I would like to open my December ‘Parish Council News’ by wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and Joyous New Year from the Parish Council.
‘Ping-it’ Table Tennis Tables.
Several years ago I saw an article inviting communities to apply for a grant to purchase table tennis tables, Table Tennis England wanted to increase playing of the sport in the community. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth we applied and with the passage of time, and a disproportionate number of emails, had given up hope of a successful outcome. Recently we heard that we have been awarded over £6,000 from The Lottery Fund to install 2 all-weather tables at The Recreation Ground, one behind the Sports Club and one by The Scout and Guide Hut. The grant also covers a certain amount of coaching and equipment. We hope to have the tables in place for the spring and they will be available for anyone to use.
Neighbourhood Watch.
With the change of police personnel it would appear thatrecords concerning Neighbourhood Watch groups have been lost. With the reduction of police numbers these groups are going to become very important so if you know of a group which exists in Hampton or Catherine de Barnes please could you let the parish council have the contact details so we can put you back in touch with the police and invite you to a briefing meeting.
Sports Club redevelopment.
Hampton in Arden Sports Club needs major structural renovation and it is hoped,rather, to work towards building a new club house, possibly with a 20 m swimming pool. The parish council, as land lord, are working with the sports club to hold a consultation event at the club on Saturday 5th December between 10.30 and 12.30 when plans will be available to view. We would welcome your views concerning the improvement in facilities which need to be balanced against the possible loss of a number of trees including a mature oak.
Railway Station Access.
We have recently had a small amount of good news concerning access at the railway station. London Midland have commissioned work to improve security around the ticket office which will allow the passageway to remain open 24/7, access to the office will also be ramped from High Street. The work is due to be completed this financial year and then we will at least be returned to the situation which existed before the office hours were so drastically reduced. We have been given no hope of the station being made fully accessible as the footfall is said to be too low and we have fully accessible stations close by. We will keep fighting.
Hampton Court development-Marsh Lane.
You may not be aware that the offices at the bottom of Marsh Lane are currently being converted into 24 flats (20X2 bed and 4X1 bed)with 9 houses alongside (4X3bed and 5X2 bed). Several young house hunters from the village have asked me if I know what the tenure will be. I contacted the agent and received the following reply ‘the agents who will be marketing the apartments and dwellings are Hunters, based in Knowle, who can be contacted on 01564 778779. They will not be marketing the dwellings until early next year but have been involved with the design process and have a good knowledge of the site and dwellings’.
Gill Lewis
Chair Parish Council.