Bowlers are keen?

I seem to be becoming a bit of a grouch.
On Saturday night around 11 o'clock the local brain dead decided to throw a couple of hundred stones onto the green, the much trumpeted CCTV was as much use as a chocolate tea pot as the floodlights don't work. The only way I know it was around that time is because the camera was focused on a streetlight and jumped out of line at 11 o'clock. This would be when the litter bin was thrown at the pole and it knocked all three cameras out of focus. If I had realised they were so delicate I think we may well have had second thoughts about them, £15,000 seems a lot for what we have so far seen.
So, on to the green, it was obviously put out of action on Saturday night, on Monday the stones were still on the green, so there had been no one bowling on Sunday. Have we really wasted all that money on a white elephant? I know people have other things to do, but after all this time wanting a green is there nobody keen enough to play on it?

Bowling green

So we have the new green that has been much wanted for the last four years at least. It's now been finished almost a week. The bowls club, we are told, has over sixty members. The only people to use the green has been four youths with a football. No further comment.

A Bowling Green at last.

On the 20th of May the bowling green finaly opened, the weather spoiled it but there was a good turnout to see Billy Jackson play the first bowl.

Rec Ground Again

We had the hand gate locked from 1st May by a security firm, 9pm to 7am. This weekend, someone bashed the padlock and bent it so that it could not be locked, the gate had been locked Monday to Thursday, then left open Friday and Saturday. We received e-mails from the nearby residents complaining about all the noise and trouble. The claim was that the locked gate had worked in keeping trouble at bay from Monday, disregarding the fact that there is not usually a problem anyway during the week. We apparently are now at fault for allowing our lock to be vandalised thereby letting the youths use the field again. Now, since it is our property that has been vandalised, I can't quite see that it is our fault. A phone call or e-mail informing us that the lock was broken would have been far more useful than a rant two days later. If, as has been claimed, there is widespread drinking and driving, as well as noise and nuisance then surely a call to the police and action from them would be the correct procedure.
Just to put another slant to the picture, we have also had an e-mail from a resident complaing that the gate is locked when she wants to walk her dog.
Does anyone have a direct line to Solomon?

Litter picking

We had a go at cleaning up the village today, not a lot of interest from the general public, 5 turned up. It's a pity those who mob the council when they want something are not public spirited enough to turn out to help.
We collected around 25 bags of rubbish in a couple of hours, and could have gone on and collected more, where does all that grot come from? Cans and sweet wrappers for the most part but some bin bags full of household waste were found which surely ought to have gone in the wheelie bin. There will have to be a few letters to local business' to clear up their own patch, a few minutes per day would be enough to keep things tidy.

Making Bracebridge Heath Gala Day Work

The 17 June, 2006 will see our 7th Gala Day, and to date we have had six successful Gala Days.

The organising group with one exception remains the same. For Gala Day to survive long-term actual organising work needs to be shared out. At present it is reliant on too few individuals. There are areas where work can be shared.

It has been said, ‘We’re a big village, it’s right we have a Gala’. On the day we have most of our organisations involved. Gala has so far has been well attended.

Anyone can help as much or as little as they want, in particular, extra help during Gala Week — that’s the week before Gala and a couple of days afterwards. Our present helpers are for the most already members of village organisations and it would be useful to have helpers with few of those commitments.

Gala Day happens only because of a joint effort.

If you are willing to get involved please contact either Bill Rawson, Chairman, on 527963 or Alan Clark, Secretary, on 872552.

Alcohol Bans

There was a talk on alcohol bans given by Insp Keys:

The first ban in NK was in North Hykeham, when alcohol was banned in parks and open spaces. Youths would congregate in certain areas and generally make a nuisance of themselves, so a ban was put in place. The trouble was then moved to other places, not eliminated, but could not be confined to any one area. Youths would congregate near seats and lights having been moved from parks.

It is up to Parish Councils to consider the problem, anti alcohol bans may not be the solution. For instance, a ban in parks may prevent youths from drinking, but also means that families out for a picnic may not drink either, a ban on the recreation ground would prevent drinks being consumed on Gala day. The law as it stands can prevent under 18s from drinking; if the trouble is mainly from under 18s then a ban will make no difference.

Consider where drinkers will go if banned from an area, will the new meeting place be acceptable to residents or will there be greater problems? Parish Councils should try to identify where the alcohol is being bought and pressure shops to prevent sales.

If there are more things for youngsters to do, then there will be less trouble, it is often a good move to involve them in projects, find out what they want and work with them. The banning of over 11s in green spaces is one thing that could be overturned, often all that is needed is space for a kick-about which is banned in BBH except for the rec ground.

There is a scheme to issue all households with a red card, advising on youth problems and suggesting that parents should take a greater interest in what their children are up to.

ASBOs can be issued but are sometimes seen as a badge of honour, unacceptable behaviour warnings can be issued to offenders and their parents and in the most severe cases, tenants can be given an eviction order. There are other measures that can be taken against owner-occupiers.

Planning oddities

We have all seen the development at 91 Grantham Road, where Cartwrights and the garage used to be. The original plans were quite bizarre and were not passed, then the second set was agreed. Perhaps NK thought the plans were OK or perhaps it was just that they were better than the first set. Since the development started there have been a few changes in the plans, none of them major but I wonder if the whole plan would have passed if these changes were in the original drawings. Small things, like the block paving which is now tarmac, the hedge that was to be retained and enhanced but has now been grubbed out, enclosed spaces for the wheelie bins that have disappeared, a disabled access no longer there, less parking space etc. All minor, but the little embellishments that might have persuaded the planning department to allow the development.
Another odd thing, you recall the application for outline planning by the tennis club was turned down as it would be impossible to have a six metre splay on the exit road. The development is nearing completion and the exit is simply a drop kerb, no splay of any description.

Bowling Green

At the rec ground tonight, I noticed the diggers have arrived to make a start on the bowling green.




















Wed 11th,
Arrived to find the area fenced off, and a lot of noise. On checking, the noise was from the farm workers cutting the hedge in the field by the side of the rec. I bet we get complaints though.

Tuesday 24th,
Another pic, showing drainpipes and trenches, wonder if this will ever be flat?


Friday 10th March

Remembrance day, and a grand turn out by the village. What a pity the police were unable to spare one officer to control traffic for the short while we were at the memorial. The same thing happened last year and after a letter to the chief constable we were told it would not happen again. The service was up to Rev Middleton's usual standard and was well attended with scouts and guides and members of the public. A very moving day, simply to remember those who gave their all for us.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We shall remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

After many complaints about the dangers of spiked railings, the war memorial railings will have their spikes removed today. It will all be finished and tidy for next weeks Remembrance day service. Perhaps we can now persuade NK to do something about the remainder of the railings along the roadside.
We seem to have got away without damage to dog bins this year, I don't think we have had any blown up by fireworks. Perhaps they are waiting until the new ones are fitted?

We have a feeler from NK about using space on St John's square for housing. Does the village need more? Will the infrastructure stand more? The amount of recreation space in the village is below the recommended amount, to reduce it even further does not seem to me to be a good idea. Or, cynic that I am, does this deflect attention from the old hospital site?

Youth club again, it now seems that they are meeting on Wednesdays and Thursdays, there is no volunteer available for Tuesday which I recall was for the younger group.

St. John's
A bit of controversy over the proposals for the old hospital site, 250 new dwellings are planned, 150 in the old buildings and another 100 completely new builds. There are plans for only 230 parking spaces, according to the builders, that will comply with government guidelines.
No one seems to have given much thought to the school, it's already full, where will any new children go? It seems that there could be a time when children living a certain distance from the school will not be allowed there. There are no plans for new school buildings. There will be a presentation by the builders on 8th November in the village hall. Expect fireworks!!

Gala 2005

Report by Alan Clark; photograph by kind permission of Tom Cryer:

Gala Day 2005 — held as ever on the recreation ground

To decide what to write — it’s been six years and six gala days, only made possible by every last one who helps out. The necessary preparation and everyones’ work being needed — not just on the day but long-term, be it preparing tombola tickets, or a splat-the-rat stand, or ... Everything linking and depending on something or someone else.

It’s a real team effort and as this is a bloggers page it has less detail than published in the Parish Magazine, or the report to the Parish Council.

There are endless names and help-teams who, on Gala Day work from 6.30 am till night. Marquee and quiet tent; seeing to the 101 jobs including car-parking signs, helping others erect gazebos; the tea-ladies team, the barbecue; and the raffle — all providing money to part-meet the running costs.

The day itself — 2005

— Bill Rawson declared the Gala open. The Waddington Pipe Band and Dancers followed — splendid; the fancy dress competition and amongst them we found: White Rabbit; Pinnochio; Robin Hood; a Mermaid; Cinderella; Star-Wars characters; Sleeping Beauty; and Crazy Frog.

A fun item of the egg and spoon race. Majorettes from Metheringham, the Starlight Twirlers. Vintage and Classic vehicles. 1922 Morris Cowley 1923 Bentley, Hillmans, Fords, a Road-Car bus from the Vintage Vehicle Society and others. 17 vehicles in all.

Flypast of the clipped-wing Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

School Paintings. Our school children each contribute a painting and prizes are awarded.

The Ambucopter stayed most of the afternoon.

A Karate demonstration by Heighington Bushido Kai — a consuming performance watched by everyone.

Tug o’ war — won by the Blacksmith Arms / or was it John Bull against a somewhat formidable Hunter’s Family Butchers team.

1237 Squadron ATC did the impressive and necessary job of organising the car parking.

Goodwill and willingness from everyone carried us through. Thank you. We still remember those who could not be there, or have helped so much in our previous years.

And finally our thanks to the Recreation Ground Committee and the Parish Council.

Redhall Lane, that is to say, the metalled road and a strip of land either side, is owned by the Parish Council, Redhall Drive is not.
I was asked about the St. Barnabas shop which is due to close tomorrow, the nearest ones to BBH are on Brant Road and the Forum, Nth Hykeham, at the moment it is only the BBH shop that is closing.

Checking the CCTV this morning, it appears the youth club did start yesterday. Still no word from them to the booking secretary.

We had a rec ground meeting last night, still no word from the youth club. We were asked a couple of weeks ago if storage could be found but that was the last we heard. We reckon it's time to start charging them anyway, the hall is being kept free for them but they are not using it. There have been a few times when others want to use the place.
On a brighter note, there will be a football training session by a qualified coach each Saturday morning for juniors, outside obviously if the weather is OK but inside to discuss tactics during bad weather. A good idea that seems to be all ready to go, why is the youth club so behind?

Even more tidying up around the village. Today the drains on Grantham Road were pumped out, the first time since the road surface was renewed last year. To lift the covers the men had to chip the tarmac away with a crowbar. I also saw someone going round with a sprayer, presumably to kill off the weeds in the gutters. Either the Queen is due to pay a visit or Councilor Talbot has blown in someone's ear! I reckon thanks are due to her.
This seems to be a bit of a complaints spot but here goes. There is a lot of rubbish, mainly grass clippings and garden waste, being thrown over the cemetery boundary fence and some even further in, also along the woodland walk. Now, it's obvious who is doing some of it, since it is just dumped over the fence and you would have to be on their property to do it. Some of the rubbish would probably have been barrowed in from over the road. Ideas anyone?

There seems to be a little confusion about joining this blog. Send me an e-mail, blank if you like, I need your e-mail address. Then when you receive an "invitation" from blogger, just follow the instructions. You will then be a contributer.

Still no news from the Youth Club organisers, I wonder who is getting the blame for the delay? I have heard nothing about the meeting a week ago and the kids are due back to school next week, so much for keeping them occupied during the school holidays.

We still seem to have a problem with Wiggins, or whoever now owns the place, grass cutting is done only when we complain, and then usually the bit you can see from the road. I notice someone has cut an area of turf from the cemetery, I wonder if they realise they have part of someone's grave in their garden?