The Informer
Todwick Parish Council
No. 60
July 2002
YOUR PARISH COUNCIL - At the May meeting of the Council the
Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council were re-elected for the coming
year, so the Council membership is now Councillors Clive Pantry (85 The
Meadows, tel: 771024) Chairman; John Mosley (95 The Meadows, tel: 771384)
Vice-Chairman; Mary Gregory (13 Manor Way, tel: 770703); Darryl Lythell,
37 Rectory Gardens (tel: 773387); Barrie Marsh (9 Barber Close, tel:
773235); Tony Rusling (4 Furnival Close, tel: 770081); Brenda Waller and
Leslie Waller (13 The Pastures, tel: 770819). There is one new name this
year as Darryl Lythell has been co-opted to take the place of Bill Senior
who resigned on leaving the village.
The Clerk to the Council is still Rod Walker to whom all correspondence
should be addressed at 10 High Street, South Anston, Sheffield S25 5AY (tel:
566639).
ANOTHER COUNCIL VACANCY! Ian Pennock, who was co-opted to the
Council in 2001 to fill another vacancy is no longer a member as a result
of ill-health which prevented his attendance at meetings for many months.
There is therefore another vacancy which can be filled by co-option for a
Councillor to serve until May 2003 when the present Council comes to the
end of its life. If you would like to be considered - without too long a
commitment - please write to the Clerk (as above) or discuss the matter
with one of the existing members in time for consideration at the
September meeting.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS - These are held in the Village Hall on
the last Tuesday of each month, except August, commencing at 7.30 pm.
There is an Open Session at.8.30 pm when members of the public may ask
questions or comment on any matter of concern, but otherwise they may not
speak although they are welcome to be present. Dates of forthcoming
meetings are: 30 July, 24 September, 29 October and 26 November.
CODE OF CONDUCT - As reported in the March issue of The
Informer the Parish Council has adopted a Code of Conduct as
required under the Parish Councils (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2001. A
copy is available for inspection at the Help Desk on the Ground Floor of
the Civic Building, Walker Place, Rotherham, between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm,
Mondays to Fridays, or locally by arrangement with the Parish Clerk
(details as above) at Todwick Village Hall.
OUR BOROUGH COUNCILLORS - Do you know who our Councillors on
Rotherham Borough Council are? If you read the latest issue of Rotherham
Council Matters and you looked at the "rogues gallery" on page
10, and if you knew that we are in Ward 13, Kiveton Park, you will have
seen their pictures and telephone numbers: Audrey Gilbert (515155), Ann
Britton (773617), and Karl Barton (774148). With the exception of
Councillor Gilbert they appear to take little interest in Todwick, but you
are entitled to seek their support in any matter relating to the work of
Rotherham Council as it affects you, the village and its residents.
TRAFFIC CALMING - Todwick residents received a letter from
Rotherham Borough Council's Engineering Service in May giving the results
of the surveys carried out, including the response to the consultation
with residents, and indicating alterations which they proposed to
undertake. Work has already started on the modification of the road humps
by increasing the ramp lengths - the first to be done was that just above
Mortains on Kiveton Lane, and the reaction so far has been favourable.
The Parish Council pressed for one hump to be done as an experiment
before continuing with with the rest, but this was not accepted although
the Engineers agreed that work would be carried out on one hump at a time
working through the village until all on Kiveton Lane and The Pastures had
been treated - unless it became evident that this was not solving the
problems in which case work would cease and the options be reconsidered.
Quite what the subtle difference is between these two views is not clear,
but if the result of the modifications is to solve the noise and other
problems that difference is immaterial!
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS - The Community Event on the
Recreation Ground on 16 June was hailed as a resounding success - many
people felt it had been the best event to be held in Todwick for many
years. No count was kept of those who attended, but it was estimated to
have run into 100's with people of all ages present enjoying the various
kinds of entertainment. One of the most popular was face painting with a
long queue of children until long after the official finishing time. The
Jubilee Hat competition attracted 7 children and was won by Rachel Cash,
but in the adult section there was only one entry - oh ladies, where was
your sense of fun?
Thanks are due especially to the very hard-working committee who
organised the day, John Mosley, Sheila Pantry, Audrey Radford, James
Armstrong and Lisa Beardsmore, but also to all the organisations which
took part by providing refreshments and running various attractions. The
musical evening with the Jazz Preservation Society Band was equally
successful and Much enjoyed, and like the afternoon was blessed with good
weather.
Thanks to grants from the South Rotherham Community Chest and the
Parish Council and the generosity of Sponsors the event actually made a
profit! Total income (including receipts from the two raffles) was £1758.10,
and outgoings amounted to £1257.88. When the committee met after the
event it was decided to give £50 to each of the groups involved -
the PTA, Mothers Union, Women's Institute, Bowling Club, Cricket Club, the
Brownies and the Guides. TEAG, in addition to £50, was granted the
remaining £100 to rebuild the planter near the Carpet Shop. The wonderful
support and enthusiasm of the many groups in Todwick who contributed to
the success of the event has been rightly described as COMMUNITY SPIRIT AT
ITS BEST!
THE RECREATION GROUND ROADWAY - The Parish Council had
originally agreed a high quality specification for this road which was in
very poor condition, but failure to obtain a grant towards the cost caused
the Council to lower its sights and pay for a lower quality specification
out of its own resources. The work was completed just in time for the
Jubilee event at a cost of £14,666 which was allowed for in this year's
budget.
DIRTY DOGS! - The Council last year considered the provision of
dog waste bins, and felt it would be more economical to purchase and
install them ourselves than to accept the quotation of the Borough
Council. £1500 has been included in this year's Budget which should allow
5 bins to be provided instead of 4 by Rotherham. It is expected they will
be installed in the reasonably near future - when that happens, dog owners
PLEASE USE THEM!
THE COMMUNITY CHEST - Earlier this year the Mother & Toddler
Group which meets in the Village Hall on Tuesday mornings received a grant
of £500 from the South Rotherham Community Chest which was spent on
much-needed equipment. COULD YOUR GROUP MAKE USE OF A GRANT? If so
application forms are available from Norman Foulds of the SRCC at Chantry
Buildings, 6/20 Corporation Street, Rotherham S60 1MG (tel: 01709-837001)
or, if you find it more convenient Sheila Pantry of 85 The Meadows
(tel:771024) has some. Completed forms should be returned by the end of
this month (July) for this round of grants.
THE VILLAGE HALL - The application for funding for the
refurbishment of the Hall was submitted to the Lottery Commission several
weeks ago and the outcome is awaited. Should it be successful the Parish
Council has set aside £30,000 (the result of six years' collection of an
additional £5,000 on the precept) towards the cost of the work involved.
CHRISTIAN AID - This year's envelope collection totalled
the magnificent sum of £1183.17 - 6% more than in 2001 and a record for
Todwick! Roy and Joan Hesketh who organised it wish to thank all who
contributed so generously.
TODWICK BROWNIES - The Brownies are looking for a new Assistant
Brownie Guider to help with the Pack in Todwick. You need to have an
hour-and-a-half to spare on Wednesdays from 6.00 - 7.30 pm, plus a little
extra time for planning a programme for them. If you are interested in
working with girls between 7 and 10 years old please contact Audrey
Radford on 771931. You will find they have lots of fun - and we understand
there is a waiting list to join!
THE BOWLING CLUB - Unfortunately it proved impossible this year
to organise the Inter-Parish Councils Bowls Competition which has been so
enjoyable in the past 2 years. However the Todwick Junior School
Competition held this month was once again a great success. For more
information about the Club and its activities contact Alan Tizard on
771438.
FOOTPATH WALKS - These take place on the second Sunday of each
month, leaving the Village Hall at 10.00 am. They are led by Mr Pat Wilson
who may be contacted for further Information on 771319.
THE POLICE - Our Community Police Officers are Tina Jones and
Howard Saul. However if you try to contact them at Kiveton Police Station
(01709 832681) and only get the answering machine DO NOT leave a message
if your call is urgent, but RING 0114 2 20 20 20 for a prompt and
personal response. Todwick is a relatively crime-free area, but there have
been a number of burglaries in recent months - mainly on or just off
Kiveton Lane.
AUTUMN PLANTING - It may still be summer but TEAG (the
Environment Action Group) members are already thinking ahead. If you have
any bulbs, shrubs or plants surplus to your requirements they would be
pleased to plant them around the village. Sheila Pantry is willing to
collect them if you contact her on 771024 - otherwise leave a message with
Brenda Palmer in the Post Office.
TODWICK NURSING HOME - Has recently published a Newsletter to
let people in the Village know more about them. Weather permitting they
hope to arrange some trips out this summer, but they have to be organised
with one carer/companion per resident, on a voluntary basis. If you are
willing and able to help please get in touch with Lyn, the activities
co-ordinator, so she can contact you when in need of help. She would also
appreciate ideas for places to visit. The Nursing Home telephone no. is
770248.
THE VILLAGE APPRAISAL - PROGRESS AT LAST!
In several recent issues of The Informer you will have
read of the Parish Council's desire to have an appraisal in Todwick, and
at last things are moving. A small group of interested people - not all
Parish Councillors but in most cases representing village organisations -
have met to begin the necessary planning.
The purpose of an appraisal is to provide an opportunity for local
people to express their views about where they live and to become involved
in the future of their area, leading to new initiatives by the community
for the community. The results can be used to inform decision makers and
demonstrate local needs, as well as strengthening applications for
funding. An appraisal can be used as the basis for a Parish Plan. These
are part of the "Vital Villages" Scheme being run by the
Countryside Agency, which offers a range of grants and advice to rural
communities to help them take action on many issues.
The Plan should cover all the issues of concern to the community, such
as local services, transport, housing, employment, community facilities,
development and leisure opportunities. The group at its most recent
meeting considered the information which would be required in each of
these areas, and is to prepare a Questionnaire to go to every household in
Todwick as a starting point for the detailed consultation process required
to prepare a Plan.
Information given in completed questionnaires will not be identified by
households - only by post codes - so it will be confidential as far as
possible. It is likely that Questionnaires will be distributed in the
early autumn (after the holiday season) but a great deal of work remains
to be done beforehand.
WHEN YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE PLEASE CO-OPERATE BY
COMPLETING AND RETURNING IT. WITHOUT YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT IT WILL NOT BE
POSSIBLE TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THIS ENTERPRISE WHICH IS NEEDED FOR THE
FUTURE OF TODWICK - FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
TWENTY YEARS ON! This issue of The Informer marks
20 years of publication, which has helped to make Todwick one of the best-informed parishes about the
activities of their Council. Looking back to the first issue in November 1982 we see that
three of the Councillors at that time are still serving! In fact one of
them has been responsible for every issue of The Informer.
It is interesting to note that amongst the very basic information about
the Parish Council in the first issue was a reference to complaints about
dogs fouling footpaths, so perhaps times have not changed all that much!
There was also a paragraph on Todwick Environment and Conservation
Society, which at some later date folded up, and has now been succeeded by
TEAG which we hope will have a much longer life.
TODWICK WEB SITE - Don't forget that these days you can keep
up-to-date on the village, its organisations and their activities,
including news of the Parish Council, on our own web site www.todwick.org.uk
- something which was unheard of in 1982. Manager Sheila Pantry (tel:
771024) always welcomes news of activities in Todwick which she can
include.
The Informer is published three times a year by Todwick Parish
Council from 10 High Street, South Anston, Sheffield S25 5AY. The next
issue will appear in November 2002.
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