Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Wortham & Burgate Parish Council
held on Tuesday 25th February 2025 in Wortham Pavilion at 7.30pm
- Councillors present
- Jacky Bradley, Nick Castle, Chris Williams, Carl Baker, Esta Piper, Jenny Piper, Susan Wright, Stephen Beckett-Doyle, Alain Judd
- In attendance
- Cllr Warboys
- Apologies
- Cllr Leeds, J. Challis Clerk
1. Chair’s Welcome and to Consider and Approve Apologies for Absence
Cllr Bradley welcomed everyone to the meeting, and apologies received from Cllr Leeds were approved unanimously. Cllr Wright agreed to minute the meeting in the absence of the Clerk.
2. To Adjourn the Meeting for Public Participation
Cllr Warboys provided a brief update on the upcoming consultation on the proposed unitary authority structure. The Government requires feedback on this by the 13th April 2025.
3. To Reconvene the Meeting
- To discuss response to National Grid’s Targeted Consultations on changes to proposals for Norwich to Tilbury
https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/norwich-to-tilbury
Targeted Consultation Suffolk 1A
The Council unanimously agreed the following proposal made by Cllr Beckett-Doyle, and seconded by Cllr E Piper:
- Wortham & Burgate Parish Council’s objection to the National Grid proposed erection of pylons from Norwich to Tilbury remains unchanged from its previous submission.
- The movement of the route to the north east as it crosses the A143 is appreciated as it reduces the impact on Rookery Farm and enables continued use of the private airfield between Wortham and Mellis.
- The proposed site access off the A143 is strongly opposed due to the poor vision splay for traffic, in particular on exit.
Action: Clerk to submit the response before consultation close on the 10th March 2025.
4. To Discuss Grazing of the Common
A number of horses have recently been moved onto an area of the common owned by the Parish Council. The owners have made a verbal retrospective request to graze.
Cllr Wright made the following proposal which was seconded by Cllr J Piper, that the Commons Committee should convene a meeting to consider the matter of unauthorised grazing of common land in the ownership of the Parish Council. An agreement is to be drawn up and duly signed by the grazer if it is to continue. The council unanimously agreed to this proposal.
Action: Cllr Williams to call a meeting of the Commons Committee as above.
5. To Discuss Blocking of the Public Footpath by the Side of the Manor House Public House
It was agreed that it is just possible to pass the concrete bollards the landlord of the property has placed over the carpark entrance. Technically the footpath is not blocked. However, it was agreed that a letter to the landlord should be sent, asking them to tidy the exterior of the public house.
Action: Clerk to contact Star Inns as above.
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting is due to be held on Tuesday 18th March 2025, at 7:30pm in Wortham Village Hall. Cllr Bradley reported that a revised quotation for the surfacing of the track around the common by the school will be included on the agenda, along with a request from Cllr Judd to consider bringing the start time of the meetings forward.