Notes of the Meeting Held on the 4.9.17 at Llanymynech Village Hall.
Present: Kier Highways representatives - Natalie Geraghty Area 9 Customer Service Manager, Leon Lupasco Bridges Engineer, Barry James, Site Manager and Andy Wilson. Llanymynech & Pant Parish Council Chairman, Cllrs Mrs. Dilys Gaskill, Parish Council Clerk Vivien Byrne and Councillors Barry Robinson, Peter Roberts, Adam Brown, Janet Smith, Peter McConville, Mark Vickers, and Ken Allcock and Glyn Gaskill, Webmaster for Llanymynech.org.
Apologies from: Cllrs Robin Hitch, Terry Mason and Ian Pollitt.
Natalie had asked for the meeting because of a number of complaints she needed help to resolve, but also for a number of wider issues and Barry wished to give an update on the works. The works closures will now be only from Llynclys to Mile end, as the work on the village section was completed last Friday. The work is still on schedule, three weekend workings have now been discontinued, so only one remains and this will likely be the 22nd. There had been a lot of complaints and all of them had been investigated, they had escalated with 54 recorded in July, about 30 of these were classed as high level, but some were duplicated. Many of them stated that they wanted a village bypass, and it was explained that Kier were not involved in that decision making processitchH. The body cameras for workers had improved matters and the cctv, as there were safety concerns for the workforce when some people drove through the closure and in one instance overtook the escort vehicle.
The specific complaints which had not been resolved were: 1) Noise when working outside the Toll House at the top of Allbridge Lane. The resident had been visited and it was explained that because the property is so close to the highway, it is impossible to prevent the noise disturbing them, but the workers have been made aware and try to keep the disturbance to a minimum. 2) Flower pot on the pavement outside Rocklands, Pant broken. The resident had been contacted but refused to meet to discuss the matter. A replacement flower pot had been offered, but the resident had been told that it could not be placed on the pavement to discourage parking outside the property. 3) Dropped kerb opposite Red Lane for access by mobility scooter. The resident had been visited and informed that this would require an audit for the design as part of the current road scheme. This audit will inform whether this is possible and would not cause a danger, they will take into account traffic numbers as well as other factors. An audit has already been agreed for a possible crossing opposite the QE11 Playing Field.
Dilys mentioned that 3 abnormal loads carrying turbines came through the village on Sunday 2.9.17 with Police escorts, which were unexpected and asked if the Team had been advised of them. Leonsaid the abnormal loads should not be travelling over the bridge above the tunnels in the Heritage Limeworks, he and Andy agreed to investigate this with Patrick Thomas and report back to the Council. Leon advised the bridge work arose because on inspection it was discovered that the arches of the tunnels from the Heritage Limeworks were leaking and a lot of mortar had been dislodged. This meant the bridge becoming unsafe, so the footpath will be closed while the work under the bridge is completed. This will mainly be re-pointing with lime mortar, and eventually a more substantial job will need to be undertaken.
The Chairman then asked those present if they wished to raise any other matters. Cllr Robinson mentionedthe flooding at the Briggs Lane junction, also a dip in the carriageway south of there is causing pedestrian splashing when it is wet, and the pavement is still covered with a lot of debris. Cllr Brown said the workers on the barriers were now extremely helpful when he encountered them. Cllr Smith mentioned one instance where her relative had been sent on a detour over Sweeney, this was apparently due to a lack of escort vehicles. Cllr McConville had always experienced extreme courtesy when returning at night.
Glyn Gaskill thanked the team for the care and effort they have put into the project. Cllr Vickers mentioned a couple of people had mentioned they were happy with the new surface, but he wondered about the drains standing up to the traffic as they appear to be below the surface, Barry replied that there has to be a slight drop to allow the water to flow into them, but the surface from Llynclys is still a temporary one. Cllr Allcock mentioned the weekend closure because the Golf Club will have a big event on the weekend of the 30th/1st, Barry replied there will not be a closure that weekend.
The Clerk raised a couple of issues raised at the last meeting: a matter of the railway bridge north of Llynclys had been mentioned by a member of the public as it is not standard width and should have a narrow bridge sign. Leon and Andy would check this. Reduced visibility at the exit of the B4396 due to the overgrown hedge on the eastern side of the Llynclys junction. The Clerk will expedite thiswiththe relevant Parish Council for the land owner to be contacted. The v.a.s. not working in the centre of Pant would be attended to by Barry James.
The Chairman, Cllr Dilys Gaskill thanked all for attending and the meeting closed at 12.20pm.
Vivien E. J. Byrne,
Clerk.