NEWS ROUND-UP
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Wellesbourne St Peter's Memorial WallThe response from those with relatives interred in the Garden of Remembrance has exceeded our expectations. We now have about fifty inscriptions requested and more people are considering having an inscription for a loved one. There are still some people we have not yet managed to track down who have relatives whose ashes are interred. As soon as we have exhausted our enquiries we will be ready to start the actual brick laying for the wall, followed by the engraving of stone tablets and the fixing of the tablets to the wall. If you have internet access you can follow progress on our web site at www.wellmem.plus.com . Chedham’s Yard Trust achieves charity statusMost people will know by now the exciting news that Chedham's Yard Trust was registered as a charity on 1st February. This event sparked some intense activity. By the time you read this, the lease of the site between the Parish Council and the Trust will have been signed, and the agreement that hands over the contract for funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund from the Parish Council to the Trust. Also, the Trust will sign the contracts for work on the erection of the visitors' centre and the renovation of the old buildings to start. This means that work will start on site later in the Spring with an estimated finish by next winter. But that is not the end of the story. Once the contractors have finished, the process of bringing back all the artefacts and reinstalling them in their original positions will start and there will be work to be done preparing displays and training volunteers for opening to the public. It is expected that full opening will be in Spring 2012 but watch this space for more details. |
Wellesbourne & DistrictWinter is drawing to a close and it is great to see the occasional visit of the ‘Yellow spherical object in the sky’. On 26th January the Lions were pleased to take local pensioners to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Civic Hall in Stratford. It was a special preview performance of the Phoenix Players pantomime. Three minibuses were driven by members and everybody involved seemed to really enjoy the evening. (oh no they didn't – oh yes they did)!! Then on 29th January we hosted a quiz evening at Kineton Village Hall at which cheques were presented to all the charities involved in the Christmas floats. The event was very well attended. Looking forward, on 2nd April, Lions partners are holding a ‘Race Night’ at Barford Village Hall. For more details please contact me on 01789 841939. Before I finish, the Lions would like to pay special tribute to a very special Lion, Roy Darkin, who has recently been presented with a special award for forty years service – the Lions Club International 40 year chevron. Very few people have been presented with this award for serving the community for such a long time. Well done Roy. Lion Andy Stokes |
Parish Council News |
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Probably, this is the biggest decision making meeting of the year. The Parish Council set the budget, and the size of the Council Tax, for the coming year. It was agreed to keep the Council Tax precept to the same figure as last year, indeed now for the last two years, at £200,000. Much the same pattern of services and support to local organisations will be maintained. It is inevitable that pressure will come to contribute to sustain local services, when funding is reduced elsewhere.
Sports Club
The largest item in the budget
is the provision for the development of Community Facilities, including the
Sports Club, and the acquisition of the Village Hall if the opportunity to do
so arises. The Parish Council is taking advice on the best organisational
structure to manage the building in the future.
Cuts, Cuts, Cuts
The reductions in the spending
by the District and County Councils are having an impact. The County Council
is consulting on the reduction in hours of opening at the Library, and days of
opening midweek at the recycling centre. The Police Authority is looking to
reduce the use of buildings, but maintain the community contact as much as
possible. The local police house may be disposed of.
The Parish Council has agreed to work with all public bodies to maintain a base for services in the village, which will mean more collaboration between services.
Future Meetings
The next meeting of the Parish
Council will be on 1st March at the Methodist Hall at 7.30. All are
welcome.
There are no Parish Council Committee Meetings scheduled for March.
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on 15th March at 7.30 at the Hall. We have asked the Police to talk about changes to Policing, and a major topic will be the results of the work of Vision4Wellesbourne in the development of a Parish Plan.
David Johnston, Chair, Wellesbourne Parish Council
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.