MINUTES OF MEETING
FRIENDS OF ORCHARD WALK
11am 30.11.24
5 Orchard Cottages
Present
Will Wilson – Chair
Charles Cotton – Treasurer
Helen Brennan – Secretary
Paul Concannon
Hilary Insall
Nadia Mezzetta
Claudio Mezzetta
Kate Cotton
Agenda
1. Council engagement and status of funds application
2. Proposed mural under the bridge
3. CCTV
4. Embankment/ Fence/fly-tipping – Network Rail Engagement
5. Bank Account
6. Communication Portal
7. AOB
1. Council Engagement and Status of funds application
Will outlined conversations to date with Anne Owen at the council and Paul Young more recently., particularly regarding CCTV and the mural. Our Expression of Interest submission for NCIL funding has been checked and we are now invited to proceed to the next stage of the bidding process. The deadline for this is 28th February and will be dealt with in detail at the next meeting in the new year.
2. Proposed Mural under the bridge.
The group discussed ideas for the mural.
There was general agreement that a historic scene of the railway, the cottages, an orchard, the local cats, would be more relevant than a jungle theme which has been suggested. Mosaic could be considered as a medium although we do not know how this would impact on costs.
Action: Will to feedback to Anne or relevant contact our ideas for the mural and ensure we have everything in place required from us , and find out who needs to sign the contract Anne refers to.
Hilary to provide photos of mosaics doing a similar job.
3. CCTV
We had been advised by Anne Owen that CCTV was costly and highly unlikely to be approved. However the Paul Young email asks us to get in touch with both the council and the Network Rail CCTV contacts. We need to establish who these are.
The group discussed the possibility of installing our own camera to give the impression of active CCTV.
Action: Will to follow up CCTV permissions with council and Network Rail with the council/ Network Rail.
4. The embankment/ fence/ fly- tipping – Network Rail Engagement.
Anne Owen has provided a link to contact Network Rail via their official website.
We are keen to get Network Rail’s engagement in improving the fence to discourage fly-tipping and also cover the wall that has become a useful work- surface for drug- taking.
Action: Helen to contact Network Rail to outline the issues and seek support.
5. Bank Account
Charles has done the groundwork with Metro Bank to set up a bank account for Friends of Orchard Walk. We still need to provide minutes/ constitution in an acceptable format with signatures.
Action: Charles to gather and provide necessary paperwork, signed as required and return to bank.
6. Communication Portal
Paul has worked on a website and portal for sharing information for the group.
Action: Paul will consult with the group to confirm access and editing rights.
7. AOB
We would like to welcome to the group other neighbours who have a genuine interest in the improvement of Orchard Walk.
Action: Will to amend the constitution to clarify membership rights and friends rights. This also is required by Charles to open the bank account.
Hilary spoke about other organisations that help with similar projects such as litter clearing eg Save the World.
Action: Hilary to contact Save the World
There being no further business the meeting was closed.