MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE GOLDEN HILL PARK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD AT THE MEMORIAL HALL, FRESHWATER, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2002 COMMENCING AT 10 AM
Present :
Mr C H Lillywhite - Isle of Wight Council
Mr B Edney - Countryside Section
Apologies : Mr R A Sutton
In the absence of Mr Sutton Mr Lillywhite took the chair.
8. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2001 be confirmed.
Also noted that reference to minute 6 the Countryside officer had liaised with the local Fire Officer and it had been decided that work would need to done on the firebreaks to widen them for fire appliances.
9. REPORT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE SECTION
The Countryside Officer reported that since the last meeting of the Golden Hill Management Committee in November, work has continued to open up the grassland and to ensure that the paths are passable. The extreme rainfall during the winter of 2000 - 01 has not been repeated and it has been possible for visitors to negotiate all areas of the park if care is taken. It is not the policy of the Management Committee to bring all of the paths up to the standard of the bridleways and visitors are expected to take care on the woodland paths.
The areas of burnt gorse on the perimeter of the picnic area and the burnt area to the east of the inner bridleway have been removed with the help of volunteers. The stumps have been cut down to ground level. The fires during the summer and autumn have all been small scale and have burnt through the upper parts of the gorse without causing damage to the surrounding vegetation.
Within the woodland areas the connecting paths have been cut with a brushcutter and the central areas cut to form glades. The pond areas within the woodland on the south slope have been opened out by the removal of Willow growth. The main wet area on the Heathfield Road entrance has not been worked on but the perimeter firebreak has been cut. The open areas have been cut in the same fashion as in previous years and the regrowth from the work completed by the Seppi cutter has been cut.
The Countryside officer said that work would normally finish on the clearance work at the end of February to prevent disturbance to nesting birds. There are many small scale jobs outstanding before the start of the tourist season but the clearance work needed for this year has been done. The next work concerns the surfacing and drainage and will involve a spring clean of the Park area. The amount of fly tipping has not been high. Garden refuse is still a problem with residents taking the easy option and dumping material close to their homes. The burnt out car on the picnic area was removed quickly by contractors and it was unfortunate that two picnic tables were destroyed by the driver of the dumped car. Fortunately this type of incident is still rare at Golden Hill Park and is not accepted as a matter of course.
The removal of Dutch Elm Disease affected trees continues but this is really a problem for the wider Island. There is still a large volume of work to be completed to remove all of the affected trees and a vast quantity of them are on private land and are the responsibility of the landowner. The next generation of Elm trees may be seen growing up in the place of the more mature trees which have been felled. The Elm is well suited to conditions on the Island and will continue to have an important place in the landscape. It was noted that planings from the felled Dutch Elm disease trees could be used on the paths in the reserve.
RESOLVED
THAT the report be noted.
10. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Countryside Officer reported that the planning applications were ongoing.
RESOLVED
THAT the report be noted.
11. FINANCIAL BACKGROUND
The Countryside Officer reported that the Council appreciated the contribution from Freshwater Parish Council towards work on the Park.
RESOLVED
THAT the report be noted.
12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED
THAT the next meeting be held on 12 November 2002 at 10.30am.
CHAIRMAN