This Month's Diary
Souper Saturday Sat 2nd 12-3pm Village Hall Parish Council Mon 4th 7.30pm Village Hall Coffee Morning Sat 9th 11am Village Hall Pop-up Coffee Tues 12th 10am-12 Village Hall Friendship Club Tues 19th 2.30pm Almeley Chase Library Mons 7th & 28th Telephone Box Pilates Tuesdays 6.15pm Village Hall Yoga Wednesdays 6pm Village Hall Tai Chi Weds 7.30pm & Suns 1.30pm Village Hall Cake & Crafting Circle 2nd & 4th Suns 5pm St Giles' Church
Parish Council News
We are starting the year with a new team and a new Clerk!
Jo Wain, our cover clerk, has agreed to make her position permanent, so we welcome her to the Parish Council and wish her all the very best. We still have one remaining vacancy for a parish councillor and there is plenty to do between now and May.
If you think you may be interested, or want to stand for election in May, we'd love you to get involved. Feel free to contact any existing parish councillor to get the low-down. Alternatively, you can find out more by signing up for information sessions, at walc.org.uk/be-a-councillor
The Play Area
is temporarily closed for essential maintenance work following the annual inspection report. Could we use the village hall for some indoor activities in the meantime and during the colder weather? Please let us know your thoughts via email or at the next meeting. gaydonpc@gmail.com
Website
Plans to get this back up and running with regular updates are underway. In the meantime, please find minutes and agendas posted on our Gaydon Parish Council facebook page, or at www.gaydon.org.uk. Thank you to the resident who continues to keep this updated with GPC documents.
Rôles
The council met recently to decide on their respective rôles
and responsibilities:
Adrian Claxton and Matt Bourne will be responsible for Streets and Footways which includes lighting, street furniture, litter, footways, footpaths, drainage, ditches and flooding.
Community spaces: cemetery, field, play area will be led by our Chairman, John Davies.
Mirrin Lewis will be the contact for communications including Website, Social Media, Press etc. and she will also assist with the traffic
calming project.
Gaydon's Community Liaison is Jonathan Chitty, who will be the Parish Council representative and point of contact for Neighbourhood Watch, WALC, JLR, bowling club, Speedwatch, KOG, and the Millennium Group.
Planning will be a team effort.
Emily Leadbetter leads the Parish and Neighbourhood Plan(s) which will be used to shape all future priorities for our village.
Gaydon Parish Council Needs Your Help!
We want to update our Parish Plan, and start working towards our first Neighbourhood Plan. We are seeking volunteers to help us.
What is a parish plan?
Parish plans are community-led plans that set out a vision for the future of a parish and outline in an action plan how this can be achieved. The whole community is involved in thinking about the needs and aspirations of the parish. The subsequent action plan might include tasks that volunteers from the parish can achieve themselves, or schemes that require partnership working and grant funding.
Details of Gaydon's last parish plan can be found at: http://www.gaydon.org.uk/pcouncil/gayplan/index.html
What is a neighbourhood plan?
A Neighbourhood Plan establishes a vision and planning policies for its area, as well as proposals for the future development and use of land. The policies will be a significant consideration when Stratford District Council makes decisions on planning applications that fall within the plan's geographic area.
Parish plans differ from neighbourhood plans through a more 'holistic' approach to social, economic and environmental issues because they can focus on more than just planning-related issues. However, a formally adopted neighbourhood plan will have more "weight" in the determination of planning applications. So we want to do both! We will start with a parish plan and use what we learn through this process to then start building our neighbourhood plan.
We'd like to establish a working group which will be responsible for building these plans on behalf of the Parish Council, and we'd like as broad a mix of different parishioners as possible to get involved. This could include supporting Parish surveys, attending work groups, applying for grant funding, liaising with the community and/or drafting plan documents. If you're interested in getting involved, please email Emily Leadbetter at eleadbetter.gpc@gmail.com
Our next meeting is 4th February at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Sunday 3rd
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Northend
10.30 Morning Prayer Farnborough
10.30 Holy Communion Gaydon
6pm Songs of Praise Fenny Compton
Sunday 10th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Farnborough
10.30 Morning prayer Gaydon
10.30 Holy Communion Fenny Compton
10.30 Morning Prayer Northend
6.00pm Evening Prayer Northend
Sunday 17th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Gaydon
10.30 Joint Service Methodists Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Northend
6.00pm Evensong Farnborough
Sunday 24th
9.00 Holy Communion BCP Fenny Compton
10.30 Holy Communion Farnborough
10.30 Prayer and Praise Gaydon
10.30 Morning Prayer Northend
On Sunday 17 February there will be P@thway Praise at Temple Herdwyke community centre. For details, see ww.dassettmagna.org.uk
We record with sadness the death of Barbara Holloway, née Hayes, on 25 January and extend our sympathy to her family and friends.
We are also sorry to have to report the death in December 2018 of Mark Adams, formerly of Gaydon.
Funeral
Trevor Lightowler, 11 June 1950 - 25 December 2018
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Trevor Lightowler was held at
St Giles' Church, Gaydon, on Monday 21 January at 2pm. It was conducted by the Vicar, the Reverend Nicki Chatterton, and was followed by the committal at Oakley Wood Crematorium. Mourners were invited to share refreshments and memories with the family at 6 St Giles Road after the service.
Run by the Warwickshire Association of Local Councils - WALC
Thursday 7 February 6.30pm-8.30pm at The Grange Hall Coventry Road, Southam CV47 1QA
Monday 11 February 6.30pm-8.30pm at Stratford District Council Chambers, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6HX
Thursday 28 February 6.30-8.30pm at The Council House, Atherstone, South Street, CV9 1DE
Attend the meeting to find out what being a parish councillor entails; or find out if you are qualified and whether you can spare the time to do the job. Further details on walc.org.uk/be-a-councillor
Please come to Souper Saturday on 2nd February in the Village Hall from 12noon to 3pm! Lots of different homemade soup to try and old fashioned board games to play. The money raised will pay for the two ceramic hobs we will be using to keep the soup warm, and which will then be available in the Hall.
We need to have a rough idea of numbers so either add your name to the list in the village shop or let Catherine know on the Village Facebook page. You can always turn up on the day - we will be pleased to see you. We will be recruiting at the event for helpers to start planning for a Fête in June so please be willing to help!
The Millennium Group want to hold another Apple Day in October and other groups in the village will be advertising their social events throughout the year.
The Church plan a teatime concert, barbecue, Harvest Supper and Christmas Fair. KOGs want to hold three events for children starting at Easter. It would be good if we can link up for some events to spread the workload. See you on the 2nd of February! Debbie Price
Villagers will no doubt have seen that the new development at
Edgehill View on the Kineton Road is progressing well and we hope to have building works completed over the next few months. When we first put in for planning it had been our intention that the new development would "wrap around" the corner of the village, but owing to concerns from planners, permission was granted only for the land up to the footpath from St Marks Close.
As I live in the village, I have over the past year or so mentioned to people that we would like to develop a second phase in the area beyond the footpath, and have discussed this with parish councillors both past and present. The village has met its current housing allocation but there is a possible opportunity for further development if we can provide something that villagers might be happy to support, particularly if it is seen as beneficial to the village.
With the current development I have been particularly pleased that the five "fixed equity" houses have been sold to local people at 60% of the market value. Promoting these through the Parish Magazine generated immediate interest from within the village and two sales to residents from Gaydon itself. Other villagers were keen but the timing wasn't right and so I believe that there would be interest in a second phase.
With this in mind, we have taken advice and are currently considering putting in an application for a mixed development of 2 & 3 bedroom houses and bungalows, all to be marketed as "fixed equity" homes to local people at 70% of market value (the 2nd phase would have no full market 100% units to offset costs).
There are several advantages for the village from a scheme like this:
Rather than "follow" future development dictated by developers, villagers can consider schemes like this that will meet local need and be offered to residents or their relations first. On resale, homes must initially be marketed under the same terms, creating a housing stock of more affordable homes available to villagers and their relations in the future. If planning permission were granted the new homes would become part of any future call for housing for the village.
Our architect has produced a scheme and we will be presenting this to Parish Councillors in early February. We would also like to get feedback from the village and to that end invite you to the village hall on Saturday 16th February 2019 from 10am to 1pm to view our proposal, ask any questions and give some feedback on what we hope will eventually lead to a planning application. I hope that this will create some positive interest and look forward to seeing you there. Martin Hayward, The Old School, Gaydon
The Library will visit the Telephone Box at Gaydon from 1.35-2.05pm on Monday 18 February.
The meeting will be on Tuesday 19 February at 2.30pm at the home of Olive Richards, Almeley Chase, Kineton Road.
Newcomers to the village may not know that the Friendship Club was started many years ago by Betty Davies when Gaydon's WI closed. It enabled ex-members to keep in touch once a month over a cup of tea and a biscuit. New members are very welcome - contact the Editor if you would like more details.
Bring and Buy, Bookstall and Raffle in the Village Hall on Saturday 9 February at 11am.
Coffee and biscuits 50p. Profits in aid of the parish church of St Giles.
We meet every 2nd and 4th Sunday 5.00-6.30pm (ish) in the church. Do you knit, crochet, sew or wish to learn how? Or would you just like to meet for cake, a cuppa and a chat? This group gathers like-minded souls together with knitting the main focus, but crafters of any type, age or ability are welcomed.
Next meetings: Sundays 10th and 24th February and March.
Find us on Facebook and/or come and join us! Jo Hotchkiss 642248
Saturday 2nd February Souper Saturday
Village Hall from 12noon - 3pm: enjoy a bowl of homemade soup. Adults £2 each, Children £1.
Tuesday 12 February from 10am to 12 noon at Gaydon Village Hall. We are a sixth form Employability Group from Round Oak School in Warwick and we are organising Pop up Cafés in the local area.
We look forward to meeting you there!
The Lightowler family would like to thank family and friends for their kind messages and support after the sudden death of Trevor. Although Trevor was born in Leeds and proud of his Yorkshire roots, Gaydon was home to him and the family for many years, before he moved to Lutterworth after retiring from the printing industry in which he spent most of his working life. We would especially like to thank the Reverend Nicki Chatterton and R. Locke and Son.
Again with heartfelt thanks, the Lightowler Family.
The Science of 'POWER'
Half-Term Activities at the British Motor Museum 16 -24 February February half-term at the British Motor Museum is all about exploring POWER and the science behind it. Come and find out about the Museum's jet-powered cars! Have a go at making a jet-powered car yourself! Enjoy our daily science shows with Professor Pickle and Dr Pumpkin who will bring the science of power to life with a BANG! To find out more visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk Remember! A Family Annual Pass is just £40 (terms & conditions apply).
A burglary took place between the hours of 11.00 and 15.00 on the 4th of January at a home that was broken into on the Kineton Road between Gaydon and Chadshunt while the residents were out. Please report any unusual sightings or vehicles.
A robbery occurred at the Malt Shovel at about 7.30pm on Thursday 17 January after two men purchased drinks at the bar. One of them was later discovered by the landlord in the upstairs flat. Both men escaped with a bag of stolen items and drove off in a silver car parked on Church Road. One man had a mohican style hair cut shaved on the side of the head and a goatee beard. Drivers in the vicinity at that time (7pm to 7.45 pm) with windscreen
recorders might be able to help identify the make and registration number of the vehicle; and any eyewitnesses on foot are asked to phone the Police on 101.
The village has had some fairly low temperatures in the past few days, enough to freeze the surfaces of ponds or in my case the water- drinkers of my chickens. A kettle soon thaws them out and I'm surrounded by appreciative nodding heads. Most bird species drink like this except pigeons which imbibe by suction, not needing to let the water pour down their throats. It's always a good idea to thaw water in the garden for visiting birds - although some are very resourceful: this morning a pair of Jackdaws broke off from digging the odd fallen Walnut out of my lawn to break the ice on a puddle!
Today the skies are clear and azure blue. The snowdrops are peeping through, some already in flower, complemented by early Hellibores and crocus. I notice some spectacular winter shrubs, too, a bright yellow Witch Hazel with spidery yellow fronds and a white Clematis. It seems that many species are flowering a lot earlier than past botanical records show, an indication perhaps of global warming. Primroses are certainly showing through in some sheltered woodland spots.
Squirrels have not yet hibernated and even the odd Hedgehog has been seen but perhaps they'll return to sleep now this cold spell has begun. A night time drive from Stratford in the last few weeks has needed some care because there are a lot of Deer in certain parts whose white markings are the first thing you spot before applying
the brakes!
There is much controversy over Natural England's issuing of special licences to kill certain birds. It is perhaps ironic that quite a few bred Pheasants seem to have realised they are safer in our gardens and can dine at bird feeders. There seems justifiable complaint with regard to the Linnets, Wrens and Bullfinches (why must they be culled at all?) which are only occasional visitors to my garden and seem quite rare now. Farmland birds have a hard enough time these days because the industrially efficient machines no longer spill much grain to provide winter food as in the past; and there are few outbuildings with crevices and space to accommodate nests and roosting places. Our gardens may be a green corridor or last refuge from a mono-cultural arable desert. I have long ceased to use any chemicals or pellets in my garden and only yesterday a Song thrush was rooting out a snail from the flowerbeds.
I'm enjoying sitting by my log burner and scenting the Irish peat brickettes and elm logs.
Great to see the new hedge being planted along the fenceline on the Church field - using all native species. Remember to go and see the magnificent Snowdrop display in Chadshunt churchyard later this month and the more recent plantings around our own. Bernard Price