Message from Steve and Julia Wells

Steve and I would like to thank everyone so much that contributed to our leaving collection , it was a total surprise and we are going to go away for a weekend in the new year with the money.

We had as most of your know a very long and drawn out sale of the business thanks to solicitors, banks and the general complications that go with selling a business, however  after a 3 week hand over with Bernd we have now settled into our new home properly and are enjoying our new freedom!
We  will miss Apethorpe very much and all the good friends we made during our time in the village and will visit the pub and our friends often in the future.
We wish Bernd and Marilyn all the very best of luck with the Kings Head and know that they too will love the village.
After a difficult year for many people in Apethorpe we have been very saddened by the death of our dear friend Keith and I know he will be missed greatly by many of you he really was a  true gentleman and we will be there to support Pat and her family in any way we can.
Steve , Jenny and I hope that 2011 will be a much happier year for the village and wish you very happy New Year.

Lots of love Julia, Steve and Jenny

Notes from the Village Meeting December 2010

1.     Apologies

M. & L. Phillips                    I. Groundwater

G. & L Warren                      A. Forbes

C. &C. Dean                           A. Walsh

K & P Howells                      N. Pearson

R. & M. Parkinson             M. Potter

2.     Minutes of the Last Meeting

Accepted

3.     Matters Arising from the Last Meeting.

3a)           Radioactive Waste

After Planning Enquiry, the Inspector and two representatives each from the Council, Augean and Wasted Watchers toured the villages to get a feel for local opinion.

The Report by the Inspector will be published on 21^st February 2011. It has also been called in by the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles and he will publish his decision on 24^th May 2011.

A copy of the Report has been requested by M. Winder as soon as it is published.

Comments from the floor relayed:

a) Our concern that Augean have so many funds it makes any enquiry inherently unfair. (L.W)

b) Our people did very well in standing up to them. (MW)

c) On-line petitions have been seen to be successful and we should consider this approach to the Secretary of State after 21^st Feb (PK)

d) We should write letters to lobby the S. of S. after 21^st February. (PK)

Action   M. Winder will write to Louise Bagshaw thanking her for her support and involvement on behalf of the village.

Action   Village to write individually to S. of S after 21^st Feb, also M. Winder to write on behalf of the village community.

3b) Telephone Box           G. Warren is making shelves, repairing and reframing the door then repainting the whole box for it to become a Library. M. Foxwell has offered to take on the project . Lighting will be funded by BT. Insurance is being negotiated with the Council through M. Winder.

3c) Greetings Cards. (MJ)                Eight views from in and around the village have been chosen  and developed into a set of Greetings Cards. Our thanks to N. Pearson for her contact with the printer. 100 sets have been created and they are now on sale.

£6.00 for pack of eight,  £10.00 for two packs.

Some have been sold to the church at a lower rate to help with church funds.

Village recorded their thanks to Mike and Anne Johnson for all the work involved.

Views are also available to use as screensavers if anyone is interested, contact M. Johnson.

3d) Community Responder Scheme         We now own our own Defibrillator and oxygen kit. There have been 8 call-outs since September.

3e) Holiday Village Proposal        The Developer is putting together an Environmental Impact Report which has to be assessed by the Council. The meeting were concerned to hear that Rockingham Forest Park Ltd. have already started work on the project by the Kingscliffe Industrial Estate building a lake, roads and reception area without planning permission.

‘M. Winder to write to the Planning Authorities of our strong objection to the project’

Proposed by P. Kerrush

Seconded by M. Walsh                                      Unanimously carried.

       4.       Christmas Entertainment (DG, MF, NP, JB)

Arranged for Saturday 11^th December in the church. 23 acts in all, programmes printed (sponsored by The Kings Head) Mulled wine and mince pies will be served. There will be a prize draw with an M&S Hamper as first prize (thanks to JB)

Other raffle prizes will be gratefully received.

Our thanks to Diane Gifford and Mandy Foxwell, Nicola Pearson and Justine Bentley for organising everything.

5      Treasurers Report

Mike Walsh reported a Credit Balance £151.06.

MW asked for a proposal to appoint four other formal signatories.

It was agreed to include M. Winder, C. Forbes, M. Johnson and P. Kerrush. M. Walsh has the forms and will arrange it.

       6.       Village Precept

                  ‘We do not want to raise a Village Precept for 2010-2011’

                  Proposed by N. Blachford

                  Seconded by M. Johnson.              Unanimously agreed.                    

7.    Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.                 A scam involving parcel delivery and the firm PDS was outlined. M.Hindmarch informed the Meeting that this was now out of date. Other scams are around – beware.

        Community Police Officers have asked villagers to look out for neighbours in this cold weather.

8.    Winter Roads     NCC gritters will work two networks.

Priority 1               Overnight gritting of roads from Oundle, through Woodnewton and Apethorpe to Kingscliffe and  Wansford.

Priority 2               Apethorpe to Nassington gritted if man power is available.

Information available on NCC web site (/winter)

Councillor H. Smith had emailed M. Winder to ask householders to clear paths if possible in this bad weather – no risk of repercussions!

M. Johnson asked whether anything was being done about the mud outside the Augean site.

9.    Apethorpe Hall                                     English Heritage has completed 2^nd stage. Since June 2008 it has been on the market but so far no one has been interested. They are now carrying out further renovation work up until 2013 when it will be remarketed.

10.                   Kings Head Update.          Colin and Carol Dean from The Old Post Office have suggested a village collection for Julia and Steve. Please put money in a named envelope through their door with a phone number so they can confirm receipt of it and they will pass on a gift and card to Julia and Steve. Target date 15^th December please.

11.                   AOB        L. Winder informed the meeting that Harry James, baby to Johnny and Julia Earl was now doing well and Keith Howells would welcome visitors – please phone first.     

12. Date of next meeting     Tuesday 6^th April

Apethorpe's Christmas Extravaganza!

Father Christmas says: "Apethorpe needs you!"

HAVE you ever fancied showing off your talents in front of the great and good of Apethorpe?
Well now is your chance following the announcement of ACE (Apethorpe Christmas Extravaganza), Apethorpe's very own Christmas talent show.
The event which is being organised by Diane Gifford, Mandy Foxwell, Justine Bentley and Nicola Pearson, will take place at St Leonard's Church on Saturday December 11th at 6.30pm.
It aims to bring back the fun and celebration of a real community Christmas and the organisers hope everyone will be involved whether actually performing or just being in the audience singing carols.
So if you've ever fancied reciting your own poem, singing your favourite song or creating a sketch with a neighbour then let Mandy Foxwell know on: 01780-479055.
Tickets cost £2 for performers and £5 for the audience with all proceeds going to St Leonards Church. Under 16s are free. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served at 6.30pm with the performances starting at 7pm.

Charity Dance with Fish and Chip Supper

APETHORPE'S very own rock stars, Gone to the Dogs, are appearing at a charity dance and fish and chip supper in Woodnewton next month.
The event at Woodnewton Village Hall on Saturday November 20th is to raise money for the Sue Ryder Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Care, with all proceeds exlcuding the hire of the hall and food going to these worthy causes. The ticket price of £12.50 includes the opportunity to get your rocks off to the sounds and delights of Gone to the Dogs, and a fish and chip supper. If you'd like a drink then please bring your own along for the event which starts at 7.30pm.
Pat Howells said: "It will be a fun night but the hall limits us to 100 people so tickets will be on a first come, first served basis."
Pat is also holding a raffle and looking for donations, again, with all proceeds going to charity. So if you have anything to donate, from a tin of biscuits or Christmas crackers to toiletries or spirits, or anything imaginative and new, everything will be appreciated.
Tickets are available from the Kings Head or by calling Pat on: 01780-470129.

Village Picture to be recreated!

FANCY taking part in a village photograph similar to this one taken to celebrate the Millenium?
Well, following an idea by Mike Phillips, that's exactly what is going to happen on Remembrance Sunday after the Church service.
Apethorpe News has agreed to provide a photographer to capture the people of Apethorpe on Sunday November 14th.
Many thanks to Mike and Lois for the idea and for supplying a copy of the picture above which I'm told was taken on September 15, 2000.

Objections to new Holiday Village

PLANS to build a massive new retail and holiday village near Apethorpe were discussed at length at the Village Meeting last month.
The proposed development between the industrial estate in Kings Cliffe and Jacks Green would cover some 650 acres.
At present no formal planning application has been submitted but the council has asked for the view of villagers. Kings Cliffe Parish Council have already said they 'strenuously resist due to the large number (1140 dwellings) of accomodation units proposed'.
Chairman of the Village Meeting, Malcolm Winder listed the points of objection villagers had already made to him previously and appealed for people to make their voices heard.
The list so far includes:
• Disturbance to wildlife and vegetation
• Concern for the present Rights of Way
• It is a place of historical interest
• There would be increased noise  particularly from the amphitheatre
• The amount of waste generated from the site
• Light pollution
• The impact of increased traffic
• The visual impact
• There are already caravan sites at Nassington and Yarwell
The above objections, plus views concerning the county structure plan will be put to the East Northamptonshire District Council.

Flora and fauna postcards

YOUR photos of flora and fauna are needed to help create Apethorpe's very own postcards.
Mike Johnson of Manor Farm is asking for the best pictures taken in and around Apethorpe so that he can make the cards.
They will go on sale in the Church and the King's Head pub.
The postcards follow on from Mike's very succesful village calendar he printed last year.
Email entries to Mike at: annmike.johnson@tiscali.co.uk

Phone Box to be turned into Village Library

APETHORPE'S very own telephone booth will be turned into the village's smallest and only library following discussion at the last Village Meeting.
Graham Warren has agreed to turn the box into a library for CDs and books for the village to share and use.
Turning old BT telephone boxes into useful items for towns and villages has really taken off recently with booths turned into everything from night clubs to an art galler across the country.

Apethorpe says 'No to Nuclear Waste'

APETHORPE came out fighting following news that an appeal to dump radioactive nuclear waste in the nearby village of Kings Cliffe would be held in Corby.
Apethorpe residents filled their windows and houses with 'Radioactive Waste No Thanks' posters and banners to show our dissaproval at the plans.
The appeal runs from Tuesday October 26 in the Manor Suite, Holiday Inn, Corby at 10am for four weeks.
The posters around the village were displayed following a discussion at the last Village Meeting to show our view on the proposed plans to dump waste at the Augean site near Kings Cliffe.

Keith sends his thanks

KEITH HOWELLS would like to extend his thanks to the support, kindness and friendship everyone in the village has shown throughout his recent illness.
Keith said: "Everyone has been so kind and supportive, not only to me, but just as importantly Pat .
A number of good people in Apethorpe  have been through this and are excellent roll models as well as first class surgical and medical staff in Peterborough (as well as kind Nick Blackford in Apethorpe) to look after me. Although I don't think I fall within his current paediatric remit!"
We wish Keith and Pat all our love from everyone at Apethorpe News.