Post Office Reopens

The Post Office reopened on 29th January 2009 as a Partner Service as part of the Network Change Programme. Virtually all the services previously undertaken are continuing including the Post Office Card Account, postage and savings stamps, letters and packets up to 2kg. Full details as well as opening hours are displayed in the shop. Please continue to support this vital village service.

Blue Peter 'Mission Nutrition'

Bring and Buy Sale Ashwater Village Hall, Saturday 7th Feb from 10am - 12noon.

Tea/coffee and biscuits, bring and buy stall, draw, cake stall (if we get enough cakes)!! Please feel free to donate all those unwanted Christmas presents and come along and find a bargain. Also donations of draw prizes and cakes would be most welcome.
This event is being organised by Owen and Jess Martyn 01409 211262 Michael Drowne 01409 211 237 Elizabeth and Ben Hampton 01409 271103. The kids will be more than happy to come and collect your items and give you any info on the Mission Nutrition appeal. Owen, Jess, Michael, Elizabeth and Ben look forward to seeing you there.

Christmas Lights Competition

Judging took place on 19th December 2008. Due to ill health the original judge (Geoffrey Archer) was replaced by Eric and Dilys Burnill ably assisted and chauffeured by Barry Parsons. As usual Ashwater residents responded to the challenge and put on a splendid show making the judges job very difficult.
Results:

• Best Overall - Lin and Pete Jennings
• Best Small Display - Mrs Jean Prouse.
• Most Artistic - Brian and Gill Cox.
• Judges Choice - The Urquhart Family
• Highly Commended - Mark and Karen Colwill, Christine and Dave Drowne.

The Alternative Christmas Quiz

Thank you to all who took part and trekked around the parish searching out pillar boxes. The number of words entrants made from ‘Christmas’ was astonishing and whilst some were of dubious origin, virtually all were clean!
Congratulations to the George family of the Barton who got all the answers correct plus an incredible word count of 301, although only 238 were in the judge’s dictionary.

Parish Hall

As promised the work began on the hall site during 2008 and the ‘sod turning ceremony' was well attended on a very cold morning. M&S Plant excelled in shifting vast quantities of top soil, excavating trenches for the ground source heating coils, back-filling, levelling and finishing the ground-work in readiness for laying the car park finish at a later date.
Thanks to them for carrying out the work so quickly.
Meanwhile final tenders for the building construction are being evaluated for discussion at the next meeting to be held on 4 February 2009 at 7.30pm in the parish hall. Everyone is welcome.

Horticultural Club

Dog Fouling

Dog fouling is again causing a nuisance in the village. Owners are reminded it is an offence to let their dogs foul and not clear up the mess afterwards. The Parish Council is looking into placing appropriate bins, meanwhile please have consideration for those on foot or who have property fronting the road.

Parish Council

There has been a change to the position of chair and vice chair of the Parish Council. Trevor Moon was voted as chair with Steve Furse the vice chair. These positions will stand until the AGM in May 2009.

The Parish Council have written a letter to Torridge District Council strongly objecting to the proposed wind turbine project at Dunsland Cross.

A list of Geoffrey Cox MP surgeries has been placed on the notice board.

From our District Councillor

Unfortunately the Surgery for February 2nd 2009 has had to be cancelled. I can be contacted at 01409 211234/07739 972043 or e-mail: councillor.parsons@torridge.gov.uk

Ashwater Church

February Services

Events

February 24th, Shrove Tuesday - Pancake evening and launch of Talents scheme
March 14th: Lent Lunch at Yeo Farm

Coffee Morning

Link Draw

The winners of the December draw were:-
£25 - Mr & Mrs T.March, £10 - Mrs P.Gay, £5 - Mr & Mrs J.Edmonds, £5 - Mr T.Darby.
Subscriptions are now due for 2009.
If you wish to renew your membership or join the scheme please contact Terry Darby on 211229. The subscription is £5 a year and there are four draws during the year. Prizes are one of £10 and two of £5 each quarter plus an additional prize of £25 in December. All proceeds go towards Church Funds.

Ashwater Methodist Church

Services in February:

More details of any of our events from Maggie Elliott on 01409 211282
Thought for the month: The Bible should be trusted, not dusted.

Road Safety Advice From Local Police

Since the new year and the cold snap set in there have been several road traffic incidents. The weather is due to change again so can everyone please drive carefully, and allow extra time to get to your destinations safely. Check your vehicles thoroughly especially tyres, antifreeze levels, lights, clean registration plates and general condition of your vehicles. It has also been noticed that increasing numbers of road users are driving without wearing seatbelts and using their mobile phones. Recently myself and other officers have been out using various speed detection devices and despite the weather and road conditions it still amazes us that some people are still driving far too fast. When the weather and road conditions are bad think: DO I ABSOLUTELY NEED TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY?

Recent Crime Update

Once again there have been thefts recently within our area, continue to secure your properties, don't let these individuals make you the next victims of crime.

• A pair of Sand ladders from Venn Green, Milton Dameral
• A Plaster whisk machine from rural Bradworthy
• Approximately 700 litres of heating oil over a few weeks in rural Ashwater
• A vehicle broken into at St Giles on the Heath

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE OR ANY OTHERS?
On Wednesday the 14th of January at approximately 0230 hours at Woodacott in the parish of Thornbury a J reg, grey Toyota 4x4 type vehicle was seen. A male stopped this vehicle on the edge of the village and got out, walked up into village and returned a while later. On noticing that someone might have seen him, the male sped off without any lights on, in the direction of Milton Dameral and Shebbear. If you see this vehicle or any others that you feel are suspicious, then please do not hesitate to ring the police. You are not wasting our time, it is the only way we can stop these people profiting from our losses. We need information and even if it is only small it all adds up. We would rather check information and even if it comes to nothing, then at least you feel reassured, than later wish you had mentioned it when it maybe too late.
PCSO 30103 Beverley Harvey, Holsworthy Police Station.
NB. PCSO Beverly Harvey was recently injured in a fall and we all wish her a speedy recovery.

Devon Countryside Access - Forum

A statutory forum under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, supported by Devon County Council, which provides independent advice on improving outdoor access. Are you interested in advising on access opportunities for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, canoeists and other recreational users? Can you represent the interests of young people or other groups who do not get outside so much? The Devon Countryside Access Forum has fifteen appointed members. It meets three or four times yearly at public meetings and holds occasional working groups and training days. If you would like to apply please look at the website http://www.devon.gov.uk/devon_countryside_access_forum for details and an application form or ring 01837 810921, e-mail: devoncaf@devon.gov.uk or write to Lucombe House, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QW.

Ashwater Parish Calendar of Forthcoming Events

ADVERT

Ceres Art and Craft
Art, Craft and Card Making Materials.
Telephone Rosemary at the shop in Bude 01288 354070 and your purchases will be delivered to your house - as long as it is in Ashwater Village; if not collect from our house in Henford.

ADVERT

Peter and Emma Down: Opening Times for their Farm Shops Wednesday 1pm - 4pm, Thursday 10am - 6pm, Friday 9.30am - 6pm, Saturday 9.30am - 6pm Sunday 10am - 12noon

Distribution of Newsletters

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