Long Drax Parish Council Chairs Report 25/ 26

R Turnbull

Another year with consistent membership of the Parish Council, with the new Clerk settling in well. The Audit in May with a new auditor confirmed that finances were in order, but did may some suggestions of improvements in governance. A new Long Drax Parish Council website has been launched this year with some positive comments from others. A Parish Council Whatsapp group has been set up to streamline communications between Councillors. The Parish Council’s bank account has been transferred to an online account with the cheque book as a backup.

Eastern Green Link 2 EGL2 converter station construction has begun in earnest with ground works and piling which could be heard around the village but finished in April. The riverbank flood risk due to failure of the stone walls on Langrick Road has been addressed by the Environment Agency with their contractor BAM putting in additional sheet piles behind the walls. The work despite the noise went quite smoothly with only issue being the designated HGV route needing to be modified with extra signage.

Four industrial planning applications have been reviewed during the year and the Solar Farms on Wade Lane Drax and Helios at Camblesforth gaining planning permission and Camblesforth Solar farm construction starting. All three solar farm cable routes being through Long Drax. Humber Carbon Capture pipeline held an information webinar and public information exhibition giving details of proposed pipe route if project goes ahead as it is on hold at present,

An issue with a residential caravan in a field off Wren Hall Lane was reported to NYC and a contact established. The Caravan has since moved on.

A road sign on Sharphill Lane was damaged by a vehicle, was straightened by the PC, but one on Langrick Road badly damaged has been reported to NYC Hiways. A number of road defects have been reported to Hiways via the Portal and have been repaired.

Drax Power Station has continued to have regular liaison meeting with local PCs and cut the road verges.