Ampney Crucis Annual meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting and the Parish Council AGM will take place in the Village Hall on Monday 9 May starting at 7.30. Please remember, this is your opportunity to ask any questions you like about the running of the village.

Richard Pile

Immediately before the meeting, at 7.15, there will be an unveiling ceremony outside the Village Hall in honour of Richard Pile who was chairman of the Parish Council for 16 years. The new notice board has been dedicated to Richard’s memory.

Ampney St Peter Parish Meeting

The Ampney St Peter Annual General Meeting will be at 7p.m. in the Church on Tuesday 26 April 2005. The appointment of the Chairman will, as usual, be open for renewal. Nominations and suggestions for agenda items should be submitted as early as possible.

Village Tidy-up

The Ampney Crucis annual tidy-up will be on Saturday 7 May from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Plastic bags and gloves will be available at the Village Hall. Please do your bit to keep the village clear of litter and rubbish.

There will also be a Burial Ground tidy-up at the same time so please come along and help.

Ampney Crucis Cinema

Wednesday 13 April, 7.30 p.m. Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason, Cert 15.. Starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. A hilarious and touching look at the answer to the question "What happens after the happy ending?".
Wednesday 11 May, 7.30p.m Ladies in Lavender, Cert 12A.. Starring Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. Two sisters befriend a mysterious foreigner who is washed up on the beach of their 1930's Cornish seaside village.

Ampney Crucis Village Hall £2.50 at the door. Refreshments available. Enquiries to Anne Bridges ( 652471.

Pétanque Club – Have a Go

The new season will commence on Sunday 10 April at midday with a light-hearted competition and barbecue. Everyone welcome.

Contact Martin Cridford (851313.

“The Switzerland of Central Asia”

John Ducker will give an illustrated talk on “Kyrgyzstan – Land of the Celestial Mountains”, at 7.15 p.m. on Tuesday 14 April in the Village Hall. Entry is free to this talk on the natural splendour of a country which John has come to know well. One of the central five states between Kazakhstan and China, Kyrgyzstan is often called “The Switzerland of Central Asia”.

Friends of Ampney Crucis School

The Friends are holding a Jumble Sale on Saturday 16 April in the school hall. Good quality jumble can be taken to the hall on the day from 9.00 a.m.

Ampney Crucis Quiz Night

Thursday 21 April 7:30p.m. In the Village Hall, Teams of 4 - £4. Name of team to Anne Bridges ( 652471.

Save the Children – Barry Dent

There will be a Coffee Morning for Save The Children on Tuesday 26 April at 10 a.m. to noon at Ampney House, Ampney Crucis by kind permission of Alison & Colin Denham-Davis.

Sale of goods, bring & buy, raffle, cake stall - all welcome.

We would be most grateful if all who can help, by bringing a gift for the raffle or a cake for the cake stall, would contact Lorna Everatt (851292

Advance Notices

See below for dates for more events this summer….

Ampney St Peter News – Sue Tufnell

A417

Following receipt of the Lorry Route Advisory Map Consultation, representations have been made to GCC regarding the reclassification of the A417 London Road between Lechlade and Cirencester. Apart from the natural hazards and the danger of lorries to the public and property, an administrative anomaly has been identified. Within Oxfordshire, the A417 is classified as suitable for lorry access and diversionary purposes. However, on entering Gloucestershire, it has a higher classification. In liaison with the other parishes, it has been recommended that the classification be the same as in Oxfordshire and that restriction notices be placed along its length from Faringdon.

A similar response was also made to the consultation on the Local Transport Plan (2).

Bus Shelter.

Derek Witchell has now completed the renovation of the bus shelter and the total cost has been borne by a grant from the C.D.C.

Thames Water.

Work has now been completed on up grading of the sewage work, and the Contractors have agreed to re-instate any damage caused to the grass verges, and repairs to Charlham Lane.

Footpaths.

Gloucestershire County Council have now appointed a new Footpath's Officer for this area. A meeting will be set up shortly to walk some of the footpath's and note any problems.

Sunhill

Most residents will be aware of the local press reports regarding this planning application. As reported elsewhere in this newsletter, an action group has been set up to analyse the proposals and to monitor and investigate developments on the application.

Ampney Crucis children’s playground

Work on the new playground has been delayed due to the recent spate of bad weather which arrived on the day work was due to start. However, work is now underway and it is hoped to have completed everything by the middle of April.

At some time in the future there will be an official opening – watch the notice boards for details.

The Parish Council has revised the opening hours as it was felt they were a little restrictive. The opening hours will now be from 9.00 a.m. until 8.00 p.m. from 1 March to 30 September and from 9.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. from 1 October to 28 February.

Dogs

There is always a steady trickle of complaints about roaming dogs and the fouling of roadways and footpaths. Dog owners are urged not to let their dogs roam and dog walkers are asked always to carry a plastic bag with them and to dispose of the offending material in the receptacles provided. To allow your dog to foul where other people walk, and to do nothing about it, is an offence.

If you are persistently troubled by roaming dogs, the District Council’s Dog Warden ((623422) will take up the cudgels on your behalf. The guidelines are as follows:

o If possible, attempt to catch and tie up the dog yourself. CDC will then collect it from you, kennel it and fine the owner.

o If you are aware of the owners identity (all dogs must by law be collared and tagged) and wish for action to be taken, contact the Dog Warden who will write a warning letter to the owner.

All calls to the Dog Warden are strictly confidential.

Mobile Police Station Visits

The mobile police station, with PC Reuben Wyatt, will visit the Ampneys, at these times (approximately)

A Crucis A St M A St P

9 April 1245 1300 1400

19 April 1245 1300 1400

18 May 1645 1700 1800

31 May 1245 1300 1400

É07734 068276; email egmps@gloucestershire.police.uk

New Ampney Crucis Councillor

Sally Hebbs has moved away from the village and resigned as a Parish Councillor. Sally was a valuable member of the Parish Council and her enthusiasm towards many of the village’s social activities will be missed.

The Parish Council has co-opted Tim Tremellen as the new councillor. Tim has lived in Riding Lane for four years and moved to the village after many years as a hotelier in the east and south west of England. He still maintains an interest in catering (banquets, no less!) and keeps his hand in on a freelance basis but prefers cycling and keyboard playing when time permits.

Ampney Crucis Fete…..

…will be on Saturday 9 July – watch out for news. Meanwhile if you wish to bid for a grant for your organisation apply to Paul Styles (851487 and if you can help on the day contact Liz Anderson (850141 or John Ducker (851524

You shall go to the Ball!

Advance notice is hereby given that there is to be a repeat of last years hugely successful Ampney Crucis Charity Ball. This will be held on Saturday 18 June - further details soon.

The Sunhill Action Group

Readers may be aware of the proposed waste processing facility to be established at Sunhill. As the demand for mushroom growing compost has fallen so much, the owners of Sunhill have asked for permission to convert half the existing plant to enable it to recycle what is called ‘Mixed Organic Waste’ (MOW - essentially domestic kitchen waste). The resulting compost could be of value to local farmers and the facility itself will help the County and local District Councils to meet Government recycling targets.

If approved, the proposed recycling facility will eventually mean an extension of the green garden waste collection scheme to include the collection of kitchen waste as well.

All the MOW from Stroud and Cotswold District Council will be transported to Sunhill where it will undergo a special sterilisation treatment in order to remove any pathogens. The treated waste will then be composted in the open air for roughly eight weeks after which it will be sold to farms as a fertiliser/soil conditioner.

There are, however, a number of concerns about the new facility and, following strong public reaction at a Shire Hall planning meeting on 10 February, the County Council agreed to defer any decision until a full environmental impact assessment (including the impact on traffic volumes) has been carried out.

There are three key concerns:

1. The sterilisation process to be used will be unique in the United Kingdom and there are concerns for public health and the impact on the environment.

2. It is not clear exactly what the impact will be on traffic volumes. The proposal suggests that the A417 from Cirencester to Meysey Hampton will be the main approach road and it has already been conceded that lorry volumes will be much higher than the current levels at Sunhill.

3. There is the question of exactly how domestic kitchen waste (which will include meat and dairy product waste) is going to be collected as part of the kerbside collection system.

Following the strong public reaction to the proposals, a Sunhill Action Group has been formed by representatives of all the local town and parish councils. The objective of the action group is to protect the interests of all 2,500 residents living in the areas closest to Sunhill to ensure that both the Environmental Impact Assessment and the Traffic Impact Assessments are rigorous. A fighting fund has already been established and consultants have been appointed to review the terms of reference of both assessments.

The first stage in this process is to be a meeting at Shire Hall on 5 April with the County Council and the applicants to which representatives of the local councils and other interested parties have been invited.

There will be reports of progress in later editions of the newsletter and on the notice boards. The action group also has its own website (www.sunhillactiongroup.co.uk).

The co-ordinator is Mr Paul Lilly of Quenington (( 750506).

The Ampney’ Gardening Club – Gerry Cutts

At the meeting on 17 February the club was entertained and informed by a delightful lady Jenny Bailey. She talked about pruning and composting. She is a professional gardener of over 30 years experience (although looking at her you would have guessed her occupation). Part of her talk was illustrated by slides of scrubs and trees that had been well and badly pruned; unusually for a speaker she showed slides of some of her own mistakes

At the end of her talk she gave a practical demonstration and answered many questions.

Everyone came away feeling that they had gained useful and practical knowledge

Cricket Club Report – Phil Gearing

The Cricket Club will be competing in Division 2 of the Cirencester and District Saturday League and playing friendlies on most Sundays next summer.

Any new Players, Umpires or Tea Ladies will be most welcome. Practice will take place on Tuesday evenings from a date to be advised. We now have a website upon which all the latest news and fixtures will be posted www.ampneycruciscc.btinternet.co.uk, otherwise ring (851855.

Pétanque Club - Martin Cridford

Meets Tuesdays, at the boules pitch by the Cricket Club, from 7pm. Season commences Tuesday 12 April, following the “Have a Go” day on Sunday 10^th. New members welcome. Enquiries (851313

Sixties Club

Meets Mondays Ampney Crucis Village Hall 2.00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

4 April. Music of yesteryear

19 April (Tuesday) Spring trip, with lunch and music hall at Bridges; departure time to be notified

9 May Music – Dorcan

23 May, 12 noon for 1230 p.m., Lunch in the hall, with quiz by Alan Walters

Contact Paddy or Peggy Thompson É851619

Youth Club

The club is full for the time being. We shall let readers know when there are any vacancies. For further information and membership enquiries contact Rosanna Armitage (850005.

Ampneys Gardening Club

Meets monthly Thursdays Ampney Crucis Village Hall 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

16 April, 10.30 a.m. –12.00 noon, Coffee morning and plant sale, with spring flower competition, at 8 Tudor Road, Cirencester, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs David Smeeton

19 May, “Interesting summer plants”, a talk by Mr J Billings, Almondsbury Garden Centre

Contact Joyce Cutts É851540

Mothers’ Union

Meets monthly at various venues and times; everyone is welcome.

7 April, 230 p.m., Readings by Enid Harris, The Old Vicarage, Poulton

13 April, 1200 noon to 1.00 p.m., The wave of prayer, Waterton Farm House, Ampney Crucis

5 May, 230 p.m., “Laughter in church”, by Canon Judith Mount, venue to be announced

18 May, 7.30 p.m., Gloucester Cathedral, Festival service

Contact Rosemary Franklin (654282

Ampney and District Royal British Legion Women’s Section

Meets Tuesdays Ampney Crucis Village Hall 2.00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

17 May, 7.00 p.m., Supper meeting, with report on the national conference

Contact Janet Gibbs É851227

Bingo

Bingo on 6 April and 18 May, Ampney Crucis Village Hall, doors open 7.00 p.m.; eyes down 7.30p.m..

Whist

Whist on 12 April and 10 May, at the Pop Inn, Cirencester, 7.30p.m..

Women’s Institute

Meets monthly Thursdays Ampney Crucis Village Hall 7.30 p.m. unless otherwise noted

28 April, “Banners” by Joan King

30 April, 230 p.m., Ampney Crucis Village Hall, Jumble sale

26 May, Beetle drive

Contact Sonja Payne É850267

Bookings for the Village Hall may be made through Paddy or Peggy Thomson É851619.