Pinvin

The new grasscutting contractors have completed the first cut of the season. This was generally quite acceptable, but one or two areas were missed, and these are to be taken up with the contractors.

Village consultations for the Wychavon local plan have had to be postponed because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak; these will be rescheduled for a later date.

It was proposed and agreed to employ a contractor to remove brush from unused allotment plots and plough them over.

Mercia Waste Management have applied for planning permission to continue use of a temporary building for 18 months at the Hill and Moor landfill site for Materials Reclamation.

The Council had no objection to the extension, but strongly object to the application to extend the materials reclamation work to 24 hours per day for most of the week because of noise, light pollution, and the precedent this would set at the landfill site.

The Chairman has been involved in the siting of the foot and mouth carcass disposal facility at the former Throckmorton airfield. It was noted that Pinvin has worked with MAFF and the Army to ensure that impact on the whole area is kept to a minimum, and spread as evenly as possible through neighbouring communities. The Council will continue to monitor the situation.

While the Council is not in favour of burning of carcasses on the airfield, members agreed that unknown effects of burying animals at risk of BSE could well be greater that those of incineration, and at this stage the Council would not support action to prevent burning if that became necessary.

It was noted that vandalism continues to be caused on the playing fields by a small number of people, at the expense of the community.

The Council agreed that Richard Elliott should continue as the Minor Authorities Representative on Pinvin First School governors.

County Councillor Liz Tucker reported on the failure of the planning application for the incinerator at Kidderminster. Members were concerned that this would result in the continuation of the transport of large amounts of waste from North Worcestershire, and were concerned that a proposal might be made to site the incinerator at Hill and Moor.

The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on May 14 at Pinvin Memorial Hall.