Responsibility
The green around the memorial is the responsibility of the Community council, the area outside the church is the responsibility of the Vale council. This is why different people cut the grass, and why the bollards are different.
Parking
There are issues with parking when there are funerals and children are leaving school each afternoon.
The narrow road is just wide enough for a car to pass a carefully parked car, but usually wheels mount the kerb - hence the relatively recent installation of the bollards.
Parking of wedding cars and hearses is an issue and a church representative has said that they'd like better parking provision. The green area has changed multiple times over the years. Maximising parking would involve using the entire strip in front of the church, but there are safety issues should vehicles be required to reverse either towards the wall, or into the road where small children may be walking. Full consultation is really required.
Here, I propose moving the kerb owned by the Vale council back 0.5 metres to ease parking. The new surface being constructed with grass pavers (pictured) - with the added benefit of drainage. Since the kerbs were introduced in relatively recent years, the water from this area of road runs down to the A48.
A kerb would then protect vehicles from the re-positioned bollards that would protect the unpaved area by the church wall.
The narrow road is just wide enough for a car to pass a carefully parked car, but usually wheels mount the kerb - hence the relatively recent installation of the bollards.
Parking of wedding cars and hearses is an issue and a church representative has said that they'd like better parking provision. The green area has changed multiple times over the years. Maximising parking would involve using the entire strip in front of the church, but there are safety issues should vehicles be required to reverse either towards the wall, or into the road where small children may be walking. Full consultation is really required.
Here, I propose moving the kerb owned by the Vale council back 0.5 metres to ease parking. The new surface being constructed with grass pavers (pictured) - with the added benefit of drainage. Since the kerbs were introduced in relatively recent years, the water from this area of road runs down to the A48.
A kerb would then protect vehicles from the re-positioned bollards that would protect the unpaved area by the church wall.
Whilst this doesn't increase parking provision, it should make parking a little easier, particularly wedding cars, hearses and any larger vehicles with business in the village.
Signage
The council are very keen to keep repainting the white lines on the roads within the village that first appeared in the 1990's. There really should be no need for this signage, and councils have been asked to review signage - such as the unnecessary traffic signal warning sign by the post box that was replaced last year.
Perhaps a triangle of grass pavers to impersonate the grassed areas that used to be at these junctions would look better?. They'd warn of the junction and also provide drainage.
A grassed area in the road (they do have a specific name) can be seen next to Church Row in the image below taken in about 1950.
Perhaps a triangle of grass pavers to impersonate the grassed areas that used to be at these junctions would look better?. They'd warn of the junction and also provide drainage.
A grassed area in the road (they do have a specific name) can be seen next to Church Row in the image below taken in about 1950.
Prior to The Great War and the building of the memorial the layout of the road in front of the church (and by Pwll Sarn Farm) was different.
Creative thinking!
Perhaps something like this could be created to make the road between the two schools in the village more child friendly. We just accept the black top bitumen surface as normal, and the only choice. Creativity changes the environment, changes behaviour and can make streets safer for children.
Each day teachers and their assistants have to walk young children between the two school sites - and some believe that this space is just for their cars to be driven...
Bollards
The Vale council installed white bollards that were gleaming white when first installed. Mould and lichen has darkened them, but they still clash with the oak bollards of the Community Council. The oak bollards are considerably more expensive and prone to rotting - hence the fallen bollards. Roughly, an oak bollard is £60 and a plastic one £15.
The Vale council has said that it will not install oak bollards, or allow the Community Council to install oak bollards on that side of the road. Should the Community Council seek to take over the Vale councils area?
The Vale council has said that it will not install oak bollards, or allow the Community Council to install oak bollards on that side of the road. Should the Community Council seek to take over the Vale councils area?
Bollards are not particularly attractive- and often pretty unattractive to look at. Whether oak, composite/plastic or concrete, they have a negative impact on the environment.
An evergreen hedging, such as the native box, could be grown to replace the bollards. With a growth rate of just 10cm a year, there is little requirement for trimming. A height of 50cm would be sufficient, and a thickness could be anything up to 1 metre.
An evergreen hedging, such as the native box, could be grown to replace the bollards. With a growth rate of just 10cm a year, there is little requirement for trimming. A height of 50cm would be sufficient, and a thickness could be anything up to 1 metre.
The hedging would also provide habitat and interest for wildlife. Short grass is environmentally pretty sterile.
Covering the triangle area with a low hedge, or shrubs would prevent parking, look attractive and be an alternative to the bollards. Plus, a small tree could be added at the centre?
Alternatives to short grass are used elsewhere.
New public bench
Perhaps we should have a new bench on the green facing the memorial and the church?
Daffodils
Many of the daffodils on the verge approaching the village have been destroyed to make way for paving. Should daffodils be planted on the village green?