The following is a summary of our meeting, using abridged notes from the official minutes they are not intended to be a replacement of those minutes, a full copy of the minutes are available from the group Secretary.
Minutes of a meeting held on Thursday, 5th February 2015 at Clevedon Sailing Club
PRESENT: David Robinson (Chair), Stewart Edwards, Bernard Grey, Judith James
APOLOGIES: M Adames, Paul Trowbridge, Simon Osborn, Trevor and Chris Incles
MINUTES: of the last meeting were agreed.
FINANCES/GRANTS – Payment for hire of room at Sailing Club now due. £5 received from Woodcutters.
RIVER CLEANING – There has been no weed clearing since the last meeting as we are now in nesting season. The timber in the culvert is being monitored, the combination of summer levels and need for trash screen at Dairy Court to be cleared is making access difficult. Watercress is not growing as fast as it did last year, but there is one clump growing behind the cinema and we are monitoring the river. SE will contact EA if spraying is required.
EQUIPMENT – After recent use of strimmer a rattle had developed. The main agents from whom it was purchased in 2008 have it for repair, which could cost about £60.
FOOTPATHS / WALKS – The sign for Jacobs Way is ready and awaiting erection. In advance of this, the path has been cleared. Some buddleia bushes hanging from boundary fence had been cleared. MA reported that we have had approval on the 2 Rivers Walk for a permissive path on one section and a verbal agreement on the type of gate required. As this gate is within 16 m of the river further dealings with the EA are needed to obtain approval.
LEVELS AND FLOW – See ‘The River’ – Levels
REPORTS OF RIVER SECTIONS
Bernard’s Section – There is a section with power lines which cannot be cleared. A clump of watercress was carried down from upstream and lodged at the mouth of the culvert where the river passes under the M5. From last year’s experience if it spreads it could affect the flow through the town. Access to clear it manually is difficult. It could be reached with a machine. The EA have been made aware.
Stewart’s Section – In April and May there was a brood of ducklings and two broods of moorhens, but none have survived. There could be a mink in the river – something was spotted early in April near Northern Way, although there have been no signs of a burrow in the bank. The condition of the river is good and relatively weed free.
Town Section – Stewart has met the Curo Group (CG) manager at Old Dairy Court and the contractor who will be clearing the trash screen. Unfortunately this has not yet beencleared and there is now a large build up of floating debris. CG have now engaged a contractor who will clear it at two week intervals. The large accumulation on the NSC trash screen was cleared in April and again a month later. A trout has been spotted in the river, a further indication of improving flow and water quality.
Trevor’s section – There has been an unconfirmed report that swans have been building a nest on the bank in front of Waverley House.
Paul’s Section – We have been asked to remove a hawthorn bush on a bend in the river in Marshall’s Field. Apart from tidying up the river bank this would greatly improve access for EA. Help has been requested from the Woodcutters as they have contacts in NSC who look after Marshall’s Field. The problem with regard to the drains is now in the hands of Andy Carroll. Paul reported that at the junction of Southern Way with Tennyson Avenue and alongside the Southern Way bridge, the corner property has recently changed hands and it appears that the gate to the north river bank has been covered by, or replaced with a fixed fence and a concrete section shed built behind it.
PUBLICITY – Mercury and N Somerset Times contacted with regard to naming Jacobs Walk.
WEBSITE – A comment on our website by a resident reported that a building was being erected on the river bank at the back of Coleridge Vale North. This is the working bank for the EA access and so the information was passed to them for investigation by their Enforcement officer.
PUBLICITY – Mercury and N Somerset Times contacted with regard to naming Jacobs Walk.
WEBSITE – A comment on our website by a resident reported that a building was being erected on the river bank at the back of Coleridge Vale North. This is the working bank for the EA access and so the information was passed to them for investigation by their Enforcement officer.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS – CSC has been booked for meetings on 6 August and 3 September 2015 (AGM).
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 6 August 2015 at 7.30 pm at Clevedon Sailing Club
Land Yeo Friends 