Village Live no 55 (Text only edition)

February / March 2008

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


After vigorous debate the wind turbine application has been approved.
Some will be disappointed but we will gain direct experience so that, should more intrusive turbines be proposed, we’ll all be experts.
Of great concern is that for future planning application copies of plans the size of a tablecloth are to be scrapped in favour of online consultation with the ability to print off A4 miniatures to squint at.
An attempt to clarify the new waste arrangements is on Page 2.  Fold this organ into a paper aeroplane and aim at the current kerbside recycling collection.
Those of you with Internet access who use Sixways Clinic should take up booking on line.  No more hanging on all day!  Not on line? register and get your neighbours to book for you!
Take note of the Thames “Password” Scheme to deter bogus callers - details overleaf.
“Hairspray” is the Feb film.  It will be frothier than Atonement. 
Items for the next Issue (April/May)  by 20th March Please.
Bill & Anne Jenkin:    820338
email: removed to prevent spam in this edition


WIND TURBINE GETS GO-AHEAD

CDC Planning Committee Rejects Local Concerns
The proposed wind turbine at Nash Barn, Sevenhampton, has been approved by Cotswold District Council’s planning committee.
The 30th January hearing was addressed by Di Brown of Sevenhampton Parish Council and Leslie Agius on behalf of other local objectors, also James Candler in support.  However, following a recommendation to approve the application from the planning officer, the committee voted in its favour.
Sevenhampton parish council opposed the scheme on account of a vote of 15 votes in support to 18 against the scheme taken at a public meeting on 5th December 2007.

The 3 bladed turbine will be mounted on a 9m. (30ft) mast with a rotor diameter of 5.5m. (18ft) and must be painted in an off-white colour.

Reasons given by objectors included the impact on local amenities by virtue of noise and desecration of landscape; interference with TV and radio reception; the impact on wildlife; the amount of electricity produced would  not justify the impact on the environment and that it would set a precedent for similar schemes in the valley and Cotswolds.

Supporters of the scheme argued that it was a necessary step in order to ensure affordable and reliable supply of power; that it was a small scale turbine which will be readily assimilated into its agricultural setting; the noise from the A40 on a still summer’s night is greater than that from the turbine; that the applicant, who already preserves a sizeable chunk of the AONB for the indirect enjoyment of the village and visitors, wishes to reduce the crippling electricity bills inherent with running a farm with this small scale turbine.

New ‘Online’ Planning System Makes Consultation Difficult

Although many parish councils have raised concerns, Cotswold District Council is to change its system of consultation on planning applications.  These will now all be ‘online’ and paper plans will no longer be sent to parish clerks.  This makes it difficult for proper consultation with residents because many are not and have no desire to be ‘online’, it is difficult to make sense of plans on a computer screen and parish clerks of small parishes like ours do not have the necessary large format printing devices to print plans.  The only concession is that paper copies will be supplied “in exceptional circumstances, i.e. for complex or detailed applications”

As a result, Sevenhampton parish council will no longer be able to put plans in Brockhampton Post Office for the perusal of residents.  However a list of applications will be placed there and for anyone wishing to view plans online the parish clerk’s computer will be made available. Links to the relevant pages on CDC’s website for all local planning applications are listed in the village website - www.sevenhampton.org/planning

What Local Projects do You Want for the Future?
The parish council is taking another look at its long term objectives, known as the ‘Way Forward Statement’. Some goals have been achieved, some may be out of date and others could take some time to achieve.  What projects would you like the parish council to push in the next few years?  The council is thinking that it should, like many others, be addressing the issue of climate change and what projects could be undertaken locally.  What do you think? If not that then what other local scheme would you like to see?
You will have your chance to air your views at the
Annual Parish Meeting,
to be held on Wednesday 19th March 2008
At 7.00 in Rhodes Memorial Hall
If you can’t make the meeting then put your thoughts on paper or email them to the parish clerk. (Ann vanRossem, the Old Shop, Brockhampton, GL54 5XG; email removed to prevent spam. ) or talk to a parish councillor.
The parish councillors are:-
Bill Jenkin - Bill Lanfear - Lynne Jackson - Alison Giles - Di Brown - Harry Boyd .

A JUMBLE SALE

In aid of Church Funds
Will be held on
SATURDAY, MARCH 15th,
at 2.15pm. In Rhodes Memorial Hall
Brockhampton
Further information from
Clem Holland 820318 or Gill Hyatt 820458


Grass Cutting

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

Fly Tipping

Fly tipping should be reported to Cotswold District Council, 01285 623900.
Make a note of the place, what the waste looks like and how much there is.  If you witness the illegal dumping of rubbish, do not approach fly tippers but make a note of the time and a description and registration of any vehicle involved.

JOHN TRAVOLTA  -  MICHELLE PFEIFFER 
 CHRISTOPHER WALKEN  -  AMANDA BYNES
in

HAIRSPRAY

cert PG
A combustible mix of sassy humour and brassy show tunes makes Hairspray one of the hottest musicals to come along in years. Based on John Waters’ 1988 cult film, plus award-winning musical numbers from the stage show. As chubby dance freak Tracy Turnblad, newcomer Nikki Blonsky simply bursts at the seams with charm and John Travolta is a scream as Tracy's balloon-bottomed mom.

Tracy is obsessed with The Corny Collins Show, a daytime dance show that has 60s Baltimore swinging. When the host (James Marsden) announces a vacancy, Tracy hotfoots it to the audition. Sadly her bulbous figure is a turn-off for icy blonde station manager Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer). Cue the dance-off!
Thursday 14th February 2008, 7.30pm
Rhodes Memorial Hall, Brockhampton  All tickets £2.70
available from Brockhampton Post Office (820966),or on the door (if not sold out).
www.sevenhampton.org/ruralcinema

Diary date for next show:- Thursday March 27th.

CHURCH NEWS

Lent starts on
ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6th.
There will be a service of Holy Communion
 at 7.30pm at the CHURCH CENTRE, ANDOVERSFORD.

During Lent we hope to maintain daily prayer and readings in both Charlton Abbotts and Sevenhampton Churches as in previous years. Booklets for guidance are provided and anyone with a few minutes to spare is invited to call into our churches at any time during daylight hours (wrap up warm!)

Details of the course covering an Overview of the Bible on Mondays in Lent at the Church Centre will be in February's Parish Magazine and also the services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 23rd. HOLY COMMUNION
at SEVENHAMPTON 11.0am

Bogus Callers

Thames Water Password Scheme
Never let any callers claiming to be from the council, electricity or telephone company etc into your home without a valid identity card.
Thames water also has a simple but effective password scheme where you can register a personal password which will be used if one of their representative calls.  Genuine callers from Thames Water will know about your password and will use it.
If you would like to know more about this scheme please ring local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator Bill Jenkin - 820338

New Waste Service to Start in Spring

The new waste collection service is due to be introduced across the Cotswold District from Spring 2008. The exact dates have yet to be confirmed by the District Council, its suppliers and its contractor, SITA.

Before the new service is rolled out, the new containers for the service and an information pack, including collection dates, will be delivered to every household in the District.

The current arrangements, including the free fortnightly collection of garden waste, will continue to apply until the new service has been rolled out.

The free collection of garden waste will end when the new service is introduced.

The new service consists of:-
  • weekly collections of food waste for composting
  • Weekly collections of garden waste for composting (annual charge of £30 per wheelie bin or 50 sacks)
  • Fortnightly collection of card and cardboard for recycling
  • The continuation of the current fortnightly kerbside collection of paper, tins/cans, aerosols and glass for recycling.
  • Fortnightly collections of non-recyclable waste in wheelie bins or in Council supplied coloured sacks.
Anyone who has not yet indicated that they would like to subscribe to the new weekly charged-for collection of garden waste still has time to do so by contacting the Council on 01285 623123 or visiting www.cotswold.gov.uk

Sevenhampton & District Women’s Institute

Meetings
Monday 4th February
Mr Reg White - Guide Dogs for the Blind

Monday 3rd March
Mrs Mo Smith - A Bee in my Bonnet

7.30 p.m. in the Rhodes Memorial Hall
If  you aren’t a member come along anyway and give it a go.
Further information from
Thora Corris 820242

The Village Garden Club of Sevenhampton & District

Meetings
Friday 22nd February
Roger Umpelby - Bugs - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

March - no meeting because of Easter
The AGM is on Friday April 4th.

7.30pm in Rhodes Memorial Hall
Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings for a fee of  £3
Further information from the Secretary, Cindy Haines 820914

VILLAGE AGENTS

Nick Bailey, the local Village Agent is available in the village hall on THURSDAYS from 10am to 12 noon. 
If you are over 50 and have any concerns e.g. about your home, transport, health or security he has easy access to information and services for older people living in rural areas.
Come and have a chat over a tea or coffee and biscuits. You can also ring him on 07776 245740 or leave a message for him on the Adult Helpdesk 01452 426868.

Sixways Clinic


Online Doctor Appointments
Did you know that you can now book doctors appointments at Sixways clinic online? In the future you will also be able to order repeat prescriptions.
First you need to pick up a document from the surgery giving various bits of information necessary to access the service.
Then you will be able to register on www.patient.co.uk.  You will be given a choice of various times for each day for each doctor.
Sixways Clinic
Online Doctor Appointments
Did you know that you can now book doctors appointments at Sixways clinic online? In the future you will also be able to order repeat prescriptions.

First you need to pick up a document from the surgery giving various bits of information necessary to access the service.
Then you will be able to register on
www.patient.co.uk.  You will be given a choice of various times for each day for each doctor.

Good Neigbourhood Scheme


To cover increasing costs and to adjust for some anomalies there has been a revision of some of the charges. 
details and requests for assistance from the coordinators
Sheila Agius 820102
Di Brown 820271
Thora Corris 820242