Village news
If you would like to contribute to Village News, write to Andy Rush, Editor, Loughborough Echo, Princes’ Court, Royal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 5XR or email: andy.rush@trinitymirror.com
Sutton Bonington Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com
WHIST. There was a clear winner by fourteen tricks at Monday night’s Whist Drive held on 24th April at which twenty players attended.
The winners were; Maureen Johnson 177, Chris Goadby 163, Trevor Popay 163, Bill Kyle 161, Anne Harley-Barber 161 and Henry Everett 161.
Highest Half winners were Brenda Stainsby and Sheelagh Stafford and the Consolation prize was awarded to Pat Knight.
Raffle prizes were won by Chris Goadby, Trevor Popay and |Anne Harley-Barber.
The “13 Kitty” again had an easy evening and if not won beforehand, will have increased to £10 at our next Whist Drive. Due to a Parish Council Meeting next Monday this will be held on Monday, May 15 starting at 7.30pm as usual.
SPENDING MORE THAN RECEIVING. arishioners of Sutton Bonington St Anne’s and St Michael’s Churches have been told they are spending more money than they are receiving.
In a report to the annual parochial church council meeting Acting Assistant Treasurer Mrs Beth Clarke said last year they paid £35,000 for repairs to St Anne’s in January 2016 for which we received a grant in 2015 and another in 2016 but in fact are still owed £1,500.
Mrs Clarke said taking those sums out, as she had explained earlier in the year, they are spending more each year than we are receiving. Our income is going down and our expenditure is going up.
“Our budget for 2017 also shows a shortfall. We all need to think very hard about whether we could all be giving a little bit more,” said Beth.
Beth says they are not likely to go bankrupt yet as we have money in their Fabric funds, about £7,000 in St Michael’s and about £9,000 in St Anne’s. “However we have already this year spent £4,000 of St Michael’s fund paying for the remedial electrical work we had done last year.
PARK LANE APPEAL. An Appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against a Rushcliffe Borough Council decision to refuse a change of use of the dwelling house into a house of multiple occupation at 14 Park Lane, Sutton Bonington has been successful, and the original decision has been overturned.
The Parish Council, who objected to the original application, have asked the borough council for details of what licensing regulations will be imposed on the site, what is the licensing procedure and what is the likely timescale.
COUNTY ELECTIONS. Fifteen hours of polling is available tomorrow ( Thursday May 4) for Sutton Bonington electors to help decide which two of the eight candidates represent them on Notts County Council for the next four years.
Sutton Bonington is included in the new Leake and Ruddington ward and local residents have the opportunity to cast two votes
As is usual, political parties have put candidates forward candidates and there are eight in all to fight for the two seats in the new Leake and Ruddington ward.
The three main political parties have candidates as do the Green party. The candidates are: Reg Adair (Bradmore), Conservative, Jason Richard Billin (East Leake), Liberal Democrat, Debbie Boote (Keyworth) Liberal Democrat, Andy Brown (East Leake) Conservative, Yvonne Barbara Lishman (Ruddington) Labour, Stephen Richard Perriman (East Leake) The Green Party, Jill Maureen Reedman (Ruddington) Labour and Ian Paul Wilson (Ruddington) The Green Party.
Voting tomorrow is from 7am until 10pm in the village hall.
LEPROSY MISSION. Sutton Bonington Parish Churches have been thanked for their support towards the Leprosy Mission.
A donation was sent from the churches following a collection at a service and a letter of thanks has now been received which says that the £75 donation forwarded to them towards their work is gratefully received.
“This gift will have significant impact on the lives of people suffering from leprosy. We couldn’t do the work we do, bringing hope to people suffering from this cruel disease and its consequences, without the generosity of people like yourself. Please convey my thanks and good wishes to all at the Church.”
OLD SCHOOLROOM PLANS. Parochial Church Council members at Sutton Bonington - they look after both the parish churches of St Michael’s and St Anne’s—are con tinuing to bring about a result in plans to allow the Old Schoolroom to be taken over by the Playgroup.
During last year the Church Council met six times and the question of the Old Schoolroom lease was discussed at most meetings.
Currently the schoolroom is leased by the church from the Diocese. The plan is to transfer the lease from St Michael’s and St Anne’s to the Playgroup.
Says Mrs Beth Clarke “This has already taken several months and, despite prompting the Diocese several times, the matter was not resolved in 2016 but things are looking hopeful for 2017!”
Other points raised in the annual report for the PCC were that services for major events were discussed and planned and this included the Minister the Rev . Michael Brock being keen to introduce a ‘ Village Worship’ service which would be simpler and shorter for children and it was agreed to do this in 2017 – and it has in fact now been introduced. It was agreed that Pat Wood be commissioned as a Pastoral Assistant to help the Minister, and this took place in September. Pat had been trained in Leicester Diocese before moving here.
Health and Safety issues were discussed and various policies and risk assessments were reviewed and signed by the PCC. Three yearly DBS checks were completed for all those who need them.
Remedial electrical work at St Michael’s was authorised and further work to complete jobs at St Anne’s piano and it was agreed to purchase a second hand electric piano out of the organ fund, and this was achieved before Christmas. PCC members organised and supported the Christmas Market and the Church Fete.
The PCC were pleased with the work done by Ladybug Garden Services in the three churchyards and accepted their slightly increased tender for 2017.
The Archdeacon Sarah Clark has given her support to begin talks on an enlarged East Leake Benefice, but this has been put on hold due to illness.
GARDEN WALKABOUT. Plans are going ahead well for the annual Sutton Bonington Garden Walkabout weekend, which this year will be held on June 17 and 18.
Early Warning Notice has been given by the organisers who are looking forward to the same success as in previous years, when hundreds of people turn out to support the event which is held in aid Cancer Research UK.
The organisers say that as usual they will need gardens to be available for all to see and they will also be looking for help in various other directions.
The annual event – which also includes gardens in neighbouring Kingston on Soar – draws both local residents and those from further afield, and car parking spaces are usually at a premium.
More details on the weekend event can be obtained by contacting Rosy Hopkinson -- 01509 672811--, Mary Thomas on 01509 672056 or Joyce Winton on 01509 672026.
In anticipation of the help they will be offered, the three ladies give thanks to everyone who does make contact, saying they will appreciate whatever help can be offered.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING. The Sutton Bonington Annual Parish Meeting for 2017 takes place on on Wednesday next week, May 10 at 7.30pm in the village hall. All parishioners are invited to attend.
The agenda will include the report of the council from chairman Coun. Rob Ereminowicz and the Financial Statement of the Council and a report from Borough Councillor and Notts County Council member Coun. Andy. Brown.
Village Organisations will also be invited to give reports and there will be a progress report on the Spinney and Meadows Nature Reserve.
Gotham
CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA. Steps have been taken in Gotham to investigate the possibility of improve the existing Children’s Play Area.
Twelve years ago the Gotham Memorial Hall and Recreation Ground Trust was re-formed and it has taken on the responsibility for the maintenance of the Play Area and equipment.
The necessary work has mainly been undertaken by Trustees and Volunteers who have been restricted to work within a very limited budget. During the time they have been engaged in their efforts they have been held with several items of equipment being donated to them.
It has been accepted that, although still sound, some of the units are in need of renewing and the entire area requires renovation and modernisation. The proposed work will require what will be a large amount of funding.
The Parish Council share the responsibility to maintain the Recreation Ground with the Trust and to further the plans to carry out the improvements steps have been take to establish a Working Party between the Parish Council along with representatives of the Trustees. Any willing villagers will be welcome to join that group to support the task of obtaining grants/funding to progress the project to replace and obtain much needed new equipment.
The first meeting of the committee has been held. If there are any parents or other residents interested in joining they are invited to contact the Clerk to Gotham Parish Council Mrs Judy Raven at GothamParishClerk@outlook.com or ring on 0115 9830863.
DOG FOULING. Dog fouling nuisance appears to be the big talking point in Gotham at present, with lots of concern being expressed about the amount of dog mess being left by some inconsiderate owners.
The parish Council is looking into a Keep Britain Tidy scheme which will give support on signage and prosecution of offenders.
The parish council say that if anyone sees a dog owner not clearing up after their animal, then they can be reported to Rushcliffe Borough Council .
The borough say they will take action against offenders, but they need the help of the pubic because they cannot monitor everywhere all of the time.
“If you witness an offence please contact us and tell us as much information as possible.
If you see someone committing a dog fouling offence or need to notify us of dog , call us on 0115 981 9911 or online at http://www. rushcliffe.gov.uk
And you can also contact members of the Parish Council who will pass on the information to Rushcliffe.
Willoughby on the Wolds
FOURTY-FOUR SACKS OF RUBBISH. A total of 44 sacks of rubbish were collected in this year’s Litter Pick for Willougby on the Wolds, mainly from road verges outside the built up areas of the parish.
Rushcliffe Borough Council collected the sacks and the parish council provided the necessary equipment for those who turned out to pick the litter up.
PUB AND QUIZ NIGHT. A pub and quiz night is being held in the village hall at Willoughby on Saturday May 20, with tickets £15 including quiz entry and pub food.
There will be a licensed bar with real ale, something the village now without a pub doesn’t usually have.
Tickets for the event are available from Dick Merriman on 01509 889146 or Caroline Marlow on 0794 155 4877.
Proceeds from the event will go to village hall funds.
Sileby
SILEBY METHODIST CHURCH. It has been a quiet week with just the two coffee mornings on Thursday and Saturday opening.
However, the ladies who run these events wish to thank you all for sticking with us even though the boiler is not working and there is no heating. Grateful thanks. The Cafe@Chapel is open from 9.30am -11.30am each Monday and Thursday.
Sunday, 30th April, saw Mrs Eunice Butters visiting to bring the word of God to the 10.45am service. Her sermon considered the followers of Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus and not recognising our Lord when he spoke to them about the scriptures concerning himself.
She asked if anyone had travelled by bus during the week and, if so, if they remembered anyone they met on the journey. Do we travel with Jesus and not know it?
If we try to be more aware of people we meet then we will see our Lord in them and will learn to respond to him. Terry Lock kindly played the piano for us, thank you so much.
Next week, our Local Pastor, Granville, will lead our worship.
He plans a short service followed by a time of fellowship with tea, coffee and cake as well as discussion. Folk responded well to this type of service last time and we hope you will come along and join in the fellowship and hospitality.
In June, there will be a Craft Fair organised by Carol and Brian Suter. Already all the tables have been booked and there will be many different crafts for you to enjoy with light lunches being served as well. More details later.