We are sad to report that the CPRE have decided not to continue running the competition this year, because of reduced numbers of villages entering.  Our thanks to everyone who has helped in the past, and we know that our residents and organisations will want to keep the village looking at its best anyway for the benefit of ourselves and visitors to the area

We start our report from this months meeting with some very sad news. The Remembrance Sunday wreath which was placed on the war memorial gates at the service in November has been vandalised – the petals were pulled off the poppies. We have removed the wreath, and have replaced it with last year’s which was still in quite good condition. Members of the Parish Council were saddened and disgusted to hear of this. Anti social behaviour and vandalism are problems in our village as they are everywhere else in the country – so we ask parents – do you know where your children go when they are out? Are you sure that they are not the ones causing trouble in the village? If anyone knows who is responsible for the vandalism of the wreath we would like to know.

The Parish Council have decided to take on the additional areas of grasscutting in the village which are currently cut by Two Rivers Housing. This includes areas owned by Two Rivers and areas owned by the Highways Department. We are now waiting for Two Rivers to draw up a formal agreement. The Parish Council will take on the work for at least the next five years, and this will mean that Two Rivers Housing will no longer make a service charge for grasscutting to tenants or owner occupiers. The Parish Council will not be taking ownership or responsibility for any of this land, we will simply be carrying out the grasscutting on it. This means that the Parish Council will be responsible for all grasscutting within the village, and that we can ensure the standard of the work throughout.

We intend to enter the competition again this year – having been runner up twice recently, we would really like to win this time. It has been proposed that we arrange a “plant swap” facility in the village – so that any keen gardeners who grow their own plants and find they have too many to use can pass them on to anyone else who can use them. We will be approaching some of the village organisations directly to ask for help, but we would also welcome help and ideas from anyone else. The judges comments from last year were largely very complimentary – they highlighted litter problems in the bus shelters and around the edge of the playing fields. Comments specific to certain facilities will be passed to them directly.

It has been decided that the proposed site in the layby adjacent to the school is not suitable for the recycling containers. The Parish Council are to go back to the District Council and ask for a site meeting to look at other alternative locations and to discuss what recycling facilities are required.