Notton Parish Newsletter Autumn 2007 Editorial After many years hard work producing the Notton Newsletter Christine Archbell has stepped down as editor. I am sure we are all very appreciative for her efforts and wish her well for the future. On behalf of Notton Parish Council I have taken on responsibility for producing the Newsletter. If you have comments about or suggestions for the newsletter then please contact me. Happy reading! Chris Pilkington (01226 700260) Notton Parish Council Two new members were elected unopposed to the Parish Council in May, Chris Pilkington for the Liberal Democrats and Eleanor Turner as an independent. Our ex-Chair, Terry Hall, stood down as he may be leaving the village, and thanks are due for his leadership at a time of changes imposed by Government in the way the Council does its business. June Drysdale left to be able to devote more time to her duties as a District Councillor. Name and contact details for the current Councillors are on the Parish noticeboards. The Council is intending to achieve Quality Parish Council Status – not easy for a small parish – and one of the things that it must do is communicate better with you, the public. To this end we have “taken over” the publication of this Newsletter, which will now come out four times a year. We would like to thank the previous Editor, Christine Archbell, who has published the Newsletter on behalf of the Village Hall for a number of years. To further improve communication we have erected a notice board in the Bleakley area. Other “initiatives” in hand are the provision of a play area near The Oval, in conjunction with the District Council, and maintenance and replacement of some of the play equipment near the Village Hall. We continue to comment on planning applications in the village (not always with much effect!) and pass on problems with roads, lighting, and public footpaths to the District Council. We are delighted that, after much persuasion from us, WMDC are to build a short length of footway on the south side of Notton Lane to make a continuous link between the two halves of the Village without having to cross the road. The Parish Council is very concerned about speeding traffic coming through the village and the public raise this matter frequently with us. If you have any concerns and suggestions about traffic calming then please contact either myself or the Clerk, Caroline Smith, on 01226 382360. We also have an allotment vacant at the moment (and possibly more in the future). If you are interested then please contact the Clerk. The Council meets on the first Thursday of every month (except August), at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. District Councillors for the ward usually attend for the first half hour. Parishioners are welcome to come to meetings to raise any points of concern, or to just observe what goes on. Peter Taylor – Chair (722155) Notton Bonfire & Fireworks, Sat 3rd November Following last year’s very successful occasion we intend to organise another Bonfire and Firework Display on the Cricket Field on Saturday 3rd November. Tickets will be on sale in the Village Shop from early October. Proceeds will be divided between the Village Hall and local charities. There will be a meeting on 17th October at 7.30pm in the Hall for those willing to help before and during the event – assistance is needed with catering, car parking, stewarding, admission and marshalling, and bonfire building on the Saturday morning. The field is open from the beginning of October for residents’ garden rubbish and other combustibles to be left behind the Cricket pavilion (definitely no mattresses or upholstered furniture please!). Alan Shand (724513) Notton Village Shop As mentioned in the last newsletter we were delighted that the Shop made a small profit in the financial year ending in April 2007, although not as high as when the shop first opened. Trading this year has been difficult however, partly due to the loss of passing trade when the roadworks were “in progress” at Gill Bridge, and sales must be increased to cover our costs. The Shop stocks a good range of items: newspapers and magazines, milk, general groceries, luxury foods, cards, wines and spirits, and household items. Newspapers and bread can be ordered for collection, and drycleaning is collected and returned three times a week. The Shop is open from 7.00am to 7.30pm on weekdays, and 8.00 to 1.00 on Sundays. There will be an Open Afternoon on Sunday 25th November from 2.00 to 4.00pm for you to see our range and sample the produce. The Post Office is open from 9.00am to 5.30pm (half-day Wednesday and Saturday) and as a general rule you will not have to queue for very long! We provide banking services, foreign currency (on demand), travellers’ cheques, Postal Orders – all the usual services except vehicle licences, although you can buy Savings Stamps here to support us and use them in other Post Offices. The Shop provides a useful social asset to the Village, as a meeting point, for passing on messages, and advertising activities as well as the obvious benefits of a local source of the essentials of life. Please support us, as a customer and even as a volunteer if you have a bit of spare time (it’s fun) and help to keep us open. Frank Carter - Chair (728428) Fund Raising FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES FOR THE VILLAGE HALL Apart from the Bonfire and Fireworks on 3rd November (see separate article) the next event is the Christmas Ball to be held on 1st December in the Hall. This will include a band, food, and a licensed bar. Tickets will be on sale in the Post Office soon. 200 CLUB Anyone wishing to join the Club should contact their area collector or phone Pat Carter (728428): High Ash Close Pat Bellfield Manor Close Anne Grantham George Lane June Clark / Jill Bird Applehaigh Lane Alan Gale Willow Beck, Beck View, Grimpit Hill Ann Fitt Ingswell Drive and Avenue Joyce Taylor Bleakley area Pat Carter The stake is £11 per year (starting in September). Prizes paid out each month are £50 and two of £15. All profits go to supporting the Village Hall. The Committee would like to thank all those who support the fund. Pat Carter (728428) Notton Gala Gala Day this year dawned bright and warm, which augured well for the day – and what a day we had! Not as hot as last year but just perfect for an activity- filled day! Some said it was the best gala for some time , I don’t know about that but I hope the visitors did as attendance was well up with nearly 500 cars on the playing field, refreshments selling out, the band playing and happy smiles – even on the stallholders’ faces. The Gala is a lot of work but when it comes together like this year it is worth it and the success is down to the many people in the Village who help out throughout the year in one way or another to finally produce a profit, this year, of over £5,000. Charity donations from this of £750 each have been given to Barnsley and Wakefield Hospices, who are very grateful for the help and consideration that has been shown to them. Gala day in 2008 will be Sunday 8th June – planning is already underway, most of the team is in place but assistance is required in one or two specific areas. If anybody would like to get involved in organising the Gala please contact me. Michael Tate – Gala Chair (709399) Neighbourhood Watch In August 2007 there were seven crimes in the Notton area compared to just one in August 2006. A 700% increase! These were: * Burglary Dwelling – 1 (The Oval) * Damage – 3 (The Oval) * Assault – 2 (Bleakley Lane & Terrace) * Others – 1 (Bleakley Terrace) Cricket The beginning of the season was delayed as the Leeds West Riding Cricket League, decided that it would be better to start in the first week of May rather than in the usual, rain soaked, second week of April. Typically, it was one of the driest, hottest Aprils on record and May proceeded to be extremely wet followed by the wettest June! Our season was one of inconsistency, at times showing promotion potential, but also including inexplicable defeats. The season rolled on with a mix of senior players being backed up by the strong, young Notton talent working its way into the team which in turn kindly reduced the average age! The junior interest continued throughout the season with exceptional numbers attending Wednesday evening practice and a number of junior matches being played throughout the season. The potential is there for all to see, be it in practice or in a match situation. The continuing interest shown by new players and young local players has lead to the decision being made by the club to submit a second team for the 2008 season, truly a step in the right direction for Notton C.C. The majority of the team will be made up from junior players with the rest of the team being made up by, lets say, our more experienced, mature players. Following a kind donation from the Village Hall Management Committee work down at the ground has continued throughout the season. This has led to the purchase of a new storage container as well as the purchase of a new practice net so extra juniors can enjoy practicing on Wednesday evenings, giving the pavilion a much needed coat of paint and finally relaying the concrete area in front of the pavilion. The season finished with the first team finishing in fourth place in division 2 with 9 victories, 5 defeats and 6 matches called off due to poor weather. Pre season cricket nets will commence at 10am on 3rd February 2008 at Royston Comprehensive High Schools sports hall. Any new players of any ability are more than welcome. Any new players or just interested parties can contact myself to discuss any matter relating to the club. Rhys Whitehead (07817 750358) Womens Institute Notton WI will hold a Christmas Coffee Morning in the Hall on 13 November, between 10am and 12 noon. All are welcome and there will be a Cake Stall and an exhibition and sale of crafts. Notton Tennis Club Notton Tennis Club continues to be well supported with 64 senior members and 50 junior members subscribing for the current year running from April 2007 to March 2008. Whilst many Club members are associates from outside Notton parish all Notton residents are reminded that they are eligible to join the club at any time irrespective of the total number of current members. The annual membership fee has again been held at £50 for senior members, £20 for students and £15 for junior members under the age of 16. There is no joining fee. Anyone wishing to join should contact John Pratt on 728318 who will be happy to forward an application form. The Club entered one mixed team in the Wakefield and District League in the 2007 season and achieved a commendable second place in the second division. The club tournament has been successful this year and we were lucky with the weather to have an enjoyable Final’s Day on the 9th September. Social tennis on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings remains popular and is open to all who would like to give tennis a try. Tennis coaching for the Juniors was well attended this year. Coaching is available throughout the year for adults/juniors by private arrangement. The courts were professionally cleaned, treated to deter moss growth, repaired and repainted earlier this year. This work has improved the grip on the courts and will extend the life of the existing playing surface for some years whilst improving the overall appearance of the club facilities. John Pratt – Treasurer Village Hall For those new to the village, or anyone else, here is a short history and update on our Village Hall: what it is, how it works, and how it came into being. The original Hall was an ex-RAF hut built on land given to the Village in 1950. The cricket field and tennis courts were added shortly afterwards. In 1984 the present building was erected after much fundraising and with the help of various grants, and later on more land down the Ings was purchased. The Hall is run by a Management Committee of up to 30 people which meets every two months. Five members retire and are replaced by election each year. The Hall is a registered Charity, and the Committee is overseen by seven Trustees who hold the Hall and lands under a Deed of Trust. The upkeep of the Hall is entirely dependent on income from hiring and from fundraising events. It is independent of the District and Parish Councils and receives no aid from them. Being a Charity it does not make a “profit” so any surplus of income is used for major maintenance and improvements. Hire rates for local people and groups are kept low to encourage our Village societies to grow and to use the Hall - which is after all the main purpose of the building – but this means that fundraising events are necessary to make up the shortfall in income, and that as much maintenance as possible is carried out by volunteers. Notton is fortunate in having a number of people who are willing and able to give their time in all sorts of ways to the Village Hall, but of course more volunteers, for both administrative and practical tasks, are always welcome! The Management Committee has a few vacancies, and anyone interested should come to the next Committee meeting (14th November at 7.30) and/or give me a ring. Peter Taylor - Hon Treasurer (722155) Notton Flower and Vegetable Show Once again Ray Welch was presented with the Silver Rose Bowl as the overall winner. His large entry of allotment produce also won him the cup for Fruit and Vegetables at the Flower Show on 2nd September, at which a large number of people attended, and the number of exhibitors increased from last year. The Home Made Produce class included Apple Pie this year – for which there were seven entries – and they were all tasted by the judge. The Class prize was awarded to Jan Welch who did well in all sections. A large number of paintings were entered with a varied selection of intricate needlework, knitting and embroidery – and a magnificent wooden rocking horse. There is clearly a lot of talent in the village. Steve Saville won the Hobbies class with several paintings. Vicky Warwick won the Dorothy Atkinson cup for the Flowers Class and Anne Taylor took the Pot Plant Class. Both sections, and the Flower Arrangements, provided a colourful display in spite of the poor growing season this year. There were not many children’s entries this year but Tyler Maskill won with a beautiful vase of flowers. The Committee would like to thank all the entrants who provided so much for us to enjoy. Thanks must also go to Val Hurley for the teas and delicious home-baked cakes and pastries, and to Greta Weightman who presented the prizes. We look forward to an even better show next year. Anne Taylor (722155) Activities in Notton Village Hall Dog Training every Monday 6.45 – 9.00pm Contact Mrs Kolkowski 01924 252107 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 Pat Aspinall 01226 725409 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 At other times the hall is vacant for hire at very reasonable rates. Please contact June Clark 01226 722346 for further details. Parish Council Contact Details Caroline Smith (Clerk) 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 Chris Pilkington (Vice Chair) 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 Stephen Selby Eleanor Turner 3 Hudson Avenue 84 George Lane Notton Notton Wakefield Wakefield WF4 2NY 1