VILLAGE NEWSLETTER October 2020

Marston Moreteyne Parish Council VILLAGE NEWSLETTER October 2020

PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S UPDATES Community Building behalf of the parish will lay a wreath and the Unfortunately, the Parish Council has not minutes silence will be observed. We have been able to take over the Community been advised there is to be no parade or Building located at Great Linns off Gold gathering there so residents may wish to Furlong. The present Covid-19 situation has consider how they can show their respect on complicated the process and whilst the Parish that day. It has been suggested that they Council has been working hard to prepare, it could go into their front gardens and observe has not been possible to move forward to a the minutes silence at 11 am. If residents definite date. Regular zoom meetings have wish to visit the War Memorial individually now been arranged with the developer to later in the day or visit the Parish Church, ensure that items on the snagging list are which will be open from 12 noon to 4 pm, to being dealt with in readiness and the Parish further express their remembrance that is Council is working to ensure that the best another option. outcome for the village is achieved. Fencing along the A421 Remembrance Day As you may be aware the Parish Council has The Parish Council has been made aware of requested the local MP to follow up on the residents’ desire to have the War Memorial lack of replacement sound fencing where as the site for the Remembrance Sunday there are gaps as this is causing a nuisance for service. The Council would like to see this as residents. Our letter has been acknowledged the way forward for the future but at the but a response is still awaited. present time with the strict guidelines now in Car Parking and Bottle Bank relocation place relating to gatherings, they have been Work is beginning on the layby located at the liaising with other groups such as the Royal junction of Bedford Road with the C94 road British Legion to see what can be achieved. to discourage HGVs from parking there. This With the present restrictions it is only area will be rearranged with parking bays for possible to have 6 people at the War cars marked out. Once the work has been Memorial on Remembrance Sunday at 11 am completed the bottle bank now at Howes and RBL representatives and myself, on Drive will be relocated there. Cllr Hugh Roberts (Chairman, MMPC)

MARSTON MORETEYNE SURGERY

On Saturday 19th September, my partner and I attended the Flu Jab session at the Marston Surgery. We found it to be very well organised and, bearing in mind that almost 700 patients were processed that day, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. It was heartening to see later in the day other supportive and complimentary posts on a local village Facebook group. Well done and thank you to everyone at the Surgery. Carol Carter

Marston Moreteyne Allotments The Allotment Society offers the following as a Gardening Tip for October. October is often seen as the time for harvesting and planning rather than sowing or planting but there are a number of crops that can be considered this month.

Whether you have an allotment, a large garden or a small garden then soft fruits are an option that can produce good yields but can also take up very little space. Raspberries, blackberries, and hybrids (tayberries, loganberries) can be grown in most gardens by planting them along a boundary fence. These are all grown from canes that are now in the garden centres and they can all be planted between now and December. Cultivated blackberries tend to produce larger and more numerous fruits than the wild ones and often fruit earlier (August onwards). One or two plants should regularly produce a good crop after the first year. Plants bought in the garden centres have details of how to plant and care for them.

Raspberries tend to come in bundles of canes (usually fives or tens) and need to be planted 18in to 2ft apart. By just increasing the thickness of your boundary fence by the few inches of growth, you can enjoy fresh fruit for many years to come.

Marston Moreteyne Charities

Students in further education or an apprentice in work who have been resident in Marston Moreteyne for at least 12 months and are aged 18 years or over can make an application to the Marston Moreteyne Charities for grant aid to assist with the cost of their education. Applications from students must be accompanied by a supporting letter from their tutor on university headed paper, or in the case of apprentices a supporting letter from their employer on company headed paper. The Charity will only accept applications from students or apprentices for a period of four years. Applications from sixth form students cannot be accepted by the Charity. The closing date for applications is 30th November 2020. Any application received after this date will not be approved. Applications to be approved by the Charity Trustees will be accepted by John Clarke at 95 Bedford Road, Marston Moreteyne, Bedford, MK43 0LA, Tel: 01234 767515 or Email: [email protected] John Clarke Secretary to the Marston Moreteyne Charities.

Councillor Vacancy There is currently a vacancy on the Parish Council. Parish councils are the democratic bodies with the closest links to their communities and are the first tier of Local Government.

Marston Moreteyne Parish Council responds to planning applications, maintains play areas and the skate park, undertakes verge and amenity land grass cutting and maintains the war memorial. The work of a Parish Council is often challenging but also rewarding. The Council also works closely with voluntary groups in the community

If you feel you could make a contribution to life in the village and are interested in becoming a councillor please contact the Parish Clerk on 01234 743598 or email: [email protected] for more information and an application form. Covid-1##### Parish Council Meetings Parish Council meetings and committee meetings have resumed but due to Covid-19 are being held virtually. Agendas will be posted on the council’s website: https://marstonmoreteyne-pc.gov.uk/ 3 days before the meeting. The next virtual meetings will be held on: Tuesday 6th Oct 7.00pm Planning & Environment Committee 8.00pm Finance & General Purposes Committee Tuesday 20th Oct 7.00pm Planning & Environment Committee 7.30pm Full Council

Message from PCC Kathryn Holloway

Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire Police

Good Afternoon all,

I hope you are all well and keeping safe.

Whilst demonstrating my genuine desire to listen to the local Bedfordshire communities, I would like to again, invite members of the African Caribbean community, for an online conversation with myself or my Chief of Staff regarding their experience with and thoughts on discrimination and the Black Lives Matter movement. Having already held numerous conversations with members of this community, the responses received have been incredibly insightful and I look forward to hosting more.

As the voice of younger people is often unheard, I would also like to learn of their own experiences of Bedfordshire Police, more widely within the Criminal Justice system, in health, education, housing and other services, although capturing their personal experiences of policing is my priority.

Hearing your views is a priority for me moving forward across this year and I will compile a report of anonymous content to submit to the Force and other service and policy leaders at the end of the year.

My belief is one to one conversations are more constructive and will give you a chance to speak openly and express yourself fully. However, I also invite you to join the conversation in groups of no more than three to participate in a conversation.

The conversations will last for no longer than one hour and will be held via Microsoft Teams. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, these conversations cannot be held in person.

You can book in a conversation with myself from 9am – 5pm between now and December 2020, subject to the available time slots.

Please click the link below to book a time slot: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/100-conversations-tickets-111127659822

I look forward to speaking to you all.

PCC Kathryn Holloway

Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, Woburn Road, Kempston, Bedford MK43 9AX

Web: www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk

Community Champions wanted to share key COVID-19 information

Central Bedfordshire Council is calling on Volunteers will be provided with the you to help reach friends, family, latest information to share at the click of neighbours, colleagues and thousands of a button – it’s that simple. It won’t take other local people with trusted up a huge amount of time, but it could information and advice related to COVID- really help make a massive difference in 19. helping to keep our families, friends and communities safe. Throughout the pandemic, the authority has been keeping residents informed Councillor Tracey Stock, Executive and up to date with local information and Member for Health & Wellbeing and the latest government and health advice. Communities said: “By reaching out to In light of increasing infection rates and people that you are in touch with, you are changing restrictions, the council is keen helping to protect them. With the current that as many residents as possible are increase in infections and changing kept up-to-date with the latest advice and guidance from Government, making sure information. people have the latest information and advice is more critical than ever. For us, But they know they won’t reach hearing feedback from Community everyone, so they are calling for people Champions will be a valuable tool to to sign up to become Community keep our messaging and materials Champions to help them reach more of effective and relevant. We know there the local community. are a lot of myths that need busting and questions people are asking when it Many people have wanted to help others comes to COVID-19 and we need to throughout the pandemic but were know what they are. Which is why we are unsure as to how to go about it. Being a asking as many of you as possible to Community Champion is an easy way to please sign up, reach out and help keep make a massive difference– by sharing Central Bedfordshire safe.” the latest information and advice with friends and families. This could be via Anyone interested in becoming a local Facebook groups, WhatsApp Community Champion should visit and groups, social organisations, and clubs register that people are part of. at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/com munity-champions

A Happy Harvest

Harvest Festival had a very different feel, of course, this year. We could not gather to enjoy our usual Harvest Supper, but that didn’t mean that we weren’t able to celebrate.

Our church was once again made beautiful with flowers and produce but, far more importantly, we have been able, thanks to the generosity of our community, to share the fruits of harvest with others. Since the beginning of lockdown, St Mary’s has been supporting people in need in Marston and Lidlington, responding to appeals from our schools, in particular. This work continues.

September also saw us taking gifts of houseplants and patio pots to Village Green Care Home, where I was especially delighted to bless a new area of the garden created in memory of a much-loved resident who had died this summer.

Our church continues to be open every day from 10.00am till 4.00pm (Sundays 12.00-4.00)

We are currently offering communion services at both 10.00 and 11.15 a.m. every Sunday, plus a Morning Prayer on Tuesdays at 10.00. Please do join us.

We continue to livestream and record worship for those who prefer to watch at home; follow the link to our YouTube channel via: https://linktr.ee/stmarysmarston

To receive regular news from St Mary’s, sign up to our digital newsletter at: https://mailchi.mp/6a075648bc8a/stmarysnewslettersignup

If you would like to speak to someone, please contact Revd Kate McFarlane: 07816 790447 [email protected]

Revd. Kate McFarlane

Vale Community Church ...leaving a trace of Jesus everywhere we go

The Baptist Church that will we trust, one day meet again at the Marston Moreteyne VC School - Forest End site

Dear Village, I have just returned from a week’s holiday in a self-catering cottage in the Peak District. It was so good to walk in some lovely scenery with hills and to experience something different to the normal daily routine! I do trust that others of you will have had some positive experiences in the past month! Do take comfort from these verses from the Bible: “and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…. may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” Ephesians 3:18 - 19 The Apostle Paul wrote the above words for the people of Ephesus. Like Paul, the prayer of Vale CC for the people of Marston Moretaine is that you alongside us, will give the Lord Jesus unhindered access to every area of our lives, trusting Him where we find it so difficult to let go of old habits and ways of thinking. The aim of which is to know without doubt the extravagant and immeasurable love of Jesus. May the Lord bless and guide us, as we seek to know and accept more of this love.

Our Minister Steve Gaunt, the leadership team and resources are available to you at any time –

Website: www.valecc.org.uk for all you need to know about Vale Community Church

YouTube channel: valecommunitychurch For online services – Sundays 10.30am – but these can be accessed at any time.

Facebook: valecommunitychurch Here at Vale CC. our morning devotional is available for anyone from our Facebook page: valecommunitychurch. The devotional contains a reflection, a prayer, and a blessing. We also pray in rotation for a road in the village and a church family. Please join in as you feel able.

Stay well, stay safe and may you know the blessing of God upon you and your families.