Ashwater

Christmas Lights Competition

The Ashwater Christmas lights awards have been sponsored this year by The Cornish Devon Belles Outside Caterers and will be awarded as follows: Best Overall, Best Small Display, Most Artistic, Judge's choice (and highly commended certificates). Entry forms are with this month’s newsletter, they can be returned to the Post Office, The Hazels or call 211106. Judging will take place in Mid December, date to be announced later. Please join in (all displays, large and small) and enjoy the pleasure it will give to others, make this years lights even better than last year.

Village Green Christmas Tree

Nigel Stacey is once again kindly donating the tree from Stacey’s Christmas Tree Farm, which will be put up and lit on December 2nd. Nigel can supply all your needs this year including trees freshly cut or rooted from thousands on his farm This year he can again supply you with decorations, lights, wreaths etc at very competitive prices. Nigel’s telephone number is 01409 211467 or 07979735270.

Also there will be a chance to sing carols with the Schoolchildren around the Christmas tree on the green on 11th December at 6.30pm. Mince pies and other festive fare will be available.

Christmas Bazaar

The Ashwater Playgroup is holding their Christmas Bazaar in the Parish Hall at 2.00pm on December 1st. It will contain the usual stalls, raffle, sideshows and a mystery guest bearing gifts. Please come along and support the Playgroup at this event.

Ashwater Parish Hall Events

Horticultural Society

The December meeting to be held on 10th will be the usual Christmas Workshop, which has proved very popular in the recent years; this year it will cover decorations and wreaths etc.
The Horticultural Club will be doing the pasty walk again this year. It will be held on Sunday 20 January. Details will be posted in the post office and on the notice board in the village at a later date. In the meantime if anybody wants any info they can call either Wendy Lee or Fiona Bull.

Two Thank Yous

MUSIC EVENING for DEVONAIR AMBULANCE AND PARISH HALL

We would like to thank everyone who helped make the recent fund raising music evening such a success. The comments received since the event have all been very positive. Special thanks must go to all the musicians who freely gave of their time and talents. As well as being a very enjoyable evening, £605 was raised for two local causes; Devon Air Ambulance and Ashwater Parish Hall (this sum includes donations specifically for Devon Air Ambulance).
During the clean up a camera was found, if you lost one at the event please contact Brian Cox

HALLOWEEN

All the children, mums and granddad would like to thank everyone for their kindness and fun while trick and treating around the village.

Parish Council

THERE IS ONE VACANT SEAT ON THE Parish Council. Anyone interested in working for the Community please ring Mrs. Sheila Myers on 01409 220212.
THE PARISH COUNCIL has adopted the Standards Board for England Code of Conduct. Copies may be viewed by appointment, ring 01409 221666.
SANDRYMOOR CROSS TELEPHONE BOX - the Parish Council was not informed of the consultative period for its replacement and the opportunity was missed. We will ask Barry Parson to see if he can reverse the decision.
PLANNING - two requests for equestrian areas from Springfield and Adjistments were recommended for approval, with a retrospective request for planning approval for 3 lakes and resiting a fishing tackle hut by Clawford Vinyard. Henford Barton’s extension was approved.
FOOTPATHS - work is to continue on the Quodditch Footpath FP9, using the £515 of the Footpath Special Fund.
FINANCE - the paper for the Ashwater News is secure for the next few months, due to an anonymous donation of £100, a box of paper and a reasonably priced source has been volunteered. Many thanks to all concerned. We are unable to avoid a 5% increase in the Precept for next year.
DEVON HIGHWAYS - will be approached to see what can be done to improve the state of the road on the east side of the Green, It is becoming unsafe where it joins the highway.

From Our District Councilor

In last month’s Newsletter I mentioned the planning application for development at Roadford Lake. I have discussed the venue for discussing this issue with many at Torridge District Council (TDC) and am delighted to say that TDC will hold its ‘Planning Committee Meeting’ (in part) at Roadford Lake. It will start with a site inspection at 10a.m on Thursday, 29 November 2007 and members will sit shortly afterwards at Roadford. There is a great deal of interest in this proposed development and I anticipate some strong debate. Public participation (under conditions) is now permitted at planning meetings, adding to a greater appreciation of subject matter. It is a priority of mine to see TDC ‘go into the community’. I see this meeting as a very strong (and further) indication of that happening.

After serving the parish for many years Malcolm Timney has stepped down from the ‘Parish Council Committee’. Malcolm has served our parish wonderfully well and will continue to do so (at least) in respect of the ‘New Village Hall Committee’. I did not want this opportunity to pass without my expression of the sincerest appreciation for all of Malcolm’s hard work over a very long time.

I know there was some concern over recent developments in respect of the proposed new village hall. Suffice it to say that positive things are happening and I am confident will lead to huge benefits for our community. Succeeding in such a community exercise is a huge challenge for all of us - but there is a determination about folk in Ashwater that is difficult to deny and admire!

My next surgery is on 03 December commencing, as usual, at 6.30pm and finishing at 8.30pm. Please telephone me on 01409 211234 should you wish to see me.

POLICE AUTHORITY MEETINGS TO BE WEBCAST

The next three Police Authority meetings will be webcast on the Authority website. The trial will begin on 5 October 2007 at the meeting to be held in the Devon County Council Chamber at County Hall.
The next three Authority meetings will be held at County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter in order to make use of the webcast equipment installed in the Council Chamber. The meetings will be held on 5 October, 7 December and 15 February 2008, each starting at 10:00hrs.
The Police Authority endeavours to ensure that an efficient and effective policing service is provided for the people of Devon, Cornwall, Torbay, Plymouth and the Isles of Scilly. The members provide an important link between the local community and the police service. They work closely with the Chief Constable. One of the key roles is consulting the people who live and work in Devon and Cornwall to find out what they expect from their police. The feedback received helps shape the police service provided to the communities.
Police Authority Chairman John Smith said: "We want to raise public interest in our meetings and make them more accessible. The public is always welcome to attend and now the discussions and decisions made at the meetings will be available to all those who have access to the internet. We look forward to the public watching us."
You can watch the meeting as it happens live on the Authority website www.dcpa.police.uk. It will then archived and available for you to view at your leisure approximately 24 hours after the meeting finishes. The archive footage will remain on the website for six months.
For further information please contact the Police Authority Office, Tel: 01392 268333 or Email:Polauth@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk.

Further Education

Further to last month’s note on the Camera Course we can have a day course in January on DIGITAL CAMERA Use run by the people from the adult education in Holsworthy, this however will be run in Holsworthy not Ashwater as previously thought. A course will be held there JAN 26th 2008 between 10 to 4 p.m. if you want to join apply individually by phoning Alison Skinner 01409 254 505 between 2 and 5 p.m.

News From Devon County Council

County Council Executive approves plans to apply for new parking enforcement powers

Devon County Council's Executive has agreed to apply to the Government for civil parking enforcement powers in the county. The move to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport comes ahead of Devon and Cornwall Police withdrawing the traffic warden service next year.
Devon County Council is proposing to provide overall management of the scheme while working in partnership with local district councils and Exeter City Council, starting from next May. The aim is for powers to be delegated, through a service level agreement, to each district to enforce on-street restrictions in their area, as well as off-street parking.

For Sale

• Tricity Bendix electric cooker Four rings Grill/Oven 50cm wide x 60cm deep x 92cm high £50.00
• Hotpoint EX22 electric cooker Four rings Grill Separate oven 50cm wide x 60cm deep x 92cm high £50.00
• Goodmans TV / DVD 52cm x 50cm x 50cm £25.00

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: Tuesday March 11, 2008