Chairmans Report November 2009
I hope by the time you receive this newsletter the centre of the village around the square will be back to normal following the work done by Central Networks to put the overhead power lines underground. Your Parish Council has been told that this is the first stage of an extended programme which, hopefully, will lead to all the cables in the conservation area eventually disappearing from view – a situation that will not have been the case for many years. We are also taking this opportunity to improve the appearance and positioning of some of the street lighting at the same time
This brings me nicely on to the Heritage Weekend held recently in the Memorial Hall (did you spot the nice Radio 2 link there). I hope many of you will have visited this wonderful display of Doddington history both past and recent. I know it will have provoked many memories and possibly some further photographs, etc., which you may have in your possession and perhaps could be used in the future. I am sure you will join me in thanking Barbara Tomkins and her team for all their hard work, and Mr and Mrs Tony King for welcoming people to the Old Manor in Church Lane.
Have you visited the re-vamped Gt Doddington web-site (www.greatdoddington.com)? We are pleased that this is now up and running and contains the minutes from our PC meetings. If you have any ideas for further information or contributions to the site, please contact any one of us on the Council.
We are considering the provision of further bus shelters to assist people waiting other than in the centre of the village. If you have any views on this please let us know.
Last month PC Elliot Lee attended our meeting and assured us that Gt Doddington was a safe and (nearly) a crime free place to live. However, he did alert us to the perils of distraction burglaries and we would urge all of you to be on your guard against this sort of crime which, unfortunately, does seem to be aimed at the older members of our community. If you have family, friends or neighbours that would benefit from help or guidance in this area, PC Lee would be pleased to assist.
Lastly, I will finish by mentioning a success for the PC. You will by now have seen the two vehicle activated signs which (eventually) were erected on the Ridge and Earls Barton road. We hope they will prove to have some effect on the speed of traffic within the village and the police have promised to reinforce the signs with an occasional visit with their speed camera – you have been warned! With the improved signage at Hardwater Crossroads and throughout the village we hope this will lead to more responsible driving.
I hope you all have a merry Christmas and may I wish you all a happy New Year.
Ian Bowers
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Archives of Previous Chairman's Reports will appear here as they arise after May 2009
Chairmans Report November 2009