Apr07Newsletter

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 14th March was attended by six Parish Councillors, the Clerk, the County Councillor and the District Councillor and four members of the public.

The Clerk reported that he had attended a meeting with Mr David Turner and Mr Peter Ronald of OCC Highways in respect of the slip road between the Haseley Road and Gold Street on Tuesday 13 March 2007. The initial response was that any change to its current status could not be justified in financial terms although there was a recognition that there was a potential danger to pedestrians. Mr Ronald also reported that consideration had been given to such a change by the Travel Plan to School initiative and a decision had been taken not to pursue it. However Mr Ronald agreed to take the matter forward as the Parish Council was keen to address the potential danger. The Council agreed that it would make a financial contribution to the project if it was progressed. The Clerk stated that it was unlikely that the project would be progressed in 2007 – 08 as the programme had already been agreed.

The attendees of the meeting were joined by Mr Mark Willis. As a result of a concern raised by a resident on the Haseley Road the meeting discussed the options available to help reduce the speed into the village from Rofford. The action points agreed were:

The Council agreed that the speed survey in the High Street should be conducted outside the Doctors House. This had been agreed at an earlier meeting and Mr David Turner stated that he would inform Mr Peter Ronald of OCC.

The Clerk informed the meeting that OCC Highways had agreed to remove the mounted light adjacent to the crossing after consultation with their Road Safety office. There will be a review of the decision after a year to ensure that the decision is fully acceptable and assuming that it is the control box on the pole will be removed.

The Chairman invited the Clerk to update the Council since the February meeting. The Clerk referred to the report that had been received from OPC following their survey on Thursday 22 February 2007. The work that had been done indicated that the drains at Cremar Cottages and in Old Field had significant amounts of debris and this prevented OPC from carrying out a meaningful survey of the drains with their CCTV camera. The report included a recommendation for further work to be done. The Council agreed that the interested parties should receive a copy of the report with a letter from the Council in which it would offer to call a meeting in order to take the report forward. As the Council were not responsible for the drains it considered that it should offer itself as a facilitator if the interested parties felt it would be helpful. The Clerk indicated that the cost of the initial survey was £210.

The Chairman referred to questionnaire that had been circulated to Council members and invited any comments. The Clerk suggested that the format used in the recent Local Transport Survey should be copied. The Council suggested one or two changes and the Clerk stated that he would provide an amended questionnaire in the new format. It was agreed that the Council members would distribute the forms.

Mr Mark Willis informed the meeting of the quotes in respect of the grass cutting for the year 2007-08 that had been received from Spadework UK and Isis Accord. The Council decided to accept the Isis Accord quotation as it was significantly lower than Spadework UK.

The Council considered a quotation of £1,180 for an additional gate into the rear of the MUGA. Although there was an earlier problem with users damaging the fencing to retrieve their ball this appeared to be no longer a problem. The Council asked that a further quotation is received to see if the work could be done for a lower cost as they felt that the current proposal could not be justified.

P07/W0060: Brooklands; Dormers to first floor and replace kitchen window with bi-fold doors

The Council noted the change of description that now included the words “and replace the first floor window with French doors and a Juliet style balcony”

The Council expressed their support for the re-submitted application and considered that they were in broad terms acceptable. However the Council members had some concerns about the compatibility of the materials used for the extension. The use of slate on the roof and the rendered exterior on the extension gave rise to most concerns.

After careful consideration the Council decided to recommend that the applications should be refused to enable a more considered view to be taken on the materials that were proposed for the extension. The Council would be very happy to meet with representatives of the Planning Department and Punch Taverns to share their concerns. The Council believed that it is important that the materials are the most appropriate as The Lamb will be an important feature within Little Milton for many years to come.

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had received a note from Mr Tony Clark. It seems that the person at Holton now responsible for the paths in Little Milton, Mark Sumner, has met the landowner to discuss the problems. The landowner has agreed to reinstate the footpath across the field south of the school and also to allow OCC’s team to install new stiles at the present bridge location on footpath 6 and also to install another bridge on footpath 7 on the Little Milton/Stadhampton boundary.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 11th April 2007 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

Please note that the complete minutes of the Council are now included on the Council website www.littlemilton.org.uk after they have been approved by the Council.

Residents can see the records of the policies and practices of the Parish Council

consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk (Raymond Fergusson –279150). Current Council member are:

As I mentioned in the March Newsletter there will an election for the six seats available on the Parish Council on Thursday 3 May 2007. A detailed timetable is displayed on the Parish Council notice board as well as in the Post Office. I have set out below the key dates for submitting nomination papers for the election

I have a limited number of nomination papers for any resident who wishes one as well as a copy of the electoral roll for information in respect of electoral roll numbers. If you have any further questions about the forthcoming election please do not hesitate to contact me at 27 Chiltern View or telephone 279150.

There is due to be an election of the whole of the District Council on 3^rd May, 2007. I shall be standing for re-election as the Liberal Democrat candidate.

The Council has recently reviewed the garden waste service, and has agreed to some improvements which will be available from April 2007.

There are a limited number of smaller wheeled bins (140 litres) available for those who do not generate as much garden waste. The cost of the service is £29 per year or £27.50 if you pay by direct debit. In exceptional circumstances residents who are unable to use or accommodate a wheeled bin may be offered a year’s supply of 110 litre sacks (52 sacks for £29 or £27.50 if paying by direct debit). The Council will need to be satisfied that there is a genuine barrier to the use of the 240l litre wheeled bin container for garden waste.

For those residents who would like to register their interest or find out more about the new options they can contact SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email recycling@southoxon.gov.uk.

For a charge of £35 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £7.50 per bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. To arrange this service residents can call the Public Amenities Team on 01491 823416 or print a copy of the form from the Council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk .

Your bin will be collected on the same day as your normal refuse and recycling. Please ensure however that your bin is placed in a safe place that does not obstruct the pavement or highway. The dates for April are as follows:-Tuesday 10th & 24th

If you are interested in this service please contact SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email: public.amenities@southoxon.gov.uk or visit www.southoxon.gov.uk

The collection scheduled on Tuesday 10 April is now revised to Wednesday 11 April

The annual village litter blitz will take place over the weekend of 21 April to 22April. I will arrange to collect the equipment from SODC. If you feel that you can help please contact me. In previous years there has been an excellent response.

The Oxfordshire County Council Waste Recycling Centres at Redbridge and Oakley Wood are open Monday to Saturday 8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. and Sunday 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Trust I have not made any errors this month….sorry for last month’s incorrect rota. Ed

It is that time of the year again when dedicated volunteers cut the churchyard grass. There is always room to accommodate more volunteers so do not feel that you cannot help. Please contact me on 279150

Just to let Villagers know that the Bell Ringers will be ringing in St. James’ Church, Little Milton on

I had reason to recall that this time last year was the tenth anniversary of the Dunblane massacre, in which a lone gunman shot 16 children and their teacher. I remembered that the Sunday following was Mothering Sunday, and it was with heavy hearts that people from all over the village gathered in the tiny village Church to express in prayers, too deep for any words, their emotions, fears and anxieties. I forget now exactly what I said, but in that Morning Service, I made the statement which we say at every Communion Service,

Somebody on their way out from Church, said, “Where is God in the world?” I recognised that it must have been hard to ask that question. How hard it must be as each year comes round for all the families and friends involved to cope with their memories and loss. Where was God for those children?

The psalmist of old wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me”. And we ask: ‘just how is that? ‘How are you with us?

We’ve been having our Lent Lunches, and I’ve been reminded of the millions of children who go hungry, struggle in poverty with their families. We may also ask, “Where is God in that?” The fact is that the world isn’t as it should be. And it is that way because God has made us as we are- capable of such cruelty and neglect as well as greatness and love. We may wish He hadn’t; that somehow He had made it impossible for gunmen to destroy. But He didn’t. There’s a song by Sydney Carter, the hymn writer with the ironic chorus: “It’s God they ought to crucify instead of you and me”.

That’s the only response I think there is. Good Friday will soon be here, with its many messages. But one message from Good Friday I find most helpful is in the image of the water and blood flowing mingling down from the wounded Christ. Water, Cleansing-forgiveness: blood-life. The Spirit’s gifts, the Spirit’s meaning. It was Paul who could write to Timothy and say: “God has given us his Spirit, not the Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, love and self control” 2 Timothy 1 verse 7.

God does take responsibility for the mess and the pain, He does give us the freedom to create such tragedies, but He also chooses to share in the pain, alongside us, and through his Spirit offers new choices that lead to life, and not death, but it’s up to us to use those choices for love, light, for good, and not evil.

Lord, give us your Spirit, the Spirit of power, love and self-control, that we may be part of your work of healing and hope.

Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting with be held following on from the Benefice Communion Service on Sunday 29^th April in St. James’ Church Little Milton at 11.30 a.m. and you all are welcome to attend. There is of course, all of the usual business of an Annual Meeting. We shall have our election of Churchwardens and the PCC, we shall hear reports of how we are doing, both financially and otherwise, but an annual meeting does give everyone in the parish the opportunity to raise any matter which is concerning them, and to make their voice heard.

In connection with the meeting we have to prepare a new Church Electoral Roll. The Roll is a measure of our strength, and our common commitment to our Lord and our desire to worship him through St. James’. In this year, those who are on the present roll will need to reapply, which means filling in a simple form to be returned to our Electoral Roll Officer, Mr. Paul Jeffery, 1, Chiltern View. Indeed anyone who wishes their name to be included on the Roll and hasn’t been previously will also need to complete the form. Paul would be very happy to help you with this. Application forms are also available at the back of the Church and also from me.

We all like to think that our Church will be there for us, and for our Church to thrive. But for these things to be, it needs the active and supporting involvement of the people of our community. We cannot leave our worship to others. We cannot worship by proxy. We live in challenging times. There is a nationwide shortage of clergy. Our consumer society has created a Sunday of choices and perceived priorities, of which going to Church is but one. People love their freedom, and don’t want to be committed. It was Isaiah of old, who responded to God with, ‘Here am I, send me’ In today’s climate, I wonder if people would respond by saying, ‘Here am I, but send him’. We live in challenging times. Even more so than, perhaps at a point more than in any other age, we need each other, because we belong together, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual meeting on the 29^th April after the Service.

The Treatment for the Death Watch Beetle in St. Mary’s is due to begin on Tuesday April the 10^th, straight after the Easter Bank Holiday Monday. It is anticipated that the work will take two weeks. As a precaution, the Benefice Communion, scheduled to be on the 22^nd April at 10.00 a.m., will now be held in St. Peter’s, Great Haseley at 10.00 a.m... I do apologise for any inconvenience. This problem with the beetles has been with us for many, many years, and we hope that by this treatment, a good solution is found, ensuring that the fabric of our church will in some way be conserved, and future damage limited.

Palm Sunday falls on the 1^st April, and the usual monthly pattern of Services will be followed.

On Maundy Thursday the 5^th April, there will be an Easter Craft Morning for children of 5 -12 years from 9.30 a.m., and in the evening at 7.30 p.m. the Service of Communion will be commemorating the night that He was betrayed.

On Good Friday, there will be a devotional service, reflecting on the crucifixion, in St. Mary’s at 11.00 a.m... This Service will last about 45 minutes.

I realise that many people will have friends and family with them over the holiday, and please do not hesitate, bring them with you to Church. We would love to see you.

Usually this is held on the second Monday of each month at 6.00 p.m., but because this particular Monday in April is a Bank Holiday, for this month the service will be held on the 16^th April in Fullers Field, Common Room at six.

On the second Monday of each month there is a service of prayer, readings and hymns in Fullers Field Community Room, Great Milton. The service is shared with our Methodist friends. The service starts at 6.00pm and lasts about 30 minutes. The next service is scheduled on Monday 16th April 2007. If you would like to attend the service but require transport please contact Raymond

Fergusson of 27 Chiltern View; telephone number 01844 279150 who will ensure that you are taken to the service and collected after it is finished.

The Benefice of Great Milton, Great Haseley and Little Milton

Maundy Thursday

Craft Morning

9.30-12.00

Thursday 5^th April

The Neighbours Hall

Great Milton

50p towards cost of Hall.

All children between the ages of 5-12 years made very welcome. Younger children may also join us if accompanied by a parent.

Contact Sarah Jones 278120 for further information.

Friday 13th April	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Saturday 14th April	Wheatley Primary School	8.00 – 12.00 pm
Friday 20th April	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 27th April	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Sat 28th April	Wheatley Primary School Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 12.00 pm 8.00 – 12.00 pm

1st	9.30 a.m.	All Age Worship led by Rev Derick Chambers
8th	10.00 a.m.	United Service at Chalgrove
15th	11.00 a.m.	Holy Communion led by Rev Charlotte Collins
22nd	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs Betty Blake
29th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Mrs Jan Grimwood

LITTLE MILTON

GREAT HASELEY