ARLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council is delighted to welcome Cllr Ed Dickie as their new recruit. Cllr Dickie has long associations with Upper Dicker, where he lives, and will strengthen the ties between the council and the Dicker Residents’ Association, of which he is also a member, and St Bede’s school, where he teaches. He will also serve on the Leisure and Recreation Advisory Committee, of which more later.
CASUAL VACANCY
It may come as a surprise to hear that there is another vacancy on
Arlington Parish Council. Cllr Mark Yeoman has decided to resign because of
greatly increased commitments, and his fellow councillors are very sorry to see
him go: his thoughtful and equable contributions to council debates will be
much missed. The Wealden District Council has been notified, and soon you will
see notices going up inviting any parishioners who would like to have an
election to let the District Council know. If at least ten people request an
election, there will be one.
There was a great deal of interest in the last vacancy – Arlington is
fortunate to have so many public-spirited residents – and it may be that there
is a general desire that an election now be held. If, however, anyone feels
daunted by the prospect of writing in, then please be reassured: it is your
right to call for an election if you want one, and the parish council has
ensured that it can be paid for. It may also help to know that Wealden will accept
letters with multiple signatures.
So look out for the yellow notices going up, and in the meantime if
anyone is interested in serving as a councillor but would like to know a bit
more about it before putting their name forward, just contact the Clerk, who
has information packs available.
ST. BEDE’S SCHOOL
As you will surely know, changes are also afoot at St Bede’s. The parish
council was very pleased to welcome Dr Richard Maloney, the new Headmaster, to
its last meeting, and looks forward to working with him. The planning
application relating to the new boarding houses is now in the hands of the
District Council and our present understanding is that it will come to the
Planning Committee (South) on 15th October. You can view the parish
council’s extensive comments on the planning application on the parish website,
where they are appended to the Minutes of the meeting held on 9th
July 2009.
Carolyn Hunt writes that residents of Upper Dicker are still able to
use some of St Bede’s sports facilities outside school hours. Gym, squash,
tennis, and the sports hall are all available, though swimming times are of
course dependent on St Bede’s being able to provide life guard cover. Use of
these facilities is still free to residents, but please be prepared to provide
a passport sized photo for an I.D. card. For further information and a
membership form, please contact Steve Paxton at the Sports Hall Office. Tel:
01323 843252.
- o – 0 – o -
PARK MEAD NEWS
The new term has also brought changes at Park
Mead Primary School. Jon Gross, the Chairman of the Board of Governors writes:
‘For some 100 children it
was “back to school” at Park Mead on 3rd September. I hope all
connected with the school; children, parents, teachers, staff and governors
have enjoyed the summer break but are also pleased to embark on the
new academic year. A special mention to all the reception year
children who I am sure will have been made to feel very welcome by
one and all.
The teaching staff also has a new addition this year and so it is 'welcome' to
Tracy Usher who will be teaching Class 4. Tracy's appointment is a
consequence of Liz Walton taking up a new challenge at Firle school after
some 14 years teaching at Park Mead. The best wishes of the whole school
go with Liz as does sincere and grateful thanks for the contribution made
to Park Mead life over the years.
I would also like to wish good luck to all last year’s leavers. One of the
highlights of last term was the summer play 'Robin Hood' with a cast lead
by our Year 6 leavers. A truly wonderful show was enjoyed by both the matinee
and evening audiences and was a credit to all involved.
Like any other school there is often a fair amount going on behind
the scenes. The 'Friends of Park Mead' are usually to be found assisting
or supporting in some way and earlier this year made a substantial
donation to the school to help fund improvements to the Junior playground. The
school garden project has been admirably led by one of our governors Mr
Stretton-Smith who has devoted significant amounts of time and craft to the
undertaking (He also adjudicates a very fair cycling proficiency
test when called upon!).
So good luck to all this year, whether new to the school or a Park Mead
'veteran'. There's certainly lots going on and plenty of opportunities to
get involved. “
As we all know, East Sussex is in many ways a fortunate part of the
country, which shows well in national statistics gauging the quality of life
region by region. But one area in which East Sussex shows badly is in the high
number of people who are killed and seriously injured on the roads. The Wealden
District Council is currently undertaking a review of road safety and gathering
the views of local parishes and towns. Your council has responded identifying
driving too fast for the conditions, and driving aggressively or recklessly as
the main causes. They strongly support speed control measures as a major part
of the solution. Sincere thanks therefore to the Safety and Environment Group,
whose work continues to bear fruit in the new 30 mph limits in Coldharbour Road
and Camberlot Road; and to our new County Councillor, Nick Bennett and ESCC
Highways, for addressing the problem of noisy traffic careering through
Wickstreet. Speed data measurement is being undertaken here, and will be
followed by the provision of new hamlet signs at either end of Wickstreet,
financed by the parish council. Elsewhere, these have been found beneficial in
slowing traffic down.
This major project is now beginning to ‘firm up’. The Leisure and Recreation Advisory Committee is planning the extension of the existing play area into part of the Dicker Copse, so that children can enjoy playing in a managed ‘wild area’ within sight of accompanying adults. This area will be included in future RoSPA inspections of the more formal play areas.
As to the provision of new play equipment for the younger age group, the parish council has now set aside some £4,500 which it is hoped will help them to apply for a grant from the ESCC’s Play Pathfinder fund, and perhaps to attract match funding. The competition held at Park Mead School in which children put forward their own ideas for the new play area is also a key part of the bid for funding as it demonstrates the interest and involvement of the local community – and most especially of the children themselves. A big thank you to Park Mead and to everyone who took part, either by putting forward design ideas or by answering the questionnaire.
PLEASE SEND ANY
COPY FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER TO REACH THE CLERK BY WEDNESDAY 18TH
NOVEMBER
The next two Parish Council Meetings will be held on: THURSDAY 15TH
OCTOBER AT 7.30 PM IN UPPER DICKER VILLAGE HALL THURSDAY 19TH
NOVEMBER AT 7.30 PM IN ARLINGTON VILLAGE HALL
DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
Mrs K Larkin The Old Cottage,
Lewes Road, Laughton, BN8 6BQ Tel: 01323 811870 Email: Parish
website: www.arlington-parish-council.org.uk
PARISH
CLERK