Issue 30 July 2009
Stanton on the Wolds Parish Council
Parish Council Members:
Jim Goodman , Chairman 937 3076 Michael Sheriston Vice-chairman 937 5652
Bryan Baines, 937 2197 Angela Benney 937 6369 Roy Butler 937 2508
Margaret Healy, 914 8654 and Alex McKee, 937 5068
Clerk:
Mike Elliott, 19/21 Mains Street, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5AA, phone 937 6506
or Email elliottnews@btconnect.com
Retiring Chairman reports on a busy year for council
Daffodil and shrub planting, calling out Streetwise to erase graffiti and remove litter, having telephone boxes and signs repaired, delivering the Parish News to every household - these are some of the jobs your parish councillors have been doing in the past year to help keep Stanton a pleasant place to live and to communicate what they are doing as your representatives, said retiring chairman Councillor Margaret Healy in the Annual Report presented to the Annual Parish Meeting in May.
Councillor Mrs Healy said they had been pleased to welcome Mrs Angela Benney as a new member in July and she was already enthusiastically sharing what needs to be done.
"As the first rung on the democratic ladder the parish council has an important role in liaising with Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. Thank you to Rushcliffe Borough Councillor Mrs Fiona Mason and County Councillor John Cottee for the interest they take in Stanton," she said.
The report said the council had had 18 planning applications in the past year, with 5 for the same property. "Dramatically different from the last year when then were more than 30," she said, adding that two of the successful applications resulted in new houses being created, making a total of 157 plus two vacant sites and some long term vacant properties. "The parish council is a statutory consultee but the ultimate responsibility for planning rests with the Borough Council."
Councillor Mrs Healy said the long awaited speed restrictions on Melton Road, Stanton Lane and parts of Browns Lane came into effect from June 2nd. "Opinion is still divided on the efficacy of these restrictions but at least now there is the potential to enforce some common sense on drivers."
The retiring chairman said to help focus minds a Community Speed Watch group with 12 volunteers has been formed under the leadership of Councillor Jim Goodman. "They have been trained in all aspects of the procedures. All they need now is the actual equipment ! They are on the waiting list."
The chairman, councillors and clerk had, she said, taken opportunities for training, attending planning seminars, budget and finance planning and the Parish and Town Council Conference organised by Rushcliffe Borough Council. "The Borough Council is to be congratulated on the organisation and effectiveness of the training events it has organised in the past year. It is important that councillors attend these events, not least for the opportunity to share experiences with neighbouring parish councils."
The parish council was represented at the Remembrance Sunday Service at the War Memorial here.
Looking forward Councillor Mrs Healy said there were concerns. "There has been an increase in fly tipping, vandalism and burglaries. There is not a McDonalds on Melton Road so we can assume the litter is being thrown from cars. Why would someone drive to Thurlby Lane to drop off a fridge ? There is a knock-on effect when it becomes more complicated to dispose of rubbish."
"It must be acknowledged that "Streetwise" is an excellent service which we frequently request to deal with fly-tipping and litter."
Councillor Mrs Healy added: "Unfortunately the grass verges which are a feature of Melton Road and Stanton Lane and which most residents have kept in pristine condition have been spoiled by selfish parking. I would appeal for residents to keep their guests and builders under control and save our grass verges. There are no glib answers to these issues except to ask all residents to keep their corner clean and be alert to what is going on in the village."
"Stanton doesn't have a village hall or pub but we can all enjoy the great asset of open space. Every year a report on the condition of footpaths and bridleways with a request for repairs is sent to the County Council. As a result the path from Stanton Lane to the school has been greatly improved and other requests have been met. We appreciate the interest Jane Baines, the footpaths officer, takes in Stanton"
"Maybe this year we can have a daffodil-planting day involving everyone."
"Something for you to think about. The 4-year tenure of this parish council will end not later than June 2010. There will then be an opportunity for residents to elect parish councillors. Plenty of time for you to consider if you could contribute in this way to keeping Stanton on the Wolds a good place to live."
New Chairman elected for parish council
and thanks to the old
New Chairman of the parish council is Councillor Jim Goodman, taking over from Councillor Mrs Margaret Healy who retired. Councillor Mike Sheriston is the new Vice-chairman.
Meanwhile the new chairman gives thanks to Mrs Healy, chairman for the past two years and an active councillor for several years before that. He says she has been a very enthusiastic chairman and highly successful in ensuring that the council business has been conducted efficiently and effectively during her period in charge. "Margaret is now relinquishing the chairman's role but will continue as an active member of the council. Many thanks to her for the considerable effort she has put in, without people like Margaret nothing would be achieved."
Trust dates back to 1712
Stanton's The Rev Thomas Ousley Charity Trust is changing.
Chairman John Stockbridge told the Annual Parish Meeting that when the Trust was initiated in the year 1721 by the Rev Thomas Ousley - a Minister at Stanton Parish Church - it was to help the 'poor of the parish'.
The Charity Commission have said that in future the money can be used for the benefit of the inhabitants of the parish and not necessarily for the poor.
Balance of funds held is only £269
Bits and Bobs
The parish council have supported a local resident who wrote to them to express concerns on the condition of footpaths alongside Melton Road. The Clerk Mike Elliott has written to Notts County Council Highways Department to ask for work to be carried out to bring them back into an acceptable condition.
Eighteen parishioners - the most for a number of years- attended the Annual Parish Meeting held in the parish church on May 13th. The financial report showed the council ended the year with £11,469 in hand.
Rushcliffe Borough Council member Councillor Mrs Fiona Mason reported on her work when she spoke to the Annual Parish meeting.
She particularly spoke on the work of the planning committee and said the majority of decisions at the Borough Council were now delegated to officers.
After 22 years as Head Teacher at Willow Brook School Mr Ian Jenkinson is leaving. His final day at the school will be on the 21st July. A presentation is being organised to allow parents of hundreds of children to pay tribute to him and any donations can be posted through the door of "Lynwood" at 4 Rose Grove, Keyworth. Two other long serving staff members will also be leaving at the same time. Mrs Osbourne who has been at the school for 32 years and Mrs Moule who has been there 22 years.
There will be a meeting of the Keyworth Bereavement Self-help Group on Thursday 23rd July at the Centenary Lounge at the village hall on Elm Avenue at Keyworth. (7.00pm) The Group is for people struggling to cope with a bereavement.
The Stanton snail(s)
The “Victorian History of the Counties of England: A History of the County of Nottingham”, Vol 1, 1970 contains a statement that the Green Hairy Snail (Hygromia revelata, Gray) has been recorded from our parish by Mr E.J.Lowe. This would be very unusual, as this species has only been found on the downs along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall and in the Channel Islands. The Green Hairy Snail is a small species with a very thin and semi-transparent yellowish-green shell. The thick epidermis is covered with short white hairs which are easily detached. The umbilicus is narrow and shallow. Although a specimen(s) may have been brought to the area by travellers/holidaymakers, it was subsequently found that the original specimens had been misidentified.
As part of the European Invertebrates Survey, an “Atlas of the Non-marine Mollusca of the British Isles” was published in 1976. For the 10 km square within which our parish sits, 108 out of the 139 UK species have been recorded. Nearly all the species of mollusc that one would expect to find in our parish have been recorded with the marked exception of one. There are two very similar species of land snail, the White-lipped Banded Snail and the Brown-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis, Müller and Cepaea nemoralis, L). These two species both have shells with a yellow or pinkish-buff ground colour and typically five brownish lines on each whorl. The numbers of lines present are very variable and shells may be found with none or up to the full complement of five bands in a variety of combinations and amalgamations. As their names suggest, the ridge at the mouths of the two species are either white or brown. The Brown-lipped Snail is very common and is the favourite food of thrushes. It is probably found in every garden in Stanton, however the White-lipped Snail has strangely never been recorded either from Stanton or from the associated 10km square, even though it has been recorded from 10km squares all around us.
Viewers of the BBC “Springwatch” programmes may recall Kate Humble holding a plate of very active Brown-lipped Banded Snails whilst she was describing them.
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 Mike Lees, tel 0115 921 2146.
Baptists: Mrs Barbara Lister tel 0115 937 3565.
United Reformed: Rev Chris Ford, tel 0115 937 5086.