North Rode Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 18th March 2026 at The Daintry Hall
Present:-
Councillor Huw Williams, Chairman
Councillor Alastair Bayley
Councillor Jacqui Lea
Councillor Jon Burwood
Councillor Mark Bullock (acting as temporary Clerk)
Councillor Lesley Smetham – Cheshire East Councillor
Members of the Public – Mr Roger Earle
- Apologies for absence –
Councillor Georgina Bailey, Vice Chairman
and Councillor Brian Evans & Brenda Lomas – Clerk - Public Participation
Members of the public were invited to present any comments.
Roger Earle made a presentation outlining his objection to Prior Approval 26/0512/PRIOR-6. - To receive any Declarations of Interest
Councillor Jacqui Lea declared that she related to the applicant for 26/0706/VOC. - To review, approve and sign the minutes of the previous meetings –
held on 5 th February, 2026.
Resolved – Councillors approved the minutes – Proposed by Cllr Bullock and
seconded by Cllr Bayley.
Councillor H. Williams, Chairman signed the minutes - To discuss any matters arising from the minutes of the meetings
None were discussed. - Ladera Lodges, Back Lane, Eaton. Eaton PC have made North Rode PC
aware that foul wastewater from the Ladera development is being removed and
openly discharged into the Eaton mains foul sewer system and that waste is
being burnt on site.
Eaton PC and Cllr Smetham already dealing with the complaint. Cllr Williams to
keep in touch with Eaton PC if issue continues. - Peak Cluster discussion – The Chairman had attended a Gawsworth meeting.
Cllr. Williams to keep in contact with Marton PC and Gawsworth PC and
Gawsworth Protest group to ensure we are aware of actions that might affect
North Rode. - Multi-Parish Ecological Network Mapping Project –
Cllr Williams to review previous Parish Neighbourhood Plan for identified Wildlife Habitats (2011 Parish Plan) and inform Cheshire Wildlife Trust. - Well Dressing event Sunday 30 th August, 2026 –
Cllr Williams to seek road closure for 30 th August, 2026. He will explore the
possibility and cost of a Barn Dance / ceilidh in the evening with caller in The
Daintry Hall or marquee. Costs to be presented at May meeting. Appeal for
volunteers to join Well Dressing group.
Actions: Cllr Williams will create a leaflet when details confirmed. Cllr Bullock to make enquiries re Morris Dancers - Parish Meeting and AGM – 7 th May 2026
Village meeting will include presentations on North Rode PC past actions and
future plans (Cllr Williams), Cheshire & Warrington Devolution (Steve Purdham),
Daintry Hall Project Update (Cllr Bullock) and a Q&A Session.
Next year we should perhaps consider making the Village Meeting a different
date to the AGM. Cheese and wine will be provided funded by the Parish Council.
Action – An invitation via the Parish Newsletter, email and hand delivered flyers. - Planning Applications
26/0706/VOC – Swanley Meadows, Bank Farm, Bank Lane. Cllr Williams noted
that he (along with other neighbours affected) raised a complainant of noise
nuisance in 2025. To their credit the applicants have put measures in place to curb the nuisance. Further monitoring is required, as allowed for in the existing time frame.
Action – The Parish Council to write with an objection to the removal of condition 1.
26/0512/PRIOR-6– Fields off Bank Lane, North Rode. The meeting’s discussion
raised the comment that the applicant has not declared their ownership of adjacent fields closer to the road and the presence of two existing agricultural storage sheds. The neighbour at Sycamore Farm raised the concern as to the openness of the location and visibility across open fields from neighbours together with the lack of privacy through his plantation of trees.
Action – The Parish Council to write an objection to the location of the proposed agricultural building - Highways – the following highways issues were discussed:
Action – Cllr Williams to draft letter to Cllr Smetham to pass to Cheshire East
drainage team with reference to the blocked drain and surface water on Church
Lane.
Action -Cllr Willams to chase up Traffic Survey with Cllr Smetham and Cheshire
East Highways.
Cllr Bullock spoke of the traffic measures used on the blind summit, single track Pearl Bridge in Llanrwst. It features traffic warning lights on the Gwydir Castle side, which flash orange and then red to indicate a vehicle is approaching from the town side, indicating that drivers coming Gwydir Castle direction must stop. Vehicles on the bridge have right of way, with traffic urged to exercise caution.
Action – Cllr Williams to look into this as a solution for the ‘Nip’ on Bank Lane
before the Church to calm traffic and drivers. - Finance
The current balance of the Parish Council is £4,715.23
Councillors approved the following expenditure: –
Clerks Honorarium – £1,000.
Proposed by Cllr Williams seconded by Cllr Burwood.
Hire of Daintry Hall for the PC meeting – £30.
Proposed by Cllr Williams seconded by Cllr Bayley.
Pre-approval of the cheese and wine costs at the Village Meeting on the 7 th
May – £84.99.
Proposed by Cllr Mark Bullock and seconded by Cllr Lea. - To confirm the dates of the next two meetings
Thursday 7 th May 2026 – to include the Parish Meeting and AGM
Thursday 30 th July 2026
The meeting closed at 9.10pm