Hornton Parish Council

Clerk: John Peace High View, Hornton Lane, Horley, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6BL

Phone 01295 738590 or 738177

January 21, 2002

PROPOSAL TO PROTECT THE VERGES BY THE GREEN

Your Parish Council has been concerned for some while about the severe damage being caused to The Green by vehicles overriding the verges. After long debate members of the Council have agreed that something must be done to prevent further erosion of what is basically one of the main features of the village. The decision now needs to be taken as to how to best protect the verges and the available alternatives are either to have stone kerbing or wooden marker posts.

The Oxfordshire County Council has indicated that it has fifteen 1 metre wooden posts available now, which it could erect almost immediately at a cost of £20 per post. To avoid the risk of losing this early opportunity a provisional order has been made for the work to be completed by Oxfordshire County Council, Highways Dept., by around February 15th. More posts could be installed later, if required, and if the first ones were effective. The posts would be sunk to 1 third of their depth around two of the worst worn edges and could be chain linked, at additional cost, if this was felt to improve the appearance. Soil could be added, and then seeded, to reinstate some of the existing worn area.

The alternative, stone kerbing, would cost well in excess of £8,000 and it may be several months before the work could be completed. The Parish Council would need to arrange financing of the cost over say, a 4 to 5 year period and there is the view that stone kerbing would soon be overridden and damaged, thereby incurring ongoing maintenance cost.

The Parish Council is anxious to secure some form of protection to the verges on a priority basis and there is divided opinion as to the best manner of going about this. It would seem preferable to erect the wooden posts which are of good strong quality, are available now, and could be easily afforded under the current budget.

The purpose of this letter is to give you the opportunity to voice your opinion as to which measure the Parish Council should take. If you have any strong views please write to me at the above address, e-mail, or phone, by 4th. February 2002 at the latest.  Alternatively, please contact one of your Councillors.

John Peace

Parish Clerk

In the circumstances, residents will have the opportunity to present their views about the application during the Annual Parish Meeting under the Agenda Item 'Questions or Resolution.' This will enable the Parish Council to formulate a response to Oxfordshire County Council by the specified deadline.

If you are unable to attend the meeting on April 15th, and have particular views or queries about ironstone extraction at Manor Farm, please call Jon Peace, Clerk to the Parish Council on 01295 738590 or speak to any other member of the Parish Council (full contact details given above).