161st meeting Tuesday 16th October 2018
Littleborough Canalside Development Group
Minutes of the 161st meeting held Tuesday 16th October 2018 at Hare Hill House Starting at 7.30pm
Present: Julian Farnell, Ian Jackson, John F Kay, Bob Weatherley
Apologies Cllr Ann Stott,
The meeting observed a period of silence to remember the Late Brian Holden whose funeral took place earlier today
Approval of last minutes
Minutes of the meeting on 21st August 2018 had been circulated and were approved
Littleborough Civic Trust
- The correct name of the Littleborough Flood Resilience Group was noted and the last minutes amended.
- The funds still held on behalf of LCDG amounted to £1,317.82
Canal & River Trust
There is a meeting of the Local Waterway user group taking place on 7th November 2018 and Julian Farnell, Ian Jackson and Bob Weatherley will be attending. These meetings are held every 6 months
Ian Jackson reported that he had been involved today organising 90 volunteers who were working on the renovation of the tow path in Manchester under a scheme promoted by HSBC
Anyone wishing to join the Littleborough Tow Path Task Force should contact Ian Jackson on wackojacko@talk21.com.
Café Boat Scheme
- Covered workspace
Julian Farnell confirmed that the boat was now under cover in John Lawn’s premises at Higher Fold Farm, Syke Road Littleborough OL15 0AH.
They are optimistic that the engine will run and will test this at the weekend.
Julian Farnell has taken some photographs and will send copies to John Kay so he can have them displayed on the website
Julian Farnell will telephone Guy Holding of Portland Basin Marina to see whether he wishes to inspect the boat before it is sand blasted by “A1 Blasting” of Milnrow and painted with primer.
It is then the intention to obtain a report on the hull from Guy Holding of Portland Basin Marina. He would be asked for advice on safety aspects as to how the boat should be fitted out
- Operating Fees
- John Kay will shortly open further discussions with the C & RT to agree the amount of any mooring fees and operating fees which will be payable
- We will then be able to set out an accurate budget for the project. The target for starting to trade is now spring 2019
- John Kay has obtained an extension of time with C & RT and the next report will not need to be filed until 1st February 2019.
- Volunteers
- We will shortly wish to recruit a team of about six volunteers to run the catering side of the project
- They will need to achieve certificates in basic hygiene which it may be possible to do online
- Julian Farnell confirmed that his mother was still interested in being involved
- Akzo Nobel Site
- A meeting had been held with Homes England to check that they had all the information which Barry Cropper had assembled about the site
- Cllr Janet Emsley was present at this meeting and the Civic trust was now awaiting an update on the actions which Homes England or its Developer will be required to take.
Any other Business
John Kay informed the meeting that a Draft Allocations Plan issued by the council includes 20 dwellings on the former Gas Works Site at Hare Hill Road. Plans to create a large town centre car park on this land should now be made public and included in the Allocations Plan.
John Kay has written some of the local councillors about this
The public car park at Canal Street should have a time restrain to prevent Manchester Commuters using it for free parking when it may be better used with the Café Boat
Date of Next Meetings
Tuesday 20th November 2018
Tuesday 15th January 2018
Tuesday 19th February 2018
All at Hare Hill House Hare Hill Park Littleborough