MINSTEAD MAIL Volume 1, Issue 10, Spring 2006
Minstead Parish Council hopes that you all had an enjoyable Christmas and wishes everyone a Happy & Peaceful New Year.
The Editor was severely reprimanded after our last edition of the 'Minstead Mail', in which was mentioned the fact that there had been a Vicar in Minstead since 1272. Of course it should have read; there had been a Rector in Minstead since 1272. Sincere apologies.
Correction: the date for the Annual Assembly should read Wednesday 22nd March not Wednesday 21st March. My apologies.
The Assembly will be held on Wednesday 22nd March in the Green Room at the Village Hall commencing at 8.oopm.
Debbie Rhodes, who is the Rural Housing Enabler from Community Action, Hampshire, will be our guest speaker and her subject will be Affordable Housing, does Minstead need more? Do come and join in the debate.
Wine & nibbles will be served at the end of the meeting.
As part of their ongoing improvement of the Village Green and its surrounds, your Parish Council, with the help and support of the County and District Councillors, have succeeded in convincing the HCC, that the lighting columns in Congleton Close should be replaced with columns more in keeping with their surroundings. They were over forty years old! We now have three new columns, which do not upset the environment with light pollution. Those who have read the recent article in the Lymington Times regarding street lighting will realise the scale of this achievement.
Within the environs of Minstead, ownership of land adjacent to the highway or property boundary is complex. It is probably safe to say that either Minstead Manor or the Forestry Commission owns the majority of such land. It is incumbent upon the householder to enquire whether permission is required for even the smallest operation on the verge outside their property; the verges are not part of the highway.
From time to time the Parish Council receives complaints about use/abuse of such land. The subjects covered range through the placing of posts or stones, infilling ditches and capping with gravel to facilitate parking or access and inconsiderate parking of vehicles.
All such encroachments are unlawful and could be the subject of legal action. Furthermore the Planning Authority now has a specific duty to give proper consideration to this facet of development within the National Park area. The placing of posts or stones may be considered a hazard to traffic and as such be removed by the highway authority. In the event of an accident, the person placing them may well be open to a claim for damage or injury. The infilling of ditches and capping with gravel will alter water movement often leading to surface water finding its way onto the byway with the accompanying risk, in Winter, of ice patches.
Inconsiderate parking interferes with grazing by commoners' animals and forces them onto the highway.
It is also unsightly within the village and leads either to compaction, or rutting and erosion of verges, the last two are both unsightly and dangerous.
Minstead is, without doubt, an attractive village and the Parish Council asks that everyone stands back, takes a look at their boundary and ask themselves whether their action, or intended action, is going to improve their environment or detract from it.
Tel: 08454 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Across Hampshire there are many reading groups. Contact your local library for details of groups in your area or join one of the groups already running at 15 libraries in Hampshire.
If you are interested in starting a reading group your local library can help with:
- A reading group starter pack
- A poster template to advertise your group
- Sets of books for the group to borrow
- Free requests for reading groups
- A special reading group ticket-up to 40 books for eight weeks
- Inclusion on a mailing list for news of literature and other events happening in Hants.
Lyndhurst Library Tel. 8028 2675
Totton Library Tel. 8086 2203
Taken from 'Hampshire Now'. Your County Council magazine.
Why not place your local business advertisement on the Village notice board. It is very handy for the visitors' car park; a reasonable charge of £25 per year (commences on 1st June 2006) If you are interested please contact the Clerk.
Supporting Older People at Home
The Charity 'Independent Age', aim to enable older people in financial difficulty to live with dignity and peace of mind. Providing financial security for life in the form of a small, regular income, they can also provide their beneficiaries with crisis grants, mobility equipment, nursing and residential care and help with fees.
Independent Age has a network of over 1,100 volunteer visitors who offer friendship and practical support. They recognise how hard it can be to ask for help, so all assistance is offered with the utmost discretion and sensitivity.
They have also put together two very useful guides called 60-Wise and 60-Wise at Home - packed with practical hints and tips for older people plus details of help available from many different sources.
Call 0207 605 4200 to get your free copies.
To find out more, contact Jane O'Kelly call 01264 363487
Or for more information visit http://www.independentage.org.uk/
Taken from Hampshire Now Special.
If you suspect a doorstep trader may be operating in your area, don't forget to alert the Quick Response Team (QRT). Trading Standards set up the QRT in answer to an increase in complaints about rogue doorstep traders. The traders causing most concern cold call on households and often carry out poor quality and overpriced property repairs. If this happened to you, or to an elderly friend or neighbour, call the QRT.
The QRT can offer help and advice and stop work from the beginning or continuing. They can also intervene to prevent payment when cancellation rights have not been given.
If you need a quick response, call 01962 846316, Monday to Friday. 9am to 5pm.
Or telephone Hampshire Police 0845 045 4545
Taken from 'Hampshire Now' your County Council magazine.
Consumer Direct offer immediate access to consumer advice on a wide range of issues and aim to address the currently unmet demand for consumer advice. It aims to provide customers with the knowledge, tools and confidence to avoid pitfalls and helps resolve disputes. Advice is free. Telephone calls will be charged at local rate. Rates will vary dependant upon the service provider.
Tel: 08454 04 05 06 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Adult education classes in the community: Brockenhurst College are currently looking at ways of taking classes out into the community by offering a wide range of subjects and opportunities. The Parish Council have been sent a list of classes that it would be possible to bring out into the community. They also ask for suggestions of particular classes that people would like. If anyone has any ideas for classes, or would like to see the list of classes offered by Brockenhurst College, please contact the Clerk.
Members of Junior Minstead are busy rehearsing for their annual Pantomime, which Jonathan Cole has written this
year, with songs and music composed by Marian Young. The dates of the performances are 24th & 25th March; be sure to keep the dates free; it is always great to see the children perform.
The Minstead Players' production of 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾' was very well received; all the actors gave very good performances. We look forward to their next production, which still has to be decided upon.
After almost a year, the new Incumbent of the three parish Benefice, has been appointed. The Rev. Dr James Bruce will take up his appointment on the 23rd April.
Mrs Annie Cooper thanks all local residents who responded so well to this latest initiative to help towards the upkeep of the Church. It is very gratifying to know that so many people think so kindly towards Minstead Church. If you have mislaid the form or know of someone who wishes to become a 'Friend' please look in the Church for one or contact Annie Cooper on 02380 813693.
Due to the generosity of many Villagers, the new Cross was able to be set in place on the War Memorial in time for the Air Division's annual Service in Minstead Church.
Councillors Steve Cattell & Bill Andrews undertook the cleaning of the Memorial, so a huge thank you to them.
Minstead PC proposed a resolution at the Hampshire Association of Parish & Town Councils AGM:
Proposed by - Minstead PC Seconded by - Bramshaw PC "That this Assembly believes that the current charges at rubbish tips increase the problem of fly tipping in rural, suburban and some urban areas and proposes that District/Borough/County Councils consider abolishing charges at the tips for small businesses (to alleviate fly tipping and its impact on the environment)."
The resolution was accepted by the delegates.
After an initial refusal by Southern Water to supply Minstead with a sewerage system; the Parish Council has decided to continue in its battle with the powers to be and try to change their minds.
