CRIER, Autumn, 2010

Catterall Parish

THE CATTERALL CRIER

CATTERALL PARISH COUNCIL

NEWSLETTER

Autumn, 2010 Issue15

Chairman’s Report

Welcome to the Autumn edition of the Catterall Crier.

In the Summer edition I reported that the Parish Council was considering refreshing the Catterall Parish Plan. A decision was taken to proceed with the work and a committee has been formed to take the update forward. Each household will receive a questionnaire in due course and we ask for your assistance by completing and returning the form. Your information is vital to map out the Village in future years.

Now the dark nights are with us once again and Winter approaches we would ask you to think of any vulnerable neighbours you may have. Last Winter caused a lot of problems for many residents who were unable to leave their homes and for their relatives to visit them. If there is a repeat of those severe weather conditions we can all be diligent by just keeping an eye open for anyone who may be have difficulties.

The festive season is rapidly approaching and this leads me on behalf of myself, the Parish Councillors, Gillian, our Clerk and Tim, out Parish Lengthsman to wish you and your families a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Dave Sharples

Chairman Catterall Parish Council

Information from Directgov

Clearing snow and ice yourself - new guidance published Published: Friday, 22 October 2010

Last winter many people helped keep pavements and public spaces around their homes clear of snow. However, many people were put off doing so because of fears of being sued. Read on for advice on your rights and responsibilities when clearing snow and ice from public areas.

The law on clearing snow and ice from public spaces

Reporting problems with pavements and maintenance of private streets

Reporting problems

There is no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your property, pathways to your property or public spaces.

If an accident did happen, it's highly unlikely that you would be sued as long as you:

are careful
- use common sense to make sure that you don't make the pavement or pathway clearly more dangerous than before

People using areas affected by snow and ice also have responsibility to be careful themselves.

Tips and advice on clearing snow and ice

start early - it's much easier to clear fresh, loose snow compared to compacted ice that has been compressed by people walking on it

don’t use hot water - this will melt the snow, but may replace it with black ice, increasing the risk of injury

be a good neighbour - some people may be unable to clear snow and ice on paths from their property

if shovelling snow, think where you are going to put it so that it doesn’t block people’s paths or drainage channels

make a pathway down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on

spreading some salt on the area you have cleared will help stop ice forming - table salt or dishwasher salt will work, but avoid spreading on plants or grass as they may be damaged by it

pay particular care and attention to steps and steep gradients

use the sun to your advantage - removing the top layer of snow will allow the sun to melt any ice beneath; however you will need to cover any ice with salt to stop it refreezing overnight

if there's no salt available, sand or ash are good alternatives

MULTI USE GAMES AREA

Parents are asked to ensure that if their children play on Catterall Playing Field or use the Multi Use Games Area those footballs/balls must not be kicked against resident’s fences nor kicked so hard as to land in the private gardens of those living nearby. This facility can be booked in advance for a small fee. For details please contact the Parish Clerk on 600689. A tennis or volley ball net can also be hired.

Please use this facility and at the same time respect it.

Lighting of Catterall and Churchtown’s

Christmas Trees

Sunday 28^th November from 5.30pm.

You and your family are invited to take part in this annual occasion when our Village tree will be illuminated and we shall sing carols. It won’t rain this year (or so we are told!!). The festivities celebrate Advent Sunday and start at the Memorial Garden, Garstang Road at 5.30pm when the Christmas lights are switched on followed by a procession that walks to Churchtown to switch on the Christmas tree lights and the crib on Church Square, light refreshments will be available at the Punchbowl.

Medicine&Chernobyl

A party of 14 children returned to Belarus on July12th, having enjoyed a respite holiday of 4 weeks in this area. The charity is now planning for the 2011 visit. If you would like any further information about the Charity, please contact Gurth or Val Wilson on 01995 604035.

CATTERALL PARISH COUNCIL

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at Catterall Village Hall at 7.30 pm. And residents are always welcome.

Future Parish Council meetings will be held on;

7^th December, 2010,

4^th January, 2011

And 1^st February, 2011.

Meetings are preceded by a PACT meeting when residents can discuss Police matters with the Community Beat Manager and the PCSO’s, responsible for Catterall.

......... P A C T .........

Dog Fouling on Catterall Playing Field

A note from the Parish Lengthsman to the dog owners who don’t pick up the dog mess left by their animal.

Whilst carrying out the strimming duties on Catterall Playing Field a quantity of dog fouling material was caught and thrown into my visor this hit my eye causing a great deal of distress.

Thanks are extended to those responsible owners who clean up after their animal but to those who leave it thinking it doesn’t matter - make the effort next time. Dog mess has been known to cause blindness and this would result in Catterall loosing its Lengthsman.

Children use the Playing Field and you are putting them at risk!

Lancashire Day – 27^th November, 2010

On this day in 1295 the first elected representatives from Lana=cashier were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as ‘The Model Parliament’.

The Lancashire Day proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county on 27^th November.

The Lancashire Day Proclamation –

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY

PALATINE OF LANCASTER

GREETINGS!

Know ye that this day, November 27^th in the year

of our Lord Two Thousand and ten,

the 59^th year of the reign of

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster,

is Lancashire Day

Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of

Her Majesty’s County Palatine of Lancaster,

the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale,

North and South of the Sands, Amounderness,

Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby

are forever entitled to style themselves

Lancastrians.

Throughout the County Palatine,

from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey,

from the Irish Sea to the Pennines,

this day shall ever mark the peoples’ pleasure

in that excellent distinction – true Lancastrians,

proud of the Red Rose

and loyal to our sovereign Duke

GOD BLESS LANCASHIRE AND

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN,

DUKE OF LANCASTER

Catterall’s Parish Plan.

A working group is being formed to consider updating the Parish Plan, published in 2005.The plan is an integral part of our future relationship with both Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council and it outlines what we hope to achieve across the Parish in the period 2011 – 2015. This may involve the need to canvas residents’ opinions through a repeat of the village amenities survey.

Catterall Parish Plan is available to view at www.catterallparish.org.uk

PROBLEMS IN THE PARISH

The Parish Council employs a Parish Lengthsman to keep the Parish tidy and well maintained. Each week problems of fly-tipping, flooding, damage to public footpaths or litter bins needing emptying are reported. But whilst Timmy Hoyles, the Lengthsman finds most of the problems, should any Catterall resident find such problems these can be reported to Timmy as the first point of contact or the Clerk or any of the Parish Councillors listed on the back page.

Overhanging Vegetation

The Parish Council wishes to remind residents that shrubs which overhang into the pavement can lead to prosecution. The shrubs are the householders’ responsibility and a pedestrian who suffers injury could claim on the householder.

Lancashire County Council is entitled to do the necessary work to clear the pavement and send the householder the bill.

Catterall Village Hall

The pre-school play group have completed the extension to their outside play area, with the help of a grant from Lancashire County Council. The Village Hall committee, with help from Community Futures, is preparing a grant application to fund their proposed improvements to the hall and work is expected to commence in the New Year. If you would like to book the village hall for your next dance or function please call Debbie Croston on 01995 602842

Public Surgeries

Catterall Parish Council has an office in the Village Hall, Garstang Road and this is open to residents, who are welcome to visit the Village Hall and look at planning applications in Catterall. You are equally welcome to raise any concerns or comments you have about your Village. The minutes of Parish Council meetings are also available for inspection.

Opening times;

Monday mornings between 9.00 am and 12.00 am and

Wednesday afternoons between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm.

Gillian Benson

Clerk to Catterall Parish Council

C/o 57, Hamers Wood Drive,

Catterall,

Garstang, PR3 1YN 01995 600689

Catterall Parish is also available online at www.catterallparish.org.uk

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PARISH COUNCILLORS

Mr. David Sharples, CHAIRMAN,

31, Boyes Avenue, Catterall. PR3 0HB Tel. 603763

Mrs. Deborah Croston, VICE-CHAIRMAN

30, Boyes Avenue, Catterall PR3 0HB Tel. 602842

Mrs Patricia Bugeja

11, Boyes Avenue, Catterall, PR3 0HB Tel: 602908

Mr. Donald Anthony Harvey,

‘Brighouse’, Stones Lane, Catterall. PR3 0HA Tel. 604415

Mr. John Houghton,

‘Avonlea’, Garstang Road, Catterall. PR3 0HD Tel. 603741

Mr. Harry Kenyon,

30, Duckworth Drive, Catterall. PR3 1YS Tel. 604588

Miss Amy McCabe,

6, Hamers Wood Drive, Catterall, PR3 1YN Tel: 07729331358

Mrs Elaine Thomas,

18, Nightingale Way, Catterall. PR3 1TQ Tel.07969455703

Mr. Gurth Wilson,

1, Stone Cross Gardens, Catterall. PR3 1YQ Tel. 604035

WYRE BOROUGH COUNCILLOR FOR CATTERALL AND KIRKLAND

Mr. D. Sharples,

31, Boyes Avenue, Catterall. PR3 0HB Tel. 603763

COUNTY COUNCILLOR FOR GARSTANG

Mrs. V. Wilson,

1, Stone Cross Gardens, Catterall. PR3 1YQ Tel. 604035

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LANCASTER AND WYRE

Mr. B. Wallace,

C/o Constituency Office, Great Eccleston Village Centre,

59, High Street, Great Eccleston, PR3 0YB Tel: 01995 672977