Issue - meetings

To receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public and the Residents Association on general matters of interest and/or matters relating to the work of the Forum.

Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at the Forum, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services by 5pm on the 10^th March via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

The Chairperson welcomed the following to the meeting; Dr Antonio de Stefano, Tim Norris (Hampshire Swifts), Caterina Zucca (Chair of the Kings Barton Residents Association (KBRA)) and Mike Slinn (Vice-Chair of the Kings Barton Residents Association (KBRA)).

Antonio de Stefano addressed the forum as a resident of phase 1B which he highlighted had been completed and occupied for over a year.  However, there were ongoing issues regarding poor maintenance, uncompleted items, missing street furniture and poor condition of road surfaces.  These issues had been repeatedly reported to CALA homes by the KBRA, individual residents and through the Forum but to date were still ongoing which was causing a great deal of frustration.

Tim Norris (Hampshire Swifts) highlighted the issue of the declining swift population across the UK, partly due to a change in housing building practices.  He requested that CALA commit to install one integral bird box per new dwelling.

Caterina Zucca (KBRA) referred to a list of questions from KBRA to which CALA homes had provided responses prior to the meeting.  The list of questions and answers had been circulated to all members prior to the meeting and available on the Council’s website here.  Ms Zucca welcomed the responses provided but asked a number of supplementary questions as summarised briefly below:

·         Environmental Health (sewage smells) – requested a further update following the meeting scheduled for 14 July.

·         Highways – timing of the footway to school resurfacing.

·         Redesign of Winchester Avenue – when would the public highway works be finishing?

·         Query regarding proposed 30mph speed limit differing from design speed of 20mph.

·         Footpath and accesses – how long would the temporary solution remain?

·         Railway underpass – emphasised the importance of the connectivity to Wellhouse Lane.

·         EV charging points – requested that these be installed in existing areas of the development.

·         Development timeline – requested CALA provide an idea of the timescale.

It was agreed that Mr Hill and Mr Curry of CALA would respond to these points as part of their update to the forum in items 9 and 10 of the agenda.

To receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public and the Residents Association on general matters of interest and/or matters relating to the work of the Forum.

Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at the Forum, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services by 5pm on the 10^th March via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

The Chairperson welcomed the following to the meeting; Carol Manning, Chris Poulter, Caterina Zucca (Chair of the Kings Barton Residents Association (KBRA)) and Mike Slinn (Vice-Chair of the Kings Barton Residents Association (KBRA)).

Carol Manning addressed the forum regarding a sewerage and drainage problem experienced by residents in phase 1A. Mr Hill of CALA confirmed that he had been made aware of the issue and that CALA had undertaken CCTV monitoring which had been inconclusive. He confirmed that CALA continued to investigate and that he would report back to the forum and the KBRA as soon as possible.

Chris Poulter addressed the forum regarding the new cycle track across Barton Meadows. Mr Poulter felt the track to be substandard, particularly concerning the timber edging, topsoil banking and also the surface material. Mr Poulter asked several questions which included;

• Which design and build standards had been used for this scheme?
• How would compliance with those standards be assessed?
• If the required standards had not been achieved then could the issue be tabled at a future meeting of this forum?

Caterina Zucca and Mike Slinn raised several points on behalf of the KBRA which included;

• the opening of the play park
• the condition of the road surface on Bingham Road
• the progress with the installation of street furniture
• the progress with the installation of 20 miles per hour speed limit signs
• the progress with the installation of shared road space signage,
• the Wellhouse lane footpath and cycle path.

Mike Slinn also confirmed that he had circulated a list of issues regarding phase 1A to Mr Hughes.

Councillor Iredale updated the forum on two issues, firstly, that isolated instances of anti-social behaviour had been reported by residents and secondly that a local polling station would not be available for this year’s elections.

It was agreed that Mr Hughes and Mr Hill of CALA would respond to these points as part of their update to the forum in items 7 and 8 of the agenda.