Tuesday 16 August 2011

Village Plan - Questionnaire

Residents will soon be receiving a questionnaire which invites comments on a whole range of issues. The council will use the responses to plan long and short term targets and will help to form the yearly precept for the next five years. The precept is the annual sum of money we receive and is included in the Council Tax.

The questionnaire is an important opportunity for residents to inform the council of issues that concern them. A good response is also important for the council as it helps us to understand what residents would like us to concentrate on.

Please find time to complete your questionnaire and return it either to one of the councillors or the Reading Room letter box. If you haven't received your questionnaire by the end of August please contact one of the councillors and they will make sure you get one.

Completed forms need to be returned by 3rd September when analysis will begin. Needless to say, the questionnaire is completely anonymous and confidential.

Monday 1 August 2011

Parish Council Notes - July 2011

PC Charlie Cross from Community Policing, Prudhoe, attended the June Parish Council meeting to give a talk about recent policing issues in the area. Although these did not specifically affect Ovingham, there had been a spate of bogus callers and theft of metals. He asked that people be on the alert, and it was always better to report anything suspicious, than not at all.

Councillor Jordon had been busy reviewing village maintenance areas and presented a detailed list of ones of concern. These included the east end of the village, on the Wylam road were weeds, brambles and overhanging branches were a big problem. Also weeds and overgrown shrubs by Ovingham Bridge and on the bend in Horsley Road.

The Old Post Box has been donated and collected by the Heritage Centre at Bellingham, where they hope to use it to collect children’s completed quizzes. There seems to be lots to do at the Museum and may be worth a visit during the school holidays. The museum is open Mon – Sat 9.30 am – 4.30 pm and Sundays 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, or telephone 01434 22 00 50.

There will be no Parish Council meeting in August, but I hope to keep you updated with some information in the next magazine.