July 2013 Don’t Forget! No. 133 The Nailsworth News Team are a bunch Nailsworth of dedicated volunteers who take pleasure in bringing you the local news each month. The Team take a break after this News issue for a month, so there will be no A free monthly community paper August paper, as is usual. We hope you for the parish of Nailsworth, look forward to your own summer respite, available in colour on our website and we will be back through your letter www.nailsworthnews.org.uk box at the beginning of September. Queen’s Birthday Honours in Nailsworth! t is not said a few words of grateful thanks and appreciation of just Margaret and her great efforts and presented a bouquet of Isport flowers. Also, Angela Endacott, also received a bouquet in where appreciation of her support and help towards Margaret. Nailsworth The British Empire Medal should be awarded here in has some Nailsworth by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire fame, but sometime in the autumn. also in other (Ed. - Our apologies if we have missed anyone out from important the recent Queen’s Honours - please let us know and will roles as rectify things!) well. At the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours, the following have been honoured for their services - David Carter - (Knight Batchelor) Exec. Principal, Cabot Learning Federation. “Services to Education.” Photo above left. Margaret Marshall - (British Empire Medal) “Services to the communities in Forest Green and Nailsworth.” Steve Webb - (Order of the British Empire) Hon. Vice President of the Nat. Assc. of Clubs of Young People. “Services to Young People.” It is especially pleasing that Margaret has gained her Award for all her works being for the the residents of Forest Green and Nailsworth. Whether working for Christchurch or for Forest Green, it is probably her persistence in getting the Arkle Centre built which will be her legacy. Fifteen years ago when the secondary school closed, Margaret said, “We now need a community centre - how do we get one?” As they say - the rest is history. Recently a special tea party was held in the Arkle Centre in honour of Margaret post her BEM announcement, and the main hall was packed with friends from the community, her knitting circle, Christchurch and members of the Council who dealt with all the ‘political’ matters over the building of the Centre. Mayor Myles Robinson (pictured right with Margaret) Jacaranda Changing Hands See page 17 for news of ee inside for your new florist. ventures on SCheer leading at FGR, some smashing • SALES • LETTINGS Sports news, What’s On covering two months activities, 20 Questions answered by our new Mayor, art work from Nailsworth Primary School, • LAND & NEW HOMES Centre Spread giving interesting facts about architecture in our wonderful town and a report 7 Fountain Street, Nailsworth, and photos of the recently devised Market Street Glos. GL6 0BL Market. Keep the news rolling in to the email www.perrybishop.co.uk addresses on page 2. We love to hear from you! Tel: 01453 836736 Have a wonderful summer. Ed Email: [email protected] 1 Local News Be Wary of Council Tax Refund Offers Free monthly newspaper Following on from our article in the May edition of the NN, Stroud District Council is warning its residents to be wary of companies offering to arrange for Nailsworth parish council tax refunds on their behalf. Published by the Nailsworth News team Photographer: Martin Stone Local residents have reported concerns about letters offering to help them Production: Leopard Press reduce their council tax. The letters appear to be part of a wider mailshot as it Editor: Gail Jones 07758 882528, quotes an address for council tax reduction which does not appear to be a local [email protected] address. or c/o And Clothes, Market Street June Cordwell, chair of Stroud District Council’s community services Asst. & Sports Editor: Martin Stone 833132, committee, said, [email protected] Business Editor: Bill Affleck 832619, “Over the past week we have been made aware of a company which is [email protected] writing to residents in the district, quoting incorrect information on property Advertising: Tracey Clements 872299, bands and implying that neighbours have already benefited from a change in [email protected] their council tax band and a large refund.” Treasurer: David Cox 836119, The letter states that the firm believes the household is in the wrong band [email protected] and could reduce its council tax bill by £325 a year. The company will claim Centre Spread Editor: Carole de Lacroix, a fee of 30% + vat based on the refund and this would apply to the full refund [email protected] Youth Editor: Eilidh Houghton amount and not just the saving on a year’s council tax. [email protected] You are being encouraged to ignore these letters. Residents with queries Hard copy and payment: c/o Shiny Goodness, regarding their council tax banding should contact the Valuation Office, the Fountain St. agency which sets the council tax bands, directly and free of charge. Distribution: Don Luke 832812, The letter does not explain that a reassessment of the council tax value could [email protected] result in a potential increase and also refers to terms and conditions which are What’s On: Jemma Kilyon, only available by contacting the company. [email protected] IT: Jonathan Duckworth Trading Standards also advises that consumers should not give personal Editorial Support: Joyce Affleck details in response to unsolicited letters or phone call unless they are confident Postal subscriptions at £7 per year: of the legitimacy of the company and should be wary of signing any forms Veronica Luke 832812 unless they have full details of the obligations in the contract. Advertising rates: £5 + £13 per unit of 60 x 30 These latest concerns follow numerous calls to the council in April when mm (w x h): residents were cold called by phone or visited on their doorstep by companies • Larger than 3 units only if space permits • £1 discount per unit for three insertions if offering a similar service. Taking up these offers is likely to leave residents booked and paid in advance unnecessarily out of pocket. • £5 surcharge for a specific page If any householder thinks that their property is in the wrong band you can Space is limited and Nailsworth advertisers take contact the Valuation Office and any refund will be paid in full to them. More priority. Payment in advance please: cheques to information can be found on the Valuation Office’s website at Nailsworth News. www.voa.gov.uk or telephone 03000 501501. Advertisements are accepted at these rates on the basis that they can be incorporated into the finished paper without modification. This implies District Council News a typographic quality standard. If your advert We are now in the transition from the cabinet to the committee system and all doesn’t meet this standard you’ll be asked to the committees met towards the end of June. resubmit an ‘improved’ version. Alternatively the Nailsworth News team can provide design Of the four committees your councillors sit on three, Emma on Housing, assistance in which case a surcharge will be Rowland on Community Services and Paul on Strategy & Resources. The fourth applied to the cost of the advertisement. Which committee being Environment. ever course you choose the advert must be Two of the committees, Environment and Strategy & Resources reviewed the available to the editor by the copy deadline. final version of the Local Plan before it is ratified by full council at the meeting Deadline for advertising, copy and payment: at the end of July. After this it has to be vetted and approved by a government 10th of the month (there is no paper in January or inspector before it becomes our definitive plan. August). This is all about how many houses need to be built and where the building Deadline for articles to the Editor: 15th of the should be. Until this plan is in place there is a risk that developers may win month. appeals against refusals where the council do not consider the developments to Copyright notice: photographs in this paper are either submitted by residents / businesses, archive be suitable. material, or taken by Martin Stone or other team If you have any issues that we can help you with please contact one of your members. The person who took the photograph district councillors: retains all rights in it. If you would like a copy of one, please contact the Editor who will put you Rowland Blackwell 01453 833043 [email protected] in touch with the appropriate person; it is their Paul Carter 01453 832961 [email protected] decision whether (and how much) to charge. Emma Sims 01453 835105 [email protected] Pilates with Becky AD-HOC ADMIN Alan Johnson Forest Green Rovers Gym Wednesdays Nailsworth Based Secretarial Services, Advanced Motorcycle Training 6-7pm 7-8pm Book Keeping, Data Entry Enhanced Rider Scheme Prices starting from £5 a session and Database Management Qualified Physiotherapist Tel: 07951 211 880 T: 01453 836603 M: 07500 504425 www.pilateswithbecky.co.uk Email: [email protected] E: [email protected] email - [email protected] Susan Ingram DSA registered trainer Tel 07948 798 780 Views expressed in this paper are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Nailsworth News team. We reserve the right to edit or omit any material submitted for publication. No liability is accepted for loss or damage arising from any omission of copy or advertising.