K i n g s w o o d    G r a p e v i n e                     

Issue No. 157                                                                                                                                                           JULY/AUGUST 2011     

Editors: Diane White (843783) & Gill Hemming (842734)

 

D a t e s   F o r   Y o u r   D i a r y

Sat            2nd         July                         Cream Tea                                                           5, The Chipping                   10.30am-3pm

Sun           3rd            “                            Open Service                                                       Abbey Gateway                   6.00pm

Fri             8th             “                            Mobile Police Station                                          Chipping                               3.00pm-4.30pm

Sun         10th            “                            Kingswood Open Gardens                                                                                2.00pm-6.00pm

Sat          16th            “                            Tubbs Turf Finals Day                                        Tubbs Turf                            from 12.00 noon

SEPTEMBER  ISSUE  DEADLINE:                 FRIDAY  AUGUST  19th

Tues       26th         July                         Mobile Police Station                                          Chipping                               10.30am-noon

Fri           29th            “                            Neighbourhood Watch Summer Social

Tues         9th          Aug                         Mobile Police Station                                          Chipping                               3.00pm-4.30pm

Sat          27th            “                            Mobile Police Station                                          Chipping                               10.30am-noon

Sun         28th            “                            Kingswood Fiesta                                                                Amercombe         from 12.30pm

Thurs      17th         Nov                        RNLI talk with Miranda Krestovnikoff              Cotswold Edge Golf Club

Cream Tea Crazy

Enjoy a Cream Tea at 5 The Chipping, Kingswood on Saturday 2nd July between 10.30am and 3pm to help us raise funds for the Nicola Corry Support Foundation, helping parents cope with cancer.

News from your Village Agent - Richard Belliss 07798 837 582

CAB Helpline for over 65’s I thought I’d give you some information which has come directly from the Stroud and District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). This is especially relevant to those of you who are over the age of 65. As you know the CAB is a charity which is available to everybody who needs advice. It is funded by grants from Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and by Parish Councils.  This funding ensures that the service can be delivered to everyone in the district who needs it and that includes my area – North Nibley, Stinchcombe, Wotton-under-Edge, Kingswood and Hillesley areas.  The CAB also receives project funding from a variety of sources to provide services to disabled and other vulnerable clients and also to people over the age of 65. So the service is accessible to all. However, what has been discovered is that people over the age of 65 do not often make use of the service i.e.; they don’t often seek advice!  So what’s happening to overcome this? -  Well, the CAB is offering a dedicated phone line for those older people who may find it difficult to visit in person and it is hoped that as many people as possible will make use of it. The number is: 07815166143 Tuesday – Friday between the hours of 10.30am – 5.30pm.

I am assured that if you want the very best time to ring it’s on the same days, but between the hours of 5pm - 6.15pm. The reason being that the office will be quieter at this time.  The CAB say that older people are just as likely to need advice as anyone else, particularly when poor health, fixed incomes and disabilities can lead to isolation and financial insecurity.  

The staff of the CAB will give expert advice and information on Benefit Claims, Money problems, Housing enquiries and issues concerning Tax and Employment. The help they offer is free, confidential and impartial.  They are good listeners and make no judgements.  Their aim is to help people retain control of their lives by offering sound advice and practical assistance. So anyone over 65, who may feel reluctant or unable to visit in person, just give them a call or contact me and I will do the necessary.
KINGSWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH                

A.G.M held on June 2nd – The new Neighbourhood Watch Field Officer Mr. Andy Fogden responsible for liaison with all Stroud District Watch development in his address to the meeting stressed the essential role to be played by Watch teams such as Kingswood in the future of rural policing policy in the county.

The constabulary recruitment freeze over the next four years will result in a significant reduction in the number of active police officers in the county with their time being devoted mainly to city and large town policing. Rural areas like ours will have to rely on much improved contact between local Watch coordinators and their Police and Community Support Officer (P.C.S.O) in our case Andy Tring. A strong Watch team in Kingswood is therefore needed if we are to keep crime at a low level so offer your help if you value living in a safe and happy community. Neighbourhood Watch Summer Social – Friday 29th July. As a social evening for residents of Kingswood and their friends the Watch team seek to make this a focal point for community contact in particular for newcomers to meet with friends and neighbours in a happy social environment. We will once again be able to use the garden of the Old Rectory on Rectory Road by kind permission of Mrs Janet Hammond. There will be a licensed bar on site, tasty snacks and three drinks are included in the ticket price. Admission is by ticket only and these will be available from your local Watch contact or either Norman Ward (843290) or Rod Alexander (843398). So make sure you don’t miss out on a great community social evening.

The Police Information Point is available in the Post Office should you wish to report any problem to be followed up.

Dursley to Bristol Bus Service

Villagers can still catch a bus to Bristol which starts from Dursley and runs every two hours. The 311 stops in Charfield Road, changes to the 309 at Thornbury and calls at Cribb's Causeway before getting to Bristol. The times are 07.11, 08.13, 09.07, 11.07, 13.07, 15.07 and 17.07.  The return bus from Bristol Bus Station is the 309 which again changes to the 311 at Thornbury and runs at twenty past every other hour, so at 10.20, 12.20, 14.20 and 16.20. Each way there should be no change of bus at Thornbury, the driver simply changes the bus number.

Kingswood Gym – i-Vitae

Classes being held at Kingwood's gym, i-Vitae (the Old Sunday School Rooms) this summer. Telephone 844840.

On Monday mornings there is a yoga class held at 10-11am.The cost is £5, on Monday evenings there is Cardio-Combat at 7-8pm.The cost is £4. On Tuesday evenings there is a Zumba Class at 6.30 - 7.30pm. The cost is £5 and needs advance booking. Body Toning is on Wednesdays at 6.30 - 7.30 and costs £4, there is an evening class on Wednesdays for Yoga, which is at 7.45 - 8.45pm and costs £5. On Thursdays’ there is Yoga for the under Eleven's at 4.15 - 5.00, and the cost is £3, later on Thursday evenings there is another Zumba Class at 7.45 - 8.45pm, and the cost is £5.  (Again this needs advance booking.)

On Friday afternoons from 2-3pm there is Seated Nia, with tea and biscuits and costs £3.

Honey bee swarms collected – NO CHARGE. Telephone 01453 842007.

TOGETHER IN KINGSWOOD

Please join us and share our annual OPEN SERVICE on July 3rd, 6pm at The Abbey Gateway in support of Water-Aid. All Welcome.

KINGSWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Our weekly services are at 10.30am and 6.00pm we welcome visiting speakers to take our services as well as the ones taken by our Pastor Adrian Wyatt.  We have recently started UNITED which is for young people aged from 11 up.  This is proving a great success so much so that at the moment we have a waiting list, hopefully not for too long. Our young people are concerned with those less fortunate than themselves and have been doing car washing and church sleepovers to raise monies for youth projects and the people living in the slums around Nairobi. Nothing they raised will be kept; all will go to bless others.

Read more at http://www.unitedmediachurch.btck.co.uk.  If you would like to know more, or would like to put your name on the waiting list, please contact Adrian 07976362615 or email him at sheren.wyatt@sky.com

Starting on Monday 8th August and finishing on the 12th, Churches Together will be running a Holiday Club, 'Jungle Jamboree', in the village hall from 10am - 12noon.  All primary aged children are invited.  For a registration form please contact Nicola Moss on 01453 521213. A warm welcome always awaits you and if you would like to find out more about what we do please visit our website at www.kingswoodcongreational.org.uk

ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH

Well, our annual Garden Fete went ahead as planned, despite a forecast of really dreadful weather.    On the day there was just one short, sharp shower and, though it was none too sunny, people came and enjoyed themselves as usual.  We have so many people to thank for what turned out, in the end, to be a great success.  Firstly David and Patricia, whose garden gets lovelier with each passing year; the local businesses who donated so many super prizes for the Grand Draw; the many people who dropped by with cakes for the Cake Stall and turned it into a major success; those who sorted out their spare books for the, as ever, giant bookstall and everyone who helped run the stalls, serve teas, set things up and tidy away afterwards.   Above all, we must thank all the good people who came along, despite the forecast, to spend their money and who stayed and stayed.  We must also mention the Four Seasons Brass Ensemble whose music added that final touch of class for the perfect garden party.

TUBBS TURF

Tubbs Turf Finals Day Saturday 16th July 12pm onwards - With matches well underway, the competition is hotting up, and Finals Day promises to be as tense and exciting as ever! The full day's schedule can be found in the programme (on sale for £1 around the village) but the matches start at midday and continue throughout the day. We also have a table tennis tournament, for which you can sign up in advance or on the day (before 1.30pm) plus Red Zs football at 1.30pm. At 4pm, there will be a Tennis Skills and a fun netball match (all welcome!) All this, plus activities to keep the younger children amused, a tombola and raffle (free entry with your programme) and the usual delicious fare - BBQ, Pimms, cask beer, homemade cakes and more....fingers crossed for our usual Finals Day weather!  Please see a committee member for a programme or visit www.tubbsturf.co.uk. Details on the Tubbs Turf notice board.

KINGSWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

Boundary Hedges - Please can the Parish Council ask that if you have a hedge that you check that it is not causing an obstruction on the footway or blocking the view of cars turning.

Waterways - The Parish Council would also like to remind all property owners who have waterways running though their land that it is their riparian responsibility to keep the waterway clear to ensure that the water can flow freely.

Wickwar Road Traffic calming - The traffic trial for the calming has now ended. Highways will be contacting all residents of Wickwar Road and Somerset Close to ask their views on the trial. The second trial with the 2 build outs had the best results. Please let the clerk know your views on the two proposals. Proposal 1 - No traffic calming to be put in place on Wickwar Road. Proposal 2 - is the two build outs as per week 1 of the trial. Full details will be available to view in the coffee shop. There will also be short survey question which can be accessed on the Parish Council web site and at the coffee shop. http://community.stroud.gov.uk/general.asp?pid=54&pgid=2744

Web site - The Parish Council web site is available either from a link from the Grapevine or Stroud District Council site. The site has copies of minutes, agendas, accounts and all Parish Council Policies. The web site can be accessed through the following links http://community.stroud.gov.uk/default.asp?pid=54 or http://kingswoodgrapevine.supanet.com – (Local Village & Town Websites)

There will also be a folder available to view in the coffee shop which will also have all of this information in.

Wind Turbines - I hope that many of you attended the public exhibition in relation to the proposed wind Turbines.  The planning application will probably be submitted in July. There will be details on display relating to the wind turbine on view in the coffee shop.

New Bench for the Chipping - The Parish Council is intending to purchase another tree seat to go around the 2nd tree on the Chipping. The money to purchase this is as a result of the recent charity cycle event that was held at the playing field.

Parish Council Contacts - The Parish Council can be contacted as follows

Clerk: Mary Leonard, New Rose Cottage, Chapel Lane, Hillesley GL12 7RQ 01453 844659

Councillors: David Rockey Chairman 01453 844436, Paul Hemming Vice Chairman 01453 842734, Norman Ward 01453 843290, Ken Wood 01453 520173, Sue Evans 01453 845235, Jean Simmons 01453 842110  Norval Hawksworth  843461. Full contact details are on display on the notice board, in the information folder and on the website. The next meeting is on 11th July at the village hall.

KKaV

Kingswood Open Gardens - Sunday July 10th 2-6 p.m.

As part of our fund-raising efforts we are pleased to confirm that KKaV have organised for a number of fabulous Kingswood gardens to be open for viewing.  Refreshments and entertainment will be available and a children's treasure hunt.  Tickets £4 per person to cover visits to all the gardens in advance from i-Vitae Coffee Shop or £5 per person on the day from i-Vitae and Amercombe, 11 High Street, children free. Maps of gardens available on the day.

Also, a date for your diary - Kingswood Fiesta at Amercombe!  Bank Holiday Sunday 29th August from 12.30 p.m. Enjoy Paella, liquid refreshments and music - an afternoon event for the whole family.  More details to follow! 

Our fund-raising is off to a great start and an enormous thank you for the donations we have already received!  If you would like to donate to the fund to help us prepare for the appeal that Taylor Wimpey confirm they are preparing, from pennies to pounds, please contact the Treasurer, Helen Niddrie, 4 The Chipping.  Cheques should be made payable to 'Keep Kingswood a Village'.  Thank you for your continued support. 

The Kingswood Arts Showday Exhibition

Calling all artists. The Kingswood Arts Showday Exhibition is now accepting applications for this year's event. The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for local artist's to exhibit and sell their work. For an application form or more information e-mail kingswoodvillage@hotmail.co.uk or ring Jim Sinkinson on 07527 813404/ 01453 843074. Watch this space for more exciting developments concerning Kingswood Arts. 

The Village Diary can be viewed on the Grapevine website. For an entry please email Grapevine or telephone Gill on 842734.