Slaley, Northumberland

New equipment for the Hall

Users of the Commemoration Hall may like to know that they can now have the use of two new pieces of equipment:
A laminator, and a trimmer (both capable of dealing with A3 sized sheets).
Together with the A3 sized colour printer, these will allow you to produce, trim and laminate posters up to A3 (97 x 420 mm) in size.
Computer users may also be interested in trying out another recent acquisition, a voice dictation package (IBM ViaVoice Pro). Based on my recent trials, you will need to spend some time training the system to recognise your voice with any accuracy, though.
These items are stored in the locked roll-front cabinet in the Committee room, so you will need to ask someone with keys for the computer cabinets to open up; try Michael Elphick, Pat Wilson or Keith Robson.

Broadband for Slaley and Hexhamshire!

Come and hear about the latest developments on Wednesday 29th September 2004, at 7.30 pm in the Commemoration Hall.
BT, thanks to funding from OneNorthEast and EC funds, are now installing equipment in our local exchange that will allow most (but not necessarily all) of us that would want it to access the Internet at higher speeds. This will also offer a flat rate service that is always on (no need to dial up) and allow simultaneous telephone conversations.
The date for the Slaley exchange to be activated has now been put back to October 8th 2004, but many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) including BT are already accepting registrations.If you would like to investigate the options, a good starting point is the ADSL Guide at:
www.adslguide.org.uk
There will be a short introduction by Michael Elphick, and then BT's Regional Manager for the North East, David Haley, will answer your questions about the broadband service. There will also be a brief handout.
To assist David Haley, it would be useful if you could send any questions that you would like answered in advance to Michael:
by phone on (01434) 673443
or by e-mail to elphicks@colpitts.u-net.com

Information Sheet - please check!

This Information Sheet entitled “Facilities & Services of Slaley Parish” is something which was highlighted in the Slaley Parish Plan and which the Parish Council is committed to carrying forward when they adopted the Action Plan.

The complete Information Sheet will be in the region of 48 inches wide and 30 inches deep, professionally designed and displayed in a stainless steel or aluminium glass fronted frame. Its position in the parish is still under review. The Parish Council have discussed several of these Information Boards dotted around the parish, however, funds may not make this possible. The centre of the page will be a full colour parish map showing the footpaths shown in brown.

This copy is a draft copy and anyone may request an alteration, a deletion or an addition by sending an e-mail to the Parish Clerk at: trekking@dial.pipex.com.
Be especially careful with telephone numbers, and please state the preferred category, shown boxed in the document.

Broadband is coming to Slaley!

BT, thanks to funding from OneNorthEast and EC funds, are now installing equipment in our local exchange that will allow most (but not necessarily all) of us that would want it to receive Internet access at higher speeds. This will also offer a flat rate service that is always on (no need to dial up) and allow simultaneous telephone conversations.
The latest advertised date for the Slaley exchange to be activated is October 8th 2004, and many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) including BT are now accepting registrations.

In order to provide more information, and to answer some of your questions, we have arranged a meeting on Wednesday 29th September 2004 in the Commemoration Hall, at 7.30 pm.
There will be a short introduction by Michael Elphick, and then BT’s Regional Manager for the North East, David Haley, will answer your questions about broadband services. There will also be a brief handout.

To assist David Haley, it would be useful if you could send any questions that you would like answered in advance to Michael:
by phone on (01434) 673443
or by e-mail to elphicks@colpitts.u-net.com

Ladycross Nature Reserve

WINTER TALKS PROGRAMME

After last year’s successful talks programme the committee has decided to repeat the format for the coming winter. We are, however, moving to more luxurious accommodation at the Slaley Commemoration Hall, situated in the middle of Slaley village. The talks will start at 7.30pm but there is no need to book in as all can be accommodated. There will be a small charge of £3 per talk to cover costs.

1. Wed. October 27th. The work of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the North of England by Pat Thompson (RSPB)

2 Wed. November 24th. The work of a Police Wildlife Liaison Officer by Paul Henry (Northumbria Police)

3 Wed. January 26th. Geology of the North Pennines by Brian Young (National Geological Survey)

Speakers for Wed. February 23rd, Wed. March 23rd and Wed. April 27th will be confirmed later. The committee look forward to seeing you.

THIS MONTH'S PICTURE :
The ponds at Ladycross are ideal for dragonflies and damselflies. Here is one of the common ones, photographed in August - the blue-tailed damselfly.

Click the thumbnail for a full-sized photo.

July 2004 Action Plan Update

Slaley Parish Action Plan has been updated for the second time in July 2004.
You can read or print this from this file.

July Minutes

The July Minutes of Slaley Parish Council

Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday 12th July 2004, at 7.30 p.m. in Slaley Commemoration Hall.

1. Apologies. District Councillor B.W. Massey. Councillor Mrs A.S. Robson
Present: Councillor C.J.R. Ferguson in the chair. Councillors: D.G. Baynes, J.K. Robson, A.J. Weir, Mrs L. Norris, County Councillor Wm Purdue and Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
Public: None Slaley Notes: Michael Elphick.

2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillors Baynes & Norris for agenda item 11 + Councillor Baynes for agenda item 7.

3. Minutes of June Council Meeting already circulated:
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by J.K. Robson, seconded by D.G. Baynes.

4. Matters Arising:
a) 5 b) 24/6/04& 12 5/4/04 Results of Slaley Parish Housing Needs Survey by Monica Burns circulated & read by the Councillors. Plus letter from TC Chris Brinton asking for Slaley PC response circulated. The Councillors were in agreement that no further action was needed because they felt the report showed insufficient interest to take the matter further and no possible sites had been identified.
b) 5 c) 14/6/04 & 13b 10/5/04 Cllr Horncastle (chairman of Planning Enforcement Committee) still No reply. The Clerk to write again asking for a response.
c) 7g 14/6/04 Highway work at South Glen has been completed. A kerb-stone fitted and a water drum placed under the reinstated drain to feed into the main southern highway drain.
d) 11 10/05/04 Annual Highway Report – 60 plus village signs have been replaced.
Article in Courant 25/6/04 ‘Pothole fixer at the ready’ – suggest contacting Pete on 0808 1008910: Slaley Notes to carry this information. Curlew Bank Chevron signs have, as yet, not been replaced.
e) 11 14/6/04: Ladycross meeting on July 14th. The transport arrangements were explained to the Councillors.
f) 12 14/6/04: The good report in June of our village Dog Bin provision has received a setback. Dog fouling is once again being reported with instances of a young female actually standing watching a yellow dog using the footpath then walking away. A reminder “not to let your dog foul the village” through Slaley Notes was requested.
g) 13 14/6/04: Slaley PC letter to Highways asking for more signs at Burn End building site has not been acted upon. The Clerk to contact Andrew Nixon of Hexhamshire PC and ask if they had made comment.

5. Public Participation: None.

6. Correspondence:
a Joint Discussion Forum meeting 14th July circulated.
b) TC appointed representative for meeting on July 14th – clerk replied Councillor Weir.
c) TC Renaming Townfoot Farmhouse & Eastholme circulated
d) Acknowledgment of our response to Tynedale Crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy.
Clerks & Councils Direct issue 34; TDC minutes of may meetings; Tynedale Area Committee meeting on July 15th; Northumberland Community News Vol24 – No 3; University of Gloucestershire; Rock reports No 9; Training Update; Shine; NALC training sessions

7. Current Planning Applications:
20040863 Steel Framed building to create farm Dairy Marley Cote Walls circulating
20040701 Stables into Holiday Cottage East Ridley Hall circulating
20040844 Grain Store Dipton Foot Farm circulating
20040742 Revised 2 s rear ext & garage Old Barn objections
20040697 2 s side extension + ss rear extension (Rev) 6 South Park Concerns as prior
20040684 construction of Cattle Shed Flothers Farm No objection
20040680 two storey side extension Laburnum Lodge Concern
Planning decision
20040579 Conversion of redundant byre to form lounge, glazed link, new porch &
pitched roof over existing flat roof. Demolition of existing stores &
construction of new detached garage & tractor shed with study & store to
first floor. Strothers. Granted circulated.
20040664 conservatory to side, trellis above existing boundary wall
& conservatory to front Garden Cottage withdrawn
20040313 Change to residential – Old School– clarification on various points i.e. transfer of workshop to toilet block reply circulated. Clerk to write to H. Winter – subsequent changes would have an impact on adjoining property – these changes not notified to PC or neighbours. Copy to DC Brian Massey.

8. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
No 206 Commemoration Hall PC £10.00
No 207 Quarter share in BOATs expenditure (Mrs P Wilson) £17.47
Proposed by Councillor A.J. Weir, seconded by Councillor JK Robson.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £495.18.
Internal Audit letter from Margaret Weatherley miscalculation in my favour of £4.14 circulated
Reply from Allianz Cornhill acknowledging Speed Machine use left in abeyance.
Audit Notice that accounts are available from June 28th - July 23rd between the hours of 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. has been placed on Parish Notice Board and through the Slaley Notes.

9. Parish Plan – Action Plan July Update.
Written report from Kerry Jewitt on Children’s Play Area in Slaley. Circulated – Ask for additional report with proposals for Commemoration Hall site (size & facilities) & also school grounds site.
CC Bill Purdue suggested a letter to Brian Edwards, Director of Education on possible community use of school grounds – this was deferred until the August walk about findings.
Annual Highway Report – 60 plus village signs have been replaced & pot-holes filled.
A verbal report on Slaley Youth Club from Lesley Woodhouse via her ‘sick-bed’.
Slaley web page report from Michael Elphick.
The requested update on Provisions for the Elderly and Progress on a ‘Community Trust for Slaley’ had not been received. Clerk to write and express concern with lack of feedback on progress.
Provision of Car Parking, Recycling facilities, Play area for all ages would benefit from a parish walk to look at possible sites during the August meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
Full update of Action Plan as appendix 1-120704

10.A.O.B.
a) Grass outside 9 South Park information circulated. Councillors decided to ignore.
b) Parks-Side Bungalow letting letter circulated. Clerk reported candidates being interview by TDC today (July 12th)
c) Northumbria Live article in Courant circulated – Concern over possible implications. Clerk to request the information pack and ask for a Northumberland Flag.
d) Road sides washed away on the U8078 from Holly Hill to Springhouse.
e) Highways signs in the vicinity of Holly Hill have been ‘shot-at’: the Police are monitory the situation.
f) Highway road markings at the crossroads south of Holly Hill are worn off Clerk to request re-marking.

11. BOATs Update (without Councillor Baynes).
a) Date for Autumn meeting with Peter Atkinson Friday 10th September at 6 p.m.
Already confirmed by Margaret Stonehouse: Allendale; Ross Adamson & Brian Massey. It was agreed that refreshments should be served.
b) Minutes of 21st June meeting to Councillors Ferguson & Weir.

Date of next meeting: Monday 9th August. Meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.