WICKWAR VILLAGE WELCOME PACK
If you are new to the village your welcome pack is waiting for you. Councillors will be delivering these to all the new homes on the Tyndale Reach estate. The pack is also for anyone new to the village, so drop the Clerk an email to request yours, or download a copy from the website.
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY – FRI 8TH MAY 2020
At 3pm on 8th May 1945 Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced the end of the Second World War, after nearly six years of fighting. Friday 8th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of VE – Victory in Europe – Day, representing an important milestone in our history. The anniversary will be marked by a Bank Holiday and VE Day 75 events up and down the country. A number of groups in the village are busy preparing for events including the Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW2 at 3pm on Friday 8th May, parties over the weekend, and a special church service on Sunday 10th May at Holy Trinity Church. Look out for more details in the next edition of the Parish News.
The Parish Council is making available grants of up to £250 for community groups in the village planning to commemorate VE Day. Grants could go towards an event (8th – 10th May), or a more long-lasting project, such as a plaque or a memorial garden. Any non-profit-making group in the village may apply for a grant for an event/project which benefits the parish in general, or a defined section of parishioners e.g. children, older people.
The deadline for applications is Monday 23rd March.
To make an application please see the guidance and short application form available on the website wickwar.org, or contact the Parish Clerk/your local Councillors for more information.
LINDEN HOMES DEVELOPMENT – SODBURY ROAD
The second development of 90 houses, due to be built next door to the Tyndale Reach development on the Sodbury Road, received full planning permission in November 2019. The Parish Council has put forward six suggested road names for the new estate. We felt that it was fitting to commemorate those villagers who lost their lives fighting in the First World War over 100 years ago. The names of the men put forward, which can all be found on the war memorial in Holy Trinity churchyard, are: Tanner; Gulwell; Derham; Hitchings; Eacott and Wilcox.
Some of these men have living relatives in the village, tying the past to the present, and the future. You can find out more about some of the names on the South Gloucestershire War Memorials website: sites.southglos.gov.uk/war-memorials
PARISH PRECEPT 2020/21
At its February meeting, Wickwar Parish Council agreed its annual budget and set the precept for 2020/21 at £45,720. For a Band D property this represents a charge of £1.14 per week. The precept is a local tax raised by the Parish Council, collected via your Council Tax bill, and paid to us by South Gloucestershire Council. The 2020/21 precept will fund:
- upkeep and improvements to the King George V Playing Field and Play Area (including a new trampoline, play house and see-saw);
- a significant contribution to the Wickwar Youth Centre (the only remaining village youth club in the county with qualified staff);
- a community grant scheme (last year’s recipients included the local Scouts and Guides, Wickwar Baby and Toddler Group, Wickwar Wanderers Football Club, the local Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Great Western Air Ambulance, to name a few);
- provision and emptying of litter bins and dog bins around the village (with investment in additional bins to serve the extended village planned);
- grass cutting at the Playing Field, cemetery, and selected residential verges that are not cut by South Gloucestershire Council;
- upkeep of the historic Town Hall and the ancient clock (including winding it daily).
In the coming year the Parish Council will be seeking to employ a village handyperson to carry out litter picking, weeding and pruning at the Playing Fields and cemetery, plus painting and repairs to village assets. A programme of capital investment is also planned using Community Infrastructure Levy funding from the Tyndale Reach development. The Parish Council will be consulting parishioners about potential projects soon.
If you would like any further information about this year’s precept, please contact the Parish Clerk.
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY (CIL)
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge on new development, collected by South Gloucestershire Council. A small proportion is then distributed to the local Parish Council. CIL funding from the Tyndale Reach development will be paid to the Parish Council over three years, and must be invested in capital infrastructure projects only.
In the financial year 2019/20 the Parish Council has received £18,018, with more money due in the next two years. The money must be spent within five years of receipt – on existing assets to be approved by South Gloucestershire Council, or returned to them. Wickwar Parish Council is working on a short list of possible projects and will be guided by parishioners before final approval this Summer.
We have approved CIL funding for two capital projects already in the pipeline, which will provide an immediate benefit to the community. These are a £2,000 contribution towards repairs to the Village Hall roof, and a grant of £1,556 to the Friends of Alexander Hosea for a replacement shed. The existing shed was falling down and the new shed will allow for the safe storage of equipment used by the Friends at village events including the Christmas Fair and the Wickwar Games.
VILLAGE SPRING CLEAN 2020
The annual Village Spring Clean, organised by the Parish Council, will take place on Saturday 25th April 2020. Any resident wishing to take part should meet at the Town Hall at 10am. Tea and cake for all volunteers will be available at 12pm. Gloves and litter picking sticks will be provided. All are welcome, so please come along and support this village event.
PARISH COUNCIL FUTURE MEETING DATES
The Parish Council meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm in the Town Hall. Members of the public are invited to attend, and raise any issues that we can help with during the first 20 minutes of the meeting. All meetings are open to the public.
Please note that meetings take place in the first-floor meeting room which is only accessible via stairs. If you would like to attend the meeting, but are unable to use the stairs, please advise the Clerk as soon as possible so that the meeting can be moved downstairs.