Charles James reports: We have been successful with our lottery funding bid to re- model the village pond.

I have also gone back to SSDC for some additional funding and have been successful in getting a further £1,000 from them.

SSDC, through the community development officer Tim Cook, has been the majority funding source for the project,

The total cost is around £13,500, and this has been funded as follows:

SSDC   £6,000

National Lottery £5,450

Horsington Parish Council £1,350

Ted Banks’ fundraising and other donations. £100

This amounts to aound £12,900, so we are not far away, close enough to see it through anyway.

I shall make the dipping platform for the material costs only, so that will not only save a good few pounds but also enable  us to make a larger one to suit our school.

Crestmore Construction were awarded the tender and I am visiting daily to ensure they are doing what is planned. They are constructing the shallow water dipping pond area first and they will then move onto the silt trap; between us we are making some adjustments and improvements as the plan develops.

The dipping area will be in filled with stone and then topped with silt to enable planting. This this will create a safe shallow area and firm standing should a child step off the platform.

The scouring under the road was found to be quite severe so cones have been placed there to prevent heavy traffic from getting too close to the edge and the road subsiding.

This will be underpinned with concrete to stabilise the footings and then the wall rebuilt. I have asked for face stone to be used but this is subject to SSDC approval.  When I first saw the extent of the scouring to the road I got Highways involved and I negotiated with them to have the underpinning done and wall rebuilt. This  will be  at Highways cost and will not come out of our pond budget.

This is something that should have been done many years ago, I understand the silt was left there last time to try and prevent further damage but it should have been addressed then.

All progressing well, it is expected to have the gabion baskets installed and partially filled this week.

There have been a few negative comments saying that it will never work, which is very disappointing, but the fact remains that the pond will be much improved and sustainable for future generations.

The pond project explained.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PARISH OF HORSINGTON

The Parish Council is looking for one new member and co-option will take place at the meeting of the Parish Council to be held on Thursday 8^th September 2016 at 7.30pm at St Margaret’s Village Hall, Horsington.

Anyone from Horsington or South Cheriton wishing to be considered for co-option onto the Parish Council should contact the Chairman : Mrs J Pyne, Cobweb Cottage, Horsington, Templecombe, BA8 0EL or email horsingtonpc@gmail.co.uk Telephone 01963 370713 by Monday 5th September 2016

 

 

The dredging of the pond and removal of the silt to a field at Broodmoor lane (with kind permission of Chris Bailward) is about to start as soon as Somerset highways approval is granted. It could be as soon as next week.

There will be a traffic control at the pond during the work and there will also be haulage vehicles traveling to and from Broadmoor lane, so inevitably some disruption will occur.

But we will soon have our pond back. Well done Charles James, Ian Snowden and the Parish Council.

 

The Half Moon was heaving on Tuesday night when the regulars threw a surprise party for Andrew and Philippa Tarling, 25 years to the day  after the pub re-opened under their ownership.

Hosrsington parish has two pubs, a rarity in this age when rural pubs are under severe pressure, and both are treasured by their regular customers.
The Half Moon serves excellent beers, and the Sunday roasts are the best in the area. The pub has made an enormous contribution to village life, having organised some spectacular village events in aid of charity.

Andrew and Philippa are starting an exciting  new venture, Ecco Gelato in Sherborne, which will serve delicious hand made artisan gelato to eat in or take away.

We will bring you more details when the opening date is announced.

In the meantime, you can follow Ecco gelato’s progress on Facebook.

Has anyone got a wheelchair they’re not using for a month or so? If so please contact the editor at editor@idnet.com. Huge gratitude if you can help.

 

Chris Bailward’s epic bike ride round England in June has raised an amazing £2845.77 with contributions from Australia and the USA.

If you meant to, but forgot, there is still time to donate:

Donate Here -any amount, large or small will help an important cause, and every penny raised will go to the charity.

Regular activities (Village Hall unless stated).

Monday	Pilates	6pm
Tuesday	Upholstery	10.30am
	Badminton	8 pm
Wednesday	Adult Tap dancing	10am
Thursday	Art	10am
Friday	Art	10am
Saturday	Free

 

Other activities

Mon 1st	Ladies Lunch Group. Black Dog Inn, Chilmark	12pm
Wed 3rd	Half Moon Inn Music Night	8.30pm
Wed 10th	Opening of New facilities & Celebration buffet at St John’s Church, Horsington	7.30pm
Thurs 11th	Parish Council meeting. Village Hall	7.30pm
Thurs 18th	W.I.  Kay Wych on “How I became a 16thc kitchen maid at Glastonbury Abbey”. North Cheriton Village Hall	7.30pm
St John’s Church	Services
7th August	Holy Communion	9.15am
14th August	Morning Prayer	11 am
21st August	Holy Communion	9.15am
28th August	Holy Communion (BCP)	8.30am

 

Horsington Parish Council has a vacancy for a  parish councillor following the resignation of Steve Hawkins.

No previous experience is necessary, but you need to be “community minded” and prepared to attend a monthly meeting. The post is unpaid.

If you would like to put yourself forward, please talk to Jackie Pyne in confidence on 01963 370713.

The Parish Council is also looking to recruit a new Clerk. This is a modestly-paid job, requiring about 15 hours per month.

The  Parish Clerk is required to attend and take the minutes of the monthly Parish Council Meetings. Other duties include production and circulation of monthly agendas and minutes, dealing with all correspondence and keeping the accounts up to date and submitting them for the annual audit. Applicants will need to be PC literate. Previous accounts experience would be an advantage.

Again, please talk to Jackie Pyne.

The parish council is an essential part of local democracy and has an important role in shaping the community by:
• giving views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals
• undertaking projects and schemes to benefit local residents
• working in partnership with other bodies to benefit residents
• alerting relevant authorities to problems that arise
• and helping the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities.

Parish councils have a wide range of powers which essentially relate to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open space, allotments, play areas, street lighting, bus shelters, car parks and much more. They also have the power to raise money through taxation, known as the ‘precept’.

….And you get to drive a steam train!

The Engine Shed at the East Somerset Railway in Cranmore is staging a fabulous rock gig on the August Bank Holiday Sunday from 6 pm.

There will be music from Si Wood on vocals and guitar, Steve Masters (A Half Moon regular and the other half of Kelly) on lead guitar, Bruce Hamilton on Bass and Jack Ingram on drums. The music will include a wide range of popular rock songs from Aerosmith, AC/DC, Dire Straits, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, Foo fighters to name just a few.

This group are reputed to make an AWESOME sound, according to rehearsal  spies.

With even more hi-tech lighting and a very impressive laser show already booked along with a top quality sound system it promises to be a spectacular event.

There will be a BBQ starting at 6pm and a licenced bar open all evening. The music starts at 8pm and there will be approximately two 1 hour sets.

There will even be a steam engine working outside before the music starts where you can have a go at driving it for just £10!

Entry costs just £5. Buy tickets online www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/261409
From Kelly in the half Moon or  from the East Somerset Railway ticket office (01749 880417).

If you don’t fancy driving home after, there will be space for camping but please let them know if you plan to do this.