New Litter Bin - River View

The litter bin located at the entrance to the Village Green disappeared in mysterious circumstances some time ago. Where did it go?

Since the county council wouldn't pay for a replacement, Ovingham Parish Council agreed to buy one. In the photo, Cllr. Richard Benjamin is seen testing it out with its first bit of litter. The bin can quite properly be used for bagged dog poo.

OPC also agreed to provide a completely new one at the entrance to the field which leads up to Whittle Dene just off Horsley Road. This one will be installed soon and it is planned to fix both bins up with a dispenser for free poo-bags ... so no excuses now!

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.

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.

Picnic in the Park

The new play equipment was declared officially open last Saturday 21st May by our county councillor Paul Kelly.

Nearly 300 people enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment by local bands in a marquee, children's games, competitions and informal picnics. The afternoon was a great success and marks not just the end of the project but all being well, the start of renewed interest in the playing field. Lots of people asked if something similar could be organised next year. Watch this space!

Thanks are due to the many residents who got involved in organising the event and making it such a special afternoon.

Photo: Colin Burt Photography 07703 402 982.

Parish Council Notes - May 2011

The Annual General Meeting was held in May. Margaret Turnbull was elected Chairman and Doreeen Jordon as Vice Chairman Doreen Jordon will represent the Council on the Reading Room Committee, Paul Macdonald and Val Mennear on the Burial Committee and Philip Holden our representative at Prudhoe High School.

The Chairman's Report showed a full and active year for the Councillors, all of whom were thanked by the Chairman. Unfortunately at the start of the year Melanie Morton resigned. She has been missed but Ian Heslop was co-opted to the Council and has proved already to be of great value. Especial thanks were given to Doreen Jordon who keeps the village so beautiful with her flower beds and Phil Holden who works so very hard keeping the recreation ground perfect for the many users. A new mower was purchased during the year and this has made his job a lot easer. Perhaps it is not known how much work Phil puts into keeping the pavilion up to a very high standard.

There have been cuts in maintenance work done by NCC but on the whole most jobs have been undertaken, though routine work perhaps hasn't been done so often and there always seems to be drains blocked somewhere.,.

The most successful undertaking of the Council has been the installation of the Playbuilder Scheme on the Recreation Ground. By the time this is read it should be well and truly used and we hope the young people of the village do enjoy it. So far it looks as though they are all very happy with it.

During the year, following the death of Angus Armstrong who has rented one of the grazing fields for many years, it was decided to offer further land to the Allotment Association.

We would remind all parishioners that the monthly minutes are on our Web Site and can always be read. Georgina has now resigned as clerk and we welcome Margaret Davenport who has taken her place.

New Play Equipment - Official Opening - Picnic in the Park

Click on the images above to read about our plans for the official opening of the new play equipment on the playing field. It promises to be a great, fun, family afternoon out. The weather is bound to be scorching ... but even if it isn't, there'll be a great big colourful marquee there. Entertainment, music (from local youth bands), drama, games, competitions .... a fun afternoon. Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, leave your car and have a great time. Be there .... or miss it!

Parish Council Notes - April 2011

The meeting which took place on 14 April was well attended. The Allotments Association have now taken over the extra land and a letter of thanks was read to the Council.

Georgina Harper, the parish clerk for the last five years, is retiring at the end of May. The new clerk is Margaret Davenport (Ovington) and she will take over from June.

A long standing request has been answered - what to do with the old village post box. Bob Klotz is arranging for it to be loaned to Bellingham Museum, where it should have a good home. If there is anybody who has a photograph of the old post office, this would be good to send with the postbox.

The Parish Council are still very concerned about the state of our roads. Some clearing of the gutters has been carried out but still many of the drains have not been cleared and cause very large puddles across the roads. Some potholes on Horsley Road have been cleared but still many remain and the subsidence on Castle View is still giving concern.

Councillor Holden must be congratulated on all his hard work with the Playbuilder Scheme which as I write this is almost finished and by the time you read this we will have had what we hope is going to be a very happy afternoon launching the new play scheme. We hope that the young people will find it a good asset to the village.

Councillor Jordon, together with Councillor Jackson are well on the way with producing the new village plan and their appeal is to everybody for things they feel would improve village life. Please, when you receive your copy, do think, write and return to the Council your "wishes".

For two years now the Council has been producing a monthly magazine which is circulated to all households. However, under the economies which they are having to make this is to be discontinued, though hard copies are to be produced which will be found in some of our libraries.

On a rather sad note - our Community Policeman has reported that there is a crime wave at the moment here in the village on the Piper Road Estate and in Wylam. The police are urging everybody to be vigilant with property and especially cars and their contents.

Additional notes from OPC councillors:-

As you will have read in the notes above, Georgina Harper is retiring at the end of May. The job of parish council clerk involves a wide range of skills including perseverance, diplomacy, flexibility and above all a commitment to the community. Much of the work goes un-noticed by residents. Phone calls, meetings, letters, emails, chasing up un-answered emails, ... the list goes on. Georgina over the last 6 years, has done all of this on our behalf extremely successfully for minimal remuneration but we know with a lot of satisfaction. For that Georgina, on behalf of all the councillors and residents, many, many thanks. We wish you well.