Manorbier.com
Meeting on Tuesday 1st. October 2002
Open Meeting with Army and RAF
An open discussion took place with Squadron Leader Peter Sinclair and the local army representative Mr Warburton in attendance regarding Manorbier Range.
Squadron Leader Sinclair who is based in Welshpool gave a brief outline of his responsibilities, which could be summed up as being the Public Relations Officer dealing with the local communities.
Councillor Davies was concerned that Manorbier School seamed to be in the flight path of the planes using the range and thought that it should be avoided as she was concerned on the effect on the primary school children especially with all the current talk of war. She also raised the point that compensation had been awarded by the armed services to a person in the Freshwater East area who had fallen of their horse due to low flying aircraft. Squadron Leader Sinclair was adamant that no compensation had been awarded by the armed services.
Councillor Calver raised the point that surely it was impossible for the range to be used in its present capacity without flying over the parish villages to which Major Warburton agreed. Local resident Mrs Sutton questioned the level of noise generated by the ranges to which Major Warburton suggested that long term residents of the village would be aware that the noise levels were 50% less than six years ago and considerable less than 20 years ago. Councillor Calver raised a question on behalf of local resident Peter Morgan regarding the low flying of Chinook helicopters over his house last year, that caused his and his neighbours house to shake, resulting in damage to the value of £500 to his chimney stack. The Squadron Leader stated that no fixed wing aircraft flies lower than 250 feet and no helicopter and small plane lower than 50 feet. He would advise the resident to submit a claim for compensation from the air force but suggested that all noise was below the permitted levels allowed and no aircraft dropped below the permitted guidelines.
Mrs Klein from Lydstep asked for more notice of proposed flying to which the Squadron Leader informed the meeting that the air force already gave as much notification as possible. Councillor Calver asked if there was any resulting pollution from the army firing out to sea to which Major Warburton replied that the only items that drop to the seabed are spent motor cases, which do not cause pollution. He also asked if sound insulation and double- glazing could be provided to the houses nearest the ranges especially on the Skrinkle Estate and quoted the infamous statement from his colleague that noise generated from the activities on the range were "no louder than a car door closing". Squadron Leader Sinclair suggested that the Local Environmental Officer be contacted as if it could be proved there was sound pollution assistance could be given to alleviate the problem. His opinion was that the sound levels at Manorbier were way below the permitted levels and there would therefore be no assistance available.
A Lydstep resident concerned over the noise level of the target plane was advised by Major Warburton that although quieter planes were available, he had brought up the issue with Project Team Leader, Tom Jones, as to replacing the existing planes with quieter engines but the team leader felt that no extra cost should be incurred in providing them as the existing planes operated within permitted noise levels.
Councillor Morgan did not attend this section of the meeting because of a pecuniary interest.
Footpath from Jameston to School
Letters were received from Mr T Frazier agreeing to the donation of land for the proposed pathway from Jameston to Manorbier School subject to negotiation. Mr B Phillips also replied to the council that he would be prepared to donate land for the scheme as he had done in the past. He suggested however that his land would be inappropriate for the path but could be used in an overall scheme to widen the road with the path being on the north side of the road. Councillor Ms Beynon suggested forwarding the letters received on to Pembrokeshire County Council but on the advise of Councillor Calver, that because the letters were written to the Manorbier Community Council after the land owners views were sought on the possible donation of land for a safe route to school scheme that had been proposed by Mr Tony Wales, the council should only pass on the names of the owners contacted. He also advised the council that the police had now installed monitoring equipment on the road to access the danger.
Smoke Pollution at Primary School
A letter was received from Richard Brown Environmental Officer Pembrokeshire County Council stating that he had contacted two owners of land in the vicinity regarding the smoke pollution. Councillor Davies agreed to monitor the situation and inform Mr Brown of any future polluting smoke.
Visit of Local WAG Member ( Ms Christine Gwyther)
A letter was received from the local member after she was approached regarding the issue of dropped kerbs on the Skrinkle Estate. Pembrokeshire County Council had failed to install dropped kerbs to some areas on the estate that would allow access to properties from the highway. Ms Gwyther AM felt that she should visit the area to see the problem for herself. Councillor Calver suggested that it was quite simple all the residents wanted was equality throughout the estate for able bodied and disabled alike but if she wished to visit to see what was a simple problem so be it. She would be contacted with possible dates being the 21st or 25th October
Data Protection Act
The Data Protection Act again came up for discussion and it was resolved that the Clerk would be the Data Controller with the council resolving that the fee would be £10. Councillor Griffiths stated that she had already paid £10 to receive a copy of a letter. Councillor Calver proposed that Councillor Griffiths should be reimbursed, as she was not asking for information under the Data Protection Act just information from the records that were in the Public Domain. The Community Council should not go down the line of charging residents, who perhaps unlike Mrs Griffiths could not afford the fee, for what was their right of access to information that had been discussed in open council. Council Chairperson Ms Beynon then seamed confused and suggested that all information sought of the clerk should command a fee. She also questioned Councillor Calver`s right of access to information which he could later reproduce on the website ( www.manorbier.com ). He intimated that if she had any queries on the website or its contents, which after all only provided comprehensive notes of council meetings, they should be directed the website e-mail address given on the site. Any information presented to Manorbier Council was open to inspection by any members of the community who could then take details of the material. Chairperson Ms Beynon then suggested that the material had copyright and could not be reproduced. Councillor Calver then advised Ms Beynon that all information that was open to inspection could be reproduced on the website. It was proposed by Councillor Davies and seconded by Councillor Calver that no charge be levied on any member of the public seeking information of matters discussed at council meetings.
Draft Village Appraisal submitted by Alex Allison, Pembrokeshire County Council.
Councillor Morgan and Councillor Calver objecting to several items in the document that had been altered for no apparent reason since the original draft. Both Councillor Calver and Councillor Morgan would be providing information to the clerk to be included in the document. Councillor Calver reminded the council that £5,500 of Objective One money would be used on the production of the appraisal document and it was the residents of Manorbier Community Council document and not the property of Pembrokeshire County Council employees. He also felt that the document was to long and that some information requested on the appraisal form was of little relevance to Manorbier and a greater emphasis should be place on the 'Wish List' criteria.
The letter received from local resident Mr Roy Thomas in regard to Manorbier village was again held over for discussion until the November meeting.