Wed 2 Wichenford Local Heritage Group Elizabeth Howard from the Record Office talks on researching house history Fri 4 Prize Bingo for St Michael’s Hospice 7.30pm Gt Witley Village Hall Mon 7 Martley Parish Council Meeting 7.30 pm Memorial Hall followed by Volume 11 No. 11 April 2003 Annual Parish Meeting 8.15pm Editor: Michelle Higgins (01886 888344) Editorial Team: Martley: Alan Boon (01886 Wed 9 Martley WI: Mr D Preece talks 888527, Nellie Bradley (01886 888339), Kate about Wildlife Photography King (01886 888439), Beth Williams (01886 7.30pm Martley Memorial Hall 888273) Wichenford: Janet Andrews (01886 888303), Sheila Richards (01886 888378) Fri 11 Whist Drive at Wichenford: 8pm Advertising: Nigel Collett (01886 888086) Wichenford Memorial Hall Distribution: Martley George & June Lawrence (01886 821064) Wichenford Bill & Sun 13 Teme Valley Farmers Market for Jo Root (01886 888585) local produce 11am The Talbot, Contact The Villager: leave articles at Knightwick Martley Post Office or 1 Oxford View Martley Ramblers to Bewdley Wichenford or email the Editor at Meet 2pm Church car park [email protected] Opinions expressed by contributors are not Mon 14 Kenswick and Wichenford Annual necessarily those of The Villager. The Villager Parish Meeting 7.45pm cannot be held responsible for any goods or services advertised in the magazine Tue 15 Wichenford Ladies’ Fellowship 2.30pm at Brenda Hadfield’s Diary Regular events: Wed 16 Citizens Advice Bureau: 12-1pm Great Witley Surgery and 1.30- Teme Valley Shufflers Line Dancing 2.30pm Knightwick Surgery - by Weds 7pm Martley Memorial Hall. appointment. Tel. 01584 810860 Enquiries: Jeff and Thelma 01886 821772 Weight Watchers 6.30-7.30pm Tuesdays Thu 17 Meeting of The Wine Club 8pm Martley Memorial Hall. Enquiries: Jennie Wichenford Memorial Hall Barnes 01886 888712 Sun 20 Easter Sunday Citizens Advice Bureau Teme Valley Garden Open Day at 1 Prickley Evening Telephone Service Tuesdays 4.30-8pm 01584 810860 Bungalows, Hockhams Lane, Martley 2-6pm in aid of The Short mat Bowling Tuesdays 2.30pm Martley National Gardens Scheme Memorial Hall For Church services, please see Church Words Thu 24 Martley & District Horticultural Society: Alan Craske on the restoration of the maze at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens 7.30pm Martley Memorial Village Hall Articles to go in The Villager must be with the Editor by the 1st of the previous month The Villager * April 2003 7 Martley Parish Council An ordinary meeting of the Martley Parish but he would like more co-ordinators. Council was held on Monday 3 February d) Other. The Clerk had spoken to the 2003 at the Memorial Hall. (Mr D Cropp, Rural Housing Enabler, Mr Saunders, Vice-Chairman, in the chair) and had discussions with MHDC LIBRARY & CYBER CAFÉ AT Planning Officers regarding possible MEMORIAL HALL sites in Martley. When definite The MHDC approved the plans and proposals are ready he will contact the building regulations. Five enquiries to Parish Council. contractors were sent out and three tenders PARISH MATTERS were received. These were opened at the Mr J Bradley raised the question of the meeting and the best tender accepted. cones on the verge in Willow Lane. It is MATTERS ARISING understood that the Highways Partnership a) Lengthman. Mr Tom Pearsall, who have agreed to replace the cones with had been invited to attend, was plastic Vergemasters. Councillors were introduced and welcomed as the not very happy with this position and Mr recently appointed Lengthman. He is A Davies (CC) said he would take this up the first Lengthman to be so with the Highways Partnership. appointed in Worcestershire. Mr REPORTS Draper had asked Councillors to Mr A Davies (CC) said that despite the prepare lists of tasks for the low figure of inflation, the County Rate Lengthman, to be discussed at the Rise is likely to be in double figures. next Parish Council Meeting. The Government has given the county b) Agreement on Core Classes of £993,000.00 towards transport in the area, Information Statements. The but only 3% extra for the Police. Commission of Information accepted The Chantry School is doing well and is Martley Parish’s proposal of Core over-subscribed. Scholastically it is within Classes of Information. The list, to be the top 25% of comparative schools in the displayed on the Parish Noticeboard, country. giving details of documents available Mrs B Williams (DC) said MHDC queried to meet the requirements of this Act, the request from the Police Authority for was circulated and agreed. It will also an increase of 12.9% in Precept and extra appear in The Villager. for additional services. After the 33% rise Mr D Cropp said he would be last year the District consider it excessive. registering the Parish’s intent to There is £10,000.00 for each parish for produce a comprehensive Parish Plan transport systems. It was confirmed that and up to £600.00 was available for discussions are happening with local professional help. parishes for an improved flexi-bus system. c) Neighbourhood Watch. Mr N PC Clifford, the Beat Manager for Stammers tabled leaflets covering the Tenbury, said he welcomed the organisation for Martley Routes B, C opportunity to attend and was pleased to & E and plans are progressing well hear of the progress of the Martley 8 The Villager * April 2003 Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. These FINANCE schemes improved communication a) cheques for £629.62 were agreed and between Police and public and helped signed. crime prevention. He thought parishes b) After discussion, it was agreed that could assist with the quality control of grants of £300.00 for the Churchyard policing by constructive comments and and £175.00 for Nora Parsons Day was optimistic about improvements in Centre be paid. Policing, with more Police presence in the c) Monthly free bus to Worcester. rural parishes. Rogers Coaches have asked for Mr J Nicklin sent word that a footpath earliest confirmation that coaches will bridge had been repaired between Bulmers continue to be booked after March. and Prickley Farm and general clearance This was discussed at the last meeting continued. and a “Use or Lose” notice included PLANNING in the Parish Council Report in The a) Applications for comment: Villager. Mrs K Seabright agreed to 02/01789 The Old Smithy, Hillside - question passengers to obtain their balcony. No objection. reaction and see if they would be 02/01797 Orchard Cottage, Newtown - prepared to receive a voucher to cover side extension. No objection. the OAP return fare. Wichenford PC 02/01810 Quarry Farm, Quarry Lane - part are being kept informed. demolition and extension. No objections CORRESPONDENCE from neighbours but doubts expressed as A letter of thanks for the donation to the to whether this degree of demolition and Macmillan Cancer Relief Worcestershire extension should be permitted on a listed Appeal was received. building. If allowed, the house, cottage COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS & ITEMS and granny flat should be considered as a FOR FUTURE AGENDAS single unit and not sold separately. Problems on pot-holes and refuse were 03/00024 Church Steps, Martley - reported which the Clerk will take up with extension & garage. This site is in a the appropriate departments. sensitive position in the Martley Mr D Cropp and Mr J Slough attended the Conservation Area. No objection to hidden meeting on Parish Plans and there was a house extension but proposed double real incentive to progress such schemes. garage unacceptable. It would be visible Mrs D Goodyear attended the Penny Hill from the Churchyard and Millennium Liaison Meeting and there was nothing Green. significant to report. b) Applications approved by MHDC: The next meeting is on Monday 7 April 02/01569 Internal alterations to Martley 2003 at 7.30 p.m., followed at 8.15 p.m. Memorial Hall for Library & Computer by the Annual Parish Meeting. ALL Room PARISHIONERS WELCOME. IT IS 02/01570 Taylors of Martley, Berrow YOUR PARISH SO COME AND ASK Green - two-storey office block, security QUESTIONS AND GIVE YOUR building and extension to warehouse. COMMENTS. 02/01597HED Rodge Hill Farm, Hillside - C C Vyvyan-Robinson removal of hedge and re-planting. Parish Clerk (01886 821623) April 2003 * The Villager 9 OOUTUT AND ABOUT IN MARTMARTLEYLEY www.martley.org.uk Martley & District a quarter of young hedgehogs survive Horticultural Society to full maturity. At the meeting of the Society on At the February meeting of the Thursday 24 April at 7.30pm in Society, members welcomed Mr Terry Martley Village Hall, there will be talk Green, a member of the British by Alan Craske on the restoration of Hedgehog Preservation Society, a the maze at Castle Bromwich Hall subject of interest to country people. Gardens. New members most The hedgehog, being a victim of welcome. Members are reminded of modern farming, has decreased in the Annual Plant & Car Boot Sale. great numbers in recent years. Gone This year it will be held on Saturday are the days when travellers used to 24 May at 2pm in the Village Hall and roast them, rolled in clay, on the open on the playing field. Lots of plants fires as a delicacy. Mr Green showed needed. Details in the May Villager. many slides of the way in which the Nellie Bradley hedgehog struggles to survive and how human beings can assist this small Martley Ramblers creature. The hedgehog can be a very beneficial creature in the garden, as it 13 April 2pm Church Car Park devours slugs, beetles and caterpillars. Once again we have to thank Pam and If you feel you would like to Dorrie for all their hard work encourage them in your garden with organising the recent annual dinner at food, one of the best is cat food.