Village voice autumn 2013

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HELMDON VOICE
www.helmdon.com Autumn 2013
Second Wind Farm Inquiry draws to a close
The well attended public inquiry into the proposal for five 125
metre (410 feet) high wind turbines near Helmdon concluded on 24th October. Three witnesses, expert in the fields of planning, landscape architecture and acoustics appeared for
HSGWAG, submitting that proposal was unacceptable because of a) the visual and noise impact upon local people, b) the impact upon the unspoilt local landscape, c) the impact upon treasured local heritage assets such as conservation areas and listed buildings and d) the dangers posed to users of the local footpath and bridleway network and the B4525 road. Many local people gave additional evidence based upon their local knowledge and experiences. On Thursday 31st October the
Inspector was accompanied on a tour of the area to assess the impact of the proposal; two blimps were flown as near as possible to two of the turbine sites.
In his summing up, the barrister representing Broadview Energy Ltd quoted from the government's latest statements: “…appropriately sited onshore wind….has an important part to play in a responsible and balanced UK energy policy..” He maintained that the proposal is appropriately sited and should play its part in our low carbon future. However, he failed to mention that the government's statements had contained many more assertions of importance to local communities. The Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles had said: “The views of local people must be listened to when making planning decisions. Meeting Britain’s energy needs should not be used to justify the wrong development in the wrong location.” Energy Minister, Michael Fallon had stated: “Today, we are putting local people at the heart of decision making on onshore wind. We are changing the balance to ensure that they are consulted earlier and have more say against poorly sited or inadequately justified turbines.”
Eric Pickles had clarified that the new guidance “makes it clear that need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the views of local communities should be listened to.” In October he expanded: “….some local communities have genuine concerns that when it comes to developments such as wind turbines and solar farms, insufficient weight is being given to local environmental considerations like landscape, heritage and local amenity.” He indicated that he intended to make the final decision himself on a number of renewable energy appeals so that he could “consider the extent to which the new practice guidance is meeting the Government’s intentions”. During the inquiry, it was announced that Eric Pickles had called in the Spring Farm Ridge Wind Farm decision; the
Inspector who presided over the recent inquiry will therefore now make a recommendation to Eric Pickles with regard to whether it should be allowed or dismissed. These recent government statements show that the Secretary of State will give far closer attention to the views of local communities than previously. It is therefore important that if you feel strongly about this proposal, you write to Eric
Pickles in November – see the back cover for more information on how to do this.
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Making Northamptonshire the safest place in England: have your say
Northamptonshire Police would like your views on:
• Whether they are working on the right police and crime priorities
• Any issues you may have in your local area
• What can be done to improve your feelings of safety
Go to the following website to respond https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SafestPlaceinEngland
Your feedback will help inform the work of the
Police and Crime Commission and Community
Safety Partnerships across the County.
HYHOs invite groups to apply for funds
The Helmdon Young Husbands Organisation is delighted to be able to invite local village groups to apply for funding for specific projects they might be wishing to do in 2014 from the HYHO proportion of the money raised from the fantastic HYHO/Acorns/Sports Club Summer BBQ.
There is £2,400 available (including monies returned following the 2012 HYHO Summer Ball) to split between local groups. Please apply by email to
[email address removed] and
[email address removed] by 15 November 2013.
Requests normally outstrip available funds, so HYHO
cannot promise to fund every project, or to fully fund every request made.
CKERS – Youth Club
CKERS is a youth club organised jointly with St
Mary Magdalene Church and it continues to be very popular. We meet on a Sunday evening once a month, usually from 6:30pm. We cater for youngsters from school year 5 onwards and offer a wide variety of activities:
Church News from Rev Carole Peters th 10 November: Night Hike at Whistley Woods
15th December: Film Night (in Reading Room)
26th January: Swimming (Brackley Pool)
2nd March: Pizza making (in Reading Room)
30th March: Games at the Church
27th April: Climbing (venue TBA)
18th May: Games on the School Field
22nd June: Lazer Tag (venue TBA)
13th July: Games on the School Field
I don’t need to tell you that December is fast approaching. I
love Christmas so I cannot wait for our Carol Services, Carol
Singing, Nativities and Christmas Services. More information on these will be in our next newsletter but here is a taster:
Most are still in the process of being booked so details will follow for each. Most sessions are £2, and thanks to HYHO we will be able subsidise the
'bigger' activities. If you'd like any more information about CKERs, please contact
[email address removed]
• On Saturday 21st December at 4pm, I am putting on a
“Nativity in a Barn”. There will be real cows, sheep and donkeys (and mulled wine for the grown ups), so wrap up warm and join us. Details to follow – but if you would like to be part of the cast, let me know – all ages welcome.
• Christingle will form part of Messy Church on 22nd
December; we are inviting all the children, along with their parents, to make their own Christingles during this service.
• On Christmas Eve at 3pm Live Nativity in church is planned.
So kids – come dressed as a shepherd, a sheep, an angel or a soldier and join in the story!
Finally, a huge thank you to all of you who have supported our new ventures. Village Praise and Prayer is proving a popular service and my gratitude to all the organisations and groups that have agreed to take part to make it a truly Village event.
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The Bridge Players present…. Beauty and the Beast
It’s that time of year again! (oh no, it’s not!!). Performances are Thursday
5th December, Friday 6th December and a matinee & evening performance
Saturday 7th December in the school hall. Tickets available soon!
Report from the Blackpits Monitoring and Liaison Group
On 3rd October several members of the Blackpits Liaison Group visited the Blackpits Site and met with the Managing
Director of Material Change Ltd- Ed Bastow. We had an interesting tour of the site which is split into three areas:
1. An area operated by farmers Mervyn and Douglas Humphrey, this large area is used to store silage for feeding livestock. Driving towards Helmdon on the Radstone Road, the storage silos are the long white plastic tubes you can see, and contain some 2-3 thousand tons of silage.
2. The second main area is “Dial-a-Bin”, a company operated by Chris Humphrey, housed in the building with the prominent white roof. This receives the recyclable waste from Cherwell District Council, including food waste from
South Northants, for onward shipment around England where the recyclable waste is processed.
3. The third main area is Material Change Ltd, where all the green waste from South Northants is composted.
Material Change has carried out major works at the demand of the Environmental Agency to repair a badly damaged concrete base to stop waste water seeping into the water courses. This massive task required a 3 inch layer of asphalt to be laid on the concrete surface, which was done in stages. This meant the composting process (which was not reduced during the repair period) had to be carried out on a reduced surface area which may have led to some of the odours experienced during the summer. This has now been completed, so operations should get back to normal soon. Material Change has recently won a contract to receive our Black Bin waste for onward transmission to landfill. A revised planning application has been submitted to carry out this process. If this is approved, a new building will be erected to process this waste. The roof will be painted a grey colour to be less visible. Material
Change will soon be delivering a household leaflet clarifying processes and giving contact details.
David Powell, Chairman Blackpits Liaison & Monitoring Group, Tel [phone number removed] email: [email address removed]
Superfast Broadband: on its way…. ….. or already here??
The Fast Internet Service for Helmdon (FiSH) project has put Helmdon nearer the front of the queue to get superfast (30Mbps+) broadband. Helmdon has been identified in Phase 2 of Northamptonshire County
Council’s rollout plans, which means that BT should be installing fibre to the Helmdon cabinet in the summer of 2014. Helmdon is in Phase 2 because of the excellent response to the demand survey carried
Some residents in Lukes Close are already enjoying the benefits of Superfast Broadband after signing up to the
Tove Valley Project highlighted in the last issue. Simon
Cherry reports that he is very impressed with the service provided by the group which he estimates will reduce his broadband and phone bill by approximately 65%
compared with BT. He can now view videos over the internet properly for the first time. He is receives a signal from St Loys’ School; if a mast were to be erected on
Helmdon Church, more people could access the service.
out in February 2013, which demonstrated that residents and businesses are eager to get faster broadband. Many
Northants villages must wait until the end of 2017. So thanks to all those that took part in the survey, bumping us up the list!
Eric Malcomson, chairman of the Tove Valley
Communities Superfast Broadband Service, has been voted Talk Talk Digital Hero for the East Midlands. Mr
Malcomson will be receiving £5,000 from Talk Talk to be used to connect all the community halls in the Tove Valley operating area to superfast broadband.
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Lighting up Helmdon d 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]
Parish Clerk – Liz Hart Tel: [phone number removed]
Helmdon Acorns would like to say a big “thank you” to all those who helped at and supported our Fireworks and
Bonfire event; we enjoyed entertaining you and raised a bit of money to improve the outside area in the process.
Photo by Bill England
Wind Farm: let Eric Pickles know your opinion parishcouncil@helmdon.com
* Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator, ACRE
Bulk Oil Buying Scheme Co-ordinator and
Village Correspondent for local media.
Diary Dates:
If you wish to write/email to Eric Pickles, contact details are:
Mr E Pickles, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Email:
eric.pickles@communities.gsi.gov.uk . Correspondence might look like this and contain your name, address and signature:
Wed. 27th November 7:30pm: Council Meeting
Wed. 22nd January 7:30pm: Council Meeting
Appeal: Spring Farm Ridge, between Greatworth & Helmdon
Appeal Reference Number: APP/Z2830/A/11/2165035
A Talk on the Wild Side
The Helmdon Parish Plan Group
(HPPG) has been working with the Brackley & District Wildlife
Trust to put on some events in
Helmdon. On 27th September a moth trapping evening was held in the churchyard; many species were identified including the Large Yellow Underwing, the
Cinnabar & the Setaceous Hebrew Character! A
bat detector also “heard” at least two species of bat. The next wildlife event will be a fascinating talk on the Helmdon Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI), – the land on the Brackley side of the Station Road Bridge in Helmdon. This will take place in the Reading Room on Monday 25th
November at 7:30pm; everyone is very welcome.
I have been informed that the appeal in respect of the refusal of planning permission for the above proposal is to be decided by you, in order to ensure that the views of local people are properly considered in line with the latest government planning policy guidance. I am a resident of………
I am well aware of the evidence presented to two public inquiries that the proposal is unacceptable due to:
• the visual and noise impact upon local people,
• the impact upon the unspoilt local landscape,
• the impact upon treasured local heritage assets such as conservation areas and listed buildings
• dangers posed to users of the footpath/bridleway network and the B4525 road.
I entirely agree that the proposal is unacceptable for the above reasons and sincerely hope that my views as a resident of …………. will be taken into account when you make your decision.
The very successful Helmdon Health Walks on Thursday afternoons need more volunteers to train as back-up leaders. These walks are part of a national effort to promote walking as a healthy leisure activity and are sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support and The Ramblers Association. There is no need for a regular commitment to how often you would help. Free training is provided by SNC with the next course on Friday 29th November, 9:30am –
4:00pm. Please contact Roger Miles [phone number removed]) if you are willing to help with this worthwhile village activity.
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