Whitmore Parish Council Newsletter - July 2009
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From the Chairman
The latest edition of the Parish Newsletter includes a copy of the Parish Council's Annual Report along with an Accounts Summary for the year-end. I will therefore keep my foreword for this Newsletter brief.
As a Parish Council we were bitterly disappointed by the granting of planning permission for a new house in the former garden of 1 Appleton Drive by the planning Inspector. This was the outcome of an appeal to the Planning Inspector by the developer.
Newcastle Borough Council agreed with us that the proposal was inappropriate. It makes a mockery of local democracy when an Inspector located in Bristol can ignore the local councils and local consensus of opinion. Seemingly the only option now is for someone to appeal to the High Court, which on the face of it seems a significant expense that the Borough Council are unlikely to accept.
On a more positive note there is a lot happening in the 50th Anniversary Year of the Village Hall. You will find some of the events published in this Newsletter, so please support the local community.
We are also considering whether we can expand the play facilities at the playground for the age group 8-13 years. If you are interested in supporting the extension of the facility by becoming a member of a project team, then please contact myself by phone or email.
I hope you find the Newsletter informative and we would welcome your feedback on any matter.
Nick Hopper
01782 662323
nickhopper@whitmore.village.uk.net
Events in Aid of the Village Hall Fund
November: Date to be confirmed – JAZZ NIGHT with bar.
Dates for your Diary
WHITMORE CHURCH FUNDRAISING DAY
6th October - Harvest Supper in Whitmore Village Hall.
27th October - A Bridge Tea is to be held at the Whitfield Centre next to the Tennis Club on the Westlands.
Whitmore & District HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW
13th September at 2:00 pm
A slightly different format than has gone before due in part to a new committee having been formed with lots of new ideas. Open to everyone whether you have exhibited before or not. There will be lots of extra entertainment making it an ideal family afternoon out.
Tombola ~ Raffle ~ Competitions ~ Produce Stall ~ Free Admission
Last date for entries will be Friday 11th September. Schedules and entry forms can be obtained from Helen Hopper 01782 662323 or Mike Deaville 01782 681049.
If you grow flowers or fruit and vegetables for your own pleasure, why not try exhibiting? Or come along to the Show and see what is involved. We look forward to meeting you there!
WHITMORE VILLAGE HALL
INFORMATION CENTRE
The Information Centre is open as normal on every
Thursday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
in our new sumptous premises;-
All the normal services will be available:-
- Photocopying ~ Use of Computers ~ Faxing
- Printing ~ Internet Access ~ Local Information
- Parish, County and Borough Council Contacts
In addition we are now able to offer the following service:
Bus Pass photographing and forwarding by Internet to Local Authority
for issue (normal delivery time is about a week)
Please drop in to view our improved Village Hall, Kitchen,
I.T. Training and Information Centre, if only for a chat.
John and Audrey Pedley 01782 681037 |
VILLAGE HALL 100 CLUB
The Village Hall 100 Club is a small monthly lottery which supports the finances of the Village Hall. Last year we gave away 52 prizes and the modest funds raised helped with refurbishing the kitchen. We hope to improve the toilet facilities in the very near future and would welcome any new players in the 100 Club. Please call Peter Dixon on 680626 if you would like to help. All donations are gratefully accepted as any money may also be matched from other sources.
Peter Dixon
Whitmore Ladies Club
Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 September 2009 at 7.30 pm at Whitmore Village Hall when Leslie Law will present "Sudbury Museum of Childhood". Having been to the museum myself several times I know that this will be a fascinating evening.
Future events for your diary:
- 21 October - "The four ages of Man" by Irene Hardacre.
- 18 November - The ever-popular Hot Pot Supper, funds raised towards the Village Hall Defibrillator.
For further information telephone Betty Deaville on 01782 681049.
Whitmore Village Hall
Find Out What's On at the Whitmore & District Village Hall.
Where will you go
with the Rural Runabout?
Group Outings ~ Supermarket
Garden Centre ~ Seaside
Call 01782 751164 to start your adventure |
I.T. TRAINING AT THE VILLAGE HALL
A new series of I.T. Training courses started in June giving tuition in the following subjects:-
- Word
- Excel (used for spread sheets in accounting and banking)
- Publisher (used for cards, posters tickets or any project requiring importation of decorative material)
- Emails and Internet use
When these courses are complete we shall be taking a break in August as many people will be on holiday. We shall be continuing our courses in September and thereafter so long as funding remains available. Please ring either of the two telephone numbers below to enrol on a course, leaving your name, telephone number and level of computing experience.
Future courses will be of 8-week duration on Thursday mornings in two sessions (09.00am to 11.00am or 11.00an to 13.00pm).
We are now operating in our new premises in the greatly renovated Village Hall. If you haven't visited yet it's well worth the trip.
Contact:- John Pedley on 01782 680985 or Wendy Wood on 01785 859413.
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FIRST AID CLASSES
Staffordshire County Council is providing, free of charge, First Aid classes given by the St John Ambulance.
The first of three 2-hour classes will begin on Tuesday 8 September 2009.
The second three classes will begin on Thursday 1 October.
Both classes are 7.00 to 9.00 pm.
It is essential to pre-book as places are limited. To book please telephone Betty Deaville on 01782 681049.
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VILLAGE HALL UPDATE
The work on the Village Hall mentioned in earlier Newsletters has now been completed, apart from a few minor items still needing attention. Comments received from users have all been favourable. In particular, the increased size of the former cloakroom, now variously known as the Information Centre and the IT room, will now accommodate classes and meetings of up to twelve people. As a result, the IT classes have been increased to 11 students and additional classes, such as Art, will be commencing shortly. Suggestions for further courses are welcome and the County Council Adult Education Department will endeavour to provide tutors.
Having now completed Phase 1 of the development, our efforts are now directed at Phase 2, the new entrance, meeting room, Health suite and Information Centre. Planning permission is in place, and work must have started by January 2011, to satisfy the planning process. Drawings are available for all to view at the Village Hall. The Village Hall Committee is actively seeking funding in the sum of £210,000, being the estimated cost advised by our architect. We have been given a tremendous boost at the onset of the project by the gift in excess of £19,000 from Mr & Mrs David Hughes, this being the value of the residual funds from the Youth Club which they used to run in the Village Hall. We are most grateful for this wonderful contribution. Thank you David and Pat.
We reiterate our request in previous newsletters for volunteers to join the Village Hall Committee, along with any suggestions for fundraising. We hope that what the Committee is doing will enable the Hall to continue to be a benefit to the community for the next 50 years.
Please contact Chairman Keith Willingham 680944 or Secretary Don Lawton 680371 if you have any suggestions or require further information.
Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Figures for Greater Whitmore Neighbourhood Area
| Crime Type |
Nov 07- Jan 08 |
Nov 08 - Jan 09 |
Jan 08 - Mar 08 |
Jan 09 - Mar 09 |
Apr 08 - Jun 08 |
Apr 09 - Jun 09 |
| Theft of Vehicle |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Theft from Vehicle |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
| Domestic Burglary |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
| Criminal Damage |
2 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
| Common Assault |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Wounding |
3 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Personal Robbery |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| All Crimes |
22 |
18 |
28 |
17 |
31 |
18 |
| Anti-Social Behaviour |
2 |
2 |
19 |
19 |
3 |
13 |
LATE BUS – A SECRET NO LONGER (and an early morning service, too)
We have discovered that the late bus service is back, run by "RML Travel" (01782 791121). Yes, we know that such a service is not shown on the current 64/X64 timetable as displayed alongside Parish bus stops but we can assure you that this service does exist and runs on both Friday and Saturday.
Questions raised earlier this year with the bus people regarding improvements to the current (publicised) service were met with very little response, so this RML travel service is very much a surprise. Whatever, the RML timetable is published below. I have talked to two of the drivers and they reassure me that there are no plans to abandon the RML services.
Please, if you (or your teenage children) want to go in to Market Drayton, Newcastle or Hanley on Friday or Saturday evening, then consider the RML travel service. If you are coming home on a late train, then a bus to Newcastle from the railway station, then the RML service home could prove very useful.
There is also an early morning weekdays service which allows people to get to Newcastle before 8.00 am and Market Drayton by 7.25 am, ideal for those who need to get to work early.
We can only hope that enough people use the RML travel service to ensure its survival. A secret no longer!
For latest details of the RML Travel Timetable visit their website at www.rmltravel.co.uk (opens a new window).
Annual Report of the Parish Council
Read the full Annual Report.
Accounts for Year Ending 31st March 2009
View the Accounts.
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