Bridge in Bloom Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Bridge in Bloom competition. The standard was once again very high throughout the village. Thank you to all those who took part and to the judges who went around the whole village in July. Jim Tamsitt Trophy (Businesses): White Horse Inn 2nd - Red Lion Inn Margaret Jones vase (Community): Mansfield Court Residential: Julie & Malcolm Bennett, 33 High Street 2nd - Anchorage, Dering Close, 3rd - 17 Union Road. High Street Planters These looked very attractive this year and thanks go to Vicky White, who has tended them so lovingly. Dead Weeds KCC have sprayed the weeds in the village but they do not remove them. Please pull up any weeds outside your property so as to improve the appearance of the village. Thank you Bridge Neighbourhood Plan Following the Localism Act (November 2011) which encourages communities to be closely involved in the development of their locality, work on a Neighbourhood Plan for our village commenced in June 2012. The Neighbourhood Plan Group (NPG) and the Parish Council were given approval by the Executive of Canterbury City Council in July 2013 to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for this Parish. The Plan will be used to develop a vision for Bridge for the next fifteen years or so. It will identify facilities and amenities in the village and indicate where future developments may be needed. A Village Design Statement will be used to influence the appearance of new buildings. The village has been awarded a ‘Locality’ grant of £6640 to assist with expenses involved in the preparation of the Plan. The NPG has already met with representatives of Planning Aid to learn how they may be able to help in the formulation of the Plan. Joe Connor, Chairman of NPG Dogs on Recreation Ground Please, please, please do not run dogs on the Recreation Ground – their mess is a hazard to children and not nice for anyone. Moles on Recreation Ground Moles on the Recreation Ground create a hazard to people tripping over the holes they make. They have proved very difficult to control and traps have had to be used. These sometimes surface and parents should warn children not to touch the traps. Nailbourne pollution The Nailbourne River Group undertook intensive lobbying this year; many politicians were made aware of the situation; various approaches were made, directly and indirectly, to the water company; many meetings with the water company and the Environment Agency were held. This work continues. As a result of this pressure and the perceived public sentiment, the water company has agreed to undertake whatever remedial work may be required. They began with a camera survey of the sewage pipe, now completed, which revealed over one hundred places requiring engineering work. This has now been sent out to tender, with engineering work scheduled for the autumn. This may cause some disruption. The water company stresses that the work is “an iterative process.” They might not fix all the problems in the pipe this time around. Therefore, the River Group continues to need the support of the village to maintain pressure upon the water company. Please look out for, and attend, the public meetings that will be held later in the year. The River Group thanks you for your support, Alan Atkinson Canterbury District Local Plan The Parish Council has submitted a response to the Canterbury District Local Plan 2013. The comments have taken account of relevant planning policies and views of Bridge residents as expressed in the Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire and at recent Neighbourhood Plan consultations. Sue Hodges Village sign People are asking “Where is the village sign?”. After 20 years it was showing signs of wear, so a firm based in Bridge, offered to repaint it. This was duly done but when they tried to put it back, the post gave way due to old age, and broke. A new post is being obtained and in the meantime we would like to thank A Howe and Sons, for their generous gesture. The sign was designed by Julian Kirk and made by John Hill in 1993. We hope it will be back by the end of the summer. Wild Flower Project There will be a Working Party on Saturday 19th October from 9 30 am on the Recreation Ground to carry out a variety of gardening tasks including weeding and pruning. If you can spare part of the morning to come and help your time would be appreciated. Please bring warm clothing and your own gardening tools. If you cannot help, come and have a look at all the work that has been done in the past and some of the plans for the future. Your ideas and comments would be welcome. Refreshment will be provided as usual. Sue Hodges Twinning Association demise The Twinning Agreement between Bridge and St Andre les Lille has come to an end. It was thought that the two places were not well matched. There has been some benefit to Bridge for local businesses but in general it did not bring the mutual benefits hoped for. The possibility of twinning with another French village is not ruled out but will need very careful selection for it to be a success. To contact the Council - Please write, telephone or email the Parish Clerk: Christobel Seath, Bridgeford House, Brewery Lane, Bridge, CT4 5LF 01227 831085 clerk@bridgevillage.org.uk Bridge Parish Councillors Alan Atkinson Emergency Planning, Nailbourne group, Finance, Police Forum 01227 830629 alan@bridgevillage.org.uk John Corfield Recreation Ground, Art in Bridge Newsletter, Web site 01227 830976 johnc@bridgevillage.org.uk Ann Edmonds Planning, Bridge in Bloom, Footpaths, Neighbourhood Plan, Parish Forum, Finance, Welcome pack 01227 830795 ann@bridgevillage.org.uk Sue Hodges Chairman, School Liaison, Wild Flower Project, KALC, Recreation Ground, Neighbourhood Plan 01227 830311 sue@bridgevillage.org.uk John Hill Vice-chairman, Rural Members Panel, Finance, KALC 01227 830215 johnh@bridgevillage.org.uk Rob Moon Planning, Recreation Ground, BVST, Mill Centre, Village Hall 07749306563 robert@bridgevillage.org.uk Mike Burns-Stark Emergency Planning, Litter picking, Recreation Ground, Speedwatch mike@bridgevillage.org.uk Brigitte Ward Recreation Ground, Litter picking, Speedwatch, Allotments, Health Issues 01227 830330 brigitte@bridgevillage.org.uk Terry Wilmshurst Planning, Recreation Ground, KALC, Tree Warden, Neighbourhood Plan, Emergency Planning, BVST 01227 830310 terry@bridgevillage.org.uk Bridge village web site Visit the web site for village news & information, also for agendas & minutes of Council and planning meetings www.bridgevillage.org.uk BRIDGE Parish Council Caring for the village Autumn 2013 Newsletter Changes on the Parish Council Unfortunately Bill Oakey resigned from the Parish Council because of his health. He did sterling work for the village, as he has done in his role as a City Councillor, which he is continuing to do. A call for volunteers to fill the vacated seat resulted in three excellent offers and the Council co-opted Mike Burns-Stark as your new Councillor Your new Chairman is Cllr Sue Hodges Next Parish Council meeting 7.15 pm Planning Committee 7.30 pm Full Council Thursday 10th October 2013 Bridge Village Hall - all welcome