The Parish Meeting

Cotterstock Parish Meeting is the focal point for receiving planning applications and communicating to Cotterstock residents any local council and community matters arising.

Chair of Parish Meeting: Paul Brooker 

Clerk to Parish Meeting: Diana Hart  

 

LINK to view the Village Design Statement

 

Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday 22nd April 2025 in the Village Hall at 7pm.

1. Present: Mrs E & Mr P Brooker (Chair), Mr C Crosby, Mr P & Mrs M Deans, Mr A & Mrs K Eldridge, Mr R & Mrs S Fitton, Mr G Fitzgerald, Ms D Fox, Mr B Franklin, Mr C & Mrs D Hart (Clerk), Mrs K Kroese, Mr M Mor, Mrs M Rowlett, Mr G Sands, Mrs K Sands, Mr S & Mrs E Ward, Mrs L Whitcombe, Mr J Vowles.

2. Apologies: Mrs G Bennett, Mr I Fry, Mr J & Mrs K Grussing, Mrs S Richardson, Mrs S Rowlett,  Mrs R Somerville-Cotton.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed.  

4. Matters Arising: None.

5. Chairman’s Report: Paul Brooker said that the various communications systems via email, village website (thanks to Elizabeth Ward), Facebook and Instagram are working well, and thanked everyone who had contributed in any way to the success of the village community. 

 Planning applications: 

a)  Felling of 25 trees at Cotterstock Hall. Passed.

b)  Demolition of existing bungalow, replacement with 1.5 storey dwelling and garage/workshop at Ashfield. Passed.

c)  Demolition of bungalow and detached garage, replacement with 2 storey house with integral garage at Gemini. Pending.

d)  Replacement windows at The Mill. Refused.

e)  Tree work in conservation area at The Old Vicarage. Passed.

The VAS data  (thanks to Michele Mor for downloading and analysing) indicated that overall traffic volume is up slightly (about 30 cars more per day) on last year, but the proportion of speeding vehicles remains similar.

There have been 5 serious accidents at the crossroads in the past year.  After our continued lobbying of North Northants Council and repeated requests for a meeting with representatives from Highways Paul Brooker and Diana Hart met an engineer and representatives from NNC on 11th October last year. Our lobbying Ensured that plans were already underway to introduce enhanced safety measures (mini traffic islands, a large warning sign and removal of the 40 mph sign on the approach from the village to the junction) and due to begin in the spring. Work started today!

Graham Fitzgerald raised the matter of potholes on the road to Glapthorn and Paul said that reporting potholes and other road issues to Street Doctor does work.

6. Neighbourhood Watch Report: Paul Deans reported a crime-free year, but he is trying to persuade the Neighbourhood Watch headquarters in Northampton to send him reports of incidents in and around Oundle instead of those in the Thrapston area. He also said that he intends to update our system which after 20 years needs re-vamping.

7. Election of Officers: 

a) Chair:  Paul Brooker - nominated by Paul Deans, seconded by Jake Vowles.

b) Clerk: Diana Hart - nominated by Paul Brooker, seconded by Mavis Rowlett. 

c) Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator: Paul Deans - nominated by Paul Brooker, seconded by Jake Vowles.

d) Parish Representative on the Village Hall Committee: Adrian Eldridge - nominated by Paul Brooker, seconded by Diane Fox.

8. Any Other Business:  

  • Paul Deans raised concerns about the narrow boat still moored on the river bank  in spite of Councillor Wendy Brackenbury saying at this meeting last year that a Section 215 notice was in place and the Enforcing Officer would investigate. Having had no replies to several reminder emails Diana Hart said that she is waiting until after the May local elections, as Cotterstock will then be part of the Oundle area, due to a boundary change. She will then contact the new councillors.

  • Paul Deans said that although the Neighbourhood Policing initiative say that they give priority to road safety concerns he has been unable to get any action from them over HGVs travelling illegally through the village, and no police presence has been forthcoming. Reporting lorry sightings to them does not appear to elicit any response.

The meeting ended at 7:32 pm.