December 2009
CASUAL VACANCY
Yes, we are now looking to co-opt a new councillor. Apparently no
one wanted to see us spend money on an election, so the parish council is now
using the Co-option procedure. If you are interested, then the next step is for
you to write to the Clerk by the end of December. She will give you the
background information you want about the duties and responsibilities of a
parish councillor, and will check your eligibility – basically, you just need
to be on the electoral register for the Parish, OR you have owned or rented
land in the parish for twelve months, OR you have worked in the parish for
twelve months, OR you have lived in the Parish or within three miles of the
Parish boundary for twelve months. Easy! The actual Co-option will then take
place at the January meeting of the parish council (Thursday 21st
January starting at 7.30 pm in Arlington Village Hall), when all candidates
will have the opportunity to give an ‘election address’ before the final choice
is made.
TREE O’CLOCK….
No, the editor didn’t get that wrong. We have been invited by the BBC to
take part in its Tree o’Clock World Record Attempt to plant over one million
trees in England, all between 11 am and 12 noon on Saturday 5th
December. The current record stands at 653,143. Your parish council and St
Bede’s School have both pledged to take part and will be planting between 10
and 25 trees – a mixture of Field Maple, Hornbeam and Common Oaks, within the
hour on that day – so please do come along and give your support.
The BBC is supplying the trees free of charge, and if you would like to
plant a tree of your own you may find that you too can get a free ‘whip’ of a
species that will be at home here in the Low Weald. If you look at the website,
www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/treeoclock/tree_giveaway you will find
further details. The trees do not have to be planted in public places – your
own garden will do just as well. Photographic evidence of the planting has to
be emailed to breathingplacestrees@bbc.co.uk
by
12 noon on 11th December stating what tree type you have planted and
the full postal address of the site.
In Arlington, the parish council wants to put its trees on the recreation
ground in readiness for their future role in screening the new play area which
is being planned for the younger children. This may mean that their position
has to be altered when we can see exactly where they will best serve their
purpose, but we are assured that it will be a simple matter to move them when
required.
Keep an eye on the village notice boards outside the Upper Dicker Village
Shop and Arlington Parish Hall, for further details nearer the day.
*****
POWER CUTS
Many people in Upper Dicker suffered from the recent prolonged power
cuts. In case there is more to come, you might like to know that EDF has a Priority
Services Register. You are entitled to be on the register if you are
dependent on medical equipment (dialysis machine, oxygen concentrator,
nebuliser, artificial ventilator etc), or if you are chronically sick or
disabled, or perhaps if you are a special case that EDF should consider. EDF
Energy has teamed up with the British Red Cross to provide additional support
to people on the register if there is a power cut in bad weather or for a long
period.
Being on the register does not necessarily mean that your power will be
restored more quickly – this is due to engineering restrictions. But it does
mean that you will get a visit from the Red Cross to assess your need and
vulnerability, and that basic refreshments and shelter will be offered to you.
Customers on essential medical equipment can then be transported without delay
to a place of safety. The service provides a focal point for the community and
also offers up-to-date information on estimated times for the restoration of
power. How often have we all thought that would be useful!
If you are interested, just call the Priority Services
answerphone: 0800 169 9970. Someone will then call you back with further
details. Alternatively, you could email: psr@edfenergy.com.
PRIVATE HOUSING RENEWAL STRATEGY
Here is another initiative, this time from the Wealden District Council.
It aims to give financial assistance to people who are on a low income or are
disabled or are over 60, to help them with necessary repairs or adaptations to
their homes – or just with keeping their home warm for the winter. To see if
you could be entitled to assistance, contact Private Housing on 01323 443321 or
visit the website, www.wealden.gov.uk/privatehousing.
FUNDING FOR RURAL BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
You may have heard that European funding is available from the South East
England Development Agency (SEEDA) for ‘activities that have a long term impact
on the profitability and sustainability of land based industries, tourism
enterprises, rural businesses and rural communities’. What you may not have
heard is that so far not enough rural businesses have applied for help, so
could there be an opening here for you?
There is £2.4 million of funding to spend in the Wealden and Rother area
over the next five years, 2009-2013. Individual projects can apply for up to
£50,000. A wide range of projects are eligible, including farm diversification;
adding value to agricultural and forestry products; tourism; and renewable energy. What is actually happening
is that most of the applications are coming in from parish councils for
community projects, including projects highlighted in village action plans –
such as our own Upper Dicker Play Project. To check if your business could
benefit, contact Kathy Fordham, Wealden’s Rural Programme Project Officer on
07985 871792, or email kathy.fordham@wealden.gov.uk.
*****
The next two Parish Council Meetings will be held on: THURSDAY 17TH
DECEMBER AT 7.00 PM IN UPPER DICKER VILLAGE HALL – this is for planning applications only, and will be held
if required Please note the earlier start time! THURSDAY 21st JANUARY 2010, 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