The Painswick Beacon Sine praeiudicio Volume 36 Number 3 June 2013 Celebrate Your Seven – a forward move for Karen Library's First Karen Judd, our former post mistress, is truly sorry that the Post Office had to close. “It is, after all, the reason we came to Painswick,” she says sadly. Unfortunately, with Birthday! the removal of many services by the Post Office and a marked decrease in customer On Wednesday June 19th Painswick footfall it had become unviable. Community Library will have been open Karen is keen to bring attention to the fact that the shop, now renamed Seven for a year. Thank you to all our volunteers (a lucky number hopefully), is in the process of expanding its stock and will add to and customers for supporting the library in Painswick’s variety of commercial outlets. In particular, greetings cards have become so many ways. To celebrate this milestone a major feature and the range is much wider than previously as is the price starting everyone is invited to drop in on the 19th from as little as 99 pence. A loyalty card is an added bonus – buy five and the sixth during opening hours (10-1 and 3-6) and is free. join us for a slice of Birthday cake and a cup At present, in addition to the cards, there is a range of delightful toys, local maps of coffee. You don’t need to be a member of and books, confectionery, candles and stationery. You can try your luck on the Lottery the Library or a regular customer although and there is an excellent dry-cleaning service available. The shop is now open all day we hope many of these will come. There on Saturdays. will also be an opportunity to see what Karen is still in the process of developing the stock and other items are being we’ve being doing over the past 12 months considered. She is keen to make the shop a successful venture which in turn can only and volunteers will be on hand to show benefit Painswick. Do go in and show your support for this newly developing business. you some of the resources you may have Carol Maxwell missed or not yet had time to find. All the computers will be available if you would Vicar of Painswick Benefice - like to explore this particular resource. announcement Our next “big” occasion will be for Art Couture when the Library will be open “We are pleased to announce that, following the interviews held on May 3rd, the next on Sunday July 14th. Last year we had an Vicar of the Painswick Benefice will be the Reverend Mike Holloway. He will be impressive 249 visitors – maybe there will instituted and inducted by Bishop Michael in St Mary’s Church on the 3rd of September be more this year? The weekend of July 13th at 7pm. Mike is currently the Team Vicar in the Benefice of Bishop’s Cleeve and and 14th is the start of the Summer Reading Woolstone with Gotherington and Oxenton, just the other side of Cheltenham, where Challenge, with a “Creepy House “theme. he has been for nearly six years. Prior to this he was a physics secondary school teacher All the children at schools in Painswick, in Hampshire and a non-stipendiary priest. Mike is married to Margaret and they Sheepscombe and Cranham will learn have two grown up sons. more through their schools but all children Mike’s interests include between four astronomy, bell-ringing and 12 are (but I’m only a learner!) eligible to take and folk music. part. More Mike and Margaret details will are looking forward to be available moving to Painswick and nearer the getting to know the people date from the in all the communities Librar y and of the Beacon benefice. in the July He told us, ‘I’m really Beacon. The Library is freely available to excited by the prospect everyone but you do need a Gloucestershire of ministering among library card to take out books. Recent you and helping you in additions include Kate Atkinson “Life after showing that the kingdom Life”, William Boyd “Waiting for Sunrise”, of God really has drawn Dan Brown “Inferno”, Andrea Camilleri near. Please pray for us “The Dance of the Seagull” and Elizabeth as we make preparations George “The Edge of Nowhere”. We are for our move to join you. I open on Wednesdays and Fridays from shall certainly be praying 10-1 and 3-6, Saturdays 10-1 in the upper for you over the next few room of Painswick Town Hall. Hope you’ll months.’” share our Birthday celebration but everyone David Bishop and is welcome at all times. Frances Radway, Pat Francis, Librarian Churchwardens On other pages this month: Club Pulse, Return of the Victorians, Sports reports, Painswick in Bloom 2013, Village agents, a summer of discovery, Croft School news, Painswick summer ball, the Enaikishomi School in Kenya, Painswick Art Festival, stained glass workshop, local history teaser, Bob's Arctic convoy medal... 1 PARISH COUNCIL NEWS 15th May by Mike Kerton Reports upon meetings of the Parish Council cannot help but be selective, if only because of space constraints. We try to highlight points of widest public interest, based upon what we see and hear. The full minutes of Council and committee meetings are available for scrutiny at the Council's office. ANNUAL REPORT on this occasion they had been unable continuing. There had been a meeting gain access to the premises. The final with the Architects and the contract would It was a great shame that with our local agreement was “No decision as they were be sent out for tender by the end of June. MP, Neil Carmichael present, only five unable to obtain access to the premises”. The Clerk confirmed that he had heard members of the public attended this Each application for a change of use would from Post Office Ltd that they now had annual review of the work undertaken be carefully considered by the Council. one firm expression of interest from a by our Parish Council. A copy of the It was agreed to support the two other local business to take over the running of Councils report was included in the May applications, one by a majority vote. the Post Office. Providing the premises edition of The Beacon. Concern was expressed by the are suitable they expect the new Post Concern was raised by a member of Chairman that a wooden fence had been Office to be open in the next 4/5 months. the public over the effectiveness of the 20 erected on top of the wall at the Court Post Office Ltd have stated that they are mph speed limit through the centre of the House despite objections from the Council unable to assist with the provision of a village. Councillor Rob Lewis, Chairman and members of the local community. The mobile Post Office but the Council will of the Traffic Committee, explained that Stroud District Councils Enforcement again seek assistance from the local MP. the Council had decided to take part in Officer has visited the premises. Caroline White confirmed that the an initiative run by the Police to set up a An advertising sign on the A46, draft Parish Plan was out for public voluntary speed check group. Full details erected by Richmond Village had now consultation. The plan would be presented would be published in the May edition of been removed following objections from to the Council at its June meeting. The Beacon. Volunteers were needed to the Council. operate the scheme. St Mary's Street Toilets Neil Carmichael was questioned about PARISH COUNCIL Councillor Caroline White updated the both the closure of the Post Office and the meeting on the present position. There decommissioning of the Tibbiwell Post Although this was the Annual Meeting was a need for public toilets in the centre Box. He confirmed that he had received of the Parish Council, when both the of the village. A meeting had been held assurances from the Post Office Ltd that Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected with The Painswick Centre to see if there there will be another Post Office in the by Councillors, only six out of eleven toilets could be made available to the village once suitable premises had been Councillors were present. There is public and the Council were considering identified. Currently two businesses currently one vacancy. the use of the toilets in the Town Hall. had approached Post Offices Ltd but A member of the public raised Once a decision has been made by the unfortunately it would be a least six a question about the “Marketing of Centre then the matter will be put out for months before a new office opened. A Painswick”. He understood that this was public consultation in June. No decision strong letter of complaint has been sent now the responsibility of “Painswick regarding the future of the St Mary's regarding the Tibbiwell Post Box. Matters” and he was concerned about the toilets will be made by the Council until Retiring County Councillor Joan Nash perceived lack of action. Councillor Rob after the public consultation. thanked the Council for their support Lewis, who is also a member of “Painswick during her twelve years as a County Matters”, responded strongly by saying Responsible Financial Officer Report Councillor. For the past thirty eight years that the new Saturday Community Market (RFO) she has represented the local community which had been started by Councillor Roy Balgobin as RFO reported to the as a Parish Councillor, District Councillor Anne Smith, as part of the Mary Portas Council that the Auditor had designed and latterly as a County Councillor.