Ampney Crucis Times…
Edition number 15
June 2002
The Ampney Crucis website was first announced in ACT of April 2000. Since then, the site has attracted a good deal of attention and its originator, Frank Skinner, reports that the website has now attracted over 6,500 ‘hits’ since it was launched.
There is a good deal of information on the site but there is always room for more. Frank would welcome contributions from village clubs, societies, individuals and businesses. Photographs and pictures can easily be scanned in. More information can be found on the website itself (www.ampneycrucisf9.co.uk) or from Frank himself É654597.
Several residents have expressed concern at the deterioration of the bus service since the contractors changed. Timetable changes are resulting in long connection waits and difficult or impossible journeys to places farther afield such as Swindon and Cheltenham.
If you have also been affected adversely by these alterations, the Parish Council would like to know about it. If we can’t use the service, it will be assumed that it is not needed and the situation will worsen, as it becomes less and less economically viable. Please speak to your local Parish Councillor or the Clerk, Helen Tonks ((640718) if you have transport problems.
The boules pitch at the cricket field is in use from the beginning of June. The Grand Opening and “Have a Go” session will be taking place on Monday 3 June during the Jubilee festivities. Use is restricted to members only but membership for 2002 only costs £5 per household. For further information contact Martin Cridford É851313 or Liz Anderson É850141. This gentle but competitive activity is suitable for all ages. Come and give it a go!
Would you be interested in joining our editorial team? All you need is access to a computer with Windows 95, 98 or 2000 and Microsoft Word, plus the willingness to give up about ten hours of your time every six months. Full training will be given! If you would like to find out more, please contact:
DavidVessey
Fran Huckle
Elisabeth Gerver
Low interest rates have caused a shortfall in income for Cotswold District Council.. As a result, it is currently reviewing all of its services and how it delivers them. As part of this process, consultation meetings are being held at various locations across the District. These meetings will be open to the public and the outcome will help to prioritise future spending plans. The following meetings are planned in June at venues in this area:
19 June Lechlade Memorial Hall
26 June Cirencester Town Council
27 June South Cerney Village Hall
A big thank you.. …..……to everyone who gave up their Saturday morning in April to help to spring clean the village and surrounding lanes. A good number of bags were filled with rubbish collected from the roadside verges and paths. Thanks are also due to the many people who regularly pick up litter during their walks around the area. It makes a big difference to the appearance of the village and is greatly appreciated by all of us.
The next clean up will be the Burial Ground in October – more details to follow nearer the time.
…have taken something of a knock before the financial year has hardly started. In common with other parish councils, unwelcome news has been received from the Council’s insurers regarding an increase in premiums of 35% this year. Needless to say, a review of the Council’s insurance needs will be carried out over the year and other insurers contacted.
In addition, there is the matter of audit fees. Like other small parishes, the Council has objected to the onerous audit requirements that have been in place since 1992. The Government has listened and a new ‘lighter touch’ regime has been introduced. This has the following impact:
· Instead of having one formal audit every three years, the Council will now be audited twice every year.
· The annual cost will increase from approximately £80 per year to £120 per year.
· Instead of a councillor acting as Internal Auditor, an “external” internal auditor has to be appointed (fortunately, Neil Holt has very kindly agreed to take on the task).
So much for ‘lighter touch’. The Parish Council will be writing to our MP about this latest imposition on smaller parishes.
As previously reported in ACT, the Council asked the Highways Authority to investigate having double white lines on the A417 where it passes through the village, particularly on the stretch alongside Ampney Park. A survey has been carried out by Halcrow and, from their initial report, it would seem that the wishes of the Council have been taken into account. The report will now be considered by the police.
At the annual meeting of the Parish Council, Councillor Peter Kelly was re-elected as Chairman and Councillor Adrian Grazebrook was re-elected as Vice Chairman.
The scheme will allow the Village Hall to run six films per year, without incurring the cost of an expensive licence. We are liaising with Poulton Village Hall so that we alternate our screenings to enable local residents to have the choice of 12 different films a year.
Forthcoming attractions:
Ocean’s Eleven (Cert 12), Ampney Crucis Village Hall, Wednesday, 19 June, 7:30 pm. A remake of the 1960’s film starring Frank Sinatra, this recent blockbuster, newly released on video, was directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars a host of well known Hollywood faces, including Andy Garcia, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts.
Next film evening - Poulton Village Hall on 16 July at 8 p.m. – film details to follow.
We are hoping to put on a children’s film somewhat earlier in the day during the school holidays in August; further details to follow.
This illegal practice of dumping domestic, garden or other waste continues to be a problem in odd places around the village lanes. If you spot any waste being dumped, please notify the District Council Waste Management Department ((623603) or a Parish Councillor, so that steps can be taken to prevent it. Your own household waste can be dumped free of charge at the Fosseway tip – please use it!
Ampney Crucis School will be holding a fete on Saturday, 13 July from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Come along and try your hand at one of the side stalls, buy one of the delicious cakes, and take a chance on the raffle
17 June, Annual General Meeting, Village Hall, 7:30 pm
Contact: Philip White
Meets monthly Tuesdays Village Hall 7:15 pm
25 June ‘Galapagos Islands’, a talk by Mr and Mrs Willis
23 July ‘As I Walked Out’, a talk by Mr Mervyn Penny
Contact: Secretary, Janet Gibbs
Meets monthly Thursdays Village Hall 7:00 – 9:00pm unless otherwise stated
20 June Club outing to Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury.
Contact Pamela Kingsford
18 July Summer social evening at Indaba, Ampney St Mary, by kind permission of Joyce and Gerry Cutts, 7:00pm; includes visits to other village gardens and rose competition
Contact Joyce Cutts
Meets Mondays Village Hall 2:00pm
10 June Odd Spots, an entertainment
24 June If fine, garden meeting at Don Underwood’s, Hunts Hill; if wet, slides of Old Cirencester by Paddy Thompson in Village Hall
8 July Annual outing to Swanage; departs 8:30 am from Pleydells
22 July An old fashioned singalong, with Roger Poole
Contact Paddy or Peggy Thompson
Meets monthly Thursdays Village Hall 7:30 pm
27 June ‘Kenya Coast to Kilimanjaro’ a talk by Mr J Milne
25 July ‘From Boyhood in East London to Business Man in Gloucester’, a talk by Mr J Thomas
Contact Sonia Payne
Personal ads in this column cost £1 per ad per issue. Local businesses can place an ad (£5) or sponsor an issue (£10). Please contact the editors for details. Adverts will be placed on a first come, first serve basis; space is limited to up to five ads per issue.
Boy’s bike in good condition
Raleigh Nitro with 15 Shimano gears. Red/black. Very good condition. Nearly new saddle and bar ends. Would suit approx age 8-10. £45 ono . Contact David Vessey É851438
Orpheus and Euridice:an opera.
The mythological story of Orfeo’s descent into the underworld to find his lost love Euridice. Music by Gluck and Haydn, including the famous ‘What is life to me without you?’ With students from Cirencester College, directed and coached by Maria Jagusz; musical director, Simon Bertram. Concert performances on Sunday, 14 July, 8:00pm, at St Mary’s Church, Fairford and Thursday, 18 July, 8:00pm, at All Saints Church, Pittville, Cheltenham. For both venues, tickets are £4, concessions £2, payable at the door only.
This edition of the Ampney Crucis Times has been very kindly sponsored by:
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HEATING AND PLUMBING ENGINEERS The Pound, Ampney Crucis Cirencester GL7 5SA Telephone: 01285 851268
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Copy deadline for next issue (August):
Tuesday 16 July 2002
Send to: Elisabeth Gerver, Cider Orchard, Ampney Crucis, Gloucestershire GL7 5RY.
Editors: David Vessey, Fran Huckle and Elisabeth Gerver
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.