Press Release for the Annual Parish Meeting, March 2005 

Roads, Rules and "Reds" debated at Mallerstang Parish Meeting

(From Cumberland & Westmorland Herald,  9 April 2005)

13 residents attended the annual Mallerstang parish meeting, held at the Black Bull Inn, Nateby, with Eden councillor Trevor Ladhams also in attendance.

Officers elected for the coming year were: Chairman, Dr. John Hamilton, and Vice-chairman, Mrs. Ros Bousfield. The previous vice-chairman, Stephen Alderson, had indicated before the meeting that he did not want to stand for re-election. The Parish Clerk is Richard O'Connor and internal auditor is James Kidd. There were no other nominations and all were elected.

The clerk reported that, as well as the usual circulars from public bodies, he had received the conclusive map of registered common land and open country for Mallerstang from the Countryside Agency. It was explained that the new access rights would not come into force until the Secretary of State had made a commencement order for Upper North West England. The current expectation is that this will be made in May.
The clerk reported that he and Mr. Alderson had accompanied the County Council's road inspector, Bob Dow, on a tour of the B6259 as it passes through Mallerstang.
A number of problems were identified, most of which were' dealt with promptly by the county council's contractors. It is intended that any outstanding defects will be remedied when the road is resurfaced during the 2005-2006 financial year.

Mr. O'Connor also reported that he had attended a meeting at the Kirkby Stephen Council and Community Centre to which all neighbouring parishes and parish meetings had been invited. The purpose of the meeting was to invite local parishes to prepare a joint parishes plan together with Kirkby Stephen, which already has a plan in draft.
It was agreed that Mr. O'Connor would attend a further meeting of the group, which is due to take place in May, and report back at the June Mallerstang parish meeting.

In his report, the chairman thanked the outgoing vice-chairman, Mr. Alderson, for his work, particularly in relation to the valley road. Dr. Hamilton also thanked the parish clerk and the internal auditor for their contributions.
He went on to suggest that there is likely to be a small surplus in the parish meeting funds at the end of the financial year and that money might be set aside to purchase a seat for the former Travers Institute site. It was agreed that the matter would be discussed further at the June meeting.

REGULATIONS
In introducing the draft financial regulations and general standing orders, which had previously been distributed, the chairman explained that both documents had been prepared following advice from the county council's head of legal services and the Cumbria Association of Local Councils. Reliance had also been placed on extracts from legislation governing the conduct of parishes which was pasted into the old minute books. Following agreements on a small number of amendments, the documents were agreed with 12 votes in favour and one abstention.

Mrs. Annie Hamilton-Gibney reported on the work of the Mallerstang Red Squirrel Protection Group, saying the group had largely achieved its objectives. She proposed that the group be wound up, with the balance of the account transferred to the parish meeting. The chairman proposed that the matter be deferred to the June meeting and that any funds should be earmarked for red squirrel conservation work.

Ian Wade offered to provide costings for the work on the Travers Institute site which had been agreed at a previous meeting.

Glyn Dennison volunteered to put in place the replacement red squirrel sign which had been obtained following the theft of the one at Pendragon Castle, and there was a call for volunteer marksmen who would be prepared to "permanently discourage" any grey squirrels which appear in the valley.

The chairman reported that Professor Keith Beven's annual musical evening (to which all Mallerstang residents are invited) would take place on 28th May, with music provided by the Lune Valley Jazz Band.

The next meeting will take place at the Black Bull Inn, Nateby, on 23rd June.

Press Release for the Parish Meeting, November 2004 

15 residents attended the autumn meeting of the Mallerstang Parish Meeting, which was held on 4 November at the Black Bull Inn, Nateby, with Councillor Tim Stoddart in attendance.

At the beginning of the meeting the Chairman, Dr John Hamilton congratulated Mr and Mrs Ashton of Eden Grange on the birth of their daughter, Evie Isobella.

The Parish Clerk, Richard O’Connor was asked to write to the Project Coordinator for the Pennine Bridleway scheme, who was a speaker at the previous meeting, to point out that, in spite of the closure of a local stretch of the Bridleway, known as the Highway, a section had been damaged by wheeled vehicles and would need further remedial work.

The Clerk reported that, together with the Vice-Chairman Stephen Alderson, a dialogue has been established with the road inspector for the B6259 (the Mallerstang road) which is proving to be more effective than writing to the County Council. A system of twice yearly inspections has now been established involving Mallerstang Parish Meeting officers, together with the road inspector.

The Clerk also reported that he and the Chairman had had a site meeting with the Woodland Officer from the East Cumbria Countryside project to review the development of the Millennium Wood at Boggle Green. The Woddland Officer had expressed her satisfaction with the rate of growth of the wood in general, but had given advice regarding remedial work such as removing protective tree sleeves that are no longer needed. Mr O’Connor said that anyone who wished to help should contact him first.

The Clerk proposed an increase in the parish precept from £300 to £400 for the year 2005/06 (the same as the precept in 2003/04), due to a large increase in the cost of insurance cover. This was agreed.

The Chairman introduced a draft, revised constitution which, together with the draft financial regulations introduced at the previous meeting, it is intended to adopt at the annual general meeting. A discussion took place during which some amendments were proposed which Dr Hamilton said he would incorporate in the drafts.

Mrs Annie Hamilton-Gibney reported that the Red Squirrel Fund still held a modest balance following expenditure on a rope bridge over the valley road and warning signs for motorists. She added that an application is being submitted to The Friends of the Lake District for a grant to introduce “Red Squirrel friendly” measures, such as tree planting, on the former Travers Institute site. It is intended that the scheme will incorporate paving and a bench on part of the site for the benefit of local people. The importance of reporting sightings of Grey Squirrels was stressed, due to the species being a carrier of the Parapox virus, to which Reds easily succumbed. 

Under Any Other Business, a request was made that the existence of any mature elms that have survived Dutch Elm Disease should be reported to Kew Gardens for possible use in a propagation scheme. The Chairman reported that the Parish Clerk had been contacted by a researcher into pinfolds. Although a reply had been sent regarding the one in Outhgill, the researcher required further information. Dr Hamilton was advised to refer him to the BBC, which had made a film about the restoration of the pinfold and the creation of a sculpture by Andy Galsworthy. Finally, the Chairman reported that local resident Professor Keith Beven is staging an exhibition of photographs at the Environment Centre at Lancaster University.

The next meeting, the Annual General Meeting, will be held at the Black Bull Inn, Nateby at 7.30 p.m.  24 March 2005