Points of interest from the meetings held in August 2021.

Local skills needed:

The Parish Council are investigating the feasibility of removing the old Recreation Hall which is at the end of its life and replacing it with a new multi-purpose community space.

This is at the very early stages but if you are local and have any skills or knowledge in this area, we’d welcome your assistance.

This could be:

  • Planning knowledge
  • Architect and building design
  • Legal knowledge
  • Building skills and knowledge
  • Project Management
  • Fund raising and grants.

Please do get in touch with us if you can help at all with this community project.

The Parish Council did a survey around 6 months ago to gain an idea of what residents would like to see for this area but if you would like to offer any suggestions then please let us know.

Recent projects completed:

A few small items completed recently:

  • Tree trimming at The Crescent
  • Removal of ash tree with signs of disease in the Butts Road cemetery
  • Trimming of hedge on New Road on pavement side.
  • Planned repairs for the slide at Castle View Play area.
  • Hedge cutting planned for the allotment site once nesting birds have left.
  • Full EICR inspection carried out at the Recreation Hall and remedial works planned.

New handyman appointed

The Parish Council is pleased to welcome Graham our new handyman. Graham will be hitting the ground running mid August, and catching up with all the jobs we need doing.

Openreach Fibre update: DEADLINE APPROACHING.

The closing date to apply for a voucher to pledge for the scheme is 20th August. Even though the scheme has had enough support to go ahead there is still around 40-50% of the local population who haven’t signed up yet. Happily the Badbury area and a few small pockets in Chiseldon are now included in the scheme. Openreach are expecting to do another leaflet drop. Once copper is switched off in 2025 there will be other solutions that don’t use fibre but it is not sure yet what form these will take. Fibre is known to be the most reliable option so far.

Defibrillators – a reminder

A reminder that the Parish has 4 defibrillators – one outside Cameo Hairdressers on High Street, one outside the Pavilion on the Recreation Field, one outside the Calley Memorial Hall on Draycott Road and one in the BT Box in Badbury. All units are accessed by calling 999 to gain the code for the box. You cannot use these defibrillators on someone who doesn’t need it as the machine will not work. It also provides audible instructions on how to use them.

There is also a defibrillator on the outside wall of the school in Ogbourne St George.

NOW OPEN FOR NEW SUBMISSIONS – Parish Council Grants and Donations fund & Calley Memorial Hall fund

The Parish Council have an annual fund that we can donate to worthy causes within the Parish. If you are a group, charity or society that believe you could benefit from this fund then please contact the Parish Clerk for further details.

The trustees of the Calley Memorial Hall fund are also able to approve grants and donations to worthy causes within the Parish. (This doesn’t have to be connected to users of the Memorial Hall). Please contact the Parish Clerk in the first instance who can provide you with an application form.
(It should be noted that this fund is not connected to the Parish Council)

Next Parish council meeting

The next Full Council meeting of the Parish Council will be Monday 13th September. This will start at 7.30pm at the Rec Hall off Norris Close. There is a public recess at the start of proceedings, after which residents can choose to leave the session. Covid restrictions state we must adhere to max. number of attendees to be safe, so regrettably we may need to turn away extra visitors if space does not allow. Please register your interest in attending a meeting with the Parish Clerk, or send in a written report to be read out on your behalf. Meeting locations may change so please verify the location before making a journey. Our committee meetings will now meet in the Chapel Office on Butts Road.