www.combwich.org.uk COMBWICH, OTTERHAMPTON AND January 2020 STEART NEWSLETTER Issue 28 Published with the generous support of Otterhampton Parish Council Welcome to Combwich Sixty-seven of the parish’s more mature residents enjoyed a lovely (free) 3 course Christmas Dinner with wine and coffee in the village hall in December, complements of OPRA. Entertainment was provided by the Combwich Choir led by Nicole Wigley and MC was Mike Gardener. Pictured right are some of the volunteers who made it possible. More details on page 5. If you are 65 years old and live in the Otterhampton Parish and did not receive an invitation this year, but would like to attend in the future, please ring 652399 to be put on the list. Inside this issue Otterhampton Offcuts Page 1 Snippets from your December 2019 Senior’s Christmas Dinner Page 2 & Parish Council Offcuts January 2020 Parish Council Meetings Page 3 Parish Council Offcut From the parish archives We were sorry to hear of the very sad passing of Murray Page 4 Lister on Christmas Day. He served as a councillor on the Ode to OPRA - Tom Jacobs parish council for a year until May 2019. He brought a New Gardening Club different and valued perspective to the council and we very Page 5 much enjoyed his company. We send Holly, Harry and Max OPRA and family our heartfelt condolences. Page 6 Combwich and District WI Report Parish Precept Page 7 The proposed parish council precept (budget) for 2020/21 Otterhampton School was discussed in great detail at a meeting on 5.12.19. It was Page 8 decided not to increase the precept this year so it will be Peter Shaw profile retained at £26000. Page 9 Another view from Steart - Dick Best Play Area Combwich Giggers Page 10 Village Hall & Harbour View Bar Page 11 Combwich Wharf Update Remember when we had buses Page 12 WWT Steart Marshes Page 13 WWT Steart Marshes Page 14 Combwich Ponds update Combwich Anchor Post Office and Stores Recycling Page 15 We reported in the last Otter Tales that we were considering Otter Wheels, Short Mat Bowls & Pilates our options on how we might deal with the ground settlement Page 16 and safety surfacing issues at the play area following our Mobile Library & Diary of events challenge to Wicksteed (playground contractor) that the surfacing is not fit for purpose. We held a meeting with a legal representative from SDC on 3.1.20 to try and establish Contact details for the parish council if we have a legal case. Discussions are ongoing. PARISH COUNCILLORS Julie Evans (Chair) 01278 652735 Trees Bob Birkenhead (Vice Chair) 01278 653127 As per the recommendations in the Tree Maintenance Schedule for trees in the Rachel Perrett 01278 652958 parish, some essential Tina Gardener 01278 652642 maintenance will be Marie Beckley 07748 154395 undertaken to trees in the Lindsey Parsons 07843 604787 vicinity of the Village Hall Andrew Darch (Steart) 01278 653495 and the Common during Mrs Aly Prowse (Clerk) 01278 652426 January. This will include [email protected] formative pruning of the County and District Ward Members crowns and the removal of any damaged branches. Mike Caswell 01278 652043 (District & County) Julie Pay (District) 01278 732956 2 Offcuts continued SCC Somerset Road Safety Team (Route 60+) Presentation – 5 March 2020 Just a reminder that the Somerset Road Safety Team will be delivering a presentation aimed at helping to keep older drivers driving on the road safer, for longer. Also present will be police and fire services for home safety advice, health professionals and other agencies who can offer advice. The event will be held in Otterhampton Village Hall, on Thursday 5.3.20, 10am – 1pm. If you have not already advised the Clerk you will be attending, please can you do so by 10.2.20. Church Hill Parking We have received complaints regarding parked vehicles adjacent to the pavement in Church Hill near the junction at the bottom of the hill. We appreciate that parking is at a premium throughout the village but obviously parking here, in this manner, could well be dangerous for vehicles either having to overtake them, possibly head-on into vehicles entering Church Hill from Brookside Rd and vice-versa. All we as a parish council can do is to request and remind people to park with consideration and with due regard to the safety of others. Diverted temporary footpath during Combwich Wharf works Following complaints about the state of the footpath, we requested that EDF carry out repairs to make the footpath usable and safe. Remedial works will be undertaken, but the footpath will need to be closed (maximum of a week). We have requested that notice is given in advance of the footpath closure so we can advise residents. Replacement and additional defibrillator for Combwich The existing defibrillator by the phone box will be replaced with a new one and the landlord at the Anchor has very kindly agreed that an additional defibrillator for the village can be located at the public house. Matt will also absorb the cost of the electricity to run it. We will apply to the Hinkley Point C Community Fund to fund the defibrillators. This will be a supported package from the South Western Ambulance Service (Community Public Access Scheme) renewable every 4 years at a cost of £2800. This includes all maintenance, battery and defibrillator pad replacement and new defibrillators. The next parish council meeting will be held on Thursday 6 February 2020, at 7.00pm in Otterhampton Village Hall. Residents are very welcome at our meetings. You will be given a warm welcome and the opportunity to participate and discuss the various topics. In addition, tea, coffee and biscuits are available from 5-10 minutes before the meeting start time. Contact for Clerk (Aly Prowse) [email protected] or Tel 01278 652426 From the parish archives! 1948 - Application from a Bridgwater man to supply a weekly fish and chip service. 1955 - Bridgwater Bay declared a nature reserve - big problems with by-laws, hunters and fishermen from village upset! 1966 - The name Martyn Close suggested by the developers was deemed unsuitable by the parish council who preferred Parrett Close! 1969 - Mr Messet passes away after 21 years as clerk to the parish council. 3 Tom Jacobs an Ode to OPRA For walkers and Quizzers and Easter egg hunters for in opra we cater for all. We meet in the hall, and have a drink in the club, in opra we cater for all After walks every month, some local, some far, we have a nice lunch, at the Anchor Pub bar. In November the fireworks light up the sky There’s hot dogs and coffee,40th Anniversary to toast to the guy. At Christmas the old folks sit down to their dinner, With entertainment thrown in it’s always a winner, For in OPRA we cater for all And Tuesday Walker’s Lament Some like to run and some ride a bike We much prefer to walk and to hike From Exmoor the Quantocks and Wills Neck too we often get lost but always pull through So Brian and Mike and David and Mell Not forgetting old Tom our joker as well Over steep hills and across boggy dale Our gang keep on striving through rain and fierce gale We sometimes fall over avoiding a hole But its always ok as Tom taught us to roll Finishing happy at the end of the trail we find a nice local pub serving fine local ale After two pints of larger our mirth is a guarantee As lubricated Tom comes out with fine repartee Then its home to our wives as quick as can be As we sometimes stop for the desperate to pee After a nice hot meal for our wives it is boring As all she can hear is us loudly snoring New Gardening Club Stockland are starting a Gardening Club and the first meeting will be at the Stockland Club Thursday 23rd January 8 p.m. All will be welcome from the adjoining villages. Keen to get people with all sorts of gardening expertise. For more information ring 01278 652399 4 Otterhampton Parish Recreation Association (OPRA) Registered Charity Number 1124017 Tina Gardener Chair Firstly a very happy New Year 2020 to everyone and this year OPRA will be 20 years old. It was formed in March 2000 and took over from the Combwich Common Committee. When they transferred their assets to OPRA their request was that the annual Christmas dinner for the senior citizens of the parish should continue. We have honoured that commitment and last December saw the 21st dinner held in the village hall, as you can see from the front page it was well attended and was well served by a large number of volunteers. Special thanks to be given to our youngest volunteers, Alex and Will Mockridge who entertained us on the piano, sold raffle tickets and helped serve the meals. They remind me of when my two children were small and looked forward to helping out every year. Thank you to Rob Wright for giving us a good discount on the wine and for serving it (there was an incentive to keep the glasses topped up!), and to Ray Bollen and Chris Stockham who as always did a fantastic job in the kitchen. Normally Matt from the Anchor cooks the potatoes and turkey for us but, as he was on holiday his dad, Dave stepped in and did a fantastic job. Entertainment was provided by the Combwich Choir who did an excellent audience participation of the Twelve days of Christmas, Mike who did a Christmas quiz, and Sarah Webb and Tom Jacobs who did a hilarious rendition of ‘I’ve got you Babe’.