Residents and Police attend APC Meeting

A large number of residents and two police officers attended the Parish Council meeting on Monday evening.
The key trigger for this has been the secrecy with which the current position with Turnpike Field has been ongoing for some time.This has resulted in several village organisations being told they cannot use the Field that was purchased for the benefit of the village.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Stephen Hopkins, Vice Chair, following the resignation of the previous Chairman and the new vice chair stated that the Parish Council would be more open with residents moving forward.
The election of a new chair was postponed and the meeting moved to the Public Forum. The meeting was fractious with much blame being deflected to previous incumbents of the council, but eventually settled to look at the current position.
The Clerk provided a statement from the police on the progress of the current police investigation into missing APC funds.

Turnpike Field
As residents will know the Turnpike Field was originally purchased for the use of the village with funds raised by the residents together with the mortgage within the precept.
However, the major discussions with members of the public concerned the contractual issues with the field.
When APC decided to apply for retrospective planning permission some months ago for change of use following a Cheshire East visit (Picnic tables were in place etc) the previous owner should have been informed and was not. The previous owner Mrs Gail Callwood (who was present on Monday) wrote to the council and apparently received no reply.
This resulted in an exchange of solicitors letters which is ongoing and has resulted in the non use of the Field.
The Chair and other members of the Council in response to a question from an MOP stated that there wasno plan to sell the Turnpike Field.
Naturally residents present expressed their real frustration that this had being going on for so long and in secret.The Council were pressed as to why discussions are not taking place directly with the previous owner to help resolve the situation ASAP.

Fields in Trust
Some confusion seems to have existed about the Fields in Trust status.
It was decided to apply for Fields in Trust registration to prevent future development proposals for the Field such as houses.
This application was put on hold by the Parish Council whilst the legal issues were being resolved.
However, the Turnpike Field is on the Field in Trust website as registered !

At this point the acting Chair brought the Public Forum to an end after approximately an hour. He thanked the Parish Clerk who is leaving to take up a post in the education sector and promised the Parish Council would operate with less secrecy and better communication.
Most residents then left.