Websites: www.cheddonfitzpaine-pc.org.uk and www.cheddonfitzpainevillagehall.co.uk Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council The Parish Councillors and Village Hall Committee are delighted to have had positive feedback to the first Parish Newsletter (January). People have said they were unaware that they were part of an established community and two school-friends have been re- united after living only two fields apart many years after going to the same school in Rochdale! What are the chances! We were also pleased to receive the following from a Maidenbrook newcomer: April 2015 Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish NEWSLETTER “Having recently moved to the area it has been really noticeable that the Parish Council here are so much more proactive compared with where I used to live. As a newcomer to the area the Parish Council website, the informative notice board on Waterleaze and now the newsletter have all been helpful to me. In addition I have appreciated the assistance provided to me by the Parish Clerk (Jo Pearson). Thank you.” Welcome to everyone. Community spirit is proving to be alive and well. Annie Durham has come forward to be the fifth Parish Councillor - one more person is needed to bring the Parish back to the full complement of six. Thanks are due to Phil Thomas for his support and hard work on behalf of the Parish in the past couple of years, for being Footpath Officer, and producing the first two Newsletters. Thank you too to Philip Boyce who has agreed to take on the role of Footpath Officer - very kind and we hope you enjoy walking in this beautiful countryside. Walkers generally are encouraged to take a pair of secateurs with them, and trim minor brambles and nettles especially round gates/styles as the vegetation grows through the year. Every little bit helps. Planning application 48/14/0051 - new roads linking A38 to A3249 near Tudor Park. This application was approved on 25/2/2015 - with the clear understanding by the County Highway planners that the effect is considerable on the Parish of Cheddon. The new roads are built to 21stC standards and the nearest 'rat run' roads built for the 19thC. The point that young children walk these roads from Rowford School to the Church was taken on board and assurances have been given that traffic calming measures will be designed to protect these areas. SCC Highways have confirmed that rural areas receive gully clearing every two years and this has taken place in March 2015. Maidenbrook Lane is receiving a priority of annual clearance. Every drain was full of silt which has now been removed. The Lengthsman, paid for by the Parish, will keep the gullies clear with regular maintenance. In order to keep the cost to the parish and tax payers at a minimum, it is requested politely that ALL road users are mindful of not driving on verges, or clipping roadside edges/hedges with lorries, tractors, trailers, cars etc. as the subsequent silt that is deposited on the road becomes washed down the drains. Please spread this message to all road users. For Parish Contacts and further information please refer to our website: www.cheddonfitzpaine-pc.org.uk and to the notice boards around the parish, or email us at: cheddon@live.co.uk Parish Events 10th April - Stoney Furlong - Sports afternoon 16th April - Annual Parish Meeting at 7:00pm 14th May - Parish Council Meeting at 7:00pm 25th July - Cheddon Flower Show - schedules available from Pyrland Farm Shop or committee members. The Parish meetings and the Flower Show take place at the Cheddon Fitzpaine Memorial Hall TA2 8JY. Contributions for consideration in next Newsletter by 16 May 2015 please - to Parish Clerk at cheddon@live.co.uk Cheddon Fitzpaine Village Hall The Parish Council had sufficient funds in January 2015 to pay off the Public Works Loan Board outstanding loan. This was paid off a few years early and related to the construction of the Memorial Hall. This magnificent hall rates highly amongst village halls and is used for widely differing needs. Please support and promote it. The Cheddoners Show - Dame Fortune Comes to Call was well received with 300 people attending over the 3 shows. The profits from this will go to the Hall, church and a local charity and will be announced shortly. Thanks go to the many people who give up their time for the show including performers, organisers and caterers. Thanks also to all who helped and/or attended the Jumble Sale at the hall on the 28th Feb. which raised £173 for hall funds. The next quiz will be held on the evening of 24th April 2015 in aid of hall funds. Teams of 4 will be welcome and the cost is just £6 per head to include a ploughman’s supper. All hall related enquiries should be addressed to Email: info@cheddonfitzpainevillagehall.co.uk Tel: 01823 413925 Pastoral Care Group We had a good start to the first of the series of talks taking place at the Benefice Office in Kingston St Mary on Community Visiting. There are notices on all the notice boards giving more information. Two more sessions are planned for after Easter on April 15th and 22nd. The sessions are very informal and start at 1.30 with coffee/tea and cakes, which are really very good. HOSPITAL TRANSPORT & PRESCRIPTION SERVICE (For residents of Cheddon Fitzpaine village only) If you would like your prescription collected, or you need to be taken for admission to or collected from hospital after discharge, then please contact one of the following: Liz Thompson 01823 451529 Ann Pugh 01823 451357 Mary Gunning 01823 412179 Taunton Citizens Advice Bureau www.tauntoncab.org.uk Trustee required - information on Notice Boards. If you think you can help guide our future success, please contact Liz Fothergill, Chief Officer, for an informal discussion on (01823) 448958, or email: liz.fothergill@tauntoncab.org.uk for a job description and application form. St. Mary the Virgin Church Cheddon Fitzpaine It is good news to know of the appointment of The Revd Tony Woodward as the new Associate Vicar. Tony and his wife, Carol, move into The Vicarage in Kingston during Easter week. The licensing service will be conducted by the Archdeacon John Reed and held at Kingston St Mary Church on Wednesday 22 April at 7pm. Drinks and light snacks served afterwards - please come and support Tony and Carol. Services in Cheddon Fitzpaine 22nd March – Holy Communion Service Friday 27th March – School Easter Service Thursday 2nd April – Maundy Thursday Eucharist Sunday 5th April – Family Service 11.00am Polite Notice - Suggestions Cashford Gate - Please do not double park causing obstruction to others and leave clear access especially for Emergency Vehicles – you never know when they might be needed. Blocked Drains - There have been incidents recently within the parish of blocked drains caused by Wet Wipes. It is costly for Wessex Water, and for householders where the problem is within the property, to remove blockages. The advice is not to put any wet wipe down drains – even those that say they are 'flushable'! Tudor Park to Yallands Hill Footpath - Would the person who has left a dozen used poo bags beside the path/in the hedgerow please desist from doing so. Two bins are provided - one at the bottom of Yallands Hill on the cycle path, and another on the play area in Waterleaze - please use them, do NOT leave used poo bags in the hedge/pathway as it is an offence and a danger to the children use this pathway.