Christmas Decorations competition

The winners of this years Christmas decoration competition is 32  Shutgate Meadow with second prize going to 26 Doniford Road. The winner of the best decorated shop window is Motorline. Congratulations to all our winners. The prizes will be presented at our meeting on 7th February.

Message from Somerset Waste Partnership

This week

SWP will deploy all available resources this week in an effort to maintain collection services and to catch up on any areas missed.

The advice to residents remains to place recycling and refuse out when safe to do so. SWP will aim to return to pick up fortnightly collected materials within five working days and weekly collected materials within two working days.

But with the situation complicated by Christmas and New Year changes to the schedule, if disruption prevents a full catch-up this week, homes missing collections may not be collected until their next scheduled pick-up in the first week of January.

SWP severe weather guidance sets out what will happen if collections are missed, including crews working overtime and on Saturdays to try to catch up on missed collections.

 

SWP advice

Key advice points from SWP include:

• If collections are missed, efforts will be made to return to pick up any refuse or recycling as soon as possible.

• If a weekly collection is missed, householders should put it out for collection for the next two days (excluding Sundays). If a fortnightly collection is missed, it should be put out for the next five days (excluding Sundays). In both cases, if not collected within the advised time, put it out for the next usual collection day, providing it is safe.

• Additional waste and recycling materials will be accepted on delayed collections. Extra refuse should be placed in black sacks and extra recycling in carrier bags put out with boxes.

• No catch-up services will be provided for garden waste or clinical waste collections missed because of severe weather, and these collections may be temporarily suspended to focus resources on restoring waste and recycling collections.

• Recycling centres can take recycling and waste if collections are missed but it is best to check to ensure the centre is open before travelling.

• Residents are urged to check that neighbours, especially the elderly or vulnerable, know what arrangements are in place.

• During severe weather, daily updates on the situation are posted on the SWP website at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.

• Follow us on our @SomersetWaste Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/somersetwaste, or Facebook  at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Somerset-Waste-Partnership/128826580486763

 

Holiday collection changes

The changes for collections affected by the Christmas and New Year holidays have already been listed on the SWP web site. In summary:

• Usual collections and catch-ups continue up to and including Friday 24 December.
• With one exception, all collections from 27 December to 7 January occur one day later.
• Exception is Friday 31 December, whose collections will take place on Sunday 2 January.
• Normal collections resume on Monday 10 January.

 Bins and boxes

SWP is advising householders to keep bins and boxes in a sheltered spot, where possible, such as in a shed, garage or the lee of the house, will protect them and their contents from freezing.

If a bin or box does freeze, please do not try to release the contents with boiling water (this will freeze, too), by hitting it (frozen plastic shatters more easily), jumping up and down on the bin contents (this risks serious injury), or forcing the lid open (allow lids to de-frost naturally).

Do not worry if the contents of the recycling box, such as paper, get wet. However, please keep dry any clothing and shoes (tied in pairs) by double bagging them.

Homes with coal fires must allow ashes to cool thoroughly before putting in the plastic wheelie bin. Ashes from wood fires can be used in home composting, but do not home compost coal ash.

 Keeping informed

 

During severe weather, daily updates on the situation are posted on the SWP website at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.

Follow SWP on the @SomersetWaste Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/somersetwaste, or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Somerset-Waste-Partnership/128826580486763

All Somerset media are informed of the latest situation.

Residents can always call or email their district council customer services.

Williton Christmas Festival

Don't forget the Williton Christmas Festival taking place on 8th December. Parade through village 6.30pm from Danesfield. Please visit the Council chamber where there will be many stalls.

Winter Service update 2pm 7/12/2010 from Somerset Highways

The forecast for today is variable cloud cover this afternoon and also the chance of some mist or freezing fog patches persisting in places. Road Surface Temperatures are currently below zero in places. Later in the afternoon, during the evening and overnight Road Surface Temperatures will remain below zero with the chance of some icy stretches where roads are damp. Freezing fog patches will appear in places.. It will be mainly fine  tomorrow morning.

As we salted the pre-treated network last night and again this morning we are confident there is high residual salt and will therefore only treat the secondary network (F2's) this afternoon. The scouts will be out on the pre-treated network at 4.00 with crews ready to go at 4.45 tomorrow morning.
There have been enquiries about salt bins and replenishment. As you are probably aware it is the local communities who purchase salt bins and site them on the highway with our approval. At the time they are sited the local community are told we will fill them at the start of the season as we  record all locations on our Geographic Information System, (GIS). Once the local community start to use the salt we have no way of knowing how much remains and they are asked to let us know when stocks are getting low, not when they are empty, and we will try to replenish when we have resource available which during bad weather is not immediately as our efforts are concentrated on the pre-treated network.

This has worked well previously but with the bad weather over the last few years usage from the bins has increased and they are being emptied quickly, often faster than we can fill them. Replenishment requests should be directed to Somerset Direct (0845 345 9155) who can then pass locations on to the area offices for action when resource becomes available.
Sonia Davidson-Grant, Environment Director, has asked me to include a personal message from her in this update.
"I would like to personally thank you for your hard work and support in keeping Somerset moving and assisting our communities in these extreme weather conditions. Working together, we are making an important difference to many people's daily experience and protecting our local economy. "

Bakelite Museum Open Weekend

The Bakelite Museum has an Open Weekend this weekend - Saturday and Sunday, the 6th and 7th of November. Why not take your family to see this fabulous collection of items made from the precursor of plastic - Bakelite!

You will be amazed at the sheer number of different items that were made of Bakelite - everything from ashtrays to bicycles! And all of them come with the typical style of the era - see how your ancestors lived!

Please give your support for this wonderful museum, put together by Patrick Cook in an old mill on the western edge of Williton (past St Peter's Church). Although this weekend is free, Patrick and the Bakelite Museum need your support. He has been told that he must make some expensive improvements to the mill to cater for overweight visitors (Health & Safety of course), the mill not having originally been designed to cater for the less nimble amongst us. The idea is that you come and see how fantastic the collection is - and then go away and tell your friends all about it!

While you are there, don't forget the tasty cream teas that they serve up - with home made jam and fresh Somerset cream! Worth the visit alone - and ample reward for the short and pleasant walk to the mill.

Steam's Up

I think the last two months have been the busiest I have ever been - getting the first Steam's Up off the ground, and the accompanying Street Art competition - and fitting in a bit of paid work, and a couple of trips abroad with my work!  It's all over now, and we have the results!

Around 140 photographs of steam and diesel engines, landscape and people were printed out and displayed in the Council Chamber of WSDC. This was just the final short list, prepared by the judges, George Reekie of Taunton Camera Club, and Don Bishop, a well-known local professional photographer. They then went round the displayed images and chose the winners and runners-up in each category.

That's Jacob Fuller, by the way, the winner of the Junior section from Bishop's Lydeard. Runners up in that category were 2nd: Damian Slade, and third Jacob Fuller again. Damian Slade also had a highly commended photo.

In the Steam Category, Craig Hutchings from Taunton won first and second place with a couple of stunning photos. Third came Mark Pike, and Brian Burrows and Michael Quinn photos were highly commended.

The Diesel Category was dominated by Mark Pike, from Poole in Dorset, with just Ian Smith squeezing him out of second place.

In the Landscape category, the winner was Simon Osborne of Frome, followed by Mark Pike, again and Penny Chambers in third place.

The People Category had some great images.  The winner here was Dawn Hartley, from Minehead. All the winners were presented with Graphic Designer Pro 6 software, donated by Xara, the software that I used to churn out the 140 A3 glossy images that we displayed - and many of the posters! Second place in this category went to Martin Hope, with Michel Lowe third, and both Justin White and Mark Pike - yet again - highly commended.

The other star of the show was the Oce.ColorWave 600 colour printer, being demonstrated by Ian Guiver, from Oce.Besides printing out the winning photos in A0 format, Ian worked flat out printing jumbo sized images for any visitor for just the cost of a small donation to Oce's favourite charity.

That's Simon Osborne with his winning entry in the Landscape category - the glowering skies behind the signal box reflected the lousy weather that accompanied the first day.
We ran  a local competition alongside the photo competition, assisted by 10 businesses in Williton, who each donated £10 towards a prize for anyone who could find, and correctly identify, 10 photos of trains. I drew the winner from the collecting box at the end of the exhibition - 4pm on Sunday - watched by a couple of young lads, one or two others, and the Parish Council helpers.  I asked the young lad his name. 'Stephen' he said. Right, I'll see if I can feel your name out of this pile. I closed my eyes and put my hand in -and drew out his entry form! He had all the answers right, as well.  Not only that, he had arranged with his friend to share the money if he won!  We were delighted to give it to him (through his mum, of course). A dream ending to a great exhibition.  Those who entered, won, attended, or wished they had entered, all said they would like to see it back again next year.

Here's young Stephen Parsons who made a great finale to an excellent exhibition!

Street Art Competition

You may have seen details of the Street Art Competition in today's West Somerset Free Press. We wanted to offer something for locals to do, whilst we are hopefully inundated with Steam railway enthusiasts, so we are running a competition for teams of up to 4 people to try their hand at Street Art.

It will take place at Bellamy's Corner on the 1st to 3rd of October, and is open to anybody who would like to try their hands - we already have one team of 'seniors' signed up!!

We are going to erect a 'street' of house facades, giving teams 8 x 8 feet to play with. The theme is going to be Steam - obviously. It's up to you to make of that what you will - a natural shot of a steam engine, a Banksy type image - or some crazy, abstract art.  Your own imagination is your limit. Judging is by visitors, who can purchase tokens to post for their favourite images. The money we make on judging will go to charity.

Each facade is being sponsored by a local business, who have kindly helped to pay for the 'village'.  It's going to be a fun weekend.  If you want to get involved and help us out, we have a meeting scheduled for next Monday at 7pm at the Wyndham Arms.


We have also ordered some t-shirts to go with each event - the Steam's Up Photo competition in West Somerset House, and the Street Art Competition. They will be available in Gliddons very shortly -and they look great!!

If you want to take part, pick your team, give it a name - don't hang about - and book your facade!

New Councillors Required

We are entering a very interesting stage on the Council with the EDF project and our Steams Up competition.

If you would like to get more involved and join the Parish Council we have two vacancies. Please contact the Clerk for more details.

Community Support Meetings about EDF

 Consultations have commenced in earnest, now that we have more precise details about what EDF would like to do. Besides the chance to grill this Saturday at Danesfield school with EDF, another round of Community Support meetings are being held throughout West Somerset, with ours in St Peter's School again on the 27th of July.

I have pasted the list of meetings, and some links that Guy Braga reckons you take a look at. 

In the meantime, we now know where EDF would like to place the Park and Ride in Williton -  the next field along from Mamsey House on the A39. It is designed to minimise the number of people coming from the Minehead area to work at Hinkley Point, by putting them on buses before they reach Williton.  I believe that could be a big mistake. There are likely to be far more coming from Taunton, as they try to reach Hinkley Point avoiding the gridlock that is Bridgwater is going to become for the next 10 years or so. That means, as I mentioned previously, both cars and the buses to replace them driving past Bellamy's Corner.

Here's the Community Support email.

Open community support meetings to discuss proposed new Hinkley Power Station associated development

Sedgemoor District Council and West Somerset Council are giving support to communities to understand EDF’s second stage proposals for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.  EDF has already consulted communities in the spring about their initial proposals for developments of worker accommodation, freight handling and transport routes associated with the site. Sedgemoor and West Somerset Councils helped generate responses to these proposals from a broad range of community stakeholders.

Community Support meetings to help communities interpret and discuss EDF’s now revised ‘Second Stage’  proposals will be organised in July and August by Sedgemoor District Council and West Somerset Council. These events will take place in community halls of key parishes to be affected by the proposed building of a new power station. The Community Support meetings are open to all to drop in any time between 6pm and 8pm on the dates highlighted below. You will be offered the opportunity to discuss with others in the community how the EDF proposals may affect your parish areas. Technical specialists working with the Councils will be available to give advice and listen to your views.

Dates of Community Support Meetings:

27^th July – Williton, St.Peter’s CE Primary School, Doniford Road, TA4 4SF

3^rd  Aug – Stogursey, Stogursey Victory Hall TA5 1PR.

5^th Aug – Cannington, Cannington Village Hall, TA5 2HE

11^th Aug – Bridgwater, The Exchange, Committee Room, Bridgwater, TA6 4RR

17^th Aug – Bridgwater, Sydenham Community Centre, Bridgwater, TA6 4QZ

18^th  Aug – North Petherton, Community Hall, TA6 6QA.

19^th Aug – Otterhampton, Otterhampton Village Hall, TA5 2QS

26^th Aug – Burnham-on-Sea, The Princess Hall, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 1EH

The consultation period for EDF Energy’s second stage proposals closes on 4 October 2010.

For more information on the community support meetings please telephone Guy Braga at the Community Council for Somerset 01823 331222 or visit the Community Council for Somerset website: www.somersetrcc.org.uk/community_engagement/hinkley  (at the time of this e-mail the webpage is currently being updated).

 or email hinkley@somersetrcc.org.uk

For additional information on the  proposals for Hinkley power station visit the District Council or EDF websites:

www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk       

       

 www.sedgemoor.gov.uk

www.edfconsultation.info

BBC Somerset - some tips.

If you are ever invited on to a discussion for BBC Somerset Radio here's a handy tip.  When you get a chance to ask your questions, bung all you want to get across in the first one. You won't get a chance to ask a second.

We had Richard Mason on the Matt Faulkner show this morning, and he invited contributions from ourselves, as well as Cannington and Bridgwater representatives - prior to the EDF launch of their plans and the start of their consultation process.

Without seeing the plans - not out till tomorrow - I can state that there will be no building of accommodation blocks in Williton or Cannington. Bridgwater will get the lot. There will be a reduced size, temporary, Park and Ride to the West of Williton, although they didn't state exactly where. We shall find out shortly. 

I didn't get a chance to ask why the West of Williton - and in view of the Bridgwater representatives statement that Bridgwater will be even more 'grodlocked' with the current proposals, I am concerned that we shall now get Taunton workers making their way to the A39 via Williton instead of via the M5 - hence up the A358, and past Bellamy's corner on the way to the Park and Ride, and through Williton again on the buses. Doubling the problem!

Not to worry - yet!  We have a chance to make our views known to EDF when they start their consultation process - the first on July the 17th at Danesfield School, between 10am and 4pm, and the second when, (we hope) they will come to our Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting on the 2nd of August  at 6.45pm at Danesfield School again. Same procedures apply for this - you ahve to submit your questions beforehand and have limited time to speak, to give more people a chance - but at least, this time, we have some more concrete proposals (not intending to be a pun!) , and are able to formulate some appropriate response.

More details, and links to the documents released by EDF - and also to documents supporting our arguments put forward to EDF by ourselves and other Parishes - will be posted within the next day or so.

Williton Fete and Show

Make a date - Saturday, the 10th of July at the Memorial Ground.
Williton has its' fun event, the Williton Fete and Show, starting at 2pm, with loads of fun events and attractions.

Come and watch an Aikido demonstration, or Sumo Wrestling, take part in children's races (if you are young enough, that is!) try your hand at Archery, or just sit and enjoy a sumptuous cream tea! Special Attractions for dog lovers include a Gun Dog Scurry, and a Dog Show and Dog Agility Display.

There will be a heap of other sideshows, stalls, car boots, a bouncy castle, and a barbecue - and you could always try your luck in the grand draw. If you are a dab hand at crafts, or if you have particularly green fingers, you could enter your creative efforts - vegetables, home baking, crafts, flowers, preserves and phographs in our competition, with show cups for each class.

And, of course, the Williton Fire Tender and Crew and the Police will be in attendance.

You can get a schedule from Davies Newsagents, J.Jones & Son, or Chanin & Thomas. Entry is 50p per adult and children go free!

If you want to book a pitch yourself, you can do it through Alison Calloway, 01984 639116

All proceeds in aid of the Village Hall.

Do you need a room for your meetings?

Are you having difficulty finding suitable locations for your organisations meetings? There is an ideal room available in the same building asd the Changing Rooms on the Memorial Ground. It used to be used by the Youth Club - who have decided they don't need it any more. Their baggage had been removed, and it is now ready for its' new occupants.

Contact any member of the Parish Council - or the Parish Clerk, Jude, to find out how to go about hiring the room out, and the very reasonabvle rates that this would cost you.

Chairman's Tea Party

You are invited to Tea with the Chairman of Williton Parish Council, Rosemary Woods, on Sunday the 30th of May at The Changing Rooms, Williton War Memorial Recreation Ground.- from 2pm to 5pm.  It's a great opportunity to meet with members of Williton Parish Council and discuss Parish matters - especially what you would like to see on the Memorial Ground - we are currently preparing a strategic plan for the ground and want to know what all members of the Parish would like us to consider.
Why don't you make a day of it, as well, bring the kids, a couple of deckchairs, a couple of frisbees,a croquet or badminton game and have some fun!The weather looks good!

Free First Aid Training

The Parish Clerk asked me to promote some free First Aid Training being held in June at the Fire Station.  When I asked her if they still use the Holger Nielsen method of artificial respiration, and she looked a bit blank – I realised that, perhaps, my own certificate was a mite out of date. (That’s the method on the left. Still popular I Turkey I believe).

I suspect there are many of you out there as much in the past as I am.  Why not take advantage of this free offer, and pop down to the Fire Station on the 26th of June – that’s a Saturday – between 10am and 1pm. If you are interested, you can contact Jude (the Parish Clerk on willitonpc@btconnect.com ) and let her know you will be attending (Just so we can control the numbers and won’t have to spend the first half hour dealing with crowd related injuries).

Keeping Warm in Williton in the Winter

Helping people over 50 stay warm and well in their homes

Warmer Improved Somerset Homes (WISH) is a new advice project which has been set up offering help and support to parishioner's over the age of 50 who live in Somerset.

The project is designed to ensure people are able to continue living independently, and stay warm and well in their own homes.

As the average domestic fuel bill continues to increase (by around 125% in the last five years), many people who live in rural areas and are over the age of 50 continue to face huge costs - or often risk living in cold, damp homes to avoid large gas and electricity bills.

Help is at hand, though, with the new WISH project, which offers a free and impartial service providing advice and support with:

• energy efficiency and cutting fuel bills
• grants for insulation and heating improvements
• grants and support for home improvements and adaptations
• checking what benefits you may be entitled to

The WISH team can provide tips and advice on how you can keep your fuel bills down - and stay warm, including with grants for loft and cavity wall insulation. They can also help with finding grants to improve and adapt your home, such as with handrails, etc. They are also able to check to ensure you're receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.

The support will then be carried out through a variety of methods including home visits, talks and presentations, case worker support and follow-up telephone calls.

If you are worried about your fuel bills and would like to find out more about how WISH can help you, call the advice line free on 0800 512 012 or email wish@cse.org.uk.

The WISH project is a partnership between the Centre for Sustainable Energy (reg. charity no. 298740) and the Somerset Home Improvement Agency.

WISH is an extension of an older project. Funding for this three-year project has been provided by the Nationwide Foundation.

Annual Parish Assembly

The Annual Parish Assembly will be held on Monday, 26th April at 7pm at The Council Chamber of the District Council Office in Williton. The agenda for this meeting is published below. You are all welcome to attend. It is not a normal Council meeting, so you are not only welcome to attend, but to contribute to the discussions yourself.
A couple of Parish Council matters are to be aired first, but we are going to be having short presentations on a couple of forthcoming events – the West Somerset Railway Gala Weekend and Photographic Competition, Steam’s Up, and the Village Activities Day to be held on the 29th of May on the Memorial Ground.

A G E N D A

To receive apologies for absence
Minutes of the last Parish Assembly held on 21st May 2009 for approval
Matters Arising from the Minutes
Chairman’s Report
Financial Report
“Steams Up” - West Somerset Railway Gala Weekend and Photographic Competition
Corner Link and Active Living – presentation by Dennis and Shirley Allnut
Village Activities Day 29th May 2010
Any other business

West Somerset Railway/Williton Photo Competition.

Steam’s Up!

You’ve seen the West Somerset Free Press by now, and about the West Somerset Railway photo competition to be held – hopefully – in the WSDC Council Room. There will be more details posted shortly, but it is exactly what it says – all of those steam railway enthusiasts, who spend their time taking pictures of the steam – and diesel – trains that pass through Williton and other stations along the line, will have the chance to show them off in an exhibition.

We’re getting a printer manufacturer involved, as well, so that we can blow up the winning snaps to poster size – and also offer a similar service to anyone else who would like to use it – for a small fee, and donation to charity to cover the costs.

We want to encourage any other organisation with an interest to get involved, as well, as we intend to have extra space for them to get involved. 

We are putting together the final details for the event, which will be held on the final Gala Weekend at the end of September and beginning of October. Then you will know which categories we will have – besides steam, diesel, landscape and portrait, there will be something for youngsters, and for other media entrants, as well (oil painting, watercolours of the railway, etc), and we are currently talking to a number of well-known people to act as judges.

So, get snapping. You don't have to be a train spotter to take part. Anyone in Williton can also take part and send in their pictures.

Gnome from Home!

Absolutely predictable! After having given him star billing in our ‘How well do you know Williton’ competition (number 4 on the first page), it appears that the reclining gnome has already got bored with his celebrity status, and has moved on to pastures new.

We have a replacement, however – a g-nother g-nome, from the same location, has volunteered to take his place, and is now the official holder of the number 4 spot. As they both came from the same location, there should be little difference in the answers.

Remember you have until the 30th of April to download, print out, fill in and hand in your completed forms to Davies Newsagents.

By the way, if anyone knows of the current location of the ‘reclining gnome’ and can provide documentary proof, they may get bonus points for the competition, as at least one his owners didn’t realise that he had gone walkabout!
DC

Hinkley New Build Workshops

You must attend this!

There is going to be a workshop in St Peter’s First School on Monday the 12th of April, from 9am till 7pm, where consultants acting for EDF and Arup – a principal contractor – want members of the public to come in and discuss the proposed development and its effects on Williton – i.e. the 200 bed hostel for workers, and the 350 Park and Ride scheme for Catwell.

They want to know your views, and, because they feel that public meetings sometimes inhibit the public from giving their views in front of a large crowd, they are happy to go into one-to-one sessions with anyone.

You must attend. There are currently no other options being put forward, and there is a chance that they will be accepted by IPC – the Governments independent planning authority - unless strong reasons are found to prevent that happening. Alternatively, you may feel that the proposals are sensible and a good thing for Williton, and would like to have your views noted as well.

We are at the start of a multi-tiered consultancy process that will go right through to December, so you will have other opportunities to put your points across, but it is essential that we make a good start, establish exactly what is being proposed, analyse how it would effect Williton, and the surrounding roads, open spaces, etc., if it comes to fruition, and put together some projects where EDF could assist the Parishioners of Williton in ‘mitigation and compensation’ for the upheaval and change that the project will bring about. Their words, not mine!

See you there!
DC

Steamy!!

Take an icy cold changing room in the middle of winter. Throw in a couple of football teams after a hard fought game, and hose them down with steaming hot water. After they are de-mudded and scrubbed up, turf them out again, for the last one of them to turn off the light – and the ventilators – and watch the fuggy clouds condense on the thin, uninsulated, concrete block walls. That’s a recipe for disaster. And that’s what we have in the changing rooms on the Memorial ground.

That’s all going to change, though, as we are in the process of replacing the simple extractor fans with state-of-the-art heat recovery extractors. They don’t just extract the stale and muggy air from the rooms whilst they are occupied, but can sense the level of moisture content in the air, and switch the fans on to deal with it. They are designed to reduce condensation, and its after-effects – incipient damp patches causing mould and rot. It doesn’t smell nice, either.

The heat recovery extractors have been purchased from Kair, (tech details here) specialists in heating and ventilation equipment, as part of the maintenance programme for the Memorial Ground by Williton Parish Council who are Trustees of the ground. We are also looking to do some major refurbishment of the tractor shed over the next year, or to replace it altogether with a new one.

DC

How well do you know Williton?

Get out much? In the village, that is! How well do you know your Parish?

To inaugurate the Parish Pump, we are running a little competition. I have taken snaps of 10 local features, and a small prize (plus a certain amount of instant fame!) will be offered to whoever can tell me where and what they are!

All you need to do is to download the two page PDF from this website – [Download Here] – fill it in, and then drop it off at Davies newsagents. If you experience problems downloading the file, you can pick up a printed copy from Davies Newsagents. Closing date will be the end of April.

The winner, if there is more than one correct entry, will be picked up out of a hat by Huw Davies. I believe he is a betting man, but don’t know if he is making a book out of it.

DC

The Parish Pump

I’m sorry for being so predictable, as that particular headline has probably been used in over 50% of the news sections of Parish Council websites. Can you think of a better, though? Whatever we put at the top, though, this is where we get to tell you what is happening in Williton Parish, and what the Parish Council is doing about it.

Not much, you might think, but in fact there are numerous decisions to be made, and actions taken on your behalf, much of which gets buried away in the Parish Council minutes – posted up on some draughty notice board throughout the Parish.

The Parish Pump will be posting regularly, keeping you up to date with the most important issues that are currently being discussed. Particularly relevant at this time, as we have numerous wholesale planning issues going through which are raising strong emotions around the Parish. EDF and the proposed supermarket are a couple of examples, and, of course, the Village Hall, another. Meetings are ongoing with regard to the former, and no planning application has yet been posted for the supermarket. We shall keep you up to date with what is happening.

The Parish Pump also gives you the opportunity to air you views, as well, allowing you to comment on each news item as it is posted. We are going to be a bit cautious to start with, and will moderate views as they are posted – not censoring your views, but to weed out postings with profane, intemperate or downright false information. If your views are posted in the spirit with which we intend you to use the site, you will get the chance to share them with others. If not – zilch!

This is not the first chance you will get to interact with Williton Parish Council. You could already make your views known to us, and request that certain issues be brought up in Full Council meetings – but that involved writing to us in the first place, and, in line with the ‘Standard Operating Procedures of Parish Councils’ you weren’t normally allowed to speak, as a member of the public, at Council Meetings except when formally invited. You’ll still have to write in to us if you want something raised at a Council Meeting, of course, but this website gives you the opportunity to open a ‘real-time’ dialogue with Councillors, and provide us with valuable input.

As unofficial editor of the Parish Pump, I promise to keep news items short and sweet, and would like to finish with just one request. At a time when Williton Parish Council is entering a new and more exciting phase – we have a vacancy for another Councillor. If you think you might like to join us, pop in to the Parish Council office adjacent to the Police Station, on a Monday or a Thursday, and pick up an application form from Jude or Janet.