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