Parish Council News July 09

As we now reach summertime some of us will be thinking of holidays and the

opportunity to relax, but for others, depending on circumstances, it is a time of the

year that is busier than usual. So it all depends on our particular situation. Busy or not

there are functions that continue within the community and of interest is that the

Council continues to respond to the needs of the villagers. Some teething problems

with the new refuse collection system have surfaced but in general it appears to be

successful. The Baldon Feast arrangements are progressing, the Council have

received various pieces of correspondence and the necessary business of the audit has

taken place.

The Council received a letter from the police asking whether the villagers would be

interested in the police holding a surgery where one could go to ask questions or put

points of view that are relevant to the operations of the police and their interaction

with the community. These questions could be quite wide ranging from what to do if

you lose your cat to how to get help should you be robbed, both of which have

happened in The Baldons recently. Nuneham Courtenay may well be interested in

how the police could come to their assistance in crossing the road. What about a

pedestrian crossing, could it be more use than a speed camera? Should you feel that a

surgery of this type could be helpful please inform Cllr Dorothy Tonge (currently

Chairman of both Nuneham Courtenay and The Baldons Parish Councils). The

Thames Valley Police are to hold an open day on Saturday 8th August for

information visit: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/events website.

Many of the subsidized services are coming up for review in the current round of

negotiations. But according to the information submitted to the Council the Baldons

and Nuneham Courtenay should not be affected this time. However, it is good to keep

in mind that with the current climate of financial restraint the County Council are

looking to remove underused bus services unless there are very special reasons for

retaining them. In particular The Baldon bus Services 49 and 49A will come under

scrutiny in the next round of reviews and there will be a danger of cuts should these

buses not be used. It has to be admitted that little use is made of them despite some

real stalwarts regularly travelling on them.

The next meeting of The Baldons Parish Council will be held 7.30pm Tuesday 14th

July. The Agenda will include any reaction to the letter from the police. Update of the

arrangements for Baldon Feast and the Council's schedule for next year. Should you

wish to bring anything to the Council's attention please contact me in good time

before the meeting.

Ralph Slaney - Clerk to The Baldons Parish Council

01865 343275

Clerk@BaldonsPC.org.uk