FAIRFORD TOWN COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 2009
 
 
MAYOR’S INTRODUCTION

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New
Year.

I feel that I need to address a number of complaints that have been
recently directed at Fairford Town Council.  Firstly, you have been
asked if you can “afford this Council” in relation to the recent budget
setting.  For the 5th year in a row the Council has managed to keep
the rise in the precept at 1.5%, which is equivalent to about an 81

pence annual increase for a Band D house.  Throughout this period, in
spite of rising costs, the Town Council has continued to try to
improve services and facilities in the town.  Along with St Mary’s
Church PCC, we are the proud owners of a fantastic, award winning
Community Centre.  We have provided support for new children’s play
equipment and a skate ramp and continue to provide free
accommodation for the Fairford Volunteer Service. Savings will be
made in transferring some maintenance of the Churchyard back to the
Church. All the services provided by Fairford Town Council are listed
on our website. Fairford Town Councillors have again elected not to
draw the allowances that they are legally entitled to claim.  Town
Councillors give their time voluntarily and freely in a bid to reduce the
tax burden on residents.

The new website was created after it became apparent that the site
introduced last year was not up to the standard we required.  The
new site will provide a means of providing more up to date
information in a shorter timescale, at a much reduced cost.  The
overall cost of the new facility is much less than the previous sites as
the price will cover training and maintenance costs over the next 2-3
years.  The site also provides the opportunity for residents to submit
updates and contributions.  Please take a look at
www.fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk and send in details of your club, your
suggestions or general articles.

The Town Council would like to receive nominations for Citizen of the
Year and for the Geoff Chick Award for Young Citizen of the Year by
the end of this month.
Cllr John Morgan (01285 711321) Fairford Town Mayor

A large print version of this newsletter can be supplied on
request

www.fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

COUNCIL NEWS
GENERAL

Next Town Council Meeting
The next Full Town Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 10th
February at 7pm in the Barker Room at Fairford Community
Centre, High Street, Fairford. Members of the public are welcome to
attend.

Citizens of the Year 2009
Fairford Town Council is asking for nominations for the 2009 Citizen
of the Year Award and the Young Citizen of the Year Award – now
known as the Geoff Chick Award. This is following a suggestion from
Fairford Preservation Trust to mark the memory of Geoff Chick who
sadly passed away last year. Geoff was involved in the Youth Service
in Fairford for many years.

Please write in with your nominations by Friday 27th February 2009.
The winners will be announced at the Annual Town Meeting (date to
be confirmed).

3 London Street
Following the move to the new Community Centre, the old Council
Office at 3, London Street is available to rent.  Subject to necessary
approvals, the building is suitable for a variety of office/commercial
uses.  The terms and length of lease are open to negotiation. 
Interested parties should contact the Town Clerk on 01285 713326.

FACILITIES

The 2008 Festive Market was the biggest Market yet and the number
of stall rentals covered the cost of the hire of the actual stalls. The
attendance was excellent and everyone seemed to be enjoying the
entertainment on offer and the opportunity to purchase local goods.
If members of the public have any positive or negative feedback on
the event, the Council Office would be pleased to hear from you.

Fairford Town Council would like to thank the Fairford Fire Service for
their help in erecting and removing the Christmas Lights so efficiently
and the Ernest Cook Trust for the donation of our Christmas Tree.

The Healthcheck of Fairford, carried out in 2005 is due for updating
and as much feedback as possible is needed from local residents to
ensure the document represents the needs and views of the local
population. Please complete the questionnaire in the centre of this
newsletter and return it to the Council Office by the end of February
2009.

The Town Council is still trying to locate an area of land suitable for
use as allotments. If anyone has any suggestions or offers of land,
please contact the Council Office.
Cllr S Jones, Chair of Facilities Tel 01285 712003

PLANNING - TREES

Cotswold District Council (CDC) has now introduced a discretionary
system with respect to applications to carry out work to trees in a
Conservation Area. As the majority of applications received by CDC
are for minor works, Parish/Town Councils will now only be consulted
if the proposed work is deemed to be of significant public interest.
CDC may also decide to consult others such as neighbours and
amenity societies, when warranted.  

Cotswold Tree Project – Inter Parish Competition – The
Cotswold Tree Warden Group intends to create a record of
noteworthy trees and tree projects in the Cotswold District through
an inter-parish competition. The competition runs from now until 21
November 2009 and residents are asked to send in entries to their
local Parish/Town Council for consideration. Each parish is only able to
submit entries for 3 classes. Trees must be within the parish
boundary and can be in public places or on private land (obtain
permission).

Entries should be supported by photos, measurements, description as
appropriate and location. Please look at the list of classes and send
your entries to Fairford Town Council, Community Centre, High
Street, Fairford, GL7 4AF by Friday 30th October 2009.

CLASSES
1.   Tree (single stem) with biggest circumference measured at 1.5m from ground.
2.   Tree with widest spread of branches.
3.  Most characterful ‘ancient tree’.
4.  Tree with most interesting history.
5.  Most colourful tree.
6.  Tree with most impressive above-ground roots.
7.  Tree with most interesting bark.
8.  Record of largest number of trees planted as result of Tree Warden
initiative.
9.  Record of successful seed sowing.
10.  Record of most significant school/young people involvement.
11.  Most thriving millennium yew. (photo & dimensions)
12.  Most oddly shaped tree.
13.  Most wildlife-hospitable tree (nests, bat roosts, identified invertebrates)
14.  Most photogenic tree.
15.  Most typical tree of its species (photo).
16.  Most fruit-laden tree (photo).
17.  Tree with biggest fruit (photo & dimensions of fruit).
18.  Most interesting juxtaposition.
19.  Rarest tree.
20.  Tree growing in most hostile environment.
21.  Oldest tree (documentary evidence).
22.  Multi-stemmed tree growing over widest area (Record or photo & record).
23.  Tree with other tree/plant growing in/on it.
24.  A wonderful tree or activity (say why) not covered by above classes.
Cllr M Jones, Chair of Planning Tel 01285 712814

HIGHWAYS

Churchyard: Agreement has been reached with St Mary’s Church PCC
that when the New Burial Ground becomes full, the Garden section of
the Churchyard is to be re-opened for burials. The Garden section was
originally opened in 1920 and is located between the Churchyard to
the north of St Mary’s and the Town Council New Burial Ground.
There are approximately 80 spaces available, as this section was not
completely filled before burials began in the New Burial Ground in
1979. The Northern section of the Churchyard is not to be used for
any further burials. With the amount of full burials decreasing in
favour of cremations, it is anticipated burials can be accommodated
for at least the next 15 years. The Town Council will also continue
with its work to secure a further burial ground in Fairford for the
future.

Now that historical facts are known and understood, St Mary’s PCC
will assume financial and complete responsibility for the maintenance
of the North and Garden sections of the Churchyard. Fairford Town
Council will continue to be responsible for the Original section of the
Churchyard (area between St Mary’s and Community Centre) and the
New Burial Ground.

Our much treasured War Memorial has been cleaned, this work was
completely financed by a member of the community who wishes to
remain anonymous. Sincere thanks go to him.

Horcott paths: It has not been possible to get agreement to light
the public footpath from Gas Lane to Dilly’s Bridge but the Town
Council is still investigating the possibility of installing lighting to the
footpath from Dilly’s Bridge to the Horcott notice board.

The Town Council has agreed to sign a licence agreement to continue
to allow the public to use the permissive footpath around Horcott
Lake.

Parking in The Croft: Please consider residents when parking in The
Croft. With the increase in out-patients at Fairford Hospital and hence
increase in vehicles using this road, residents of The Croft are
sometimes finding it difficult to access their properties due to
driveways being blocked.

Footpath Survey: A local resident has kindly walked every footpath
within the Fairford parish and carried out a survey and report. Our
footpaths are generally in good order; the main problem is along the
River Walk where a section has become very muddy and difficult to
cross. Public Rights of Way has been informed and GCC plans to carry
out improvement work to this footpath in Spring 2009.
Cllr R Winney Chair of Highways Tel 01285 712452

FAIRFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE             

Now that the Project Team has completed its work, the group will
shortly be disbanded and a new Management Team created. I would
like to thank all members of the Project Team and all those that have
assisted with the building project for all their hard work and support.
Trevor J Hing, Project Leader

COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL

Fairford’s Public Toilets

Fairford’s newly renovated public toilets in the High Street have been
ranked the 5th best in the country by the British Toilet Association
along with other loos in Bourton, Cirencester, Stow, Moreton and
Bibury, all of which were included in the CDC refurbishment
programme.

  
Homeview

The new name for HomeView is the Cotswold Housing Advice Service. 
The new service came back in-house at CDC from 5th January after a
few years of being contracted out.  It is anticipated that this will
make a saving of around £70,000 a year.

Court Brook Protected from Sewage

Coln Park Developments (Lakes by yoo) recently made an application
to the Environment Agency to discharge secondary treated sewage
into the Court Brook.  Fairford Town Council raised concerns and CDC
Councillors for Fairford wrote a joint letter of objection with Lechlade
CDC Councillors to the Environment Agency, who have now refused
this application.
Cllr C Roberts, Cotswold District Councillor 01285 712150

LOCAL NEWS

Fairford Festival

The Festival Diary of Events will be produced at the end of March so
any individuals or organisations wishing their events to be included in
the listings should contact Kevin Smart on 01285 711842 by mid
March at the latest. The main Festival weekend will be 6/7th June
2009 with the Town Ball on Friday 5th June. By popular demand, the
band Locomotion has been re-booked for this event.
Trevor J Hing, Chairman Fairford Festival 2009

Fairford History Society

The next meeting will be on February 19th at 7.30 pm in the Farmor
Room of the Community Centre when the speaker will be Emma
Stuart, Outreach Officer from the Corinium Museum who will talk on
‘The Corinium Museum Collections from Claydon Pike and Thornhill
Farm’.

There have been several archive donations to the Society recently,
which we are always pleased to receive. A new graveyard list has been
compiled and has already been useful in the Church. It will be
available on a searchable CD/DVD in the Parish Office and Archive
Room. The Archive Room will now be open from 2-4 pm on Monday
afternoons.

FHS latest publication is Monograph No 4 The Oldisworths of Fairford.
William Oldisworth was Justice of the Peace in 1660 during the
Fairford Frogs incident and there are plaques to the family in the
Church. All FHS publications are available from
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by contacting the secretary on 01285
711768. They are also on sale at St Mary’s Church, Fairford and at the
Community Centre, Archive Room.

June Lewis-Jones has been requested to produce a 2nd edition of the
Cotswolds at War. She has the opportunity to add more photographs
and anecdotes, not just from Fairford but from the whole of the
Cotswolds. Please contact June on 01285 712312 if you have any
contributions.
www.fairfordhistory.org.uk

Fairford & Lechlade Business Club (FLBC)

The 2nd Fairford and Lechlade Business Club Awards Dinner was held
on Friday 30 January 2009 at Coots Restaurant in the Cotswold Water
Park and a list of winning businesses will be featured in the next Town
Council Newsletter.

Nearly 40 businesses were nominated to receive awards in the
following categories: Business of the Year, Business Person of the
Year, Innovation and Outstanding Business Student of the Year.

Plans are well underway for the launch of the Community Bio-Diesel
project.  Premises have now been found to convert the waste
vegetable oil to environmentally friendly bio-diesel, which will be used
in community transport and to help the needy.  The next step is to
set up a company limited by guarantee, which will be a not-for-profit
organisation.  Any money made will be ploughed back into the
communities of Fairford and Lechlade to help worthy local causes.

If you are interested in learning more about the Club, please call Chris
Roberts on 01285 712150 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Walnut Tree Field Playground

The playground in the Walnut Tree Field, which is run by Fairford
Playing Fields Ltd, was runner up in the Playground Class of the
‘Playing Field and Playground of the Year Competition’ organised by
the Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association. Twenty-one
organizations entered the competition, which was won by Moreton-in-
Marsh. Judges considered the Walnut Tree Field playground an
excellent facility with a range of equipment for children of all ages
that is obviously well used.

Directors of Fairford Playing Fields Ltd said the award was unexpected
but they were delighted with the recognition of all the hard work put
in by the volunteers who have raised funds for the purchase of
equipment and are responsible for running the playground for the
charity.

Fairford Dial A Ride/Community Bus

Good news on the CHARITY SHOP front, we have now secured the
shop premises at the top of the High Street, The Old Pharmacy
building. Work is soon to start and hopefully we will be able to open
in the Spring. Anyone interested in helping in the shop in whatever
way please contact Ann, telephone number below. We are going to
need several volunteers if this project is to be a success.
 
February Bus Trips

*Tues 3rd Feb: ASDA. Depart Fairford 10.30am & return 2.30pm
Wed 4th Feb: Blunsdon Market. Depart Fairford 10am & return
12.15pm
*Fri 6th Feb: Cirencester. Depart Fairford 11am & return 2.30pm
Tues 10th Feb: Sainsbury’s. Depart Fairford 1pm & return 3.30pm
Tues 17th Feb: Cheltenham. Depart Fairford 8.50am & return 12.30pm
Tues 17th Feb: Moreton in the Marsh. Depart Fairford 8.45am & return
2.30pm
Wed 18th Feb: Morrison’s. Depart Fairford 10am & return 12.30pm
Wed 18th Feb: Kempsford & Villages to Fairford. Depart Fairford
8.30am & return about 11am
*Fri 20th Feb: Cirencester. Depart Fairford 11am & return 2.30pm
Mon 23rd Feb: Central Swindon/Outlet Village. Depart Fairford 8.50am
& return 1pm.

*NEW SERVICES – please make the most of them! Please call Ann for
more information on any of the above trips.
Ann Nicholls Tel 01285 713852,Mobile 07528 969181

LOCAL EVENTS

 
> The 352nd Special Operations Group based at RAF Mildenhall, will be
coming to RAF Fairford to conduct flying operations as part of their
Operations Readiness Inspection. This will take place between 15th
February and 1st March, involving C130 aircraft with around 400
personnel. There will be a Local Community Briefing prior to the
exercise, which will take place at Kempsford Village Hall on
Wednesday 4th February, at 7pm. The short presentation will
provide further details about the exercise, and there will be the
opportunity for local residents to ask questions.

> The next Police Neighbourhood Management Meeting will be
on Monday 9th February at 7pm at Bibury Village Hall.  This is open
to all residents to raise questions and discuss issues with the local
police.

> The next meeting of Fairford Festival Committee will be on
Thursday 19th February at 7.30pm in the Bull Hotel, Fairford. 
Anyone wishing to help with the organisation of Fairford Festival
2009 should contact Trevor Hing on 01285 711122.

> There is an Open Day at Agricultural Supply Co (Fairford) Ltd on
Saturday 21st February between 10am and 1pm. This is for
members of the public to hear about latest plans and discuss any
issues.

> Anyone who is a carer in Gloucestershire is invited to a free day of
pampering at Cotswold Care Hospice in Burleigh Lane,
Minchinhampton on Tuesday 24th February from 10.30am till
3.30pm. Among the treatments on offer will be manicures,
massage, facial, reiki, arts therapy and reflexology.  Lunch and
refreshments will also be served.  You do not have to have a
connection with the hospice to attend.  To book a place, please
phone 01453 886868.

> The CWCC (Conservative Women’s Constituency Committee) in
partnership with Cotswold Conservative Association invite you to
meet three of the Euro MP candidates, Mike Dolley, Ashley Fox
and Julie Girling on Thursday March 26 from 6.30pm till 8.30pm at
Fairford Community Centre.  The candidates will speak for about 10
minutes each and drinks and canapés will be served.  Cost £5.  For
more information, please contact Helen Jones on 01367 252402 or
email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .