Continued from front page....
- Planning consent for change of use would be required and an application was in draft.
- The amount applied for as a grant was £25,000. The PCC would supplement this as necessary and had set aside funding for the lych-gate.
- The pathways side of the project would take six weeks. Work on trees might take longer because seasonal factors were involved; the wildflower garden would take some years to establish fully.
- No gravestones would be removed but the curbs of one grave would be.
- The depth of the hardcore beneath the main path would be no more than two feet and graves were all supposedly below six foot. An archaeologist would, however, be on hand in case any unknown grave was disturbed and there was a recognised procedure for reburial in such instances.
- Drainage would be taken care of by sufficient camber to ensure water would soak away into the surrounding ground. There was also a soakaway immediately above the Lych Gate.
- Vehicular access to the west door of the church would be limited to the disabled and to hearses. Posts restricting access, as at present, would continue to be used and the need for adequate signage was recognized
- Alternate access along Church Walk was not possible because of the blind corner with Lady Street and access from any point further along Lady Street would cause much greater disruption and require the removal of both gravestones and trees.
- When comments were invited on the proposals, the criticism was made by Mrs Sinclair that the scheme seemed already to be a fait accompli. Mr Nelder explained that public consultation without specific proposals would be pointless and it had been necessary to have discussion with the planners and the Lottery to ensure that what was proposed could be undertaken and could be funded. He gave an assurance that nothing had been finally decided. Both Council and Church wanted to hear the views of the Town. When a planning application was formally submitted there would be a further opportunity to make representations.
- Others complained that they had only heard about the proposals in the last few days. There was need for much wider discussion. On the suggestion of Mrs Sandiford it was agreed that the line of the proposed widened path and the line of the proposed gentle path be set on the ground with tape so that people could get a better impression of what was planned.
- Mr Stanbury and others expressed concern about the potential increase in traffic in the already overcrowded Bank Square if it was generally thought that parking was available in the churchyard. It was also felt that insufficient thought had been given to the control of vehicles allowed up to the west door because there would only be room for one vehicle to turn or park.
- Mr Gammon spoke strongly against the proposal, which he thought would spoil the churchyard, where his mother and other relatives were buried, and would spoil the town. Mrs Gunn and others spoke in favour of the proposals. Statements in favour had also been sent to the Chairman by Mr and Mrs Wyatt and Ms Bean, who had been unable to be present.
The construction of the road and footpath would result in the demolition of only one tree, namely the box to the left of the lych-gate. There would, however, be demolition of some other diseased trees, in the interests of health and safety, as part of the overall scheme
John Smith, Chairman.