STRETTON-ON-FOSSE PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
November 2016
COUNCILLORS: Isobel Hazelwood (Chairman) 661816; Penny White (Vice-Chair) 663811; Keith Finlay 661157; Chris Long-Leather 663863 ; Peter Balchin 664149 Parish Clerk Sue Finlay 661157
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR:Jo Barker 077489 68712
COUNTY COUNCILLOR:Christopher Saint 01608 662290
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What's on in Stretton?
Sunday 20th November First Aid Course, 2pm till 5pm, details below
Thursday 1st December Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Live and Local performance) details below
Thursday 15th December 7.30. Wreath-making in the village hall (contact Wendy on 07814 629475 to book a place)
Saturday 17th December Children's Christmas party details tba
Saturday 31st December Party for New Year's Eve run by the Plough details tba
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Box Tale Soup
Thursday 1st December at 7pm
Alice's remarkable journey to a strange world as re-imagined by fantastic performances, masterful puppetry, a beautiful set that unfolds from a vintage trunk and magical original music. An endlessly enjoyable take on Lewis Carroll's well-loved tale for children and adults alike, as wonderful as wonderland could be. Ages 4+
Tickets £10/£7 from Gill Sutherlandon 01608 666170 or on the door
The village website and the parish council email list.
If you have access to the internet check out our website www.strettononfosse.com which is there for you, the locals, and for visitors. Use it to find out what is happening in the village, send us your information to upload before and after events, news, photos.... If you have material for the website please contact us via the website or Izzi: / tel 661816; or Chris: / tel: 663863
Are you new to the village? If you have email send your address (and actual address so that we don't deliver paper copies as well) to . Information about what is on in the village, the newsletter (which appears about 4 times a year) and other matters of general interest will be sent to you. Your email address will not be available to anyone else. Or phone Izzi if you want a paper copy of information because you have no internet (Tel: 661816)
Neighbourhood Watch – if you would like to join this please send an email to Penny White () or phone her on 663811. The local police have started a new alert system if you have email: to get Community Messages via the Police click on the link and follow the instructions. http://warwickshire.police.uk/register
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Stretton has a Facebook account!
Become a Facebook Friend of Stretton-on-Fosse Online! We have an account so that Strettonites and friends can use it for comments about the village and events, advertise events, sell or re-cycle or ask to buy items, lost and found, start conversations about what interests you about the village, suggestions for the village hall and parish council, fund-raising, post photos etc.
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Saving Parish Council News
· Dog Waste Bin: We have been asked by quite a number of dog walkers to provide a Dog Waste Bin at the top of the village. It was installed last Friday on Warwickshire Highways land (not private land) on an inconspicuous part of the road leading to the track towards Blackdowns. Within 24 hours someone had removed it and it was found on Monday dumped by the grit bin outside Town Farm. We would like to make it clear to whoever removed it that this was done illegally. If the person had a complaint to make, it would have been better to have contacted the parish council first, indeed we would be pleased to know why it was removed. We plan to re-install it further down by the grit bin – in a position which is far more conspicuous but not visible to the houses around it.
· Compton Scorpion estate and footpaths: If you are on email you should have received some information including a map of the official footpaths and a bigger (A3) version of the map is now on the bus stop noticeboard. We were disappointed that someone removed one of the Warwickshire County Council footpath marker posts, newly installed, and threw it into the hedge. As with the Dog Waste Bin we do not understand the point of this action. Please let us know if you are aware of anyone doing this.
· Dogs and sheep: On Friday 28th October the farmer who keeps his flock on the fields by the Fosse has yet again lost one of his sheep which was attacked in the field and had to be put down. The police have been informed and any information would be welcome.
· The Portabello Crossroads safety improvements: there has apparently been a change of plan and Warwickshire Highways are now thinking of installing traffic lights since the previous plan (staggered side-roads etc) became too difficult to implement. Apparently the work may begin in March 2017.
· First Aid Course: Organised for Sunday 20th November in the village hall. The course lasts 3 hours and covers all ages (First Aid for babies, children and adults). If you are interested could you let us know asap (email: , phone: 661816). The cost depends on how many take part but will be approx £22 to £26. There are a few places left but we need to know NOW! For those who have signed up – a £10 deposit is due by this weekend (cheque to Stretton-on-Fosse Parish Council or cash to Izzi's house, 11 The Green, on corner by bus-stop)
· Stretton's Phone Box: 'Where is it?' is the question asked most often! It is opposite the church grave-yard, under a tree and not red! In the last 12 months not one phone call has been made from it so BT are proposing to remove it, or we can campaign to keep it as a phone box, or we can 'adopt' it for £1. It is not a classic red one and not in a very convenient position but may have a use. Any suggestions as to a use are welcome. We have until January to tell BT.
· Parish Council Information: On the website you will find the minutes of the last but one meeting of the parish council and the annual accounts now. The minutes of the last meeting are only passed as correct at the next meeting so only appear in draft form and are liable to correction. Look under the parish council section.
Stretton Biodiversity Group
The Stretton Biodiversity Group aims to support the conservation of nature in our village, and foster a growing interest in the natural world. We help to monitor and improve key local habitats and species, including maintaining native wild flower patches around the village and the Spinney alongside the gated road. These in turn are helping to support native wildlife - from bees to bats and hedgehogs to hawk moths.We also organise community events, talks by experts and visits to interesting habitats.
This year we had our annual bat watching and moth trapping events and this year we introduced a tree walk in May, themed around local tree history and a treasure hunt. In October we held a Cream Teas with displays of wild-life in Stretton and our events. The highlight was a talk by Geoff Dalton (of the Batsford Falconry) on owls (with guest appearances of several owls). Last Sunday Simon Harcourt led a group of about 24 of us around the Old Rectory grounds on a Survival Course – how to construct a shelter and fires, collect water and much more. Thanks you Simon, it was great!
Everyone welcome at any events, no expertise necessary! Contact Dave Passingham Tel: 661816.
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The next Parish Council meeting: 23rd November at 7.30pm in the village hall committee room. Agenda will be on the notice board and on the website from a week before. All welcome
Village Hall News
Xmas Wreath-Making December 15th @ 7.30 village hall
The £12 price includes the cost of a wreath/ table centre and some accessories. Please phone Wendy on 07814 629475 or Lesley on 01608 663863 to book a place.
Subsidence at the village hall:
The village hall is currently being repaired by company being employed by the insurers. Could we remind those who collected wood from the felled chestnut that we asked for a donation to the village hall – can be dropped into any member of the hall committee. The remaining large piece of trunk will be made into a bench for use in the grounds of the hall.
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We have been asked to consider putting steps and a ramp from the hall patio doors on to the patio which we will discuss at the next meeting. We will have to wait for the subsidence repairs to be done first and the land to settle.
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Our thanks to Andy Edgington for cutting back (free of charge) the hedge round the hall which had grown far too tall to cope with. Thank you also to those who turned out to maintain the hall and surrounding shrubs in October, and those who painted the equipment in the play area.
Stretton Film Club
Films in the village hall - look out for more details – on our village website, on the village facebook page, on noticeboards
Regular events at the village hall:
Toddlers: Fridays NB new day! - 10.30 – 12.00 Contact – Lucy Cox 01608 663755
Learn to Dance: Mondays 7.30 to 9. Contact Silhouette Dancing (Meg) 07859 261 078 email www.silhouette-dance.co.uk
Line Dancing: Wednesdays, 7 - 8pm. Contact Caroline Green on 01386 870068
Exercise Classes: A choice of exercise classes in your village hall!
Thursdays - 9.00am - Circuit Training, suitable for all levels of fitness for an entire body workout. ( Cardio, resistance & core work)
10.00am- Functional Pilates- Improve your posture, core strength/stability & flexibility.
All classes £6.50 pay as you go. Block booking discount available.
For more information,www.julietrobbins.comor contact Juliet Robbins- 07899966303, email-
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Committee: Lucy Cox and Paul Robinson - Joint Chairs, Naomi Dalton - Treasurer, Becky Morgan – Bookings Secretary (01608 661348), Izzi Hazelwood – Secretary. Other committee members are: Geri Hunting, Anna Pike, Jayne Potter, Rod Case and representatives of each of the regular bookings in the hall
Next meeting: Tuesday 15th November at 8pm in the Committee Room. All welcome Date of future meeting will be on the website
Useful phone numbers and email addresses:
Warwickshire County Council - 01926 410410; www.warwickshire.gov.uk
Stratford District Council - 01789 267575; www.stratford-dc.gov.uk
Highways Customer Services – 01926 412515
Information on fly-tipping, waste and re-cycling – 01789 260616
Shipston Library – 0300 555 8171 (open: Mon,Tues,Thurs 9.30-12.30; Tues,Thurs 13.30-17.30)
Trading Standards – Business advice line – 01926 414044
Consumer advice line – 08454 040506
Shipston Police (non-emergency) – 101 or 01789 444670 or Shipston Library
Ubus – 01789 264491 Abandoned Car Clear – 0800 1699900
Back and 4th Transport – 01789 471595 Shipston Leisure Centre – 01608 662354
Water – Severn Trent – 0800 7834444 Electricity – Western Power – 08003281111
Neighbourhood Watch – Penny White 01608 663811
Emergency Village Committee:
Russ Braithwaite (661839), Izzi Hazelwood (661816), Paul Bellew (661208)