News
Regularly updated local and parish council news is reported on this page.The two villages host a number of special events and activities throughout the year and details are posted on the seperate "Events" page.
Parish Council in Action
Embsay with Eastby Parish Council addressed a number of important issues at the August meeting of the Parish Council.
Members considered and approved a course of action which will improve the appearance of the War Memorial Gardens. This will involve working with members of the local Horticultural Society, who first raised concerns about the condition of the garden. The Road Safety Working Party reported that formal confirmation had been received from North Yorkshire County Council that they would likely not support the installation of speed matrix signs in the two villages. It was agreed that an approach should be made to the local Safer Community Partnership in an effort to seek their support in convincing the county council that the signs are essential for improving local road safety. Members also considered a new planning application for the proposed construction of a waste recycling facility at Skipton Rock Quarry and it was agreed that a site visit should be arranged so that members can have a full understanding of the proposal before formal consideration at the September meeting of the Parish Council.
A number of other important matters were addressed including concerns about the continuing murky appearance of the dam ponds (as well as other outstanding issues arising from the Planning Consent for the Tannery site), improved procedures for managing the two local allotment sites, and information about the 2011 local council elections. Members also considered and agreed a formal response to a proposal to close down and relocate two local courts – Skipton Magistrates Court and Skipton County Court. The BT “Adopt a Kiosk” scheme was also discussed and it was agreed that in view of reported hidden costs and legal complications, local residents should first be asked if they wish the Parish Council to proceed with the adoption of two local kiosks before any further action is taken. The work and services of the Village Lengthman was addressed and a small grant was awarded to the Embsay with Eastby Pre-School Playgroup to support a pre-school outings programme. The Parish Clerk reported that the External Audit had now been completed and that there were no matters arising from the audit which the Parish Council must consider.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Thursday, 9 September, 7:30 PM, Embsay Village Hall. Members of the public are invited to attend this meeting (and all other Council meetings). The September meeting will consider a number of important issues including local road safety, the Community Governance Review (which is being conducted by Craven District Council), the planning application for the proposed construction and demolition of a waste recycling facility at Skipton Rock Quarry and the Parish Council Strategic Plan (Phase 2)
Local Waste Recycling Facility Proposed
Local residents are being encouraged by the Parish Council to present their views directly to North Yorkshire County Council about a new planning application for the proposed construction and demolition Waste Recycling Facility at the nearby Skipton Rock Quarry.
Because of the complexity and sensitivities of the application, the customary three week response date has been extended by the county council to 13 weeks. The Parish Council is currently investigating the proposal and are attempting to arrange a site visit before formal consideration of the application at the September meeting of the Parish Council. The application is available for viewing on the county council’s Online Planning Register at:-
https://onlineplanningregister.northyorks.gov.uk/Online%20Register/PlanAppSrch
In addition, further information about the proposal can be obtained by contacting the responsible planning officer, Paul Robinson, on 0845 8727374.
“We have learned from previous experiences with planning applications and local development projects that the most effective approach is for the Parish Council to encourage local residents to make their own views known directly to the authority involved,” states Cllr Mark Wilson, Chairman of the Council. “ While we as a Parish Council will be gathering our own information and formulating our own formal response to the proposal, we hope that as many local residents as possible who might be concerned about the proposal, will directly contact the county council and express their own views.”
Views of Residents Sought on BT Kiosk Adoption
Local residents are being encouraged to make their views known about whether or not the Parish Council should “adopt” two local, redundant BT red telephone kiosks – one located at Elm Tree Square (Embsay) and the other one at the Mason Arms Car Park, Barden Road (Eastby).
The adoption is part of a national scheme where for only £1 each, a community can take on ownership of the now iconic red kiosk structure (but without the telephony service), leaving the kiosk to be used by the local community in whatever way they wish.
“When the Parish Council first learned about this initiative, we were excited and registered our initial interest”, states Cllr Mark Wilson, Chairman of the Parish Council. “However, our Parish Clerk, through his professional network, has learned of growing concerns in many parishes and towns throughout the country that there are hidden costs and complicated legal obstacles which must be overcome in the adoption process. Some parish councils, thinking that their outlay would be no more than the £1 adoption fee, have had to spend a considerable amount of money on various expenses including property searches, legal and planning application fees as well as continuing annual expenditures on electricity, insurance and maintenance.
We have not formally investigated the actual costs involved in adopting our own two local kiosks until we have a better understanding of whether there is local interest.” reports Mark. “But, we anticipate this could be well over £1000 and this does not include the time spent by our Clerk in co-ordinating the adoption process and processing annual expenditures. While some communities have used the kiosks for creative or practical purposes, these very same communities are advising us to think twice about adopting a kiosk before we take this any further.”
Local residents can register their views with the Parish Clerk by writing to Robert Kandt at Stock Green Farm, Bracewell near Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 3JS or by e-mailing him at: embsay.clerk@tiscali.co.uk . The views of local residents will be reported to the September meeting of the Parish Council.
For further information about this Press Release, contact Robert Kandt,
Parish Clerk on 01282 850851