Community

Chipping The B660

Every few years on a rolling programme most the roads in the parish receive a new surface coating of stone chippings, rather than explain the finer details of the process take a look at The Idiots Guide To Highway maintenance, a really excellent and detailed web site about how our roads are maintained.

This series of photographs were taken on 22nd July 2010 as the B660 was being resurfaced from the Lutton crossroads to Great Gidding.

We all know something is imminent when the signs appear and the road sweeper starts hoovering up beyond the village boundary. Above we see the convoy of vehicles proceeding down the hill. Traffic management is by stop/go boards and radio communication.

The bitumen or tar lorry as they were known is always a site to behold, clouds of water vapour emerging from the spray applicator as the hot bitumen meets the cooler atmosphere.

This is the crunch part of the operation, the bitumen emulsion being sprayed out on to the road surface quickly followed up the stone spreader with an 8 wheeler tipper keeping the spreader topped up. The rate of application of bitumen and the stone chippings will have been predetermined in the contract. The idiots guide to highway maintenance will inform you of these things in greater detail. Click the link and have a read.

The stone spreader operator has a commanding view of the operation, he has to judge forward speed and the width of spread whilst keeping an eye on the hopper load.

The job has several hazards, passing traffic, moving machinery, hot liquids and obstructions to deal with such as overhanging branches that get hooked up on the passing tipper lorry.

Immediately following the first stone spreader another one follows on putting a finer layer of chippings down.

To make sure that the chippings adhere to the bitumen base layer, road rollers are used to compress the two elements together. Road rollers have evolved from the first steam rollers, diesel powered rollers, multi tyred rollers and now site rollers. Another useful reference site is the Road Rollers Association

Finally as the convoy makes its way to Great Gidding we see some of the work force in a lighter moment. These chaps are the stop /go board operators for traffic approaching from behind. Now the road has been resurfaced it takes on the feel of a skid pan as loose stone chippings accumulate. This is where drivers always observe the speed limit signs and drive diligently according to the road conditions. A road sweeper will follow up this operation with two or three passes in the forthcoming weeks.

How the latest allotments were created

By MichaelT on April 23, 2012 / Community, Home page latest news, The Environment / Leave a comment

Tags: Allotments

A short photo essay on the creation of the latest tranche of allotments.

With householders facing increased bills for fresh food, pressure was put on the Parish Council to facilitate some extra allotments near the Jubilee Wood. The land had always been allocated as allotment ground but it required that the caretaker tenant to relinquish the area of land which he graciously did.

A contractor was organised to create the allotment layout.

The previous crop had been mown down and work began using rotovator to break up the surface.

Quite unusual to see a tractor mounted rotavator in good condition. Most have been consigned to the farm scrap heap as they have been superseded by alternative types of mechanical soil cultivation.

The work nearly complete. Although it looks like an instant seedbed the new allotment holders will tell you its tough digging. Tractor mounted rotavators are notorious for creating a pan just below the surface. The only remedy is the traditional double digging and incorporation of organic matter.

Within a few months some of the allotments are in full production.

The excavation of the Diamond Jubilee Pond

By MichaelT on March 19, 2012 / Great Gidding, Home page latest news, Jubilee Wood news, The Environment / 1 Comment

Tags: Jubilee Wood, Pond

Creating a new pond

After mulling over the idea of how to bring another environmental benefit to the Jubilee Wood
it was fairly obvious that a new pond was called for. The site was quickly identified within
the wood, the wettest part ! So on a hot September day our local digger operator, Jeff turned
up with his JCB and was told to create an interesting shaped pond.

Nothing startling was unearthed as the dig commenced only the usual Hanslope series top soil
overlying the standard chalky boulder clay below.

In an average year when you dig in this clay the soil will stick inside the bucket. Not this time
round, its as dry as it could be.

The final shape of the pond follows best advice in that you need a deep area sloping sides and
a gradual slope to a shallow area.

The excavated clay soil was shaped into a stockpile and then covered with top soil and was
immediately sown with grass seed.

The job done, now we awaited the rain and we’re still waiting 6 months hence.

Taking a lead from our other recently cleaned out ponds we added stones to create a firm base.

Five months on and the 2011/12 drought is borne out by the low winter rainfall and the struggle to naturally fill the pond.

Remarkably over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of April 2012 a deluge of 30mm of rain topped the pond up to the shelf on the subsoil level. It may fill even more as the wood is fairly well flooded.

Beer and Skittles – 14th March 2012

By JulieB on March 15, 2012 / Home page latest news, News stories and reports, Village Hall / Leave a comment

Tags: beer and skittles, village hall

The theme for the final beer and skittles, local ales, did not disappoint.

: “Duck!”

The Cambridge Brewery, Oakham Ales, Bateman’s, Elgoods and the Pot Belly brewery all featured along with Thwaites outpost brewery in the Sawtry hinterland. Citra and JHB from Oakham ales was well received along with Bateman’s Combined Harvest. All the beers were eminently drinkable apart from the one that Mr Hodson thought tasted of a bonfire, wether that was standing in or down wind we’re not sure.

The Ale’d and aimless award was unanimously awarded to Michael

On the skittle front, Mr Garner and Mr Crank showed how the game should be played, fast and furious. The Ale’d and aimless award was unanimously awarded for the uncanny ability to throw one cheese without hitting any skittles, unique!

Don’t forget the Port supper at the end of the month, Andrew will do a circular e mail if he requires any extra goodies. Mrs T has volunteered a fruit cake.

Thank you everyone for your support during the winter, the yard of ale still makes me smile

A welcome message from the Baptist Church

By krysia on March 9, 2012 / Baptist Church, Home page latest news / 1 Comment

Tags: Baptist Church, Church, Great Gidding

Great Gidding Baptist Church

Our Purpose – Love God Love People Serve the World

The Baptist Church is in fellowship with Grace Fellowship Little Stukeley; Grace Fellowship is part of the International Baptist Convention (I B C) and affiliated to Baptist Union of Great Britain

My Wife and I first came to Great Gidding some 30 years ago as a guest speaker for the day returning from time to time to worship or preach, then we moved to Great Stukely. That’s when Pastor Albert asked me to take care of the Church while he was away in Uganda. During this time we have seen many changes to the Church. When Albert was so ill Penny and I were regular visitors both to the hospital and the home, on their Return to Bristol they asked us to take on the church.

Work to do
There has been much work to do as we redecorate the manse and clear up the rubbish that has been gathered over the years and we are still working at getting the grounds and sheds dealt with, it will take time to do all we have in mind.

The first service we will take is to be held on Easter Sunday At 3pm.
We welcome you all to come and join us for the service and share a cup of tea or coffee after the service.

Further details of regular meetings will be announced soon.

Polio and the ‘Purple Pinky’ and crocuses in front of the church

By The Giddings Admin on March 3, 2012 / Community, Home page latest news, News stories and reports / Leave a comment

Tags: Church, church yard, Great Gidding, Main Street, spring, st michael's

Polio is a terrible crippling disease. It was once the major cause of disability. Before 1988 there were over 350,000 cases reported per year worldwide. Now it is down to about a 1,000 cases per year. India use to have more cases than anywhere else. Now it has reported only one single case in the last 18 months.

This is down to 25 years of hard work on the part of Rotary International and other agencies. For years the programme has depended on charitable giving and the precious time of individuals prepared to go out and help, at their own expense, in vaccination clinics. At last we are on the brink. One final push is needed to get rid of this dreadful disease once and for all. If we don’t make that effort now and leave off it will come back. That final effort will cost money. Bill Gates has generously contributed $355 million but there is still a need to raise a further $200 million world wide to see it through.

During national immunisation days in India, as many as 65 million children are immunised. Volunteers hold these days every six weeks, visiting remote villages and slum areas to deliver the life-saving vaccine. Although polio is nearly wiped out, work has to continue through this next generation of children to be sure to eradicate the disease for good. Booths are set up in major cities, attracting school children and families, who will travel for miles to protect their children. After vaccination each child has a finger dipped in purple dye for control purposes.

In order to bring your attention to the vaccination programme purple crocuses have been planted all over the UK. It is hoped that the 500 bulbs planted in front of the church last autumn will eventually multiply to make a magnificent springtime display. When you look at them please think about all the children walking around with purple “pinkies” who will now have a better chance in life. It will be wonderful when the day comes when no one else will ever have to suffer from polio. This can be a real success story! Will you please help?

Donations to the “Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle” can be handed to Tony Scott, 15 Mill Road, Great Gidding or to Jed and Aruna at the village shop.

New couple at Great Gidding Baptist Church

By The Giddings Admin on March 1, 2012 / Baptist Church, Home page latest news / Leave a comment

Tags: Baptist Church, Church, Easter, Great Gidding

Welcome to Pete and Penny Bourne

“If you see us working at the Manse please stop and introduce yourself to us. We are hoping to hold our first service Easter Sunday 3pm please come and join with us”

Pete Bourne

For the time being the contact details are as follows
Pete and Penny Bourne
Phone 01480432207
Penny’s Email penny.bourne@sky.com
Pete’s Email bourneagain58@yahoo.co.uk

Read more about the Great Gidding Baptist Church

Minutes of meeting held on 21st February 2012

By SallyD on February 21, 2012 / Parish Council Minutes, Uncategorized / Leave a comment

Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held in the
Village Hall, Great Gidding on Tuesday 21^st February 2012 at 7.30pm.

Present: Cllrs
Hayden (Vice Chairman), Hill, Hodson, Howden, Giddens, Trolove, District Cllr
Tuplin and Clerk

807.12 Apologies for
absence were received from Cllr Alexander and accepted

808.12 Minutes of
17^th January 2012 were agreed and signed

809.12 Matters
arising (information only)

810.12 Members
declaration of interest for agenda items – Cllr Trolove 811.12

811.12 Rent review
– it was agreed that wef 1^st April 2013 the following rent increases
would take place – Allotments from £15 to £20 per plot (due
to water rates) all agreed. FBT from £50 to £65 per acre (present rent held
since 2009) all agreed. Grazing from £322.40 to £400 per annum (present rent
held since 2004) agreed with one abstention.
All rents to be reviewed annually.

812.12 The Great
Gidding Newt Trail update – The Big Lottery Fund Awards for All Grant file has
been closed with the remaining balance being used for the interpretation boards

813.12 Clarion – a
draft edition was amended and would be sent out in time to advertise the Annual
Parish Meeting

814.12 Rural Housing Needs Survey – this had been distributed to all
households

815.12 Diamond
Jubilee – village celebration – no update

816.12
Dispensation to allow members of Great & Little Gidding Parish Council to
speak and vote on matters relating to the Village Hall and Recreation Field and
the Great Gidding Charities. This was
due for renewal on 30^th April and it was agreed to apply to the
Standards Committee at the District Council for a further period.

817.12 Membership
renewal – Cambs ACRE Action with Communities in Rural England. It was agreed to renew this membership of
£40 (includes Cambs Playing Fields Association)

818.12 Planning –
Erection of a free range poultry unit (turkeys) at Land near Ellands Farm,
Barnwell Road, Hemington – noted

819.12 Fields in
Trust – Queen Elizabeth II Recreation Ground – no update

820.12 Litterbin
location on Main Street. The District
Council have agreed to resite the bin to the opposite side of the road to
improve visibility at the Mill Road junction.
(This will be carried out in the next financial year)

821.12 Local Minor
Highway Improvements Funding request.
The cost of a pavement along Chapel End from Main Street to Gains Lane
exceeded the budget allocation. It was
agreed to request a kerb along this stretch of road which would define the road
edge, stop the overrun of the verge and lead to improved safety.

822.12 Vehicles
exceeding speed limit through the village, speedwatch meeting – no update

823.12 Anglia in
Bloom – village support would be requested via the Clarion

824.12 Grazing
agreement/licence for Parish Field – a draft of both were discussed and
amendments made for approval at the next meeting

825.12 Annual
Parish Meeting 17^th April – it was agreed to invite a representative
from the School, Church and History Society to give an update on recent events
and plans for the future

826.12 Reconciliation
of accounts and payment of cheques were agreed

S Dalley (clerk)
£295.70

PC Ok (printer cartridge)
£54.99

827.12
Representatives reports

Rights of Way –
Cllr Giddens reported several Anglian Water drain covers had gone missing but
most have since been replaced

Allotments –
Cllr Howden reported interest in a half share of the vacant plot

Highways &
Police – Cllr Hayden reported that at the last Neighbourhood Forum meeting the
Police had highlighted the parking issues outside the school in Gt Gidding. Tony King CC Highways had offered to visit the
village for an update – clerk to arrange suitable date

School – Cllr
Alexander – no report

Village Hall
& Recreation Ground – Cllr Howden – replacement chairs would be the next
big budget item for the hall.

Finance &
Charities – Cllr Hodson – budget update given and accepted

Tree Warden –
Cllr Trolove – no report

828.12 Correspondence
received

Letter from resident concerning
grass verge – redirected to CC Highways

North West Hunts Neighbourhood
Forum 4^th April 7pm, Yaxley

Town and Parish Clerk’s Guide to
the May 2012 Elections – noted

Community Hubs – a meeting has been
organised for 27^th Feb at Gt Gidding

Invite to HDC meeting 25^th
April at 7pm, Pathfinder House – noted

Huntingdonshire Flood Forum –
noted

Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Tuesday 17th January 2012

By SallyD on January 17, 2012 / Home page latest news, Parish Council Minutes / Leave a comment

Tags: minutes, Parish Council

Present: Cllrs Alexander (Chairman), Hayden (Vice Chairman), Hodson, Howden, Giddens, Trolove, County Councillor McGuire, District Cllr Tysoe and clerk

Sue Jarvis attended the meeting to inform the Parish Council of plans to hold an event in the village hall on Saturday 2^nd June for the Jubilee Celebrations. They would not however be going ahead with their proposal for a Country Fair on the Recreation Ground on 4^th June.

785.12 Apologies for absence were received from District Cllr Tuplin

786.12 Minutes of 20^th December 2011 were agreed and signed

787.12 Matters arising (information only)

788.12 Members declaration of interest for agenda items Cllr Giddens 794.12

789.12 Grass cutting contract 2012- it was noted that the new contractor would start in April. As there are still funds allocated in 2011 budget for another cut it was agreed to contact the present contractor for a cut in March.

790.12 The Great Gidding Newt Trail update – interpretation boards were in hand but subject to the Lottery Funding allowing an extension of 2 months to allow work to be completed

791.12 Noticeboard refurbishment –only one key could be found for both boards and it was agreed to obtain 2 spare keys for the noticeboards

792.12 Rural Housing Needs Survey – still no update on when this will take place

793.12 Diamond Jubilee – village celebration update. It was agreed the group organising the event in the village hall on 2^nd June would be allocated £500 to underwrite the event. A coffee morning to celebrate the Flora and Fauna at the Jubilee Woods was being organised for 3^rd June but no PC funding requested.

794.12 Planning – Tree Preservation Order, 47 Main Street – It was agreed to write and state that the PC await outcome following the 6 month order

795.12 Rural Broadband – Mobile Phone Coverage. A letter had been received from Shailesh Vara MP who was looking in to this for the parish

796.12 Textile Recycling Bank in the village – the village hall had agreed to have this facility situated in their car park. (The public house had declined)

797.12 Fields in Trust – Queen Elizabeth II Recreation Ground- a suitable sign would need to be erected during the Jubilee Celebrations

798.12 Litterbin location on Main Street – it was agreed that all Parish Councillors view the location of the present bin with a view to suggestions of where it can be relocated

799.12 Local Minor Highway Improvements Funding – As the CC budget limit was £10,000 it was agreed to consult on costing for a foot way from Main Street to Gains Lane. If this exceeded the budget then a kerb along this stretch of Chapel End would be applied for. The PC has to contribute to any improvements with a maximum of £1000.

800.12 Vehicles exceeding speed limit through the village – a request has been made for information on any speedchecks carried out during the past year but no response had been received to date

801.12 Anglia in Bloom – It was agreed that the PC would not be involved in this year but encourage members of the village to take this community activity on (Clarion)

802.12 Rental agreement for Parish Land – it was agreed that the clerk draw up a draft agreement for discussion at the next meeting

803.12 The date for the Annual Parish Meeting was set for Tuesday 20^th March at 7pm when village organisations would be invited along to give a short report on their activities (5mins)

804.12 Reconciliation of accounts and payment of cheques were agreed

S Dalley (clerk) £295.70

Anglian Water (Rec Ground) £87.05

Anglian Water (Allotments) £18.57 (Charity)

805.12 Representatives reports

Rights of Way – Cllr Giddens – it was noted that another Anglian Water drain cover was missing – opposite The Mill

Allotments – Cllr Howden recommended an increase in the annual fee for 2013 – to be agreed at next meeting

Highways & Police – Cllr Hayden – no report

School – Cllr Alexander –

Village Hall & Recreation Ground – Cllr Howden reported that the Hall had seen an increase in bookings

Finance & Charities – Cllr Hodson gave a brief update

Tree Warden – Cllr Trolove had planted 50 trees provided by HDC along Lodge Road, Hemington. He has also produced a definitive list of the trees at the Jubilee wood which will be numbered and tagged for easy identification by visitors.

806.12 Correspondence received

North West Hunts Neighbourhood Forum 25^th Jan, Infant School, Sawtry – noted

Peterborough Cycle Club notice of race Monday 4^th June – noted

Wassail night 2012

By The Giddings Admin on January 11, 2012 / Home page latest news, News stories and reports, Village Hall / 1 Comment

Tags: Forthcoming events, Gidding, Wassail

Wassail night is on the go!

A hardy group of villagers are Wassailing the night away. Firstly in the Jubilee Wood and then onto the Village Hall for food, cider and a warm up!

Everyone’s enjoying the cider!

Paul Burgess is awarded the ‘Ale’d and Aimless’ trophy for his wonderful Wassailing poem. Sue and Patrick were close runners up.

A big thank you to Michael and Julie Trolove (and anyone else that was involved) for organising the event.