Many of the local clubs had increased membership as a result of the activities and the Let's Get Active event had been well supported.

An apology had been received from the stage announcer for the bad language he used at the Watstock event. Cllr Pike advised that the organisers were looking to run a single weekend event next year, and would be looking to local groups to run other events around this.

There were no policing incidents during the week and arrangements for clearing up went smoothly after the Watstock evening. A letter of congratulation will be sent to the festival organisers.

action group

Cllr Pike reported on the Community Action Group meeting at Fincham. A new public communications officer has been appointed to give more publicity to these meetings – this one was very poorly attended.

Fifty-six incidents were reported in the whole of the Watlington CAG area in the last two months. No incidents were reported from the 2008 Watlington Festival.

Watlington remains on the CAG priority action list. The priority given to combating the anti-social behaviour on the Martingales Estate has proved successful. It was agreed that members of the public be urged to attend CAG meetings as they benefit the whole community. The next meeting is on Friday, September 26, at Barton Bendish, when a police architectural liaison officer will be present to discuss CCTV.

At the site meeting with the borough planning team, the Internal Drainage Board and Persimmon, the continuing drainage issues, the play areas, road surfacing and footpath bollards were raised.

The meeting had established that the IDB could authorise the necessary culverting works despite Persimmon insisting they did not own the drain.

Cllr Mack will continue to press the planning officers to ensure that Persimmon carry out these works. It was agreed that the clerk would write to the planning officer, copied to Persimmon and the IDB on this matter.

The planning officer had given Persimmon until the end of the month to respond regarding the installation of the new play area and the refurbishment of the Stone Close play area.

The borough council had been requested at the site meeting to consult with the parish council about the play equipment to be installed on these sites.

The clerk reported that the safety audit on the new road layout around the school was still awaited. Highways would be looking at the footpaths coming out of Martingales onto Fairfield Lane to assess the need for bollards.

Also, Cllr Rockcliffe advised that a No Through Road sign is due to be installed at the entrance to Fairfield Lane.