SHOTLEY PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
May 2017
We are nearly half way through the year and work continues in earnest...
- Shotley has been nominated for National Village of the Year
- Cllr Barrie Powell has been elected to a second year of office as Chairman of the Parish Council; Cllr Robert Higgs as the Vice-chairman- We would like to thank both for the consistent hard work and dedication in the last few months, as well as our other seven councillors. The role of a parish councillor is often challenging and unappreciated regardless of how hard we work and what best intentions we have, but we will always try to do the best for our village and the rewards of the great decisions made today will be there for generations.
- At this year’s Annual Parish Meeting, five unsung heroes will be receiving the Shotley Parish Council Community Award. We will tell you about them on the next issue.
- UK Power Networks have kindly put their dates back to allow the Shotley Flower Festival to go ahead without any disruption and continue to work with the Parish Council to ensure that one of their greatest undertakings goes as smoothly as possible.
- The Parish Council agreed to support proposals for a Landscape Partnership Scheme around the Stour and Orwell, which could result in path improvements to the foreshore at no cost to the taxpayer.
- The Parish Council has also agreed to lobby Babergh District Council into repairing, re-opening and re-letting currently empty council houses in the village. There is a desperate need for housing in the area and it just does not make sense that some properties remain unoccupied for so long.
- Mr Manish Patel from Shotley Stores kindly donated two picnic tables to the Parish Council, which will hopefully be well used by parents and children in the Kingsland play area.
- Speaking of the Stores, Cllr B Powell and I were very fortunate to attend the grand opening of the bigger and better facility. We hope the business goes from strength to strength. It is always special to see any of our village business ventures succeed.
- The Parish Council has been working with Babergh DC’s grants team in order to identify possible funding sources for the works needed to the Village Hall car park. The re-surfacing project is likely to cost in the region of £30,000.
- Installation of two Queen’s 90th celebratory benches on the path between the primary school and East View Terrace-The Council agreed to purchase two recycled materials benches, in line with others in the village. However, these cost in excess of £500 each and the Council would welcome sponsors. Your generosity will be “advertised” on the benches themselves for many years to come.
The Parish Council will meet on June 15th, July 20th, August 17th, September 21st, October 19th, November 16th and December 14th, at 7.15pm, at the village hall. We look forward to seeing you there. Dina Bedwell, Clerk to the Parish Council