Just ready for start of new year
See you by All Saints Church for the Village Walk starting at 10.30am on Sunday and in the Church Rooms for soup and rolls afterwards.
Unfortunately there will be no 'Coffee and Chat' at the Church Rooms on Tuesday 3 January after all.
Farewell
Old Buckenham Village Hall monthly Numbers Club has now closed. The management committee wish to thank all those who have contributed to this over the years. Thanks are also due to the dedicated collectors who walked round the village and its environs and contacted players each January. The numbers club was administered by Graham Dye to whom grateful thanks are also due.
The winners in the last draw in December were Jenny Devaux with £10, Gerald Norton won £15, £20 went to Barbara Jones and the two £25 prizes were awarded to Pat Rout and Sarah Dye.
The Club is now wound up.
Look at the wide range and prices
This is one old document re-discovered today by the blog editor who is having a big clear out. The shop was by Rod Alley Row but how long ago? Please leave a comment if you know.
Your contributions are needed
Copy date for the January village newsletter is only five days away but many more words are needed to fill the pages. The Parish Council had no planning applications to deal with and so their minutes are much shorter than usual. People seem much busier attending local functions than keen to write up about them. Did you enjoy the switch on of the Christmas tree lights? If so write and tell me something about it. How about reporting back on the Luncheon Club's Christmas dinner? Or is there something else happening in the village that you feel strongly about.
Just send your contributions to obnewspostbox@aol before midnight on Tuesday 20 December (or write them out longhand and put them in the letterbox at Crockslea in Cake Street) and we'll try to make good use of them. Thank you.
Something for your new diary
Is that another year nearly gone? Why not come out and enjoy some fresh air with friends for the New Year's Day Walk? It will leave from outside the Church Rooms at 10.30am. The walk will be approximately 2 to 3 miles walking on fields and roads. Dogs on leads will be welcome. After the walk you are invited back to he Church Rooms for homemade soup and rolls, etc.
Here is the news
Old Buckenham Parish Council met on Thursday 1 December at 7.30pm in Old Buckenham Village Hall. Those present were Councillors Naomi Bailey (Chair), Andy Nicholls, Terry Cook, Ali McWilliam and Doug Irons. Apologies for absence had been received from Jonn Hicks. Also attending were Rachel Noyes Clerk), County and District Councillor Steve Askew and one member of the public. The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 10 November were approved (4 in favour, 1 abstain).
Financial matters. The Community Account balance was now £37,604.15. Payments of £726.65 were approved (5 in favour) and included the Clerk’s salary and expenses, hire of rooms at the Village Hall and payments to four of the community car drivers. Payment made for newsletter paper as previously approved came to £777.60 (including VAT).
Councillor
reports. County Councillor Steve Askew said that Serco have been due to cut
back overhanging trees in Prince Harry’s Wood this week. Naomi Bailey is to
visit properties and confirm work has been completed to a satisfactory
standard. He was also contacted by a Banham resident regarding Banham Community
Car Scheme which is no longer operational. Banham Parish Council will be
discussing it at their next meeting but were looking at the idea of
neighbouring parishes working together. Breckland Council have no objections. He
will keep in contact with Banham Parish Council and will keep our Parish
Council updated. The Community Car Scheme in Old Buckenham is well used but
always on the lookout for new drivers.
Ali McWilliam had seen the SUE presentation at Attleborough Town Hall. Homes England were also present. Noted changes to transport networks in local area including adding new roundabout on the B1077. Will also be putting in some small shopping areas and other additional services.Terry Cook said that Serco and Breckland have reacted quickly to recent fly tipping in the village. No further problems reported. However, please report any problems quickly via Breckland website or to the Parish Clerk.
Doug Irons had met with The Gamekeeper manager regarding the details for leasing and resurfacing of the small area of Green outside of the pub which is currently used for parking. Was a very positive meeting in which all parties were happy to get the arrangements sorted quickly. As car park area is used by residents for accessing properties and for parking, the Parish Council will pay 60% of maintenance costs while The Gamekeeper will pay 40%. Manager was also keen to get involved in community activities and events. Paperwork will be drafted and another meeting to be arranged for in the New Year.Doug Irons will lead development of new website. Request for Councillors to inform him of features/pages they feel that the website should include. The Clerk reported that the next stage of Local Plan Update (Issues and Options consultation) will be on Tuesday 20 December at 4pm, Elizabeth House, Dereham. Two places for any Councillors able to attend.
She had contacted Breckland Planning relating to residents’ concerns raised at the last meeting. Reply received stated they can provide evidence that they wrote to three of the immediate neighbours and that while the comment was removed from the website, it was still consulted during the decision-making process. Reply did not, however, explain why the comment was removed. Recent information event received regarding work on the Brenntag site in Attleborough. Councillors were unable to attend but slides from the event have been received. Feedback to be passed on to the Clerk, who will complete feedback form. The A11 will be experiencing high levels of night closures (8pm to 6am) during December as work is switched to the Southbound side. Diversions will be via Diss. Contacted with a request for permission to install a mirror on the Green for safely leaving driveway. Clarified with Highways who said that they do not support them. Resident informed, who will now liaise with Highways/Breckland Planning themselves.
She
had been contacted by the Manager of Old Buckenham Stud who wished to correct
some comments from previous Parish Coumcil minutes. The Stud was not directly
contacted about donating land for a burial site and so has not, as stated, that
they were not prepared to give up any land.
Planning
applications. There have been no new or amended planning applications received.
Planning
decisions by Breckland Council. The following two applications have now been
considered and have been approved.
Land
at Rosedale, Fen Street. Erection of 1 No C3 dwellinghouse and part demolition
of outbuilding to be used as garage (3PL/2022/0429/F).
Clay
Barn, Attleborough Road, barn C complex. Proposed conversion of former
agricultural buildings for residential use forming two dwellings (3PL/2022/0736/F).
The following application has been withdrawn: Hargham Road. Residential Development - 12 Units (3PL/2022/0298/F).
Track Repair between Village Shop and phone box. Have been asked about maintenance work on track, specifically the “shop side” of the posts which has large areas of wear, causing large puddles during the winter months. The track is part of the Green, not Highways, but is used by several residents to access their homes. Previously, the Parish Council has made contact with residents to enquire about financial contributions towards the work. Last action was for the previous Chair to arrange meeting with residents but the Chair left the before it could be carried out. A quote was collected at the start of the year for resurfacing the track, but is likely to be higher now. Councillors felt that while the Parish Council would contribute towards the work, it should not pay the full costs due to the fact that the damage done is partly down to the residents’ cars wearing away the materials. Parish Council would pay for half, while residents pay the remaining half. Clerk to write a letter to residents who live off the track to inform them of previous quote received and explain that Parish Council will pay half the cost. If they are happy to proceed, a meeting to be arrange in the New Year between the Parish Council, residents and Green Working Party.
Prince
Harry’s Wood. Have received transfer forms for signing. A few details are just
being finalised regarding the cutting back of overhanging trees near properties
and liaising with the insurance company. Will have to add new areas of grass in
St Andrews Close included in the transfer as these areas will need cutting by the Handyman.
After completion of tree cutting work, transfer forms to be signed by two
Councillors and an independent witness.
Recreation
Ground fencing. Gate/fence has been reversed into and broken. Wood is poor
quality and so has been easily damaged. Naomi Bailey felt that this will happen
repeatedly and so a stronger structure is needed. AN highlighted the need to
stop footballs hitting cars/rolling in to car park. Councillors suggested
researching quotes for 4/6 foot high chain link fencing with hedges along the
car park end of the Recreation Ground. A double gate would also be required to
allow for grass cutting machinery to access the field. The Clerk is to collect
quotes.
County Broadband wayleave. Have been contacted about a wayleave from County Broadband. Sarah Dye has dealt with the matter on behalf of the Green Rights Proprietors. Originally, the Parish Council were to discuss the suggested placement of a new telegraph pole near the playground. However have recently been informed that Highways have already approved the work.
Public
participation. Resident felt that there should have been greater planning in
advance for the maintenance of Prince Harry’s Wood and grass areas and the
additional costs that this will incur.
Items for next agenda. These are expected to include the Precept, the Recreation Ground fencing update, the Track update and latest on Prince Harry’s Wood.
The
next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 5 January 2023 at 7.30pm at Old
Buckenham Village Hall.
Wednesday was time for the Luncheon Club to have its Christmas Dinner. Here, rather later than hoped, are a few photos of the occasion. Apart from a special, free to enter, raffle there was also a visit from a class from the nearby primary school to sing a couple of songs.
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| Getting a supervised stir |
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| Stuffing ready for the oven |
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| A bit of mardling |
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| Watching the primary school singing |
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| More listening to the singing |
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| Some of the helpers enjoying their lunch |
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| ... and for pudding |
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| Time to help with clearing away the plates. |
A red hot piece of village news
The new thriller “The Chemistry of Death” based on the books of Simon Becket and filmed partly in Old Buckenham during the summer launches in mid January on Paramount Plus streaming service.
Infamous
The blog editor has been clearing out lots of old paperwork. He wondered why he had saved this envelope. Then he read the address and realised that even the local post office knew who did the village blog.
Some history
On the first of December in 2008, this site first started operating and it has been going ever since. It does not have a large audience compared with many blogs that are still active but a few statistics may interest you.
The tracking program, not necessarily very accurate, says that just over 144,000 have looked at the Old Buckenham blog. Of these some 86% are from the UK, 4% from the USA and 2% from India. At the other extreme only one person in Angola and one in Senegal have chanced upon it in fourteen years. Very few people have ever left any comments. Perhaps we will do a proper analysis next year to celebrate 15 years of blogging.
