October 2017 Issue 236
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OCTOBER 2017 ISSUE 236 ON THE EDGE Footpaths, Bridleways and Tracks There are over 9,500 public rights of way (PROWs) in Gloucestershire. Government cuts have resulted in a significant reduction in the capacity of the rights of way team to fulfil their obligations but the Gloucestershire County Council public rights of way team are responsible for: • providing information about the routes of public paths, • recording PROWs on the Definitive Map, • processing 'public path orders' and 'modification orders', • maintaining the surface of PROWs, • maintaining most bridges over natural watercourses, • roadside signposting and way-marking, • making sure that public paths are reasonably convenient for the public to use. Your rights of way include: • public footpaths, • public bridleways, • restricted byways, • Byways open to all traffic. Public footpaths can be used on foot only (with a pram, pushchair or wheelchair where it is practicable to do so *), with a dog under close control. Public bridleways also allow horse riders and cyclists (cyclists must give way to walkers and horse riders). Restricted byways can be used by any transport without a motor. * and mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs. Note: users may take an alternative route around an obstruction or remove enough of the obstruction to get past. Ordnance Survey maps show most public rights of way but may not be up to date. In the parish of North Nibley, as in most of England, public footpaths are way-marked with yellow arrows and bridleways with blue arrows. What may seem to be a single path may be made up of sections with different designations. The Cotswold Way is made up of footpaths and some sections with differing designations. For many reasons signage is often incomplete. If in doubt refer to the Definitive Map at County Hall. Many paths and tracks in the woods are not public rights of way. Responsibilities of the public We hear much about 'rights' these days but very little about 'responsibilities'. Please follow the Countryside Code: • know where you can go, when you can go there and what you can do, • take your litter home or put it in a rubbish bin, • be aware of your own safety and be considerate to other people, • leave gates and property as you find them, • keep your dog under close control. 2 Parish Council News News Council Parish Vacancy for Parish Councillor There is a councillor vacancy following a resignation. Details, including the appointment process, are on Parish noticeboards and the Parish Council website. If, by the 28th September, a request for an election is made in writing to the District Authority Returning Officer by 10 parish electors, an election will be held to fill the vacancy. Otherwise the vacancy will be filled by a process of co-option. Cemetery improvements Contractors have continued to work in the cemetery, extending the memorial garden to approximately twice its current size and improving paths. They have been asked to work flexibly around events in the cemetery such as funerals and interments. Speed Awareness: Six volunteers Parish council grants closing date alert: The 2018 are now trained to do speed checks. applications closing date has been brought forward to Wednesday 31st January 2018. Broadband update At the time of writing Barden Networks should have closed Warend Hill (11th Sept to 22nd Sept) on behalf of Openreach, presumably to fix problems with the ducts taking the telephone cables. It is possible that they may also be installing the fibre to cabinet 1 at the same time. The fibre has to be blown through ducting from the Dursley exchange to cabinet 1 at the bottom of Warend Hill. When BT/Openreach has installed and commissioned the fibre to cabinet 1 it will then be possible for households to take out fast broadband contracts with providers such as BT, All invited Village at 7.30Hall Monday October 2nd Next Meeting: Talktalk, Plusnet, The Post Office etc. It should then also be possible for Fastershire to bring fast broadband to the remainder of the households of the parish although there is no definite timescale available at present. The Fastershire website will be available for anyone to check the status using their postcode [www.fastershire.com]. Matt Lloyd of BT may be at the next PC meeting to explain progress. (Editor’s note: A Nibley resident has contacted OTE to suggest that Truespeed, which is said to offer ultra fast broadband without using the current infrastructure and which is used a lot in rural areas, might be worth investigating.) The Knoll Trust would like to VILLAGE In August we met Gina Merrett-Smith and Kew’s Victorian Gem, thank the following volunteers Marianne North, intrepid floral artist. Gina entertained us with for clearing the ragwort from Marianne’s lovely paintings and travels to parts of the world when it was unusual for a woman to travel alone. The house dedicated Nibley Knoll: EYE to Marianne at Kew would be well worth seeing. Dan Roberts, Alan Page, In September Peter Berry’s talk on the Rockies – And the wife came too!! was a Julie & Steve Collins, very humorous account of 3 weeks in the Rockies, focussing on Steam Trains!! Sue & Alan Shrimpton, 30 trainspotters plus 6 wives went on two old trains through wonderful autumn Jean & David Palmer, scenery and gave another view of the Mid west, Colorado and New Mexico. Jo Patteson, Monday October 9th Brian Bailey - The Isles of Scilly and also Ken Brown for collection & disposal. 2.30pm in the Village Hall -Visitors welcome. 3 Dear Readers I write this month’s On The Edge article sitting on a bench whilst on playground duty. We’ve been back one week. OFSTED might refer to this as monitoring pupils’ behaviour. ‘To what extent does the school facilitate good social development?’ (a) Health & Safety might wonder when the Trim Trail and other equipment was last tested for compliance. (b) The Polli:Nation officials might wonder how well our new insect-friendly garden has survived the summer break. (c) FONNS will be interested in the extent to which the new landscaping is supporting children at play. (d) Our contracted gardeners might be wondering whether today is a good day to cut the grass. (e) The staff are wondering when I will ask a child to ring the bell, to signal the end of their break. (f) The crows are wondering when the children will leave, so that they can see if any tasty morsel from snack time has been abandoned on the ground (g) The children are thinking it’s a brilliant time to be out with their friends, enjoying the sunshine. And me? Answers below! (h) (a) Very well – it’s one of our greatest strengths! (b) In July. It has to be done annually, internally (gym equipment) and outside too. (c) Very well – a big thank you to Mrs Meyer who watered it well. (d) The children love it! (e) Yes, it is! (f) Soon. They are so keen to get back to the classrooms! (g) Scant pickings, I’m afraid. The children want to keep our lovely grounds clean and tidy, so the bins are well used. (h) It’s a beautiful day. How fortunate I am to be here, and this is a lovely cup of tea! Paul Batchelor, Head Teacher, North Nibley C of E Primary School www.northnibley.gloucs.sch.uk October: Following our outing to Redwood Education Centre at Slimbridge, we will be looking at bugs, insects and creepy crawlies. What they are, where they live etc. If you are interested in your child joining our pre-school there are some places available for this year. We accept the Nursery Education Grant for those children who are eligible for the 15 hours per week (universal entitlement) and have spaces for the 30 hours (extended entitlement) free childcare hours. We are happy to give information on the 30 hours if required. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We operate in North Nibley Village Hall, Monday 9.00am to 1.00pm and Tuesday-Friday 9.00am-3.30pm (term time only). Please leave a message on 07842280220 and we will call you back with more details or drop in anytime and meet our lovely staff and children. Our Bumps, Babies and Toddlers Group is also in full swing on Monday from 9.30-11.00am in the Meeting Room of the Village Hall. Each session is themed with an activity and a healthy snack. Please come along to meet local mums and have a coffee. 4 Start of Season Report 2017-18 If you would like to get involved with North Nibley AFC this season, please feel free to come along to training on Wednesday Summer drawing to a close may put a nights 8-9pm at KLB. frown on your face, but for the football fans out there it means the start of a new season! NNFC have instagram – Go follow them northnibleyfc Fresh from their nail-biting County Cup win, NNFC were invited to participate in a friendly Community shield final which was setup by the Gloucestershire FA in the hope of increasing interest in the game at grass roots level. The South Gloucestershire County Cup champions Real Thornbury Reserves ‘The Rats’ would play their Northern equivalent, North Nibley AFC ‘The Cobras’, on Friday Night in Thornbury under the lights. After a scoreless first half, new big money signing Jamie Evans weaved his way through a tight defence and neatly found the corner of the goal to give Nibley their first piece of silverware this season. Nibley have played some wonderful football this year, but a mixed bag of results from the opening league fixtures have left manager George Harper scratching his head at times.