Category: News

Please note that the Parish Office will not be open for the next two or three weeks.
Contact can still be made through the Contact option on the website, and matters dealt with.
Highnam Parish Council hope that this will not cause any undue problems, and can assure you that Parish matters will still receive our full attention.

There will be road closures for resurfacing on the Over Roundabout over two weekends, starting on 4 August 2018.
For details, follow this link:
(https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-rights-of-way/major-projects/a40-over-roundabout-improvement-scheme/

Highnam Parish Council have been advised that a request was made by Mark Harper MP to the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, for him to intervene in the matter of the planning application for 40 houses on land south of Oakridge.
Highnam Parish Council have now been advised that the Minister has decided that he shall determine this appeal instead of an Inspector. This means that instead of writing a decision, the Inspector will prepare a report and recommendation, which will be forwarded to the Secretary of State.
When any further information is received, this post will be updated.

Steve Doyle who has been the Key Coordinator for Highnam Neighbourhood Watch for the last 15 years will be retiring at the end of August and therefore a replacement needs to be found as soon as possible.

The person who takes on the role will need good computer skills (Word) with an administrative background. Patience and common sense is essential as it requires an ability to deal with messages from concerned villagers who are reluctant to report their concerns directly to the Police so as not to ‘Look Foolish.’ The advice given to them means that the key coordinator will very often become a filter for how and when villagers should or should not interface with the Police.

The point of contact within the Forest of Dean Police Unit will be Chrissie Parkes who is the Neighbourhood Watch Field Offices and is employed by the Police as a civilian.

Steve Doyle will provide every assistance and advice to anyone who wishes to take on the role and will do all he can to ensure that there is a seamless handover.

If you are interested in taking on the role of Key Coordinator or would like to find out more information contact Steve Doyle by email at stevebabsdoyle@aol.com or by phone on 01452 413618

For dates and times when the Mobile Police Station will be in the local area click on the link below:

The Parish Clerks Monthly Update for July 2018 can be viewed by clicking on the link below:

An opportunity to join Highnam Parish Council

There is currently a vacancy for a Highnam Parish Councillor.
If you are interested in finding out more information about what’s involved please contact the Parish Clerk, Richard Hicks on 01452 304500 or email highnampc@highnambband.co.uk

Highnam Parish Council – Residential Development outside Oakridge

The 4 day Public Appeal Inquiry concluded on the 25^th May following a visit to the proposed site.

The Inspector is now reviewing the evidence given by all parties involved. In terms of outcome, it is very unlikely that a decision will be known before the end of July, and it could well be later.

The Parish Council would like to thank the consultants for their invaluable support to the council prior to and during the inquiry and to all the residents that attended over the 4 days.

We will update this news post when we receive any further information relating to the outcome of the appeal inquiry.

15/06/18

 

 

In response to anticipated proposals from Terra Strategic for additional residential development in Highnam, Highnam Parish Council at its meeting on 13^th March 2018 formally resolved to oppose in principle any form of residential development outside the road known as Oakridge.  The Parish Council agreed that its planning group together with District Councillors, retained expert consultants and local residents’ lobby groups would work closely with Tewkesbury Borough Council in vigorously opposing any future development as and when any planning application is made.

The Parish Council has also now submitted its formal Statement of Case to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to the forthcoming Planning Inquiry into the appeal against refusal of planning consent for residential development on Land South of Oakridge. The Parish Council has appointed planning, landscape and highways consultants to assist it at the Inquiry. Formal Proofs of Evidence are currently being prepared setting out the Parish Council’s detailed case for opposing this appeal. The Hearing will take place at the Borough Council’s offices between 22^nd and 25^th May.

The Parish Council will endeavour to keep local residents regularly updated on these two important planning issues.

Over Roundabout – A417 Night Time Closures (updated 18/06/18)

Highway Commissioning have issued a further update on the highway improvements to the A417/A40 Over Roundabout. The update reads:

Unfortunately ground conditions have not been in our favour on both the A417 and A40 approaches. We’ve had to pre-auger (pre-drill) the ground ahead of driving the piles and bring in a larger ‘leader rig’ that required us to build an extensive piling mat and additional gates (all of which had to be done under the road closure and has resulted in programme delays). I’m hopeful that the change in method will allow us to make rapid progress but this will require further over night closures;

• Night time works from 7pm-6am – Monday to Friday
• Continuation of the full closure of the A417 southbound (from Maisemore to Over roundabout) and the A40 westbound (Longford to Over roundabout)
• Completion date for night time works now 15th June 2018 for the A417 and 22nd June 2018 for the A40. – However, this is on the proviso that ground conditions are favourable and we will need to review this date next week. We are in the difficult position of not being able to guarantee a works programme as we would for something like a resurfacing job.
• Works are for the sheet piling operation to widen both approaches to the roundabout
• The diversion will be signed on all approaches and is also on our webpage https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-rights-of-way/major-projects/a40-over-roundabout-improvement-scheme/

 

Over Roundabout – A417 Night Time Closures (updated 30/05/18)

Highway Commissioning have issued an update on the highway improvements to the A417/A40 Over Roundabout. The update relates to the southbound, night-time closure of the A417 (from Maisemore to Over roundabout).  The details of the closure are as follows;

• Night time works from 7pm-6am – Monday to Friday
• Works start on Tuesday 29^thMay until Wednesday 13^th June
• Full closure of the A417 southbound (from Maisemore to Over roundabout)
• Works are for the sheet piling operation to widen the A417 approach to the roundabout
• The diversion will be signed on all approaches and is also on Highway Commissionings webpage https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-rights-of-way/major-projects/a40-over-roundabout-improvement-scheme/

Brittania Construction have issued Bulletin 1 – 17/05/18 which details the work carried out on the project to date.

To see this bulletin click on the link below:

 

Over Roundabout – Night Time Closures

I’m writing to inform you that we are now in possession of the night time closure dates for the piling work at Over roundabout.

The piling works are required to stabilise the embankment where we will be creating additional carriageway. These works have to be undertaken at night because the operation will utilise the entire available carriageway space and closing the roads (A40 and A417 respectively) during the day would cause significant traffic disruption for thousands of road users.

Please be assured we have looked at all other options of construction, but the soil composition is such that only piling the ground would give us the stability to subsequently widen the carriageway. As with all major transport schemes, we will endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum. The diversion routes will be signed in advance of the works and I have attached the planned diversions for your information. All daytime works will be completed using lane closures with the roundabout remaining open. There will be expected delays but access will still be maintained.

The planned night time closures are as follows;

A40 East (between Longford Roundabout and Over roundabout) will be closed overnight from 15^th May to 1^st June between 7pm – 6am.

A417 North (approach to Over from Maisemore) will be closed overnight from 5^th June to 13^th June between 7pm – 6am.

As we near scheme completion in August 2018, we will undertake a complete resurfacing of the roundabout. This will take place over two weekends in August (4^th – 5^th and 11^th – 12^th August). Road closures will be in place from 7pm Friday evening through to 6am Monday morning. Please note that further restrictions will be in place during the resurfacing of the roundabout but access will be maintained where possible.

Scott Macaulay-Lowe

Team Leader; Major Schemes
HIghway Commissioning, Gloucestershire County Council
Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester GL1 2TG

For more details on the two diversion routes click on the link below: