Christmas Trees
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The Painswick Beacon Sine praeiudicio Volume 35 Number 8 November 2012 Post Office latest New Life at the Royal Oak The Post Office provides so many services which The Royal Oak is up and running again. With new managers, Mike we must use if we want our excellent local branch to and Gill Brickell, at the helm the Oak has been given a much-needed continue. There are far too many to list in the Beacon face-lift and is all set to earn its place as the ‘village pub’ once again. but hopefully our regular updates will give some Mike and Gill have an impressive CV when it comes to pub helpful information. management. With 35 years experience, mostly in the south-west and As Christmas approaches it is good to know that a short spell in Spain, they understand what makes the business work. you may be eligible to buy discounted Christmas Mike is a fully qualified chef (he has worked closely with Keith Floyd) stamps. If you receive Pension Credit, Employment and is also an NVQ trainer. He will be doing the cooking. Gill will and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit you be working front-of-house – a position much suited to her warm and should fill in the appropriate form which either you friendly personality. will receive or which you can pick up at the Post The Oak re-opened on 12th October after much hard work to Office. Karen stresses that you should ask if you have improve its presentation. Enterprise Inns who own the premises agreed any questions – she and her staff are there to help. to completely refurbish the first floor accommodation, but Mike Christmas stamps will be available from 8th November and last posting dates are: and Gill have redecorated the whole of the public area themselves. Tuesday 18th December – 2nd class There was much work to be done as the whole place had been rather Thursday 20th December – 1st class neglected and they were determined that it should be spotlessly clean Saturday 22nd December – Special Delivery and fresh. The result is very satisfying and a welcome change. For overseas, parcels etc a list is available in the Post Mike and Gill have decided that a completely new kitchen should Office. be installed. No food will be prepared until the work is completed. After the car tax disc debacle which affected many This operation is under way and they hope that before long they will customers (the Post Office had failed to send any discs be serving some tempting pub fare. The intention is to specialise in to our local branch), finally and only after Karen had traditional English pub food using locally-sourced ingredients as far made many telephone calls they arrived in the week as possible. Many local people will certainly be pleased to know this – of 19th October. Karen offers her sincere apologies the Oak was renowned for exactly this some years ago. Real ales, plus to everyone who tried in vain to renew their car tax a weekly change of ale, will be a significant feature. in Painswick. She also stresses the need to avail There are plans to make the courtyard an attractive outside area yourselves of this service locally rather than elsewhere but that is for the future. The outside facilities generally are being or on-line as it supports the need for the local Post improved. There is also a plan to introduce a piano into the restaurant Office branch. area which should create an interesting ambience. You may have noticed that Moulton Haus, the Mike and Gill stress the importance of team work and this is behind estate agency, is advertising properties in the Post their strategy for running the pub. They understand the importance Office window. No, the Post Office is not actually of making customers feel “comfortable, warm and contented”. They selling properties but this is an example of local want the Oak to be a true village pub, but they also recognise that that businesses supporting each other. There is a strong means starting afresh with the Oak. element of support among our local businesses At present the Oak opens 11.30-2.30 and 5.00-11.00 Monday generally and this particular partnership is presenting to Thursday, and 11.30am-late Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is both the public and the businesses with greater certainly good to see its doors open again and stepping inside to a opportunities and access to information - beneficial all clean, friendly ‘just as it should be’ traditional local hopefully signifies round. an assured future for the Royal Oak. Do go in and see for yourselves. The Post Office will not participate in the Goodwill Evening due to a prior engagement. However, everyone Carol Maxwell is invited to join the staff on Saturday, 1st December for a drink and nibbles. Now there’s an offer not to be missed! Carol Maxwell Painswickian(s) of the Year Nominations are invited for this annual accolade. See page 6 for details. On other pages this month: Remembrance Day 2012, bonfire and fireworks, seasonal fun at the Painswick Centre, girl guides, DASH, magical Christmas fayre, Apple Day success, Merrywalks Christmas trees, new zumba class, support for firefighters, Painswick Christmas Goodwill Evening, Painswick players, end of and era for the Patchwork Mouse, goodwill and wassailing, sports reports, shine together, muddy feet fitness, property report, and more… 1 PARISH COUNCIL NEWS by Mike Kerton Reports upon meetings of the Parish Council cannot help but be selective, if only because of space constraints. We try to highlight points of wide public interest, based upon what we see and hear. The full minutes of Council and committee meetings are available for scrutiny at the Council's office. PLANNING COMMITTEE the principal reasons for opposing plan or evidence to support the request the incinerator – pollution, height of was included with the letter. It was Chairman Rob Lewis opened the incinerator, constant stream of heavy agreed to refer the request to the Meeting and stated that the retrospective lorries visiting the site and probable Finance Committee for them to make a planning application submitted by incinerating waste from areas from recommendation to the Council. the Court House had been refused other authorities. Although no planning A letter has been sent to the Charity by the District Council and that an application had been received nor would Commission seeking clarification as to Enforcement Order and letter of refusal Painswick be directly involved in the whether or not charges can be made by was being issued to the applicant. planning process she sought support local organisations for visitors parking from the Council in objecting to any on the Recreation Ground. Catbrain Quarry planning application. No questions were Discussions have been held with the The Chairman reported to the meeting raised by Councillors at the conclusion Tourist Information Office. It has been that the floor of the quarry was being of the presentation. agreed that the Office will remain open cleared to allow a building to be erected. during the winter period until 2.30pm. The face of the quarry was being Presentation by John Rohrbeck The Council will consider providing prepared for hydro seeding. Plastic village contact for Fairtrade space in the storage cupboard adjacent sheeting would be attached to the face John confirmed that the village had to the Council Offices. This will be to retain soil which would be seeded and recently successfully applied for fully discussed at the next Parish planted. renewal of their Faretrade Licence. Council Meeting. The Chairman went on to say that the He presented a laminated copy of the Council has a close working relationship certificate and photographs were taken Co-options to the Council with the District Council’s Enforcement of the certificate being presented to There have not been any applicants Officer and takes all matters relating to the Council. There was now universal seeking co-option to the Council. the quarry seriously. support by the majority of supermarkets The Council always reacts quickly for retailing Fairtrade goods, including County Councillor’s Report to complaints made by members of the our local shop and bed and breakfast County Councillor Joan Nash advised public and it was important that any proprietors offering Fairtrade coffee to the meeting that the County Council had complaints made directly to the District guests. John stressed the need for the agreed that each Divisional Councillor Council were copied to the Parish Clerk. local community to continue to support would be awarded £10k for Highway Members of the public had reported the initiative by purchasing Fairtrade work. As she had 13 villages in her the movement of heavy lorries to goods. division she would be supporting small and from the quarry to the County schemes such as providing additional Council. The Highways Department are PARISH COUNCIL salt spreaders, salt bins or an additional investigating the complaints. snow plough – attachment to a tractor. Chairman Martin Slinger then opened Other ideas were a speed survey using Matters requiring a decision. the Meeting. radar, gulley cleaning or weed spraying. There were four matters requiring a The County Council was now decision. The Council supported three of Matters of Urgency responsible for management and issue of the applications but after a vote objected Rob Lewis suggested that at a future concessionary bus passes. About 90,000 to the application from the Old Bakery meeting “The Javelin Park Incinerator” passes expire on 31st March 2013 (The Chairman) for change of use of be included as an Agenda item It was and letters explaining the application the ground floor from A 1 (retail) to important that the Council sought a process will be issued over the next 3 A2 (Profession and financial services).