THE

HOOK NORTON

NEWSLETTER

August 2001 Series 26 No 4

Page 3


   

ON THIS PAGE
PARISH COUNCIL
THANKS
BARRIE COULDREY 1932 - 2001
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING PROCEDURE
TRIANGLE OUTSIDE VILLAGE SHOP
HOOK NORTON CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION
OUR LOVELY VILLAGE
DEAR VILLAGERS
OUT OF SCHOOL CLUB FOR HOOK NORTON
VACANCY FOR A TRUSTEE
HNCEC
WEA COURSES 2001 - 2
SOUTH NEWINGTON FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW
CHILD HEALTH CLINIC
FARMERS' MARKET





PARISH COUNCIL June and July
Parish Clerk
Chris. Howe
Crispins
Beanacre,
Hook Norton
01608 737399




THANKS
The Parish Council, and we are sure the rest of the Village, would like to express thanks publicly to Mrs Delphine Wise for keeping the Cemetery so clean and tidy. We none of us think about who takes the bin out of the Cemetery on bin days, it would only be when it did not get emptied that it might cross our minds. Thank you Mrs Wise for doing such a worthwhile job, it is very much appreciated.


Barrie Couldrey 1932 - 2001 A Tribute from the Parish Council
Everyone who had anything to do with this remarkable man will have been struck by his sincerity as well as the sensitivity of his outlook on the world.
From fairly humble origins he achieved high academic status in the world of Physics and Electronics Education. Widely travelled and with a love of grand opera second only to his love for his native Wales, both of which he shared with his beloved wife Betty, Barrie was perhaps uniquely placed for the roles he took up voluntarily in both in Mollington from 1964 to 1966 and then in Hook Norton from the time he came here five years ago.
We on the Parish Council have been fortunate indeed to have had such a tireless worker with us and his contributions to village matters, whether to do with the Memorial Hall, Planning, the Environment or Finance have been of the most useful and worthwhile kind. As Vice Chairman during my year as Chairman, he was a tremendous support with his wide knowledge of local affairs and his network of contacts at County and District level, gathered no doubt from his time on Mollington's Parish Council and as its onetime Chairman.
But Barrie's sense of duty and service and his desire to seek the very best in every sphere of village life drove him to spread his gifts far more widely. The Community Education Committee, the Local History Group and the Film Society have all been privileged to have had the benefit of his time, wisdom and his help. Indeed, the whole village has good reason to mourn his passing and will be a sadder place without him. We all extend our warmest sympathy to Betty and share with her this tragic loss.



PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING PROCEDURE
Do you sometimes wonder how the Planning Process works? Householders from our village send in between fifty and one hundred applications each year. Do you wonder what happens once an application has been sent in and what influence - if any - the Parish Council has on its outcome? What is the so-called “democratic consultation process”?
Cherwell District Council sends the Parish Council copies of plans and full details of all applications it receives and at the same time these are advertised in the local press (Banbury Guardian) and notices posted prominently outside the properties concerned. Neighbouring homes are also normally notified by post.
As Cherwell have a duty to determine all planning applications within eight weeks, all responses by the Parish Council or members of the public, either in support or objecting to an application, have to be returned to them within 21 days, with subsequent amendments within 10 days. This procedure lends itself to difficulties for several reasons. Often the dates of the notices appearing in the press or outside properties or contained in the submissions to the Parish Council are different! Also because of the difficulty of getting Parish Councillors together in sufficient numbers in sufficient time to meet those deadlines.
Once received, the Parish Council studies the plans, often involving site meetings. It can either object, giving planning reasons for so doing, or it can agree but make comments on such things as design, likely traffic problems, etc. No decision is reached without a majority of councillors agreeing on what recommendation is made and sent back to Cherwell. The results of these deliberations are announced and ratified at monthly Parish Council Meetings.
What happens then? The Planning officers of Cherwell DC make their recommendations to the North Area Planning Committee of elected District Councillors who actually permit or reject the application. The views of the Parish Council will have been taken into account but it often seems that we have had little or no influence! It is often the case that several letters from concerned parishioners will have more effect than the “official” views of the Parish Council.
I want to stress that it is open to any parishioner who is interested to see the plans and applications during the consultative 21 days by applying to a member of the council or to me, the present Planning Co-ordinator, Christopher Barry on 730407. Please feel free to do so at any time you wish.


TRIANGLE OUTSIDE VILLAGE SHOP

Do you like this Village feature?
Adverse views have been expressed to some of the Parish Councillors mainly towards the tubs that have been placed in it. Would you like them removed?
The Parish Council would like to know the views of the village before taking any action regarding these tubs.
Please take the time to print out and fill in the questionnaire and pop it through the Clerks door, at Crispins, 11 Beanacre.



HOOK NORTON CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION
The HNCA Committee would like to express their thanks to everyone who helped, despite the weather, to make Folk in a Field 5 a success.
We are coming to the end of the HNCA year which means that there are two areas to be addressed:
Firstly, would all village organisations, local charities or representatives of national charities who wish to be considered for a donation this year, please write to the Secretary, Andy Horne at 7, Ironstone Hollow, Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxon. OX15 5NA detailing for what you would intend to use a donation. Letters need to be with the Secretary by Monday 10th September.
Secondly, this year's HNCA AGM and Donations meeting is on Wednesday 3rd October at 8pm in the Brewery Visitor Centre. All villagers are warmly invited to attend. Nominations for Officers (Chair, Treasurer and Secretary) and Committee members are requested and should be with the Secretary at the above address (Email AndrewHorne@btinternet.com by Monday 1st October.


OUR LOVELY VILLAGE
I do love our dry stone walls in Hook Norton. They can be a nuisance when they start to fall down but they make a much kinder colour background for most climbing flowers than a red brick wall. All sorts of plants grow on the sides and tops of these walls. This year I've noticed at times, a pink primrose, some love-in-the-mist and a foxglove as well as the frequent white stonecrop and the wall toadflax sometimes called 'mother of thousands' which is covered with very tiny mauve 'snapdragon' flowers. I am glad to have to walk and not drive about the village and can see all these interesting things.
Gweneth Edgington


DEAR VILLAGERS
Today, Saturday the 9th June I walked up to the bottle bank by the school, (please note our family does not have a car), lugging several bags of glass jars, bottles etc. for recycling, as is my habit. I am happy to do this as I am a great believer in recycling.
However, on my arrival I found that some unprincipled person (presumably one who had the privilege of the use of a car) had dumped at the site on the ground, two huge black bin bags of assorted rubbish. After distributing my glass into the appropriate holes I investigated these bags as I couldn't bear to just leave them there. One bag was full of foil - a product that unfortunately we do not yet have the facility to dispose of. The other, larger bag was full of a stinking mass of hideous diversity. This medley included, amongst recyclable vodka bottles and beer cans, diverse cigarette packets, egg shells, slices of dried up toast, plastic lemonade bottles and some rather nasty items which I would rather not mention.
I am proud to be one of the few, as a dedicated and active member of Banbury “Friends of the Earth”, who campaigned for Banbury's very first bottle bank in the year of 1978-9, amidst much opposition, worry about financial viability and general apathy. This was when I lived in Banbury, a year before I moved to Hook Norton.
It was many years after this date before bottle banks 'caught on' and Hook Norton was able to provide its own facilities. As a conscientious and caring member of this community I felt unable to just leave those two bags not dealt with so 'muggins' sorted it all out, put the recyclable bottles into their respective slots and greatly regretting that I was unable to deal with the rest, sadly left it for yet another kind and conscientious 'muggins' to dispose of. It really was not up to me to lug it all the way back to my house and put it in my wheelie bin - though I wanted to!
Please note, car owners who think that the slight token gesture of dumping your unsorted rubbish mixed up with household waste at the site of the bottle banks is acceptable - it is not even worth your petrol. I wonder what makes you think that you are so special that you can't take a few minutes to put the various items into the correct containers and dispose of the debris accordingly? Why should caring and conscientious people like me and most of the village continue to carry you and your lazy, dirty and slovenly habits?
Kate Underwood


OUT OF SCHOOL CLUB FOR HOOK NORTON
The application to the New Opportunities Fund to finance an out of school scheme in Hook Norton has been successful and the Hook Norton Out of School Club is expected to open in the Youth Club building for the October half term. The Club aims to provide good quality, affordable child care for children aged 5 to 11 during term time and school holidays. It will be run by a volunteer management committee and will be staffed by a qualified supervisor and Play Workers.
We will be recruiting staff to run the club and be working with the Parish Council to renovate the Youth Club building during the summer and early autumn. We are expecting to start accepting applications for the club in September. Details of the application process will be available when the children return to school.
In the meantime if you would like any further information or would like to help in any way please contact Lynda Chalcraft, Vicky Sargent, or Mandy Watkins


VACANCY FOR A TRUSTEE - CHIPPING NORTON SCHOOL TRUST FUND
A trustee is needed to represent Hook Norton on this Trust.
The purpose of this fund is to make grants to benefit pupils of the school. There are trustees from the three major centres of population in the Area, and Hook Norton is one of these. The trustees normally meet only once a year in May for a short evening meeting to consider grants from the Trust Fund. This year, however it may be necessary to have an Extraordinary meeting early in the Autumn Term so it would be helpful if the Hook Norton vacancy could be filled as soon as possible.
If you are interested please contact Chris. Howe, Clerk to the Parish Council on 737399.


HNCEC
Our brochure of courses for the Autumn term is now out. You can get a copy from your local Post Office, Library or Village Stores. Alternatively give us a ring and we will send you a copy.
Courses for the Autumn include:- photography, upholstery, computing, jumping beans - kindergym, tole painting, beginners drawing, children's guitar, deaf awareness, sugarcraft, circle dancing, textile crafts, acupressure, crystals, glass painting, children's music and dance classes, canvas work embroidery, fitness classes, watercolours, painting flowers, children's art classes, junior badminton, bonsai society, yoga day, dry stone walling, local History walk around Hook Norton and much more.
HNCEC, Hook Norton Primary School, Sibford Road, Hook Norton OX15 5JS (01608) 730052


WEA COURSES 2001 - 2
Roots of the Modern Movement in Art Tutor: Alice Foster, Venue: Hook Norton Library, Thursday 1.30-3.30pm 6 weeks Fee £25 Start Date: 4th October 2001
A course that looks at the artistic shifts in the late 19th century, together with some of the major artists of the 20th century who followed the new trends .
History of Furniture. Tutor: Andy Gunn, Venue: Visitor Centre, Hook Norton Brewery. Wednesday 7th November 2001 10am-4pm £15 (includes lunch)
Architecture, furniture and design are integral to our everyday lives and flourish through cultural and social influences. This course will study English Architecture and Design and Furniture in the 17th and 18th centuries.
William Morris Tutor: Alice Foster 31st January 2002
The Civil War Tutor: Martin Greenwood 17th April 2002
Upton House Private Viewing Wednesday 19th June 2002
Cotswold Churches in the Landscape Tutor: Tim Porter Wednesday 17th July 2002
Enquiries and Enrolments: Paul Warwick, The Barn, Claybank, Hook Norton , OX15 5PA Telephone : 01608 737107
[This list will appear in more detail in the next issue.]


SOUTH NEWINGTON FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW
The South Newington Flower and Produce Show is on Saturday the 11th August, 2001 from 2.00 - 5.00pm and promises to be a day of fun and enjoyment for all the family. There will be a splendid display of flowers and produce together with a grand raffle, tea tent, children's fancy dress and other attractions, silver band, produce auction, vintage fire engines and craft stalls. There are many more 'Open Classes' this year. Admission - £1 Children under 12 years - free. (Telephone 01295 721076 for details of class entries).


CHILD HEALTH CLINIC
As from July 3rd the clinic has moved to The New Surgery, The Bourne, Hook Norton. Every first and third Tuesday in the month. 10am - 11.30am.


FARMERS' MARKET
The next market at Chipping Norton is on Friday 24th August.