Newsletter Articles

The December issue of the newsletter will (hopefully) be published in time for you to read over the Christmas break - so please let me have any contributions by Wednesday 17th December 2008.

Ashwater Wheeled Bin (green bins) Winter collection dates.

Monthly on a Tuesday as follows:

December 16th

January 13th

February 10th

March 10th

From April the collection will return to fortnightly.

Christmas Lights Competition

An entry form can be detached from this newsletter and returned to the Post Office or Valley View, Quoditch by 13th December 2008. Judging will take place shortly afterwards and display awards made for Best Overall, Best Small Display, Most Artistic, and Judge’s Choice plus highly commended entries.
Thanks to: Mrs Huckle’s China Matching Service who are sponsoring the awards.

Carols on the Village Green

The children from Ashwater Primary School will lead the singing around the Christmas tree at 6.30pm on 9th December.
Seasonal fare will be available to help keep out the cold, so please come and join in.
The tree will be erected on 7th December and has again been kindly donated by Nigel Stacey of Stacey’s Christmas Tree Farm so don’t forget he can supply trees to your choice as well as lights for outdoor or indoor display at competitive prices. Ring Nigel on 01409 211467 or 07979735270.

The Alternative Christmas Quiz

Entry forms will be on sale for £1.00 in the Post Office in the days running up to Christmas. All proceeds will go to the New Parish Hall Project. Please use the envelope provided with the form to send in your entry by the twelfth day of Christmas - you will have to supply a stamp purchased from the village Post Office! The winner will be announced in the January newsletter.

Parish Hall

Phase 1 - External Works

The work on site should commence during December. This will entail soil excavation to permit pipe laying for essential connections including drainage and the ground source heating. Every effort will be made to have an "official sod turning ceremony", so watch the notice boards for details.

Phase 2 - The Hall

We are still awaiting the result of several grant aid applications to try and bridge the financial gap between money raised or promised and the probable erection costs. The next step is dependent upon these decisions.

100 Club

Tickets are now on sale for the 100 Club Draw for 2009. Tickets cost £5 and each month there are two prizes of at least £10 and £5. They make excellent gifts and all profits go towards the new Parish Hall Fund. If you would like a ticket please call Kate Davis on 211482 or pop in to the Old Rectory.

Horticultural Club

Christmas willow weaving on 8 December. There will be mulled wine and mince pies and should be a most enjoyable evening if last year's wreath making is anything to go by. There is just still room for a few more to attend - contact Wendy Lee 211449 or Fiona Bull 221403 to book a place.

Halloween

Lin Jennings would like to thank everyone for her last trick & treating. The kindness of village people, good company and happy children made it a lovely evening.

Parish Council

The parish council is disappointed with the response to turning off the street lights to save on energy and ultimately council tax. Please contact Betty Batt (221666) or Sheila Myers (220212) if you wish to comment.
The chair welcomed Alex Benyon and Pat May as the new members of the parish council.
The parish precept has been set at £5,250, which is less than last year.
With regards to proposed projects for wind turbines, the parish council is keeping in touch with the progress of the proposed site at Dunsland Cross.

Wind Turbines

The potential developers, Bolsterstone PLC have invited everyone to complete an online questionnaire on this link:-
http://www.dunslandcrosswindfarm.co.uk asp.
This website enables you to read about the plans, sign up for project updates and have your say about the windfarm. The turbines will be visible from within Ashwater Parish and various other nearby points. An attempt to give an impression of scale is shown on an interactive map on the website.

From our District Councillor

It was a great privilege for me on 10 November 2008 to have been asked, on behalf of The District of Torridge Council to welcome Revd. Jane Lucas in celebration of a new ministry to include Ashwater. I certainly wish Jane and all those helping her a most enjoyable and productive ministry. My thanks to Tony March for my invitation and to Ruth Carroll, too, for asking me to lay the wreath on Remembrance Sunday - truly, a great honour and privilege.

Despite the recent weather - and, I think we’re all fed up with it - my comments this week hold only good news. I am delighted that our own Geoffrey Archer has accepted the invitation to judge the Ashwater Christmas lights. I look forward to chauffeuring Geoffrey around on 19 December so please don’t forget to take part and put the lights on!

You know I don’t write a newsletter submission without mentioning Torridge District Council (TDC)! I’m sure many of you have read that there is, officially, no faster improving and no more recently improved district council in the country. TDC is now classified as a ‘Good’ council - and missed out on being an ‘Excellent’ council by just one meagre point. I have to say that I am delighted for all of us.

And … some really good, long-awaited news … TDC has match-funded Devon County to the tune of £12000 in respect of the new village hall. Getting this money has been a long and very difficult haul particularly in the current financial climate. Indeed, no other parish/town has received better treatment than ours!

With a little daylight now ahead of me I am pleased to tell you that I have organized more dates on which to meet with you at my surgeries in The Village Hall. The dates are as follows:

• 17 December 2008
• 07 January 2009
• 02 February 2009
• (All sessions 6-30pm till 8-00pm)

Please pop in to see me if you have any questions/problems related to council about which I may be able to help. I normally see individuals/groups for around 10-15mins each so I like to book ahead, if possible. My details are below.
(Telephone - 01409 211234 / 07739 972043 or e-mail: councillor.parsons@torridge.gov.uk)
My every best wish.
District Councillor, Barry M Parsons

Ashwater Church

A message from Rev. Jane Lucas

This is a chance to thank everyone who has given us such a warm welcome to John, myself and Melody the dog here in Ashwater. We are getting our bearings, we have found the pub! I do hope to be getting around seeing you in the future. Should you wish for me to visit you or to see me about church matters, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. 01409 211205.

Services for December

Christmas celebration Supper

Saturday 20th December 7 for 7-30pm, 3 course meal, £10-00 to include a glass of wine.
Book now to avoid disappointment. A. Shadrick 01409 211403

Ashwater Methodist Church

Services in December

On 12th December there will be an afternoon carol service with a big contribution from the primary school and this regular event is a lovely occasion so do come. If you like an evening service when the candlelight comes into its own then join us again on 28th December.

Christmas Eve (11.15 pm) and Christmas Day (10 am) services will be at Bodmin Street, Holsworthy.

Thought for the month: Christmas doesn't make sense without Christ.

A CRIME FREE HAPPY CHRISTMAS

It is Christmas time again, so I would like to remind everyone of a few things to bear in mind over the festive period. Please do not tempt burglars by leaving presents on display in your vehicles when doing your Christmas shopping etc. Lock them in the boot and make sure your vehicle is secure each time you park. Lock the windows as well as the doors of your property, when you go out. Put a light or even the radio on a timer switch.

If you are going away over Christmas ask a trusted friend or neighbour to pick up your post, open and close a few curtains, and keep an eye on your property.
Also feel free to contact me at the station on 01409 259461, or email me: Beverley.harvey2@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk and let me know your address and the dates you will be away. I can check your property when in the area.
Alternatively Devon and Cornwall Police operate a key holder service. If you ring 09014700440, and leave details of the dates you are away and a key holder's name and telephone number they will be on the system should anything happen to your property.

RURAL CRIME

Unfortunately there have been a number of Thefts again and I urge everyone to take reasonable steps to secure their properties/grounds and items within.
Most recently the following items have been stolen from the following areas:
A Quad bike from Sutcombe. Two trailers from different locations in the Milton Dameral Area. Diesel from fuel tank on a lorry in Milton Dameral. Large quantity of logs from a wood near Thornbury. A Livestock footbath from Putford. An air compressor and poultry incubator from Thornbury. A quantity of coal from a back garden in Monkleigh.
Please ensure you padlock your fuel/ heating oil tanks and wood sheds if possible. Think about what items of property can be seen from the road and how accessible they are. Do not leave keys in any vehicles. Install security lighting.

I would like to wish everyone in the parish a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
PCSO 30103 Beverley Harvey.

Ashwater Recipe Book

Thank you to everyone who came to the launch of our Ashwater Recipe Book held in Ashwater Church on Monday 17th November. We were delighted to see so many people enjoying the evening. The wonderful array of cakes, puddings, chutneys, soups and savoury dishes obviously encouraged the rush to purchase a copy of the recipe book. All books were sold within three days of the launch, raising £550 towards the restoration of our church tower. Already copies are winging their way around the world. Demand for this book continues, and so we are in the process of having a limited re-print, thus increasing our contribution even further. Thank you to everyone who submitted recipes, or advertisements to the book, to all who baked/ cooked for our tasting session, and of course to everyone who bought one or more copies. Thank you.

In Memoriam

We wish to remember Anthony "Tosh" Williams and express thanks for things that that he quietly did for the parish, without seeking payment or recognition and our thoughts are with his family.

Ashwater Parish Calendar of Forthcoming Events

During week ending 20th December - Christmas lights judging

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My thanks to those who provide articles for, and distribute the newsletters. If you know of anybody who did not receive a copy please let me know: 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 Ivan Buxton, my e-mail address is newsletter@ashwaterparish.org.uk.
Thanks also to Kirk Engineering who kindly reproduce these newsletters for the Parish.

Website designed by Anthony Williams and Henriette North.
Comments and Submissions to webmaster@ashwaterparish.org.uk
Last modified: Sunday December 13, 2009