MARCH NEWSLETTER 2008

 Chairman’s Address

Already it is March and time for the first Parish Council Newsletter of 2008

Our last function in 2007 was the Carols around the Christmas Tree, where approximately 160 people sang carols with the Stafford Concert Band on a cold but dry night.

The punch supplied and served by The Ecclian Society was very popular, as were the Wright’s mince pies! Many thanks to everybody who helped.

The date for this year’s event is Monday December 22nd, at 7p.m. Hope to see you there!

On a more serious note Stafford Borough Council has been told by the Government that it must make provision for approximately 10,300 new homes by the year 2026. 7,000 of these would be in Stafford Town and the rest in towns and villages throughout the Borough.  The Parish Council has already had two meetings with the Borough as we are concerned that any houses built in the Parish of Eccleshall should not overwhelm or detract from the beauty of our town and villages.

After a very successful Civic Service at St. Chad’s, Slindon with the Deputy Mayor in attendance, this year’s venue will be the beautiful Broughton Parish Church on Sunday, September 28th at 11a.m.

Another project that we are looking forward to is the new play area for younger children to be constructed at Croxton. Work was due to start during February and this should be an important asset for the community.

On April 23rd, 2008 the Parish Council will be holding the Annual Parish meeting at Eccleshall Community Centre. This meeting must be held by law and should not be confused with the  Annual General Meeting in May, when officers of the Council are elected. The Parish Meeting is an opportunity for the people of the Parish to have their say and also for members of the Council to tell the public what their Council has been doing over the preceding twelve months. Groups who have received grants are invited to attend and give an account of how the money was used to benefit their members.

If you are unable to attend the Annual Parish Meeting there is time allowed for public participation at the beginning of every Parish Council Meeting where the public can have their say. We have recently arranged to also have this facility at the start of all meetings of the Planning Committee. All meetings start at 7.30p.m.

Gordon T. Dale

Chairman -Eccleshall Parish Council.

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Councillor John C. Sillito - Members were saddened to learn of the death of Councillor John Sillito on February 19th, 2008 and extended sincere condolences to his wife Audrey and the family. Councillor Sillito joined the Parish Council in June 1973 when he and Audrey were at The Vernon Yonge Arms in Croxton. John had been a representative on the Allotments Association and actively involved with many committees of the Council, he was also a  Borough Councillor, representing the residents of Eccleshall Parish for many years.

MILLENNIUM CLOCK

The hands on one face of the clock have been showing the wrong time since November and finally stopped altogether in January.

The manufacturers of the clock travelled from Cambridgeshire on February 6th, 2008 and replaced the defective part, together with several other components.

This is only the second time there have been any problems with the clock, the first being following a power surge after a power failure in the town.

Hopefully, it will now be fully functional and will continue to be so for many years to come.

COUNCIL PRECEPT 2008/ 09

At a meeting of the Parish Council held on January 23rd, 2008 it was resolved that no increase would be applied to the £47,000 levied in 2007/ 08.

Members noted that increased costs were anticipated to maintain  the open spaces in the parish and especially the new play area at Croxton, together with additional costs associated with the Christmas Trees and watering of the floral displays

SEATS - CORNER OF STONE ROAD AND STAFFORD STREET

One seat was recently removed as it had been vandalised beyond repair. The Council is currently  considering whether to  replace both of the seats

CROXTON PLAY AREA AND MILLENNIUM WOOD

The final location of the play area was chosen to best fit with the Playing Field overall and the long term development of the rest of the natural area and Millennium Wood.  It is close to the large oak tree bordering the main road and will offer better visibility of children playing on the area. A number of small shrubs and trees have been removed to allow the Play Area to be sited in this location. There are benches and picnic tables within the site, which is enclosed by timber fencing and two self closing gates. It is hoped that the area will be used and enjoyed by the families and people of Croxton for many years to come. 

Jackson’s Marsh Project

Planning approval granted to improve nature reserve access

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is delighted to receive planning approval for a small parking area at Jackson’s Marsh nature reserve, three miles west of Eccleshall.

The consent is critical in improving access for the local community to the reserve and is part of a larger project which aims to re-instate the boardwalk and improve visitor facilities around the marsh. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Staffordshire Environmental Fund who were also involved in restoring Walk Mill pool in 2007.

Reserves Manager Helen Gee said: “The original boardwalk was installed in 1977 and fell into disrepair several years ago which meant we had to restrict public access onto the marsh. With the grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Staffordshire Environmental Fund, plus the support of the Sugnall Estate, from whom the site is leased, we will be able to re-open access to the entire reserve.”

"This is another project where the Fund has been able to support the Trust. This  project is a good example of the Fund's aim of helping projects that bring benefits to the environment and the community," said John Dutton, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Environmental Fund.

Once the access improvements have been completed the Trust intends to hold an open day to provide an introduction for visitors to the site. Events will be advertised on the Trust’s website (www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk) and in the local press.

RECYCLING

· Everyone in the Borough would have a three bin service and the opportunity to recycle.

· Materials would be separated at the plant.

· There would be no collections of side waste in addition to the bins - with the exception of loosely tied cardboard if the brown bin is full during the growing season.

· The Borough Council had no plans to monitor waste disposal as other Councils had, with the use of micro chips in the bins.

· The contractor had been instructed to return bins to the point they were collected from and put paper receptacles back in the bins.

· Families with 5 or more members would be able to apply for a larger green bin.

· Where there was limited storage space residents would be given the opportunity to share bins.

· Flats would not have multiple bins, but mini recycling centres would be made available.

Non-collection of the blue bin or integral caddy will generally be due to contamination of the recyclable materials by the householder, or the bin being presented on the incorrect day of collection. The householder will be notified of any mistake, by a new luggage-type explanatory label being attached to the handle of the bin.

FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED

The number of retained fire fighters at the Eccleshall station on the Newport Road has fallen and the Fire Service now needs to recruit new people. To be eligible you naturally have to be fit but also live not more that five minutes away from the station. The station has a long and distinguished history of being manned by retained local men and women answering the call to emergencies. If you think that you would fit in and would like more information just drop in at the station or call the Staffordshire Fire and Emergency services.

PROTECT IT

The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service  held two recruitment information days on February 2nd and February 4th 2008. The ones in Eccleshall were based at the Fire Station in Newport Road. Anyone interested should contact the Stafford Area Command on 01785 898554 or visit the website - www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk

RIGHTS OF WAY UPDATE

The Parish Council, supported by County Councillor Henry Butter, has been pressing for a resolution of the Section 53 Application for the Johnson Hall to Wincote Lane via The Dells footpath to be added to the Definitive Map.

On December 6th, 2007 Councillor Butter asked the Cabinet Member when the County Council would confirm  the Order as fifteen years had lapsed since the request was first made.

The response indicated that there was a backlog of orders which were higher ranking than this application. The best estimate in this case was six months. However, making an Order is only the first stage of the process and if objections were received a final resolution could be eighteen months away.

Councillor Butter than asked if the Cabinet Member had any plans to improve this very poor performance, to which the answer was - No.

It is regrettable that the controlling group of the County Council shows little enthusiasm for resolving Section 53 Applications. There are another a further 7 outstanding applications - Byway, Cotes Heath, Fairoak via Fairoak Bank, Offley Marsh, Blore Pipe to Bishops Wood, Walton Grove to Seighford, Ladford Pool to Seighford and Burley Cottage, which is currently number 137 on the list to be considered.

The Parish Council supported by Councillor Butter, will continue to press for these routes to be confirmed

USEFUL CONTACTS

To report problems with Street lights, pavements, footpaths and blocked road drains .Call Clarence 0800 232323 Clarence@staffordshire.gov.uk

Non collection of recyclable materials call Stafford Borough Council on 01785 619402

Dog fouling, grass cutting, play areas, fly tipping, street sweeping and street name plates Street Scene 01785 619401

Eccleshall Police - P.C. Barwell - 08453 303132 and enter 4197

REFUSE LORRY - The Civic Amenity vehicle will be on Stone Road on March 22nd 2008 between 9a.m. and 12 noon.

Clear Streets 01785 619000 or email: carparking@staffordbc.gov.uk

Recycling collection -  contact the Blue Bin Service Line on 01785 619873. During normal office hours.

FESTIVAL CONTACTS

The Victorian Street Market and co-ordination of the Eccleshall Festival rests in the hands of Peter Jones 28, The Burgage, Eccleshall, Staffs, ST21 6DR who can be contacted at 01785 851024 or 851381 or by email: peterwjones@btinternet.com 

All other Festival events and scheduling for the events will be co-ordinated by Peter Bertram, Ashcroft, Stafford Road, Eccleshall or on email at p.bertram@ashcroft01.fsnet.co.uk or by phone at  01785 850824

DOG FOULING

The Parish Council has received numerous complaints recently about the ever increasing problem with dog fouling on the pavements around Eccleshall.

Excrement left on footpaths and playing fields can cover shoes and clothes and at worst can lead to blindness due to an infection called 'Toxocara canis'.

· If you have a garden encourage the dog to 'go' there. You can then bury the mess or alternatively clean it up and bin it.

· If you walk your dog always carry the means to clear up after your dog. A simple plastic bag will do the trick or obtain poop scoops from a local pet shop. Remember to take a bag or poop scoop like you'd remember a lead.

· Every time your dog fouls 'bag it and bin it'. Take the poop scoop home and dispose of it there. Remember rain does not wash the problem away.

· Never let your dog out alone to 'go to the loo'.

It is every dog owners duty to clean up after their dog.

There are no excuses, fouling is unacceptable.

Stafford Borough Council has made an Dog Control Order under Section 55 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which came into force on February 11th 2008. The effect of the Order is to make it an offence for a person, who is in charge of a dog when it fouls on relevant land, to fail to remove the faeces from the land forthwith, unless the person has a reasonable excuse for failing to do so, or if the owner, occupier or other person having control of the land, has consented to that person failing to do so. The Order applies to all land, within the Borough of Stafford, which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled, or permitted to have access.

  PLEASE NOTE: FREE POOP SCOOPS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ECCLESHALL LIBRARY, THE PET SHOP & ECCLESHALL GARAGE