PYMORE VILLAGE MANAGEMENT 
COMPANY LTD 
(PVMC ltd) 

PYMORE VILLAGE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

 

Report from the Company Secretary

April 5th 2016

PVMC BOARD

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Three new directors have joined the board since the last AGM when several long standing board members resigned due to work commitments or moving out of Pymore.

The board is now made up of Steve Wilkinson, who is the current chair, Maggie Cooper, Company Secretary, Peter Williams, Treasurer, Pauline Newitt and Richard Gillingham, both directors. Richard Gillingham has a remit for wildlife and environmental issues.

As always meetings have been held at monthly intervals throughout the 12 months at directors’ homes. The meetings usually run for about 1-2 hours.  Attendance has been excellent with at least 4 directors attending all board meetings.

The directors have focused their efforts on maintaining the village environment to a high standard.

 

DORSET COUNCIL ACTIVITY

 

All lampposts are now in the correct position and the lights are working in most parts of the village. Last week MC had a phone call from John Stainer who liaises between Dorset County Council, Gladedale the developers and PVMC. Apparently all the paperwork is now with the two legal teams ie Gladedale and DCC so it may be that this year the roads are adopted.

 

STRUCTURES AND MAINTENANCE

 

Surface Water Pump

This structure, housed on the left hand side of Threadmill Lane near the village entrance, is responsible for draining water from the leat in times of flood. This is part of the River Brit Flood Defence Scheme. At the 2015 AGM we were in the process of investigating whether this was working effectively.

Following a survey and various visits from Flowco to establish if there was a problem, we have now had a new circuit board installed. It was deemed almost impossible to get parts for what was considered to be an old system. We also asked Flowco to install a warning light which will flash if the pump does not operate properly when the river is high. The pump and its chambers are padlocked for safety reasons and MC has the keys.

Returning this structure to full working order cost in the region of £4.500.

We are currently investigating local companies to find out if they are able to carry out annual maintenance on the pump.

 

Mill Leat

Once again it has been noted that certain households use this watercourse as a rubbish dump. MC has been in touch with Magna and is waiting to hear if they will either clear the rubbish or contribute towards PVMC paying a contractor to do so.

 

River Berm

The level of the berm is about 30cm higher than it should be and this could have an impact on the movement of flood water. The EA are waiting for their 2016-17 funding to be announced and if it is sufficient they will remove the 30cm excess, probably in the autumn of 2016.

 

Environment Agency

The EA carried out a Health and Safety inspection in the spring of 2015 on both their structures and on those belonging to PVMC. This resulted in some work on their part – railings round the penstock valve, above the fish pass and padlocks to the ladder leading to the fish pass. They also made some recommendations to PVMC which were also carried out – No Fishing signs and some railings between the wall of the Mill Block and the footbridge.

 

Signage

As previously there has been much discussion at board meetings about the number of signs in the village.

Some of you will have noticed that we have installed two No Fishing signs along the river bank. The EA, the police and our insurance company recommended this action so that if non-residents and/or those without a valid fishing licence are found to be fishing anywhere between the two bridges and refuse to leave, the police can be called. Both the Brit and the Asker have depleted stocks of common fish, due in part to the activities of groups fishing illegally.

 

Garden Maintenance

Forest and Tree Care still hold the contract for the village maintenance but sadly Dave Paul, our long term gardener, has left the firm. We hope that his replacement will be as efficient. In addition to the routine work carried out, over the past 12 months we have:-

• Pollarded trees in the Courtyard and behind the Stables

• Cleared out the area between 1-3 Morbae Grove, where the previous owner had left a large amount of junk.

• Had the lights in the courtyard repaired several times

• Railings have been touched up and benches and noticeboards revarnished

We have drawn up a work schedule for the gardening team which lists all the jobs which need to be done and how frequently. Both Carl Stoodley, the workers and our selves have a copy.

 

BTD Pension Fund

 

MC has been in touch with BTD the Pension Fund which owns the factory site. Their planning application for the northern part of their site has been extended and is due to expire in August 2017. If this goes ahead it would mean that the industry would move to the northern sector. The pension fund are keen to know what the residents would think about the southern section ( behind Suttil Crescent) being converted to housing.

 

New residents

 

There has been more movement in the housing market recently and about half a dozen properties have changed hands, mainly in the past month or so. Each new resident has received a welcome letter with contact details for all the directors.

 

 

Maggie Cooper

Company Secretary

PVMC

5 April 2016