficult for the occupier to see properly when exiting his property.

6.1/03/10 Children’s Play Area: Monthly report: Mr. Perriman reported that that he had carried out his weekly inspections of the Children’s Play Area and that all items of play equipment therein appeared to be in a satisfactory condition.

Moles: The Chairman reported that the contractors couldn’t guarantee that moles wouldn’t return to the Children’s Play Area after it had been treated. It was therefore agreed to leave the matter in abeyance and to continue to monitor the situation.

6.2/03/10 To consider adopting red telephone kiosks in the parish: Members were reminded that in August 2009, the Parish Council had been asked by BT Payphones to consider adopting red telephone kiosks in the parish at a cost of £1 per box. Essentially this meant that BT would remove the telephony and then transfer ownership of the kiosk to the Parish Council. The kiosk could then be used in whatever way the Parish Council felt would benefit the local community most e.g. as a community information point, miniature art gallery, meeting point etc.

If the Parish Council wished to adopt any of the three kiosks listed below, it had been asked to contact the Chief Planning Officer at Maldon District Council to get their approval to remove the telephony (an Ofcom requirement) and then submit an application to BT Payphones.

1. Three Ashes Corner, which had been used 168 times in the twelve months ending August 2009 (01621828255)

2. Junction of Callowood Croft/The Glebe, which had been used 33 times in the twelve months ending August 2009 (01621 828311)

3. Near Queen’s House, Chelmsford Road, which had been used once in the twelve months to August 2009 (01621 828365)