 |
BRAYFORD
A
rural parish in North Devon, England
including Brayford village, High Bray
and Charles,
and
a part of Exmoor National Park
|
|
|
|
Archive
|
|
|
From the December 2004
Newsletter:
|
|
Parish
Council News
Affordable Housing
Following the November meeting, and recognising the continued concerns
of may parishioners, the Parish Council feel it appropriate to re-affirm the
action taken to date in order that you are aware of the situation:
1. The 1998 Village Appraisal recognised a need for Affordable Housing
2. 2001, the Parish Council re-affirmed its 5 year priority plan and
highlighted Affordable Housing as a main objective, posted in Minutes on the
notice board.
3. January 2002, Chair Brian Symons asked through Parish Council
minutes and Newsletters for parishioners to advise on suitable sites. There
was no response.
4. 2003 proposal and need survey by housing enabler, Trudy Robinson,
reaffirmed this need
5. 2004, The Parish Council have adhered strictly to advice and
guidelines laid down by statutory bodies involved in this process. All
procedures have been adhered to.
The Parish Council has listened to the points made by parishioners, but the
original need was identified and then re-affirmed five years on to ensure it
was still the case, we are, therefore, acting in the public interest.
Although North Devon District Council ruled out highlighted sites, on
visiting Brayford with a view to suggesting sites they felt appropriate at
our request, they themselves re-identified the same sites as possible, and
in particular the Little Bray Lane site. All Parish Councillors with a
personal interest have declared this and attended a meeting with the
independent monitoring body of the council. They found that the Parish
Council have acted correctly and in the appropriate manner. Finally, the
time to voice any objections will be when the NDDC post any planning
application for development. Although the Parish Council have input into
this process, we are not empowered with regard to the final outcome, and
therefore, parishioners must channel any concerns to the NDDC.
Public Participation at Parish Meetings
The Parish Council welcome and like to see parishioners at our monthly
meetings. It is your opportunity to have your say and express any or all
concerns you have relating to our Parish. However, in accordance with
meeting guidelines as laid down by the DAPC, we are only able to allocate
within a meeting agenda fifteen minutes for public participation. Outside of
this time, we are unable to open the meeting up further to public comment or
contribution. We realise this can be frustrating and bureaucratic, but it is
how we have to run the meeting. Please do not allow this to deter you from
following up afterwards with an appointed councillor or attending the next
meeting to pass comment. We value your opinions, views, concerns or
issues. We are there to serve you, so do not feel that we are not open to
approach.
Exmoor Ranger
Ione Wilcock, Exmoor Ranger, attended
the October meeting to talk about her work. Ione works in 14 parishes in
North Devon and is particularly concerned with paths, routes, rights of way,
stiles, bridges and signage. She also works with primary schools, including
Brayford, talking about flora and fauna of Exmoor and conservation, taking
the children out at least once a year. Questions were asked and answered and
Ione left a variety of leaflets.
Parish Paths
If you would like to help us assess the impact of the parish path
project by giving up some time to walk the pathways, please contact the
Parish Council.
Parish Lengthsman
If you are aware of any jobs that need doing around the parish with
regard to clearing drains, road repairs or trimming of hedges, then please
contact the Parish Council.
Projects Update
Work on The Pound commenced in October and is proceeding well. The land
by the bridge will be levelled when the weather is suitable and then
planting can commence.
Green Sweep
The Parish Council would welcome feedback on the recent introduction of
black wheelie bins and the perceived advantage/disadvantage of this with
green bins to follow. Would everyone please note that cardboard should not
be left around the Recycling Shed. This applies to any items that are
unsuitable for the Shed. These should be taken to a suitable waste
management site in town. The potential loss of our Recycling Shed will have
an impact.
North Devon District Council
District Council are setting up a number of enforcement surgeries in
2005 relating to planning issues and similar queries. These will be
bi-monthly and held on the following dates:
South Molton 1.3.2005 Council Hall
Barnstaple 3.5.2005 Civic Centre
South Molton 6.7.2005 Council Hall
Request for Grants
Please note that all bodies applying to the Parish Council for grants must
submit a copy of their accounts. Without these, we are unable to action a
request.
Vacancies for Parish Councillors
It is with great regret that we have received two resignations. Fiona
Tyson has served on the Council with integrity and dedication for ten years
and will be greatly missed. Amongst her many accomplishments during her term
of office is the upgrading and re-establishment of the Parish Footpaths and
the new gates and signs which involved many hours of work along with Geoff
Collier. This has resulted in a valuable network of walks through our local
countryside that are available to all. Also, and probably most memorable,
was her organisation and co-ordination of the Queen’s Jubilee Celebration
Day in 2002; the day’s events in the village were enjoyed by all who
attended and showed clearly how we, as a community, can come together. If
one can retire from office with a complement to their contribution, then
this will surely be Fiona’s and we all wish her, Richard and James our
very best and sincere thanks. Although Pat Folkes has only had a short term
if office, she has made a valuable contribution to Council business and has
helped as neighbourhood watch co-ordinator. We wish her and Rosemary well in
their new venture and offer our thanks on behalf of us all for her time and
support.
Fiona’s vacancy has been advertised but with no response to date, so this
position will now be considered on a co-opted basis. Pat’s vacancy will,
in accordance with procedure, be advertised shortly and posters put up. If
anyone is interested, please reply to Margaret Hartnoll or Bryan Symons. To
apply, you must have lived in the Parish for twelve months, be over 21 and
prepared to declare all interest where appropriate.
IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH YOUR PARISH COUNCIL, FEEL YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO
OFFER OR WANT TO HELP MOVE THE PARISH FORWARD, THEN APPLY TO BECOME A PARISH
COUNCILLOR. WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES, SO DON’T SIT ON THE SIDELINE, MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR ALL.
|
|
Gardening
Club
David Hopkins came to the rescue at our November meeting and spoke, with
his usual enthusiasm and knowledge, on Clematis.
At the December meeting, Brenda Davison will be demonstrating lovely
Christmas flower arrangements, which will be raffled, and we will be
producing supper! Tickets are £3 and the date is Wednesday, 15th
December, at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. You do not have to be a member
of the Gardening Club to come, everyone is welcome.
The 2005 programme includes talks on Ponds and Water Features,
Roses, Bees, and visits to Hartland Abbey and Brenda Davison’s
garden. Full 2005 Programme
|
|
Charles Bring and Share Party
The Charles Parish – Bring and Share – Party will be held on Friday,
10th December, at Church House, from 7.30pm.
All are welcome.
|
|
Dance The Night Away
Come and dance or listen to super band "COVER’D" from 9pm to
1am on Friday, 4th February at the Village Hall.
Promises of draw prizes or food gratefully accepted. Tickets are £6
including buffet and all proceeds go towards North Devon Hospice. Tickets
will be on sale after Christmas.
|
High Bray & Charles Church
The Community Harvest was a great success
and a good social evening, which also raised £235 for Christian Aid Funds.
Candle lit Carols on Christmas Eve is, for lots of us, the minute of calm
when Christmas begins. Please bring your own candle and holder at 6.30pm
on the 24th December. There will be a Christmas Day Holy
Communion service at Charles Church at 9am, and the School Nativity on 14th
December at 6.30pm at High Bray. There is a
Cards at Home evening at Fullacott on Thursday, 16th December
at 7.30pm. A warm welcome is assured
|
Methodist
Church
Our Carol Service will be at 6.30pm on
December 19th with mince pies and coffee after. The Christmas
Morning service will be at 11am. On Old Christmas Day, 6th
January, at 7.30pm, the Harmony Choir will be coming to
sing. We hope many people will come and join us to celebrate these events.
Our normal services are at 11am and 6.30pm every Sunday.
|
Christmas Carol Service
This year’s service will be held in the Nook on Tuesday, 21st
December at 7.00pm. There will be a musical
accompaniment for the hymns and also mince pies and mulled wine. The
Parish Council are collecting during the service for North Devon Hospice in
recognition of loved ones and friends who have been lost to us during the past
twelve months. We hope you can join us.
|
Brayford Boomerangs
The Boomerangs children are
holding their Christmas Play on 16th December and everyone
is welcome. There will be an admission fee of £1 to include a cup of
tea/coffee. Some of the mums and children will be Carol Singing
around the village on 21st December from about 5.30 pm.
So, if you get a knock on the door, please come and listen. We will also be
collecting on the night, so if you feel you can give anything, we would be
grateful.
The Boomerangs Calendar is now available, priced £5 each, to raise funds
for Pre School.
The Fashion Show was a great success and raised £354 for the School.
Committee Members
We are desperately in need of volunteers to sit on the Committee. With
the departure of four mums at Christmas, we are very low. The more people on
the Committee, the less work for everybody. At the present moment, we are
seeking two people to be Grants Co-ordinators. This is a very important part
of the group, as we rely heavily on donations, grants, etc. and if we had
two people able to give this some time, it would only take a few hours each
week.
We could also do with a Vice Chairperson and a Vice Treasurer. The Vice
Chairperson is just to help out when the Chairperson is unable to make a
meeting, etc. The Vice Treasurer will shadow our current Treasurer with the
intention of swapping roles next year. We would really like to hear from you
with regard to these roles.
Playleader’s Assistant Job Opportunity
We are seeking applicants for the post of Assistant in the Pre School.
This is a fun and rewarding job, exceeding minimum wage. The hours are 9am
to 1.30pm, with some additional work outside the session times with the
Playleader.
|
|
Community Craft Club
The Club will be meeting in Lydcott on Monday, 6th
December at 7.30pm. Please join us for coffee, chat and a few stitches!
|
|
Mother's
Union
The School Nativity and Carol Service will be held at High Bray
Church on Tuesday, 14th December at 6.30pm. We will be
providing food afterwards and would be grateful to anyone who can bring
some.
We all enjoyed Rosemary Tull’s talk "A Joy Shared" at the
November meeting. Our next meeting will be a coffee morning 19th
January at Purbrook Cottage, Brayford at 10am.
|
|
Women's Institute
We will all be feeling festive on 8th December, the
Christmas meeting, so friends are most welcome to join us in making table
arrangements followed by a delicious high tea and Christmas music!
Meetings are held in the Village Hall at 7.15 pm.
The 2005 Programme is now complete and is full of interesting lectures and
outings, and these will be available on Wednesday, 8th. The
meeting on 12th January is a talk by John Hughes, entitled
Life with the Lions.
|
Promises Auction
This event was an overwhelming success with well over 200 people bidding for
115 Pledges of all kinds. Goodwood race tickets were even secured for £500
by a telephone bid. Two of the Promises, a Formula 1 Chief Mechanic’s suit
and a designer wedding dress have gone forward to further fund raising
events for the North Devon Hospice, possibly with Lantern Radio, but are
still available. Over £8,000 was raised, including donations from the bar
and food takings, and although this amount will be placed in The Val
Boddington Memorial Fund at the North Devon Hospice, it is also a tribute to
Angela Hopkins, Pauline Butt and many others. The Boddington family would
like to thank everyone concerned for their support.
|
|
Special thanks to the Newsletter Editor for providing extracts from the
December Newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supported by Brayford Parish Council
|