Ashwater

Parish and District Elections 3rd May 2007

You will know by now that on 3rd May there are elections for both Parish and District Councils. Given the number of registered voters, Ashwater Parish is allowed to have nine Parish Councillors. At the last election only nine were proposed and were therefore "elected unopposed" - ten or more nominees are required to have a full election.
This year democracy has well and truly come to life as there are 13 candidates for the Parish Council and two for the District Council meaning that there will be an election for both, a rare event in recent history. This means that you will be able to vote for those that you feel will best represent you and your Parish. You will have 9 votes in the Parish election but only one vote for the District.
Our thanks to the outgoing Parish Council, all of whom are volunteers of course, and good luck to all those standing. Two of the old council are standing down for various reasons leaving seven of the old council standing again.
The seven seeking re-election are B Batt, EA Burnhill, ME Gliddon, LMR Langston, JA March TJ Moon and M Timney.

It is important to make sure that you vote as your vote really does count and you can have a say in who represents you at the Parish Council and this time at The District Council. You have paid for these elections to take place in your Council Tax levied by both the District Council and also in your Parish Precept as a result of a recent policy change by Torridge District Council who used to pay all the expenses but have now decided to charge the Parishes for the elections.

A full list of candidates can be found below together with the names of their proposers, seconders and in the case of the District assentors as well.

Parish Council:

District Council:

Horticultural Society

There will be a plant sale and teas on the 26th May 2007 at Forda Cottage between 12 and 4pm. If you have plants to donate to the sale please contact the Secretary on 221200.
There will be a visit to Rosemoor Gardens on 20th June 2007.
There will again be a class for the Tallest Sunflower and we have added in the Wine Making section classes for kit wines so get planting and brewing so your entries will be ready for the Show.

Dog Fouling

Dog fouling is becoming a problem again on the Green. It is important for many reasons to be responsible but two of them are that children play on the green and it is horrible for our grass cutter, who is making a wonderful job of keeping the green looking lovely, to get it all over her machinery. PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG, it is an offence not to clean up and fines can be imposed, lets keep the area clean and tidy without having to resort to formal means.

Ashwater Revel and Fun Day 7th July:

Calling all clubs, Societies and Groups – companies and individuals:

The New Village Hall Committee and the Church (PCC) have got together and will run the 2007 Ashwater Revel and Fun Day jointly on Saturday 7th July. This will take place across as much of the village as we can gain permission for and we would like to include all organisations of any kind from the village. This is truly a VILLAGE EVENT, focusing around the village green, church, pub, village hall etc.

If you are a charitable group, we would like to offer you the opportunity to make money for your funds, by joining us in this exciting venture. If you would like to run a stall for your own funds we would ask you to pay us £5 to our funds and then we will allocate you a suitable space depending on what sort of thing you want to run. You then keep whatever money you make on your stall.

There will be lots of events throughout the day to draw people in and ensure that we all have lots of fun: These will include a Bouncy Gladiator Tournament, wheel barrow/bicycle carnival, childrens’ games, cream teas, arts, crafts and archives in the church, bouncy castle, Family Dog Show etc etc. We are hoping that lots of you will also help with things like putting up bunting the night before and generally lending a hand. Please volunteer. If you are crafty or an artist and would like to set up an exhibition in the church, we would also like to hear from you. We also hope to have a concert in the hall in the evening to round everything off.

There will also be a car boot sale on land generously offered by Edward and Mary, and a tabletop sale in the village hall both in the morning. This tabletop sale will provide individuals with the opportunity to sell whatever they like – again each table will cost £5 to our funds. Please book your table early - first come first served.

We are also looking for SPONSORS. If you are a company or individual, with an interest in Ashwater, and would like to sponsor part of the day, pay for a trophy, provide a marquee etc - we would love to hear from you!! All offers of help will be gratefully considered.

Contact: We have a nice big, energetic committee, who are taking responsibility for different parts of the day; Ali Rowe is currently the overall administrator. If you would like to book a stall, talk through possibilities, make an offer of help or sponsorship, please contact Ali in the first instance, who will take details and pass it on to the person in charge of that bit of the day. Ali is on 211222 or email ali@devon-art.com

Parish Council

The final meeting of the current Ashwater Parish Council took place on Wednesday 11 April. The agenda was small, with one planning application discussed, which was supported by the PC.
District Councillor Chris March confirmed that the Post Office has promised to replace the post box at Quoditch Cross in the very near future.
The missing telephone kiosk, which was formerly at Sandrymoor Cross, was an ongoing issue and the PC still invites concerned parties to write to Mrs L A Skinner, Development Control Manager, TDC, Riverbank House, Bideford, EX39 2QG. It was agreed that the removal of yet another rural amenity was unacceptable.
At the close of the meeting, the Parish Council unanimously acknowledged the tremendous work carried out for over three decades, for the PC, by Hector Newcombe. A vote of thanks to Hector and Graham Spratt, who was also standing down, was recorded. Hector has kindly offered to be available to assist the Parish in the future.
Please make every effort to find time to vote.

Devon County Council

Doing it for Devon! New climate change campaign is launched

A new campaign to urge Devon residents to make a 'climate change for the better' has been launched by Devon County Council as part of the drive to make Devon 'England's greenest county.'
'Do it for Devon' is the headline theme for the county wide campaign, aimed at reducing domestic emissions which account for a third of Devon's total carbon emissions.
A householder's guide has been produced with practical hints and tips on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions and will be delivered throughout Devon soon. The campaign will also feature TV and cinema advertising, carbon footprint pledge packs for schools and families, with competitions to win prizes donated by Bikeshed, and Devon Association of Tourist Attractions.
A community roadshow will visit venues across Devon with resident experts on subjects ranging from composting to cycling. Tour dates are attached. The nearest roadshow to Ashwater is on 22 May 2007 Tuesday at Roadford Lake Broadwoodwidger.

Devon's a great location for composting - new campaign launches

A new campaign to persuade people to compost their kitchen waste is being launched by Devon Authorities Recycling Partnership.
The campaign features TV’s Location Location Location's Kirstie Allsopp, asking Devon residents to consider composting as an alternative to throwing it into their bins, which ends up in landfill. A series of radio, bus and supermarket trolley advertisements will tell people how to turn 'buds to spuds' and 'cauli's to flowers'.
Devon is one of the top three counties in England for recycling, with 45% of household waste currently being recycled. The county is reducing its dependence on landfill still further, and improving recycling rates as part of a drive to make Devon England's greenest county.

Exeter unitary council could cost Devon £20 million

Devon County Council has warned that creating a new unitary super-council for Exeter could cost the county at least £20 million.
The warning comes after Exeter City Council's controversial proposals for a new unitary council in Exeter were included on a Government "short-list" to go forward for consultation. But there was surprise that the list has been expanded to 16 authorities - double the number first envisaged by the Government and containing more district council bids than a list leaked to the media just over a fortnight ago. It has fuelled speculation that the new longer "short-list" is the result of frantic last-minute lobbying.

County calls for independent probe into unitary costs

Devon County Council is calling on the independent watchdog, the Audit Commission, to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the costs of setting up a proposed super-council for Exeter.
The Government has put Exeter City Council's controversial proposal to create a new unitary council out for consultation despite serious concerns about its financial credibility.
The cornerstone of the City Council's business case is that it will only cost £6.5 million to create a new council and it will pay that back in savings in five years.
Devon County Council says the true cost of carving off Exeter from the rest of the county and creating a completely new council will be at least £20 million with no prospect of the cost being paid back in savings. The County Council says the City Council business case has completely ignored a whole raft of costs including the £5.1 million costs that will fall on the rest of the county.
Devon County Council’s view is UNITED NOT UNITARY
Your Council can send its views on the proposal for a unitary authority for Exeter to the Department of Communities and Local Government by sending them by email to structures@communities.gsi.gov.uk or by post to: Communities and Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU Please send by 22nd June 2007. Further information about the consultation is available at www.communities.gov.uk
You can also tell the County Council what your Council thinks by emailing: consultation@devon.gov.uk or by sending your views to: Corporate Consultation, Room G55, Devon County Council, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD.

Church News

• May 26th to 28th The Flower Festival will be held, the theme this year is Countries
• October 7th The Harvest Festival service will take place
• October 8th there will be another service, which will be followed by the Harvest Festival Supper.

Ashwater Parish Calendar

Below is a list of events that are taking or scheduled to take place in the parish so that all involved have knowledge of the dates already booked. Please let me have the dates of your event/meeting and I will include them in the calendar.

My thanks to those who provide articles for the newsletters. Copies will as always be available at the Post Office and in the Village Inn. Any information for inclusion in or offers to help please contact Peter Capron, my e-mail address is newsletter@ashwaterparish.org.uk.

Website designed by Anthony Williams and Henriette North.
Comments and Submissions to webmaster@ashwaterparish.org.uk
Last modified: Friday April 27, 2007