Parish Council Elections 5th May 2011 Your village needs you On May 5th there will be nine seats to contest. Several existing Councillors will not stand for re-election this year. There will be new faces on the Council. One of these could be yours or someone you know. Perhaps there are people you would want to have on the Council, so – encourage them to stand. Perhaps there are people you would not want to have on the Council, so – ensure that you stand or get others to stand for election. You will only get the Parish Council you want, if you and those like you get involved. These are exciting times to be on the Council as the Government promotes the Big Society and promises more power to Parish Councils, especially in Planning matters. Out with the old Parish Council and in with YOU? Almost any voter can stand for election – you only need have certain connections with the village. If you are interested in standing for election as a councillor do talk to the Parish Clerk on 831085, or contact Electoral Services at Canterbury City Council on 01227 862003 who will also answer your questions and provide Nomination papers (which must be returned between 18th March & 4th April). What services does the Parish Council provide? Their work falls into three main categories: • representing your local community • delivering services to meet local needs • striving to improve the quality of life in Bridge The Parish Council provides, maintains or contributes to services such as: • allotments • bus shelters • parks and open spaces • crime reduction • planning • community centres • leisure facilities • street cleaning • cycle paths • traffic calming • youth projects How does the Parish Council make decisions? Your Parish Council is made up of nine councilors, who are elected every 4 years, who meet regularly. As an elected body, the Parish Council is responsible to the people they represent – that is, Bridge village. Where do they get their money from? Each year a sum of money called a ‘precept’ is collected through your council tax. This money is invested back into your local neighbourhood by your Parish Council to improve facilities and services for you and your neighbours. The Council can also apply for grants. Annual Parish Meeting 7.30 pm Wednesday 27th April Bridge Village Hall Come and hear what the Parish Council has done and how it has spent your money. There will also be speakers talking about applying for the new affordable housing. This is your opportunity to question your local and Parish Councillors and talk to them over a drink after the meeting. Everyone welcome. Farmers’ Market 12th & 26th March Every 2nd & 4th Saturday 9am – 12 noon Red Lion Inn, Bridge, CT4 5LB Spring Clean Litter-Pick Please come to the Post office at 2.00 pm Saturday 12th March and help clean up the village. Use your Library Did you know that the Mobile Library visits the village every Thursday afternoon, in Green Court, from 4.15 pm until 5.15 pm? Unless more people use it, with the cutbacks in funding, the village could well lose this valuable asset. So do go along, your Library needs you! Hint – their results are judged on the number of books borrowed, rather than the number of borrowers, so that is why on a Thursday evening you may see the ‘regulars’ leaving the library van with armfuls of books. See you there! To contact the Council Please write, telephone or email the Parish Clerk: Christobel Seath, Bridgeford House, Brewery Lane, Bridge, CT4 5LF, tel: 01227 831085 email: clerk@bridgevillage.org.uk Bridge Parish Councillors Ann Edmonds Chairman, Affordable Housing, Footpaths, Parish Forum 01227 830795 ann@bridgevillage.org.uk John Hill Vice-Chairman, Planning, Rural Area Member Panel, Affordable Housing 01227 830215 johnh@bridgevillage.org.uk Colin Beesty Recreation Ground, Mill Centre, BVST 07989 495202 colin@bridgevillage.org.uk Barbara Beinder Village Hall, Recreation Ground, Bridge School 01227 830514 barbara@bridgevillage.org.uk John Corfield Recreation Ground, Newsletter, Web site 01227 830976 johnc@bridgevillage.org.uk Mark Esdale Affordable Housing, Village Hall, Mill Centre, Police Forum, Web site 01227 832740 mark@bridgevillage.org.uk Mervyn Gulvin Recreation Ground, Mill Centre, BVST, Allotment Association, Nailbourne Group 01227 830881 mervyn@bridgevillage.org.uk Selwyn Lewis Planning Committee, Trees, Police Forum 01227 830186 selwyn@bridgevillage.org.uk Terry Wilmshurst Planning Committee, KAPC 01227 830310 terry@bridgevillage.org.uk Bridge village web site Visit the web site for village news, information, agendas & minutes of Council and Planning meetings www.bridgevillage.org.uk BRIDGE Parish Council Caring for the village Spring 2011 Newsletter Included in this issue: Parish Council Elections Annual Parish Meeting Farmers’ Market Spring Clean Litter-Pick Use your library Next Parish Council meeting 7.15 pm Planning Committee 7.30 pm Full Council Thursday 10th March 2011 Bridge Village Hall - all welcome