Village voice autumn 2012

HELMDON VOICE
www.helmdon.com Autumn 2012
Helmdon Parish Council gains Quality Parish Status
Helmdon Parish Council has been awarded the prestigious Quality Mark by the National Association of Local
Councils. Fewer than 1 in 10 of local councils achieve the required standard so it is a real credit to the efforts of past and present parish councillors and the Clerk to the council, Liz Hart.
The Quality Parish Scheme is a benchmark assessment requiring the submission of a portfolio of evidence to a county based accreditation panel. The Parish Council has been working on the portfolio over the past year; the accreditation panel meeting was held on 10th September 2012.
The tests include the qualification level of the clerk, the number of councillors elected at the last election and the standard of the council’s finance and governance arrangements. Helmdon Parish Council was commended on its community engagement activities including this newsletter, the village web site and the public meetings facilitated in respect of wind turbines and HS2. The accreditation lasts for 4 years, after which a new portfolio must be submitted, but in the meantime residents can be sure that a Quality Parish Council is working hard to keep
Helmdon the special place it is.
The Quality Council certificate was presented at the Northants County
Association of Local
Councils AGM at Raunds on 20th October 2012.
Left to right: Cllr John Coatsworth (Helmdon
Parish Council), Mr Jeffrey Greenwell
(Chairman, QPS County Accreditation Panel),
Cllr Michael Chater (Chairman, National
Association of Local Councils), Lord Lytton
(President, National Association of Local
Councils)
Helmdon Church – Words and Music
The Friends of the Church will be presenting their annual event with seasonal music and readings, on Friday 21st
December at 7.30 pm in the Church. Do come and enjoy a glass of mulled wine, good company and songs . A
small entry fee will be charged.
Hugh Walmsley, Chairman, Friends of the Church, Tel: [phone number removed].

Flooding & Drainage Jubilee Wood Planting: Sat 10th November
The Parish Council invited representatives from Anglian Water and May Gurney
(Highways contractors working for NCC) to its
September meeting to discuss the ongoing issues which are seen in the lower parts of the village during heavy rain. Both parties agreed to carry out a full investigation and prepare a report which will be received by the November Parish Council meeting.
Come along to help create a new wood for Helmdon to mark the Diamond Jubilee. Thanks to the Woodland Trust we have
400 trees to plant – Cherry, Rowan, Oak, Silver Birch and a special oak from the Sandringham Estate.
All residents are reminded of the importance of contacting the authorities to report issues:
Overflowing manhole covers (sewers) –
Anglian Water Tel: 0800 145 145
Blocked gullies and drains causing flooding –
Street Doctor Tel: 0300 126 1000
Planting will take place from
11am to 3pm in the field at the end of Cross Lane, just below the Wappenham Road (See picture). Bring the family and a spade and plant as many trees as you want. Full instructions will be provided. Refreshments will be available and it will be possible to buy special tree tags to name a tree for a child, a relative or a friend. For more details see www.helmdon.com
Fireworks Fun lights up the night
Helmdon Acorns Pre-School held its second Family
Fireworks event on Friday 2nd November. More than two hundred people enjoyed a stunning firework display whilst the bonfire and mulled wine kept them warm. The Barbecue did a roaring trade and the sweet stall and other refreshments kept the younger guests happy. The event’s proceeds will provide new equipment and opportunities for the children.
Photos by Emily Valentine and Bill England

Church News News from Helmdon Fellowship
The sun smiled on the Helmdon Fellowship’s full summer programme with trips to Exbury Gardens and
Althorpe, (excellent weather on both days) two coffee mornings where members sat outside to chat in the sunshine, and two lunches, one to celebrate the
Diamond Jubilee and the other the Annual Fish and
Chips Lunch. There was also a trip to Warwick, which even a downpour could not spoil.
Since Will Adams’ Retirement as Rector earlier in the summer, we are still waiting for a replacement. The position was advertised but unfortunately there were no applicants so this will be re-advertised shortly.
Some of you may be aware that we have been trying to raise funds for repairs to the church roof after a theft earlier this year – the amount of insurance paid out on roof claims does not cover our costs. We have therefore installed a roof alarm system and have been very fortunate to have received a donation to cover the cost of the alarm, which has helped enormously and we are very grateful. There are further funds needed for the roof repairs through events etc. so if anyone can offer any suggestions/ideas or help in any way please let us know.
The Christmas Bazaar will be on Saturday 1st
December in the Reading Room at 2.00pm. Father
Christmas will be there with presents for the children so do come along…there will be the usual festive stalls, raffle and refreshments. Our Carol Service will be in the church on Sunday 9th December at 5.00pm.
Carol Singing around the village will be on Wednesday
19th December starting at 6.00pm – do come and join us or listen out – there will be a door to door collection in aid of The Children’s Society.
Further service/event details will be on the quarterly newsletters to be delivered in early December.
Vanessa Vicars & Gerald Holt (churchwardens)
Tel: [phone number removed] and [phone number removed]
We have over 60 members with meetings once a month on a Friday afternoon. There will be a shopping trip to Milton Keynes on 28th November, which non-
members can join, – just think, no parking to find. A
Christmas coffee morning will take place in The
Reading Room on 21st November with mince pies and a Bring and Buy stall with lots of bargains. Everyone welcome.
Wind Turbine Proposal – update
HSGWAG, Helmdon, Stuchbury and Greatworth Wind
Action Group would like to thank all those who have donated to their appeal to help Veronica Ward in her challenge in the High Court to contest the validity of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision. The target has now been reached and it is expected that the hearing will take place in June 2013, although it is understood that Broadview have requested an earlier date. In the meantime there continues to be much discussion by
MPs regarding onshore wind with Energy Minister
John Haynes recently declaring “enough is enough”
describing Britain as “peppered” with Wind Farms.

Parish Council Contacts
Peter Burns – Chairman Tel: [phone number removed]
Sarah Adhemar Tel: [phone number removed]
Mike Barnes Tel: [phone number removed]
John Coatsworth Tel: [phone number removed]
Paul Duncombe Tel: [phone number removed]
Bill England* Tel: [phone number removed]
Danny Moody Tel: [phone number removed]
Gemma Simpson Tel: [phone number removed]
Eddie Garner Tel: [phone number removed]
Email contacts for the Cllrs are on the website.
Liz Hart – Parish Clerk Tel: [phone number removed]
parishcouncil@helmdon.com
*Bill is also the Village Neighbourhood
Watch Co-ordinator, ACRE Bulk Oil Buying
Scheme Co-ordinator and Village
Correspondent for local media
Localism and the Local Plan
The Parish Council was advised in November 2011 that there was no point in expending cost and effort on the preparation of any form of local plan for Helmdon until the area Joint
Core Strategy for West Northamptonshire was finalised. All local plans must comply with the requirements of the above document, which is now likely to be agreed and adopted sometime during 2013.
South Northants Council planning department invited parish council representatives to a presentation on 7th August 2012
to explain how various urban and rural settlements might be affected. The requirements are intended to apply to towns and all rural villages but will be interpreted realistically, taking into account specific considerations such as size, population, sustainability, local services and amenities. The document includes the provision for greater flexibility for local decision making in recognition of local plans.
All Eyes Down – time for Bingo
Helmdon Parish Council is determined to be proactive to ensure that the wishes of residents are given proper consideration and real influence in future decisions affecting the parish and the local community. The considered opinion is that the some form of local plan which has been fully and properly researched and agreed by community referendum is essential. It is understood that a fully detailed and costly neighbourhood plan is not necessary for this purpose.
Friends of Helmdon School will be hosting a
Family Bingo Night on Thursday 15th
November starting at 6pm and finishing around
7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £5.00 per family and include bingo sheets and 5 raffle tickets for a chance to win a Fantastic Hamper.
Refreshments available will be a donations bar crisps and sweets. Tickets from the School
Office or Jo Howard, Mia Turner or Nick Blythe.
Preliminary work for a local plan has commenced and this will be continued and developed by the Parish Plan Monitoring
Group (PPMG). Four important subjects are receiving initial consideration: development, open spaces, community facilities and village design including the village confines. The
PPMG will be canvassing opinions in due course but ideas and comments are invited and should be sent to the parish clerk.
Further information will be included in future newsletters and on the village website.
Diary Date:
Wed. 28th Nov 7:30pm – Council Meeting
Christmas Recycling Reminder from South Northants Council
With the average household expected to generate an extra 30 per cent of rubbish over the festive period, we are keen to remind residents that they can use the recycling scheme for empty cans, aerosols and aluminium trays alongside other food and drink packaging in their black recycling box. People use aerosols and foil packaging all around the house at Christmas and you may be using an aerosol for decorating the tree with snow spray or adding squirty cream to your favourite Christmas dessert. Foil packaging is used for everything from mince pie cases to oven-ready Christmas food trays. Once empty and rinsed clean, all these items can be recycled which helps the district meet its recycling targets.