OMTRA Public Meeting March 21st 2023

Approximately 30 were in attendance.

Guest Speakers Heather and Darren from Green Meadows Project gave the following summary:

Green Meadows are looking for initiatives that residents want to start. Examples of projects that have come from suggestions from residents:

· Community composting. Now have two for up to 60 households.

· Pop up café at AMC gardens.

· Refill station.

Old Meadows is a conservation area. GMP to do 140 surveys of homes in the meadows and build an archetype, building up a picture of what might be required if we were to do a retrofit of a property in the Old Meadows.

Bespoke plan for individual houses. Commercially this would cost £600-800. Can point people in the right direction if there is grant funding available.

Register as soon as possible. Want to get to the 140-house target.

Also running free training courses on plumbing, basic DIY.

Running a tool share. Offering tools at low-cost rates. Electric and manual. Not quite ready. Getting website set up. Should be ready around May. Links into the courses.

For non-home owners, trying to build a network of skills so people can also use it as a source of income. Local plumber is doing the teaching.

The OMTRA Chair said that her report was easy to understand for a non-technical reader.

A resident asked about the suitability of the courses for less able bodied persons.

Darren says that anyone is welcome, and that people can give as much or as little of it a go as they want. Premises are accessible.

A resident asked about training being during the working day.

Darren said that the plumbing contractor has a job on Saturdays but timings are based on demand so people should get in touch if they would attend a training session if it was at a different time. Some other sessions are all on Saturdays.

A resident asked whether there could be a connection with the Meadows Youth Centre.

Darren said that they would like to keep the practical training courses quite small so everyone can have a go but Heather has been speaking about doing session with the scouts there.

A resident asked about what the Conservation Area actually means for these sorts of measures.

Darren replied that we should be using materials that work well with the properties. E.g. for the Old Meadows, using materials that are breathable. Internal rather than external insulation on front wall. Older Meadows properties are complicated to work with properly. Needs to comply with PAS 2035.

A resident expressed concerns about consultations being advertised properly and asked about the conservation area consultation.

A member of the committee explained that the whole of the area was leafletted and that there was a public meeting at the time that was well attended (around 60 residents).

A resident wanted to know about the availability of grants to young working professionals. Darren advised that unfortunately it was not in their control but that they would advise on funding available. There is also a small amount of money from Cadent to do very minor work e.g. draft proofing

Michael Edwards, Meadows Ward Councillor gave a written report (see here)

A resident was concerned about the free parking on Robin Hood Way. Also interested in parking permits on Beauvale Road.

ME replied that residents on Meredith Close are keen that parking permits are introduced on a section nearby. Commercial arm are going to pay for an experiment to see what impact it makes.

A resident was concerned about the fencing off of a part of the Memorial Gardens.

ME replied that council has no intention to close it off. The fencing is there as a contingency in case anything happens because there is a pond there that is not covered by cameras (unlike the existing pond).

Another resident who was part of MeGA explained that there are plans to put signs up to welcome people. Only three weeks since the start of the planting.

Another resident suggested a pond cage.

ME said that the decisions have been made by users of the gardens and that the resident should speak to MeGA.

A resident wanted to know where the money was coming from for the Paddling Pool.

ME gave an explanation of the source of funding and expected dates.

A resident wanted to know about access to the facilities on the Embankment for football.

ME said that people have been able to hire the facilities by going through the relevant council officers (not through ME). Some of the groups haven’t had a good relationship with the officers historically. More recently, a certain group has been able to access facilities. A resident involved in one of the groups said that he had been speaking to the officer and that “she has been brilliant”.

A resident asked why the water level is low in the main pond.

ME said he knows it is a problem but hasn’t been told why. Liaising with an officer. Would like to see it fixed.

A resident asked about toilets at the embankment, noting that it is a big area for just one toilet at the new café. Also reported that it wasn’t very clean.

ME highlighted that the football pavilion toilets are more substantial and that the other room at the café is a staff room. Looking for an extension of the scope of the paddling pool to include toilets. Final project for Changing Places was hoped for the undercroft at the memorial gardens but it was deemed to not be a suitable space.

A resident asked about bids for the Youth Centre.

ME said that he knows what we want in the Meadows but that there are 5 youth centres bidding for funding and that he doesn’t want the officer dealing with the bid to be constantly pestered by the councillors from each of those 5 areas. There is a desire to be able to bid for external money. Can’t do that under the council’s ownership. Looking for a partnership. Need a credible partner with a proven track record of delivering youth services.

A resident asked about different partners using the same building. E.g. Green Meadows.

ME explained that the ambition is for the building to be fully used by those providing services for young people. Green Meadows is 5 years and then it will be gone.

A resident asked why a pond was put in the gardens when there is already a pond.

Michael replied that he wasn’t the one deciding what happened but that there are different plants for different wildlife. The design of the main pond is more ceremonial. ME expressed gratitude to MeGA.

The Police were unfortunately, and unexpectedly, not in attendance. We asked residents whether they had any questions / comments to pass on.

A resident asked how many CPOs we have in the Meadows?

ME said that he doesn’t know but was to meet police and CPOs Thursday (23rd) at 1pm.

A resident was concerned about the quality of works done on roads previously.

ME said he was happy to receive comments about specific cases.

OMTRA Chair asked whether residents would be interested in contact information via a newsletter. General response was positive to this.

A resident asked why the contractors are taking so long to finish certain works.

ME said that we have issues with developers not doing the work that they were contracted to do.

A resident asked whether there were any general rules about roads being closed for a certain amount of time.

ME said there is no control that allows the council to place such limits. Developers are allowed to do it and it is frustrating.

A resident asked what will happen when Wilford Grove is closed for resurfacing.

ME said that there is no way around the inconvenience. It will be particularly awkward when they close Sheriffs Way between mini-roundabout and the Library. Will take measures to alleviate where possible. Open to suggestions.

Two residents expressed concern about the traffic that was previously using the VE carriageway now coming through the Meadows.

ME said that the council don’t think that the volume of traffic claimed are coming through the Meadows based on measurements. Consultation was 52-48 in favour of the closure.