HBC – Draft decision notice for red phone boxes in both villages
Harrogate Borough Council has issued a draft decision notice for retention of the red phone boxes in Bilton in Ainsty and Bickerton. Please see the attached notice for full details.
Bickerton Community Group – Chatterbox
Chatterbox October Newsletter
As we approach the end of our first year it is perhaps a good time for reflection. The Chatterbox venture was born from a pastoral initiative led by Rev Lucy Brencher in November 2018. Lucy was looking into ways of bringing people together, how to address needs of all types, for all ages and in ways that would make a lasting impact. If we as a team could interrupt ‘loneliness’ for some, provide companionship for others it would be a start. If you are thinking you have more than enough to do please reconsider, come along say HELLO! It might make all the difference to someone else.
With all this in mind we wasted no time and our first gathering was in December of last year. Bickerton villagers met at Linda and Johns, for mince pies and a cuppa’. There was lots of conversation about future village venues, entertainment, speakers, educational visits and more… the list is endless. We soon realized an opportunity was needed for people, not just to gather each month for coffee but also to be part of a group, for activities/outings. By discussing our ‘likes,’ experiences were shared and entertainment/tours/speakers were organized, friendships have been made and may long it continue.
Chatterbox is a Bickerton village initiative but we have been delighted to welcome people from all parts of the wider parish on our outings and events. It is through the generosity of the Rural Ainsty Parish that we use St Helen’s Church when a larger venue is needed; this has made much of what we do possible. We are grateful to the previous PCC at St Helen for its forethought in introducing the toilet/kitchenette facility. Without the finance and commitment from the PCC, local people, other charities and the parish council, this addition would not have been possible.
Back to the task in hand, the outing to Allerton Park Recycling Centre went well on the 12th September, with 14 people from across the parish enjoying the tour. Thanks to Joyce who has taken a great photo of you all, done the write up published in this month’s parish magazine and also the Wetherby News. A big thank you to Diane Middleton who hosted the ‘coffee and chat’ on the 20th September. It was a great opportunity to nurture new ideas for outings/events and you didn’t hold back, I am on the case! It is likely we will have an opportunity for a craft session to make a Christmas Wreathe before Christmas thanks to Diane and Judith, more information to follow.
The Visit to York Minster 18th October at 10.30am is still to come.
This is an opportunity to enjoy FREE entry to this beautiful building followed by time to lunch
and shop with friends. Please inform Susie if you would like to join this outing antrose17@gmail.com 01423 358340.
Friday November 22nd 10-12noon we will be meeting at the home of fabric artist Julie
McCready. Julie is looking forward to the opportunity, of sharing her
skills/knowledge and discussing the inspiration behind her work. Coffee, Chat and Good
Company will be in abundance so please join us. Julie also exhibits with York Textile artists if
any of you wish to know more. https://www.yorktextileartists.com/exhibitions-events
December we will be all set for our Christmas activities and off to a fine start with a joyous
evening on Friday 6th December 7.30pm at St Helen’s in the company of the York Ukulele Band.
Taste your first homemade Mince pies of the season accompanied by a festive beverage. We do
hope you will join us on this the first of our Christmas activities, with the chance to sing along
to some well-known Christmas favourites. Tickets available £5 from Susie and the Team.
Also on Friday the 20th December we will have our village carol singing followed by Mince
pie and Mulled wine at Trevor and Margaret Grants house.
Our grateful thanks to Trevor and Margaret for hosting this event. If you prefer not to join us
for the carol singing, the mulled wine and mince pie invitation is still on offer so please come
along, Margaret and Trevor will be delighted to see you.
Suggestions for next year’s outings/activities – Comments appreciated.
Tour of Allerton Park Castle, probably after Easter (April)
Visit to Beartrice Wright Centre for hearing dogs. . Thursdays (max 20). Road to Pocklington.
Alistair to investigate a trip in April, May.
Leventhorpe Wines visit and Yorkshire Heart Nun Monkton visits. Alistair to investigate
evening visits in the summer.
Beningborough Home Farm Lunch. Linda has investigate and a group visit has been
pencilled in, £7.50 for a two course lunch at 12pm on Wednesday 18 March as a premothers
day celebration, you don’t really need an excuse, inform Linda by January 10th
2020 if you are intending to come along. More reminders WILL follow.
Bickerton open gardens (Chill! weeds are good, they are natures flowers) let us know if you
think this could be of interest to you and you are willing to open your garden?
Pantomime York January 2021 we will look out for offers! suggestion from Margaret Rogers.
Other group outings for Wetherby cinema or theatre can be arranged if enough interest.
Visit to Barley Hall York, town house of the 15th century Snawsell family from Bilton.
Beginners Bridge contact Linda if this ‘floats your boat’. Grass bowls still possible rain meant
we had to cancel this year, Sorry! Fashion Show we are still looking into.
CPR and work a Defibrillator session run by Paramedic Geoff Farnworth. He is getting back to
Joyce
We have a chatterbox Whatsapp group, names to Dianne Middleton.
If you have neighbours who would like to receive the ‘Bickerton Chatterbox’ newsletter, or
discontinue it, please ask them to contact Susie (antrose17@gmail.com 01423 358340). If you
have any suggestions please also inform Susie or any of the team..
Best wishes – Karen, Susie, Joyce and Linda
Visit to Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP) 12th September 2019
14 of us were treated to a fascinating glimpse into what happens to black bin rubbish collected from York and North Yorkshire homes. Being a Science teacher, it brought textbook pages to life.
We are all familiar with the 4R’s motto and the important message reinforced by our guide Kimberley was:
We need to REDUCE waste and be encouraging manufacturers to ban single use plastics
As much as possible we should aim to RECYCLE our garden and food waste as well as all metals and recyclable plastics, glass etc in our roadside bins. These go to specialised recycling centres.
Double checking what your kerbside recycling collects will help the reduction of contamination in the recycling process, if in doubt bin it than risk contaminating recycling loads.
We should also aim to REUSE plastic bags, clothing etc.
And finally RECOVER which is where Allerton comes into it and recovers all other non-recyclable waste for energy recovery.
AWRP is built near a landfill site which is no longer operational because black bin waste now comes to the plant; although it is still maintained, due to gases still being produced in the landfill from previous waste disposals.
We were impressed that all the waste is sorted as it comes in and all organic matter is taken to an anaerobic digester which produces BIOGAS (mostly methane) and this is then transferred into gas engines for electricity production. Clearly rubbish does smell but interestingly, the stale air is also pumped into the incinerator which lessens the smell but is also used as an airflow for the furnace to keep it at it’s high temperatures! During the sorting process any recyclable material such as Ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and plastics are baled up and sent to recycling works in the UK.
The non- recyclable material including mattresses from tips, are burnt generating steam which generates electricity. The waste from the incinerator is scrubbed and conforms to stringent W.H.O standards and EA regulations. The plant is self- sustainable and produces electricity for 40,000 homes which is added to the National grid.
We would thoroughly recommend a visit, to book a visit for a group of up to 15 people visit:
https://wasteservices.amey.co.uk/where-we-work/north-yorkshire/community-and-education/
For any queries about the tour, email: AWRP.Visitor@amey.co.uk
Joyce Harrison
Bickerton Resident & Science Teacher
North Yorkshire Police – Update August 2019
A report is attached which North Yorkshire Police have sent to the Parish Council.
Newsletter August Update
PROPOSED EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS STORAGE
A Planning Application has been received for the creation of a site for Energetic Materials Storage
and Distribution. Consent is being sought for the storage of 35 tonnes of explosive and 50 tonnes
of Ammonium Nitrate.
The proposed site is to the west of Rudgate adjacent to the Minster Hag Business Park.
Your Parish Council is very concerned and will be objecting to this Application on several Planning
grounds, including inadequate site security, light pollution and proximity to
dwellings.
It will help to prevent the approval of this Application if a large number of letters are received
from individual residents in the Parish objecting to the Application. Please help with this if you
can, you don’t need any technical knowledge. It’s enough to express concern about the quantity of
explosive and the proximity of the site to the surrounding
houses.
Contact details for letters and emails: helen.goulden@harrogate.gov.uk
Case Nos 19/02944/HSC & 19/01923/FULMAJ
PHONE BOX
The Parish Council have received several letters and emails about the loss of the BT Payphone in Bilton in Ainsty. After consulting Harrogate Borough Council and BT, we can confirm that this is not the case. Currently the Parish has two working BT Payphones, one in Bilton in Ainsty and one in Bickerton. It is the Council’s view that, because the network coverage for mobile phones is still inconsistent, a working BT Payphone is essential to make calls in an emergency. We will continue to make this point whenever BT conducts one of it’s regular reviews.
CHURCHYARD
In the past the Parish Council made a contribution to the maintenance of the churchyard
at St Helens. More recently we discovered that Parish Councils are not allowed to
contribute to ‘active’ graveyards. Consequently we will no longer be making this
contribution. The Vicar is aware of the situation and understands why this decision was
made.
COMMUNITY GRANTS
As you may be aware, as residents of this rural area we do not benefit from any local
services within the Parish. Schools, GP Practices etc are all in neighbouring Parishes. Our
residents either attend Springbank Surgery at Tockwith/Green Hammerton or Crossley
Street Surgery in Wetherby. Some time ago our then Chairman, whilst attending
Tockwith/Green Hammerton Surgery noticed that they were fund raising for an ultra
sound scanner. As this would be most helpful to local people, prevent unnecessary
journeys and speed up diagnosis, he asked the Parish Council if it would be willing to
make a contribution to the fund, which Councillors readily agreed. However, conscious
that many residents particularly in Bickerton, attend Crossley St Surgery and in an attempt
to be even handed, an approach was made to Crossley St Surgery with the same offer of
£1000, for a project of their choice.
THE CHEQUERS INN CAR PARK
As you may know, The Chequers Inn has been sold and will be renamed The Tickled Trout
under private ownership when it re-opens in late 2019. The Parish Council has been
involved in the negotiations regarding the lease of the car park.
Some years ago, following a legal dispute about ownership of the pub car park, the newly
confirmed legal owner offered the land to the Parish Council for the princely sum of £1.00
The Parish Council accepted the offer and owns the land. It leases the car park to the
owner of the pub in accordance with conditions set out in a 10 year lease agreed in April
2018. The income from the lease reduces the annual operating costs of the Parish Council
by 25% and the community charge levied on each property in the Parish is also reduced.
Public Inquiry to re-open the footpath in Bickerton
Notice for Public Inquiry into re-opening the footpath past Willowgarth Farm to the county border. The Inquiry will be held at Tockwith Village Hall, 1 Marston Road, Tockwith, YO26 7PR on Tuesday 3 September 2019 at 10.00am
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/795505/row_3213130.pdf
The BT Phone Kiosk in Bilton in Ainsty
The Parish Council is aware of a note circulated to all properties in Bilton in Ainsty, which claims that the red BT Kiosk is to be removed in August.2019. Councillors have investigated this claim.
There is no notice in the Kiosk and BT has not applied for Planning Consent to Harrogate Borough Council to remove the Kiosk. BT last applied for Planning Consent to remove the unused payphone in October 2016. The then Chairman of the Parish Council consulted residents in Bilton in Ainsty to seek their views on retaining the Kiosk,with a limited number only asking that it be retained. The PC responded to the Planning Application that it had no objections to the removal, but drew attention to the inadequate mobile network coverage in the Village for emergency calls. NYCC’s Heritage section objected to the removal as they had not been consulted and the Application was refused.
The Chair of the Parish Council has spoken with the Principal Conservation Officer at Harrogate Borough Council and her reply is below
“I have very recently been asked about a telephone kiosk in Bilton in Ainsty – for this particular kiosk, I have ascertained that it is not to be removed imminently. However, I was also advised that BT are to soon consult again on the removal of any remaining kiosks that have low usage, which includes this kiosk (a similar process occurred a few years ago – as a result of which some other kiosks are currently being removed). This process involves the council consulting with the public and parish councils – at this point the parish council (or the landowner) has the opportunity to adopt the kiosk. Otherwise, if the council (us) objects to the removal, then the kiosk will be retained. If there is no objection nor is it adopted, then the kiosks will be removed by BT. From a heritage point of view, we would typically object to the older type kiosks that are located in sensitive, heritage areas. I believe that objections are also likely if the telephone is well used still.”
Anyone who has documentary evidence that the Kiosk is to be removed in August 2019, should forward it to the Parish Council so that the appropriate action can be taken.
19/09/19 UPDATE ON BT KIOSKS IN BILTON IN AINSTY AND BICKERTON. BT have applied for planning permission to remove the kiosks from both our villages, along with a large number of under-used kiosks in the wider area. Please send your objections to the Harrogate Borough council quoting the planning application reference below, or check the HBC planning portal.
Bickerton 19/03916/KIOSK Bilton in Ainsty 6.142.KIOSK 19/03931/KIOSK
This will be strongly objected to by the Parish Council on heritage grounds and because mobile phone signals are extremely poor in our area.The item will be on the Agenda for the October PC meeting.
UCI is coming past Bickerton! B1224 road closures – this may affect you.
UCI Is coming past Bickerton.
On September 21st Saturday the road will be closed between 11.30 and 3.30 and on 27th September, there will be a road closure from 3.35 until 4.35 . This might affect your travelling plans.
Further details here:
Village Design Statement
The VDS was adopted by Harrogate Borough Council on 25th July 2019.
This means the Bilton-in-Ainsty with Bickerton VDS (Appendix 1) is adopted as Design Guidance to be used as material consideration in planning decisions in the Bilton-in-Ainsty with Bickerton Parish.
A copy of the VDS is on this website for your reference.
Update on judicial review for proposed development of 21 houses in Bickerton
Following the news that a Judicial Review would take place, Councillors asked the Chairman to take legal advice about our current position and whether there was anything further that the PC could do to influence this development.
The Parish Council has established a relationship with a Harrogate Solicitor who is an expert in these matters and he summarised the situation as follows:-
A challenge to the decision taken by HBC has been made by an applicant who has an interest, the Council is the defendant and the developer would probably be seen as the interested party. The Parish Council has no standing and would not even be seen as an interested party.
The conduct of HBC will be looked at and the justification for formal proceedings accepted or not accepted. If accepted it goes to the High Court and formal submissions will be heard by a single judge.
This is the legal permission stage and if the judge thinks that the applicant has an arguable case, then it goes on to a full hearing.
If the challenge is upheld then the decision is quashed and HBC will have to repeat the procedure. If the decision is quashed due to an error made by HBC, then they can attempt to put that right and go on to make the same decision as before.
The new Local Plan has been criticised and HBC have been told that they have exceeded their quota for developments. They have been told to remove some developments, this may work in our favour. We will have to wait and see.
I am advised by our Solicitor that at this stage there is nothing else that the PC can do.
J. Hanson
Chairman
3/4/2019