BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL NEWS: JULY 2007
New Councillors
Two people from Bishampton applied to the Parish Council
for co-option to fill the two seats in the Bishampton Ward left vacant after
the election. They were both unanimously elected by the council and Mr David
Baldwin and Mr Duncan Burtoft were able to join in the June meeting straight
away, bringing the council up to full strength.
Footpaths
The Badgers Walk footpath has become very overgrown but is being
cleared as conditions allow - it is hoped it can be completed as soon as possible.
Community First Response Scheme
The council had a visit from an ambulance
officer to explain about an exciting new scheme set to be launched in the parish
soon. It involves local people being trained up and organising a rota system
to administer emergency first aid to people in the area, saving vital minutes
before an ambulance can arrive. A fully-automatic defibrillator machine enables
the volunteers to administer an electric shock. A group of volunteers has been
formed and the council has agreed to foot the £2,000 bill to buy the
equipment to help the scheme get under way.
Lengthsman
The council now has a Parish Lengthsman appointed – Dean
Gibson of Throckmorton – who will be seen very soon carrying out minor
highways works in the parish on behalf of the county council, as well as carrying
out some jobs around the villages for the parish council. Contact the clerk
if you want to report any highways issues.
Phone Mast
The parish council has, via MP Peter Luff, sent some questions
to the Government in an effort to find out more about the issue nationally.
Copies of the letter and the replies received from the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge,
(Minister of State for Industry and the Regions), from Ofcom, and from Ian
Wright MP, (Under Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and
Local Government) have been posted on the PC website, as below. Replies are
being drafted to discuss some of the points further and these will also be
added for parishioners to see.
Affordable Housing
It is the district council’s intention to provide
more affordable housing for people unable to get a foot on the property ladder
and all villages are obliged to survey their populations to establish the need
in each area. Housing officers have prepared a survey and this will be distributed
to everyone in October. The survey does not deal with any planning matters
at this stage – ie where housing should go or what form it should take – it
is merely to gather a picture of the need for such development in our parish.
Please take the time to complete the confidential survey and send it back.
Churchyard Mowing
The parish council agreed to donate £750.00 – half
of the cost – towards the mowing bill for Bishampton churchyard. The
church has to pay contractors now there are fewer churchgoers, and as a result,
fewer volunteers to keep the churchyard tidy. The council is investigating
adding this commitment to its own mowing rota next year.
Crime
With an increase in petty theft and vandalism in Bishampton recently,
the parish council has written to the police to ask for an increased presence
in the village and for more support for the Local Policing Officer, PC Julie
De Paris. In the meantime, Neighbourhood Watch, as well as residents, continues
to watch out for the culprits.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the council
is scheduled for Monday, September 3rd, at Throckmorton Parish Room. All parish
council meetings begin with an open forum session for people to raise issues
for consideration by the council. Alternatively, contact parish clerk Carolyn
Morris on 01386 554058 - email fimor@aol.com