West Hallam Parish Council Newsletter to Residents Issue 18 - Spring 2014 Welcome to the Spring edition of the Parish Council s quarterly newsletter. Sorry - we skipped the winter edition. You haven t missed one! We hope you find this edition of our newsletter interesting and informative and would welcome any feedback or suggestions for future topics that might be covered. Chairman s Report Dear Residents, Hopefully you will enjoy reading this Spring Newsletter. Many of the things that your Parish Council has been doing are included in this newsletter and as we have our Annual Parish Meeting on 5th May I will be doing my Annual Report and as this will be put onto our website you will be able to read for yourselves what has been happening over the last year. I will also be giving a report as both an Erewash Borough In this Issue: Parish Council Precept Frozen...3 Church & Community Magazine Archive...3 No 11 Bus Service...4 Doorstep Salesmen and Rogue Traders...6 New Youth Club for West Hallam?..7 New - Free Bulky Waste Collections...7 The Dales Litter Problem...8 The Annual Parish Meeting...8 Commemorating WW1...9 Free Parking Bays Doubled in Erewash...10 Coach Trips to Bletchley Park and National Memorial Arboretum...11 Fixing Derbyshire s Roads...11 Do you have a couple of hours to spare occasionally?...12 Poppy Appeal - West Hallam War Memorial Commemoration...12 Proms at the Pavilion...13 Telephone cold callers...14 In Brief...15 Contact the Parish Council...16 Your Parish Councillors...16 West Hallam Open Gardens..16
Councillor and a Derbyshire County Councillor and again these reports will be on the website after the meeting. Other reports from local organisations or from other Parish Councillors who represent the Parish Council on committees such as The Village Hall, Community Centre, Junior Football Club, School Governors and charities such as the Anne Powtrell, Scargill Educational Foundation and West Hallam Trust will also be available. It is nice to say that this is the Spring Newsletter and I have to say that although we have had a very, very wet few months we have managed to stop snow free, apart from an odd light shower. As some of you know we do have a Snow Warden and we have enlisted the help of some very community spirited residents to help spread grit on our behalf when the snow does come. Derbyshire County Council provide the grit free of charge and I had a pallet delivered last October to my yard. It is nice to be able to say that it has not been touched, a saving for DCC. I am not sure what its 'shelf life' is but hopefully it will still be ok for Winter 2014!! Like most Parish/Borough/County Councils we are looking to commemorate the WW1 Anniversary and there is more on this in the newsletter. I would just like to finish by just clarifying something about your Parish Councillors. I do not get involved in too much social media, although I do confess I am on Facebook, but I do occasionally look at something called Spotted, West Hallam. There is quite a mixed bag on this site about all sorts of things but one thing did upset me a week or two ago. I will not go into detail but it intimated that West Hallam Parish Councillors were taking expenses for such things as 'using home as an office'. Just to clear any misconception parish councillors can take expenses if they are on parish council business but I know that none of our councillors ever claim anything, parish councillors are not paid and generally get involved because they want to put something back into the community and the expense on the accounts of 'using home as an office' is for the Parish Clerk. This is a common payment to parish clerks If the parish council do not have their own parish rooms, which would be considerably more expensive, using tax payers' money, then compensating the clerk is the normal practice. As always if you have any suggestions as to what the Parish Council can do to improve West Hallam, bearing in mind that we have not put the parish precept up again this year (see page 3) even though we have had a reduction from Erewash Borough Council due to budget restraints, we are always willing to look at any ideas. Chairman. 2
Parish Council Precept Frozen for 2014/15 There was some good news for residents last month when the Parish Council agreed to freeze it s precept (the part of your Council Tax that comes directly to the Parish Council) for 2014/15. The Parish Council was very keen to peg costs, despite a reduction in grant received from the Borough Council. This does not however mean that there will be any reduction in services. On the contrary, the Parish Council is planning to maintain standards for the things that it does - such as mowing and hedge cutting on recreation grounds, safely maintaining play equipment, etc - and in fact it plans to increase the number of hours that litter picking is carried out so that some additional areas may be covered. This is in addition to the litter picking at The Dales mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, which will be paid for by The Dales management. Please note that whilst Erewash Borough Council has also frozen it s Council Tax for the coming year, there will be some increase in Council Tax bills due to increased precepts by Derbyshire County Council and the Police. Church & Community Magazine Archive The Parish Council has recently agreed in principle to support the cost of binding past issues of the West Hallam & Mapperley Church and Community Magazine in order to help preserve them for posterity. The magazines provides an interesting record of aspects of life in our village and the Parish Council is very pleased to be able to support this project. If you don t already get the current magazines you can have copies delivered to your door each month for just 9 per year. To arrange this contact Jill or Peter on 0115 9303426. 3
No 11 Bus Service - Update As hopefully many residents know a lot of effort has been put into trying to persuade Derbyshire County Council to help get this service re-instated by offering a subsidy. They already do this in many areas. The withdrawal of this evening/sunday service has had such a major impact on residents who work shift patterns, meaning that some have had to give up their employment or shorten their hours because there is no way of either getting to or from their place of work, students who wish to attend college for evening sessions, residents who do not have a car or no longer drive being isolated and not able to visit Derby to see a show, visit the cinema and generally socialise. A paper petition with nearly 900 signatures was presented to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and there was also an on-line petition with 283 signatures. A decision on a possible subsidy was supposed to have been made some weeks ago but it has been put off twice. The last Councillor Carol Hart (our County Councillor as well as Chairman of the Parish Council) heard from the Cabinet Member was that she apologised for the delay but said that things are going on behind the scenes'. It is hope that this means that DCC are looking at some way of giving us back this evening/sunday service. If we do get some sort of service back it may not be the same frequency as before but some sort of service is essential. The loss of this service has certainly caused more residents from West Hallam, Stanley, Stanley Common, Mapperley and even Shipley View to get in contact with Carol more than anything else in her time as the County Councillor for most of this area. She has put the case forward with the petition in the best way she can and although DCC have to make savings, as does every council, she hopes they realise that the loss of this service is having such a major impact on many of our residents. Let us hope that a decision is made very soon and that it is the right decision. 4
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Doorstep Salesmen and Rogue Traders Police and trading standards officers in Derbyshire are urging residents to be alert and to think twice before employing doorstep callers or traders. The advice comes as police are seeing an increase in rogue trader incidents, and the nicer weather may provide an opportunity for rogue traders to go door-to-door to offer gardening or driveway services. Officers are also urging residents to report any suspicious callers at their own or their neighbours homes. Police and trading standards officers at both Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council often receive complaints from local residents who have agreed for work to be carried out by doorstep callers and then find the work is of poor quality. They frequently vastly overcharge, or increase the price after the work has started. In some cases, rogue traders have used high pressure tactics and even taken victims to a cash machine in order to collect their payment. charged very high prices for low quality or unnecessary work. Older or more vulnerable people tend to be targeted and rogue traders have also been linked to other types of doorstep crime such as distraction, burglary and theft. Homeowners are advised not to answer the door to people they are not sure of, and to never allow anyone into their home unless they know and trust them. People should also get at least three different quotes on work or repairs that may be needed, and should not be pressurised into trading with someone on the doorstep. PC Bond added: Anyone who is suspicious of a caller should contact the police so that officers can make checks. If they are using a vehicle, see if you can get its registration number, colour and make and pass these details on. Even if they turn out to be genuine, it is better to make that call for your own peace of mind and to ensure your area stays safe. PC Chris Bond, of the Derbyshire Constabulary doorstep crime unit, said: We re always grateful of any information we receive about those who go door-to-door offering goods and services as there have been cases where residents have been Anyone with information about suspicious activity, rogue traders or doorstep callers should contact Derbyshire police on 101, unless a crime is being committed when the number is always 999. 6
New - Free Bulky Waste Collections by Erewash Borough Council Erewash residents are now able to claim FREE collections on both bulky waste and household white goods. The move, which came in on 1 April 2014, has been implemented as part of the drive to support local residents and help the environmental campaign to reduce fly tipping. The new initiative offers up to two free collections / six items per household in a rolling 12 month period. The council will collect a maximum of six items in total as long as the number of collections does not exceed two visits. Residents will also be allowed one white goods collection per year of up to three items. For more information visit the Erewash website, contact the Council on 01159072244 or email contactcentre@erewash.gov.uk New Youth Club for West Hallam? Meetings have been held to discuss the possibility of opening a youth club for 14 to 18 year olds at the Powtrell Pavilion on a Friday evening. Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) (formerly known as CRBs) have been completed and a pizza evening is to be arranged to see what interest the youth club would attract. It is hoped to commence the Youth Club this summer if there is sufficient interest but more volunteers are also needed. If you can help, please get in touch with the Parish Council for relevant contact details. 7
The Dales Litter Problem The Parish Council is pleased to report that the management company that looks after The Dales has recently agreed to meet the cost of deploying one of the Parish Council s part time litter pickers to work around The Dales for two hours a week. This follows on from complaints regularly received by the Parish Council about litter problems at The Dales - most of which is privately owned and therefore not something which we can normally tackle direct. These arrangements are now being put in place without delay and it is hoped that residents will quickly see improvements in the appearance of the area. Also at The Dales, following a number of approaches by the Parish Council, the management company are now arranging for the damaged height restriction barrier at the Nursery Avenue approach to be repaired. This too has been the subject of complaints and comments to the Parish Council. The Annual Parish Meeting The Annual Parish Meeting will take place at the Powtrell Pavilion, Beech Lane, West Hallam on, starting at 6.30pm - immediately followed by the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council. All parishes, whether or not they have a parish council, hold a meeting once a year to discuss the affairs of the parish. It is an opportunity for the Parish Council to report on what it's been up to during the year, for borough and county councillors and village organisations to make presentations, and for villagers to raise any concerns they may have. The notice/agenda for the meeting will be available on the Parish Council s website nearer the time, or for more information please contact the Parish Clerk. 8
Commemorating WW1 A group of Parish Councillors has recently met with Mr Roger Wood, local historian and photographer, who has done a lot of work researching the names on the village War Memorial. It has been agreed that as part of the local arrangements to commemorate the 100 th Anniversary of the start of WW1, the Parish Council will support the publication of a booklet which will give information on those named on the memorials and that the Parish Council will pay for the printing of the booklet. It is intended to arrange an evening reception for relatives of those listed on the Memorial when copies of the booklet will be presented to them. It is likely that some of the booklets will be made available for sale, with proceeds being donated to the Royal British Legion or Help for Heroes. The Parish Council is also planning to sow poppy seeds in the grassed verges near to the open spaces/play areas to mark the anniversary. This anniversary also coincides with the 350 th Anniversary of the opening of the first Scargill School in West Hallam and an old photograph of boys at the school concert in 1900 shows four of the boys named that are also named on the Memorials. Roger, Alan Cooper and Ruth Bedford are working on arrangements to commemorate the two anniversaries with a play to be performed at St Wilfrid s Church on 11 October this year. Before that, as part of the Well Dressings event, the two Memorials will feature in a WW1 Anniversary Event with a Well Dressing by Bramble Lodge in the form a a Sherwood Foresters Badge. The date is Saturday 12 July. There will be an opportunity for anyone who wishes to place a wreath or Poppy Cross on the Memorial at that time. Please see item on page 12. More information about these events will be made available nearer the time. 9
Free Parking Bays Doubled in Erewash Register for Our Electronic Newsletter The number of short-stay free bays in Erewash Council s town centre car parks has been doubled from 1 April after residents and visitors dubbed the initiative a great success. The 30-minute free bays have been a big hit with shoppers who want to make quick visits to town, and as a result the original 36 short stay bays have now been increased to 75 across Erewash. The move sees Ilkeston s Baker Street, Queen Street and Station Road car parks change from pay and display into free 30-minute, short stay bays only. In addition, there are six car parks in Ilkeston town centre and seven in Long Eaton town centre that each have two designated 30-minute free bays. The Borough Council also plans to allow transferring of parking tickets between the council s car parks this element of the car parking initiative is likely to be in place later this year. The short stay parking scheme is part of the wider regeneration programme to encourage more visitors to the town centres and to promote the shop local message. The programme has also seen extended free parking across council car parks, enabling residents to park for free between the hours of 6pm - 10am daily. If you ve picked up a copy of this newsletter at one of our local shops, pubs or doctors surgeries, why not register to have future editions sent direct to you by e-mail. Just visit the Parish Council s web site at www.westhallampc.org.uk and follow the Sign Up link from the welcome page. 10
Coach Trips to Bletchley Park and National Memorial Arboretum Coach trips have been organised to Bletchley Park ( 29th May - 12.50pp) and National Memorial Arboretum (Weds 4th June - 6pp). Both will depart from West Hallam at 9am and Stanley at 9:10am. These trips are subsidised by the Ministry of Defence Covenant Grant Scheme. Both trips are limited to 50 Seats on the coach, so please apply early. For further details and an application form please contact Terry Hall, Derbyshire Submariners TAZstanley@yahoo.co.uk Fixing Derbyshire s Roads - a message from Derbyshire County Council The severe wet winter weather has caused extensive damage to the county s roads. We are taking action to mend as many potholes as quickly as possible - our roadworkers are working extra hours to help fix the backlog and we ve brought in external contractors. So far this year we have received more than 7,600 reports about potholes compared to 5,200 during the same period last year. We are making progress but please bear with us and rest assured that if you have reported a pothole we will sort it. If you do spot a pothole please report it and we ll sort it tell us online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/reportit 11
Do you have a couple of hours to spare occasionally? are looking for volunteers to help with both local events and the maintenance of this important community asset. Do you have an hour or two every few months that you could use in working with other cheery local volunteers? There is something for everyone to do: no particular skills are needed and age is no barrier. For further information check out the Village Hall website (westhallamvillagehall.org.uk) or phone Mary on 0115 9305386 ( leave an answer machine message and contact number so that someone can get back to you as soon as possible if necessary). Poppy Appeal - West Hallam War Memorial Commemoration - 12 July 2014 I am the West Hallam Poppy Appeal Organiser (PAO) working with Roger Wood. Standard Poppy Crosses will be supplied on site for a donation into a RBL Collecting Bucket on the day to be placed at the Memorial. Any individual or organisation who wishes to lay a wreath is requested to contact me to place an order ASAP to ensure early ordering. I can supply any Class of Poppy Wreath and contact me to discuss. The Class C Wreaths will be available with centres of organisation/regiment etc or in three unique designs for this special occasion of: a. b. c. Images of the three Wreath Inserts are show right. 12
PROMS at the PAVILION Proms at the Pavilion WITH The Rolls Royce BRASS BAND Friday BBQ ALE FLAGS 13
Telephone cold callers claiming that they can remove viruses from your computer The Police & Trading Standards have received a number of reports about a business cold-calling by telephoning and offering computer virus checks & updates. The traders give the patter that they can remove viruses from the computer and would the person that has received the call open their computer so that the company has access to it. Consumers are advised to think very carefully before accepting services by telephone. On one occasion bank details were given and a total of 100 was taken from an account, the owner of the computer actually had a virus checker fitted that stated that there were no viruses in the first place. Reputable companies do not usually advertise for business by calling you by telephone or carrying out home visits uninvited only if you ask them to. They'll also explain your consumer rights which rogue traders will not do. If goods or services cost you more than 35 you have cancellation rights to end the contract within seven-days. If you're not given a written notice explaining your cancellation rights the contract is unenforceable. The trader is committing a criminal offence and you do not have to pay. If you have a complaint about such an issue you can call Citizen s Advice Consumer Advice Service on 08454 04 05 06 Derbyshire Trading Standards Service can help you find honest and reliable traders with their Trusted Trader scheme. All the businesses who sign up with them have been checked out by the trading standards team so you know you'll be in safe hands. To find a Trusted Trader in your area call 08456 058 058 or visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/trustedtrader 14
In Brief Electoral Review of Erewash - as previously reported the Boundary Commission is pursuing the Parish Council s preferred option for a 47 member Borough Council (down from 51). Amongst their proposals, published in February, is one to do away with the current Stanley Ward on the Borough Council, and to include Stanley Common in the West Hallam and Dale Abbey Ward and Stanley Village in the Breadsall and Morley Ward. The new West Hallam and Dale Abbey Ward would retain three Councillors as at present. Parish boundaries are unaffected by this proposal. The proposals are currently out for public consultation. You can find out more information, including how to make your views known, on the Local Government Boundary Commission s website. If viewing electronically, just follow this link. The closing date for comments is 28 April 2014. Congratulations to Mr Norman Gadsby - one of the Parish Council s part time litter pickers - on his recent 80 th birthday! Norman continues to do an excellent job for our parish. Powtrell Community Pavilion - the main meeting room at the pavilion has now been redecorated. It is an ideal venue for clubs and groups looking for a local home as well as for private parties etc. For more information visit the Parish Council s web site at www.westhallam-pc.org.uk Litter/Dog Bin - Park Hall Lane - following a suggestion by a local resident the Parish Council has recently replaced the dog bin which it provided earlier last year in the lay bye close to the parish boundary on Park Hall Lane with a larger general purpose bin that can be used for both dog waste and general litter. Lights at the MUGA, Station Road Recreation Ground - the Parish Council is aware that two lights at the MUGA have not been working and is arranging for repairs to be carried out. Footpath improvements - the Parish Council is seeking to get improvements to the footpath between Scargill Road and Nursery Avenue carried out by the Community Payback Team. It is looking hopeful that this will be agreed, with only the cost of materials having to be met by the Parish Council. 15
Your Parish Councillors Councillor Carol Hart Chairman 0115 932 2513 Councillor Helena Chapman Vice Chairman 0115 932 8645 Councillor Darren Adams-Shaw 0115 932 3000 Councillor Bruce Broughton 0115 932 3531 Councillor Kev Garvey 0115 930 1162 Councillor Gary Hamson 0115 932 0732 Councillor Janet Hayes 0115 930 9684 Councillor Iris Howes 0115 932 0931 Councillor Barbara Harrison 0115 932 3000 Contact the Parish Council You can contact the Parish Council by writing to or phoning our Clerk, Mrs Susan Dunkley, 34 Sparrow Close, Ilkeston, DE7 4PW Telephone 0115 8498542 or 07854 591073 (mobile) or e-mail contact@westhallam-pc.org.uk West Hallam Open Gardens The Open Gardens event in June will be an opportunity to spend a leisurely afternoon strolling around a range of gardens in the village courtesy of the hospitality of the homeowners who will be throwing open their garden gates to visitors. Gardens will be open for four hours between 1 and 5pm. On the day, programmes will be available from the Village Hall where teas and cakes will be served throughout the afternoon. Proceeds will go to the West Hallam Village Hall Charity. Telephone Ann Ainsworth 0115 9303340 or Jean Lilley 0115 9303885 for more information. Alternatively email ainsworth.ann@btinternet.com or jean.genie@sky.com 16