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Cotton Quarterly Cotton Parish Council Village Newsletter Winter 2013
Cotton QuarterlyCotton Parish Council Village Newsletter
Winter 2013
Cotton Parish has a NEW website!www.cotton.onesuffolk.net
Village News, Events, Photos, Newsletters & moreIf there is something you would like to seee on the website
please contact usemail: [email protected]
Cotton Parish Council
At the meeting of Cotton Parish Council held on the 2nd October the village hall committee updated the Council on the repairs needed to the village hall. Councillor Gibbs presented the emergency plan he has compiled.After a comprehensive survey it has been revealed that extensive repair work is needed on the front wall of the village hall. Quotations for the work have been obtained and the cost will be between £30k & £35k. Investigations are underway to source funding from various sources but the Village Hall Committee will still have to raise around £10k. The Council has agreed to assist the fundraising by making a donation; the amount will be agreed at the next meeting of the Council.Over the last few months Councillor Peter Gibbs, who has experience in this area, has compiled a “Village Emergency Plan” he has done this in conjunction with the District Council and will involve neighboring villages. The plan was accepted by the Council and Councillor Gibbs will update residents via the “Cotton Quarterly” and the village web-site.S.C.C./M.S.D.C. Councillor Stringer’s reports along with that from the local Police are published on the village web-site If any Cotton village organizations wish to display notices on the notice boards they should contact me and I will provide the keys to allow them access to display & remove notices.The Parish Council has been made aware that some hedges along Broad Road are now intruding onto the road causing problems for cyclists and pedestrians. It would be greatly appreciated if residents would ensure that their hedges are not a danger to road users.The date of Parish Council meetings appear on the village web-site and all four of the notice boards.
Colin HallClerk to Cotton Parish Council
Welcome to the Winter issue of the Cotton Quarterly Newsletter.
Your Parish Councillors are:Chair Mrs Valerie Couldridge 01449 781047Vice chair Mrs Sarah Wenban 01449 781095CouncillorsMrs Beryl Ellis 01449 780007Mr Peter Gibbs 01449 781308Mrs Beryl Halliday 01449 781682 Mr Christopher Tester 01449 782134Mr David Williams 01449 781645Parish Clerk Colin Hall 01449 781400Mid Suffolk District /Suffolk County CouncillorAndrew Stringer 01449 780339
Parish email address: [email protected] web-site: www.cotton.onesuffolk.netKeith Flynn (web-site manager) [email protected]
N.B. Copy deadline for Cotton Quarterly Spring issue 26 January
Cotton Community Emergency Plan
The Parish Council members have been spending some time putting together an Emergency Plan for the village; they agreed the final version at their October meeting.Why bother having a plan you might well ask?The reality is that we often sit at home watching the television news and are presented with a grisly catalogue of disasters - usually somewhere else! Very few people expect a disaster to happen to them, be it a small road accident or something more severe like a train crash or a major fire but these awful things happen unexpectedly to somebody, somewhere every day.
Suffolk County Council is keen for all communities to be ready if the unthinkable occurs. The Emergency Services are well rehearsed in co-ordinating and dealing with big incidents but an unsung part of that process is the role played by the local community. Experience of recent incidents has highlighted the need for local help and places for people to go, be it to shelter from extreme weather in the event of large scale road closures or people being evacuated from their houses because of a chemical spillage, or even dealing with community members in difficulty due to long term power outages, (never underestimate the effect of no electricity for several days!) The list of what could happen is a frighteningly long one. So we now have a plan in the event of being called upon to respond quickly and effectively to a crisis.
Parish Council members have a copy of the Plan; so also do key residents who will have a part to play in getting things going and knowing what they may be required to do. The Plan is all contained on one sheet of paper so it is ‘short and sharp’. There will be a copy on the village web-site at http://cotton.onesuffolk.net/Useful-Information if you would like a printed copy please ring me (01449 781308) and I’ll bring one round.
Peter Gibbs.
FRIENDS OF COTTON CHURCHRegistered Charity No. 1053483
www.onesuffolk.co.uk/cotton
Featuring
THE EDMUND OCTETwith
Traditional Carols, a Dash of Humourand Seasonal Refreshments
St Andrews Church, Cotton
Concert
SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2013 FROM 7.00 PM
Tickets £7.50 from 01449 781320/782134under twelves free
Friends of Cotton ChurchReg Charity 1053483
Thank You Thank you to all who responded so far to our recently delivered letter, it is touching that many of you would like the Friends of Cotton Church to continue to fund raise and organise a varied range of events, many of which had become firm fixtures in the Cotton Calendar. As anyone who has ever helped with any event will tell you, it needs a number of people to make these events happen, as a number of committee members wish to step down, there is a great opportunity for anyone to express an interest in getting involved with the FCC, we fully recognise that many of you lead very busy lives and may be thinking that you would like to help, but might not be able to put aside the time needed. You may feel able to serve on our committee, which normally meets in the evening no more than once a month, or you may feel you could help out with one specific event, either way please get in touch we would love the chance to have you on board. If anyone would like discuss any of this please give myself or Christine a call, or come and see us at the Christmas Concert. 5 Year InspectionWe have just received the 5 year (quinquennial) inspection report; this report is conducted every five years by a specially qualified Architect, and sets out the challenges that lie ahead with the structural and maintenance issues that need attention. The current report has a number of small low budget items that need to be addressed as well as some larger ticket items such as the Chancel Roof, and the structural engineers report needed for the Bell cage in the Tower.
Christmas ConcertWe are delighted to once again have the Edmund Octet entertain us at our Christmas Concert, as well as the opportunity to sing along with a number of favourite Carols, A number of entertaining Seasonal readings are to feature. Look forward to seeing you there.
Andrew Stringer Chairman FCC 01449 780339
Christine Tester Secretary 01449 782134
What’s on
DecemberLine Dancing 2nd 9th 16th 23rd EveningsZumba 2nd 9th 16th 23rd MorningsBokwa 11th 18th EveningsShow Dog Training 3rd 17th V P A Dinner 4th Village Hall Meeting 10th Circle Club10th
Café 14th Quiz Night 20th
January Line Dancing 6th 13th 20th 27th EveningsZumba 6th 13th 20th 27th MorningsBokwa 8th 15th 22nd 29th
Show Dog Training 7th 21st Circle Club 14th 28th Café 25th
February 1st or 8th Charity functionLine Dancing 3rd 10th 17th 24th EveningsZumba 3rd 10th 17th 24th MorningsBokwa 5th 12th 19th 26th Show Dog Training 4th 18th
Circle Club 11th 25th
All bookings known by 31st October
Cotton Village HallBack in the 1920s the plot of land on which the Village Hall sits, along with the sports field next to it, were given to the village in perpetuity and the use and care of that land was vested in a small number of trustees.
Major fund raising followed and it is to the absolute credit of those involved at the time that the hall was able to be built without the need of a mortgage or bank loan.
The construction of the hall was, and remains, traditional for such buildings. The essential structure is a timber framed building, clad on the outside surface with render and plasterboard on the inner surfaces.
In 2009 we saw the publication of the Cotton Parish Plan – which attempted to capture residents’ views of what meant most to them about our village.
One very significant feature was the Village Hall itself and the activities it hosted. There was significant interest in expanding those activities and making them reflect contemporary needs.
Since then there has been a very considerable increase in the use of the Hall. Regular activities include zumba; line dancing; bokwa; dog training; Community Circle Club and Café; African drums, as well as more traditional events such as meetings of the Parish Council, VPA, children’s parties, young people’s discos and drama events of various forms. The Hall is undoubtedly a central feature of life in Cotton.
But we have a very real problem with part of the wall structure. Please read the centre spread of this Newsletter to see why we now need to urgently raise a considerable amount of money in order to ensure that the Hall will continue to provide a valuable resource for the village and those who live in it.
John DohertyChairman: Cotton Village Hall Committee
IMPORTANT NOTICE – Cotton Village Hall – It’s Crunch Time!
After last December’s vandal attack at the Hall, the Committee decided to seek funds to replace all the windows, so we could have UPVC double glazed windows throughout.
During this work it was discovered that the wall across the front of the Hall had deteriorated substantially and there was extensive wet damage to the structural timbers. We sought professional advice as to the extent of the damage and the best course of action. A villager with professional contacts kindly carried out a detailed survey free of charge and their report provides an excellent basis as to how we can address the problems.
The options boil down to a simple few:
1. Demolish the hall and re-build a new one, estimated time factor 3-5 years cost in the region of £350,000.
2. Do nothing, but this would eventually mean the loss of YOUR HALL
3. Undertake the necessary repairs, as per the surveyor’s report we have been given. Estimated project cost is around £35,000. (NB: All the UPVC windows would be re-used!) if we include replacement of three fire doors.The Committee has decided that the third option is the most effective way to move forward. This also has the backing of the Parish Council in principle.
MAKING THIS HAPPENSo how do we raise £35,000 relatively quickly so that the work can be done during 2014?With a few exceptions, all grant and funding bodies require us to match their grants, often on a 50/50 basis. So, it is becoming very clear that, to save our Village Hall, the village will need to raise an initial ‘war chest’ of around £10,000, which would then put us in a strong position to raise the remainder.
To achieve this we are asking if every householder in the village could contribute as much as they can afford to this fund to save our hall for everyone.
But we are all too well aware of how difficult a time many of our fellow residents are having and even a few pounds is just too much to ask. Equally, there may be households in the village who would be prepared to donate significantly more.
We’ve asked ourselves, “How might this ‘war chest’ actually materialise? Is it doable?”
THE FIRST BIG STEPThere are around 220 households in the village. Just for the sake of example, imagine if the following were to happen:
• Ten households each donating £250
• plus forty donating £100,
• fifty donating £50 and
• eighty donating £10
This would raise £9,800, which is near enough to our target.
Of course these numbers are purely an idea, but the main purpose is to show that it should be possible for the village to raise sufficient funds to enable a wider fund raising exercise to succeed.
BUT IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?Is this a realistic approach? What do you think? Please let us know, together with any other ideas you may have.
You can contact the Hall Restoration sub-committee as follows:
John Doherty ([email protected]; 01449 781083); Jenny Hanlon ([email protected]; 07723347200); Bert Bertoloni ([email protected]; 01449 780035).
A PUBLIC MEETINGThis is an important stage in the future of your village’s Hall. We would therefore invite you all to attend an open meeting at the Hall on Tuesday 10th December 2013 at 7.30pm.
It’s an opportunity to voice your ideas as to how we, the guardians of Your Village Hall, should progress with this.
STARTING THE BALL ROLLINGPlease send donations to the Village Hall Committee Treasurer, Mrs Jenny Hanlon at Wisteria Cottage, Mendlesham Road, Cotton, IP14 4RB (cheques payable to “Cotton Village Hall Committee”).
Many thanks for reading this and we hope you will find it possible to help.
Community Circle Club and Café dates for Dac 2013 - March 2014
Tuesday 10 December 2pm – 4pm Community Circle Club
Saturday 14 December 10am – 12noon Community Circle Christmas Café
Tuesday 14 January 2pm – 4pm Community Circle Club
Saturday 25 January 10am – 12noon Community Circle Café
Tuesday 28 January 2pm – 4pm Community Circle ClubTuesday 11 February 2pm – 4pm Community Circle ClubTuesday 25 February 2pm – 4pm Community Circle Club
Saturday 8 March 10am – 12noon Community Circle Café
Tuesday 11 March 2pm – 4pm Community Circle ClubTuesday 25 March 2pm – 4pm Community Circle Club
Community Circle Christmas Café Saturday 14 December 2013 10 am – 12 noonCotton Village Hall, Blacksmith Road, Cotton
•Free Admission•Delicious freshly cooked brunch, tea and coffee
•Produce and Craft Stalls•Christmas Raffle
Come along and join in the build-up to the Festive Season at our popular Café. Pick up a Christmas bargain, meet up with friends old and new, and enjoy brunch with a delicious cup of tea or coffee.
Contact Christine on 01449 780035 to book a stall. For more information about Community Circle Club meetings and Cafés, visit our website on: http://communitycircle.onesuffolk.net
Neighbourhood Watch Report
Diesel fuel stolen. Police are reminding vehicle owners to be vigilant after diesel was stolen from four Ford Transit vans in Mid Suffolk. The first incident occurred overnight on 14th October. Offenders tampered with the fuel line and stole about 75 litres of diesel from the vehicle.Other Transit vans were similarly targeted in Needham Market, Creeting St Mary,and Haughley, just a few days after the first incident.Police are also appealing for information after fuel was stolen from a Ford Transit van parked on a driveway at Station Road in Cotton. Between midday Friday 1st and 8am Monday 4th November someone tampered with the vehicle’s fuel line and stole approximately £80 of fuel. Anyone with information about this theft is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 101 reference ST/13/3181So be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around vehicles. Ring 101 if suspicious or if you believe a crime is being committed then dial 999.
Measures to prevent your vehicle your vehicle being targeted, even if it’s not a Ford Transit.
• Keep private vehicles in a well secured garage, or if no garage, a well –lit public area.
• Park in such a way as to make access to the vehicle difficult, ie. close to another vehicle or building.
• Keep commercial vehicles in a locked building or a secure compound.
• Use alarms, lighting and consider CCTV to deter thieves.
Heating Oil and AGA Oil theft. This happened sometime between 4th & 5th Novemberfrom a COB Member (Dandy Corner).
SO PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL • Be on the lookout for Vans parked near your property—it may be oil thieves.
• Have you considered an alarmed padlock.—You can order them from the Police. ( We have one, but to work efficiently it will need to be protected from the wind and rain as these natural elements will set it off)
• You could install a security light near your tank as this is often enough to put thieves off.
• Thieves will often tail delivery lorries and then strike on a full tank, so remember if you can to take note of anyone walking, or parked near when you are having deliveries.
• There are also internal alarms that work remotely so that if your tank suddenly goes down quickly, you will be alerted to this.
BACTON COTTON & WYVERSTONEGOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME
TELPHONE 07980 948641MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9AM TO 5PM
RING IF YOU NEED HELP WITH:TRANSPORT, COLLECTIONS, MINOR REPAIRS, PETS
ONE OFF GARDEN TIDYLETTER WRITING & FORM FILLING
BEFRIENDING, LIFTS
ALL VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN CRB CHECKEDAND COVERED BY PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
Hours of darkness crime prevention. Please take some steps to secure your property. Burglars love to work under cover of darkness, if no lights are visible they can assume no-one is in. So leave a few on! Front and back light on a timer so they come on at appropriate times. A radio also on timer may also deter the thief. It’s your property so protect it. If you are going away for a bit of sun, then tell your neighbour or a friend who may keep an eye on your property.
Suffolk Police did run an operation last year with the aim of tackling burglary. They have had some success and have seen a decrease in burglaries and an increase in detections compared to the same period the previous year. This was mainly due to targeting known offenders as well as following up on information received from members of the public, who they see as their eyes and ears in local communities.
So again, if you see anything suspicious, a person or persons hanging around property or vehicles, or a vehicle being driven round the village that appears to be looking at property, especially at night, then call 101 or 999 if you believe a crime is being committed.
Lets keep Cotton crime free.
Tony Craighill Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. 781917.
Parochial Church CouncilSt Andrew’s Church Cotton
We have recently received our five-yearly Report (Quinquennial Inspection) on the state of the church building and related matters; this survey is financed by the diocese and undertaken on this occasion, as five years ago, by Tony Redman a conservation surveyor with the Whitworth Co-Partnership of Bury St Edmunds. Many issues are identified, as ever,but the continued deterioration of the south slope of the chancel roof stands out as most urgent with an total cost in excess of £40,000! We shall require a full structural survey of the problems with the bell frame reported in the last issue; meanwhile ringing remains severely restricted, and it appears likely that some stiffening of the mediaeval wooden frame may be called for. If matters can be so arranged it is hoped that Mr Redman may be able to make a joint presentation of his report to both the PCC and FCC .
The Harvest Supper, so ably organised by Jane deBeer, was a great success and raised over £550; we are already looking forward to next year’s event! Thanks to all our helpers and cooks who provided everything, and for the best local meat available. We much enjoyed the locally produced entertainment, so willingly provided. Money received will be used for maintenance of the churchyard, including tree work – more on this below.
Our Rector, Revd Liz Varley will be taking a sabbatical for first quarter of next year so we shall have to get used to being self-reliant for most purposes; a planning meeting for all the churches in the benefice is to be held in early November, but details will not be available in time for this issue, so watch out for more information in the Parish & Community News.
We have all received the letter sent by the FCC committee and wish them well as they plan for their future, which is obviously so significant for the PCC in preserving our amazing church building. Please give them any practical support you can.
It was a great relief that our churchyard trees survived the much publicised “Great
Storm”, but we are not complacent as there have been recent large branch falls close by. A survey has been undertaken, and permissions are being sought to carry out essential works to ensure safety in the churchyard. Apparently the public footpath within the churchyard runs around the east end of the church itself and does not include the main path from the gate opposite Church Farm; this is useful to know as this path may need to be closed from time to time if trees are to be worked on or appear unsafe.
Our Christmas Season services and events this year will be:-Saturday 14th December 7pm FCC Christmas Concert in the ChurchSunday 22nd December 2.30pmSt Andrew’s Carol ServiceTuesday 24th December Christmas Eve Midnight Communion 11.30pmWednesday 25th December Christmas Morning Family Service 10.30amSunday 29th December Benefice Communion at St.George’s, Wyverstone 10.00am
We wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Christmas!
Mervyn WalkerChurchwarden & acting PCC Secretary
Cotton & District Village Produce Association Winter Programme
20th November AGM and Gardening Quiz Evening
4th December Christmas Dinner. Cost £14.00
Names and payment to Beryl Craighill please at AGM meeting
NO MEETING IN JANUARY as is usual
19th February Seasonal Flower Arrangement Demonstration
by Christine Marston
New members are always welcome at our meetings
or contact Christine on781567
Bacton & Cotton Local History SocietyMeeting at 7.30 every 3rd Tuesday of the month at Bacton village hall(Members £ 2 Non-members £ 3 Annual membership £ 5) DecemberWe do not meet this month but wish all our members and visitors a Very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the New Year, startin with.......... January 21st“The magistracy in Bury St. Edmunds”. Magistrates have administered the law for over 650 years and have been key figures in rural life. Dr. Dick Soper, a retired local magistrate gives us insight into the history of this vital voluntary work. February 18th“A life powered by steam”. Nineteenth century rural life and work depended much on power provided by steam, especially for farming equipment.Tom Doig tells us how vital was this source we take so much for granted.
Reg. Charity 1080734
Meadow Mowing Contract Outsourced
This year’s summer at Carters Meadow has been a remarkable one for new visitors.Back in September we had our first ever Music event when Olly Chalk entertained us on a glorious late summer Sunday, with a wonderful afternoon of Jazz music.
This year’s warm weather extended way into the Autumn,
WinterWork Parties
10am - 1.00pm
Sunday 1st Dec
Sunday 5th Jan
Sunday 2rd Feb
All welcome!
For more information 01449 782134
this meant that the wildflower meadow area continued to grow, so rather than get the machinery in again, we had local Sheep in to do the job for us, According to many ecologists, Sheep are the ideal mowers, they cut growth off very low, allowing light to get to the soil, but also their small cloven hoofs are ideal for treading into the soil the seeds shed from the wild flowers back in August. We will have to wait till next summer to see if all the sheep’s hard work has led to a greater variety of wild flowers, even if this doesn’t work, it has been wonderful to see this local workforce in action.If like the sheep you would like to help out, the first Sunday every month at 10am you can flock down to Carters Meadow.
Team talk
Anchors away
In at the deep end.......
with no way out!
Pond Diary
The 5 strong team of trusteesset about clearing the rushes
which have invaded the pond.
