June/July 2020 Parish council SOS! by Ian Bailes, Chair of Green Hammerton parish council The parish council is currently going through a difficult period for a number of reasons. We have been operating with just three councillors, the legal minimum, for some time. One of them has now decided to step down which leaves just myself and one other councillor still in post and five vacancies to Charlie is my darling! fill. This position cannot continue and, unless Emma Farrer and son, Charlie, 2, were among the Meadow Vale party-goes additional residents join the on the 75 th anniversary of VE Day. Picture special back page. council, it will cease to operate. You might say that this doesn’t affect you it Also in this bumper 12-page edition ... does. The council has numerous responsibilities. Stuart and For instance, the council: Margaret are ▪ Responds to all planning colourful applications. characters – p3 ▪ Maintains direct contact with Harrogate Borough Council and North Tandem Yorkshire County Council as well as our local for hire – p6 representatives in those organisations to seek The Great Wood backing for village initiatives story – p7 and ensure our voice is heard. The BIG turn to p2 ... Local shops lockdown latest – pp8/9 community Seventies soccer special – p11 issue continued from front page … business based in Hull. The wood is hard, not dissimilar to teak and oak in density, and will weather ▪ Provides all funds for grass cutting in the village and to a silver grey. We would like to thank the Langhorn around the church along with half of the funds for Family and Andy Paraskos from North Yorkshire cutting the playing field and sums towards the County Council for donating the money to cover the maintenance of Helenfield. If the council folds then cost of one of these benches. If anyone would still be grass cutting will stop as there will be no-one to pay interested in funding or part funding a planter or a contractors. third chair to further improve the space please contact Ian Bailes on [email protected]. Furthermore, in recent months the council has: The website is now back up and running, Chris ▪ Provided ongoing support to the Keep the Rutledge having now taken over the running of the site Hammertons Green campaign. from Steve Ross. Please contact Chris via [email protected] with any news items or ▪ Assisted with planning stages for the cycle path to upcoming events. Watch out for changes to the design Thorpe Underwood. over the coming months. The site will continue to operate as a village amenity while also functioning as ▪ Secured the future of the village website by switching the parish council forum. If you would like to get email to a new supplier (see below) updates about village and parish council news please register your e-mail details via the site. ▪ Installed a defibrillator. The job of a Councillor is not too difficult with training Input sought to development plan available to ensure we follow the rules. If residents from all areas of the village take part we get a better by Chris Eaton of Keep the Hammertons Green representation at meetings. I appeal to you to come forward. As residents we are all responsible for what As you will recall, the local plan, including the happens within Green Hammerton and for making it a controversial new town, was approved by full council pleasant village to live in. If I do not get any response in early March. We were assured at the council meeting in the next 7 to 10 days there will sadly be no alter- and subsequently in writing that our communities native but to close the council down with immediate would be fully involved in the work to create the effect. Please contact me via 330477 or necessary development plan document (DPD) which [email protected]. will set out the location and details of the new settlement. But, like so many aspects of normal life, the Finally, the council needs volunteers to carry out some coronavirus has affected the Harrogate Borough small maintenance jobs. For instance, the plinth area Council planning system. Understandably, work on the needs re-pointing following power washing and several DPD has not properly got underway as the coronavirus seats need minor renovation. There’s a village job for restrictions have meant it is not possible for the everyone! stakeholders to start discussions and the council has, rightly, focused on responding to the current situation. However, as soon as the work starts on the DPD we Other parish council news shall insist on our proper involvement and will do everything we can to ensure that the new settlement is by Gill Singleton of Green Hammerton parish council planned and implemented in the most appropriate way and with the least impact on our communities. Please remember there is a Green Hammerton Support Group made up of over 50 local volunteers who are We remain concerned that there are already existing ready to give their time to help those needing support developers’ applications to build the new town and we with essential shopping, prescription collection or just formally requested that these should not be to be on the end of a phone for a chat. Group co- entertained until the DPD is concluded. The council ordinators are Jane Bannan (339442), Chris Jackson did not give that commitment before the coronavirus (331883), Gill Singleton (339275) and Chris Turner restrictions were implemented. However, this also (331306). happened before the consultation period on the current planning applications had ended. We must At last some assume that when restrictions are eased, there will be a progress: new revised timeframe for consideration of these benches are finally applications. Once that is known we shall again make a in situ. Made from strong case that there should not be any decisions on Iroko wood sourced new town planning applications before the DPD is from sustainable agreed. forests on the west coast of tropical Our priority remains to ensure that our communities Africa, they have are properly involved in all decision making and, once been handcrafted in meetings are again possible, our team will get together the UK by Wood- to discuss the best approach to participation in the craft Ltd, a small DPD work. 2 Mama mia! Thanks for the memories Sold out well in advance, the Italian evening was by the editor organised by the Green Hammerton Recreational Charity social committee of Jenny Hymas, Rebecca There was no mistaking the theme of the Green Nunns, Sue Lambert, Claire Jeffrey, Julia O’Connor Hammerton social committee’s event back in February. and Lucy Bettam. The supper was provided by a team The village hall was decked out in green, red and white of Chris Turner, Sue Holden, Gill Singleton, Joanne flags, film of Rome and Venice looped on the video Lightowler, Sally Walker and Jane Bannan. The screen, lasagne and tiramasu was on the menu ... and quizmaster was Dave Walker. every question in the quiz related to ... yes, you’ve guessed it, Italy. The evening raised £850 which will go towards a new trapeze pyramid for the playground (see p4). Winners were Walker’s Whixley Gang with 53 points with the Invincibles as runners-up with 49 points and ▪ Pictured above: One for ‘the family’ album. The way Wanna Pisa Us in third place with 48 points. Dave we were ... and one day will be again. From left, said: “The winners usually finish last in quizzes. They standing: Jennie Fieldhouse, Simon Mack, Claire made an extra special effort this time.” Fancy dress Greenwood, David Greenwood and James Lambert. prizes were awarded to the Mafia, as above, and Crouching are Dave Fieldhouse and Sue Lambert. Margaret Andrew for her colourfully coordinated Simon said they should be called the Lemoncello Mob outfit. Stuart Hymas also caught the eye as Luigi from given the amount of it they drank. The liqueur was Super Mario. Both are pictured on the front page. donated to the event by the Bay Horse. 3 Hall makes use of lockdown field are now of the same style and made from long lasting materials. We would like to add to these. If you would like to donate a sum toward a bench please by Brian Halling contact me on 331485. Chairman of Green Hammerton Recreational Charity Looking forward, we hope to run the sports day in This spring marks the 10th anniversary of the opening September. It’s unlikely there will be any cricket this of our new village hall (see pic of its construction, season but fingers crossed for football later on. Let’s below) and completion of the playing fields. They soon hope we can hold a special Christmas event in the hall became very popular and have been improved at the very least. We have plans to build outside the considerably over the years, representing a fantastic playground a large pyramid climbing frame and achievement and vision by founders and helpers. Since complete a hard tracked running surface to connect lockdown, however, the main facilities – including the our fitness apparatus. We would also like to start the skate park and playground – have been closed and our first stage of planning for a hall extension with income reduced to zero. Expenses are reduced too but additional changing facilities to enable dual usage and we still have insurances, licences, maintenance and with maybe even a large sports/events hall alongside. standing charges to pay. Prudently, we had built up An exciting prospect! reserves for unforeseen eventualities but the impact of Covid-19 wasn’t one of them! ▪ See p6 for news about a new walks booklet and tandem hire in aid of the GHRC.