MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON
Monday, 31st March 2025 at 7.15pm
AT THE COMMUNITY HALL
PRESENT
Parish Councillors. Brian Haworth (chair), Martin Hincks, Eva McPrice, Michael Collins, John Aspden, Dennis Johnson Cllr Steve Farmer, Cllr Tony Austin, C Cllr Alan Schofield. Katie Swingewood.
In attendance – Five members of the public. R Greenwood clerk
ITEM 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from PCSO Pemberton.
ITEM 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Register of Interests – Councillors were reminded of the need to update their register of interests.
- One member disclosed a personal interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting. This was Cllr John Aspden for application 3/2025/0206
ITEM 3 ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
3.1 Minutes of the meeting held February 2025 were accepted and signed as a true record.
ITEM 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4.1 Three members of the public attended to voice their objections to 3/2025/0094 Mytton Fold Hotel
Objections to this are:-
- The opening hours, which are 6am to 10pm, 7 days per week.
- The light pollution.
- The bat survey report – a request for a more robust survey will be requested.
- The increased traffic on the roads each hour that the courts are open.
A formal objection will be submitted to RVBC
4.2 Two members of public attended to share their objection to 3/2025/0114 Kirkdale Road. The objections to this are:-
- Loss of light – the build will block views of the sky
- Lack of privacy with being overlooked.
- Unsympathetic to the area.
A formal objection will be submitted to RVBC
ITEM 5 PLAYGROUNDS
5.1 No report was received from the Lengthsman.
ITEM 6 ACCOUNTS
6.1 The following cheques were presented for payment.
| Cheque 202630 | Nalc Training for the clerk | £16.00 |
| Cheque 202631 | C Walton, Lengthsman | £526.29 |
| Cheque 202632 | Richard Davis, tree work at Billington Playground. | £540.00 |
| Cheque 202633 | Void | |
| Cheque 202634 | HMRC | £7.00 |
| Cheque 202635 | Clerk Salary | £532.50 |
| Cheque 202636 | Travel | £25.46 |
6.2 PKF Littlejohn has sent the notice of audit for the Parish Council.
ITEM 7 PLANNING
7.1 The following applications were received and considered.
| 3/2025/0094 | Mytton Fold Hotel Whalley Road |
| 3/2025/0113 | Woodcote York Lane |
| 3/2024/0864 | Conkers Day Nursery |
| 3/2025/0114 | 24 Kirkdale Road |
| 3/2025/0196 | 300 Houses |
| 3/2025/0158 | Gleneagles |
| 3/2025/0170 | Brocklands, Longworth Road. |
| 3/2024/1021 | Land Adj to Snodworth Road. |
| 3/2025/0206 | St Marys Drive |
| 3/2025/0171 | Lower Fold Stable |
ITEM 8 HIGHWAY
8.1 A letter was received regarding Whalley Old Road, stating that LCC have dug a trench on the grass verge between York Village and Three Bays Barn. There is no pavement and concern was raised that the verge is not inaccessible.
8.2 A letter was received regarding footpath 29 requesting a stile between Horrocks Farm and Hodgefield. The clerk to write to PROW, (Public Rights of Way)
8.3 A complaint was received regarding the continued close of the footpath on Neddy Lane. Cllr Schofield and the clerk have been in contact with PROW who have contacted Redrow – the building firm responsible for the closure.
8.4 Pashmire Brow, Cllr Schofield has contacted two recent collisions or traffic accidents, attention needed to obscured Road Narrows sign and for consideration to installation of Priority Gateway arrangement. Assessment from highways officers is that Pashmire Brow does not meet the criteria for traffic priority gateway build-outs at this time. The ‘narrow road’ signs are to be cleaned and any vegetation obscuring the signs is to be removed’.
8.5 A59 – Longsight Road – this road is eligible for the Surface Dressing Improvement Scheme. This was approved by LCC Cabinet meeting of the 06.03.25, westward beyond Langho Roundabout, to B6245 crossroads / traffic lights Clayton-le-Dale – subsequent to the prior work from Monday 31st March up to 9th April of repairs by Patching’. This will take place in the new financial year. The A59 approaching Langho from Clitheroe is in a dangerous condition. CCllr Schofield is pushing for early allocation to it from LCC Highways’ ‘Localised Deterioration Fund’ (LDF) available money
Cllr Schofield was thanked for his work.
ITEM 9 Sec 106 FOR BILLINGTON LEISURE
9.1 Cllr Austin has asked the Parish Council to consider what leisure facilities are needed for Billington, there is some Sec 106 money available – no time scale has been given for this money. Consideration is to update the equipment in Billington Playground.
ITEM 10 OFFICERS REPORT
10.1 Cllr Austin has been investigating an issue with water run off from the car wash at Village prestige hand car wash The car wash is working from 9am to 7pm daily and the dirty / detergent filled water is running off down the road towards the coach park and not being taken down the drain. Cllr Schofield will visit the site and speak to the owner.
In addition there is an issue with the hoses, when no car is being washed these are being held in a vertical position, the spray from these is blowing across into nearby gardens causing an issue for the home owners.
10.2 Cllr Hincks was made aware of 3 tree’s in Old Langho Churchyard that were either dead or required significant tree works. He contacted David Holt and passed the information to them. The Parish Council will not be contributing financially to this work.
10.3 Cllr Johnson has reported dog fouling at Billington and an increase in litter around St Augustin’s school. The clerk to forward Cllr Johnson’s letter.
10.4 Cllr Farmer has requested a new litter bin for the road between Old Langho Road and Chapel Lane. The clerk to write to RVBC
ITEM 11 CENOTAPH AND MEMORIAL OAK TREE
11.1 The second quote has been received to repair the Cenotaph. The application for funding will now be processed.
11.2 The Memorial Oak tree at the rear of the Oak Tree has been inspected by Arborist Richard Davis and sympathetic pruning is needed. The Clerk has been in contact with RVBC’s Tree Officer David Hewitt who has a ten year old report stating that the tree is severely compromised and recommends felling. The Parish Council has maintained the tree over the years and will continue to do so but an full assessment is now needed to ensure that the tree will “cope” with the works needed to repair the Cenotaph. It was resolved that the tree will have a full xray assessment to determine the way forward, ie a specific management plan or the felling of the tree.
ITEM 12 CORRESPONDENCE.
12.1 An email was received from Ebenezer Chapel – this was forwarded to all members, it was felt that the work at Ebenezer makes a very positive contribution to the area.
12.2 All correspondence has been forwarded by email.
ITEM 13 DATES OF NEXT MEETING. All at 7.15pm.
28th April 2025
26th May 2025
30th June 2025
28th July 2025
29th September 2025
27th October 2025
24th November 2025
The meeting closed at 21.05 hrs