Notton Parish Newsletter March 2008 Editorial Welcome to the first Notton Parish Newsletter of 2008. I hope you enjoy it. Since the intention of the Parish Council is to produce a newsletter four times a year I’d like to pay tribute to the small army of volunteers who produce and deliver the newsletter. It is thanks to your efforts and to those involved with the various village societies that we have such a vibrant civic life Notton. Thank you all. If any readers would like to get more involved in village life there are many opportunities for getting involved from helping out at the annual gala and bonfire to helping run the 200 club to becoming the Community News correspondent for the Wakefield Express in the Notton area. If you would like to know more about any of the above then please do get in touch. Whilst we try to bring you the very latest village news in the newsletter it obviously dates rapidly. For that reason and to help obtain Quality Parish Council Status the Parish Council is working with Colin Bryant, who runs the Notton Village Website ( www.notton.org.uk), to use the website to advertise up to date info from the Parish Council as well as events being organised by the various village societies. If any of you have anything you would like adding to the website please contact Colin at colin.bryant@cruciblemultimedia.com. The next newsletter will come out in May in advance of the gala. Please send any articles for inclusion in it to me by Sun 27th April. Thanks. Chris Pilkington (01226 700260) Notton Parish Council The Parish Council has met each month since the last Newsletter. The three District Councillors for our Ward attend at the beginning of each meeting which means that issues concerned with Highways and Planning can be more easily dealt with. Inspector Bailes from West Yorks Police came to the January meeting to discuss neighbourhood policing subjects, and we expect that a Police representative will now attend future Council meetings. There has, as usual, been much time spent on road safety matters at Notton Crossroads, Woolley Crossroads, and on George Lane, with further discussions with the District Councillors and officers about speeding and increased heavy numbers of large vehicles through the village on Bleakley Lane and George Lane. Overhanging vegetation has been cut back at Woolley Crossroads, and the signs cleaned. Visibility at Notton Crossroads had been made worse by the advertising banners put up on the fence at the Oliver Twist and they have now been moved. Negotiations for funding for play equipment at Bleakley are continuing and the application has been submitted. The Council’s contractors have replaced the stolen wall copings at the edge of the Green, and have trimmed the grass back from the edge of the footway on George Lane. The allotment plots vacated some time ago have been marked out and let to five applicants. Crocus bulbs have been planted on the Green and in Old Royston. The Council now has a stock of waymarkers for the public footpaths in the Parish. Please let one of the Councillors know of any paths which are badly signed or obstructed. The next meetings are on Thu March 6th and Thu April 3rd starting at 7.30pm. However the May meeting has been moved forward to Tue 29th April to avoid clashing with polling day for the district elections on Thu 1st May. Please note that the 29th April meeting will also be the annual general meeting. In addition it will be preceeded by the annual parish meeting starting at 6pm. The latter is an opportunity for all residents to have their say on parish matters and pass opinion on the parish plan we are developing. All residents are strongly encouraged to attend Parish Council meetings. All of these are held at the Village Hall Peter Taylor, Chairman, Notton Parish Council. Peter Taylor – Chair (01226 722155) Notton Bonfire & Fireworks, Sat 3rd November I would like to thank everybody who was involved in making this year's bonfire & firework display another huge success. This year many more people from the village helped which made everything run a lot smoother and was certainly much appreciated. Thanks to everybody we managed to raise a staggering £l0,429.99. Our intention is to use the bulk of this to maintain and improve the Village Hall and to donate some to the following charities: The Yorkshire Cancer Research £500.00. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance £1,000.00 A donation has also been given to the Notton Village Shop for selling the Bonfire tickets before the event. Without the shop it would be very difficult to have pre- sales of the tickets, and it is in the interest of all organisations who sell tickets through the shop to support it. I would appreciate it if any villager whose family was involved helping before and during the event could pass on my thanks on behalf of the village. I would also like to express thanks to Richard Gill and Michael Broadhead as because without their efforts and their machinery it would be impossible to have such an enormous bonfire! Please note that the next Bonfire and Fireworks will be on Saturday 8th November 2008 – put it in your diary. Thank you all once again. Alan Shand (01226 724513) Notton Village Gala,Sun 8th June The village will host the annual Notton Gala on the village green on Sunday 8th June. The usual attractions will be there with clowns performing in the Arena and circulating in the crowd. Further details to come in the May newsletter. Cricket Pre season indoor cricket nets commenced on 10th February from 10am – 11am for 10 weeks at Royston High School Sports hall. Any players of all ability and even no ability are more than welcome. Any juniors are more than welcome. Any juniors wishing to attend are also welcome as coaching from senior players will take place. The 2008 season will commence in mid April but final dates/fixtures have not yet been released by the league. If you have questions or queries please contact myself. Rhys Whitehead (Notton C.C Secretary - 07817 750358) Notton Village Hall Management Committee Notton Village Hall, Tennis Courts, Cricket Pavilion and lands are held in Trust for the benefit of all residents in Notton Parish. (Charity no.82370 – full details are available on the Charity Commission web site) While the Trustees are responsible to the Charity Commission, the day to day management is delegated to the Village Hall Management Committee in accordance to the provision of the Trust Deed dated 6th March 1950. The Village Hall Management Committee and its Officers are in turn elected at the AGM when all residents are entitled to attend and vote. The next AGM will be held on Wed 19th March at 7pm. The VHMC meets bi-monthly. The main fund raising events, the Gala and November Bonfire were both very successful this past year. Hall events – Murder Mystery, Newcomers Lunch, Race Night and Hall Ball were all enjoyed and successful. The VHMC will continue their best to provide a community resource for all to enjoy in 2008. Come along and support us. Graham Bird Village Hall Rubbish Bin This bin is for the use of the Village Hall and is paid for (£400 a year) by the Hall. Please would residents not use it for their own rubbish, and especially not use it for disposing of heavy garden waste or builders rubble. This makes the bin too heavy for the bin wagon to lift, so someone has to get inside it and empty out the heavy stuff by hand. Yuk! Peter Taylor (01226 722155) Notton Tennis Club Annual subscriptions are due on 1st April. Subscriptions have again been held at £50 for seniors, £20 for students and £15 for junior members. Whilst membership levels remain buoyant residents of Notton are always eligible to join irrespective of whether or not the membership level is at its nominal maximum. Social tennis on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings continues to be well attended. All are welcome. Social tennis has now recommenced on Saturday afternoons starting at 1pm. Again all are welcome. At present it is uncertain whether there will be any junior coaching this year. A new coach is currently being sought. If we are able to obtain the services of a coach a notice with details of the arrangements will be posted on the notice boards in the village shop and on the clubhouse door. John Pratt (Chairman – 01226 728318) Notton Players Our February panto ‘South Horrific’ was well attended and well received. The audience were treated to the sight of a swaying deck and a shipwreck, and all within the confines of the village hall. The group is made up of like minded people who do not have a serious slant on life and most describe their involvement as therapeutic. You don’t have to be good to join, the existing might even agree to that, ha ha, but you do need a sense of humour! We guarantee to put a smile on your face, and if you can sing or play the piano, honours will be bestowed on you. Anyone interested please contact David Sturdy. David Sturdy (07702 286774) Flower and Vegetable Show This will be held in the Village Hall on Sunday 31st August. Full details will be contained in the May newsletter, and entry forms will be circulated throughout the Village as usual. Get growing! Activities in Notton Village Hall Dog Training every Monday 6.45 – 9.00pm Contact Mrs Kolkowski 01924 252107 Kindermusik term-time Tuesday 10.00 – 11.00 Contact Jo Booth 01226 724414 Self-help Embroidery term-time Wednesday 1.30 – 3.30 Contact June Clark 01226 722346 Weight Watchers every Wednesday 6.00 – 8.00 Contact Sue Watkins 01924 259142 Self-help Flower Arranging term-time Thursday 1.30 – 3.30 Contact Hesse Tate 01226 709399 Children’s Ballet Class every Thursday 4.30 – 6.00pm Contact Claire Barlow 07976 911296 Yoga every Thursday 7.00 – 8.00pm Contact Julie Winham 01226 728227 Parish Council Meeting 1st Thursday of the month 7.30pm Contact Caroline Smith (Parish Clerk) 01226 382360 Women’s Institute 2nd Thursday of the month 7.30pm Contact Mrs R Baldwin 01226 727136 Wine Club Last Thursday of the month 7.30pm Contact Bob Stevenson 01226 722385 Self-Help Art Class every Friday 10.00am – 12.00noon Contact David Cliff 01226 726844 Parish Council Contact Details Caroline Smith (Clerk) Cllr Peter Taylor (Chair) 48a, Wakefield Road 1 High Ash Close Staincross Notton Barnsley Wakefield S75 6JY WF4 2PF Tel: 01226 382360 Tel:01226 722155 E-mail: cjs48a@tiscali.co.uk Cllr Chris Pilkington (Vice Chair) Cllr Maureen Eames 41 The Oval 9 Midland Cottages Notton Navvy Lane Wakefield Old Royston WF4 2NX Barnsley Tel: 01226 700260 S71 4EE E-mail: chris_pilkington@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 01226 722963 Cllr Stephen Selby Cllr Eleanor Turner 3 Hudson Avenue 84 George Lane Notton Notton Wakefield Wakefield WF4 2NY E-mail: stephenselby@hotmail.com District Councillors Contact Details Cllr Maureen Cummings Cllr Graham Isherwood Tel: 01924 363165 Tel: 01977 602172 E-mail: mcummings@wakefield.gov.uk E-mail: gisherwood@wakefield.gov.uk Cllr Albert Manifield Tel: 01226 726219 E-mail: amanifield@wakefield.gov.uk 1