UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting of the Playing Fields Committee of the Upton by Chester & District Parish Council held on Thursday 27th September 2007 at the Pavilion, Wealstone Lane.

Present:          Cllr Jean Evans (Chairman), Cllr Theresa Bartliff, Cllr John Butler, Cllr Gerald Grant, Cllr Peter Griffiths, Cllr Pat Lott and Cllr Gill Jordan, Cllr Caroline Mosley and Cllr Chris Reeve.

           

1.         APOLOGIES:

No apologies were received.

 

2.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Cllr Gill Jordan declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 6.

 

3.         THE FUTURE OF THE BOWLING GREEN:

The Clerk informed Members that the overall cost of maintaining the Bowling Green were between £4,000 and £5,000 and that the income was £988.  She also reported that there were only around 50 people using the green throughout the season.

 

The Chairman told Members that she thought that the Bowling Clubs should be encouraged to try to increase membership of the clubs and that the Parish Council should also contact other bowling clubs who were more successful in maintaining high numbers of players for advice.  Cllr Gill Jordan reported that other bowling clubs tended to have more social activities connected with the bowling clubs which raised more interest in getting involved.  Cllr John Butler said that if the green was underused then alternative uses for the area should be considered and suggested creating a garden/sitting area (perhaps sensory garden).  Cllr Caroline Mosley said that if the green were to be discontinued then the money currently spent on the green should be spent on services/activities for older people.  Cllr Gerald Grant told Members that the Parish Council should inform the Bowling Clubs of the dates when next year’s budget is fixed.  The Chairman said that a representative from the bowling club should be invited to attend the next meeting of the committee.

 

Members discussed putting a piece in the next newsletter outlining the current situation and asking local residents for their opinion on the future of the green.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the Clerk invite a representative from the bowling club to

the next meeting of the committee and inform them of the dates when next year’s budget will be set.

                        (b)        that the Clerk try to contact other successful bowling clubs.

                        (c)        that an item be put into the next newsletter.

 

NB – Please see attached noted.

 

4.         TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLAY AREAS:

The Clerk reported that all areas were good in respect of grounds maintenance and litter.  She also reported on the following:

 

Chemistry Pits – A local resident had contacted her with regard to the fir trees screening the electricity sub station and had advised that these may need to be cut back.

She also reported that there had been no further problems with the old concrete area that had been reported by a local resident.

Welastone Lane – The Clerk reported that she had been advised to give the attendants tape to cordon off equipment if necessary and that the cost of the tape was £10.95.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the report be noted.

                        (b)        that the Clerk order the tape.

 

5.         JUNIOR FOOTBALL PITCH:

The Clerk reported that the Junior Football Club had informed her that they could prepare and line the junior pitch to save maintenance costs and would also install the goal post sockets if required.  They would need somewhere to store the goal posts and the Clerk informed Members that the other football team were currently storing their goal posts in the bowling green during the winter and that the same could be done for the junior team.  The Clerk reported that there would be a problem with the youth team using the pavilion toilets as the pavilion was not open on Saturdays and the older team used them on Sundays to store their personal belongings.  Members discussed the possibility of installing a portaloo on the playing fields.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the reports be noted.

(b)        that the Clerk get information on portaloo’s.

 

6.         SIGNS FOR PLAY AREAS:

The Clerk reported that she had visited all areas owned by the Parish Council and calculated the number of signs and posts required and that the cost of these would be in the region of £600 plus fixing costs.  She informed Members that there was a sum of money in the budget, but that she had been informed that the Parish Council could apply to the Area Committee for funds.  Cllr Peter Griffiths asked Members if it was possible to also have signs on Marina Drive and Heath Road to indicated that the playing fields existed.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the Clerk apply to the Area Committee for funding for the

signs which will also include signs for Marina Drive and Heath Road.

 

7.         CORRESPONDENCE:

The Clerk reported that she had received a note from one of the attendants at the Pavilion to advise her that the plug and wire of the storage heater was getting hot when switched on and that it needed checking.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk arrange for an electrician to check the heater.

 

8 .        DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

Resolved:       that the date be set for 7.30pm on Monday 29th October 2007.

 

 

 

 

FUTURE OF THE BOWLING GREEN

 

Cllr Jill Houlbrook is not a Member of the Playing Fields Committee and therefore did not attend the meeting.  At another Committee meeting, Cllr Jill Houlbrook advised Members that she had been to a meeting with Vale Landscape and that they had agreed to a program of works for the bowling green which would improve the quality of the green and this work would be done over the next few weeks as it had already been ordered by the City Council.

 

Members felt that it would probably be bad practice to close the bowling green next season when the green may be at its best and that perhaps it should be given at least one more season to try to encourage greater use.  It was decided that the article for the newsletter be amended to include this information.