Minutes
Ordinary
9th February 2021

Eskdale Parish Council

Meeting 9 February 2021

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE OPEN MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FRED WHITTON CHALLENGE ON TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2021 COMMENCING AT 7.00PM

EPC/MINUTES/9/2/2021
19

Present: Parish Council: Cllr A Vicars (Chair), Cllr R Brown, Cllr D Porter, Cllr C Carlin and Cllr J Harrington
Fred Whitton Challenge: Josh O’Boyle, Stuart Ross, Carl Ballantyne Stephen Sim
Representatives from local business

Apologies, Cllr M Shaftesley, Cllr I Kirby, Cllr L Hunt

1. Cllr Vicars welcomed participants to the meeting and briefly outlined the Agenda for the meeting

2. Mr O’Boyle, on behalf of the Fred Whitton Challenge, then made the following statements:-

• Event planned for 9 May 2021 starting between 6-8am arriving at Eskdale at approx. 10.30am until 4-5pm. The route is 113 miles.
• The road from Hardknott pass over to Wrynose pass and on to the Blea Tarn junction will be closed to protect the public by diverting traffic away from the riders.
• It is still not clear if the event will go ahead on the 9 th, depending on current Covid-19 restrictions. In consultation with CCC/Police/LDNP and emergency services and date would be moved if it cannot happen on 9 May. PC would be informed of any change of date.
• No changes to event/distance/timings etc planned. Road closure would be lifted as soon as last rider goes through. Residents and access to businesses would be maintained, but traffic would be slowed down.
• An additional 10 extra volunteers/marshals to be deployed to Boot.
• Mr O’B asked if the date clashed with any other planned event in the area.
• Single file keep left signage for cyclists and an additional sign to be placed at the King George indicating that businesses up the valley are open and accessible.
• Did the PC require any additional signage? None identified.
• There was a no litter policy for the event cyclists, public toilet signs to be displayed for cyclists before entering Eskdale valley.
• Cut off times for cyclists reduced and slower cyclists will be removed earlier from the event – potentially the road closure could be lifted earlier than planned.

3. Mr O’Boyle identified the Benefits of the challenge to the Community:-

• On event day a push to get more visitors/spectators to Eskdale
• Launching a new interactive app in the coming months so that the event route could be undertaken at any time of the year and which could be completed over a number of days. This should encourage people to stay over locally. Linked with it would be details on accommodations, places to visit etc within the area.

EPC/MINUTES/9/2/2021
20

4. Defibrillator for the Valley

9 Defibs and housings have been purchased by the Fred Witton team for installation along the route, the PC are to provide a location for the one allocated for the Eskdale valley -suggested location The West Lakes Outdoor Centre. FW to resend forms to PC – PC to agree location, complete forms and return to FW

5. Questions/comments from attendees

Paddington Burger – Woolpack Inn – the road closure = significant lost business on that day. People plan not to come to the area on the day of the event. Visitors stop at King George when they see the road closed sign.

9 May ok and doesn’t clash with another event.

Advanced road closure signs/access are seen as road closure and impact on business prior to the event.

Volunteers and spectators block the road and give the impression that the road is closed, thereby deterring visitors from coming up the valley.

It has been known for stewards to tell visitors/customers that the road is closed and there is no access. Training should be increased for stewards re this.

Steve Ashall – West Lakes Adventures – reported problems of graffiti on Hard Knott, littering, gel sachets, anti-social behaviour and riders tailgating drivers.

How can Covid-19 risk be mitigated on race day with the additional number of spectators, marshals, riders who pass through the valley?

The event is an inconvenience to locals and local businesses – direct financial impact on businesses on that day. Would like to see compensation for loss of business earnings?

We don’t take adventure bookings on that date. Main concern is the financial impact on small business

FW response: understand financial loss, hopeful that the new app would generate future income, difficult to quantify at the moment, but hopeful that will be able to track start point/stop over for Eskdale valley. This is a charity event and except for running costs all monies raised go to charities. Happy for ideas that FW could promote/suggest/collaborate.

Sarah Thornley-Ellis – Brookhouse – could the start of the event be rotated around the circuit so that road closure disruption could be distributed around the course? Signage does put people off from coming into and up the valley.

Stuart Ross – Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – Race day is a massive inconvenience exacerbated by the reckless riding. What steps to be put in place to make the event Covid safe?

FW response – Covid precautions will be in place at start/finish and feed zones. Not sure what Government restrictions will be in place in May, but event to be signed off by British Cycling. A management plan is in place and, for example, we will have a limit on the number of riders and supporters at start/finish venue. Will liaise with PC’s should date need to be moved.

The FW race risk assessment must consider the increased traffic/visitor flow in Eskdale after 1st lockdown came to an end – we may have the same overcrowding problem in May!

EPC/MINUTES/9/2/2021
21

Peter Sim – Sims coaches – In recent years his vehicles have been stopped at King George and told the road is closed, there have been instances of aggressive cyclists to coach drivers. He has no alternative but to keep coaches out of the valley on day of event as it is too dangerous to mix buses and cyclists. In the weeks building up to the event a large number of cyclists come through the valley practising the route – the new app could exacerbate the problem. Not sure how you could ever produce a risk assessment for these roads?

FW – new app spread it over year, better for business.

Laura Harrison – farmer – Disruptive to our business, litter is a hazard for animals, cyclists need some training – gel packs thrown into fields, using fields and gateways as toilets and not just on the day – not acceptable – will the app make this worse? Stewards do prevent traffic accessing the valley. Cyclists practising don’t close gates letting livestock off fells onto road eg Hardknott cattle grid.

FW response – toilets in Eskdale Green will be signposted – riders briefed to use them. app would be available on all 4 seasons, will raise gate opening problems with CCC highways

6. Cllr Vicars summarised the points raised and the need for the FW and PC to work together to improve and include affected businesses.

7. Businesses to contact clerk with suggestions on improvements.

8. The Chair thanked the Fred Whitton representatives for attending the meeting

EPC/MINUTES/9/2/2021
22

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE VIRTUAL PLANNING MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS ON TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2021 COMMENCING AT 8.00PM

Present: Cllr A Vicars (Chair), Cllr R Brown, Cllr D Porter, Cllr C Carlin and Cllr J Harrington

101/20 Apologies, Cllr M Shaftesley, Cllr I Kirby, Cllr L Hunt

102/20 Co-option of Councillor: It was proposed by Cllr Brown and Seconded by Cllr Harrington and RESOLVED that Mr T Postlethwaite be co-opted on as a member of the council. The Clerk to contact Mr Postlethwaite.

103/20 Exclusion of Press and Public
None

104/20 Declarations of Interest
None

105/20 Applications for Development

105/20.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

7/2021/4006 Fisherground Camp Site, Eskdale
Proposed siting of 7 camping pods.
The Council resolved to support the application but ask that the LDNP look at the aggregation of individual applications and their net impact on Eskdale Valley

105/20.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.
None

105/20.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications:

7/2020/4103 Forge Farm, Eskdale
Retention of repair of storm damage to haybarn roof, guttering and replace rotten bathroom window (Listed Building Consent application)
Approved

7/2020/4101 Forge Farm Cottage, Eskdale
Replace roof and windows
Refused – Grade 2 listed building

105/20.4 Supplementary Housing provision – LDNP consultation
Concerns raised – not looked at holiday home provision, employment criteria for local occupancy proposed to change to 16 hrs per week. Cllr Carlin to summarise response and circulate.

106/20 Councillor Matters

EPC/MINUTES/9/2/2021
23

• Cllr Carlin requested that a discussion on a housing need survey be placed on the next agenda
• Cllr Harrington requested that the Fred Whitton challenge be placed on the next agenda

107/20 Date of Next Meeting
The next full meeting of the Parish Council to be held virtually on 9 March 2021 commencing at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 20.38