Newsletter - Appeal

If anyone has some spare A4 paper and would like to donate it for the newsletter this would be most appreciated, meanwhile items for the September Newsletter to ibuxton16@btinternet.com by Wednesday 23rd September - Please.

Village Shop and Post Office - Closure

The shop lease is ending and Barry and Hazel Thomas after many years running the store and Post Office are retiring. We thank them for their hard work and dedication and wish them a long and happy retirement. In their hands, the shop as we all know, has not just been a store but also a meeting place and an essential core at the centre of the community. Indeed, to many it is a vital community service.

Everyone living or working in Ashwater Parish is part of the community and ‘The Community’ must now decide what action it wants to take.
Do we want a shop or not? If the answer is ‘yes’ should it be a commercial operation or community led and run? Is anyone prepared to take on the challenge? What ideas do you have? Are you willing to spend time or effort or money to ensure that the last shop in the village does not die? What about the Post Office? Remember the turn out to support the campaign to save the presence of a postal service in the village? Is that cohesive spirit still there or are you just prepared to accept that there is nothing you can do about it?

Attached to the newsletter is a questionnaire Please click here for form. Please print this out and complete it immediately as someone will be calling to collect it within a few days. The response will be evaluated and presented at the Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday 9th September 2009.

Representatives of The Community Council of Devon (CCD) will be attending the meeting. The CCD is working with Devon County Council and the Rural Shops Alliance, to help support village shops.

Your views as part of the Ashwater Parish Community are important, as without them a decision over the future of the shop may not be truly representative.
Please make sure your voice is heard by completing the questionnaire and making sure it is returned.

Parish Hall

Saturday 20th March 2010 has been set for the official opening ceremony for the new hall. Please make a note in your diaries, as you will not want to miss this historic event. The building work is progressing nicely and is already becoming a visible landmark. The first contribution from the Big Lottery Fund has been received and the first payment made to the builders. Behind the scenes the committee activities continue as even when built we still need to equip and run the hall. New assistance is always welcome and the best way to find out how you can help or simply learn what stage has been reached is to attend the monthly hall meetings, which are normally held on the first Wednesday of the month. The next one is on 2 September 2009 in the old hall at 7.30pm.

Horticultural Club

The Horticultural Committee would like to thank everybody concerned with helping with the Show, from erecting the tent to setting up the marquee and making teas. This was a most successful event because of the amount and standard of entries that we had. If not already claimed, Fiona has three vases and one quirky container, which were left in the marquee. The AGM is to be held on Saturday 19 September at 2.00 pm at Summerleaze Beach, Bude (weather permitting of course). Following the meeting will be a picnic (please bring a plate of picnic food) with a game of rounders/cricket. If you require a lift on the day please either call Fiona (221403) or Wendy (211449), otherwise we shall meet in the car park at 1.45 pm. The AGM is a good opportunity for members to put forward ideas as to what they would like to do in the forthcoming year. If you know anybody who you think would like to join the Horticultural Club, please encourage them to come along.

Congratulations to the children’s best kept gardens competition winners:
Mollie Coles, Antonio Cummings, Alex Clark and Leah Hannaford.

Ashwater Lunch Club

Advance booking is essential. Please phone 01409 211200 (The Village Inn) at the latest before 11am on the day. The next lunch is on Thursday 3rd September 2009 at 12.30pm.

Mobile Library

The mobile library visits fortnightly on a Thursday outside the Village Inn from 11.30am - 12.10pm but there is just one visit in September, on the 24th returning to fortnightly for 8th October and 22nd October 2009. Please use the library, as it is a vital service requiring support.

100 Club Winners

The draw results are as follows:
First Prize: No. 16 - Anne Shadrick
Second Prize: No. 49 - Doreen Musson

Parish Council

Members of the parish council attended the Holsworthy Area Advisory Group where the subject of the Ruby Country, proposed cycle path and boundaries were among the items discussed.