21st March 2000
Appendix (i)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2000
Yet again it has been a busy year for the council. Work on cleaning out the ditch around Bowey Field has been completed. The ditch and hedges around the recreation ground have been attended to and our thanks go to Dave Frampton for the effort he has put in. The bus shelter has been repainted, central heating installed in the old part of the pavilion, half of the recreation ground car park has had a new tarmac surface and a Youth Club has been started, with a regular attendance of around 22 children per week. All this as well as the regular maintenance and improvement work has been achieved.
The council has sought improvements to drainage problems at Belchalwell and The Hollow. The County Council has done work on both and it remains to be seen if they have been successful.
The council continues to liaise with the chicken processing factory and NDDC to seek a reduction in nuisance caused to residents as a result of factory operations, this is ongoing.
I would like to thank all those people who have come forward to support the Parish Council in its work especially the Footpath Liaison Officer, the Public Transport Officer and the Tree Officer.
I would also like to thank the councillors for their continued work and support and the clerk for her efforts in maintaining the smooth running of the council. Special thanks to Mr Eric Fleetwood for his efforts co-ordinating the Homewatch scheme.
Thanks once again to those who take the trouble to attend Parish meetings. It is important that more parishioners do this if we are not to lose what in my view is the most democratic tier of government.
The parish should be considering if it is time to do another village appraisal thus affording the opportunity to discuss the future development of the village.
The council is looking at providing a basket ball area at Bowey Field, what the possibilities are for the orchard area in Mary Gardens and what further work needs to be done at the recreation ground to improve our facilities.
The Village Hall management committee is awaiting the outcome of its lottery application for an extension to the village hall.
There is still plenty to do but we need more input from parishioners as to what they see as important.
