Beaford Bugle March 2007

The Beaford Bugle March MMVII 

This edition of the Bugle has an extra page to accommodate four very welcome contributions, all beautifully Beaford-centred, written by members of our community.

Parish Council

·         A Parish Housing Needs Survey for Beaford is distributed with this Bugle.  Please take a few minutes to complete and return the form as requested.

·         Disappointingly few completed copies of the shop survey have been returned; it is unlikely that any assistance with the project will be available unless more than half of households in the parish show a firm belief in the need for a shop and a willingness to use it.  If your survey form has been mislaid another is available from the garage.  The dead line for returns is now set at March 14.

Church News

The Heard family will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt and Hot Cross Bun tea from 4.00pm on Saturday

March 31.  Children of primary school age and younger can join in the hunt for £1.00.  In addition to tea

there will be a number of stalls for which good quality items would be welcome; cakes and produce for sale

and items for tombola and the raffle.  All proceeds in aid of St George and All Saints.

Baby Sitting

Clare Heard is now legally qualified as a baby sitter and will welcome invitations to practice her skills. 

Telephone 603553.

Village Hall.

·         Due to a car accident in which one of the organisers of the monthly community market was involved the February market was cancelled.  It is understood that the March market will be open as usual.

·         To provide a service for those wishing to hire the hall for short periods it has been decided to offer an opportunity to hire the hall at an hourly rate between 4.00 - 10.00pm on Wednesday evenings.  It could offer an opportunity to play badminton, table tennis or other suitable games.  If you would like more details or to make a booking call Gloria on 603394.

·         To book a table for the Quiz Night on March 16 pop in to see Anita at the garage or call her on 603212/553.  The cost of a table for six players, including a variety of cheeses with fruit, crusty bread and a bottle of wine, is £18.00.  And for the winners there is a case of six bottles of wine.

·         The winners of the 100+Club draw held at the February coffee morning were:

First prize £40.00, Vivian Callaghan ticket 63, second prize £15.00, Mike and Laura Darvill ticket 6 and third prize £5.00 Sandra Edwards ticket 32.  The profit from the coffee morning for hall funds was £38.50 and from the February family social evening £32.84.

·         Models, male, female and children up to six years, are wanted for a fashion show to be held on April 20 in the hall.  If you fancy enjoying the lime light on the catwalk call Gloria on 603394.

Neighbourhood Watch

The police message box, installed at the bus shelter by the parish council, for posting non-urgent and anonymous messages has been removed at the request of the community police.  If you need to contact the police to report a crime, leave a message, obtain information, police attendance or advice call 08705 777 444. 

To give anonymous information on those suspected of crime, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

If you would like to receive Community Police Messages, by telephone or e-mail, please call me, James Neville, on 603108.

New 20mph Speed Limit

Devon County Council have confirmed that the introduction of a 20mph speed limit will be put in place from the junction of Exeter Road with Green Lane, along Green Lane and Butt Lane to the tennis court.  Also included are all of Marshalls Mead, Rye Park and Rye Park Close.  In addition Exeter Road will be signed to indicate a 20mph limit applies between the flashing school signs during their period of operation.  The work should be completed by the end of March.

School News

·         There will be a school Bag 2 collection day on March 2.  For more details call Anita on 603212/553.

·         If you have surplus garden tools, seeds or plants school would welcome them for their gardening club.

·         There will be a school Bag 2 collection day on March 2.  For more details call Anita on 603212/553.

The Globe

The refurbishment is going to plan and the opening date should be in the week commencing March 6.  The family and staff will be delighted to welcome you on the opening night. The telephone number for reservations will be 603261.

Post Office Closures

The parish council has received the Government's consultation document on the future of the Post Office network.  It was launched in December 06 and proposes some big changes with up to 2,500 closures. Lack of usage of a post office is likely to be a reason for it to be closed.

Although the satellite service provided by Dolton in the village hall has limited opening hours, it does offer a very wide range of services but to ensure its future it needs to show it is an essential community facility by being used.

If you care about our Post Office network tell the Government. UKVillages, working with the Commission for Rural Communities, has designed an on-line response form for you to respond directly to the Government. You can submit your online response and find out more about the consultation at http://aboutpoconsult.ukvillages.co.uk/

Dog Fouling

Towell Meadow and the Doorstep Green have again suffered from dog fouling.

The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 applies and owners must clear up after their animals. The maximum penalty for not doing so is £1000.  Dog owners who do not obey the ruling give rise to health risks and create a serious nuisance.  Torridge District Council has resolved to issue fixed penalty notices in relation to dog fouling offences. The fixed penalty notice is currently £50.00.

If you have a contribution you wish to make to the Bugle, whether it is information concerning an event, a personal message, a suggestion or maybe a literary contribution please don't hesitate call me.

James Neville, Belle Vue, Tel 108, e-mail nev_dev@btinternet.com