Chatbox

There have been misinformed and incorrect posts on ChatBox regarding FIT and car parking. The correct situation is that we can use the whole of the field for parking for any events for the benefit of the village, provided we don't close more than 25% of the field for more than 21 consecutive days. A highly unlikely situation.
Part of the field on which a proposed car park would be has been excluded from the FIT Deed – so we are able to provide a a green car park when we are able to do so.
Perhaps if you wish to comment on the FIT proposal you would be good enough to check the facts first.
Finally I would remind you if you wish to vote on the FIT registration the closing date for votes is next Tuesday 11th April.

As I Understand it the status quo is that we the residents are paying for the Turnpike Field facility and ownership resides with the Parish Council who can ultimately dictate its use. If a future council proposes any use with which we disagree we can lobby them directly and if necessary remove them through the ballot box.

It may be difficult today to envisage changes of use we might want to support in the future, but one example highlighted by Jean in an earlier post might be if we wanted to temporarily use a larger area of the field than is specified in the FIT deed for car parking to support a village event. If we agree to a deed of protection with FIT then we cannot make any changes without their consent. The section on ''Flexible Protection'' below is pasted from the FIT website and gives an insight into what might be involved in obtaining that consent.

To me the benefits of adding an extra layer of unelected governance are far from obvious!

Flexible protection
We do recognise that circumstances can change, however, and for this reason the Deed does have a certain level of flexibility built into it. In general, changes to the space which are ancillary to its use – i.e. supporting the primary activities taking place – are usually fine and do not require our consent. Anything which is not ancillary to a space's use, such as buildings, commercial leases and changes of use, can be permissible but generally require our consent. A landowner can seek this consent by making an application through our Field Change Request procedure, with any such applications being considered by our experienced Planning and Policy Committee of Trustees.

In rare cases a landowner may wish to remove a piece of land from protection. This can be possible, through a Field Change Request application, but in general we will require a new space, which is of equal or better quality than the existing protected space and which serves the same community, to be protected in return.

Try Huw Protheroe, lives in the village. Done excellent work for us. 07931 526157

For anyone who is undecided could I suggest you read the posts from Peter Morgan and Geraint Davies? They both give commanding reasons to agree the proposal. Given Peter's exposition it does seem to me (as a relatively new villager) to be a "no brainer"!

Hi,
Try Graeme Mould
07971 805696

Can anyone recommend a local carpenter who could make a replacement window for a summer house?

Thanks

Jackie Thompson

A day or two ago, on reading the pamphlet regarding the future of Turnpike Field, my first reaction as always, in gratitude to the councillors who do such a good job, was to support the proposal. However one or two submissions on Chatbox (though they were expressd a little more aggresively than I woud have wished) did raise a question or two in my mind and gave me pause for thought.

However, thanks to Peter Morgan's lucid reply, these nagging doubts are completely answered – the cost is minimal; that the situation is not set in stone and can be altered at any time should more than half the population wish it; but the future of the field is safeguarded if any rogue cabal on the council in the future seek to follow their own agenda.

It seems clear to me now that there's no question that this proposal should be accepted.

I see the point of keeping Green Spaces but it is the limitations that it will put on the area for future generations who may well have different ideas to ours. What happens in the future should the village want a more modern and better place for the scouts, a youth club or a bigger gym etc' but where could it be put – Turnpike Field. Agh we own it but limitations on the use of it are such that it can't be done.
There was great divide in the village in buying it, why make a bigger divide as the ones making the decisions now won't be around then unless one of us comes up with 'Live for ever Pill'.

Is this a get out clause for the car park ?.

Bit like Stoke on Trent Council Highways who say they only maintain the roads not the ground beneath. Looks like Green Lane lights are here for ever. Had my final say -Tomorrow is a New Day

Emergency Closure. Did it ever open?

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone to create a wildlife garden pond?

Thank you Peter for erxplaining why FIT is important. The comments re councillors is vert apt and not only has Audlem suffered but too many other Parish councils have been found wanting. Also Peter's planting will really enhance the field in years to come. We may be surprised at how quickly they make an impact. We planted several trees at Fields farm in the late '80s now large specimens , several have had to be felled to prevent6 over crowding and the two red oaks at the bottom of the drive are now a real colourful sight in the Autumn
Chris

Well said Peter Morgan (although we have never forgiven you for your anti French PC rants- rainbow warrior. ) the only way of saving the asset in perpetuity is FIT. We have a knee jerk reaction from people who have not looked at the facts and have a misconceived idea that we are sitting on the Audlem jewels ! Also a failure to realise that with future LG reform the PC could be wiped out and assets end up with Cheshire East or equivalent.

To answer and hopefully assuage some of the recent comments and fears regarding costs, tree planting and protection from development concerning the Turnpike field, I can provide the following.
In addition to the small plantation that was planted last year and of which, some miraculously survived the drought, I have recently planted a number of small cuttings of Golden Willow into the Soggy Bottom land adjacent to the stream and also into the bog by the boardwalk. If most of these take and survive the depredations of all creatures great and small, they will, within ten years Impatient, provide a colourful contrast to the abundant Alder and willows already on site. To see the finished product, so to speak, take a look at the two Golden Willows planted by ADAS 30 years ago by Salford Bridge. This is the source of the whips I have planted. In addition, I have also planted a three year old Field Maple and some self-seeded (into my garden) bird cherry plus two native wild cherry. Also the five hazel whips kindly donated via Buy/Sell. All these species are designed to provide an important food source for birds and insects of many types and enhance the attraction of the area, but it will not happen overnight. Last week I had the pleasure of walking through some small woods that I planted ten years ago on the farm but I doubt that I will still be around to experience the same joy with the Turnpike planting ten years from now. But I do hope that many readers or children of, will experience that joy for themselves. It is vital to look to the future which is why Fields in Trust is so important to the future of our community. We know only too well how susceptible and vulnerable our Parish Council can be with our resources, witness the appalling recent events still to be reconciled. And yet, given an opportunity to protect this precious asset by putting it in trust, some immediately rebel against it. Really!
Research online will tell you in a couple of minutes that FiTrust are an open space charity of almost a century's standing that makes NO charge other than the £80 fee to the Land Registry to note the change from Audlem pc to FiT thus securing it from any rogue element on a future parish council.
Turning to the top end of the field, it is the green car park requirement that prevents its inclusion with FiT whose sole objective is to protect green open spaces that are not car parks. Abandon the car park and it can all be safeguarded with FiT But if you want the car park, it cannot be included, those are the rules!
Finally, the FiT allows for flexibility if more than half of the parish wish to do something different with the field at some future date, which to my mind, is a whole lot safer than leaving its fate in the hands of twelve parish councillors, or as at present eight and recently, even less. Get my drift? Vote for Fields in Trust, the parish are still the owners but its future is much more secure.

In reply to Caroline – I can recommend Pickerings from Tarporley who cover this area. Paul – 07900 687768 or Rachel – 07743 447637

Andrew Dean is excellent http://www.pianodean.co.uk/php/home.php

Absolutely spot on Jean!

I'm looking for a local piano tuner if anyone knows of one locally their contact details would be appreciated.
Thanks Caroline

I am sure councillors working on the topic are doing a thorough job. Maybe I have missed the communication. Would it be possible to share on the parish council webpage more details on the topic, e.g. a plan of the area of Turnpike Field being proposed for the Trust, the cost, the definition of this kind of trust, pros & cons, the implications....
Suggest to talk more about this before rushing forward, because whilst it may be the best option, it currently is not clear.

Hear, hear. We have already paid out twice for the field, surely it should remain as a total financial asset for future generations and not be given away. The small section that is down for a car park will be of minimal value financially in comparison to the whole area.

The parish, as I understand it, bought the field stop to development in perpetuity.
This should NEVER be allowed to go back on. There was also a clause in the sale that would make it unviable.
This being the case, it then seams senseless to leave the most vulnerable part of the field out of the agreement of the Fields In Trust.
Is this a backhanded way of getting agreement for potential later development of the northern part of the field??
I'm not opposed to FIT, but additional costs should be transparent and ALL the field should be included with the proviso for a green carpark/ village green area.
It doesn't have to be called a carpark to park cars on it!
We just want a multi use green area that can have cars parked on it. Not charging points and lighting. (Thats development) We just need an overflow area that can be used to park IF REQUIRED.
ALL the FIELD should be included if going down this route>

Would the person responsible for removing the sign asking politely for dog owners to 'pick up' after their dogs to either return the sign or take up the post of weekly POO collector!

I believed that we were told that to prevent the field from being built on then we needed to purchase it. If this is accurate then surely we already have the ability to prevent it from being built on without the need for another layer of bureaucracy. Any costs associated with the proposed Trust have not been declared. Future generations may have different needs to this one and so why tie their hands to an unknown committment of maintenance and costs?

I agreewith Adrian regardingnthe establishment of trees.I acquired two fuit trees and planted in mid October. A note from the nursery pointedout due to the very dry nature of the ground to incorporate as much orgainic material as possible as well as water with 5 gallons every 3 weeks. Clearly possible in a small planting but impossible with the numbers involved in TBf. If we get our usual wet summer I am sure they will eventually thrive
Chris

I would like to offer a few words on the well served community here – by a fine selection of shops and eating and drinking establishments. An example of such is that this week my son , here to help me get well from a debilitating time of pain, went to Judy's wonderful shop and bought a good bag of top quality smokeless fuel. At prices that beat supermarkets in Nantwich and Crewe,. Well done to her – and just think , If we all spent £10 a week here in Audlem , how well we would help our traders stay trading .
Very few villages have so many good individual traders .

A little bit of market research to ask if there is a need for dog walking services. No more than two dogs at a time. My husband has semi retired and has many year's experience of owning and looking after dogs. Please contact me initially on 07467 587456 for further information. Many thanks.