England's Great Litter Count

Keep Britain Tidy are looking for help with their project entitled 'England's Great Litter Count'.
Volunteers and groups are invited to survey the types and brands of litter in their area and KBT will collate and publish the results nationally.
You can find out more and register your interest by following this link:

http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/KeyIssues/Litter/England'sGreatLitterCount/Default.aspx

Parish News - February 2013

PC Cross, Community officer, attended the January meeting and spoke about a new speed device unit, which is now available in the local area. He advised he had already received positive feedback from this but it needed time to get the message across to drivers. PC Cross was also hoping to re-educate cyclists when using the bridge over the Tyne and would be liaising with the likes of Sustrans and local schools.

As well as refurbishing/repairing windows at the Pavilion, work is due to start on upgrading the BMX track soon. Grants have been received in part for the BMX track and the Parish Council is only pledging a relatively small amount towards the cost.

Apologies for the incorrect date for the February meeting which will have been held on 14^th February and not the 21^st as previously stated. I do hope no-one turned up on the 21^st!.

Margaret Davenport
Clerk to Ovingham Parish Council

Pilates & Fitness Training.

Details below of Pilates and Fitness Training in the village. Get fit! Sign up!

Class times are as follow:

Tuesday: 9.30 - 10.30am Pilates @ Old School in Ovingham (term time only)

Wednesday: 8.15 - 9.15pm Pilates @ Old School in Ovingham

Friday: 9.30 - 10.30am Pilates Plus @ Old School in Ovingham (term time only)

Sunday: 9.45 - 10.45am HIT (high intensity training) @ Old School in Ovingham

For more information, class bookings, Personal Training contact Diane - 07830292542 or visit www.ssfitnesspt.co.uk

Looking for a home to rent?

We've just been sent this information from the County Council. Please pass it on to anyone who you think may be interested.

If you are looking to rent a home within the Northumberland area, Northumberland Homefinder offers available council, social rented, private rented and shared ownership homes to prospective tenants’ giving a choice in where they want to live and the type of house they would like to live in.

Click on this link for more details.

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=985

Parish News - January 2013

Although the Parish Council did not have a meeting in December (and I am writing this before their January meeting), the Councillors met to discus the recent planning application which has been submitted by Northumberland Estates. This is for a development of 20 houses, including affordable housing, on a site to the north of Piper Road. They agreed to object to the application and a letter has been sent to the Planning Department at Northumberland County Council. We will have to await the outcome but it may be some time before we hear anything further.

May 2^nd this year is the date for local elections. This includes County Council as well as Parish Council. The Reading Room has already been booked!

Moles have again appeared on the playing field and a mole catcher was duly summoned. Hopefully, this has cured the problem. The windows at the Pavilion should be replaced soon.

The February meeting is on the 21^st at 7.15pm and that of March will also be the 21^st. As ever, these are held in the Reading Room.

Margaret Davenport
Clerk to Ovingham Parish Council

Thinking of becoming a Parish Councillor?

Have you ever thought about becoming a town or parish councillor? Would you like to find out more about the role?
Workshops will take place in the New Year in Alnwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Choppington and Hexham to provide information and advice. 
At each session county council and Northumberland Association of Local Councils officers and parish/town councillors will be attending to give presentations and advice.

Sessions will cover the following:
· What are parish and town councils?
· What powers and freedoms do they have?
· How do they relate to the County Council?
· How can you apply or stand to become a parish or town councillor?


The sessions will take place as follows:
· Monday 21 January 2013 - Council Chamber, Clayport Street, Alnwick
· Thursday 24 January 2013 - Prospect House, Hexham
· Monday 28 January 2013 – William Elder Building, Berwick-upon-Tweed 
· Wednesday 30 January 2013 - Jamieson Room, Choppington Social Welfare Centre, Scotland Gate, Choppington.


Light refreshments will be provided at 6pm before each workshop begins at 6.30pm. The sessions will be chaired by the area chairman for the area: Councillor Pat Scott in Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed, Councillor Colin Horncastle in Hexham and Councillor Ian Swithenbank in Choppington. There will be opportunities to ask questions throughout each session.

Paddy Gascoigne, service manager for democratic services at Northumberland County Council said: “Councils depend on the energy, enthusiasm and the commitment of local people. It can be immensely rewarding joining your local council and you can really improve local life. If you would like to know more about becoming a town or parish councillor, I would urge you to get in touch.” 

If you are interested in attending, please telephone Mike Bird in democratic services on 01670 622616 or email demserv.ar@northumberland.gov.uk so that numbers for each event can be confirmed.

Parish News - November 2012

There will be no Parish Council meeting in December – the next one is scheduled for Thursday, January 17^th 2013 at 7.15pm in the Reading Room.

A problem has arisen in respect of the proposed parking bays behind the Church. This is due to not knowing whom the land belongs to! Northumberland County Council advise that it is not theirs, and it does not appear to belong to either the Church or the Parish Council. Further enquiries are therefore necessary.

Councillor Jordon has been busy planting throughout the village and we all hope that 2013 will be a much better year as regards the weather. Various other tidy up jobs have been undertaken too. The Action Plan in response to the Village Questionnaire is also updated on the website.

There will be Parish Council elections in May this year when all Councillors will be eligible for re-election. More news on this later as I expect the County Council will soon be sending me an awful lot of literature (mainly be email to save their costs but it still needs reading and/or printing).

Margaret Davenport
Clerk to Ovingham Parish Council