Mayor’s message: annual meeting and park makeover project
In our monthly column Barnstaple town mayor Cllr Louisa York keeps us up-to-date on what is happening in the town
THIS month I’d like to review a wide range of events and activities. They reflect the scope of involvement the council has in local affairs, incorporating not just council business, but community and culture.
Starting with matters pertaining to town council business. It’s that time of year when several annual events fall. The first of these is our annual town meeting. The meeting, scheduled for Monday, April 29, officially receives the annual report of the town council, which summarises events, activities and finances for the previous year. The report contains various facts and figures, plus written summaries by the chairpersons of our various committees.
That sums up the more official side, but the annual town meeting is also an opportunity for us to recognise the hard work and efforts of community organisations and volunteers. Various representatives will attend to speak about their work. Some have been awarded grants the previous year and will talk about how their projects are progressing and how they have benefitted.
Additionally, it’s a time for community
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groups to be rewarded, with the prestigious RAF Community Plate being presented to an individual or group who have made an outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of the community during the foregoing year.
The meeting, held at the Guildhall, is open to the public and further details about it can be found on our website.
Although the scaffolding and covers might give a different impression, the Guildhall is very much open for business. Over the Easter school holidays two craft workshops were held which were very well attended. It’s always pleasing to see this prized asset used for community events and there are further details about this in our April newsletter, which will be available soon on our website.
Out and about in the community, we have been focussing on Rock Park, which this year will be part of
Park Rockery, Barnstaple, will be part of the town’s judging for the In Bloom awards the judging area for the ‘In Bloom’ awards.
Working in partnership with Barnstaple in Bloom we are renovating the Rock Park Rockery. This includes a dig over of the top section with horticultural grit and compost, in readiness for a new planting scheme.
Some of our councillors who represent wards close to Rock Park have contributed to the project by using their Councillor Ward Grant money. I’d like to pass a big thanks on to all the volunteers working on this. I’m sure it will look splendid in the months to come.
On the cultural front I’d like to mention the Woodyard project. Inspired by local author Ann
Cleeves, it’s aim is to create a safe space where everyone in the community is welcome, and where even the most vulnerable and disadvantaged can feel at home. Ann wants to also see it as ‘a place of connection and creativity under one roof.’
I attended the launch, and it was most inspiring. What makes the project so remarkable is that the idea actually stems from Ann’s own fictional work. She mentions ‘The Woodyard’ in her book ‘The Long Call’ which is set locally, and since then local charity leaders and community organisations have worked together to make the fictional Woodyard a reality. Ann Cleeves was very happy to back their work and publicly show her support for this most innovative project.
The other cultural event I’d like to focus on is the recent concert at the Queen’s Theatre by the Barnstaple Ladies Choir, celebrating their 40th anniversary. It was an event in aid of North Devon Hospice and one we were proud to help sponsor. It featured fantastic performances from a variety of artists. The concert was held in loving memory of Nigel Brookes BEM, who we sadly lost earlier this year. Nigel was a highly respected composer and helped to teach many young people across the North Devon area.
That concludes a summary of various events and activities from this last month. A diverse array, and each important in its own right. I look forward to catching up with you in May, when I will be handing over to the new Mayor.