Halam Parish Website - Home Page

December 2006

From the Editor:

May I take this opportunity to wish you peace and every joy and happiness this Christmas time!

Thank you to Scott and Elaine Miller of Gray Lane, who have kindly sponsored and advertised in this month’s news, and to Dora Rylatt, who has sponsored the news in memory of her daughter Melanie.

If you would like to sponsor Halam News (£10 per edition), advertise, make a donation, or have items included (deadline 25 th – later submissions may be carried over) contact: Karin Davis: Tel: 815854 or email karinlindley@hotmail.com

I have a list of people who, for various reasons are interested in what happens in Halam and receive Halam News by email; if you know anyone who would like to receive the news in this way do let me know.

What’s On Village Ventures Brendan Power and Frank Kilkenny This amazing harmonica and guitar duo, are performing in Halam Church on 16 January 2007. Tickets £7 each include a glass of wine and are available from: Karin Davis (815854) Bev Perks (812181) & Glenys Herbert (812335). Carols for All will take place in the Minster on Saturday 16 December. Tickets are available from Penny at ‘Music in The Yard’ Bull yard Southwell (Tel: 01636 814411) or from the Minster Shop on Church Street.

St Michael the Archangel: December Services

For information contact Church wardens: Bev Perks (812181) David Herbert (812335)
Preist-in-charge: Rt. Rev. David Leening (812593)

The Renaissance Singers: Carol Service Sunday 17 December

Once again this year Halam is privileged to have the Renaissance Singers to entertain us and lead our carol service on Sunday 17 December at 6.30pm. Do mark this date in your diary and come along and enjoy some lovely singing, readings and carols.

In Memory of Kathleen Shaw

14th March 1925 – 15th November 2006

Kathleen Shaw came to the village in 1972 when she and her family moved to Rose Cottage from Nuttall.  She was a kind and caring member of the village community and an active community worker being a commissioner in the Girl Guide movement. She was an active member of the Church family in Halam and worked hard to make the Church relevant in the life of the village; she went out of her way always to greet newcomers and visited them within a short time of them arriving in the village. She and her husband moved to Farnsfield in 1995 after 22 years of living in Halam, but returned here often to take gentle walks around the village. In the last 10 years she became too infirm to visit Halam any more.

Her funeral took place in St Patrick’s Church, Nuttall on Wednesday the 22 nd of November, and a number of those villagers who knew her attended. A maple leaf from her favourite tree was given with the service sheet to those who attended, and the wonderful passage on the subject of charity from Corinthians Chapter 13 verses 4-13 was read.

She was a quiet, kind person. When we think of her we remember William Wordsworth’s lines:  “That best portion of a woman’s life, her little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."

David Herbert

‘YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT’: Derek Clark

There will be an interesting and stimulating talk by Derek Clark, organised by the Notts Branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, covering climate change, energy consumption and improving your ‘ecological footprint’. It will take place in Southwell Minster Great Hall on 1 February 2007 at 7.30 for 8pm.

Derek Clark (BA, MSc, CEng, MRAes) has a very impressive C.V. including Head of Control at RAF Cranwell, international lecturer and Open University tutor on the subject of ‘The Environment and Sustainable Energy’.

Tickets cost £7.50 and include a glass of wine. Send a S.A.E. to Middlebeck, Gray Lane Halam Newark Notts NG22 8AL stating your requirements and enclosing a cheque payable to CPRE (Notts)

Halam & District Women’s Institute

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 6 June when speaker Mr Rostance will be talking about Egyptian Hieroglyphs. The competition is to create a hieroglyphic image for Halam W.I.! New members will be made most welcome.

Parish Council Meeting: 9 November 2006

Present: A. Fraser (Chair), N. Armstrong, G. Herbert, A. Paris, D. Parrish & I. Sharman

Apologies: S. Bust

Village Hall Refurbishment
Ian Sharman wished it to be recorded that he felt any significant expenditure on the present village hall would be a waste of money due to the limitations of the current building and its site. Discussions took place with Mr John Thornewill regarding work on the existing village hall. He agreed to produce some sketch drawings for the next meeting.

Matters Arising
1) Roads – Cracking on the bridge (The Turnpike); erosion of bank on Holme Lane; Highways Area Manager has inspected and remedial work is programmed
2) Draft Regional Spatial Strategy – A. Paris to report back for discussion at next meeting
3) Government White Paper regarding Local Councils – C.Cllr. Stewart recommended the P.C. should look at this as it concerns Parish Councils.

Village Hall
Village Hall Cleaning – further discussion is needed with Tony Denyer.

Loan Sanction
A. Paris reported on a letter received from Paddy Tipping MP indicating that we are very unlikely to resolve the problems of the current mortgages.

Parish Plan
Actions up to date.

Design Statement
Next meeting: Monday 13 November. All information will be passed to the P.C before publication.

Harvest Supper
A very successful Harvest Supper was held on Friday 13 October. £297.02 was raised. Many thanks to all who contributed to the success of the evening.

Xmas Tree
To be erected outside the Village Hall; agreed to fund this to a maximum of £200, D. Parish to organise after investigating the health & safety/legal implications.

Noticeboard
District Cllrs. Nora Armstrong & Bruce Laughton have secured £500 funding for this from Newark & Sherwood District Council; a letter of thanks will be sent. Further investigation will be made into having a noticeboard made for the village.

Open Meeting: Matters raised
1) Objections to the planning application at Bramley, Halam Hill
2) Village hall refurbishment
3) Objections to planning application at Grange Farm, Radley Road

Correspondence : NALC AGM – 15 th November; S. Bust to attend ‘Future of Sherwood’ – no action to be taken

Planning
1. Fairfield House, School Lane – Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of two-storey extension: supported unanimously;
2. Grange Farm, Radley Road – Change of use farm buildings for B8 (storage) & B1 (light industrial) use. Build new barn, stables & garage, and alterations to farmhouse (re-submission): Ian Sharman declared an interest and took no part in discussions. Planning Application – supported 3 for: 1 against: 1 abstention. Listed Building Consent – supported unanimously.
3. Bramley, Halam Hill – Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of two-storey dwelling with double garage (re-submission): rejected unanimously. Grounds (same as previously) 1) contrary to Policy H31 – size/scale of replacement dwellings, 2) loss of amenity for neighbours, 3) over-intensification of site, 4) building line, 5) loss of mature trees, 6) loss of a more-affordable property, 7) detracts from the views to and from Grade I Listed Building (Halam church).

Finance : Resolved to pay the village hall cleaners

End of Year Accounts
Internal auditor’s report was discussed in detail. Action points were noted, including agenda item re accounts/budget to be raised every quarter. A. Paris agreed to look at the P.C’s Risk Assessment documents and to discuss the Clerk’s salary with E. Gathercole (with clerk’s input). Many thanks to Elaine for her auditing and input over the past three years.