NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2007

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 11th July was attended by all Parish Councillors, the Clerk, the County Councillor , and one member of the public.

OCC Highways

Mr David Turner briefed the meeting on the outstanding issues following a discussion that he had had with Mr Peter Ronald of OCC Highways .

The speed survey/traffic count outside Willowbrook Cottage has been ordered

The red circled 30 mph has been marked on the road at the Rofford end of the Haseley Road but the Slow marking is still outstanding.

Subject to ownership there is a need to cut back any overhanging vegetation that restricts the visibility of the 30 mph signs as you approach the Haseley Road from Rofford.

The speed survey adjacent to Doctor’s House on the High Street has been ordered.

The drain on the Haseley Road has been marked for repair within the next four weeks.

Mr Peter Ronald is to investigate the availability of funding within the Road Safety Budget to fund the possible closure of the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold Street is £4,000.

The surface water on the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold Street appears to be exuding from the Manor and OCC are planning to arrange for additional drainage to relieve the problem.

The HGV survey took place on June 6th and it is hoped that all the analysis will be available by the end of July. Mr David Turner will convene a meeting of the”Five Villages” to consider the findings.

OCC – Replacement of 3 Tonnes weight limit

The Chairman read out a letter from OCC in response to the Council’s concerns about increasing the weight limit on the Wheatley Road from 3 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes. The Council agreed that the Clerk should inform OCC that it withdraws its objections to the recent Order and accepts the replacement of the 3 tonne limit with 7.5 tonnes.

A329 Advisory Group

Mrs Alison Shelton reported that there were no current projects being considered by the A329 Committee but that the view of the committee was for the Advisory Committee to be in place to respond to any tasks assigned to them by the Parish Council. She stated that a significant number of achievements had been accomplished since the Committee was formed in 2000. However due to lack of funding by OCC any further opportunities had been put on hold. The Council resolved to maintain the A329 Advisory Committee.

Youth Shelter

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had made contact with Mr Kevin Brophy of the OCC Youth Service. The Council agreed that Mr David Turner would invite Mr Brophy to the Council meeting on 12th September 2007.

Recreation Ground

Mr Mark Willis reported upon the recent spate of petty vandalism and expressed his concern that future revenues from the MUGA could be at risk. The Chairman expressed his thanks on behalf of the Council for the work that was being done by volunteers and in particular to Mr Mark Simms who had repaired the token meter mechanism for the MUGA lights.

Planning

P07/W0628: Orchard House Windmill Hill: open air swimming pool and pump house

This planning application was recommended for approval by South Oxfordshire District Council.

P07/W 0699 – The Old Cottage: Enlarge conservatory and integrate kitchen

This planning application was recommended for approval by South Oxfordshire District Council.

Village Hall

The Chairman invited Mr Barry Coward to highlight the key points of the paper he had circulated to members in respect of the Village Shop/Post Office project. The paper highlighted a number of inter-related matters relating to the lease between the Village Hall and the Parish Council in connection with the proposed new shop/post office. The Council accepted the proposal put forward by Mr Barry Coward to establish a Working Party of the interested groups in order to resolve the issues that had been raised in the document. It was agreed that the Parish Council representatives would be Mr Barry Coward and Mr David Wakeling and that the Clerk would act as secretary to the working party. Mr Barry Coward stated that he would invite two representatives from the Village Hall Management Committee and the Shop Steering Group to join the Working Party.

The Clerk drew the Council’s attention to the recent White Paper ‘Planning for a Sustainable Future’. CPRE had recently issued a letter inviting Councils to make representations on ensuring Local involvement in planning matters that affect their communities. The Council asked the Clerk to write a suitable letter expressing the Council’s concerns particularly in respect of the proposed new impact approach to householder development.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 12th September 2007 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

R. Fergusson Parish Clerk

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.

Freedom of Information Act – Parish Council Publication Scheme

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

including minutes, financial information and responses to planning

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

Mr Stuart McGill Chairman,      Mr Barry Coward Vice Chairman

Mrs Mabel Wood, Mrs Alison Shelton , Mr David Wakeling, Mr Tim Robinson

SODC 2008 NATIONAL BUS PASS SCHEME

“In April 2008 the current concessionary travel scheme which allows free local travel on off-peak bus services will be replaced by a national scheme. The national scheme will allow pass holders free off –peak travel anywhere within England on local buses. The scheme will not include long distance services such as National Express.

Because the scheme will be nationwide it will be necessary to have a nationally recognised buss pass. Therefore, the Government has decided to introduce a standard buss pass throughout England . The Council will shortly be arranging for the production of the new format bus passes for all existing pass holders, which will replace all existing bus passes. The new National bus passes will not be despatched until February or March 2008. Existing passes will be accepted until the end of March 2008.

Existing bus pass holders will be asked to submit a request for their new bus pass with a new passport size photograph to ensure that the bus passes show up to date images**. Digital photographs can be taken at the Council Offices in Crowmarsh to be used on the bus passes. Residents should telephone 01491 823413, to make an appointment, if they would like a photograph taken digitally, free of charge.

Application forms for requests for bus passes for the new National scheme will be available in due course.” (Extract from letter received from SODC 9 July 2007)

** If your current photograph is less that two years old it may not be necessary to have a new photograph as long as you are recognisable from the photograph.

I have included this extract for information only as I suspect that existing holders of bus passes will receive a letter directly from the District Council

Raymond Fergusson Parish Clerk

NO COLD CALLING ZONE FOR LITTLE MILTON

The Parish Council has agreed that the village should be consulted on their support to designate the village as a “NO COLD CALLING ZONE”. The plan is to deliver a letter to each household in late July/early August. It is very important that you respond to the questionnaire as Trading Standards will only implement a scheme that is supported by the residents. If there is sufficient support Trading Standards would be available in mid September with their mobile information stand to illustrate the practical working of the scheme.

If you want to know more about the scheme please contact me at 27 Chiltern View or telephone 01844 279150.

Raymond Fergusson, Parish Clerk

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY REFUSE COLLECTION DAY

The collection scheduled for Tuesday 28th August will now take place on Wednesday 29th August.

SODC: WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

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 .

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL –GARDEN WASTE COLLECTION

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 August are as follows:-Tuesday 14th; Wednesday 29th

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

COMMUNITY WASTE VEHICLES – DOMESTIC WASTE ONLY

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.                

CHURCH CLEANING ROTA FOR AUGUST

W/E 4th August                             -          Mrs L. Lovegrove/ Mrs C Coward

W/E 11th August                           -          Mrs E. Summers/ Mrs A Jones

W/E 18th August                           -          Mrs. G. Taylor/Mrs H Ridley

W/E 25th August                           -          Mrs A. Hawkins/Mrs. S. Jones

W/E 1st September                     -          Mrs. M. Davies/Mrs S A Dennis

Sally Ann Dennis 278029

CHURCH FLOWER ROTA FOR AUGUST           

W/E 5th August                            -                                 

W/E 12th August                          -          Wedding (T Quested)

W/E 19th August                         -                     

W/E 26th August                         -          Ann Hawkins

W/E 2nd September                    -          Sally Ann Dennis

Teresa Quested

GRASS CUTTING ROTA FOR AUGUST

W/E 3rd August                                                Raymond Fergusson

W/E 10th August                                   Phil Jones

W/E 17th August                                   Stuart McGill

W/E 24th August                                   David Hawkins

W/E 31st August                                   Tim Robinson

Raymond Fergusson 279150

BELL RINGING PRACTICE DURING AUGUST

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

Tuesday 7th August                               7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Sunday 12th August                            10.30 am to 11.00 am

Tuesday 14th August                             7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Tuesday 21st August                             7.30 pm. to 9.00 pm.

Tuesday 28th August                             7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Raymond Fergusson (279150)

FROM THE RECTORY.

August is always a quiet month with many of us taking a well deserved break from our usual round of tasks and work. May I wish you a very happy holiday, praying that you receive many blessings in so many ways.

However, there are two things happening in August to which I draw your attention.

Firstly, on the last Sunday of August, the 26th at 10.00 a.m. in Rycote Chapel we are holding our Benefice Communion. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor warmly welcome us, and Rycote Chapel is such a magical place so steeped in the history of our land, and to worship is such a place is such a delight and pleasure. Please do come along, it would be lovely to see you.

Secondly, on Saturday 18th August from 3.00 p.m. you are all invited to a GARDEN PARTY at the Rectory. It’s always lovely to welcome you all here, and do come along and bring all of your friends, and have a cup of tea and so on make the afternoon the wonderful occasion that it always us.   I look forward to welcoming you all here.

Victor Story 279498

FINDING THE WAY FORGIVE.

I was reminded the other day of one of the characters I met in my student days. He was an eccentric, that is true, but I sometimes think that eccentrics can, in a strange way, point to a truth about ourselves which otherwise might remain hidden. This eccentric person had one extraordinary attribute above all others, and that was he an expert in creating pyramids. Not those to be found in Egypt or Latin America , but human pyramids. He would get his friends together to stand on each other’s shoulders in amazing displays. Sometimes they were traditional and tapering, sometimes getting wider the higher they grew. It depended on the mood that our eccentric colleague happened to be in on that particular day.

In such a human pyramid, each individual’s contribution seemed insignificant, but yet essential and crucial. Take any one person away and the whole structure would collapse.

It’s a repeated theme which lies at the heart of the Christian message. St. Paul writes about us being the Body of Christ, where we all members one of another, and where we depend on each another, and the whole body is impaired if one member of that body is not there. On another occasion Paul says, “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others”.

Nowhere does this inter-dependence touch us more than in the question of forgiveness. When I have been hurt, I tend to want to be left alone. .So I erect a barrier. On one side is my foe, on the other side, me and my pain. I may invite others to join me-my family, or people from my own group, whose support I can usually depend on. I can stay trapped by my sense of grievance for years-even generations.

Jesus has many things to say to us which we might find difficult and which would disturb us in our settled and comfortable lives. So we tend to concentrate on those things which to us are more congenial. In this particular instance the challenge of Jesus to forgive is one of the hardest things he asks of us. Like learning the piano, it’s tempting to avoid the bits we really need to work at. 

Unless we can step across barriers in order to forgive, then we are trapped in the past, and the future looks bleak. That is why so many of the major conflicts of the world use the language of history, citing events of years past.

I have to ask myself whom in my life I have excluded from forgiveness? I need to reach out to them, to end my isolation, and open myself up to the future.

Lord, help me to realise that my life is connected to the lives of others; give me the courage to reach out to those who have wronged me.            Amen.

Victor Story  

FULLERS FIELD SERVICE

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 10th September 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.

GREAT  MILTON METHODIST CHURCH Minister:  Revd. Derick Chambers Tel: 212019

SUNDAY SERVICES IN AUGUST

For further information please ring me.

Yvonne Cartwright 279205

 BENEFICE SERVICES FOR AUGUST

RIDE OR STRIDE 8^TH SEPTEMBER 2007

This is an excellent opportunity to support the work done by the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust. If you would like more information please contact me at 27 Chiltern View or telephone 01844 279150

Raymond Fergusson

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Twenty of us rounded off our year with a wonderful picnic on the recreation ground at Ewelme, followed by an enthusiastic talk and tour by the Revd. Martin Garner, vicar of Saint Mary’s Church, Ewelme and a good friend of our very own Victor! He brought to life the recreated Tabernacle within the Church which fitted in well with our Old Testament Desert Stories about the building of the Tabernacle in the Bible which we have been sharing with the children this summer.

We’re now off on our holidays in August but will be back with our Autumn/Winter Programme, beginning at 11.00 am on Sunday 2^nd September in Saint James Church. Amongst other activities on that day we hope to update our Faith Portfolios and share our holidays so do bring along any photos, mementos etc. etc.

If you’re reading this as the parent of a ‘new’ 4 year old or any child up to the age of 13 then you’d be welcome to come along and find out more by joining our session on this date. Alternatively telephone and speak to one of the teachers Sarah Jones, Lucinda Arnold, Christine Jeffrey or myself.

Sally Ann Dennis (278029)

P.S. We would welcome any offers of parental help!!

FRIENDS OF LITTLE MILTON SCHOOL 200 CLUB

The prize wining numbers were drawn by the Little Milton School Children at their Good Work Assembly and were as follows:

July 2007

1st Prize           No  64              Joyce Swales                £18.00

2nd Prize          No  39              Caroline Jones               £11.00

3rd Prize           No   6               Erian Griffiths               £7.00

August 2007

1st Prize           No  15              Keith Warren Price       £18.00

2nd Prize          No   8               Dee Waldron                £11.00

3rd Prize           No 66               Barry Brooksbank         £7.00

Sue Marriott 279124

For the Friends of Little Milton School

NEWS FROM  LITTLE  MILTON  SCHOOL

We are fast approaching the end of another school year, and have had various celebrations in and out of school.   In terms of the very wet summer we are experiencing, we have been very lucky in our choice of dates!

The sun shone brightly throughout sports day, with rain falling just as the sports cup was presented to the Yellow Team.  The children had taken part in many events, from athletics to obstacle races, and team building exercises.  The whole afternoon was great fun – perhaps next year we will consider introducing a parents race!

The week of Maypole commenced with extremely gloomy weather predictions – but in true British spirit, the show went on.  Once again, the weather was kind, and our audience was bigger this year than ever before.  We are grateful to Laurelle and her team for their musical skills.  It is great to note that all of our musicians are former parents of the school, and it was nice to welcome back so many “old” boys and girls.  The children excelled themselves with their dancing skills, and everyone enjoyed the supper afterwards.  Many thanks to the Friends of the School for all of their work in organising the pig roast, vegetarian choices, bar and to parents for all of the salads.

All of our children have had an opportunity to learn French throughout the year.  Mrs Longshaw teaches the Juniors, and we have a visiting French teacher who works with the Infants and Year2/3 classes.  They had a great opportunity to put their learning into practise during our French Day, the highlight of which was a retelling by the Juniors of   “La Chenille qui fait des trous” – better known to us as The Hungry Caterpillar” Lunch, which consisted of pates, French bread and a huge selection of French cheeses, hams and patisserie was enjoyed by everyone!  It was great to see the children trying new foods!

The finale to the school year is the Leavers Assembly.   As our numbers have increased, we have had to move to the Pine Lodge, as we cannot fit all of the parents and children into the Library.  The Juniors have been learning the violin for the past couple of terms, and gave a great recital for parents!  We said a sad goodbye to our leavers and wished them well at their new schools, particularly  Andrea Gilding who is our first ever Year 6 leaver.

Eve Hunter – Head teacher

CRICKET MATCH –V- GREAT MILTON

Cricket matches between Great Milton and Little Milton are occasions of great drama and excitement and the match that took place on Thursday 19th July proved to be no exception.

It was an overcast evening and Little Milton won the toss and decided to put Great Milton into bat. Clearly this decision had nothing to do with the wicket or the conditions but simply on the premise that the match might last a bit longer! Great Milton started well but the Little Milton bowlers were not deterred as the ball sped to the boundary and it was not long before the wickets began to fall, well at least one or two. The final score after twenty overs was 159. It had been an excellent display of bowling and fielding that had managed to contain the strong Great Milton team to a modest score.

Hopes were high as the opening pair of Andrew Willis and William Goodman strode out to open the batting. After a few classic strokes the scoreboard was ticking along. Disaster struck as both openers were out to rash shots. Runs came quite freely but wickets were also falling. However a fantastic partnership between Mike Pennick and Vaughan Sadler soon had Great Milton scratching their heads…..was it going to be a defeat for the home team? With the light fading Great Milton felt the time was right to introduce their fastest bowler….”not quite cricket” many felt. It had the desired effect and soon it was down to the tail to win the day. Alas although it wagged (a bit of an exaggeration) Little Milton’s innings ended on 112 all out. It had been a great effort by all concerned. The team gathered for the traditional photograph with the lemonade flowing although some of the team went later to the Bull to drown their sorrows.