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DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER Mayor's Introduction Congratulations to Fairford Primary School PTA and St Mary’s Church PCC for an excellent fireworks display on 7 November. It is events like these that bring the community together. With the ongoing success of the Festive Market, this year we have Tina Hobley (actress from Holby City) switching on the Christmas Tree lights on Friday 4 December. For the first time we are setting up a “Santa’s grotto” and with over 40 stalls, small fair rides and street entertainment, there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy the evening. With a vacancy becoming available on the Council, the names of the candidates that are standing for nomination are within this newsletter together with an introduction about themselves. The election will take place on the 26 November in the Community Centre. I would like to encourage all to come and vote and I look forward to welcoming the new councillor that will be joining us. There have been many fund raising events for a very precious young girl we have living within our community. The Bethany Appeal and Wish have been well supported and it is fantastic to see how the community has pulled together to help the needs of one of our own. Every little helps and my best wishes go out to the Fenton's over the Christmas period. Finally, I would like to wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas with a prosperous New Year for 2010 from my family and all from Fairford Town Council.
TOWN COUNCIL NEWS CONTACT DETAILS: Fairford Town Council, Community Centre, High Street, Fairford, GL7 4AF
Tel: 01285 712344/713326 Email:
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Website: www.fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk
Christmas Closure: The Town Council Office will be closed from 12 noon on 24 Dec until 9am on 4 Jan. Facilities 'The Facilities Committee oversees the annual Festive Market which this year takes place on Friday 4 December, which we hope you will come along to. There is a lot of behind the scene organisation and thanks must go to our Clerk and Deputy Clerk who work hard to ensure that this event is a success. We hope that there is no vandalism of the Christmas Tree lights this year as there has been in the past, incurring unnecessary replacement costs. The lights are there for everyone to enjoy. The committee is working on a Welcome Pack for new residents which will be available at the start of next year. Fairford is a friendly, lively place and we aim to help newcomers feel at home
as quickly as possible. Cllr Martin Harwood is leading a review of the HealthCheck and has a team of councillors and non-councillors who are looking into ways to improve life here in Fairford covering transport, safety, healthcare, sport and education, environment, tourism and general community provision issues.'
Cllr S Jones Chair of Facilities Tel 01285 712003 Highways A new dog waste bin has been installed along the footpath from Betterton’s Close; please use this facility. With winter approaching, the Town Council has requested that a new grit bin is installed in the St Mary’s Drive/Leafield Road area as there are currently none in the vicinity.
Thanks to students of Coln House School who are currently helping out in the Churchyard as part of a Community project. There is plenty to do to keep this important area neat and tidy.
Cllr R Winney Chair of Highways Tel 01285 712452 Planning Permission has been granted on the Outline Applications for a tourism and recreational development at Lakes 103, 103a, 104 and Milestone House, London Road, Fairford.
An application has been submitted for 15 market value homes at Pip’s Field, Cirencester Road, Fairford (Ref 09/03624/FUL). Planning permission was granted on this site in 2005 for affordable housing and was strongly supported by Fairford Town Council (FTC). This change in direction is against the principles FTC originally fought for, and an objection will be submitted to Cotswold District Council (CDC). The response date for this application is 10 Dec—if you have any views on this application, please write to CDC and copy to the Town Council. Town Council Elections A vacancy arose on Fairford Town Council following the sad passing away of Cllr Howard Dowler. Four candidates are standing and an election is to be held on Thursday 26 Nov at Fairford Community Centre.
Each of the candidates has written a short article to introduce themselves; please see the following pages. Sarah Elizabeth Basley: I have lived in Fairford for nearly thirty years, moving here from London in order to raise my children and support my parents who came here in the 1960’s. When my children were young I served on various committees in the town and now I am retired I would like to be able to return to such work.
If elected to the Town Council I would like to help
Develop the means by which every citizen who wishes to, can actively participate in the decision making process and have their say, especially as regards issues which will have a significant impact on the town;
Promote a thriving, cohesive community with a strong local culture;
Extend environmentally friendly policies by actively promoting schemes such as ‘Warm Front’;
Increase the transparency of council and committee deliberations. Neil Raymond Dowler: I am 37 years old and have lived in Fairford all my life. I went to school in Fairford and now live with my partner Claire and our three sons. I run the family business, Fairford Roof Tiles, but people probably know me best as the son of Howard Dowler who, until recently, had been a Town Councillor for 18 years. I have my father’s passion for getting things done in Fairford and caring for our town.
If I was elected to Fairford Town Council, I would like to try to address the following concerns:
More affordable housing to keep young families in Fairford, not drive them away to other towns;
We need more shops in Fairford to make it more sustainable. As a member of the Fairford and Lechlade Business Club, I believe encouraging more outlets to come to Fairford is the way forward.
Restrict heavy lorries passing through Fairford. At the moment, it is dangerous for all pedestrians, especially mothers with push chairs, children, elderly and disabled people;
I fully support the work done by volunteers in Fairford to alleviate flooding, but also believe we must lobby the authorities to make Fairford a safer place. Caroline Jane Mumford: I have lived in Fairford for almost 14 years with my husband Simon, a solicitor, and my daughters who both attended Fairford Playgroup and Primary School, and are now at Farmor’s School. In the past I served on the Playgroup and Primary School PTA Committees, and carried out a Safe Routes to School Study resulting in funding for improvements from Gloucestershire County Council. More recently I ran the Rural Cinema in Fairford, and held a Fair Trade stall at St. Mary’s Church.
I am a Transport Planner for a firm of consultants in Swindon, involved in assessing the transport implications of planning proposals. In terms of my vision for Fairford, I would like to help businesses in the town to prosper by encouraging younger people in particular to shop and work locally. I believe that we need a modest amount of development, especially affordable homes, to make sure that families can live here and continue to support our schools. I think that access to the countryside around is vital to the character of our town – and I even have some ideas for reducing the number of HGVs. Kevin John Smart: I’m 40 years old and married to a true Fairford girl with a son at Farmor’s. Despite being a relative newcomer to the town I have found myself becoming rapidly immersed in the local community. I sit on the Fairford Festival Committee, am heavily involved with the Cricket Club and am Treasurer of two local Darts Leagues.
I would relish the challenge of taking Fairford into the next decade, helping us to grow and develop whilst retaining the essential character of this wonderful town. I’d like to see more affordable housing so our children are not forced to relocate into Swindon and Cirencester. I’d like new shops and businesses to be attracted to Fairford along with more stalls on the market and I’d like to see more of our residents shopping locally. I’d like to establish a Town Workforce of enthusiastic people willing to give a few hours a month to help with local worthwhile causes, whether it be assisting the flood prevention work, keeping the burial ground tidy, repainting the skate ramp or other good work around the town. I’d also like to see the Council Newsletter develop into a Community Magazine to keep everyone informed of what is happening locally. If elected I will not forget that I am on the Council to represent the people of Fairford and to that end will welcome the views and ideas of all. River Coln Project Team A River Coln Project Team was set up by Fairford Town Council earlier this year to look at all aspects of flood alleviation and maintenance of our watercourses and paths. A public meeting was held in the Community Centre in July on the 2nd anniversary of the 2007 floods. Over 50 people attended and some spoke out very clearly that there should be more action in the town to protect ourselves against a similar event to the one that happened in July 2007. Two Saturdays in October were set aside to clear the Court Brook, the watercourse having first been cleared by volunteers last October. It has also been considered by residents that this is an important overflow facility for the River Coln in the event of a flood and, at the public meeting in July, it was agreed that this should be an annual activity. Despite the large number of people at the July meeting and several verbal and email requests to other organisations in the town, only 13 volunteers turned up to help out on the first Saturday and only 7 on the second Saturday. This was a really disappointing response to what is perceived to be an important issue. Where were all the people who were flooded in 2007 or the people who are in danger of being flooded? Because there were so few volunteers turning up on the first two Saturdays, a request for help for a third Saturday had to be put out. The Court Brook is clear again now for another year, but if people in Fairford want to feel safe from flooding in their homes, then more volunteer help will be needed again next year. Thanks to the Ernest Cook Trust and farmer, Tom Paton, the ditches in the Waterloo and behind the houses in Milton Street were also cleared in October and the Environment Agency came out on 22 October to clear the weeds and fallen trees in the River Coln between the Town Bridge and Cutler’s Ford. Uncle Maurice's Corner People have often said I should write down my stories. When asked to do this article, I thought go on give er a go and see what happens!
The first article is ‘The Town Crier’s Lament’, I think it reflects the thoughts of a lot of Fairfordian’s who have moved away. We had a visit from two ex Fairfordian’s from Canada and New Zealand recently, this could be their thoughts as well:
Town Crier’s Lament
To be a Fairfordian –it means much to me, to be born in Fairford – a privilege you see,
When I was a boy - there was much to enjoy from the river, to the broad boards, a tyre for a toy, - in to water so cold - just like our new fridge,
We learnt to swim – just jumping off the bridge, we ran the fields ,hare and hounds was the game, tag, hopscotch on roads , - roller skating the score,
We lived in the Virgills, a part of old Horcott, Coronation Street too, - before the TV slot,
All boys have a gang, and I remember a notorious gang the Black Hand gang, yes, I was a member,
We would go up the belt, - blue bells to pick, watch out for the farmer and his big walking stick,
We learnt things the hard way – learning things day by day, - how to play knock out ginger - snob apples – keep out of adults way – building tree houses – bike rides and the such,
Oh Fairford my town, I owe you so much, - now I’m a Crier - and where ere I roam, I’m full of good memories – Fairford my home. If this has stirred up some memories of the past let me know and we can share them each month.
Maurice Jones, Fairford Town Crier , Tel 01285 712814 COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL Fairford Sports Centre
Fairford Sports Centre has just undergone a £225,000 extension to its gym facilities. Cotswold District Council had earmarked the funds for the extension some years ago, but work was started this September and is due to be completed at the beginning of December. The new facilities, which will have state-of-the-art equipment by Technogym, will now be able to accommodate around 30 people. An official opening will take place on Thursday 10 December.
Bogus Collections
CDC has recently been made aware of potentially dubious house-to-house collections. These are to do with collections of clothes ostensibly for charity. In fact, the organisations running the collections are commercial enterprises and are selling on the items at a profit. As they do not require a house-to-house collection permit, CDC has very little power, and it is therefore, a matter for the Advertising Standards Agency.
Pay Freeze
Cotswold District Councillors have voted unanimously to freeze members’ allowances until after the 2011 elections.
Climate Change
Since signing up to the Nottingham Declaration, CDC is on target for 25% savings on CO2 emissions by 2015 with nearly £23,000 in money savings annually and a reduction of 181 tonnes of CO2 annually. To make it easier to visualise, 1 tonne of CO2 is equal to 10 baby elephants!! To put it into even more perspective, the average carbon footprint of someone in the UK is 5 tonnes of CO2 or 50 baby elephants! The savings have been made in CDC offices and at the leisure centres at Bourton, Tetbury and Cirencester. CDC is now going to be looking at introducing a green travel plan. Chris Roberts – 01285 712150
Cotswold District Councillor LOCAL NEWS Community/Dial a Ride Bus
All our Christmas shopping trips are now well advertised and booking up quite quickly so if you want to go on any of them please get in touch with the office. During December we shall be going to Moreton in Marsh, Burford, Bourton on the Water, Cheltenham & Swindon Orbital, these are in addition to our regular monthly runs, which will go as per normal.
***We will also be running a Community Bus on the evening of the Fairford Festive Market on Friday 4th December.***
To book a seat on any of these trips, please ring Ann on 01285 713852.
To plan for future trips, please let us know, where you would like to visit. Our ideas are as follows: Mystery trips, shopping excursions, Swindon Outlet Village, Oxford, Banbury, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester, Burford, Bourton the Water, Cribbs Causeway and garden centres.
If you have any further suggestions, do get in touch and also let us know your views on the trips listed. We need a minimum of 7 people to make a trip viable—please support them.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our bus users a very happy and blessed Christmas and a peaceful new year.
CVS CHARITY SHOP
Once again many thanks for supporting this venture we are delighted with the response we are getting in the shop, however we still need more helpers particularly in the back room sorting and pricing the goods that come in, if you have a few hours to spare please either ask in the shop or get in touch with Ann at the Volunteer Centre Office in the Community Centre.
The shop will be closed between Christmas and New Year closing at 1.00pm on Christmas eve and re-opening on Monday 4th January 10.00am
Many thanks to all our volunteers you are doing a really good job.
Ann Nicholls Tel 01285 713852 Fairford and Lechlade Business Club At their October meeting, Fairford and Lechlade Business Club members had the opportunity to ask Lt Col Ryan Price from RAF Fairford about how the changes at the air base would impact on local business. Without doubt, the Americans at RAF Fairford will be missed and Lt Col Price said that the US military were equally sad to be leaving.
Kathryn Limoi from Tetbury Chamber of Commerce was also a speaker at the October meeting and enlightened Fairford and Lechlade members about the difficulties and pleasures of organising a Food and Drink Festival. FLBC are very keen to put on such a Festival in both towns in April or May next year. It would be a wonderful opportunity to bring more visitors to the towns and support our local economy.
The Club is now gearing up for the 3rd Annual Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Friday 29 January. There is a new category in the Awards this year – The Howard Dowler Award, which will be presented to the business that has made an outstanding contribution to business in the local area.
A new member to FLBC is Ripples – the new community magazine that has been delivered to 10,000 people in Fairford, Lechlade and surrounding villages. The Club is hoping that this new monthly publication will be a success, as it contains a lot of interesting local information .
If you would like to find out more about the Club or come to one of the meetings, please contact Chris Roberts on 01285 712150 or email
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. Fairford Library Fairford Library will be reopening to the public on Monday 30th November at 10.00am, There will be an upgraded staff area and customer amenities (nappy changing facilities and accessible toilets), and a fully refurbished children’s library, as well as a Children’s Centre (opening in January 2010). Fairford Festival This year’s festival proved to be as popular as ever and is certainly the envy of other local towns.
Unfortunately, the draft accounts for 2009 show a loss of approx £1, 650. This was mainly due to reduced sponsorship income, no doubt affected by the recession and the late withdrawal of the main sponsor for the 10k race. It was decided that we had to continue with this important event and I am grateful to those businesses that stepped in at the last minute to help out, particularly the Bridge Restaurant and the Lakes by Yoo. Despite the financial loss, the Committee decided to make a small award of £275 to Fairford Town Charity out of our reserves.
I would like to thank all our sponsors, support volunteers and the 2009 Festival Committee for all their support and hard work over the year. I would like to welcome some new recruits to the Committee, Sandra Cusack, Sarah Roberts and Jan Trocki. Our treasurer for the past few years, Scott Mason and Richard Black, our sponsorship chair, have both decided to step down due to other commitments. I would like to record my personal thanks for all their work and support whilst on the Committee.
The Committee for 2010 are: Trevor Hing (Chairman), Neil Plumridge (Minutes Secretary and Treasurer), Sarah Roberts (Sponsorship), Kevin Smart (Diary), Sandra Cusack (Logistics) ,Mike Robinson (Logistics), Chris Roberts (Advertising), Paul Skinner (Ball), Jan Cory (Events), Louise Hatch (Events), Sue Smart (Events), Wendy Macgregor (Events), Heidi Sear-Smith (10k), Jan Trocki (10k), Kevin Symons( (10k).
The main 2010 Festival events will take place over the weekend of 5/6th June . The Town Ball will be held on Friday 4th June. If you have any ideas for next year or even better, are prepared to organise an event for the 2010 Festival please contact a Committee Member.
Trevor J Hing Chairman 2010 Festival Committee
Tel 01285 711122 Fairford Primary School The school choir goes from strength to strength with even more children this year in both the infant and junior choirs. The children continue to sing every day in their classrooms. We now have an adult ladies choir who meet every Thursday at 8.00pm at the school. Forthcoming events are Fairford Choral Society, Saturday 28 November and Festive Market on Friday 4 December.
We now have 2 male pygmy goats with our chickens. Mrs Martin looks after them and the children love having them to pat and to take for walks! Their names are Mr Tumnus and Teddy.
Over the summer holiday an outside classroom was erected thanks to the fundraising efforts of the P.T.A. It will be used for lessons outside as it will seat a whole class. The children use it as a quiet sitting area at play and lunch times. At Christmas a canopy will be erected outside Ash class (our classroom for the youngest children) we also hope a bright fence will complete this safe outside play area.
The school has 3 fundraising efforts for ‘Bethany’s Wish’. The children are dressing as something beginning with ‘B’, there will be an event on Children in Need Day and a concert on 1 December at Farmor’s School.
The school will receive its Silver Food Life Award from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Tuesday 2 December. Buddy Readers – Help!
Sadly several of our elderly buddy readers can no longer help us. These people do such sterling work coming in each week to hear children read and we hope there are some kind people who could help us with this.
It means dedicating a small amount of time each week to hear the same children read. It is very rewarding and the children get to know and enjoy the company of their Buddy Reader.
If you can help please contact the school office. Tel 01285 712543 EVENTS Fairford WI next meeting is on Wednesday 2 Dec at 7.30pm in the Palmer Hall. Graham Jones will be talking about “In Search of Santa”. Visitors welcome. For more information, contact Hazel Wheeler on 01285 711373. The Fairford Festive Market will be held on Friday 4 Dec from 6.30pm in the Market Place. The Community Bus will be available to take you to the Market—please ring Ann on 01285 713852 to book a seat. The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital’s Christmas Bazaar will be on Saturday 5 Dec between 10am - 12 noon at Fairford Hospital. Produce and prizes are needed—offers to 01793 725091/01367 252706 or bring to the hospital.
The next meeting of Fairford and Lechlade Business Club will be a breakfast meeting on Thursday 10 Dec at 8am courtesy of the Lakes by yoo. Guest speaker will be Giles Baker, who will talk about the development. The official opening of the £225,000 extension to the fitness suite at Fairford Sports Centre will take place between 5pm and 6pm on Thursday 10 Dec. Messy Space is being held on Saturday 19 Dec from 2pm till 4pm at Fairford Community Centre. Crafts, games, carols and Christmas tea for families. Contact Maureen Partington on 01285 712480. Fairford Art Society’s Saturday Workshop is about water colours with Claire Warner on Saturday 16 Jan from 10.30am till 4pm in Fairford Community Centre. Call Liz Spurway on 01285 712715 for details. The Palmer Hall Committee will be presenting “Gypsy Fire” – a night with two dynamic acoustic guitarists on Fri 29 Jan in the Palmer Hall. Doors open at 7pm. Food and drink courtesy of The Bridge Restaurant, Fairford. Tickets are available from Fairford Post Office or phone 01285 713087. The Royal British Legion, Fairford Branch, hold meetings at The Bull Hotel, Fairford on the 3rd Tuesday in every month at 8 pm. New members welcome.
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