Slaley, Northumberland

Ladycross Nature Reserve

Here is an update on forthcoming activities :

Wednesday, February 23rd - 7.30pm - Slaley Commemoration Hall
Dr Brian Young, British Geological Survey, will present an Introduction to the Local Geology - with slides

Wednesday, March 23rd - 7.30pm Slaley Commemmoration Hall
Colin Jewitt will give a talk, with slides, on local wildlife : Signs of Wildlife

Wednesday, April 27th - Friends of Ladycross AGM, followed by illustrated talk by Keith Bowey of the Northern Red Kite Project - this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the man in charge. Details to follow.

Newsletter
The latest Newsletter for Friends of Ladycross is due soon - suggestions and contributions can be sent to Colin Jewitt at Ladycross Quarry or by e-mail to Bill Monck at: bilneth@monckwithac.fsnet.co.uk

Ladycross Web Site
View the latest updates to the web site at : www.ladycrossnaturereserve.org.uk
Ladycross Quarry Web Site : www.vizual4u.co.uk/ladycross.htm

This month's picture shows the the moorland track from Ladycross to Pennypie House and Blanchland

Parish Council December Minutes

The December 2004 Parish Council Minutes.

Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday 6th December 2004, at 7.30 p.m. in Slaley Commemoration Hall.

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

2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillors Mrs Linda Norris for agenda item 11
Councillor A.J. Weir planning application 20041467 Trygill Farm buildings conversion (shares the same water supply).

3. Minutes of November Council Meeting Including the November Update of Slaley Parish Plan: Action Plan already circulated:
The minutes (pages 121-123) and November Parish Plan Action Plan were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr A.J. Weir seconded by Cllr Mrs L. Norris.

8. Planning Application brought forward while District Councillor Brian Massey and a quorum of Councillors was present.
20041467 Conversion of barn & change of use Trygill Farm **
** see page 72 minutes of 10/11/03 re Water supply at Trygill
The Plans are not correct, there is not an existing porch at the north it is a ‘T’ fall tin linkage to a hay shed. The building immediately attached to the south of the proposed conversion is not shown as residential on the application as it actually is. The proposal is not in keeping with the small cottages around the farm building. Existing Septic tank capacity is questionable. Private water supply from Neddy’s Well supplies all of Trygill cottages on the west of the B6306. Everyone pays a £50 fee for the maintenance of the holding tank etc the Forestry Commission regarded this private water supply sufficient for 8 houses only in the mid to late 20th century. There are presently 8 houses and people use much more water today than in previous decades. Therefore the Parish Council request that a separate water supply and septic tank disposal system should be clarified and more detailed plans are requested/required before any consent is given.

4. Matters Arising:
a) 12b 8/11/04 Combhills Bridge wooden railing damage acknowledged from NCC
b) Thank You letters from Age Concern; NALC; St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard & Commemoration Hall.
c) 8c 8/11/04 Reply from Dodwell Bros unable to tender due to current workload, Hexhamshire Builders verbal reply committed work until 2007. No reply from Billy Hall.
d) 5 13/9/04 E-mail from NCC regarding village elm trees – deteriorating but no immediate safety issue.

5. Public Participation: None

6. Correspondence:
a) Northumbria Police – Programme of Visit to Rural West Tynedale. 2005 Dates to Slaley12/1/05; 15/3/05; 18/5/05;19/7/05; 4/10/05; 7/12/05. dates given to Slaley Notes.
b) TC Car Parking strategy for Tynedale Questionnaire circulated returned unfilled Clerk completed.
c) Tynedale Community Safety Partnership – Community Punishment Project – any local uses?
d) North East War Memorials Project requesting permission to publish information of Slaley’s war memorials (i.e. Lych Gate). Councillors were happy for this to happen.
e) E-mail from DC Brian Massey – recorded incident of theft in Slaley week ending 12/11/04. + verbal for current week – barrier hacked off in Slaley Forest and a golf suit stolen.
f) Hexham Courant – Tynedale Visitor 2005 200 words by February 18th 2005. Not 2004. Councillor Weir to produce something on Slaley Show.
g) NCC Northumberland Minerals & Waste Development Framework – invitation to public forum Monday 28th February 2005.
h) Register of Electors 2004/05 – 571 adults registered to vote in the parish of Slaley. + Notice Absent Voters & Rolling Registration placed on PC notice board.
i) Copy of leter from Dr. MD Pugh sent to Police re Linnels Bridge accidents 16/11/04
J) DEFRA Clean Neighbourhoods Circulated from October – No Reponse.
k) TC Open Space, Sport & Recreation Strategy - Circulated – does not address Slaley problems.
l) Tynedale Community Safety Partnership Audit 2004 – any comments by 22/12/04? Contents + public consultation will form the basis of the Tynedale Crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy 2005-06; A Guide to Becoming a Quality Council Booklet; The Standard Board for England Lobby groups, dual-hatted members and the Code of Conduct. Guidance for Members; Local Investigations Guidance for monitoring officers and standards committees; NCC Road care Winter Services Information Leaflet; Wicksteed Safety grass; Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership newsletter; CJL Fenwick wish to quote for Council Metalwork and Sheet Steel etc; Tackling crime & disorder in all parts of Tynedale leaflet; Tynedale Area Committee November meeting; Fitzpatrick Woolmer Display leaflets. ET&WCM parish Councils Forum minutes of 23/11/04

District Councillor Brian Massey and Parish Councillor JK Robson left the meeting at this point and there was no longer a quorum.

7. At 8 p.m. Steve Bland of Springhouse joined the Councillors for a discussion on the Information Display Board.
The Councillors thought a sample of the Lambda Process very appropriate. The sample text (page 6 of July 12th Action Plan Update) and discussed at the 13th September meeting, page 117, agenda item 10 was scrapped. The Councillors to re-look and instead of words put symbols i.e. fuel, knife & fork, golf stick etc. The map in Steve’s opinion should not be the OS map but something hand drawn seen from an angle with a tint of relief, he volunteered to obtain some samples for the Councillors to consider. Photographs instead of lists were also suggested. The Councillors were asked to produce the text they wished to have displayed. Any size of display can be made, the design kept on computer with annual/needed text changes possible at a present-day charge of £100 approximately. Mr Bland if given the commission would make all decisions. He warned that a south facing display would fade much quicker than a south-east, south-west direction.
Mr Bland was thanked for his help.

11. A.O.B.
Three members of the group establishing a Community Trust joined the remaining Councillors at this point. Moyra Riseborough, Nigel Sanger and Vicky Hutchinson had volunteered to provide an update to the Councillors and gain support for the launch on January 21st 2005. Since the launch of the Parish Plan in February 2004 the volunteers to establish the Community Trust have looked at various combinations to provide the service needed to financially assist businesses and organisations in the parish and access funds for development as identified in the Parish Plan. Over the past 12 months meetings have become tedious with legal guidelines however the volunteers now feel that a set of arrangements and a constitution is in place to allow them to invite the community to appoint officers and trustees to form a Community Trust Association. Until this happens no funding can be applied for. The Councillors were asked if they would support the January 21st invitation to the public to become members of the association and nominate the officials. Of the community for the community is the aim of the Association. The Trust can-not be accountable to any person or organisation it must be independent. Questions were asked by the Councillors especially of anticipated community involvement in a meeting one year after the Parish Plan launch asking the community to vote for members to become officials on a Community Association. It was agreed that the big question was “is there support from the community for two large organisations going in separate ways, having separate meetings and trying to achieve the tasks identified in the Parish Plan”? Misunderstandings are very easy in such a system. A Councillor would be well advised to have membership in the Community Trust Association. The Trust will have targets and a vision of how to keep and sustain all the good things of the parish. Concern was expressed that this may produce an artificial and un-sustainable concept in our rural area. The Parish Council does not have to agree or approve of the Trust constitution, nor its principles and objectives. It was felt that a more interesting event could be a One-year-on update on progress made by the Parish Council since the Parish Plan was launched in February 2004. With this suggestion in mind an alternative date of February 4th was considered, this would depend upon the venue being available and Councillors being able to attend. The three Councillors present gave their assurance that they would attend this One- Year-On Event and make a presentation to the community identifying the Action Plan achievements of the Parish Council over the past 12 months.

8. Current Planning Applications:
Deferred to January meeting

9. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
Deferred to January meeting

10. Precept for 2005-2006 (Please bring page 78 January 04 meeting agreed Precept)
Deferred to January meeting

12. BOATs Update.
Deferred to January meeting

Date of next meeting: Monday 10th January 2005. Meeting closed at 10.25 p.m.

November Action Plan update

The November update to the Slaley Parish Plan Action Plan can be found here as a PDF document.

Orders for Reaston Hill Beef

James Wilson wishes to remind customers of Reaston Hill Beef that the next batch of fresh quality pure Highland beef will be available on Saturday, February 12th. Orders can be taken now to avoid disappointment (ring 673 116 or visit the website).

Film Show for February

This next month’s film (showing on Friday 18th February, at 7.30 pm in the Commemoration Hall) is “The Story of the Weeping Camel”. But don’t be put off! Despite its title, this has been called “a joyous movie”, telling the story of a family of nomadic herders, and of their camel, which gives birth to a rare white calf and refuses to nurse it. One reviewer says:

“I believe this film would be fascinating for smart children, maybe the same ones who liked ‘Whale Rider’, because so much of it is told through the eyes of the younger brother. Although the desert society is alien to everything we know, in another way it is instantly understandable, because we know about parents and grandparents, about working to put food on the table, about the need of babies to nurse. Here is a film that is about life itself, and about those few humans who still engage it at first hand.”

Following a trial last month, we are also changing entrance fees, so that the £5 charge (£4 for pensioners & students) covers both the film and your supper.

Dates for future shows in 2005 have now been fixed; they are:

Friday, 18th February, 2005 “The Story of the Weeping Camel”

Friday, 18th March, 2005 “Bend it like Beckham”

Friday, 22nd April, 2005

Friday, 20th May, 2005

Friday, 16th September, 2005

Friday, 21st October, 2005

Friday, 18th November, 2005

Friday, 16th December, 2005

The Slaley Toddler Group

* Do you live in the Tynedale area or are you visiting the North East?

* Do you have pre-school age children that are driving you crazy, or are you pregnant and just need to meet a friendly face?

* Are you a grandparent or carer who needs to occupy the children on a Monday afternoon?

Then come and join us at the Commemoration Hall at 1.30pm on Mondays throughout the year. We will be open rain or shine for interesting play in a safe environment.

When: Mondays, 1.30pm to 3pm

Where: Slaley Commemoration Hall

Reopens: Monday 10th January 2005

New members always welcome!

Notes:
The Toddler Group works on a democratic system where all members are encouraged to help set up the toys, make the tea & juice, wash up and tidy up, etc. It is not run by anyone in particular, and all ideas & suggestions are welcomed and any decisions discussed with the group.

The group needs a certain amount of commitment to cover the hall fees etc., if less than 6 members turn up on any occasion we will need to begin fund raising.

Any new ideas and previous experience from other groups will be greatly appreciated.

A monthly programme of activities will be developed and publicised locally in the village shops and on notice boards, we also hope to use the Slaley web site at www.slaley.org.uk

Contact CLAIRE LUMLEY (673594) or KAREN EMMOTT (675234) for more information.

The Parish Plan and Community Trust

All residents of Slaley Parish are invited to the Commemoration Hall for a chat with drinks and nibbles on Friday 4 February at 7pm for an hour and a half or longer if you want to stay. And it’s free!

The object of the evening is to hear from the Parish Council what has been achieved by it since the Parish Plan was adopted a year ago and to launch the Community Trust for which everyone has been waiting for so long. The objective of the Community Trust planned by a group of residents is, quite simply, to help promote the quality of life in Slaley Parish for everyone.

Membership will be open to all residents and we hope that you will come along to learn all about it. There is a lot going on already but a great willingness to do more to make Slaley an even greater place to live. On Friday 4 February at 7pm you can find out what is planned and don’t forget it’s free and only for an hour and a half or for a little longer if you want to stay. Put it in your diary.