LaverstockLaverstock && FordFord CoveringCovering LaverstockLaverstock && MilfordMilford Ward,Ward, BishopdownBishopdown FarmFarm Ward,Ward, Ford,Ford, OldOld SarumSarum && LonghedgeLonghedge WardWard ParishParish NewsletterNewsletter www.laverstockwww.laverstock--ford.co.ukford.co.uk IssueIssue 165165 September/OctoberSeptember/October 20172017 Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter Welcome to issue 165 The cover for this issue is a picture from the recent Laverstock Village Family Fun Day showing the ever-popular Punch & Judy performance which still draws a large audience of all ages. Not a mobile phone or video in view, just 400 year-old live theatre. As always, the event was well attended with lots to see and do. During the recent hot weather we had a number requests from residents asking if there are any controls on bonfires. This is a Wiltshire Council area of responsibil- ity and their advice on the subject can be found on page 29. Who remembers the ‘Laverstock Panda’, cut into the chalk on Cockey Down al- most 50 years ago? There is little remaining of it now but page 14 has the story of how it came about, as retold by David McCreadie, (one of the original crea- tors) for the Parish Newsletter. As part of it’s on-going series of cutbacks, Wiltshire Council will no longer support parish play parks. Not just in our parish, but across the county. Your Parish Coun- cil’s strong commitment to play parks is on page 12. Students at St Joseph’s school have buried a time-capsule to be opened in 50 years time. Amongst the items buried are drawings and examples of students’ work from its first 50 years– going as far back as 1964. Details on page 20. Gordon Hoskins of Napier Crescent, our oldest newsletter deliverer now in his late 90's, has decided that it's time to handover his delivery round to someone else. He has even managed to source his own replacement. Gordon has delivered our newsletter for over 17 years, outstanding service for which the Parish Council is extremely grateful. Parish Council meetings for September and October Mon 18th September Greentrees Junior School Saunders Ave 7pm Mon 16th October River Bourne Community Farm Laverstock 7pm Parish Council meetings are held in each of the parish wards to enable residents to have easy access to local meetings. Residents are welcome to attend and may ad- dress the council for up to three minutes before the start of the meeting. The Parish Newsletter is published six times a year for the benefit of parish residents in Milford, Laverstock, Bishopdown Farm, Hampton Park, Riverdown Park, Ford, Old Sarum & Longhedge. However, articles included do not necessarily reflect the views of the Parish Council. Advertisements for any firm or service does not imply a recommendation by the Parish Council. Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter 3 Inside your Parish Newsletter . 5 View from the Chair 6 Report on Parish Council Meetings 7 Parish Planning - make it happen! 8 Planning Applications 9 Country Park and Public Art Project At Riverdown Park 10 Traffic Issues in the Parish– an update 12 Wiltshire Council plans closure of all its play parks 14 Who remembers the ‘Laverstock Panda’? 16 News from Old Sarum 17 Old Sarum Skatepark 20 St Joseph’s sends a message to the future 23 What On Earth Is Going On In The River? 25 Old Sarum Nursery celebrates an ‘Outstanding’ report from Ofsted 27 Health & Wellbeing in our Parish 28 Laverstock Gardening Club 29 Are there controls on when I can have a bonfire? 31 Successful Creative Community Projects 32 New Community Café coming soon... 33 Farm’s Educational Co-ordinator wins prestigious award 34 Letter from a young Bishopdown Farm resident 36 Laverstock & Ford Parish Council Contacts 39 Contacts around The Parish 42 Parish Diary Dates View from the Chair By David Burton, Chair of the Parish Council And now the river is rich. A deep choir. It is the lofty clouds, that work in heaven, Going on their holiday to the sea. Ted Hughes Our chalk stream, the River Bourne, which runs quietly through the Parish from Ford to Milford, is having a makeover this autumn courtesy of the Wiltshire Wild- life Trust. All residents especially children who can fit into size 4 waders or above are cordially invited to join the Wildlife Trust team, jump into the Bourne and help. If you have smaller feet than size 4, you can still do your bit on the river bank by helping the Wildlife Trust to plant trees to help shade the water and keep fish nice and cool next summer. (See page 22). The River Bourne, the Downs, Watermeadows, Woodland and Arable land are all precious resources that bring us much wealth in so many ways. Our latest play park at Old Sarum reflects the riches of nature in its’ design. Children can scram- ble up grassy banks, weave their way through wooden, tree trunk like structures and skip from one boulder to another. Art and technology are also being brought to bear so we can make the best use of what nature has to offer in our Parish. The new bee trail sign in Laverstock will reveal an Augmented Reality Ashy Mining Bee on your smart phone if you down- load the Salisbury Bee Trail app. The bee on the sign by the One Stop Shop Apple tree was painted by an artist of Horrible Histories fame who has turned his talents to bee art for the trail. Residents at Riverdown Park and the wider Bishopdown Farm settlement have also begun to help artist Kerry Lemon with inspiration for her public art which will be completed in autumn 2018. Kerry is a dab hand at celebrating both natural and historic heritage. Kerry is already finding she is spoilt for choice on both fronts in Laverstock and Ford Parish. We have so many natural and historic riches for all to enjoy – let’s make sure we keep it that way. Laverstock & Ford Parish Newsletter 5 Report on Parish Council Meetings This report covers the meetings held at the River Bourne Community Farm on 19th June 2017 and at the Old Sarum Community Centre on 17th July 2017. At the June meeting the Council spent some time approving its Annual Return. This document confirms all of the financial and governance activities of the Coun- cil for the previous financial year and after approval it is sent off for audit and ap- proval by the external auditors, Grant Thornton. The Council also approved other important documents such as the Asset Register and Insurance Policy. The Chairman reported on the progress that has been made with the developers of Riverdown Park on funding for the new Country Park. The Council agreed to proceed with a new legal agreement with Wiltshire Council and the developer. As soon as this is signed planning permission should be given and work will com- mence. A planning appeal against refusal of an application for a change of use to a resi- dential caravan site of land north of Broken Cross bridge was discussed. The Coun- cil decided that it was against the appeal proposals. A new policy that permits Councillors to claim travelling expenses around the Par- ish was approved. It is nearly a 6-mile drive between the south and north extremi- ties of the Parish and the cost to Councillors, who receive no other allowance or remuneration, can soon mount up. PC Matthew Holland from the South Wiltshire Community Policing Team attended the July meeting. He gave a report on local policing issues and answered several questions from Councillors. Grant applications by St Joseph’s Catholic School and Citizens Advice Wiltshire were discussed. Approval was given for a grant of £100 to Citizens Advice Wilt- shire. A great deal of time was spent at both meetings discussing the issue of Wiltshire Council owned and operated play areas in the Parish. There are five play areas at Bishopdown Farm and one at Old Sarum. An article in this Newsletter explains the issue more fully. The Clerk approved the expenditure of £1590 of the Council’s reserves to keep the largest play area in Sycamore Drive open and another £211 to reopen the St Jude’s Close play area. The Council resolved to investigate taking over responsibility for these play areas while at the same time criticising the Wilt- shire Council Policy. Wiltshire Council have a very small budget for maintenance and will close play areas when they became unsafe. The issue of Area Board representation was discussed at length. Area Boards con- sist of several Wiltshire Councillors and a Community Engagement Manager and they have access to funds to assist the local community with grants and highway projects. Most of our Parish is in Southern Wiltshire Area but Bishopdown Farm is in the Salisbury Area. The Council would like to see the whole Parish move into Southern Wiltshire in order to give a fairer and more equitable representation for the residents of Bishopdown Farm. The Clerk provided copies of the recent Internal Audit report on the Council’s fi- nances and governance, and reported on the actions that were being taken to rec- tify a few minor criticisms. Parish Planning - make it happen! Interested in contributing to Parish Planning? Then keep the 7th of September free in your diary. On the 7th of September at 7.30 pm at the Hampton Park Pavilion, we will have our inaugural meeting of our Parish Planning team. We had an excellent response to the flyer in the last Parish Council newsletter with 13 residents coming forward to volunteer (thanks to all of them).