SPEEDING
Buxhall have speeding problems through the village just like most other villages in the area.
None of us like it, many of us complain about it, some of us are really concerned for the safety of our children on their way to and from the school bus.
What can we do about it???
- We could operate a Community Speedwatch scheme here.
The Community Speed Watch initiative allows members of the community to address the issue of speeding by becoming actively involved in road safety, monitoring speeds at safe locations with speed detection equipment. It addresses the problem of speeding through the joint work of the police, local community, parish councils and other partners.
Police forces across the country implementing the initiative can show a reduction in overall average speeds, and a significant reduction in drivers travelling well above the speed limit, which highlights the benefits of the scheme.
We would need a few volunteers to get a project off the ground, you can find out more on the Police website at http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/roadsafety/knowthelaw/speeding/communityspeedwatch.aspx
If you can spare the time - Full training will be provided, you don’t actually stop anyone, all you need to do is record speeds and car details which will generate a letter to the offending driver.
Please come forward if you think you can help us slow the traffic down in Buxhall, contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
We could purchase a VAS – Vehicle Activated Speed Sign
Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Constabulary have a joint initiative to tackle concerns about speeding in villages. The Council purchased new signs for Community Speedwatch groups to enhance their activities and temporary VAS which highways engineers install and are used in many locations on a rota basis. SCC possesses only a limited number of signs which only rarely come to Buxhall.
As speeding is the single most common cause of concern raised to the parish council it has prompted us to submit a request for our own VAS. This request will be assessed by a Highways engineer and if he is satisfied that our speeding problems and sites meet certain criteria we will then be able to purchase our own VAS. This equipment is as you can imagine expensive so the decision has been taken to apply jointly with neighbouring villages, Felsham and Drinkstone and then share the usage and costs.
If our sites qualify we will need to ensure that the signs are set up and moved by volunteers using appropriate safety clothing and in a safe manner.
We are currently looking for volunteers to carry out the setting up of the signs when it is our turn to have them, if you could spare some time to help with this then please contact the clerk for more details.
PLEASE HELP – Let’s get Speed Watch off the ground and a VAS and make Buxhall roads safer.
Planning – The Parish Council are statutory consultees on planning applications within the parish and this means that they are expected to consider each application, take on board any residents comments and formulate a response to Mid Suffolk District Council based on relevant material planning considerations. The planning officer then hopefully takes these comments into consideration when determining the Mid Suffolk District Council’s final decisions.
The following decisions have recently been made by the planning office.
1732/14 Convert open air store/garage into an unheated store/utility room, The Old Forge, Mill Road – REFUSED
2014/547 Prior Approval of proposed Change of Use of Agricultural Building to Dwelling House, Barn 25m west of Fasbourn Hall, Valley lane – REFUSED.
3373/13 Application to vary conditions, Rattlesden Gliding Club, Reported to Committee for decision, 1804/14 Use of land as a campsite, Fasbourne Hall, Valley Lane – REFUSED,
2724/14 Convert open air store/garage into an unheated store/utility room, The Old Forge, Mill Road – GRANTED.
2865/14 Installation of 2500 litre oil tank on existing pier foundations, Garden Wing, Copinger Hall, Mill Road - GRANTED
Housing Needs Survey
Sometime ago now all households were asked to complete a Housing Needs Survey, the results of the completed questionnaires have finally been analysed by Community Action Suffolk and a summary of their findings is shown below. The next step for the parish council is to consider whether a project to provide affordable homes in the village is something they wish to take forward and support. Discussion will be on the next council meeting agenda and any decisions made will be reported soon.
“Executive Summary
The Community Action Suffolk Services toolkit was used to produce the survey data.
From the HNS, 46.60% of respondents were in favour of an affordable housing scheme, showing overall support, with 27.08% of the returns indicating that they would not support affordable housing in the parish.
The Buxhall HNS of 2014 received 47 household responses from a total of 170 of survey forms issued a 27.64% return rate, with the majority of respondents in favour of a small affordable housing scheme for people with a local connection.
Profile of survey respondents
- 47 Household Responses
- 116 Individuals
- Greatest number of responses received from those aged between 45-74 years of age
- 116 Multiple Choice responses received
Out of 47 HNS returned, 7 household responded that they have a current housing need, totalling 8 people.
Out of 47 HNS returned, 4 households responded identifying a need to return to Parish, totalling 7 people.
This shows a total of 11 households, 15 people in need of affordable housing in Buxhall.
The Gateway to Home Choice (GTHC) register indicates there are 6 households claiming a local connection to Buxhall;”
Paula Gladwell, Tel: 01284 828112 Email: buxhallpc@live.co.uk