FLOODING risks along Giggleswick's Tems Beck prompted concern from residents at the annual parish meeting.

There were fears of flooding and concern over the general state of the beck among the 11 parishioners present. They asked what obligations the owners of land along the beckside had in keeping it tidy, suggesting it should not be their responsibility alone since many were either old or infirm.

The meeting heard there was a need for the riparian owners and others to work together to ensure the beck was maintained in a tidy state, and that it was up to the parish council to give the lead in organising this.

It was felt the general untidiness of the beck and overgrown state of the banks gave the most cause for concern, along with the excessive weed growth and silting in some sections.

Parish Council chairman Coun Ray Jones said the council itself was the riparian owner of the section bordering the Lower Fellings. It had recently retained a local contractor to clear the area, but the work was called off by the Environment Agency's Fisheries Officer. It was hoped work would be resumed in the near future.

Clearing of the bed of the beck would require digging equipment and would have to be done between the spawning seasons.

Parishioners felt a "game-plan" was needed towards which everyone could work, and the council will discuss the issue at a future meeting.

The ongoing problem of the general untidiness of the village and dog fouling were also raised at the meeting.

District councillor Richard Welch said it should be possible to organise volunteer work squads to carry out litter collections and general tidying.

Parishioners felt there was a need for additional waste bins, particularly at the end of Stackhouse Lane and at the junction of Bucks Lane and Tems Street.

One parishioner suggested more signs requesting owners to keep their dogs on a lead might help the situation on the playing fields and also unannounced visits by the dog warden.

Concerns over indiscriminate parking and speeding in the village were also raised.

Church Street and the newly paved area outside the Post Office were described as problem areas due to indiscriminate parking, and the introduction of parking facilities at Giggleswick School's former maintenance yard near the Glebe Field was suggested.

A problem in Bankwell Road near Lords Field, particularly when Giggleswick School games were in progress, was identified and it was suggested the school should be asked to consider designating the open area inside the entrance to Lords Close as a car park.

A parishioner said speeding was a "serious problem" along Bankwell Road and suggested speed "reminder" signs near the entrance to Riversdale Estate. It was also suggested traffic calming near the entrance to Lords Close might cause vehicles to slow down.

Coun Jones explained the council's discussions with Giggleswick School concerning its future development plans. He understood the responses from parishioners were now being studied by the school's agents, but as yet, no planning applications had been submitted.