ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – ENHANCEMENTS AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE – Wednesday, 3^rd June 2026

 DRAFT

A meeting of the Enhancements and Preservation Committee was held on Wednesday 3^rd June 2026 at Eccleshall Community Centre, after the Planning Committee meeting, at 8.55pm.

  Present were:-

Councillor R. Langford (Chairman)     Councillor G. Dale

Councillor D. Hill                                     Councillor A. Reid

Councillor P. Jones                                Councillor C. Ryan-Bloor

Councillor D. Hall                                   Councillor S. Perren

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public

1).    Apologies:-

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Wilkins and Taylor.

2).    Election of Chairman / Vice Chairman:-

Nominations were requested for Chairman of the Committee. Councillor S. Perren was nominated and re-elected as Chairman for the ensuing year.

Councillor R. Langford was nominated and re-elected as Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

2).    Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 1^st April 2026:-

The minutes, which had previously been noted by the Council, were agreed and signed.

3).   Asset inspections:-

• This year’s inspection sheets have been circulated and any inspections flagging up works have been passed to the handyman for action. Members are asked to submit their inspections as soon as possible so that any refurbishments can be completed in the better weather.

4).   Croxton Play area:

• Inspection Reports:

Previous works identified on the annual report have been completed.

The committee received and reviewed the latest operational report for Croxton play area, completed at the end of May. The area was rated as low risk, with only very minor issues identified. The issues and actions resolved to undertake are:

• Swings – tighten fixings
• Trim trail – to replace a small end cap on a screw

5).   Outdoor Gyms:

• Work Updates:
• The worn buffers on the skier (Jubilee Field) have been replaced.
  • Materials have been delivered to treat and repaint the chest press (Eccleshall Community Centre) and this is in progress.

6).   Beech Road Community Park:

Inspections:

• The following issues from the annual report have been completed:
  • Vertical posts on the trim trail were identified with some interior rot behind the wood knots. Kompan are replacing the affected posts under warranty, and the work is scheduled for the 2^nd
  • Missing bolt end caps have been replaced, with spares supplied free of charge.
• Members received the operational inspection report for consideration. The area was rated as low risk overall, with some issues for consideration:
  • The gate to the Southwell estate needs to swing shut in a designated time frame
  • Some slightly loose fixings were found on the small multiplay unit. It was resolved for the Clerk to ask the handyman to fix both issues.

Garden Project:

• Perren and the Clerk met with members of the Ecclian Society who provided a draft outline for a scheme, consisting of four planters and a suggested selection of plants plus a crab apple tree. The Clerk has passed the proposal to Johnson Hall nursery to obtain a costed planting scheme. Mr Egan from the Ecclian Society is obtaining costs for recycled sleepers and has volunteered to make the planters. Perry’s have agreed to add the area to the Bloom watering rota when completed. It was noted that the planters should be sited immediately adjacent to each other to avoid weeds growing between the planters and to also consider a margin between the planters and grass to avoid strimmer damage.

7).   Elford Heath:

• Members considered the costs for commissioning an arboricultural tree management plan for Elford Heath. It was resolved to recommend approval of the report by Rob Keyzor Tree Surgeons at a cost of £705 plus VAT.
• A complaint has been received regarding the condition of Elford Heath and areas of land at the top of Kerry Lane, to include a lack of strimming around the trees, around and under benches and around the small bridge and car park boundary. A site visit will be undertaken and a meeting with the contractors arranged if required.

8).   Biodiversity Enhancements:

• Updates include:
  • The National Bee Friendly Town application received a Certificate of Merit, and it was agreed to re-enter in 2027.
  • The bluebell bulbs on the Stone Road open space were mowed earlier than arranged, and the Borough Council has offered to supply and plant replacement bulbs in the autumn.
  • Additional ideas for consideration included a no mow area around the edge of the Jubilee Field. Cllr. Langford will ask Dave Cadman for his input to see if this would be worthwhile.
  • The Borough Council has given permission for additional crocus bulb planting on its land adjacent to the Jubilee Field, and the committee resolved to approve this action. Cllr. Langford will obtain costs for the bulbs.
  • The cherry trees on the Jubilee field are doing well and being watered regularly by our handyman.
  • It was agreed to write a letter of thanks to Johnson Hall and Fletchers for their support in the Lavender plant scheme.
  • Wildflowers are growing well on the verge adjacent to the BT box in Croxton, and bird boxes were erected in the Millennium Wood in time for nesting season.
  • There has been no progress on the provision of swift boxes.
  • Reid has organised two bat walks on the 11^th and 12^th Aug in conjunction with Staffordshire bat group. There is a max of around twenty five people per walk and tickets will be available via Eventbrite once a meet up point has been established. Attendees will be asked to donate on the night. Cllr. Reid will provide materials to advertise the event at the Community Showcase. It was resolved to approve a donation of £100 to the Bat group towards their time and the work undertaken in the area.
  • Gosling will be undertaking a bee and butterfly survey at Walton Hall Academy.
  • Future projects for 2027 include:
    • Biodiversity Trail (as seen in Knutsford), highlighting key pollinator areas.
    • A seed swap project, with the library to function as a base for the swap. Cllr. Langford will contact Cllr. Taylor to discuss. It was suggested that a suitable storage box be provided to hold the seeds. Seed packets could be provided to create an easy to navigate ‘seed library’ box.
    • Bee friendly art project, or equivalent. An example art project is currently on display at Stafford Railway Station.
  • Langford will make some bee badges for councillors attending the Community Showcase, to highlight the activities and promote discussion.
  • It was agreed for the biodiversity group to use the Washpits BT box to display materials advertising their activities and potentially consider for a seed swap location.

9).   Other Planting:

• The replacement columnar Cherry Tree for the Stone Road been purchased. Arrangements are in place for G.Tec to collect and plant the tree, and it will be watered regularly until well established.
• The commemorative plaque for the Japanese Cherry Trees on the Jubilee Field has been installed.

12).  Lengthsman Scheme

Works have been completed in Croxton, to include vegetation cutting back and sign cleaning. Vegetation clearance around milestones along the B5026 has also been completed. General tidying work has also been undertaken in Eccleshall, and the contractor has identified further areas to include cutting back of vegetation around Newport Road signage.

Some general issues of overgrowth were reported outside the scope of this work:

• Tree overhanging the pavement on the corner of Linacre Road.
• Overgrown hedge on Stafford Road that is forcing vehicles to cross the central point of the road (agreed to report to highways, Cllr. Hill to endeavour to get photo evidence of impact to vehicles if possible).
• Overgrown hedge on Linacre Road (address to be obtained to write to resident).
• Grounds maintenance required on Sancerre Grange roundabout to remove tree seedlings (Clerk to report to Highways).

13). Correspondence:

• There was no correspondence to receive.

14).  Items for next meeting:-

Any items for consideration to be sent to the Clerk.

It was noted that the east face of the Pillar Clock is running ten minutes slow. As this was recently repaired, the Clerk will submit a request for a warranty repair, and report back.

The blue litter bin by the library has been cleared of stickers.

15).  Date of Next Meeting:-

August 12^th 2026, following the Planning Committee meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.30pm.