PARISH 5
COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER at March 2021
Editorial
The Covid vaccine programme is
proceeding at a pace, the NHS are now
asking for all people over 70 who have not
2018been contacted to book an appointment, to
book online:
www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination, or ring 119.
The Official Steeple Morden Parish
Website is now up and running. It can be
accessed on line:
www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk.
It should be noted that the Newsletter has a
new email address, as has the Parish
Councillors. On the website you will be
able to add your email so that you will be
informed when the Newsletter is available.
Further details are on page 12.
Anyone suffering from stress or anxiety,
and feeling as if you can’t cope with life as
it is at the moment should visit the website
on page 6.(www.keep-your-head.com/now).
The website covers quite a number of
issues we are all feeling at this time, and it
is good to know there is somebody at the
end of a telephone who you can talk to.
With infection numbers coming under
control and the warmer weather coming
lockdown restrictions will begin to ease so
that we can at least venture a little further
afield!
Desma
Editor Desma Goddard: Email: [email protected]
Steeple Morden Parish Council Help coming for Cambridgeshire’s List of Councillors as at February 2021 threatened chalk streams CLLR J CLAYTON (Chair) [email protected] 01763 853855 Anthony Browne, MP for South Cambridgeshire, has
welcomed the creation of the Government’s Chalk CLLR S WHEATLEY (Vice Chair) [email protected] Streams Working Group, to tackle the continued over- 01763 853826 abstraction and water shortage problems faced in Cambridgeshire. It is part of a range of measures and CLLR G BELSON (Vice Chair) initiatives that Mr Browne has been pushing for to help [email protected] save the county’s threatened chalk streams. 01763 852475
Working with Water Resources East (WRE) and the CLLR K AUSTIN Cam Valley Forum, Mr Browne has campaigned to [email protected] raise concerns about local chalk streams, which 01763 852023 produce incredibly clear flows from stores of CLLR N BADGER underground water that are normally replenished when [email protected] it rains. 01763 852191 Water abstraction, worsened by below-average rainfall CLLR M BIRD and groundwater recharge over successive winters, [email protected] has left many chalk streams running dry, as well as 01763 852469 many of the village ponds in South Cambridgeshire.
CLLR A DREW The streams are normally rich in wildlife, but low flows [email protected] make them inhospitable for fish and other animals. With groundwater levels in the South East recently at 01763 853390 record lows, Cambridgeshire’s chalk streams are at CLLR S TRAVERSE-HEALY significant risk. [email protected] 01763 853843 These fears prompted Mr Browne to write joint letters with WRE and the Cam Valley Forum to the water CLLR C UPCHURCH minister Rebecca Pow, with a number of detailed [email protected] 01763 852193 proposals to tackle the issue, including the creation of a Chalk Streams Working Group to drive action DISTRICT CLLR MRS H. WILLIAMS forwards. The letters were followed up by meetings 07885 774775 with the water minister, government officials, and the Environment Agency. COUNTY CLLR MR S. KINDERSLEY 01767 651982
Parish Council Website: www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk/
Clerk to the PC: Sally Walmesley [email protected]
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NEWS FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The Full PC meets on the second Monday in the in the Cricket Pavilion (Village Hall in winter) at 7.30pm. The meeting is listed every month in the Village Post Office window, on the Notice Board at the Recreation Ground, and in Odsey near the station. A copy of the full minutes from the Council Meetings may be obtained by contacting the Parish Clerk, Sally Walmesley, Redwood Lodge, South Street, Litlington, Royston SG8 0QR. Telephone 01763 852137 or e-mail [email protected] Minutes can also be viewed on the Steeple Morden Village Website www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk and at the Village Post Office.
th Notes taken from a Zoom Committee Meeting on 8 February
• District Councillor Heather Williams- there will be an increase in the Council Tax. Grants and Government funding are available for small businesses having difficulties due to Covid-19. Any new house building in the area, will be subject to the normal planning process, all applications have to be approved by the planning department. • County Councillor Sebastian Kindersley – the NHS is calling for all people 70 or over to contact them if they have not yet received a letter or phone call inviting them for a vaccination. (To book your vaccination visit www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination) or ring 119). A Census is due to take place at the end of March. The Country Council have been dealing with overflowing drains to prevent flooding in the area. • Recreation Ground Maintenance – Repairs to the outside toilet door are complete, a new lock has been fitted. • Tree Maintenance – the Leylandi surrounding the play area is to be cut to stump level and new trees planted along the football pitch side, this work is due to start at the end of March. Waiting for two further quotes. • Village Tree Planting update – 83 trees have been planted – on the recreation ground and in the conservation area, as well as in private gardens. It is hoped that further trees will be planted in the Autumn if there is further funding from the Parish Council. • Village Website - The new website is due to be launched at the end of February. www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk. More details on (p12) • Grasscutting – the conservation area is to be cut by the end of February. • LHI 2021/22 Meeting on 17th February – to be attended by Sally Walmesley • Bluegrass Festival 2021 – to be cancelled. A booking has been made for 10 – 12 June 2022. • Guilden Morden Parish Council – Suggestion for a joint Neighbourhood Plan – decision whether to go ahead is to be deferred to the next meeting.
The next committee meeting will be held on Monday 8th March at 7.00pm
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS Planning Ref 20/05218/FUL The Jester Hotel. 116 Station Road – Demolition of existing hotel buildings and the construction of 5 terraced dwellings and an integral retail shop unit with associated landscaping and parking. OBJECTION https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0- (Odsey residents voiced their objections to the above demolition plans and new builds – 9/139034990_10157838745212335_6986956486
005199139_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=2&_nc_sida) Parking and delivery, b) emptying of cesspit, c) the ridge height of the proposed buildings =825194&_nc_ohc=h0W6cnAtUp0AX9qKe8m&are 1.3m above the adjoining cottages. d) adjacent junction and station, _nc_ht=scontente) a local- lhr8amenity).- 1.xx&oh=18a6f64eb7f2a6cb924fce59d1c927aaPlanning Ref 21/00124/PR103Q & oe=602698F7Land SouthMore of 76 trees Station Roadfor – prior approval for change of use of agricyltural building to 1 dwelling house (Class 3) OBJECTION – convertion plans and environmental study Steeplenot for current building. Planning Ref 21/00028/HFUL Since our5 Thelast update, Green -parishioners additional havedevelopment planted to planning approved scheme (S1444/19/FL) single 23 new native trees around the village including storey rear extension and minor extension to the planning approved single storey rear hornbeams, alders, silver birches, pussy willow and fieldextension maples. proposd development as approved design. The second(Decision batch to of be around deferred 60 trees to nextare due meeting to be after site visit) SCDCdel Callivered for towards Sites Survey the end –of Cllr January. Traverse -Healy is to draft a reply.
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Remote Planning Meeting held on Monday 22nd February 2021
Planning Applications
Planning Ref 21/00028/FUL - 5 The Green –Additional development to planning approved scheme (S/1444/19/FL) single storey rear extension and minor extension to the planning approved single storey rear extension with remaining proposed development as approved design. RECOMMENDED
Planning Ref 21/00143/HFUL - 19 Church Street - Erection of six dwellings and public house car park. (Wagon & Horses) OBJECTION – outside the village envelope
Planning Ref 21/00251/HFUL - 16 Station Road - Single storey garage extension, conversion of dormer roof to full gable to allow inclusion of Juliette balcony and masonry extension to create detail around gable. Single storey Porch extension, Front elevation amended to render and small amount of boarding, Adding 0.6m Trellis to side boundary upon existing 1,8m fence. RECOMMENDED
Planning Ref 21/00252/HFUL - 17 Ashwell Road - Two storey side and single storey rear extension. RECOMMENDED
Other Planning Issues
Neighbourhood Plan – suggestion from Guilden Morden to work on a joint Neighbourhood Plan – the Parish Council has deferred any decision until the Parish Committee Meeting on March 8th.
LHI – 2021-2 – Meeting on 17th February – zoom meeting attended by Sally Walmesley – put forward traffic calming suggestions, i.e buffer zones of 40mph on entering the village.
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NOW WE'RE TALKING The coronavirus outbreak has changed all of our lives. During times of uncertainty, we can feel anxious and stressed. Feelings of isolation, boredom
and loneliness are natural. It’s important we keep talking to each other.
Stay in touch with friends and family to support mental health. The simplest thing we can do for mental wellbeing is to stay connected. Use the internet, telephone, even written letters, to reach out. Lift each other’s spirits by speaking and listening.
Connect online with others who are experiencing the same feelings. Online communities are an increasingly popular source of support.
Qwell is an online community for adults in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Find self-help resources and join in peer support through chat. You can also access safe and confidential one-hour sessions with
a fully qualified counsellor via instant messaging.
Kooth is a free, confidential and anonymous online service for young people aged 11-18 years. Access support from trained counsellors until Lifeline10pm, 365 is a daysfree, confidential a year. Peer and-to -anonymouspeer support telephone through helpline forums and a servirangece of available self-help for resources. adults in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The Line provides listening support and information to someone experiencing mental distress or if you are supporting someone else in distress. Available everyday 11am – 11pm on 0808 808 2121
Psychological Wellbeing Service - People can continue to self-refer to the Psychological Wellbeing Service. This service is set up to help those aged 17 and over who are suffering from mild to moderate depression and anxiety, you don't need a diagnosis to access the service.
If you need help, or know someone who needs help, visit www.keep-your-head.com/now
This website has been developed through a collaboration between Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, Cambridgeshire Country Council, Peterborough City Council and many voluntary sector partners including the SUN Network and Lifecraft.
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Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, Guilden Morden Congregational Church Steeple Morden Diary for March Diary for March www.guildenmordencongregationalchurch.com www.shingaychurches.co.uk Given the current situation and the lack of certainty concerning future regulations, the following is a diary of events and services we would like to plan for March. Sunday services in church are currently Although the regulations permit face to face services we suspended, but worship continues on line. are also continuing to provide online services via Zoom. Do join us! Please refer to our website (link above) or our facebook page for more up to date information. For those wishing to join a “service” zoom meeting the code is 933 0302 5193 th 5 March – 10.30am World Day of Prayer – passcode 2c1h3G. Zoom Service from Chapel led by local churches. Friday 5th Mar 10.30am World Day of Prayer 7th March – 10.00am Zoom Service Zoom service from the Chapel led members of local churches th 14 March – 10.00am Zoom Service Sunday 7th Mar 10.30am Family service via
21st March – 10.00am Zoom Service Zoom with children’s activities. Led by Tony Frost and Sandy
Watkins 28th March – 10.00am Zoom Service
(Palm Sunday) th Monday 8 Mar 10.30am Men’s Guild via Zoom
h (Check your copy of Prospect for any Sunday 14 Mar 11.00am Service at Litlington. changes to the above) If we are unable to hold a service at Litlington there will be a zoom service led by Tony For all Zoom services – email Frost [email protected] for a link to services. Sunday 21st Mar 10.30am Joint service with St The church is open daily for private prayer. Mary’s at the Chapel, and via Zoom, led by Tony Frost 14.30 – 15.30pm Sunday School via Zoom, led by Sandy Watkins
th Sunday 28 Mar 10.30am Palm Sunday Communion in the Chapel, and
via Zoom, joined by Litlington. Led by Tony Frost.
Sunday 4th April 10.30am Easter Sunday service with children’s activities Church of St Peter and St Paul in the chapel, and via Zoom. Led by Tony Frost and Sandy The members of the PCC and everyone Watkins associated with the church would like to say a massive “THANK YOU” to everyone who Home group Zoom meetings Tuesdays, Contact Amanda responded to our finance appeal which we for details delivered to every house in the village shortly Measures to enable the start of other activities in the before Christmas. Chapel and schoolroom are now in place, and the buildings will be available for general use once the strict The generosity of your response has been regulations have been relaxed sufficiently for activities to fantastic and we are now much better equipped be allowed. to face the challenges ahead in 2021 and beyond. World Day of Prayer – March 5th
Thank you to everyone involved.
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Allotments available in Steeple Morden
Want to grow your own food and know it is fresh and chemical-free? Or maybe you want to grow your own cut flowers or herbs. Did you know that during all the lockdowns and tiers it has been permitted to cultivate your allotment? If you would like to grow your own in 2020/1 Steeple Morden community allotment site on Station Road, has plots available for 2020/1. Fresh air, exercise and a friendly, helpful group of fellow growers await you. We are in a beautiful spot on the edge of the village, with car parking spaces and that all important water supply. The soil is good and the site is run by and for plotholders mucking in together. A few plots have just become available for 2020/1. To make one of them yours, call Nettie on 01763 853843, email [email protected] or join our Facebook group ‘Steeple Morden Allotment Society’ and send me a message.
CHURCH YARD Find the help that suits you We would like to gather a volunteer If you are shielding and need support the group together to help the P.C.C. Countywide Hub – offers support from manage our volunteers with food parcels, medicine and church yard. keeping you connected. [email protected] 0345 045 5219 If you would like to help in any way, have any ideas for its management, For residents not on the shielding list but who the preservation nevertheless need some support with errands or of it’s bio diversity, or speak to me keeping in touch your local parish council or District Councillor with be able to connect you about it generally, with the community groups that are co- please contact me on ordinating support in your village. [email protected] 01763 853130 01954 713 398 or
For further information contact [email protected] www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus THANK YOU
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Contact Names, Numbers and E-Mail Addresses for Organisations and Groups in the Village
Organisation Contact Name Phone E-mail Number SM Newsletter Editor Desma Goddard 01763 852287 [email protected] First Responders Nick Badger [email protected] First Responders Wayne Cox [email protected] (co-ordinator) Primary School Tracey How, 01763 852474 [email protected] Headteacher Village College The Principal 01763 242344 [email protected] Ms Vickey Poulter SS Peter & Paul Church Canon Shamus 01763 853067 [email protected] Williams (day off normally Monday) GM Cong. Church Sandy Watkins 01763 852869 [email protected] SM Village Hall Bookings Diane Knight 01763 853073 [email protected] Scouts, Cubs & Beavers Keith Austin 01763 852023 [email protected] Brownies Debbie Fisher 01763 852811 [email protected] t Guides P Allotment Society Nettie Traverse- 01763 853843 [email protected] E Healey T Smarties Pre-School and Michele Taylor 07952 100208 [email protected] Out of School Club 01763 852888 E Cricket Club Fraser Daws 01763 853008 [email protected] R Football Club Pete Summers 07709258359 & Morden Magpies Youth Shelley 07778181334 [email protected] S FC Bainborough t Bowls Club (Sec) David Holt 01763 852636 [email protected] P Tennis Club Fiona Coverdale 01763 853325 [email protected] A Waggon & Horses 01763 853311 U Morden Players Jenny Elder 01763 852557 [email protected] L First Thursday Club Ann Thorp 01763 852848 [email protected] C Royal British Legion Patricia 01763 852982 [email protected] H Covington Mobile Wardens Scheme Angela Drew 01763 853390 U Lynn Pestell 01763 853461 R WI Joyce 01763 852087 [email protected] C Stackhouse H Neighbourhood Watch Cambs Police: www.cambs.police.uk S Social Car Scheme Hazel Smith 01763 852602 [email protected] T E E 9 P L E M O
A Reminder
to all dog
owners
Dog mess is an eyesore and a health hazard. If you are a dog owner, you have a legal duty to clean up every time your dog messes in a public place. (Registered blind people are not required to clean up after their guide dogs. There is also exemption for dog owners on some kinds of public land in England and Wales, including: • Land used for agriculture or woodlands (dogs should be on a lead in cultivated
fields)
• Rural common land
• Land that is predominantly marshland, moor or heath
• Highways with a speed limit of 50mph or more)
Most local councils require dog owners to carry a poop scoop and disposable bag whenever they take their dogs out to a public place. Some councils offer free scoops: ask your council’s animal warden unit.
Look out for bins marked as dog bins to dispose of your dog bag. If you cannot find a dog bin, then double wrap the dog bag and place it in a normal litter bin.
Nessie
NESSie is a not for profit, child first, family focused organisation, supporting families and school staff to ensure positive emotional health in children and young people.
Orginally set up in North Herts in 2015 in response to increasing mental health needs in schools. NESSie now has a large team includimg councillors, art, music, drama and play therapists, autism specialists and 0- 5 parent/child therapists. NESSie has developed to become a country-wide organisation, providing online or face-to-face therapy for children and young people, support and resources for families, and training and tools for education professionals. Visit: www nessieined.com or email our founder Rachel Lambie directly on [email protected]
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MORE TREE PLANTING
Village volunteers of all ages did a brilliant job of planting native trees on the conservation area on Sunday. It was very sticky, muddy work.
Lots of others have also planted native trees in their own gardens and paddocks as part of the More trees for Steeple project.
These 88 trees will help wildlife, climate change and air pollution - as well as look nice.
We hope to plant more next year. Message me if you're interested in offering a home to a native tree or shrub on your patch.
Thanks are due to all those villagers who have joined in the project in any way and to the Parish Council for supporting it both financially and practically, especially Cllrs Sacha Wheatley, Keith Austin and Angela Chambers. We are also very grateful to local native tree nursery Herts Native Trees https://www.hertsnativetrees.co.uk/ for their advice and donating free delivery and extra trees for the initiative.
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Steeple Morden Parish Council – launch new website
We are pleased to announce the launch of the new website of the local Parish Council. Do take a visit and see how to access local information and get updates on News and Notices that are relevant to the area. The new website can be found by scanning the QR code or simply entering: www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk
Here you can find out who your Parish Councillors are, how to contact them and when meetings are planned. There is an events calendar to keep you informed of local activities and a library of newsletters, PC meeting agendas and minutes.
Sign up to the email list – and get the village newsletter sent to you when it gets issued. Find the sign-up form in the footer of the web pages. Note you will receive an email asking you to confirm your intent to sign up by clicking on a link.
You will find directories for local Clubs and Organisations, for Businesses and Community contacts. Please help us keep this information up to date and introduce us to new contacts so we can keep the directories relevant and current. Please email either [email protected] or [email protected] with your information.
If you have any comments, please do let us know and we can keep this resource as relevant as possible. [email protected]
We are asking you to walk your walk for carers this March. Whether you are looking to increase your fitness, make the most of your daily exercise or simply want to give purpose to getting out and about: every step you take will help support carers in your local community during the coronavirus crisis.”
Signing up to the challenge is completely free and there is no minimum sponsorship that we ask you to raise to take part. If you pledge to raise £50 you will be sent a Caring Together T-shirt and if you raise £100 they will send you a water bottle to say thank you.
You can find out how to create your walk your walk for carers challenge at caringtogether.org/walkyourwalk or email [email protected]
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Smarties Pre-School & Out of School Club
Smarties News – September 2014
After 10 year’s involvement with the village Pre-School, Out of School & Holiday Clubs, I have decided to step down from my current position before the start of the new school year in September. I have thoroughly enjoyed helping to transform Smarties from being in a position of financial crisis with low attendee numbers (back in the days when we were based at the Village Hall) to the popular, financially viable and flexible community offering it is today.
Smarties now has an enviable reputation in this area, it employs 15 local people and currently supports the needs of well over 100 local families. Given the current size of this organisation, it now presents us with daily administrative demands in terms of HR, payroll, marketing, recruitment, liaising with parents, staff, Committee, the school, County Education Department and Ofsted. This is clearly too wide a remit for one person to juggle. Following my departure, therefore, the Management Committee has wisely decided to divide the various areas of responsibility into 3 roles: General Manager, Head of Pre-School & Head of Out of School/Holiday Club.
Head of Pre-School Emma Ward as a qualified & experienced teacher has the right skills to run the Pre-School on a day to day basis with Tracey Tustian deputising. The rest of the Pre-School team – Julie, Nikki, Zoe, Lisa, Rachel, Aleah and Claire, are all EYFS Level3 trained and will support in the care of the younger children. The contact for the preschool remains as: [email protected]
Joint Heads of Out of School Zoe Dickman and Georgina Dowley have equal training and experience in Play Work, and both bring positive ideas and practical skills to the Out of School and Holiday Club operations. Their team will be made up of Tracey, Julie, Kathy, Aleah and Lynda. The contact for the out of school remains as [email protected]
Administration All matters concerning billing, finances and funding have been managed brilliantly well in recent years by Nanette Hannon, and she is happy to maintain this position in the new organisation. The contact for anything pertaining to finances, bills and funding therefore remains as [email protected]
General Management The greatest part of my current role - and that which prevented me from doing what I love – i.e. looking after children - might be viewed as the management functions of a small business (which Smarties now is, albeit we are still a charity by name). It is therefore right that we take on someone new to do this role. Kate Reynolds, our former Chair, will therefore be taking up this position with immediate effect. The general point of contact for any queries to do with Smarties will be Kate, and she can be contacted at [email protected]. The telephone number for Smarties is still 01763 852888.
Finally, just a personal word to say that it has been a privilege to play a part in helping Smarties to achieve what it has to date. I have loved caring for your children, and getting to know and to help so many families. I trust that the whole community continues to be mindful of supporting the needs of our young ones. I would also like to wish the Smarties team every success for the future.
Thank you Debbie Littlefair
STEEPLE MORDEN VILLAGE HALL
Steeple Morden Village Hall is available for hiring for Parties, Weddding receptions, club and social activities
It comprises: Tables, Seating for 120, Bar, Kitchen, Cooker, Fridge, Stage, Parking. There is also limited Crockery & Cutlery Projector and screen available and Induction Loop Equipment – ask our booking clerk for more details.
For bookings and prices please contact: Diane Knight 33 Cheyney Street, Steeple Morden, SG8 0LR Tel 01763 853073 (please don't phone between the hours of 6 - 7 p.m.) email: [email protected] www.hertsnativetrees.co.uk
MOBILE LIBRARY The Mobile Library stops in the village on the first Tuesday of every month. The Village Wheelchair
There is a manual wheelchair available for It stops at Russell Close between 10.20 am and short term use by anyone in the village. For 11.05 am. The next calling date is Tuesday more information and availability please March 2nd 2021 contact Trish at the Post Office.
Contributions sent to the editor prior to the newsletter deadline will normally be printed in the next available edition. The deadline for April edition is 12 noon on 17th March 2021.
Contact details for the editor are at the bottom of the first page of the Newsletter
Don’t forget you can view this issue and back issues of the Newsletter online; you can also subscribe to receive notification of when the newsletter is availale on www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk
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