Westminster Park Residents Association

To celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, Westminster Park Residents’ Association has booked the WP Community Centre for Saturday 4th June and, with the agreement of Belgrave School, is planning to hold a Jubilee Picnic and Fun Day in the centre and on the school playing field.

In preparation for this event, a meeting is being held for all local parties who may wish to get involved with the aim of establishing an organising committee and planning potential activities for the day.

As the organiser of a local activity, I am hoping that you will be able to come along to this meeting (full of good ideas!) which is being held at the WP Community Centre at 8pm next Wednesday 2nd March.

I look forward to seeing you.

Kind regards
Jennifer Crew
Chair, WPRA

Dear Councillors,

The recent felling of the Common Ash trees on the Wrexham Road site close to Greenacre Road has included a number of trees (T50 to T53) that Redrow had indicated would be retained as part of the development. Tree T54 has been removed but this was as shown on the drawings. T55 has not been removed. I understand the tree felling has caused concern amongst local residents, and that you have received requests for information. I have spoken with Redrow and the Council’s Tree Team.

The felling has been acknowledged by the developer as a mistake on their part, resulting from confusion with the contractor over the denotation on the tree removal and retention plan.

However, it appears that although the removal was unexpected the trees are not protected and there is no breach of planning control. On that basis no action can be taken by the Council.

It is worth noting that the professional tree survey submitted as part of the planning application identified these Common Ash trees as either low quality or unsuitable for retention. The remaining Oak T55 was identified as of moderate quality. As such, even though the developer identified trees T50 to T53 as trees to be retained, these were not considered trees worthy of specific protection and officers would have had no objection to their removal (subject to the usual 2 for 1 replacement), had they been shown for removal as part of the development proposal.

This extract from the tree survey shows the assessment of trees T50 to T54:




As a matter of goodwill Redrow have offered to replace the trees by planting oaks and I will liaise with them on an appropriate planting scheme.

There is more information about tree felling controls here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-felling-licence-when-you-need-to-apply.

My understanding is that the developer will be continuing to carry out other tree/hedge removal across the southern part of the Wrexham Road site as per the approved plans. Carrying out such work at this time of year in advance of the bird breeding season is standard practice.

Regards

Paul Friston
Principal Planning Officer
Cheshire West & Chester Council
Mobile: 07786 198 601

WESTMINSTER PARK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Committee meeting held on Wednesday 3rd November 2021 in the Community Centre

MINUTES

Present: Jennifer Crew, Colin Dollimore, Sue Britton, Penny White, Dave Craggs, Brian Westcott, Olwen Bellis, Susan Eva, Pauline Brown.

Apologies: Richard Short, Sandra Magilton, Annemarie Macfadyen, Tracey Casey, Karen Liddle.

Andrea Hopkinson came to observe as Newsletter Editor.

1. Minutes of the last meeting held on 9th August 2021 were agreed as a true record by those who attended.

2. Treasurer’s Report: Summary already circulated. A bid for funding from our Councillors of £1,050 for warm white lights for the tree opposite the Emporium has been submitted and a new advertising banner. The bid for funding for grit bins is ongoing.

3. Membership: Very nearly 500, the subscription form for 2022 membership will be included in the Newsletter for December. The ‘cut off’ date for membership will be 1st December. Colin will write up some notes for the Newsletter.

4. Social/future events: Community Christmas lights switch on event will take place on Thursday 2nd December. Brian reported that the ‘temporary’ tree will be arriving at approx 12 noon on Sunday 28th November and will cost £125. He and Dick Pole are away that weekend so Neil Macfadyen will be asked to supervise the erecting of it. It requires three men to put the tree up, and then it needs to be decorated with lights etc. Barlows will fix the box at the Coop. Sue said the ‘replacement real tree’ is coming from Morreys in about two weeks.
Peter Cocker will be Father Christmas this year. Colin will liaise with him re the suit and Peter will buy a beard and be recompensed from funds.
Sheriff of Chester Jill Houlbrook is coming to switch on the lights. Keith Scott is lined up with PA system. Jennifer will speak to PCSO Cain Jones.
The Coop has been alerted and a letter sent regarding their contributions. We need to speak to the other shops and put posters on shops and other noticeboards, Facebook etc. Penny has spoken to all the shops and all are enthusiastic. The Emporium have a wine tasting event later that evening and are already planning a community event with Bebbington’s but are happy to take part in this. I assured them the carpark would be reopened by around 6pm. Chatwins usually shut at 4 but will arrange to stay open later, are happy to do as in previous years: PA on their step, using their electricity supply and Father Christmas changing on their premises. However Barbers are open until 7pm anyway that evening so that might be a better venue for that. The Italian takeaway man was concerned as how to serve the food, this is probably something we need to think about everything we are serving that evening.
If we have bad weather the event will be called off.
Colin said he was arranging a Christmas Quiz for Saturday 4th December which he proposed would be split between WPRA/Rotary. After some discussion it was decided that WPRA would have their own quiz in the Spring as usual and this quiz will be for the benefit of Rotary. Helpers and attendees would be welcomed.

5. Kings Moat/WRD: Brian has been in touch with Ian Jones regarding flooding/pumps this winter who is liaising with site and will get back to him.
Regarding meeting with the Council’s Education Officer: Brian has spoken to Neil who has been having meetings, there seems no reason for us to meet up. There is a questionnaire which has been circulated around our local schools which has to be in by 5th November. Apparently school building starts in 2022 with handover by September 2024. It will be situated at the top of Whaddon Drive, with 45 entry per year. The process is ongoing. There is Section 106 money to be made available for schools to make temporary provision for more children in the meantime.
Nothing to report on Health Centre progress.
Kate Birnie (residents of Kings Moat) wants to set up a Residents Association, Brian, Jennifer and Pauline will meet with her.

6. WP Maintenance: Brian’s working party did a great job at the shops tidying up the green areas etc. He proposes to have another one in the Spring, after the spring flowers have died down. Incredible Edibles are now in place.

7. Winkwell Drive: nothing to report.

8. CRAG: held a meeting 16th September and AGM 30th September, 18 RAs were represented. Pauline will send a report to be circulated.

9. Media/Newsletter: Andrea Hopkinson is taking responsibility for this. There was some comment on groups wanting to put in large advertisements, it was suggested the website has more space for this.

10. Evergreen: meetings restarted in August with restricted numbers, prebooking has been a good idea. The programme is in place for 2022 which will be released this month and we will be pushing for members to rejoin and for new members to join in the new year.

11. Gardening Club: held their first meeting with a speaker. Bulbs are being planted on 10th December. We will see what their committee decide regarding tree planting which will have to be approved by the Council.

12. AOB: A call for more publicity of the location of local defibrillators has been raised again but as with the suggestion of a Parish Council and/or Neighbourhood Plan it all creates a lot of work the committee are unable to fulfil.

There was mention of the Lache master plan and Neighbourhood Watch survey.

Olwen raised the matter of the cul de sac opposite her house, she has produced a letter she is being sent to the Council and asked if we approved it, we did.

13. Next meeting: to be held on Wednesday 2nd February 2022 in the Community Centre, the hall has been booked.

Are you interested in playing bridge in Chester?

We currently play in the Community Centre, Five Ashes Road, Westminster Park, Chester, Cheshire. CH4 7QS every Thursday from 19:00 to 22:30.  All level of players are welcome.

Westminster Park Community Centre has ample parking and as a Member you will also have access to the bar lounge with TV.  The Westminster Park Bridge Club has been located here for 40 years.  It has a friendly environment and refreshments are also available for a small donation.

A host system operates at Westminster Park.  Therefore a current member will be available each week for any player that may turn up without a partner. The table fee is £3 and £2 for members.

Currently we do not hold bridge classes for beginners but there are a number of local clubs who do offer such a facility and you will be welcome to join us when you have completed a course of lessons.

If you have any questions please contact me on 01244 675923, 07971963847 or email on nikeryan@outlook.com  or best of all turn up one Thursday.

Nick Ryan

Weight Watchers

Thank you to everyone who supported our tidy-up at the WP shops on Sunday morning.  What a difference it has made.