NEW COUNCILLOR
Gordon McGlone was co-opted as a new Councillor at the October meeting. A relatively new resident, Gordon has been involved in a variety of community based activities in the past in other areas. It is hoped that the remaining vacancy will be filled at the January meeting.
LITTER PICK
A further Litterpick took place on Sunday 10th November with 10 bags of rubbish collected. Many thanks to all who participated.
SEPTIC TANKS
The government has updated regulations with relation to septic tanks. Further information is available on https://www.gov.uk/permits-you-need-for-septic-tanks. Further useful information is available here.
VILLAGE MAP
A detailed map of Gateforth Parish has been put up in the bus shelter. This identifies individual properties and aims to make it easier for visitors and people making deliveries to find you.
WELCOME TO GATEFORTH
The Parish Council has produced a leaflet providing information about Gateforth and its local services, primarily aimed at new residents. It is available to download here.
SPEEDING
The Parish Council have submitted requests for the speed limit in the Village to be reduced to 30 mph. However this can only be formally be reviewed every 3 years, with the next opportunity in 2020. To support a case at this point information about problems caused by speeding would be useful. Any accidents or near misses should be reported to the Police using the 101 phone number.
Mushroom Farm site
The Council has received a progress update with regard to the development on the former Mushroom Farm site.
Work has started at "Gateforth Park", which has involved the erection of perimeter fencing and hoarding to make what is now a construction site compliant with Health and Safety. Within the site remediation and clearing is now ongoing. Contractors will be taking up the large concrete pad to the North of the site in early September and are aiming to have demolition, remediation and site clearance finished before Christmas. You can also keep up to date with progress by going to www.gateforthpark.co.uk and selecting the 'Blog' option.
Viner Station, Birkin
The retrospective planning application for a Biomass plant at the above site has been refused. Selby DC have issued an enforcement notice, but this has been appealed by the operator.
Defibrillator
The Parish Council have acquired a Community Defibrillator which has been installed in Bus Shelter. In the case of an emergency please phone 999 when, in appropriate circumstances, the operator will provide the access number and talk you through its use. Any parishioner who is interested in helping to manage this facility please contact the Clerk.
Footpaths
There is a good network of public footpaths in the Parish which provide off road routes to neighbouring villages including Hambleton, Birkin and Haddlesey. These are shown on this OS Plan. They also provide routes to the Canal towpath. The best way to protect these routes is to ensure that they are regularly walked. Any problems should be reported to North Yorkshire County Council.