Gamlingay (main menu) Service and Utilities In the May 2000 Issue Junior Gazette Copy received to late for this month - repeat of April page Leading page Village Diary News from St Mary's Church Services - Gamlingay, Everton and Hatley St George News from the Baptists Community Corner Parish Council News Not even your name is safe! Parish Council AGM Reports to the Parish Council Youth Club Planning Report Cemetry and Playing Fields Pets Corner Gazette AGM Names and Nicknames Security Green Wellie Letters What’s On?

PARISH COUNCIL AGM by Sue Simpson, Chairman Your Parish Council has had a very busy year since the Parish Meeting held last May. Sadly we have lost two parish councillors during the year, namely Sharon Nash and Peter Cockerton, but I am pleased to report that their places have been taken by Angela Yates and Barry Warman. Unfortunately our District Councillor, Lawrie Edwards Major, had to resign due to ill-health, but his place has been taken by Sebastian Kindersley, so I am glad to be able to report that we still have a very good relationship with our District Council representative. We have held ten full council meetings since our last Annual Parish Meeting and three special meetings. These special meetings were all called to discuss local plan issues, both current and future, and to assist us with this we have employed the services of Mr Peter Carter, a Planning Consultant. We realise that we shall have to accept some new development in the village, but we would like to be consulted regarding this instead of having it thrust upon us as has occurred in the past. To this end, we are hoping to produce a Village Design Statement setting out the kind of development we as a village could support. We are also undertaking an employment audit in an attempt to identify the number of people working in this village, as it will be helpful to know how many people both live here and work here. We are continuing to improve village amenities, such as the provision of a new seat at the bus stop in Stocks Lane, as well as cycle stands; more litter bins and dog bins, which we are delighted to note are being used by the majority of dog owners. We have also planted more bulbs at the entrances to the village. We are currently obtaining quotations to repair and replace fencing at the Stocks Lane Cemetery and also at St Mary's Church, which will dramatically improve the appearance of both locations. At our annual parish meeting last year, the Chairman, Mrs Round, reported that negotiations were under way for the Parish Council to lease the land between the industrial area in Station Road and the Village College, which we would like to develop for recreational use. Unfortunately we have still not concluded these negotiations, although it is thought likely that we will do so in the very near future, so hopefully we can make a start on improving all sporting facilities at the Community Centre Playing Field. This is a village initiative, and we would like to see the whole village pulling together as it will take a tremendous amount of effort to see this through to fruition. We are also in the process of negotiations with Merton College regarding a permissive footpath to Gamlingay Wood. This would allow walkers to access the wood by footpath from Church End rather than having to walk or drive along Waresley Road. We have also been active in attempting to defer the closure of Barclays Bank in the village. We have written to the Chief Executive and our Clerk, Lesley Mayne, and I met with senior members of the Barclays management team last Friday, together with our MP, Andrew Lansley, to request deferment of the closure. Sadly, Barclays are not prepared to listen to our pleas and state that closure will take place on 7th April. Your Parish Council currently banks with Barclays, and I have asked our Clerk to place an item on the agenda for our next meeting to discuss whether we should change our account to an alternative bank. As a personal customer I shall definitely be closing my account with them, and would urge everyone else who feels strongly about it to do likewise in view of Barclays lack of support for our community. This being the millennium year, we have decided to produce a millennium book which we hope will give a snapshot of our village at this time. Everyone in Gamlingay is invited to submit something for inclusion in this book, and we are purchasing special paper for this purpose. We are also investigating the purchase of a specially designed village sign to mark this year. We are also hoping to hold a Village Party on Saturday, 24th June, on the Community Centre Playing Field, where the whole village will be invited to enjoy an evening in the open air when they can bring their own picnic, if desired, or purchase food from a barbecue. We shall provide music, a bar and a spectacular fireworks display, so please watch your Gazette for further information and tell all your friends and neighbours, as we would like to see the whole village turn up for this event. Finally, I should like to thank our District Councillor, Sebastian Kindersley, our County Councillor, Maggie Scott, and all my fellow councillors for their efforts during the course of the year, and I would also like to say a special thank you to Lesley Mayne, our clerk, for all her help and support.