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2002

Parish Council News


Playground Ahead !
Posted 6th December 2003

Thanks to the efforts the Playground Group, an additional grant of £11,500 has been offered by Living Spaces specifically for the playground.

This late and unexpected offer is of course subject to a number of conditions, which have now been discussed by the Field Development Committee, who will be recommending the Parish Council to accept the offer at their 12th December meeting. Acceptance will not affect the need to continue with the precept loan application to complete the other sports facilities.


Precept Loan
Posted 22nd November 2003

Around 25 parishioners turned up at the public meeting prior to last month’s Council meeting to hear what was being proposed. Whilst understandable concerns were voiced by a small number of people, the majority opinion was clearly in support of the principle of increasing the Council’s borrowings to fund completion of the basic facilities on the playing field.

Following the public meeting, the matter was debated further in the council meeting and councillors agreed to pursue an application to borrow up to £45,000 for this specific purpose, and to make every effort to keep the actual amount to be borrowed to a minimum.

Later in the meeting, District Councillor Mrs Margaret Rowley advised that Wychavon may after all be able to offer a grant of up to £6,000 under the Local Sustainability Partnership. Councillors agreed to look at applying for this but, even if the bid is successful, the funds will be ring-fenced for the playground and thus would not affect the need to continue with the “up to £45,000” precept loan application.




Have You Got Yours Yet?
Posted 22th November 2003

More than 50 people in and around Crowle have now taken advantage of the Datalink described in last month’s Cryer.

Are you one of them? If not, why not find out more about this possibly life-saving idea?

It won’t hurt! Promise! Call Jeremy Thomas (381296) now !


Have your say about a Precept Loan
Posted 26th October 2003

October’s Cryer invited parishioners to ‘have a say’ about whether the Parish Council should apply for a precept loan of up to £45.000 at their meeting on 7th November.

The purpose of such a loan would be to put in the basic facilities on the play- ing field.

The reason for considering a loan is because, as the October Cryer reported, we have been unsuccessful in obtaining grants for anything but the play- ground.

There will be a short presentation at the Parish Hall at 7.00 pm., before the Parish Council meets. The council would like to hear from you, either in per- son on 7th November or by writing to the Clerk (at The Driftway, Froxmere Road ) prior to the meeting on 7th, as to whether you wish a loan applied for.

Just to remind you , the cost to Council Tax payers is expected to be roughly £1.00 to £1.25


DATA LINK - the medication database
Posted 26th October 2003

Are YOU on long-term medication ?

Then DATA LINK could help you.

Our local Ambulance Service and West Mercia Neighbourhood Watch are both actively supporting a new initiative to give reassurance to anyone who suffers an accident or illness at home that the emer- gency services would be aware of any relevant vital information. The scheme is called Data Link.

How does the scheme work?

Your details are stored in a clearly la- belled container, which is kept in your fridge - it will easily fit in the egg rack. Two labels, known to the emergency serv- ices are displayed inside your home, one on the fridge door, the other at eye level inside your front door. Simple!

How do you join?

Kits containing, a form for you to com- plete and the approved labels, are avail- able free of charge from Jeremy Thomas, 381296, who will be pleased to provide any information should you wish. Why not call right away?

Sponsors

The scheme is sponsored by npower, who have also included in the pack informa- tion about their Priority Service Register for pensioners, disables or chronically sick people.


Please note that the Data Link scheme is available to anyone, not just npower customers.


Jubilee Playing Field: Fund Raising
Posted 26th July 2003

In addition to organising all those wonderful events like the Searchers and the Summer Ball, the Fund Raising Group has also been actively pursuing applications to a number of grant-making bodies. These have included the Lottery, Wychavon District Council, the Countryside Agency, and so on. Fingers have been kept firmly crossed for the past few weeks, awaiting their responses, all of which are due shortly.

Now, sadly, we have to report that our applications to the Lottery and to Onyx Environmental (under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme) have both been turned down, both organisations citing “lack of funds, others more in need, etc., etc.”

These have inevitably left a bit of a “black hole”, but we still await replies from three others.

So, keep your fingers crossed for us …. Please!


Jubilee Playing Field: Camping
Posted 27th April 2003

Any organisation or group wishing to camp on the recreation field MUST first request permission from the Parish Clerk. They should be aware that, under the current "Duty of Care" legislation, a suitable (adult) person must take responsibility for all site activities (including cleaning up afterwards) and that person should be present on the site throughout the "camp" duration. Suitable arrangements will also have to be made to provide access to toilet facilities.

Unfortunately, unaccompanied groups of younger people cannot be permitted to camp there on their own.


PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Posted 24th March 2003

Your Parish Council is elected for a 4 year term which comes to an end when elections are held on 1st May (Providing there are more than 9 candidates to contest the 9 seats)

If an election is held please make the effort to cast your votes. If you are not around on the 1st May you can use a postal vote (a postal Vote form is on your polling card which you will receive in due course.)

District Council elections will also take place on 1st May

USE YOUR VOTE!!!!!!


Jubilee Playing Field News
Posted 24th March 2003

Popular Demand Shapes 2003 Calendar

A lively calendar of social events for Crowle has been lined up for 2003 to raise funds for the village's Jubilee Playing Field. There's no better excuse to get out socialising.

Following last year's successful first programme of fund raising events some of the most popular ones will be staged again and some new ideas have been added to so there is something for everyone.


Fundraising Success

Nearly £30,000 is now in the playing field kitty, with more than £10,000 raised from fund-raising events and £12,000 and £5,000 allocated by the Parish Council and Hall trust respectively. Lloyds/TSB's grant of £2,000 brings the target of £145,000 closer still.

Watch out for news on other grant bids


Helper Thanks

Many, many thanks to everyone who is putting in such a lot of hard work to raise money, and to the many individuals who have so generously donated money to the playing field cause.


Work Starts

If key grant bids succeed, work could start on the groundwork for the multi-sports, bowls and playground areas this summer.


Display

The Playground Group will be holding a display of four playground equipment options on April 9th at 8pm in the Parish Hall. Please come and give your views on which is best.


Jubilee Playing Field Project: Progress Report
Posted 24th March 2003

Within the last few days, wayleave agreements have been received for signature by the Parish Council and the Trust. This is the first legal step towards enabling Aquila to move the cables, and the Council are likely to discuss their agreement at the next Council meeting.

As previously advised, Aquila have now confirmed that the high-voltage (11,000 volts) lines crossing the field and all additional low voltage (240 volts) lines are to be buried underground, but that the hall car park will still be crossed by high voltage lines.

As yet no dates have been announced for commencement of the work.


Council Elections, 2003
Posted 24th March 2003

Thursday 1st May has now been confirmed as the date for the local council elections.

Thought about standing up to be counted? Like to get more involved in deciding how the Jubilee Playing Field is to be developed? Or in helping to develop a Parish Plan? Interested in helping to look after the Green Pool? Well, now could be your opportunity!

The Parish Council comprises nine elected members, who are elected for a four year term; anyone who is on the electoral roll may stand for election.

If you are even just slightly interested, why not come along to the next council meeting on Friday 7th March? Or if you do not have time or can’t manage that date, why not have a chat with the Parish Clerk or with any councillor?

Nomination papers are available from the Parish Clerk, who will be pleased to explain the various procedures to anyone interested.




All Change At The Cryer
Posted 24th March 2003

Printing

This month sees a number of changes to your Cryer. First, you may notice the better quality printing: it is being scan- printed instead of the ancient duplicator used to date. The Cryer’s advertisers still cover a major part of the cost, but the Parish Council has agreed to pay the extra cost involved. Those who kindly edit, collate and distribute it each month still do so entirely voluntarily - thank you!


Editor

But most important, this month’s Cryer will be the first to be edited by Rachel Griffiths, She has been jointly editing the last few editions with Jeremy Thomas, who is at last hanging up his keyboard.

Commenting on the occasion, the retiring editor writes: “I am sure that Rachel will continue to develop The Cryer as an essential element of the community in Crowle. I trust that everyone will give her the same support and encouragement as they have given me over the years. Good luck, Rachel!”.


Contact

From today, all correspondents and anyone wishing to place personal adverts, should please send them to Rachel at 26 Froxmere Road, call on 381590 or e-mail her at reg@froxmere26.fsnet.co.uk


Jubilee Playing Field Project: Power Lines Update
Posted 6th February 2003

The Parish Council has been negotiating the removal of the power lines which currently cross the playing field.

Now, after a number of meetings with Aquila (the company that has taken over responsibility for supplying power in this area), it looks as if agreement has been reached whereby the high-voltage (11,000 volts) lines cross the field and all additional low voltage (240 volts) lines will be buried underground.


When is it Planned?

Timing of the work is not yet finalised, but Aquila say they plan to do the underground part during February, with the above ground connections following shortly afterwards.

The work will affect both the playing field and, to a lesser extent, the parish hall gardens. Whilst the Council and the Trust have appointed representatives to monitor the work, parishioners are warned that there may be some minor disruption and/or inconvenience during the work, although every effort will be made to minimise this.

Finally, the really good news is that the work will be done at no cost to either the Council or the Trust.


Council Elections, 2003
Posted 6th February 2003

Do YOU have what it takes to be a Parish Councillor? Do you know what the Parish Council does for Crowle? Do you think we would have a new hall and a playing field if it had not been for the efforts of your councillors?

And that’s not all - the Council meets bi-monthly to discuss a wide range of matters affecting the parish, some relatively trivial of course, but many others that affect all of us and our day-to-day lives.

If you think you could make a useful contribution, why not ask the Parish Clerk or any present councillor about what is involved? Why not came along to a Council meeting some time? All members of the public are welcome and may raise questions before the meeting opens, although they cannot participate in the meeting itself.

Anyone on the electoral roll is entitled to stand for election in May. So why not you?


Jubilee Playing Field: How it’s being managed
Posted 8th January 2003

The development of the playing field is of interest to a number of groups in the village, bowlers, cricketers, footballers, playground users, tennis players (all listed alphabetically!), and so on, all entirely justifiably wanting to have their say in how the project is to be managed.


The FDC ?

To ensure that they all have an opportunity to be involved, the Field Development Committee was set up over a year ago, with representatives from each of these activity groups together with representatives from the Parish Council and the Trust.

The FDC meets regularly, about every six weeks at present, but will probably do so more frequently as the project moves towards construction. It works within Terms of Reference which have been agreed by all relevant parties, and the various representatives report back to their respective organisations.

It is most important to note that the FDC has no authority of its own to commit or spend any funds; such decisions can only be made by councillors or trustees for Council or Trust funds. What the FDC can and will do is to make recommendations for such commitments or expenditure, where and when appropriate.


And the FRG ?

To enable the FDC to concentrate on managing the project (as described last month), a separate but related fund raising group, the FRG, has been set up to look at all practicable ways of raising funds for the project.

The FRG also meets around six-weekly, and includes representatives from each user activity group, to enable each of these groups to make their own but co-ordinated contributions to the project funds. At present, all funds raised are being “pooled” for the overall project, no matter who actually raises them. The single exception to this policy is where funds are received for a specific purpose, for example a grant or donation may have been given to be spent only on one particular activity.


Project Schedule

The present plan is that all the proposed facilities are to have equal priority and that construction of all will commence “together”. This plan is however contingent on a number of factors, and it may have to be amended by, for example, undertaking construction in more than one phase.

Present fund raising efforts are based on a construction schedule starting some time during 2003 summer, but this is highly dependent upon the success of several substantial funding applications which are currently being progressed.

Keep your fingers crossed !