Pillaton Village Issue 181 January 2016 News Village web site at www.pillaton.org.uk NOT QUITE AS WET AS WE THOUGHT! For the last five years Brian Hutfield has been faithfully recording the rainfall figures for Pillaton. Despite all the rain we seem to have received recently, with the River Lynher breaking its banks on occasion, it appears this winter is no record breaker; the periods Oct to Dec for 2012 and 2013 were considerably wetter. What also stands out from this year’s figures was how wet the Pillaton rainfall figures 2011 - 2015 peak holiday month of August was and that in general we definitely did not have a barbeque summer; a fine April and September, yes, but not a lot in between. Pillaton Village News No. 181 January 2016 Happy New Year to all readers of the Village News. Sadly I can’t say my start to the New Year was very auspicious being forced to see it in with a festive Lemsip and Benylin chaser (other cold cures are available). Things can only get better. It won’t have escaped your notice that the start of January has been particularly wet and mild and as a matter of interest I’ve reproduced Brian Hutfield’s latest rainfall figures on page one. Now Brian conveniently produces the figures in two formats, millimetres and inches. In the interests of newsletter space I was forced to make a choice and plumped for the metric version, but it started me thinking about the strange concoction of weights and measures we use in this country. Most people would be quite pleased to lose 900 grams weight in the first week after Christmas, but I doubt this phrase often crops up in conversation. Likewise when did you last hear a football commentator say that a shot was 30 centimetres over the bar. We still drink beer in pints, but are very happy to drink a 75ml bottle of red wine. For those of a certain age who can vividly remember doing long division of imperial weights and measures involving stones and hundredweight, the ability to visualise six inches distance or a pound weight is instinctive, but it is all a matter of what you are used to. Sometimes this works the other way. For about 10 years I drove a left-hand drive Spanish-built Nissan and became completely accustomed to driving at 50 through Plymouth or 80 up to Trerulefoot. On one occasion I was stopped for speeding in the dockyard. The MOD policeman questioned me about the speed limit. I immediately blurted out, “30 kilometres an hour.” He admonished me saying, “Sir, we use miles an hour in the dockyard,” …. but, he did let me off! Elsewhere in this edition I have printed a charming short story by young Claire Walters who loves to write and read. Jo King has even given over a section of the village “phone box” library to Clare for children’s books. If there are any other youngsters in the village who would like to write a short story (500 words would be ideal) I would be delighted to print it. The next copy date is 7 March 2016 - full details page 23. Robin Dwane, Editor PILLATON PARISH COUNCIL PLEASE NOTE THAT PILLATON PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS WILL BE ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM DECEMBER 2015 ONWARDS. Chairman Mr. Dolley 2 3 PILLATON PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS ARISING The Chair reported that the broken BT services box at Mary Moon Close was in MinutES OF Parish Council MEEtinG 18 NovEMBER 2015 course of being repaired. ATTENDANCE Cllrs. Dolley, Heap, Martin, Harris, Warne, D. Floyd S. Floyd and County Councillor D. Pugh. It was noted that there was no record of Mushton Lane having been downgraded to a bridle path. APOLOGIES None. County Highways had agreed to examine the state of the rumble strips and slow DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None. sign outside the Hall with a view to reinstating them. PUBLIC FORUM There were no members of the public present. PLANNING PERMISSION MINUTES The minutes of 21 Oct 2015 council meeting were accepted unanimously. Cllr Martin demonstrated the current planning application both in hard copy and MATTERS ARISING electronically and kindly offered to supply hard copies in future. Cycle route Callington to Saltash. The Council noted that in accordance with The Council unanimously approved the conversion of a former shippon to a Standing Orders any review of the Council’s comments on the proposed cycle route dwelling at North Sillaton farmhouse. can only be made after 6 months. FINANCE Finger posts. It was reported that Cornwall Highways had given permission for the The Council approved a precept of £3,805 for the year ending 31/3/2017 with one objection. repainting of the signs and would supply materials. ANY OTHER BUSINESS PLANNING PERMISSION The Council debated the possibility of voluntary labour for tasks in the Village, Cllr Martin set up equipment in order to demonstrate the way in which for example painting seats and signboards. It was hoped that any parishioner who applications could be viewed electronically. The Chairman thanked Cllr Martin and the meeting decided to await until nearer the change over date to choose the most wished to help with such jobs would contact the Chairman. suitable equipment. Chairman D Dolley SPEED CONTROL IN THE VILLAGE MinutES OF Parish Council MEEtinG 5 JanuarY 2016 The Council agreed , as a first step towards speed reduction plans, to request the ATTENDANCE Cllrs Dolley, Heap, Martin, Warne, D. Floyd and S. Floyd. existing ripple strips and slow sign be reinstated. APOLOGIES Cllr Harris and County Councillor D. Pugh. FINANCE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None. The following payments were authorised; Grass cutting £450 & ink cartridge £27.46. PUBLIC FORUM There were no members of the public present. The Bank position of current account £1,070 and deposit £2,224 was noted. MINUTES The minutes of 1 Dec 2015 council meeting were accepted unanimously. The Council delayed a decision on the 2016/17 until a quotation for strimming at MATTERS ARISING None. the play park was received. PLANNING PERMISSION None. CHANGE OF MEETING DATE THE ROW It was agreed that the date of meetings in future would be the first Tuesday in the month. The Council drew the attention of the public, through the Village News, of the need to ANY OTHER BUSINESS park in the Row in such a manner as to not prevent any large vehicles gaining access. The Chair reported that the broken services box at Mary Moon Close had not been ANY OTHER BUSINESS None. repaired and the Clerk was asked to report the matter to BT. Chairman D Dolley County Councillor D. Pugh volunteered to determine if Mushton Lane had been downgraded to a bridle path. Chairman D Dolley Pillaton WI thanks everyone for their generosity MinutES OF Parish Council MEEtinG 1 DECEMBER 2015 on our Carol singing evening just before ATTENDANCE Cllrs. Dolley, Heap, Martin, Harris, Warne, D. Floyd and S. Floyd. Christmas. You helped us to collect the APOLOGIES County Councillor D. Pugh. magnificent sum of £168.21 for Help for Heroes! DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None. Thank you all again. PUBLIC FORUM There were three members of the public present. MINUTES The minutes of 18 nov 2015 council meeting were accepted unanimously. 4 5 VillaGE Hall Social EvEnts I’m sure you have all realized that we get an extra day this year – it’s a Leap Year. So, why do we have Leap Years? They are needed to keep our modern day Gregorian calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds – to circle once around the Sun. This is called a tropical year. However, the Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days! A “Leap” Day is an extra day on February 29 which is added nearly every 4 years to today's Gregorian calendar. There are many traditions connected to Leap Years: • According to folklore, in a leap year, the weather always changes on Friday. • “Leap year was ne'er a good sheep year” (old proverb) • A “leapling” is a person born in a leap year. Many feel that to be born on Leap Day, thereby becoming a “leapling,” is a sign of good luck. • Also, Leap Day used to be known as Ladies' Day, as it was the one day when women were free to propose to men. Anyway, we felt that as the extra day is a bonus and therefore probably nobody will be too busy, it may be fun to have a Leap Day meal together to celebrate – after all, it’s almost Spring so we can Leap forward together into March! We have put together a Leap Day menu – see the poster in this issue of the Village News and on the notice boards – and hopefully you’ll agree it’s good value at just £12.50 per head.Sue and I have some other dates planned for your diaries, so please make a note of them. More details will follow in the next village News. • June 12th, an afternoon tea in the Village Hall to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday. • November 12th, a Village Showcase Day when we hope to get all the village groups together to show themselves off to potential new members.