Baydon Village News
From
Barbara Furber
Baydon Parish Assembly 2008
The Parish Assembly was held in the school hall on Friday 16th May 2008 with Mr Kevin Barnes in the chair. In his annual report Mr Barnes made a plea for more councillors. Baydon, he said, should have seven; currently there are only five, three of which have joined since last September. The village does not run itself, he emphasised. It takes a lot of hard work and effort to make sure that the fabric of the village is maintained.
Mr Barnes said that there had been 8 Parish Council meetings through the year and they have dealt with 19 planning applications, land clearance has been started at the proposed site for the Gleeson Homes development, however the Parish Council have not had any communication from Gleeson Homes that the project is due to start.
Late last summer the Parish Council was asked to provide land for allotments which they agreed to do on the Parish Field. A Working Party was set up to ensure that all concerns about this decision would be heard. The Working Party will be reporting back to the Parish Council within the next few weeks.
Mr Barnes asked that the village be aware that the judging will take place very soon for the Best Kept Village competition.
The Parish Council set in place a village maintenance contract which resulted in the precept being raised to cover the costs involved.
Social events in the village i.e. School Fete; Bonfire Night; Carol Singing on the Green and Beating the Bounds were all successful and well supported.
Mr Barnes (who is standing down as Parish Councillor) thanked his fellow councillors past and present and the Parish Clerk for all their hard work over the past year.
County Councillor Chris Humphries pointed out that from 31st March 2009 Kennet District Council will cease to exist. He felt it was a sad occasion, and that villages at this end of the county would not be served as well. There would be one county councillor but no district councillors as there are now. However money is being made available from Kennet District Council for grants, particularly for Youth activities. Application should be made to Frank Marshall at Kennet District Council.
Mr Humphries then introduced Mr Peter Hanson the Divisional Highways Manager who asked for questions from the floor. Although speed related questions were not his remit, he endeavoured to answer them. He suggested that the Parish Council ask for “gateways” to the village if they so desired, and monies could be made available if the village were working towards a project like this. Parish Councillor Don Carmichael said that the working party were looking at such issues and asked if speed records for the village were available. He said that he had conducted a survey himself and found that 51% of vehicles approaching from the western side of the village were exceeding the limit. It was much worse from buses and commercial vehicles, he added.
Mr Hanson suggested that the bus company be contacted. Parish Councillor Alison Tomkins asked if red rumble strips could be painted on the road, and if possible get a speed camera sign erected. Mr Humphries said that he would help with that.
Mr Mike Bennett said that he had had no reply to letters to Kennet District Council. Mr Humphries replied that the offices were like the Marie Celeste, very little was being done as a dying council does not work well.
A report from District Councillor Susan Findley was read. In it she apologises for being unable to attend. She said that it had been an excellent year. However now that planning officers were no longer able to make site visits, Mrs Findley said she was pleased that the Allotment Association had benefited from a Kennet District Council grant, and she congratulated the hands on approach of the Parish Council.
Mr Peter Chambers, Head of St. Nicholas School reported that there were now 106 children on the role and they had welcomed two new teachers on to the staff. Mrs Mo Lafford had retired from admin after 22 years of service and Miss Bailey had taken her place. The school had made several educational visits throughout the year. The schools after school club Wagtails, and Breakfast Club were also doing a valuable job. The governing body, added Mr Chambers, also worked with staff to make St. Nicholas School a happy and productive school.
Mrs Diana Whitcutt reported for the Aldbourne and Baydon Link Scheme. There were 30 volunteers (7 from Baydon) who gave their time to take the 40 to 50 clients to hospital, opticians, library, dentist, shopping or to visit families.
Mrs Jenny Gribble reported on behalf of the Allotment Association. Baydon allotments are a success story, said Mrs Gribble that provides a valuable amenity to the village. The association have achieved much in the last nine months, and yet much more needs to be done by the 24 members and their families on the 14 plots that are available. A very strong bonding between the allotmenteers is an added bonus. Funding was raised in November for a rabbit proof fence and to provide water for the field. The Association are, added Mrs Gribble, determined that the allotments shall be cultivated in a visually acceptable manner that is pleasing to the eye of the neighbours as well as being productive.
Mrs Pat Barnes reported that the Brownie Pack now had 16 girls in attendance, with a healthy waiting list. The pack had enjoyed many fun activities based on badge work including an unusual Circus performer’s badge.
The Cricket Club; BYPA and Mother and Toddler groups did not submit reports.
The Friends of Baydon School report was sent in by Mrs Teresa Penny. In it she outlined the many fundraising activities that had resulted in monies for equipment at the school. £5,000 was raised for example towards the new play equipment in the school grounds.
Mr Tony Topp, Church Warden, said that the Parochial Church Council were glad to see the numbers in the congregation increase. Family services were well attended and were held in the school hall. The PCC continue to make use of the church with monthly Coffee Mornings. The School and Church Fete is to be held on June 14th 2008, and there is to be an auction of promises later in the year.
Mrs Sheila McCleery gave an amusing report about the various and varied activities of the 20 W.I. Members throughout the year. The Institute had planted more bulbs in the village and held a Group Carol service which raised £133 for church funds. A Strawberry and Wine event is to be held on August 1st 2008, to raise money for the Institute funds and for the Prospect Foundation. Mrs McCleery sat down amid the only applause of the evening.
Mrs Denise Dawson reported that the Baydon Pre-School is a thriving and happy environment for the 28 three to five year olds on the register. Lucy Orchard and Frances Parlane were her assistants. Last week they were able to take the children to see the baby alpacas at Baydon House. Successful funding has meant that new equipment could be bought for the children to use. The next event, said Mrs Dawson would be at Rook’s Nest open gardens on June 25th 2008.
Mr Mark Austen then explained that he had taken over the Baydon Website 18 months ago and had redesigned it. There was now a section for every club and group, hopefully helping to avoid clashes of date for events. So far there is a page, he said, for the Parish Council, clubs, church, pub, shop, school, travel and a contents page for phone numbers, local weather etc. There is also a webcam displaying a live image of the village green. More recently a new search facility had been added that allowed you to find details of any topic you wanted, from s106 monies and the Parentmail project.
Parish Councillor Don Carmichael thanked Mr Austen on behalf of the community for all his hard work.
Mrs Pat Mapstone asked the chairman Mr Kevin Barnes why three different groups were now cutting the verges, Sodexho, Kennet and local volunteers. Mr Barnes said he was not sure why Kennet had appeared when the Parish Council had taken on the maintenance of the grass verges. Mr Barnes asked that all Council relevant questions be kept for the Parish Council meeting on Monday 19th May 2008.
The meeting, being closed enabled the parishioners to enjoy another glass of wine and to finish up the cheese.
Barbara Furber
18th May 2008