Present: Mrs Stazicker, Mr Slough, Mr Green, Mrs Woollard, Mr Stacey and the clerk Mrs Shipley. Apologies were received and approved from Mr Smith, district Cllr Daters and county Cllr Bailey. The following planning issues were discussed; full planning pe

Present: Mrs Stazicker, Mr Slough, Mr Green, Mrs Woollard, Mr Stacey and the clerk Mrs Shipley.

Apologies were received and approved from Mr Smith, district Cllr Daters and county Cllr Bailey.

The following planning issues were discussed; full planning permission granted for the construction of new pavilion, car parking and improvement to vehicular access and footpath, Recreation Ground, Witcham Road, Mepal. Full planning permission granted for rear extension to 22 Meadow Way, Mepal.

No update had been received from our community police liaison officer. An on-site meeting has been set up with Cambridgeshire County Council Highways Department to discuss the parking problems in Laurel Close.

A revised schedule and quotation has been received for grass cutting for the 2006 season.

A resolution is passed to accept this in its entirety save the following amendments. Due to a reduction in the grant from Cambridgeshire County Council, there will have to be a number of cuts.

An update from the recreation field working party. The grant from the Hanson Trust for the repairs and repainting of the play equipment has been successful to the value of £3337.00. It is anticipated that this work will be carried out in the late spring. Thanks are extended to Cambridgeshire County Council for the hedge cutting work that they have undertaken in the vicinity of the play equipment. Thanks are extended to Durman and Stearn for moving dirt from the St Mary's development to reinforce the mounds in the vicinity of the gate at Witcham Road. Durman and Stearn also provided chippings around the gate/stile at both ends of the footpath from Brangehill Lane to the Three Pickerels. The clerk has received a complaint regarding the pedestrian entrance at Witcham Road. No proper surface is in place at this entrance which is now very slippery and uneven. There is also a tree root coming through the surface causing a trip hazard. Mr Slough agrees to investigate possible solutions to this problem.

A letter has been received from the celebrations working party proposing how the remaining funds should be spent. A balance of £769.10 remains. The letter proposes that a plaque be placed on the War Memorial detailing its restoration during 2005. A quote has been received from Hibbitt & Sons, who carried out the restoration work, for £339.00. The letter suggests that the remaining balance be equally split between the village hall management committee and Mepal Sports Action Group. All councillors agree and a resolution is passed.

The next meeting of Mepal Parish Council is on April 10 at 19:30 in Mepal Village Hall. All meetings are open to members of the public and those interested in local issues are very welcome to attend.