August and September meetings
Amenities: Unfortunately, a new contractor to carry out litter picking and emptying of 8 bins in Shotley Gate is yet to be appointed. This may result in an increase in uncollected litter and overfilled bins until the situation is resolved. The Parish Council continues to appeal to residents on the peninsula to consider taking on this part time position, who would easily suit a retired person or someone just keen to make some money. We would also like to appeal to residents to form a Litter Working Party to help in the meantime, as we would not want our village to suffer as a result. If you are interested in applying or joining please contact the Clerk.
Dog fouling continues to be an issue in Shotley and apart from being a serious health hazard, it also spoils our lovely green spaces. Inconsiderate dog owners are warned that they are now being reported to the Council and should expect a letter very soon. Fines range from £80 fixed penalty to £1000 if taken to Court. Please report any incident you witness to the Clerk in absolute confidence.
Verge/footpath maintenance has been a concern throughout the Spring and Summer and due to the recent restructure and decrease in funding in our county and district councils, it does not look likely to improve any time soon. Parish Councils are being encouraged to carry out their own maintenance through the use of volunteers, so again if this is an issue that you are passionate about please contact the Clerk, as the Parish Council would be willing to support a Working Group.
Parish Council news: It is with regret that we would like to inform our residents of the recent resignation of Mr Tony Lawford-Randall, both as Parish Councillor and Chairman. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Lawford-Randall for this time in office. Our newly appointed Chairman is Mr Barry Powell and we would like to welcome him into his new post. The same goes for our newly appointed Vice-Chairman, Mr Bob Higgs.
Parish Council Hours: The Parish Council office hours are Tuesday to Thursday between 9.00am and 4:00pm. E-mails and telephone messages can be sent at any time and will be answered as soon as possible. One to one appointments can be arranged by appointment. Contact details are available on this Noticeboard.
The next Parish Council meetings are due to take place 20 October, 17 November and 15 December. Meetings take place at the Village Hall, large committee room and start at 7.15pm. Please do come along and find out more about what is happening in your parish. We look forward to seeing you there.
Dina Bedwell, Shotley Parish Clerk