PARISH COUNCIL. The council whisked through its business in just over half-an-hour at its January meeting as neither the finance and general purposes committee nor the environmental committee had met during December and none of the district councillors attended to report on AVDC matters.
There was a good turnout of villagers, several of whom had come to voice concerns regarding planning matters, and chairman Margaret Aston wished them all a happy New Year. She also welcomed to the meeting Dr Nilesh Patel, the dentist who has taken ov
er the Haddenham Dental Centre (see last week's report), and his wife.
Playing Fields. Councillors agreed that the council should take on the lease of four acres of land on the airfield, on behalf of Haddenham Junior Football Club, to provide additional football pitches. Following receipt of a petition organised by Haddenham Safe Walking and Cycling group regarding the route for a proposed cycle track along the edge of the playing field, it was decided to seek the views of villagers via an article in the council's quarterly newsletter which comes out later this week.
With regard to the suggested sale of part of the playing field to fund leisure facilities elsewhere in the village, it was reported that the council's solicitor has now been provided with all the lease documents and is studying them.
Village Hall. Acceptance of the agreed quote for repair of the roof has been postponed until further details have been supplied by the contractor. It was reported that a grant of £850 had been promised by AVDC to help improve the lighting around the outside of the village hall.
Allotments. Cllr Ricky Jeffrey reported that, despite strenuous efforts to obtain quotes for replacing the fence along the Townside frontage, only one quote had been received. Councillors, therefore, decided to accept this quote so that work can proceed.
Planning. Cllr David Truesdale reported that an application to build a dwelling on land at the rear of 8 Stockwell Furlong, with vehicular access onto the Stockwell footpath, has been refused by AVDC. Cllr Truesdale attended the meeting at which the application was discussed and Cllr Brian Foster (AVDC) spoke - echoing parish council objections to the plan.
Newsletter. Collation and distribution will take place on Saturday (10am) instead of on Friday as is usual. Volunteers to help with the counting and, later, with distributing packages to the deliverers would be welcome. Former councillor David Goodenough has now installed a programme on the parish office computer to handle the delivery routes.
GC2C/NAG. Cllr Aston reported on the last meeting when a paper was presented on the responses to the Community Transport Initiative. There was a poor response to the survey in Haddenham, with only 46 questionnaires being returned compared with Long Crendon's 116. The meeting, which circulates around the villages in the area, will next be held in Haddenham (on January 29 - details next week).
Open Forum. Peter Gulland thanked the council for the excellent refurbishment of two bus shelters - the one at Rosemary Lane and the Thame-bound one in Thame Road - by Jim Ayers, village handyman. Both have now had seats installed and the transparent back of the Thame Road one has been cleaned to allow all-round vision and to let in the daylight. A Haddenham map has been added to the Rosemary Lane shelter.
Villagers expressed concern about two planning applications which will be discussed at Monday's planning committee meeting (at about 7.30pm - after other, less contentious, plans have been discussed). These are the application to build bungalows on the site of 4 Stanbridge Road and an application to build a bungalow in the garden of a Thame Road property which backs onto Long Furlong. Also to be discussed at the meeting will be a new application for houses on the land currently occupied by Spicer Hallfield.
POST OFFICE. Only nine more days to wait until the post office re-opens in Haddenham (on January 25) - at the Londis shop (165-7 Churchway) - with Raj Patel as postmaster.
THIS WEEK. Visitors and/or prospective members will be welcome at any of the meetings publicised below.
Today. Darby and Joan Club (2pm) - musical quiz and sing-song with Barbara Shaw. Haddenham Witchert WI meeting (8pm) - demonstration and hands-on Rag Rug Making with Sue Crisp. Both meetings are at the Youth and Community Centre, Woodways.
Safe Driving. The Driving Standards Agency will give an audio-visual presentation Arrive Alive - on safe driving for the over-50s - at a special meeting tomorrow (2.15pm) hosted by Haddenham U3A. Free entrance, all over-50s welcome.
Concert. Russian virtuoso Alexander Ardakov will be giving a piano recital at St Mary's Church on Saturday (7.30pm) in aid of the Leprosy charity LEPRA. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire and a prizewinner at the Viotti International Competition in Italy, he is now Professor of Piano at Trinity College of Music, London. The programme includes works by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Mendlessohn, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Liszt. Tickets (£10, £8 concessions) are available from Marjorie Johnston on 290060.
WEA. Call Carole Fryer on 01296 748538 to book a place on the seven-week course An Introduction to Modern China, with Charles Tyzack, which begins next Wednesday (2-4pm) in the Methodist Chapel.
Christian Unity. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity runs from Friday until January 25. Churches Together in Haddenham have organised two events during the week - an Agape meal on Sunday (6.30pm) at the Methodist Chapel, led by the Rev Derick Chambers, with contributions from members of the other three churches; and prayers at the Church of the Good Shepherd next Wednesday (noon).
St Mary's Fellowship. Laurence Biggs will be giving a talk entitled Mercy Ships at the Fellowship's meeting on Monday (2.30-4pm) at St Mary's Centre.
Give Blood. There will be a blood donor session on Tuesday (1.30-3.25pm and 4.15-6.45pm) at the village hall. As blood stocks are rather low at this time of year, please make a special effort to attend (unless you have been ill recently). New donors (aged 17-59) are always welcome but please attend at least half-an-hour before the end of a session to allow time for registration.
CEILIDH. The Christian Aid fundraising team is holding a new event this year - a Burns Night ceilidh on January 25 (7.30-11.30pm) at the village hall - and hopes for your support. The evening will include dancing to Calamity's Fling, harpist, raffle and games. Tickets are £10 and tables of eight and 10 are available if wanted. Please bring your own drinks and nibbles. Contact Debbie (292819) or Mary (292363) for bookings and further details. Reserve early to avoid disappointment.
