- Version
- Download 0
- File Size 4.00 KB
- File Count 1
- Create Date 8 October 2025
- Last Updated 8 October 2025
BRIDGEGATE EAST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (BERA) Minutes of Executive Meeting. Wednesday 24th September 2025 at The Recorder House
In attendance
Bill Grady (Chair), Jim Parrish, Fiona Rushforth, Anne Grady, David Flood , Adrian Rushforth, Helen Foden, Paul Kimpton (representing Friends of the Drill Hall Gardens)
Apologies
None
Drill Hall Gardens
We are awaiting the decision from the Council re funding. This should happen in October. On top of whatever they give to the project (if anything) we have £6700 donated to date. There are also other funding applications being processed, including one by Katrina Kerr.
It was agreed that the uneven paving and the brickwork around the tree are safety issues and should be repaired by the Council. It is important to find out what the Council will do before we start investigating other contractors.
Helen stressed that she could not carry on being involved to the same level as she is at the moment. It was agreed that once the project work starts we need a project manager and then someone to organise and manage the week by week maintenance of the Gardens by volunteers.
Adrian agreed to investigate the costs of Public Liability Insurance to cover anyone working on the Gardens. They would need to be a BERA member or become an associate to be covered.
It was noted that the Council have put up a Public Space Protection Order on the site, which is a positive support.
Other suggestions to be investigated are Men in Sheds and any construction or horticulture students from the College.
Bill to contact the college and Katrina Kerr to see if she can find out what the Council are prepared to undertake.
Early Morning Refuse Collections
This is again a problem in and around Volunteer Street. David reported disturbances from refuse wagons early in the morning. Fiona has also received an email from a BERA member living in Volunteer Street reporting bottle collections as early as 5am and reversing beeps of wagons. The businesses involved are Legat Owen, Artezzan, Six one Six and Opera.
As there is a CRAG meeting on the 25th, it was decided that David would bring this matter up at their meeting to see if CRAG would be prepared to take up the issue as it was felt this would carry more weight than either BERA or David following it up.
In the meantime, Fiona will ask Josie to keep a diary of the disruption as well as recording the noise levels.
Note: the response from CRAG has just been received and they advocate a “top down” approach, bring together businesses, residents, waste collection companies ad relevant council staff to work out a joint solution. Mike Hogg (Chairman CRAG) is to bring the matter up at a meeting with the BID Chair and CEO on the 10th October.
As this is not an immediate solution, BERA is prepared to do what it can to resolve the issue by talking to relevant businesses.
Cheshire Records Office and Quicks
Adrian reported that Katrina Kerr has said there are 4 interested parties in buying the Quicks site. The Records Office is also up for sale. It was decided to keep a close eye on these projects to see what the proposed developments will be
Webbers Casino Slot
Katrina Kerr is trying to stop this application from being passed. Bill has also written an objection on behalf of BERA
Bank Account and Signatories
Bill is still having problems accessing the application forms to add signatories. Jim and Adrian have both agreed to this role and Bill will send out application forms to them when he receives them.
The following resolution is a requirement for adding signatures:
It was resolved that:
The authorised signatures in the current mandate, for the accounts detailed in section 1.3 be changed in accordance with section Authorised signatories.
And the current mandate will continue as amended.
6 Albion Place
The new planning application for replacement windows only concerns the rear windows. It was felt that it would have been better replacing them with a 3 pane window as at present, but nobody felt strongly enough that we should object to the application
Any Other Business
- Adrian asked if we would have the annual carol singing in the Albion. It was agreed that this was a good idea. David to ask Christina for suitable dates
- Paul raised the issue of pigeon poo around the Quicks building. As well as being unsightly, it also carries the risk of transmitting the avian flu virus, H5N1. Fiona to email Katrina over this issue
- Paul expressed an interest in joining the exec and was co-opted on as per the Constitution
Date of next Meeting
TBC but shortly after the Council decision on the Drill Hall Gardens is received