Work starts at Chedham’s Yard

At long last, after 5 years of planning, work is about to start on the restoration of Chedham’s Yard. A final archaeological investigation is already underway and on May 3rd, the main contractors, Croft Building and Conservation Limited, will move in and start setting up their site compound and a temporary access road. They plan to be on site for 21 weeks. On May 16th, Border Oak Design and Construction Limited will commence work on erecting the new timber-framed building to provide the visitor centre at the far end of the site. Their contract is for 16 weeks. Chedham’s Yard Trust are receiving funding for the works from grants from BBC Restoration and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Once the contractors have finished, then work can start on landscaping the grounds, creating displays and returning the artefacts. All being well, we plan to start opening the site to the public in Spring 2012.

Please note:
Chedham’s Yard Trust now has an office upstairs in the Parish Council offices with thanks to the Parish Council for its generosity in allowing the Trust to be housed there for the next year. The new telephone number is 01789 842770 and the new email addresses are linda@chedhamsyard.org.uk for Linda Dane or emma@chedhamsyard.org.uk for Emma Banks.


If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

WALTON NEWS

8th April and it could be summer – unbroken sunshine all day, not a breath of wind, the sound of the lawnmower and the smell of cut grass, and yet all the freshness of spring, with spectacular clouds of blossom everywhere and the lime trees along the Jubilee Drive already showing the delicate green of the new season's leaves. It's a late Easter and the daffodils and narcissi are more or less over so we shall have to think of something else when it comes to decorating the church. It was hard enough to find blooms to enter in the Spring Show and everyone at the prize giving was comparing notes about the precious shrubs they have lost thanks to the freezing temperatures in December: it seems that many soups and stews will have to be cooked without the flavour of a bay leaf this year. All the same there is plenty of new growth even if the jackdaws decided to make a meal of two rows of broad beans that had just come through in the kitchen garden, and the pigeons are eyeing up any other green stuff that hasn't been netted. There has been a mass migration of ducks from the lake seeking nesting places elsewhere and some tulips in a trough at the Old Rectory have suffered thanks to one of them deciding to lay her eggs there and sit on them. Maybe there will be a crop of ducklings to make up for the tulips!

The two wedding couples who were married this week-end were blessed with the fine weather and we hope that many others will have the same good fortune. We also pray for a warm day on 12th June for this year's Music for a Summer's Afternoon in the Church by the Coten Ensemble and Singers. Last year it turned a bit cool after tea and we were glad to go back to the church for the Sung Evensong that makes such a satisfying ending to the occasion. One thing is certain – the music is well worth hearing, whatever the weather, so please note the date in your diary.

EH 

St Peter’s Youth Bus

We need an additional driver for the bus. If you would like to be on a rota for driving the bus on Monday nights, please contact Revd Kate Mier for more information. You don’t need a special licence, but you do need to put in 10 hours practise.

Parish Council News

 Parish Tree Logo

NEWBOLD BROOK FLOODS
The work to reduce the risk of flooding from the Newbold Brook is being carried out. The capacity of the brook has been increased by 400 per cent. Some clearance work has still to be done from Newbold Road, and work on the culvert upstream is still to be approved by the Environment Agency.

BURIAL GROUND
The extension to the Churchyard is almost complete with seeding in place. It will be opened in September.

CUTS, CUTS, CUTS
The Parish Council continues to protect Wellesbourne and Walton from the effects of service reductions by both the County and District Councils. Changes to services are expected in Library opening hours, days of opening the Household Waste Recycling Centre, and to some bus services. There are likely to be more significant reductions in the Youth Service provision and to the number of police staff in the local Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Details of the consultation arrangements are on the Parish Council’s website.

FUTURE MEETINGS
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 3rd May at the Methodist Hall at 7.30. All are welcome.

Parish Council Committee Meetings scheduled for May are:
May 17th Amenities Committee 7.30 Parish Office
May 24th Finance and Administration 7.30 Parish Office.

Annual Parish Meeting
15th March 2011

More than 50 people attended the Annual Parish Meeting in St Peter’s Church. The main item on the Agenda was the presentation of the Draft Parish plan by the Parish Plan team.

Adrian Wickers led the discussion and talked through the process the team had undertaken and the outcomes reached. The fourth draft of the plan will go on the website and is being submitted to Stratford District council for approval.

Before that Inspector Pat Devereux described the changes to the staffing of the local Police Safer Neighbourhood Team. PC Chris Cuthbertson will be remaining with the local team, with two of the current PCSO’s. Other members of the team will be moving to other posts in Warwickshire Police, so all those involved with the team were thanked and given best wishes for the future.

I presented a report on behalf of the Parish Council. There are two key challenges for the future.

LOCALISM
The Government promises greater powers to Local Councils, including a General Power of Competence, which may give Councils greater freedom to act on behalf of communities.

SUSTAINING SERVICES IN THE FUTURE
The changes in the pattern of public services emerging over the coming months will mean that there will be an increasing opportunity for volunteers to take forward all sorts of initiatives. Whether it is operating a traffic speed camera, acting as a snow warden, helping in the Library, supporting youth activity, or assisting at Chedham’s Yard, all sorts of opportunities will emerge. Many of these require selection and support processes, and insurance cover. Though it is not clear how these will develop and will be organised, we will try and capture as much information as possible at the Parish Council, in the office or on the website.

THANKS
Could I thank all the members of the Council who have worked hard during the year, and have supported me? Support does not necessarily mean agreement. Constructive challenge at the right time and place is also vital, so thanks for that.

David Johnston, Chair, Wellesbourne Parish Council

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