Acorn Edition 65 Spring 2018 Aston Community Organisations Reviews & News Village events Group meetings Easter services Sports report Local businesses and Tradesmen Three month Diary Page Valentine Day 14th February Mother’s Day 11th March Easter Day Sunday 1st April Getting ready for Spring Friends of Aston Brickyard Plantation Winter gives us the opportunity to see the woodland without its coating of leaves and with a low sun in the sky there are some amazing photo opportunities around the perimeter trails. Squirrels are storing acorns, small mammals are searching out hibernation habitats and volunteers are pulling on extra layers as we continue to manage the site. The hazel groves are being coppiced to allow new growth in the spring, crowded trees are being thinned and saplings are being given space to grow by removing vegetation. We have had spectacular success this year in developing our pond and marsh areas, filled naturally through rainfall and ‘run-off’ and they look as though they’ve been there for ever. Aquatic life is burgeoning and we hope that the wild flower seeds planted around the perimeter and in the grasslands will survive the season and start to bloom next Spring. We’re also giving three enthusiastic young people the opportunity to undertake important conservation work as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Over three months they’ll be creating a new woodland ‘ride’, closed to people but opening up a wildlife corridor for flora and fauna. Follow us on Facebook ‘Aston Brickyard Plantation’ 2 Aston upon Trent Parish Council Chairman: Cllr.Edward Hicklin, Vice Chair: Cllr.Tony Hurrell, Cllr.Catherine Alberts, Cllr Helen Cope. Cllr.Steve Graham, Cllr.Jean Longley, Cllr.Mike Selby. Cllr Chris Toon, Cllr Haydn Wheeler No precept increase for 2018-19 The annual precept has been set with no increase. This is the part of your community tax which comes directly to the Parish Council and is used for improvement and projects within our village. Once the final bill for the development of the recreation centre, which is owned by the council and leased to Recreation in Aston, is finalised the council will be in a position to commit reserves to projects which will include: ● Complete resurfacing the playing field/recreation centre car park. ● Installation of a WW1 commemoration stone and appropriate trees at the Derby Road cemetery. ● The laying of artificial grass inside the playground area at the playing field. ● General improvements and maintenance around the playing field and Greatorex Walk. ● The purchase of new lights for the village Christmas tree. Reduced bus service. Many of you will be aware of the reduced bus service as from late November. This is ironic in view of recent housing developers stressing that our village is well served by public transport! The Council was disappointed that there was no consultation on this reduction but is aware that the service is a business and therefore must be financially viable, so the message is “use it or lose it”. Councillors have arranged an informal meeting with the company which runs the Sky service with a view to requesting that some of the evening buses pass through Aston. Change of Parish boundary? The Council is of the view that the parish boundary should now be reflected as the “settlement boundary” as outlined in the district council’s local plan parts 1 and 2. This would mean all of the Willow Park Way estate, Yates Avenue and the Richmond Village would be designated as being in the Aston parish. However we are informed that Weston parish council would oppose any such change. Preliminary discussions with the district council’s chief executive and Weston parish council are being arranged. A similar proposal was refused a few years ago by none other than the deputy prime minister! Recreation Centre – phase 11 development update. As with the development of older buildings, snags have appeared and the date for completion has been put back until March. Despite the disruption and mess the new part of the centre is functional and groups and sports teams are still continuing. The situation is regrettable but users will benefit in the long term. Lighting up for Advent. How splendid the village looked during Advent with many households lighting up their homes and gardens especially those who contributed to the village - advent - window - trail. We hope you appreciated the village Christmas tree AND the three reindeer who frequented the village green during the festive season. Both were funded by the council. Annual Parish Meeting.Tuesday 17th April @ 7.30pm. Once again invitations will be sent to village organisations and groups to send a representative to the annual parish meeting to report on their years activities. All parishioners are welcome to attend. The Council’s annual “Excellence in the Community Award” will be presented at the meeting. Supporting the Acorn Magazine. The Council is aware of the ever increasing costs of producing your free copy of the Acorn quarterly magazine and therefore has resolved to assist with costs for two years at £420 per year. Remembrance Parade and Service. Once again the council wishes to thank the members of the Royal British Legion for organising our civic parade with the usual military precision and also all who turned out to march, especially the youth organisations. Fly-tipping – the scourge of our countryside. If you spot rubbish along our lanes or in gateways contact our clerk or ring the clean team direct (080058772349) Finally -Congratulations to Mrs Janet Ryles. In the new year honours list Janet was awarded the British Empire Medal for her service to our community which includes over twenty years as leader and organiser of the CAMEO group and for her past work as leader of the brownie pack for many years. A well-deserved award and enjoy your visit to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party. For up to date news of council activities and events log on to www.facebook.com/AstononTrent PC Contact us at Aston-on-Trent Parish Clerk ~ Sheena Butcher 01332 793161 [email protected] Aston & Weston Royal British Legion 3 May I take this opportunity to thank all those people who helped at another successful Remembrance Day Parade, especially the marshalls who have a difficult job of holding motorists up, some who get irate because they cannot wait five minutes while the parade passes. During Remembrancetide we also have our poppy collection period and again my thanks, firstly to our poppy organiser Jane Archer, who not only organised our poppy appeal but a successful 'Poppy Picnic' which was held at the excellent Richmond Village complex where a total of £386.10 was raised for the poppy appeal, thanks also to those ladies who baked cakes. The poppy appeal saw a total of FIFTY collection boxes distributed around the Aston area and together with a number of donations a grand total of £4,260.59 has been raised so far for the poppy appeal which carries over to 2018. Talking about 2018, this will be a poignant year for the RBL with a number of events to commemorate 100 years since the signing of the Armistice Agreement on the 11th November 1918. These will be advertised in future Acorn issues. Why not join us at one of our branch meetings, held every 2nd Monday of the month at the White Hart pub at 19.30hrs.? Jim Ballington Branch Secretary 01332 405268 Village Walk 2017 Supported by The village walk committee would like to thank all walkers who helped to make this year’s event a success. Several hundred people took part and enjoyed the route if not the cool and blustery weather! First and foremost it is a community event and the money raised from the walk has been distributed to the following groups/individuals: Aston Bell Ringers Tower Fund Student raising money for charity trip to Africa Aston Joggers Aston Bowls Club Friends of Aston Brickyard Aston on Trent Aston ‘Hoover’ Group Recreation in Aston The Village Shop Don’t forget, there will be the Aston on Trent 45th village walk on December 27 2018. The White Hart We hope to see you there! Aston on Trent MST Health and fitness - Walk with nature - Ken Adams Sunday 22nd April starting from The Blue Jay car park 10.00 a.m. You are invited to join us on a 2 hour group stroll. It’s a gentle fresh air walk into Spring along the River Derwent embankment and Alvaston park and lake. Flat-easiest of walks. No stiles. 3 miles long. Off road. Toilets part way. We ask for a £2 donation, children with an adult, dogs on a short lead please. Friends Welcome - Just turn up at the start and sign in by 10.00 a.m. ASTON & WESTON BOWLS CLUB The green is currently closed for play. The start of the new season will be Sunday April 1st (Easter Sunday), although this date is subject to weather conditions/state of the green. The annual dinner was held at The Cooper’s Arms in November. Prizes for the club competitions were handed out and the Club person of the year was awarded to Mike Walters in recognition of his work as captain of the league team which achieved some success last season. The old bowling pavilion was cleared and dismantled before Christmas, then a larger concrete base prepared, and the Richmond Sales Office relocated. The Sales Office had to be completely stripped of all fittings prior to removal. Since then a lot of work has been carried out on the new clubhouse internally such as installing lighting, fitting kitchen units and creating two toilets.