ALRA AGM 2024

Held on 25^th September, 7.30pm, at Little Stoke Cricket Club (Uttoxeter Road, Stone ST15 8RZ).

Agenda

Chair: Robert Townsend
Secretary: Helen Townsend

1. Welcome, Introductions and Process
2. Co-Chairs' Report
3. Treasurer's Report
4. Proposals for consideration and approval:
   1. To accept the Co-Chairs' and Treasurer's Annual Reports
   2. Election of ALRA Committee officers ‑ Seeking re‑election are: Nigel Holmes, Robert Townsend, Helen Townsend and Lee Mountford
5. Aston Lodge Gardening Volunteers Update
6. Residents Q&A
7. AOB

Co-Chairs' Report

ALRA Activity Since July 2023

• Aston Lodge Residents Association (ALRA), has continued to be a part of, and to represent, the community since the last AGM, held in July 2023.
• The committee has met on 3 occasions, since the last AGM.  The official status of the association is maintained through committee meetings, which are minuted.  Without a valid status, ALRA cannot apply for grants or support, make representations or be properly insured.
• The Blackies Lane planning application case, which was the impetus for ALRA to be formed in 2017, has not been a significant part of activities since the last AGM.  However, we have kept an eye out for any new planning applications for the Grassy Patch.  As we know, an HM Inspector ruled in favour of Fradley Developments, for a development of social housing, but ruled that 50% of the site cannot be built on due to flood risk.

  Any new planning application for social housing, must include an agreement with a Social Housing Provider, to own and manage the built properties.  Fradley has not made a new application and the existing planning application, we believe, has now expired.

• Because of the HM Inspector's ruling, the owner of the green field land adjacent to Lichfield Road and Watson's Scrapyard, has now been granted planning permission, for 21 social housing properties and 5 business premises.  The developer has an agreement with a Social Housing Provider and ground works have now begun, albeit very slowly.  Stafford Borough Council's (SBC) proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) now incorporates a reworded policy, that strengthens its position on the Rural Exception Policy, which should prevent future incorrect use of this policy.
• SBC's proposed LDP, is now being reviewed by the HM Inspectorate.  The Proposed LDP could have a significant impact on Aston Lodge, because it includes a proposal to develop two fields, adjacent to Oakleigh Court, as well as a field adjacent to Little Stoke Cricket Club (LSCC).  The timescale for ratification of the plan is, as yet, unknown, and we don't know at this stage whether the fields will be included as developable land.
• The ALRA website continues to be regularly updated with news items, upcoming events, highways bulletins and Staffordshire Police Smart Alerts, relevant to Aston Lodge residents.
• We have a seat on the Stone Police Liaison Group (SPLG), which is hosted by the Chief Inspector.  The SPLG provides up to date information on crime in Stone, and initiatives to combat it.  ALRA is able to bring forward issues that affect Aston Lodge and has attended two meetings in the past year.
• ALRA continues to summarise useful information, in occasional emails to the residents' email database, which any resident on Aston Lodge is able to subscribe to.
• We organised a very successful Halloween Disco.  It was held on Friday 27^th October 2023, at LSCC, and raised £225 for the Aston Lodge Defibrillator fund (which reached its target soon after).
• The defibrillator was installed in November 2023, with a launch event towards the end of that month.  Thanks to Gemma and Rich Deighton, for promoting and organising the campaign, providing the location for the AED and for the excellent launch event.
• On 8^th December 2023, ALRA held a Christmas quiz at LSCC, where we raised £138, to boost ALRA funds, for the benefit of the community.  This was followed by a very successful Easter quiz, which raised a further £235 for ALRA funds.  Thank you to everyone involved, in making these events happen... in particular, Nigel and Edward Holmes, for providing their time and equipment.
• The Aston Lodge Residents Facebook Group continues to thrive and grow in membership, surpassing 1000 members this year.  The group continues to be friendly and supportive, with residents helping each other, discussing topics and giving away surplus household items.  The group is largely self-monitoring, but there have been occasions, where the administrators have had to remove posts that did not comply with the group rules, and bar some members.

  There was debate over whether the ALRA Facebook group should allow residents to sell items.  This issue has been reviewed and discussed by the committee, and the founder/admin of the group, with the conclusion that members of the group will not be allowed to sell items, for the following the reasons:

  • It would override the more charitable and friendly nature of the group
  • It may attract large numbers of non-residents, to falsely join the group.
  • There are plenty of other sites for selling household items.
  • There may be potential risks to residents, by revealing address details, etc.
  • It would also saturate the group, pushing other more community-based posts further down the page.
• The ALRA gardening volunteers have once again been doing sterling work, over the last year.  The ‘little and often’ approach, with regular, short volunteer sessions, has continued to be a successful model for those involved.  They do great work, whilst also creating a forum for friendship, fresh air and exercise.

  The majority of the pathways on Aston Lodge remain unadopted, and therefore not maintained by the local authorities.  For this reason, the continual work done by the volunteers has been essential.  The committee would like to thank all residents involved, especially the lead volunteers, for their hard work and commitment.

  The wet Spring, and early Summer, caused an unusual amount of grass growth.  This proved too much at times for the volunteers and their domestic tools.  So, we approached SBC's Streetscene team, who subsequently loaned ALRA a heavy-duty, petrol strimmer (on a short-term basis).  This enabled the gardening volunteers to bring things back under control.  Thanks to Streetscene for their ongoing support.

  The volunteers have also been supported by a new arrangement with Blue Frog Gardening Services, who have very kindly offered to help with the removal of large amounts of green waste in tonne sacks.  Discussions are also taking place with Blue Frog, for them to help with maintaining the pyracantha hedges, around the estate in the winter.  This is a tough job, that produces a lot of thorny waste, and without help, we cannot get this task done.  Blue Frog are doing this to help our community, and do not require recompense or sponsored advertising.  Thank you, Blue Frog.

  The result is, that Aston Lodge has tidy and accessible pathways, as well as well-maintained public hedgerows.  All of this is done, whilst trying to support biodiversity, and minimise any harm to flora and fauna.

  The volunteers continue to create dead hedges, to dispose of some green waste.  Dead hedges are tidy and contained piles of waste wood, that create excellent habitat and food sources for insects, mammals and birds.  Some residents have misunderstood the purpose of the dead hedges, and seen fit to dump their own garden waste in theses public areas.  This should be discouraged.

  ALRA funds have been used to supply new tools/gardening supplies, as well as maintain the necessary public liability insurance.

• Volunteers have also been cleaning, tidying and painting the equipment in the teenager's play area.  The work is almost complete.  Thanks to Streetscene for their support, by felling dangerous trees, replacing wooden rails and offering to jet wash the area.

  There has not been any progress with our proposal to explore the possibility, of ALRA taking a lease on the land where the play areas are located.  This might enable ALRA, to then apply for large-scale grants, to refurbish the play areas (at a cost of £70-100k).  This idea will be looked at again in the coming months

• ALRA has successfully applied for a grant of £700, towards getting a park bench installed.  Residents have also kindly donated approximately £150, so a good quality bench can now be ordered and installed (free of charge) by Streetscene.
• Following on from the survey of Aston Lodge residents, and consultation with the residents of Pingle Lane, a detailed document was sent to our County Councillor, Jill Hood, setting out all of the reasons, why the surface of Pingle Lane and the lack of lighting, should be addressed by Staffordshire County Council (SCC).

  Jill took the document to a meeting with relevant officers, at SCC, but it was largely rejected, without discussion or a site visit, on the basis that the road is unadopted.  ALRA has responded, by requesting a site visit, and drawing attention to the hazards and dangers for pedestrians, especially those with mobility issues and school children.  We await a response form Jill Hood, or SCC.

  In the meantime, the surface of Pingle Lane has been scraped and spread with hardcore (presumably by the farmer?), which has made it more even, but it's still somewhat dangerous underfoot, and the lighting issue has not been addressed.  ALRA will chase a response.

• ALRA is a successful organisation, due to the amazing contribution made by volunteers and the residents of Aston Lodge.  We would like to say thank you to everyone, for the many different ways in which they have supported our community.

Robert, Helen, Lee and Nigel
Co-Chairs of Aston Lodge Residents Association

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