Please note that there is a change to the date of the August Parish Council meeting. This meeting will now be held on Tuesday 28th August 2018. The start time remains the same – 7.30PM, at the Village Hall.
Many local residents will know that Sawtry Byway 33 – the Bullock Road that links Milking Slade Lane, Great Gidding with Gidding Road, Sawtry, is usually open during the drier months from April until October every year.
The gates controlling access to Byway 33 have only very recently been opened to the public, but may be closed at short notice at any time. Please note that access to all local Byways are solely controlled by Cambridgeshire County Council and the “Rights of Way” officers will make the decisions regarding when the Byway gates are open to the public.
Clearly, right of way access to historic Byways is very important to many in our local communities, and if there are any queries regarding Byway access, then please contact the Rights of Way Officer for Huntingdonshire directly.
Email: highways@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
A Special General Meeting of the Friends of St Michael’s Church was held on Tuesday 5th June in St Michael’s Church to vote on two Resolutions proposed by Paul Burgess and seconded by Sue Shepherd, concerning the future of the society.
Before the voting took place the chairman, Sue Shephard, said she was sure everyone would wish to join with her in thanking the previous chairmen of the society (Paul Burgess & Patrick Jarvis) for all their hard work. During their tenure, the Society had given grants to Great Gidding PCC to enable the restoration of 90% of the clear glass windows in the church. Furthermore grants had enabled the maintenance of the churchyard. Grants had paid for a new mower, regular equipment maintenance and the cost of petrol for grass cutting. Also grants had been given for tree surgery as and when required. Finally society members had given freely of their time to mow and keep the churchyard in a good condition.
The support of the Patrons (Sir Phillip Naylor-Leyland and David Woodley) was noted with thanks.
Robin Hayden expressed his sadness that there was insufficient practical support for the Society. Comment was noted that people’s lives had much greater demands on them these days, and people found difficulty in offering their time. However it was hoped that perhaps in the future someone may be enthused to start the Society again.
On the first resolution to dissolve the society with immediate effect, the motion was carried by twelve votes to three. The second motion to pass the money in the society’s account to the church was also carried by the same margin. This motion included a caveat that the money should be spent solely on either fabric or the churchyard, in accordance with the society’s aims and objectives.
Since this meeting the Parochial Church Council has agreed to use money passed across by the society for the restoration of the remaining clear glass window in the chancel.
From Mike Keck
Gidding Gobblers Café will be open from 10am until 2pm this coming Sunday July 1st and we look forward to welcoming you all for a refreshing break.
We are open on the first Sunday of each month throughout the summer from 10am until 2pm in Great Gidding Village Hall. Next dates are: Sunday July 1st, Sunday August 5th and Sunday September 2nd.
Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/giddinggobblers
We hope to see you there!
Jubilee Wood in May 2018
May has been another interesting month weather wise, sometimes pouring with rain and at other times so hot it’s been difficult to be outside.It doesn’t seem to have bothered Mother Nature though, and the Jubilee wood is growing at a fast pace, full of flowering trees and hedges as well as many different varieties of ground cover including grasses and wildflowers.
The pond
The pond is now quiet as far as the newts are concerned but there’s plenty of activity still to be seen as the damsel and dragon flies take their opportunity to fascinate the viewer with their aerobatic displays on sunny days, and in case you’re wondering how to tell the difference between the two….
Dragonflies and damselflies
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the insect order Odonata meaning ‘toothed jaws.’ They originated some 300 million years ago and have survived with relatively little change in their basic structure. Collectively known as Dragonflies they are divided into two distinct sub-orders, the Anisoptera (true dragonflies) and Zygoptera (damselflies). There are a number of differences between these sub-orders which will help you decide if you are looking at a dragonfly or damselfly:
Unequal wings
Anisoptera means ‘unequal wings’ as the forewing is narrower than the hindwing. They are generally larger and more robust with a powerful flight. When the insect comes to rest it leaves the wings outstretched. The head shape is spherical with eyes that cover most of the head and usually meet in the middle at a contact point.
Equal wings
Zygoptera means ‘equal wings’ as the wings do not differ in shape. The damselflies are usually smaller insects with a weaker fluttery flight and when they come to rest most species fold the wings neatly together and hold them above the abdomen. They have a rectangular head shape with eyes located at the side of the head which are clearly separated with no contact point.
Can you identify the following from these photos taken recently at the Jubilee pond?
The Wood Walker
Due to the Tour of Cambridgeshire cycle race we will not be opening this coming Sunday, 3rd June, as Main Street, Great Gidding will be closed for the majority of the hours that we would usually be open. You will not be able to gain entry to the Village Hall car park and it will be difficult/unsafe to cross the road during those hours.
Hopefully the weather will be good on Sunday 3rd June and we can watch the colourful spectacle of the cycle race passing through the village.
Thank you
Julie and Krystyna
The results from the Community Survey were presented at the Annual Parish Meeting on 15 May 2018.
This Survey was the first “test“ of community opinion in Great & Little Gidding since 2003. The focus of the questions was on life in the Parish, community services, roads and transport and also asked about any future development in the Parish.
View a copy of the Community Survey Presentation 15 May 18 (Final)
School children’s ‘Parliament’
With the approval of the Head Teacher at Great Gidding primary school, we also conducted a separate survey with “child-friendly” questions and held a meeting with the school children’s ‘Parliament’. The children were asked for their opinions about the village recreation and play park facilities and about the natural local heritage including the Nature Trails and Jubilee Wood.
Village life and sense of community
Respondents of the main survey really liked the village life and sense of community and having access to a village shop and pub. Conversely, lack of suitable public transport, the absence of a permanent Post Office were negative factors. Additionally, there is a perception that an aging Parish population and a degree of apathy towards getting involved in the community detracted from the quality of village life.
Regarding roads in the Parish: most people thought the roads were safe and adequate for current traffic; however, speeding on the B660 was a significant concern, as were road maintenance issues: especially potholes, subsidence of the road edges and poor road markings. Long term surface water and drainage issues persist in Gains Lane and Chapel End.
There was almost an even split of opinion regarding any concerns about future developments, but significantly all respondents agreed that any future development should be sympathetic to the existing village environment. Most people objected to any large-scale developments but were happy to encourage smaller ‘infill’ projects.
Accurate ‘snapshot’
In summary, we are very grateful to those who participated in the 2018 Community Survey and we believe that it provided an accurate ‘snapshot’ of opinion that will enable the Parish Council to focus on those issues that are of greatest concern to the residents of Great & Little Gidding.
Any questions please ask. Many thanks.
Nick Hill (Parish Councillor)
Notice of the 2018 Annual Parish Meeting of Great and Little Gidding Parish Council
This meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th May
Starting at 7.00PM in the Village Hall
This is not a formal Parish Council meeting. It is an opportunity for residents of Great and Little Gidding to find out more about the work that the Parish Council are doing, to raise any issues they wish regarding the village and comment on plans for the coming year.
All are welcome.
AGENDA:
- Chairman’s welcome
- To review the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 16th May 2017
- Matters arising
- The Chairman’s Annual Report from the Parish Council
- Presentation and Slide Show – based on the results of the recent Parish Survey
- Update on the Jubilee Wood
- For members of the public to present, discuss and resolve any other matters related to Great and Little Gidding Parish.
Refreshments will be served.
Jubilee Wood
April was quite a month of extremes in terms of weather, but nature has a way of forging on regardless whilst most of us humans are struggling to cope.
The great crested newts are a good example, having overwintered near to the pond under stones or vegetation, they returned to the pond in Jubilee Wood to mate and lay eggs. If you were lucky enough to see them earlier on in the month, you might have been surprised at just how many there were, but if you didn’t get to see them we’ve attached some photos taken at the pond. Apologies for the quality but you have to take the opportunity when you can and although these photos taken with a phone may not be the best, they give an idea of their form and colour.
Spotting the newts may take a couple of minutes before you recognise them as they tend to look like dark bits of small vegetation floating under the water’s surface until you see them suddenly shoot along, splaying out their legs and waggling their tails. The males have more of a crest during the mating season and females lay individual eggs on plant leaves and carefully wrap them up to protect them. Two to four weeks later larvae (sometimes called newt tadpoles) will hatch out with feathery gills around the head, distinguishing them from frog and toad tadpoles. A couple of months after they hatch the larvae start to grow their front legs followed by the back legs. Later on in the summer they’ll leave the pond but will stay close by to find a place to overwinter, and next Spring it will all begin again…….wonderful!
Video
The Woodland Walker.
Please note that the closing date for applications for the Parish Council Clerk vacancy has been extended to 16 April 2018. Please also note that any applicants who have already responded do not need to re-apply for the Clerk vacancy; all extant applications will be considered by the Parish Council following the 16 April 2018 closure date.
Summary of the role of Parish Clerk:
- Part-time lone working job based in the Council Office within the Village Hall.
- To include dealing with enquiries from the public, general office duties and helping and advising the Parish Council, as well as producing agendas and minutes for the monthly meeting.
- The successful applicant would also take on the role of Responsible Financial Officer for the Council.
- Hours of work are 10.30am to 1.00pm Tuesday & Friday plus one evening meeting per month. Total hours are approx. 24 hours per month. Please note work days could be altered to suit right applicant.
- LGS Scale Points 23 (£21,268 Pro-rata)
- Experience of Parish Council business and administration would be an advantage, but enthusiasm is important. Training in some aspects of the role may be available.
For more information, an informal chat or an application form please contact:
Patrick Jarvis
Deputy Chairman
Great & Little Gidding Parish Council
email: patrickjjarvis@outlook.com