Held in the Tithe Barn on Wednesday, 11th June 2003

Longwater Gravel Application
Formal notification has been received from Norfolk County Council that the Inquiry into the planning application by the Longwater Gravel Company to extract sand and gravel from the site at Grange Farm, Buxton Road, Horstead would be heard on the Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th July 2003, commencing at 10am, in the Tithe Barn, Rectory Road, Horstead. Parishioners / objectors may inspect the Appellant’s and the Council’s pre-inquiry statements during reasonable office hours at the Chief Executive’s Department, County Hall. Four weeks before the inquiry opens proof of evidence and summaries together with a Statement of Common Ground may also be inspected. Members of the public wishing to speak at the public inquiry must be there when the inquiry opens at 10am on Wednesday 16th July. Mr Brighton, the Chairman, will speak on behalf of the Parish Council detailing their objections etc.

Mill Road Seat
This is now in position and the Council wish to thank Mrs Williams for her kind donation.

Low Flying Aircraft
The Ministry of Defence have neither acknowledged or written concerning the letter sent to that Office regarding the problems with low flying aircraft. The Chairman did point out a recent

report in the Eastern Daily Press which indicated some people had seen the report compiled by the Ministry and that Horstead was not one of the villages to receive any help towards the noise pollution caused by the aircraft. Further discussion would be limited until the Council received a copy of the relevant report. in the meantime letters would be sent to the Officer Commanding, RAF Coltishall and again to the MOD.

Mill
Mr Brighton reported that the planning applications for remedial work on the pool side, Mill Road, had been submitted to Broadland District Council. The Broads Authority were acting as agents for the Parish Council. The Environment Agency has nearly completed all their safety work on the lock and mill sluices etc. In the very near future structural engineers would be testing the load capacity of the bridges used by the Environment Agency. This would not involve the Council in any costs.

Playing Field
A report had been received from contractors regarding the now defunct aerial runway which indicated that the remaining timbers would not meet the required safety standards. A completely new runway would have to be purchased and constructed at a minimal cost of £3,350. The chairman felt that the Council did not have a mandate from the parishioners for such expenditure although it was possible grants were obtainable. The Council would, therefore, like to hear the views of parishioners before any further action is taken.

Youth Challenge
The Council fully supported the efforts to encourage a Youth Club at Coltishall, membership of which would be open to Horstead youngsters. Expenditure was likely to be in the region of £1,000 which would have to be met from next year’s precept.

Everyone agreed that the establishment of such a club would go a long way to ameliorate the few problems that had arisen in the village with youngsters whose excuse always seemed to be boredom!

Parking
Following complains the Council was writing to the appropriate authorities regarding the parking and obstruction by motor vehicles on Rectory Road at its junction with Norwich Road and similarly at Green Lane. Attention was also being drawn to inconsiderate parking on the footpaths in the same areas.