The Parish Council held the June monthly meeting via Zoom and were joined by four members of the public and county and district councillors.
Highlights of the discussion are below:
Village Hall Car Park Project
Two tenders have been received but costs were far higher than anticipated and it was thought that this may be due to the tender period falling at the start of the pandemic, causing contractors to quote higher prices. It was agreed to make some changes to the specification and re-tender in July for review at the August Parish Council Meeting.
Closure of St Michael & All Angels Churchyard
The closure and subsequent handover to the Parish Council has been delayed by the Privy Council for reasons relating to Covid-19. It is now anticipated that the handover would take place around September but we await further news. In the meantime, we are forming a Churchyard Working Party, details elsewhere in Leafield What’s On.
New Burial Ground
We are still awaiting the results of our loan application but hope for positive news in the near future. The contractors are preparing to start work on site within the next few weeks, although some site clearance has already taken place to ensure compliance with ecological requirements.
Winter Damage to Village Greens
Damage by vehicles parking and driving over the Greens was a particular problem during the very wet winter. Councillors discussed how this could be tackled in a way that was aesthetically pleasing. It was agreed to create a map of problem areas for further discussion over the summer.
Proposed 20mph Speed Limit
County Councillor Liam Walker advised about grant funding available and recently circulated a survey to gauge interest in the initiative within local villages. The biggest response was from Leafield where 54 were in favour of introducing a limit, with only 4 against, which he described as ‘overwhelming support’. Cllr Walker will update us on progress of this project at future meetings.
Skip Policy
Residents were reminded about the need to seek permission from the Parish Council before placing a skip on parish-owned land, including the village greens. The Skip Policy can be viewed here https://leafieldparishcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Policies/Leafield-Parish-Council-Skip-Policy-June-2019.pdf
* * *
Dog Waste
We are increasingly aware of instances, both on footpaths and within the village, that some dog owners have not been picking up after their dogs, leaving dog waste in bags along walks or even throwing them into bushes or shrubs.
Please be a responsible dog owner and clean up after your dog. It is not fair on our farmers and to your fellow residents. Leafield is fortunate to have numerous bins for dog waste and if you are not near one, please take it home with you.
Sharon Henley
Clerk to Leafield Parish Council