Village Live no 43 (Text only edtion)

February / March 2006

Published for the residents of Sevenhampton and Brockhampton, Gloucestershire.
Sponsored Sevenhampton Parish Council

The old Chinese curse, “may you live in interesting times”, has come to haunt us. Seems so much to get heated about currently.
Perhaps we can agree that at BAD’s “Puss In Boots” we can hiss and boo in unison - I believe there’s a really wicked fairy we have to see off.
A choice of where to eat on Valentine’s Day - the Pub or the Village Hall. Both with very good chefs.
A Bingo night too should help raise more money for David Oldham’s big adventure.
Note the new Sixways Clinic phone numbers and system. Can’t possibly be worse than their old one, can it?
Bill & Anne Jenkin: 820338
Email: villive@sevenhampton.info

New Telephone Number for Sixways Clinic

The new number is

0844 477 2551 (local rate call)

This replaces both the old numbers.

There is a queuing system, after which you will be given the following options,
"Press 1 for emergencies
Press 2 for all appointments* (doctors and practice nurses etc).
Press 3 for test results**
Press 4 for enquiries or home visits."
*not between 12.30am - 2.30pm
**10.30am - 4.30pm.

If you have telephone which used the old 'pulse' dialling, please wait and you will be connected to the operator.

To call the surgery from abroad:-
0870 458 8185

For appointments with the practice nurses use the new number and select option 2.
You will then be given further options for appointments with doctors or nurses.

The Health visitors number remains
01242 241363
The District Nurses number remains
01242 228907

Out of hours emergencies:
08454 220220
or call NHS direct 08454 4647.

Sevenhampton Parish Council

Affordable Housing and Wind Turbines Brings out the Crowds.

Parishioners turned up in force on 4th January to hear Martin Hutchings from Cotswold District Council’s Housing dept. give an update on the Affordable Housing Scheme. Some points which emerged were that:

Gloucester Housing Association have been engaged to undertake the scheme and draft plans have been drawn up.
The current plan is for 2 X 1 bedroom, 3 X 2 bedroom, and 1 X 3 bedroom houses.
It was more likely that initially it would be a rent scheme rather than a rent/purchase.
The scheme could not proceed until the landowner accepted the proposal and planning permission had been granted.
The housing would be specifically to meet local (parish) needs. If there was insufficient demand within the parish then nearest parishes could be considered.

Many points were raised about the plans however the main issues of concern were

The location of the site. Parishioners thought it was in the wrong place and wanted to know the exact reasons for the rejection of another site adjacent to Apple Tree Cottage. There had been no consultation locally for eight months although the PC had constantly been asking for meetings and now it felt like it was a ‘done deal’ with the district council. There should also be consideration of the mobile phone mast which was going up close to the site in Gassons Lane.
The fact that it was to be rent only was going entirely against the original concept.

The parish clerk was asked to contact the planning officer concerned urgently for a site meeting to discuss the refusal of CDC to consider the site opposite the council houses. Martin Hutchings agreed that this was important and agreed to go back to CDC to ask her to explain why this site was not acceptable. The parish council was asked specifically to confirm if the alternative site was available; what were the views of the planning officer on this site? and for what reason had it been rejected?

Also well attended was the Parish Council meeting of 18th January.

The main item for discussion was the Wind Turbines issue.

Thirteen Week Consultation
Mike Napper, senior planning officer from Cotswold District Council, explained some of the issues. On the receipt of the planning application for the turbines there would be a thirteen week consultation period before any decision was made. The decision would have to be on the merits of each specific planning application rather than any blanket rejection within AONB’s and the planning committee would have to have a watertight defence of any rejection at an appeal.

Following on from the ballot result (details on back page), the parish council decided that a working party would be formed consisting of the parish council and five others opposed to the turbines. A statement would be prepared on the best way to proceed in readiness for any planning application. It was likely that the services of a planning expert would be required. The working party will report back to the next parish council meeting.

Energy Conservation
It was agreed to give publicity to energy saving schemes available locally (details in next edition).

Annual Precept to Rise
The annual precept has remained at £4,500 for the last six years. Increasing charges, particularly for insurance, subscriptions and the increase in verge maintenance, has necessitated an increase to £5,250 - equivalent to about 3.5% per annum over the six year period.

‘Never on Sunday’ for Grass Cutters
Tenders will be invited for the contract to cut the grass on some of the verges. Following complaints it was decided to include a ‘not on Sunday’ clause into the contract next year.
A full set of minutes will appear on the village website www.sevenhampton.org.

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held
on Wednesday March 29th
at 7.00pm
in Rhodes Memorial Hall, Brockhampton
followed by a Parish Council Meeting

BADS - Brockhampton Amateur Dramatic Society

presents
PUSS IN BOOTS

Wednesday 1^st February until Saturday 4^th February 2006
7.00pm
in The Village Hall, Brockhampton
for a purrrrfect evening out come and enjoy the all star cast in traditional pantomime.
Tickets available from Brockhampton Post Office
or ring 820966
£5.00 - 1^st & 2^nd Feb
£6.00 - 3^rd & 4^th Feb
under 16s - £3.00 all nights.

BINGO NIGHT

Friday 10th February
In Rhodes Memorial Hall
Brockhampton
Raffle and Bingo prizes gratefully received by
David Oldham 820423.
(in aid of David’s ‘World Challenge Expedition to India in 2007).

Valentines Dinner

Tuesday 14th February 2006
7.30pm (dinner served at 8pm).
in Rhodes Memorial Hall
Tickets £12.50 for 3-course meal
(bring your own drink)
Music from Steve Franks (guitar)
If you would like to book, please phone David Oldham on 01242 820423
menu may be viewed on www.sevenhampton.org

Rural Cinema

The show planned for Friday February 24th has been cancelled.
The next show will be on
Thursday 23rd March

St. Valentine’s Night and B&B at The Craven Arms

Did you know that the Craven Arms now offers bed and breakfast accommodation.? They have two en-suite rooms available. Always useful locally if you run out of guest space at home on a big occasion.*

The Craven is also holding a special
St Valentine’s Night Event
on Tuesday February 14th.

Full Details from
Bob and Barbara Price 01242 820410.

*Other B&B accommodation in the village is available from Nicole Arkell, 820581

Grass Cutting

Tenders are invited
for a grass cutting contract at certain locations in
Sevenhampton.
Details etc from the Parish Clerk, Ann vanRossem
01242 820718

Church Dates for Your Diaries

Sunday January 29th
(5th Sunday of month)
6.30pm Evensong at Sevenhampton

Sunday February 12th
(All Parishes combined service, instead of 1st Sunday)
10.0am Holy Communion with the Rt. Rev. Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester at Sevenhampton.
4.00pm Evensong at Whittington.

Advance Notice
A welcome return this year of the
Thamyse String Quartet for their second concert at Sevenhampton Church - date to be confirmed.

JUMBLE SALE

Saturday March 25th
Rhodes Memorial Hall
2.15pm
In aid of Church Funds

Ballot Result

The result of the postal ballot to determine the Parish Council’s attitude on the question of the erection of two wind turbines in the village was as follows:-
The question on the ballot paper was
“There is a proposal to erect two wind turbines of 56 metres in height (approx. 183ft) at a location within the parish of Sevenhampton. Would you be in favour of the proposal?”
No of papers issued: 303
No of papers returned: 229 (75.6%)
No of valid votes: 229
No of spoiled papers :0

YES: 79
(26% of papers issued; 34.5% of papers returned)

NO:150
(49.5% of papers issued; 65.5% of papers returned)

The ballot was conducted by Electoral Reform Services.

The Good Neighbourhood Scheme

Held its eighth AGM on January 4th. It has been running very smoothly.
79 journeys were completed and much appreciated by the users. The charges have been raised as they have remained static for several years.

If you need transport assistance, give a co-ordinator a ring:
Sheila Agius 820102
Fay Swain 820402
Di Brown 820271