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

Issue No. 165                                                                                                                                   MAY 2012     

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       28th       April                 Plant and Produce Sale                         Chipping                           10.00am-1.00pm

Thur        3rd       May                  Parish and District Council Elections      Village Hall                         7.00am-10.00pm

Tue         8th          “                    W.I talk ‘Glorious Mud’                           Village Hall                         7.30pm

Thur      10th          “                    Mobile Police Station                            Chipping                           10.30am-11.30am

JUNE ISSUE  DEADLINE:                     FRIDAY  MAY 25th

Wed     23rd       May                  Mobile Police Station                            Chipping                           10.30am-11.30am

Sat         2nd      June                 Diamond Jubilee

Fri        13th       July                  Summer Neighbourhood Watch Social                                      

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE ASSOCIATION

K.V.A. would be happy to broker the return of two white tent end panels, approx 3 metres wide, to the individual or group, who left them on the field, probably on Showday. It would pass on, in exchange, two end panels from a 6m x 4m tent. Please contact Rod Alexander, 843398

Care needed 

Dog walkers have noticed broken glass bottles are being thrown in the stream near the Dinneywicks field on Hillesley Road.  Please ensure your children take care when playing in the field or near the stream to avoid any injuries.

Diamond Jubilee 

The “Kingswood Collective” has been working together for the last four months pulling together a fun filled day of activities to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. There will be something for everyone and there will be events running whether we are basking in the sunshine or hiding from the rain! Flyers will be coming through letterboxes over the next few weeks or keep updated at www.k-v-a.org or at our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/KingswoodVillageDiamondJubilleeCelebrations

We are also looking for a few volunteers to help set up the night before, it would only be an hour of your time but would make a big difference. If you are able to help, please email back via this address.

We are looking forward to seeing another great turnout of the village on Saturday 2nd June 2012!

KINGSWOOD ABBEY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

At their April meeting the WI members enjoyed seeing photographs illustrating local wildlife photographer, Iain Green's work from 1997 to the present.  From the endangered Siberian Cranes of India to the re-homing of the primary school's frogs in their newly lined pool - a fascinating journey.    Next month's meeting is on Tuesday, May 8th at 7.30pm in the Village Hall when Tim Lewis will be speaking about Glorious Mud (Flanders and Swan type we think!).  For more details please contact Val Jones on 842471. Thank-you to the person(s) who has/have cleaned up the Ash Path, some WI members enjoyed a walk along the path on April 17th; - it was completely free of dog mess.

THANK-YOU - COBALT CANCER APPEAL coffee morning held in March.  The WI members would like to thank everyone who helped to make this event such a great success.  Over £350 has been donated to the appeal.

Friends of St. Mary's

Saturday, 28th April, 10 am to 1pm: Plant and Produce Sale on The Chipping. Plants of every description, cake stall,

bric-â-brac and tombola. Don't miss it!

Nia Dance

Nia has all the positive fitness benefits of an exercise class; muscle toning, cardio fitness, fun and pleasure.   What is unusual for a dance movement practice is that EVERY move is designed to work WITH YOUR BODY.  So, no more twisting or jarring of knees and back, or moves that are too fast for you to respond to.  Why not give it a try.  Class held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 8-9pm.  Please contact Christine Davis - 01453 842994 niadance@hotmail.co.uk if you want to know more. Please note that a Nia Ageless Grace class is held at I-Vitae at 2 pm on Fridays.

Open Studio

Claire Failes is opening up her studio as part of the Severn Art Trail at the beginning of May; free booklets from the Spar.
KINGSWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH                    

Future Date; The summer ‘Neighbourhood Watch Social’ will be held on Friday 13th July at the Old Rectory, Kingswood.

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

LINk event Sally Latter - Gloucestershire LINk Researcher/Administrator; Gloucestershire Rural Community Council

Gloucestershire Local Involvement Network (LINk) is a voluntary organisation which gathers the views and experiences of local people on health and social care services.

We are holding an event in association with the Stroke Association at the Dursley Tabernacle on Friday 22nd June 2012 from 10 am -12noon.  There will be a speaker from the Stroke Association and also from LINk.  We are very keen to gather the views of local people particularly in respect of stroke rehabilitation services.

VILLAGE HALL

The village hall is now looking to employ a part time bar manager/steward. Experience not essential as full training can be given. Please contact the Chairman: Steve Selby on 01453 546673 or email steve@selbys.me.uk for more information.

 

Kingswood Parish Council

Parish Council Elections - The current Parish Council will be standing down as there is a parish council election on the 3rd May 2012. Chairman David Rockey would like to thank all the Councillors for their hard work and commitment in the last 4 years. In particular, Norman Ward who is standing down after an incredible 16 years as Parish Councillor for Kingswood and 19 years as town councillor for Wotton-under-Edge.

Kingswood is one of a very small number of parish councils to actually have a contested election. This gives you all the opportunity to choose the council which you wish to represent you on local issues. There are 8 nominations for 7 seats as follows; Christopher Dunn, Sue Evans, Paul Hemming, Norval Hawksworth, Toby Phillips, David Rockey, Jean Simmons and Ken Wood.

There are also Stroud District Council Ward elections.  There are 3 nominations for 1 seat as follows; Harry Carr - Conservative, Paul Hemming - Liberal Democrat, Joan Moore - Labour party.

Polling Cards should have been received by now. Please vote on Thursday May 3rd 2012 and choose the councillors you wish to represent you for the next 4 years.

Dog Fouling - Thank you all for the efforts and work on the Ash Path; there has been a great improvement. The Dog and Neighbourhood Wardens will still be making regular patrols. They were very grateful for all the information they received. In response to requests to the Parish Council and District Council an additional dog bin is to be placed at the entrance to the field at Nind Lane. The District Council do not believe that more than one collection per week is necessary. The bin is emptied on a Tuesday, if you notice that this has been missed or it is full again soon after, please contact either the Parish Clerk or Stroud District Council and inform them of the problem.

The Flying Fox - The much loved and missed Flying Fox is to be replaced. The new equipment has been ordered and should be arriving in May. Thanks to everyone who helped to raise money towards replacing it.

Planning - The two Wind Turbine applications have now been submitted to Stroud District Council. They can be viewed on line at www.stroud.gov.uk select planning and simple search and enter the reference number S.12/0229/Ful Cherry Rock Farm or S.12/0255/Ful Mounteneys Farm.

Housing Needs Survey - Thanks to everyone who completed this survey. Gloucestershire Rural Community Council said it was one of the highest return rates ever, with 45 % of households returning the survey. A copy of the report will be placed on the web site and in the coffee shop and hardcopies can be made available on request to the Clerk.

Accounts - The Parish Council will be reviewing and agreeing the final accounts for the year 2011/12 in the May meeting of the Parish Council. The accounts are available to view by appointment with reasonable notice from the 2nd May for 20 days. This is the strict legal position. In reality the accounts are available to view all year by request. Information on the accounts is placed on the notice board and on the parish website.

The Parish Clerk can be contacted on 01453 844659 or email at kingswood.parish@btconnect.com Web site   http://community.stroud.gov.uk/default.asp?pid=54

Heaven of the South Mountain Bike event, Saturday 19th May

For the second year running, Edge Mountain Bike club are running the Heaven of the South charity mountain bike event, the headquarters of which will be at the Village Hall.  We just wanted to let Kingswood residents know that there will be a mass start of around 300 riders at 9am on Saturday 19th May.  Event participants will ride as a group from the Village Hall towards Wotton, and turn right onto the bridleway leading to Hawpark Farm (just past KLB).  There will be a 5-10 minute period where drivers may experience some delays while we make sure that all the riders cover this section of the route safely.  Apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused.
If anyone fancies riding, or even helping out, ring on 07894 207780.  More details http://www.heavenofthesouth.co.uk

Housing Needs Survey - Author:   Martin Hutchings, Rural Housing Enabler, G.R.C.C martinh@grcc.org.uk

The survey found 26 households seeking to move house within Kingswood, including 14 in need of affordable housing.   

In December 2011 Kingswood Parish Council enlisted the support of the Rural Housing Enabler to carry out the survey to determine the housing needs in the parish. Survey questionnaires were issued to every household in February 2012. The responses form the basis of the full published report which is now available to read on the Parish Council’s website or a hard copy is available upon request from the clerk to the parish council.

The Rural Housing Enabler, employed by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, works closely with rural communities, housing associations, local authorities, other community organisations and landowners to meet the affordable housing needs of rural communities and is an independent advisor.

Aim - The purpose of the survey is to find out the affordable housing needs of Kingswood Parish.

Parish facts - Gloucestershire County Council estimates Kingswood as having a population of 1377(in 2010), comprising 544 households, which gives an average of 2.53 persons per household, compared to 2.5 in Gloucestershire.

Survey response - Kingswood residents provided an excellent response rate with 245 completed questionnaires. 

What happens next? - The survey may be used to influence proposals for future residential development in the Parish.

Anyone wishing to apply for affordable housing must apply on Gloucestershire Homeseeker website www.gloshomeseeker.co.uk or contact Stroud Council’s Housing Advice Team on tel 01453 766321

Demand for ‘Connect’ computer project still HIGH

Demand for GRCC’s Connect project is still high and we need more people to help us. Connect offers free help to older people in rural Gloucestershire who want to get started and feel more confident online, learning computer basics on their own terms. We provide help and advice with computers and the internet for those who are either new and nervous users or those who want to further their knowledge.

We have helped over 200 older people get online, but have more waiting, so if you think you can help us by giving a few hours, please get in touch with Holly at GRCC on 01452 528491 or email hollym@grcc.org.uk

 

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