This Month's Diary
Parish Council Meeting Tues 6th 7.45pm Village Hall Coffee Morning Sat 10th 11am Village Hall Quiz Evening Sat 10th 7.30pm Village Hall Friendship Club Tues 13th Almeley Chase Library Mondays 5th & 26th Telephone Box Pilates Tuesdays 6.15pm Village Hall GAYDON CALENDAR PROPOSED DATES BIG LUNCH SUN 16 JULY VILLAGE HALL SUMMER COFFEE MORNING SAT 19 AUGUST VILLAGE HALL CHRISTMAS FAIR SAT 25 NOVEMBER VILLAGE HALL CAKE MIXING SUN 26 NOV CHURCH CHRISTMAS LUNCH SUN 3 DECEMBER VILLAGE HALL BURNS' NIGHT SAT 20 JANUARY '18 VILLAGE HALL VILLAGE BARBECUE A SUNDAY IN MAY '18 VILLAGE HALL VILLAGE QUIZ NIGHT A SATURDAY IN JUNE '18 VILLAGE HALL
Sunday 4th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Burton Dassett
10.30 Morning Prayer Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Gaydon
6.00pm Evensong Farnborough
Sunday 11th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Farnborough
10.30 Holy Communion Fenny Compton
10.30 Morning Prayer Gaydon
10.30 Communion by Ext. Northend
6.00pm Evening Prayer Burton Dassett
Sunday 18th
9.00 Morning Prayer Farnborough
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Gaydon
10.30 Family Service Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Northend
6.00pm Songs of Praise Northend
Sunday 25th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Farnborough
10.30 Prayer & Praise Gaydon
10.30 Morning Prayer Northend
Parish Council News
Councillors
The Parish Clerk is pleased to report that Cllr John Brine has agreed to Chair the Parish Council at least until September. We thank John for his dedication, leadership and many hours spent working for us.
Cllr Annette Conway was welcomed to the Council. She has agreed to look into updating the Parish Plan or creating a Neighbourhood Development Plan. She will also be working closely with the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.
It is with regret that we have to report that Cllr Mirrin Lewis has
resigned. She has created the website, worked tremendously hard on traffic calming and has formed a community speedwatch team, as well as contributing to planning applications and the many other jobs that the rôle entails. Her enthusiasm and energy will be sorely missed. We wish her well for the future.
We have two vacancies on the Parish Council so if you are interested please contact the Clerk.
Crime
In view of the increase in crime, we need everyone to be vigilant and work together to try to protect our village. If you see any suspicious vehicles please note the registration numbers, location, date and time. Photos are great. This information can be given to the Police via 101 or the Clerk. Catherine Morgan is being invited to hear concerns and give advice to residents on how to protect property at the next Parish Council meeting (or the earliest possible).
Church Field
The contract for the purchase of the field was signed at May's meeting.
Completion will take place 2 weeks after the contracts are exchanged.*
Spitfire then have 6 weeks in which to erect a fence along the footpath. A questionnaire will be hand-delivered to every household in the parish regarding the use of the field. Please take the time to complete it as we really would like to hear from every house. The field will be owned by this parish and every resident will be contributing, via the precept, to the maintenance/equipment costs associated with it: so it is imperative that we hear your views. Once the questionnaires have been delivered councillors will be returning a week later to collect them. [*There is no date set as yet for exchange of contracts. Ed.]
The litter pick was a great success. Thank you to everyone who assisted.
The barbecue was a popular event with around 100 residents attending. Thanks to the many residents who helped and let's hope we can do something similar next year.
Link Road
County Highways are hoping to start work this month on the moving of the gate on the link road to stop vehicles from overnight parking; the redesigning of the island on the Warwick Road to deter vehicles from accessing this road; and, finally, the new road-markings consistent with the new road-scheme.
Environmental Area
Councillors were pleased that about 40 villagers attended the extraordinary meeting and asked questions about the environmental area and how to access it during construction. The notes taken by Cllr Hughes should now be on the websites.
Speed limit
Many thanks to the resident who has replaced the damaged 30mph sign on the Banbury Road. These signs are not highways-approved but they really do help to remind drivers of the speed limit.
Dogs
You will see an article from Cllr Claxton regarding dog fouling: a number of District Councils, including Stratford, are starting to put more resources into this irresponsible practice. The dog warden has said that legal proceedings are now taking place against owners who do not pick up after their dogs. There is a service whereby you can report an offender to the District Council and they will send an advisory letter to the person; your name will not be mentioned. Please help Gaydon Parish Council by reporting offenders.
Thanks to Cllr Claxton for erecting the dog-waste bin on the Warwick Road. We really hope that people start to use it. This area is particularly bad with dog-waste and dog-waste bags which have been 'fished out of the ditch'.
Draft accounts have been prepared and will be with our auditor shortly. They will be displayed on the website later this year but, in the meantime, if you would like to view them, please do contact the clerk.
Next meeting on Tuesday, 6 June at 7.45pm in the Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend.
Saturday and Sunday 17 & 18 June 12 noon to 4pm. Entry booklets for sale at the village hall £5, children under 14s go free. Eleven lovely gardens to see, floral displays in the church, lunches and teas in the village hall, competitions and much, much more...
As I write this I'm sitting in the vicarage surrounded by boxes. This week my husband, Adrian, and I started to move into the vicarage at Northend and we look forward to truly being part of the community.
I'm delighted to say that we will be here at Dassett Magna for at least the next year. It's amazing that we are in June already, almost halfway through the year. The last few months have been very busy and so much has taken place, there has been very little time for me to stand and stare. It hardly seems any time at all since we were exchanging Easter greetings and some of us were processing through Fenny Compton led by Alfie the donkey and Bishop Christopher on Palm Sunday. That reminds me that Jesus issued an invitation to his first followers: "Follow me." As followers of Jesus Christ today, he invites us to keep on following, to keep on growing in loving God and loving others. I wonder what that might mean for us today and how we will respond to that invitation? Nicki
A good twenty people joined members of the Parish Council to make sure that our village was free from litter on Saturday 29th April. It was a pleasure to see others just join in along the way to ensure that the whole village was covered! Cigarette butts were amongst the most common, a used extinguisher was the most unexpected, a great reel of blue rope was the most valuable and plastic bags full of dog poo were the most disgusting. But, all got cleared up.
I really do hope that the new dog bin is used on the old Warwick Road and that those who use the garage facilities are inspired to take their litter home with them.
And so, thank you to all who joined in to make that all-important difference - many topics ranging from the possible use of the new field to the importance of community were discussed. I, for one, got to know a few new faces and look forward to doing it all again to keep our village beautiful. John Brine, Chair GPC
Russian evening with Peter Donohoe on Saturday 17 June at 7.30pm at Warwick Hall CV34 6PP. See further details on the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra website: www.wso.org.uk
Bernard was in Greece in May and wrote:
I'm by the Lake in Kastoria watching the flocks of Dalmatian Pelicans. The Swallows already have well-fledged young here and are nesting on the ledges behind me. We have been tracking - and setting humane traps to relocate - a couple of Bears that have been terrorising the local villages; one even climbed into a green bin and knocked over a passing cyclist.
The wild flowers are spectacular here with huge swathes of Purple Scabious and Orchids; and there are many species of butterflies like the Queen of Spain fritillary and the Swallow Tail.
The bells of sheep and small black goats, which will only eat oak leaves from the forest, provide a background sound to spectacular bird song. There are Cuckoos and Turtle Doves but most spectacular are the Nightingales that sing all night.
That was a wonderful experience (very rare in the U.K.): we all got up at 2.30am to hear them - an amazing sound from a small brown bird that migrates from Africa and stays here until September.
Owls, too, like roosting in the old Turkish ruins here; and we climbed up a steep gradient to see a GOLDEN eagle's nest with two young. Bernard Price
At the Annual General Meeting in May the Chairperson, Sue Middleditch, gave her report for the past year. Thanks to increased bookings, the committee have been able to carry out improvements at both the Hall and the Cottage. Photos of old Gaydon are being enlarged for display later this year.
Villagers are reminded that the Big Lunch will be held this year on Sunday, 16 July at 1pm. Bring food to share or barbecue. Drinks provided by the Hall.
We are pleased to announce that the winner of our membership prize draw is Nina Winter. She will be able to enjoy 'afternoon tea for two' at The National Herb Centre.
We are desperately short of volunteers and would welcome new members to the team. It's a great way to meet people and you don't have to do it on your own. Link up with a friend. Interested? Call in and have a chat.
Finally, look out for a cream tea to celebrate the shop's seventh year.
Look forward to seeing you there! SR
Mobile Library
The Library will visit the Telephone Box at Gaydon from 1.35-2.05pm on Mondays 5th and 26th June.
Coffee Morning at 11am on Saturday 10 June . Books, bring-and-buy and raffle.
We are grateful to everyone who came to last month's Coffee Morning and Plant Sale; and to those who were not there but sent contributions and raffle prizes. The money raised will go towards the Pensioners' Christmas Lunch which will be held on Sunday 3 December this year.
Burton Dassett Restoration Fund
The University of Warwick Brass Ensemble is in Concert at Burton Dassett Church on Friday 16 June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 each and include strawberries and cream.
Contact Pauline for tickets at paulinecarr1@btcconnect.com
Members will meet this month on the 13th at 2.30pm at the home of Mrs Olive Richards, Almeley Chase, Kineton Road.
Can your team capture the coveted title 'Brains of Gaydon' and take away the gleaming Gaydon Quiz Cup?
Entry £7.50 per person, teams of four. Price includes interval with cheese and wine and a raffle.
Saturday 10 June at 7.30pm in Gaydon Village Hall.
Tickets available from the Village Store or phone 640349
Fund-raiser for St Giles' Church
Neighbourhood Watch
Appeal for information following series of burglaries:
Officers from Warwickshire Police were investigating eight burglaries in the south of the county on Wednesday 10 May. There were incidents in Wellesbourne, Farnborough, Southam, Barford and Gaydon.
The sixth reported incident occurred between 8.30am and 5.20pm when offenders forced entry to the rear of a house on Kineton Road, Gaydon.
The eighth reported incident occurred between 8.45am and 5.50pm at another house on Kineton Road where offenders forced entry to the rear of the house.
In two of the incidents, witnesses reported the offenders using a white Volkswagen Golf. Sergeant Simon Ryan said:
"We're currently treating these incidents as linked and we're also looking at possible connections to other recent burglaries in the area. We think there were at least two offenders and we're trying to put together a timeline of the offences to get a better idea of the their movements.
"We will be carrying out targeted high-visibility patrols in the areas affected to deter the offenders from striking again."
Officers are offering the following advice to residents to help keep their properties safe:
Lock windows and doors when you are not in the house, even if you are just going into the garden.
Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from letter boxes. Keep valuables out of sight of windows.
If you're going away on holiday ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
Leave a light and radio on if you are going out at night to make it look as though someone is in.
Make sure rear access to your property is sturdy and secure.
Keep ladders and tools secure so they can't be used to gain access to your property.
Mark valuable property with your postcode and house number and register for free with www.immobilise.com
Keep valuable jewellery secure, preferably in a safe.
If anyone has any information that could help police with their enquiries they should call 101 and quote incident 172 of 10 May 2017; also, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Ian Miller
Dog-fouling in the Fields
At this month's parish council meeting a resident challenged the need to clear up after your dog on footpaths and in fields. Hopefully the following should make it clear.
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 The Dog Control Orders (Prescribed Offences and Penalties, etc) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/1059) The Fouling of Land by Dogs (District of Stratford-on-Avon) Order 2009
This applies to:
"Any land that is open to the air (including land that is covered if it is open to the air on at least one side) and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment) within the boundary identified on the map* annexed to this schedule excluding land that is placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section 39(1) of the Forestry Act 1967."
*the map mentioned is a map of Stratford district.
https://www.stratford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/9352/Dog%20Control%20Order.pdf
This order does not specifically mention footpaths or fields; however neither does it specifically mention pavements. So it must be taken that it applies equally to both.
Please note also, that not being aware that a dog that you are in charge of has fouled is not a defence against prosecution. So be aware of what your dog is doing at all times.
'Stick and Flick'
The Forestry commission are encouraging the use of the 'stick and flick' technique. This is where the dog-owner uses a stick to flick the dog waste into the undergrowth out of harm's way. This method is not currently endorsed by the local authorities. Please bag it and bin it.
Once you've picked it up DO NOT leave the bag and its contents in the fields or hanging on a tree (unless you intend to pick it up at the end of your walk). This is littering and can lead to a similar prosecution. Discarded bags pose a threat to wildlife and other animals. When taking a bag out to use, be aware of surplus bags being dropped. Please pick them up.
Please be a considerate and responsible dog-owner think of those who also want to enjoy the area after you. Pick it up and bin it. AC
Further reading on the matter can be found at these web addresses:
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/animalsrightsofway
https://www.stratford.gov.uk/community/dog-warden-services.cfm
https://www.stratford.gov.uk/community/dog-fouling.cfm