Baydon Village News

Parish Assembly 2011

The Annual Parish Assembly was held on Friday evening (6^th May) in the School Hall. Cllr Tony Prior opened the meeting by welcoming everyone, especially newcomers from Newton’s Walk.

In his report chairman of the Parish Council, Mr Prior said that Traffic Calming and the Playing Field were the two main areas that the council had concentrated on this past year. Congratulations were due to the Traffic Calming Working Group (TCWG) led by Cllr Tamsin Witt and Mark Austen, for their excellent work in achieving new signage; rumble strips etc and the Community Watch Scheme for the village. The TCWG are now working in conjunction with the School Travel Plan group.

The Play Area, said Mr Prior, was completed in March 2011. The field, he explained, had been bought for this purpose in 1994 and investigation started in 2008. Mr Prior said that thanks go to all those who contributed grants, Playbuilder, Awards for All and the Marlborough Area Board, without which the play area could not have been built. The formal opening will be held on a date, yet to be decided, but in the meantime everyone, hopefully is working to keep the area litter free whilst the children enjoy the equipment.

Mr Prior thanked Sam and Clair at the Red Lion for their input into the Wedding Day celebrations.

Mr Prior said he felt that the Baydon Parish Council was working well in spite of having three vacancies. The way that the councillors have responded to the needs of the village may persuade others to join them.

Thanks were extended to Mark Austen for giving the village an excellent website.

County Councillor Chris Humphries said that he had filed the report from cabinet members with the clerk and that it was available online. County Councillor Chris Humphries listed the posts that he held on various committees. He added that cardboard and plastic collections will soon be kerbside and that residents will be provided with bins. Mr Colin Yeo asked Mr Humphries about the fact that Wiltshire Council was fined for not reducing its emissions, which was one of the worst in the country. Is the fine paid with ratepayer’s money, he asked? Councillor Humphries replied that of course it was ratepayers money and he would send details concerning the matter to Mr Yeo personally on line. Mr Yeo then asked why Baydon residents have to pay £31 for use of a Green waste bin when most of Wiltshire gets the service for free? Councillor Humphries replied that in 2012 it would be free for residents who choose to use the service. Four separate authorities, he explained, that having recently come together under one unitary authority it takes a while for policies to be changed.

Apologies were received from a representative of Highways, as there was no one available to attend the meeting.

Jonathan Mills, the Police Support Officer, attended and gave a statistical report on crime in the Marlborough area, plus commented on the successful work of Mark Austen and the TCWG and gave some seasonal advice re home security

The Head of St. Nicholas School, Mr Peter Chambers, in his report said that they were proud of the new building and the facilities it provided for the 103 children on the roll. He expressed his thanks to the village, Friends of Baydon School and the Government for their support, particularly in raising the £45000 needed in such a short time.

Mr Chambers then read the report from Mrs Amanda Osborne concerning Wagtails, a “Wrap around Care” Club held at the School. It had recently received a County Award for Outstanding Practice, he said.

Mrs Amanda Dore reported that Friends of Baydon School had held several fund raising activities and the majority of the monies raised this year went towards the new building.

It was reported that the Village magazine was going from strength to strength under the editor Mrs Brydgette Byron-Edmonds, as was the excellent Baydon website run by Mark Austen.

Mr Brian Buckler from Aldbourne began by congratulating the Parish Council on its great work, and added that retired people were needed, or indeed anyone with free time during the day, as councillors because the daytime is when most work is done.

Mr Buckler then gave a positive report from the Baydon - Aldbourne link scheme.

Mrs Heather Burch reported on the Baydon Allotment Association and the Running Group.

Mrs Wendy Appello wrote that the Brownies are thriving with 20 girls on the roll, and Mrs Alison Jones reported that she was looking for a replacement as leader of the Baby and Toddler group.

Little Crickets leader Mrs Denise Dawson was pleased to announce that the pre-school had received an Outstanding Award from Ofsted for the second time.

Mrs Kim Austen reported that she had taken over as treasurer of the Baydon Young Peoples Association (BYPA) and that a new committee had been formed to take care of the building. There had recently been an AGM and plans were in place to apply for grants to help improve the BYPA Hall. Unfortunately there is no Youth Club running at present due to a lack of volunteers, but talks are in place with Wiltshire Council who may be able to offer volunteer helper assistance.

The Cricket Club had a very young team, declared the chairman Lee Hogan that needed support from the village at their matches.

The newly formed Baydon Social Group had 23 members, reported Colin Yeo and was successfully gaining new members each month.

Mark Austen gave a report on the Baydon village website, with it having sections to cover the whole community and local village groups. With local news and events, pages for the school, Parish Council, pub, shop, church and Wiltshire Council. He reminded village groups present of the free availability of @baydon.org e-mail addresses and the beneficial use that could be made of these.

In the Firework committee report Mr Trevor Dominy wrote that 600 people attended last years event and that £300 was in hand for November 2011.

Mrs Penny Stephens reported on the demise of the Women’s Institute in the village after 84 years and Mrs Peggy Slater wrote to say that the Thursday Club had closed after 40 years.

Mr Tony Topp reported for the Parochial Church Council that the roof of the Church was in need of serious repair, costing up to £15,000. He also said that the Village Fete this year would be held on June 18^th.

Mr Prior than closed the meeting by saying that the Parish Council would be debating the use of the S106 monies from Newton’s Walk at their next meeting, and asking the village to think about what they would like to happen in the village on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

By Barbara Furber

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