Issue 26 September 2008
Stanton on the Wolds Parish Council
Parish Council Members:
Margaret Healy, Chairman 914 8654 Jim Goodman , Vice-chairman 937 3076
Bryan Baines, 937 2197 Angela Benney 937 6369 Roy Butler 937 2508
Alex McKee, 937 5068 and Mike Sheriston 937 5652
Clerk:
Mike Elliott, 19/21 Mains Street, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5AA, phone 937 6506
or Email elliottnews@btconnect.com
Volunteers sought to combat speedsters
New attempts are to be made by the parish council to establish a volunteer speed watch team for the village.
The council is hoping to appoint more volunteers to the team who would then be given training on the use of a speed monitor unit by the police.
At least six people are needed to volunteer for the group. The scheme, already operated by numerous other villages in Rushcliffe, enables checks to be made on the speed of vehicles at designated spots in the parish. Speeds exceeding the limit are recorded by the two operatives on duty and these are forwarded to the police. Letters are then sent to the drivers pointing out the error of their ways. If the same driver is recorded three times as an offender they can then be visited by a police officer and spoken to.
The speed watch team is covered by insurance provided by the parish council. It would also meet the costs of the yellow reflective coats worn by the team on duty and for the necessary signs that have to be erected.
The speed monitor unit is shared by some of the villages in the scheme and is based at Bingham Police Station.
Anyone willing to assist by joining the team is asked to contact the parish clerk Mike Elliott.
Remembrance Day Service
Councillor Roy Butler will represent the parish council at the Remembrance Sunday Service at the parish church at Stanton on the 9th November. The service will start at 10:30am with the Act of Remembrance outside at the War Memorial at 10:55am.
Watch the hang-over !
Residents in Stanton on the Wolds are being reminded they have a responsibility to ensure they do not allow their boundary hedges or trees to grow over pavements.
The law says that there should just be a seven foot clearance of overhanging branches on pavements and the parish council say this should especially be respected around new speed restriction signs.
Concerns have been expressed because pedestrians have to step off pavements to avoid overhanging growths and this can be very dangerous.
New member is co-opted
Mrs Angela Benney of Melton Road has been co-opted to membership of the parish council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Councillor Dennis Hackett. The council received three nominations for the single seat available.
Councillor Hackett has been thanked for his nine years of service in the council during which he had particularly worked on the publication of the village History Book and the creation of the council website.
Daffodils and Bushes
A request has been made to Rushcliffe Borough Council by the parish council for funding from them for the planting of more trees, bushes and daffodils near to the ornamental village name sign at the Browns Lane corner.
Public interest welcomed
The parish council welcome interest in their meetings from residents. Notices advising when they are to be held appear on the village notice boards and Minutes are available in Keyworth Library or via Email from the clerk. Approved Minutes go on the web as soon as possible after they have been accepted. And meetings held in the parish church are of course open for the public to attend.
Streetwise Team
Rushcliffe Borough Council's Streetwise Team continue to provide the area - and, of course, our own parish - with an effective scheme to clear litter etc from the streets and verges. Anyone can call out the Streetwise service if they consider litter needs to be picked up and can contact them by ringing 01159 819911 and asking for assistance.
Thurlby Lane - No speed measures
Notts County Council has rejected a call by the parish council for remedial action on Thurlby Lane aimed at slowing down the traffic there. The parish council had requested traffic calming measures.
A spokesman for the County Council said unfortunately there seems to be more and more inconsiderate drivers who ignore restrictions on the highway with total disregard to the safety of other road users and residents. "Speeding is a police matter and without constant enforcement which is unlikely given their limited resources this seems an impossible problem to tackle, The County Council do of course try alternative means of slowing down the traffic such as traffic calming measures as the parish council suggest. Obviously we receive many requests for such highway improvement works and with limited funding availability for highway schemes, any funding has to be prioritised to deal with injury accident reduction. I have liaised with our Accident Investigation Team and they have confirmed that there has been no injury accidents reported on Thurlby Lane in the last three years. We do spend significant amounts of money on improving road safety in the county. Central Government has charged us with reducing accidents involving death and serious injury and this is where we target our resources. I can understand that quoting accident statistics in this manner can often attract criticism along the lines of having to await the occurrence of accidents prior to measures being considered. It does however ensure that our finite resources are used as effectively as possible in road injury accident reduction terms. It is for this reason we woulkd not consider implementing traffic calming measures on this stretch of highway."
Bits and Bobs
Notts County Council has confirmed the diversion order they have made on the Stanton on the Wolds Footpath No.7
Problems of water standing on the highway at the Browns Lane corner after a rainfall are being investigated by Notts County Council following a request for action by the parish council.
The weather beat the planned parish council village walk early in August. A decision was taken to call the event off because of the conditions. It will now take place next Spring on a date yet to be confirmed.
A request from the Sherwood Foresters Regiment for assistance towards the erection of a memorial in Belgium for those from the Regiment who died in the First World War was approved and a grant of £15 agreed by members.
An early Medieval Pilgrim’s Ampulla
By: Alan & Val Hunt
A small lead flask was recently found lying on the surface of bare soil where turf had been removed, within 100 metres to the north west of All Saints Parish Church. It measures 41 x 29mm and has a small handle on either side at the top, one of which has been pushed in towards the body of the flask. It has been identified as a Pilgrim’s Ampulla: a miniature flask worn around the neck designed to hold Holy Water or Oil. In medieval England the Church encouraged people to make pilgrimages to special holy places called shrines. It was believed that if you prayed at these shrines you might be forgiven for your sins and have more chance of going to heaven. Others went to shrines hoping to be cured from an illness they were suffering from. The two most important sites of pilgrimage were the shrines of St Thomas a Becket at Canterbury (Becket was murdered on the 29th December 1140) and the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Other shrines include St Albans, Lindisfarne, Glastonbury,Windsor and Bromholme.
Pilgrim’s badges and ampulla could be purchased by pilgrim’s at various shrines as proof of a pilgrimage. The earliest simple forms date to the late 12th century. By the 15th century designs were considerably more intricate with the flask shape being spread out into the shape of a scallop shell or as a wheel with spokes. They were made of poor quality pewter or lead and were cast in stone moulds. The tops were closed by pinching and hammering the mouth of the flask shut.
The ampulla has no distinguishing marks so it may not be possible to associate it with any one shrine. It is similarly just as difficult to accurately date but it is probably 13th century. They are quite unusual finds. The Portable Antiquities Scheme run by the British Museum list a total of 554 ampulla found in the UK since 1998, including 20 ampulla found in Nottinghamshire (nearest to us was at Barton in Fabis and Gunthorpe), 25 in Leicestershire (nearest was found at Wymeswold and Barrow on Soar) and just 2 in Derbyshire. In the past it was suggested that these ampulla were used in the middle ages for an outdoor church service called “Blessing of the Fields” held in the Spring, however archaeologists now believe they were for purely personal use.
YOUR LOCAL CHURCHES
Stanton on the Wolds Parish Church: Rev. Jim Wellington, tel 0115 937 2017.
Catholic Church, Willowbrook: Fr Peter Vellacott, tel 01509 852147.
Methodists: Rev Peter Green, tel 0115 921 2146.
Baptists: Mrs Barbara Lister tel 0115 937 3565.
United Reformed: Rev Chris Ford, tel 0115 937 5086.