7 the Villager * June 2003 Mon 2 Martley Parish Council Meeting

Mon 2 Martley Parish Council Meeting 8pm Memorial Hall Sun 8 Teme Valley Farmers Market for local produce 11am The Talbot, Knightwick Martley Ramblers to Croft Volume 13 No. 1 June 2003 Ambrey. Meet 11am Church car park Editor: Michelle Higgins (01886 888344) Martley & District Horticultural Editorial Team: Martley: Alan Boon (01886 Society to Castle Bromwich Hall 888527, Nellie Bradley (01886 888339), Kate and Gardens, leave Martley Village King (01886 888439), Beth Williams (01886 Hall at 1.15pm 888273) Wichenford: Janet Andrews (01886 888303), Sheila Richards (01886 888378) Open Garden at 1 Prickley Advertising: Nigel Collett (01886 888086) Bungalows, Hockhams Lane 2- Distribution: Martley George & June 6pm in aid of the National Gardens Lawrence (01886 821064) Wichenford Bill & Scheme Jo Root (01886 888585) Contact The Villager: leave articles at Wed 11 Martley WI: Garden Meeting 7pm Martley Post Office or 1 Oxford View at the home of Joy and Reg Snow Wichenford or email the Editor at [email protected] Tue 17 Wichenford Ladies’ Fellowship Opinions expressed by contributors are not 2.30pm at Keepers Cottage, necessarily those of The Villager. The Villager Ockeridge cannot be held responsible for any goods or services advertised in the magazine Wed 18 Citizens Advice Bureau: 12-1pm Great Witley Surgery and 1.30- 2.30pm Knightwick Surgery - by Diary appointment. Tel. 01584 810860 Regular events: Thu 19 Meeting of The Wine Club Teme Valley Shufflers Line Dancing Weds 7pm Martley Memorial Hall. Summer garden meeting Enquiries: Jeff and Thelma 01886 821772 Sat 21 Chantry High School 40th Weight Watchers 6.30-7.30pm Tuesdays Anniversary Ball Martley Memorial Hall. Enquiries: Jennie Barnes 01886 888712 Sun 22 Martley Church Tower Open Citizens Advice Bureau Teme Valley Afternoon Evening Telephone Service Tuesdays 4.30-8pm 01584 810860 Thu 26 Martley & District Horticultural Society: to “The Bannut” meeting at Short mat Bowling Tuesdays 2.30pm Martley Memorial Hall Martley Village Hall at 6.45pm For Church services, please see Church News Sat 28 Martley CE Primary School Summer Fayre 2pm Sun 29 Open Garden—details as 8 June Articles to go in The Villager must be with the Editor by the 1st of the previous month The Villager * June 2003 7 Martley Parish Council APM The Annual Parish Meeting was held on County Councillor’s Report - Mr A Davies Monday 7 April 2003 in the Memorial Mr Davies has represented Martley Parish Hall at 8.15 p.m. (For full report apply to in the Hallow division of the county for 10 Parish Clerk.) years and now serves on the Cabinet of the Chairman’s Report - Mr B Draper MBE County Council. This year the County The Chairman welcomed the 12 Council budget totals £437,823,000 split parishioners to the meeting. During the between education, social services, past year Richard Britton resigned on a environmental, corporate and financial. matter of principle and Karen Seabright These services will cost a band D resigned because she is moving away from household £822.00 per year, equating to the parish, and he thanked them both for £15.81p a week, plus £119.80 a year, their contributions to the Parish Council. equating to £2.30 per week, for the Police; Mr Draper welcomed Neil Stammers to and the District Council and Parish the Parish Council and he has already Council Precepts. Mr Davies believed that undertaken to organise the Neighbourhood the County Council rates represented good Watch Scheme. The Parish Council held value for money. He regularly attended the 12 meetings during the year, commented Martley Parish Council meetings and is on 38 Planning Applications and made happy to offer help and advice. several site visits. The Parish enjoyed a District Councillor’s Report - Mrs B very successful celebration of the Golden Williams The Housing Needs Survey for Jubilee and he thanked all who contributed affordable housing in Martley was and helped make it such a success. Mr completed. This proved that there is Tom Pearsall was appointed Parish considerable local need: the possibilities Lengthman in February and is an excellent are being considered. Since control of the choice. Mr Draper thanked, on behalf of Council changed three years ago a promise the Parish Council, all those who have was made that MHDC Council Tax would helped or contributed to the parish in rise no more than inflation. The rates this many ways. He especially thanked the year would have risen by 2.5% but despite Parish Litter Warden, Mrs Hazel Wilkins; 1.5% National Insurance increases the rise Alan Gosling for keeping the Weighbridge will be only 4%. Due to reorganisation grass cut and Mr John Nicklin and his Path Martley Ward is now made up of Martley, Or Nones for keeping the footpaths clear. Wichenford and Kenswick. Mrs Williams He expressed the appreciation of the was much looking forward to being the parish to Mr Alwyn Davies, County Martley District Councillor for the next Councillor, and Mrs B Williams, District four years. Councillor, for all their help and advice Memorial Hall Management Trust during the year. He thanked Mr David Report - Mr D Cropp The village Cropp for his help and support as Vice Memorial Hall has been regularly used by Chairman and his fellow Councillors and village organisations and societies and for Cecil Vyvyan-Robinson, the Parish Clerk, other functions. The Management who is retiring after seven years. Committee have met regularly and Mr 8 The Villager * June 2003 Cropp thanked all concerned for their and they are looking for a replacement. commitment. The Hall has continued to be Penny Hill Liaison Committee Report - upgraded and refurbished, notably with the Mrs D Goodyear During the year four completion of the car park drainage, which Liaison Meetings were held. Work has was supported by ENTRUST, and a been carried out to reduce noise from the Lottery award to upgrade the stage gas booster fans to an acceptable level by lighting. Martley Parish Council, acting in installing a noise screen. Six new wells partnership, has taken the lead with have been installed to capture gas and Community First, Vital Villages and reduce smell and following drilling works, Worcester Library Service, for the gas yields have improved. As a result of installation of a library and Cyber Café in work carried out on the site there have the Committee room and storeroom area. been no reported cases of any odours and Despite increasing costs, the Management lorry movements continue to be low. No Committee will ensure that the Memorial leachate left the site. Hall continues to flourish and meet Martley Millennium Green Trust Report - parishioners’ requirements. supplied by Mr R Britton This year Martley Primary School Report - Mrs M marked the end of funding by the Wickens Mrs Wickens, who represents Countryside Agency for all Millennium Wichenford and Martley Parish Councils Greens. The financial support was on the Management Board, said there were invaluable and with this and other 132 pupils, six member of staff, three contributions, including a sum for ongoing support assistants and two assistants for maintenance from the Parish Council, we Special Needs children. They makes an now have a worthwhile bank balance. excellent team. Pupils are encouraged to During the year a Management Team was play their part in the community and have set up for the meadow. Their objective is close connections with St Peter’s Church. to put forward a Management Plan to meet It is an efficient and happy school and Mrs objectives and regular maintenance. The Wickens renewed her invitation for growth of newly planted trees will be parishioners to visit the school and see it monitored to ensure that in 20 years time for themselves. the lovely views of the Church from Hope Martley Recreation Association Report - House Lane are not impeded. Mr Britton Mr G Taylor The Playing Field has been thanked the band of volunteers who have well-used by the Cricket and Football assisted in manifold tasks, especially Clubs and the children’s Play Area Lionel Minchin who has established the remained popular. Costs are giving mown paths. The Chairman referred to concern, especially the Insurance premium letters from Mrs Tina Steele and others on the field and pavilion, which is set to expressing great concern that the recently- rise dramatically in 2003. Both Clubs were planted native trees would, on maturity, considering plans for additional spoil the view of the Church from fundraising and the Parish Council had Hopehouse Lane. This was discussed at been approached for possible assistance. length and in conclusion the Chairman, The Secretary to the Association, Pat who is also a Trustee of the Martley Owen, had resigned and thanks were Millennium Green Trust, agreed that, expressed for her efforts and assistance however well-intentioned, a mistake had June 2003 * The Villager 9 been made. At the appropriate time of year offered to meet the petrol cost none of the these trees would therefore be moved. three drivers were prepared to submit their mileage and this was much appreciated. Sports Martley Committee Report - Mr G The Chairman thanked Mr Stammers for Taylor his efforts and confirmed the full support It has been another good year for the of the Parish Council for the Sports Hall and the new Site Manager, Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Stacey Robinson, has brought a lot of new Parish Charities Report ideas with him. New products for the year 1. The Martley Old Grammar School were Soft Play Parties, Sports Parties, Foundation: Grants totalling Junior Football, Junior Aerobics and Play £8,240.00 were awarded to 28 Schemes for School Breaks over 5 Years. students. In addition grants were made The Sports Hall usage is very high with to the Chantry High School, the few vacant slots left and the climbing wall Martley C of E Primary School and remains very popular.

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