GREAT FINBOROUGH NEWSLETTER December 2018 /January 2019 ISSUE 494 VILLAGE DIARY – December 1 12.30-4pm Primary School Christmas Fair, Primary School 1 7.30pm Gilbert & Sullivan Concert, St Andrews Church 3 6pm Brownies, Pettiward Hall 6 7pm Garden Club Christmas Party, Pettiward Hall 10 7.30pm Parish Council Meeting, Pettiward Hall 11 9.30-11.30am Coffee Morning, Chestnut Horse 13 8pm Pub Quiz, Chestnut Horse 17 6pm Brownies, Pettiward Hall 19 7pm Film Night, Pettiward Hall 21 4.10pm Mobile Library, Oak Close VILLAGE DIARY – January 2019 14 7.30pm Parish Council, Pettiward Hall 14 8pm Yoga, Pettiward Hall 16 7.00pm Film Night, Pettiward Hall 21 8pm Yoga, Pettiward Hall 28 8pm Yoga, Pettiward Hall PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS 2018/2019 10 December 14 January 7.30pm in Pettiward Hall The Newsletter is produced by Great Finborough Parish Council, printed by Gipping Press, and distributed to all households in the village free of charge. Claims made have not been verified. For these the newsletter disclaims responsibility. 2 Editorial We are entering the last month of the year and speeding towards the festive season, where did the year go? As I was wandering around the countryside today, enjoying the Autumn colours in glorious sunshine, I thought to myself we are so lucky, this enjoyment is all free. The big skies of Suffolk and its rolling countryside leaves little to be desired, those of us that have lived in this county most of our lives do tend to take it for granted sometimes. As we moved towards the new year Gt Finborough residents need to take stock, there is a great community spirit in this village for those who want to be part of it. But it hasn’t always been that way. Next year in May will see the parish council elections and there will be vacancies, two of the current councillors have moved out of the village and there will be others standing down. Over the last few years this village has seen a step change for the better, the village is cared for and that is reflected in its appearance. So, step up if you want to keep the great in Gt Finborough, the village can’t look after itself. The parish council is very lucky to have a very well respected and experienced parish clerk in Paula Gladwell which makes the job of councillors a great deal easier. Looking for Help. 3 years ago, Simon Tarabella and I took over the editing of the village Newsletter on a temporary basis, Simon I must say has carried out the lion’s share. So, if you would like to help with this essential publication. please contact Simon or me. A warm Finborough welcome to Sue & Keith Yates who recently moved into 2 Valley Farm Barn. Finally, Merry Xmas and a happy New Year to all our readers. The 15 January is the deadline for inclusion for the February 2019 issue of the Newsletter, so please contact Simon Tarabella or Peter Turner, or drop in to Maple Lodge, the kettle is always on. Peter Turner 3 Great Finborough Parish Council Our November meeting began on a sad note with the resignation of Cllr Robin Fisher. Robin has been a Parish Councillor here at Great Finborough for nearly eight years and with a recent home move to outside the village and the end of a four-year term looming Robin has decided to step down. He will be sorely missed for his contribution to the Parish Council and his commitment to the community. We now have a vacant seat at the Parish Council table, albeit only until May 2019 when we have the next Parish Council elections. We could of course just run with the vacant seat until May, but we would much rather try and co-opt someone onto the Council who can contribute to the community for the next few months and then hopefully fit in so well that they will want to stand for election in May and then stay for a further 4 years. So, IS THIS YOU???? would becoming a Parish Councillor be something you might be interested in? All you need to do is answer YES to the following; Are you over 18? Do you live within three miles of Great Finborough or work here? Are you on the Electoral Roll? Are you interested in helping to improve the quality of life of your community? Do you want to be involved in making important decisions in your community? Please contact the Clerk or any of your Councillors if you would like to be considered for the position or need more information. Closing date for applications is 24th December 2018 4 Other Business; Planning -Two applications were considered this month, the first with a "No objection" comment submitted for DC/18/04702 Erection of an extension and conversion of a garage at Puddocks End. The second, the re-consultation following a site plan alteration for DC/03710 Erection of 7 dwellings at Peartree Place, which had Councillors deciding that they had no additional comments to add to their previous Objection to this development. Annual Playground Report - Our external play equipment inspection this year has resulted in a few very low risk recommendations which will be carried out over the next few weeks. Footpaths - We have a few broken way markers and some planks missing from some bridges which will all be reported to Rights of Way for remedial action. Potholes seem to have been kept in check more recently, perhaps due to some recent increased funding by the County Council specifically for pothole repair. If you do see any maintenance issues on your travels around the village, please let me know and I will be happy to report them to the relevant local authority for consideration. Alternatively, you can easily report problems on the roads, like potholes, online using this link https://highwaysreporting.suffolk.gov.uk/ or contact customer services for Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk County Council on 0845 606 6067 they are usually very quick to help. The next parish council meeting will be held on Monday 10 December at 7.30pm in the upstairs room at Pettiward Hall and everybody is welcome to come along. Paula Gladwell 5 The Pettiward Hall “Little Ernie” The winners in the November draw were Cathy & Nick Croome and John Williams. They each received £7.75. Keep Fit Thank you to those who responded to the recent Keep Fit survey. The results showed that there is sufficient interest in a keep fit activity and we are pleased to announce that a yoga class is returning to the village in 2019. Supported again by Fit Villages, a new Monday evening class will be starting with a free taster session on 14 January. Our tutor this time is Catherine Wager, who moved into the old Baptist chapel in the village with her fiancé Miles earlier this year. Catherine is a British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) student teacher, currently undertaking the BWY Diploma in Teaching Yoga (500 hours). Catherine says: “I’m excited about being able to help people take some time for themselves to experience some of the benefits of yoga, both on and off the mat. With all of us tending to lead increasingly busy lives, a yoga class can be an oasis in our week, allowing us some much needed space to reconnect with our bodies and our minds. I aim to make the class accessible to all, so whatever your starting point, it would be lovely so see you on Monday evenings in the new year.” For more information or to book your place on the free taster session, please contact Catherine on 01449 771338 or 07790 842432, email: [email protected]. Mary Preece Possibly the best village in the world…. Well we think so!! Thank You to all our wonderful friends in the village for their super concern and love shown in various ways during Sally’s recent battle with illness. Hopefully we are nearly there… Rob & Sally Nurton. 6 News from your District Councillor - John Matthissen Representing Onehouse, Great Finborough, Buxhall, Harleston and Shelland Locality Grants for village organisations and projects I have had some applications, but there is still a good proportion of my locality budget available to be used for any project in the villages which will benefit the community. Please get in touch with me soon if you have something in mind. Scam alert Banks clarify that they will never contact you and ask you: • for your PIN, or password • to log into internet banking and transfer money, either between your accounts or out of your accounts. • they will also never ask you to move funds into a ‘safe’ account on the premise that your account has been compromised – this is a typical story used by fraudsters to encourage you to transfer funds or pressure you into giving them access to your account; • for your card details over the phone. In addition, the police or HMRC will never call you and ask you for any of the above details or for you to make transfers. Neither will your internet service provider phone to ask you to install specific software onto your computer. Tree for Life scheme A Green Party initiative funded from MSDC’s 2018/2019 budget, the scheme encourages the planting of a tree for new born and newly adopted children. All families within Mid Suffolk who have received a new family member between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 are welcome to apply for a free tree to celebrate a new life or adoption.