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Notton
Newsletter May
2004 ------ooooooOOOoooooo------ Editorial The Gala is a very
important event in the Village’s Calendar – please support it and if anyone
would like to help please contact Hugh McCallum on 700346. Christine
Archbell (722537) Notton
Gala 2003 - Sunday, 13th June As I am sure you are
aware, Frank has stepped down from the role of Chairman and, as his successor, I
wish to thank him on behalf of the whole Village for his brilliant work over the
past four years (follow that!!). This year it is my
intention to follow last year’s Children’s Gala with similar emphasis on
children’s games and races which were proving such a wonderful success prior
to the downpour. The Gala is of
particular importance this year as the funds raised, after the various
charitable donations, are urgently required for the major works being carried
out on the Village Hall, modernising it for the coming years. Please attend if
possible to enjoy this wonderful village show and all pray for a whole day of
sunshine. Hugh
McCallum - Gala Chairman Notton
Village Shop Another
trading year is now complete, and I am pleased to inform you that it looks as
though this has been as successful as the first year. It would, however, be unfair to discuss trading in more
detail at this time, as this should be discussed at the AGM. On a more difficult note, we have had considerable problems
with the flat above the shop after losing the tenant we inherited when we
acquired the business. Our second
tenant, who has since left, found considerable problems with the premises and it
now appears that a substantial amount of work needs to be undertaken, although I
hasten to add this is not outside our financial ability. I
would like to thank my colleagues on the Board for their continued support, and
indeed pass on my thanks to everyone involved with the shop. Frank
Carter Volunteers - We have been fortunate to
obtain the services of two more volunteers but we are desperate for more people
to come forward particularly with the incidence of holidays.
It is not an onerous commitment nor need it be on a very regular basis.
The villagers saved the shop and Post Office so we do not want it to be
at risk again which could be the case at some time in the future. Please give your name and
telephone number in at the shop and you will be contacted to discuss the matter. Alan
Gale -2- Fund
Raising 200
Club – This is
run to make money for the upkeep of the Village Hall.
We have a monthly draw of £50, £15 and £15. It is £11 a year, starting September and anyone wishing to
join can ring me anytime. Dates
for your diary:-
Refreshments
for Gala – Anyone
willing to help on the day or bake cakes and scones please contact me Pat
Carter (728428) Cricket Last
season we were promoted to Division 1 of the Leeds & West Riding Cricket
League. At the time of writing the club has played two matches, winning one and
losing one. New
players and spectators are always welcome. This season we are additionally keen
to recruit a scorer, young or old. This would involve attendance at matches on
Saturdays. We offer a match fee of
£10, a free tea, and transport to and from fixtures as and when required. For
information contact - Tony Spencer - 01226 728860 or Bob Moorhouse - 01226
725242 Bob
Moorhouse Notton
Tennis Club We start this contribution reporting the mindless vandalism of our tennis club fencing and the destruction of our nets with the total damage being over £300. We would ask all villagers to be particularly observant and report any activity which you consider unusual. It is pleasing to see
the courts now being much more used than hitherto, with a number of families
enjoying the excellent facilities. 30
juniors are now having Saturday morning coaching and although the numbers are a
little higher than we would like, our excellent coach, Chris Annabel, would
appear to be coping well. Ending on a sad note;
we were sorry to learn of the death of one of our members, David Carrington, who
continued playing despite suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. Our condolences went to his wife, Ann, also a member, and his
two sons. Alan
Gale - Chairman -3- Village
Hall Work is nearly completed for the improvements of the hall which has
included installing gas central heating, lowering the ceiling in the main
hall and upgrades to the toilets/washroom facilities. We are intending to have an open evening to welcome old and new residents
to the hall once the work has been completed. This
has been a very costly exercise so we hope that you all will use the hall for
that very special birthday or party event. Please
contact June Clark on 722346 to discuss dates, fees, etc.
At the AGM we welcomed Eleanor Turner, Pam McGaynor and Michael
Tate to the Committee. June
Drysdale - Chairman Notton
Flower and Vegetable Show Sunday,
5th September 2004 The gardens are
growing apace and it is time to think of the Flower & Vegetable Show.
It is open to all who live in Notton and those who are users of the
Village Hall, i.e. members of the clubs, classes and institutions who rent the
hall. There are the usual
categories – flowers, plants, vegetables, fruit, home made produce and
hobbies. It is not too late to
plant your sun flower!! This
year’s photograph competition is divided into 2 categories:- 1.
A humorous coloured photograph with caption 2.
A coloured photograph of your favourite view The schedule of the
show will be delivered in July. Do please take part in
this village event. June
Clark Gardening
Club Our first meeting of
2004 was in February with a video of the Gardens of Heligan. In March we spent an interesting day at Harlow Carr Gardens,
the Northern branch of the Royal Horticultural Society. Unfortunately the speaker arranged for the April meeting
cancelled his talk but nevertheless we had an enjoyable evening. This year we have a
competition running to see who can grow the largest amount of potatoes from one
seed potato grown in a pot. A seed
potato was given to each member. Judging
will be at the Flower & Vegetable Show. This month (May) a
garden walk was organised. We
visited five gardens in the village, most of it in the rain, but we were
undeterred. Thank you to those
gardens who welcomed us. June
Clark Notton
Painting Group We are holding an
Exhibition and sale of our paintings – in watercolour and other Medias.
This is to be held in the Village Hall on Sunday, 6th June
from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.
EVERYONE WELCOME. Notton
Neighbourhood Watch At the Neighbourhood
Watch Conference in March we were told that West Yorkshire Police now have the
highest number of Police personnel since 1974, with a further 250 to be
recruited in 2004-2005. Overall
there is a 20% reduction in robbery. As far as Notton is
concerned our crime figures are well down with a total of 11 crimes from 1st
January 2004 to 4th May 2004 compared with 17 crimes in the same
period last year. They are:-
However, we must not
get complacent, especially during the warmer weather. Please remember to keep all external doors and windows locked
at all times to prevent sneak-in thieves and keep sheds and garages well
padlocked with all garden equipment safely stowed away. Joan
Booth - 722398 Parish
Council Appointment
of Parish Clerk (Part Time) Applications are
invited, preferably from suitably qualified and experienced individuals, to fill
the post which will become vacant in October 2004, when the present post holder
retires. The successful applicant
will be required to carry out a range of statutory, administrative and financial
duties including preparing the Agenda and the compilation of Minutes for all
Parish Council meetings, the payment of accounts and the maintenance of
financial records, dealing with correspondence and providing a
supporting/advisory roll in response to legislative changes and public sector
initiatives. A full job description
is available for interested candidates. The
current workload is in the region of 10 hours per month and the Parish Council
meets on the first Thursday of the month. The
post is part-time and the salary scale applicable to the post is the NJC
published hourly rate for part-time Clerks for parishes with a population of
less than 5000. Further details can be obtained from the current post holder
at the following address or telephone 01924 367401 or e-mail MikeStarford@aol.com.
The Clerk to the Parish Council, 28 Clarke Grove, Pinders Heath,
Wakefield, WF1 4TH. Due to the complete
re-election of the whole Wakefield MDC, Ward Boundary changes, MEP elections,
postal voting and alterations to the dates of the Elections, we, the residents
of Notton, have no idea who will be representing us because we will become part
of Ward 5 – known as Crofton, Ryhill and Walton.
This situation was discussed at the AGM of the PC but could not be
concluded until after the Elections. Most
of you know that representation was made on your behalf at the time Boundary
Changes were being discussed by WMDC but unfortunately we lost.
-5- Norman
Hazell has written a note of farewell following the Ward Boundary changes –
this is displayed in the Village Shop if anyone would like to read it. 12 months have passed
since Peter Arnott resigned his seat as Chairman of the PC and during this time
certain things have happened:- ·
Long and
detailed discussions regarding the Housing Development in Bleakley.
The Parish Councillors are still writing to the authorities regarding
lack of information given and the amount of consultation given through the
offices of the WMDC ·
Oliver Twist
crossroads – again a very contentious subject because we cannot obtain a
straightforward answer to our requests ·
Improvements
were completed to part of George Lane to the A61. I hear conflicting reports on the completed section but for
my part I fully appreciate the improved view at the intersection of George Lane
to the A61 ·
The Parish
Councillors have agreed that Council sign up to the ‘Vital Villages
Initiative’ and as a result there is to be a Public meeting in the Village
Hall on 25th May 2004. All
houses with the Parish will receive an invitation to attend.
I do hope that as many people as possible will attend and bring their
family because the ‘Parish Plan’ produced as a result of this meeting
involves ALL the family ·
Discussions
are in hand with the Tree Officer to the WMDC regarding the indiscriminate
cutting down of well established trees in the Parish. In some cases to allow speculative building to take place.
As a result of discussions I have been asked if there are any interested
people who would like to become Tree Wardens in the Parish.
If so please contact me and I will pass on all the information. ·
At long last
it would appear that there are signs that the footpaths within the Parish are to
be re-surfaced. At least we shall
be able to walk in safety through the village!! ·
At various
Parish meetings, we have had Senior Officers from WMDC to speak and hopefully
listen to some of the problems facing this rural village and its inclusion in
the overall District Council Plan – There’s always hope! ·
Finally, can I
through this Newsletter, thank all the people who have supported the PC and the
Councillors over the past 12 months and remind you that we are only as effective
as you wish us to be and that you are always welcome at any of our meetings Terry
Hall - Chairman
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