In this issue
Help for rural people in stress
School Fete Saturday June 30th
Ampney & District Royal British Legion Women's Section
Ampney United Football Club – Season 2000/2001
(Cheltenham Football League – Division 3)
There was the largest turnout of villagers for many years (including one very well-behaved dog) for the Annual Parish Meeting in May. Parish Council Chairman, Peter Kelly, reported on its business over the past year and village organisations also reported on their activities. Issues raised included:
As we go to press, the repairs to the Praying Cross have been completed and the ugly plastic fencing has finally been removed.
Plans are already under way for the festivities in June 2002 and will be reported in future editions of ACT as they progress.
District Councillor Bruce Evans reported that the prioritisation for the resurfacing of the concrete section of the A417/A419 should be announced in the summer.
The Chairman of the Ampney Crucis Association, John Ducker, reported that negotiations with Fosseway Housing Association over access in the Pleydells had now been resolved, as had the final wording of the contract and trust documents. There have been no changes in the design particulars since the referendum. Copies of the signed trust deed and contract will be displayed in the Village Hall, along with the plans, as soon as they have been engrossed and signed.
A planning application will be submitted to Cotswold District Council in the near future. Because of the scale of the scheme, consideration of the application is likely to take longer than usual but the Association will keep the village fully informed of developments. Mr Ducker confirmed that the scheme is only viable in its entirety and would not be considered on a piecemeal basis. The Parish Council will, as usual, receive a copy of the application for comment and is likely to hold an open meeting to give villagers an opportunity to discuss it.
The new edition is now available (price £1) from any Parish Councillor or from the Church.
Correction In the “Additional information” section, the telephone number of Reverend Annette Woolcock is incorrect. Apologies all round.
With a ghastly year hopefully behind us and some better weather on the horizon, the lighter nights will give people more chance to enjoy evenings in the garden and perhaps a barbecue. So, it’s a good time to remind everybody that one of the most common complaints to Cotswold District Council's Environmental Health Office relates to bonfires.
There are no by-laws regarding bonfires but the Council’s leaflet on the subject has some sensible guidelines:
· Try to avoid lighting bonfires on a warm sunny evening or weekend.
· Consider the wind direction before lighting a bonfire and perhaps warn your neighbours first.
· Always use dry materials and don’t let a bonfire smoulder.
All the above relates to the burning of garden refuse. Burning household refuse is another matter and should not be undertaken in a residential area.
In our last issue, we asked walkers and riders to avoid using the old track leading from Dudley Corner to the Old London Road. As the sheep have now been moved from an adjoining field, the track is open again; we would like to thank everybody for their co-operation.
The latest information from the County Rights of Way office is that discussions are taking place on removing the footpath restrictions and it is possible, repeat possible, that the paths may be re-opened by mid-June. Any further news will be announced on the village notice boards.
A number of paths throughout the village have become seriously overgrown as a result of not having been walked regularly. When the restrictions are lifted, the position will be as follows:
· If a footpath has been “disturbed” (e.g. by ploughing) it is the farmer’s responsibility to make sure the footpath is clearly marked and kept clear of growing crops.
· If the path is a “natural” path, then no one person has the responsibility for keeping it clear. Regular walkers can help by taking a pair of secateurs or shears with them and doing their bit to clear the entrance to stiles, etc. In time, the paths will be fully walkable again but only by being walked.
The Gloucestershire Rural Community Council ((01452 528491) has provided a list of confidential helplines for farmers and other people who are experiencing problems during the latest crisis in the rural economy. The list has been posted up on the village notice boards. Here are just a few:
National Foot and Mouth Helpline: É0845 050 4141
Rural Stress Information Network: É024 7641 2916
National Helpline for Businesses in Rural Areas: É0800 138 1647
Cotswold Counselling & Support Centre: É01285 885830
Samaritans: É08457 909090
On Sunday, June 24th, from 2.00pm to 6.00pm, three gardens in Ampney Crucis will welcome visitors under the Open Gardens scheme of the Gloucestershire branch of the British Red Cross.
Established in their present form early in the seventeenth century, the seventeen acres of Ampney Park, says Mrs Scott, now include the water gardens from last year as well as newly replanted borders, which should be coming into their full bloom when the garden opens; tea will be available.
In the four acres of mixed garden at Ampney Brook House, Mr Philip hopes for a good show of the roses during the opening, when visitors will also be able to enjoy the beautiful stretch of Ampney Brook running through the garden.
The mixed borders of the half acre of cottage garden at Berkeley Cottage, Mrs Evans says, form what she calls a plant person’s garden, especially featuring plants for shady areas and ones that face all the challenges of Cotswolds wildlife!
Ampney Crucis School is holding its summer fete at the school on Saturday 30 June from 1.00 to 3.00pm. There will be plenty for everyone so come along and enjoy yourself. Stalls will include a bouncy castle, cake stall, refreshments and a BBQ, so turn up in time for lunch!
In the absence of the Village Fete this year, this is a good chance to socialise and enjoy an afternoon out, as well as supporting an important fund-raising event for the school.
The AGM of the Association will take place at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall on Wednesday, 27 June
Contact: Deborah Crook
Tues 19th June “Sue Ryder”, 7.15pm, Village Hall
Tues 17th July “Wildlife in the garden”, 7.15pm, Village Hall
Contact: Janet Gibbs
Thurs 21st June Afternoon visit to Elaine Horton's garden and nursery at Tinpenny Farm, Fiddington
Thurs 19th July Summer social evening at Berkeley Cottage, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs B Evans
Contact:Joyce Cutts
Mon 4th June Entertainment : Carousels, 2.00pm, Village Hall
Mon 18th June John Stevens, “Siccaridge Woods and dormice”, 2.00pm, Village Hall
Mon 2nd July Annual trip to Weymouth, 830 am, departs Pleydells
Contact: Paddy Thompson
Thurs 28th June “Terracotta army”, 7.30pm, Village Hall
Thurs 26th July “Other people’s rubbish”, 7.30pm, Village Hall
Contact: Mrs Payne
Cotswold District Council have recently appointed an Energy Advice Officer, to promote energy saving measures in the area. At present there are two schemes operating in the Cotswold area, as well as a range of grants.
The Big Green Boiler Scheme provides high efficiency condensing boilers (gas & LPG) at a discounted price, making them a similar price to conventional boilers. Oil-fired boilers are currently under consideration. This scheme is available to anyone.
Fridgesavers is a scheme funded by local electricity suppliers to allow people to buy a new, energy efficient fridge or fridge-freezer at a highly discounted price. This is available to people in receipt of one of a range of benefits.
In addition to these schemes grants are available from four sources - central government, local authorities, fuel suppliers and the Energy Saving Trust - all of which have different eligibility criteria. The message is that everyone is eligible for something! For further information and advice on the best grant for your circumstances, contact Ed Dearnley É01285 643643, ext. 73228
The Village Hall Committee would like to offer the following items free to a good home:
· a collection of cups and saucers which are surplus to requirements
· a robust wooden toy fort suitable for indoor or outdoor play. Ideal for the summer!
If you are interested, please contact: Paddy Thompson by July 1st.
Ampney United completed their season in mid-May with a playing record of:
Played 20 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 11
This resulted in a league position just below mid-table. Many matches were postponed due to the high rainfall throughout most of the season, which caused pitches to become waterlogged. Consequently, the team had large gaps between games, in one case a break of two months. This meant that the results suffered due to lack of match practice and at one stage there was a real threat of relegation to a lower division. However four wins in the last five games saw Ampney United retain their position in Division 3.
Thanks go to the following who have helped us maintain a traditional village football team:
· Joan Curtis and Phil Gearing for their regular support
· Tim and Penrose Shackel for the use of their field as a football pitch
· Ampney Crucis Cricket Club for the use of their pavilion.
Training for the new season starts in late July, with the first home fixtures commencing in October (after the Ampney Crucis Cricket season has ended). The football fixtures will be posted here when available. We welcome all support to cheer Ampney United, who play in blue and white hooped shirts.
Contact: Doug Coombs
Personal ads in this column cost £1 per ad per issue. Local businesses can place an ad (£5) or sponsor an issue (£10). Contact the editors for details.
WANTED – Newspaper deliverer, mornings only, Monday to Friday, in Ampney Crucis. A larger round is available if wanted. Good wages; contact Carol (É851664) for more details.
Copy deadline for next issue (June): Monday 16th July 2001
Send to: Fran Huckle, 3 Dudley Farm Ampney Crucis. É851498
Produced by Ampney Crucis Parish Council
for the information of residents.
No liability can be accepted by the Council or Councillors for any losses,
however caused, arising from this publication