PARISH COUNCIL NOTICES

Stoke Lacy Parish Council has for some considerable time raised with West Mercia Police its concerns over the speed of traffic in Stoke Lacy along the A465. The justification of these concerns has been recognised and mobile speed cameras have been deployed 22 times and 154 Penalty Notices have been issued by the police (up to 23rd August). 

This road safety project continues and the Parish Council has for an extended period been seeking further discussions with Herefordshire Council to improve safety. Recently some slight positive movement has been achieved towards substantive discussions. Watch this space! 

  The Herefordshire Council Consultation period ended on the 29th June and a ‘Progress to Examination’ report has been submitted for sign off.

Once this is signed by a Director, any comments received during the consultation period will be sent to the Parish Council for further responses. At this stage, Herefordshire Council will make an application to NPIERS (Neighbourhood Planning Independent Examiners Referral Service) for 3 potential examiners.

The Stoke Lacy Parish Council will then be asked to select which individual we would like to perform the independent examination.

 We will keep you updated on progress.

NDP Steering Group

Previous Update: 10th May 2022

This week we have achieved a significant milestone on our Stoke Lacy NDP Journey. 

We have reached Regulation 16 - the Formal Submission of the Stoke Lacy NDP and accompanying documents to Herefordshire Council. These documents are now live on the Stoke Lacy NDP Website and will also be uploaded onto the Herefordshire Council website:  https://www.stokelacy.co.uk

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/directory-record/5972/stoke-lacy-neighbourhood-development-plan

This means that for the next 6 weeks, Herefordshire Council will invite comments from anyone on the contents of the NDP Documents and they will notify us of anything we need to take into account before there is an independent review.

 After this, we will hold a Referendum of Parish Residents on whether to adopt the NDP.

We will keep you updated on progress.

NDP Steering Group

   Well, weren’t we lucky to have chosen the better day, of the whole weekend’s weather, to hold our celebrations. It was a lovely dry, sunny and warm afternoon, absolutely ideal for having some fun and running a few races! 

The proceedings began with the Town Crier of Bromyard, Peder Nielsen, opening the afternoon’s celebrations for us, followed by a few words from the Chairman of the Parish Council. She welcomed everyone to this historic occasion and hoped that everyone would enjoy themselves and make some lasting memories of this community event. Everyone was then asked to adjourn to the outside to watch the fly past of the Red Arrows, which of course had been especially ordered by the Parish Council!! A presentation of a Commemorative Coin and Scroll to those children, 16 years and under that were present, then followed.

Our celebrity chef, Simon from the Plough, had a hard task judging the ‘The Queen’s Platinum Pudding’ competition. Eventually a decision was made and the winner of the Adult’s was Zoey Harper and the under 16’s Ellie Wise. Thank you to everyone who entered.

It was now time to see everyone’s competitive side by watching them enter the selection of races that Bridget had lined up, in the hope of winning a badge or two. It was lovely to see so many children with their t-shirts weighed down with a selection of different coloured badges hanging off! There was the running, three legged, wheelbarrow, obstacle, space hopper and the good old egg and spoon races, something for everyone, from the under 5’s to the over 70’s. Well done to everyone who took part. There was also some sideshows to entertain as well. We had skittles, splat the rat, a buzzer game and a treasure hunt. Thank you to those who manned these games.

Meanwhile back in the Hall ’The Good Time Tea Time Band’ had struck up and were entertaining those who were enjoying a sit down and catching up with friends and neighbours and some of the new residents of the village they had not had the pleasure of getting to know, before now. During the interval everyone was invited to tuck into the lovely afternoon tea that had been laid out. Thank you to each and every one of you who donated plates of sandwiches and cakes to enable us to have a feast fit for the Queen. As someone said, Stoke Lacy always knows how to cater! At this point we then had a parade of the Best Decorated Crown’s which was judged by Mrs Betty Davies. The winners were Lyla Woodyatt, under 16’s, and Tina Lifely, the Adult’s.

The Band commenced their second set with people taking to the floor for a bit of a boogie, well done the dancers. The proceedings then culminated with a rendition of Albert and the Lion by Neil Parker and God Save the Queen played on the flute by Lyla Woodyatt, and then some flag waving and a good old traditional sing song the Stoke Lacy way.

Finally, thanks must go to Wye Valley Brewery, NSA Events, The Plough Inn and WCM+A for your very generous donations towards our celebrations. Thank you to each and every one who helped in any way to make our Platinum Celebrations such a success. A special thank you must go to the ‘platinum planning team’ who over the last twelve weeks helped to make sure all the plans came to fruition. Thank you to everyone who attended and for all the lovely messages and comments we have received making us feel that the weeks of planning were very worthwhile. Stoke Lacy can be sure they did ‘Her Majesty’ proud. 

Janet Ivison

Chairman of Stoke Lacy Parish Council 

  What a relief it has been to be able to hold meetings face to face again.

In the last twelve months we have held nine monthly meetings and four extra ordinary meetings.

Agenda items have included Finance, Planning, Traffic and Speeding concerns, Road Maintenance, Village enhancements and Footpaths and Landowners responsibilities.

We have dealt with nine planning applications this year and Councillors have made four site visits. The Parish Council can only express an opinion on applications, Herefordshire Council’s Planning Authority decide whether an application is passed or refused.

The Parish Council are grateful to Jonathon Lester our Ward Councillor for attending our meetings and keeping us up to date with Herefordshire Council matters and offering us help, advice and good practice. We also thank our PCSO Sue Berrett for attending when time allows, and giving us updates from the Police and Neighbourhood Matters.

I would like to express my grateful thanks to all those who have been engaged in the NDP Steering Group for all that they have achieved in the last two years in some very trying times, and Councillor Bill Morgan for being the driving force in the whole process. We were finally able to hold the Regulation 14 Public Consultation Meetings in January which were well received. After reviewing the responses and some adjustments being made, the NDP Document has now been submitted to Herefordshire Council for a second review and independent examination. The next stage will be the public referendum, after which we hope our NDP will finally be made.

I would also like to express the Parish Council’s thanks to John Thompson our Footpath Officer for all the time and commitment he has given to this role, and am pleased that Councillor John Davies has now taken on joint responsibility of working alongside him as well. I am sure that the ‘two John’s’ between them, will do an excellent job in making sure that all our footpaths will be accessible and in tip top condition!

It was with regret that Councillor Helen Bufton resigned in July but we were able to co-opt our new Councillor John Davies to the Parish Council in November. He has wholeheartedly thrown himself into the role of a Parish Councillor already!

It now remains for me to thank all of my fellow Councillors for their time, patience and commitment, and I look forward to working alongside you all for another twelve months.

And finally, I would also like to express my personal thanks to Paul our Clerk for all the help and guidance he has given to me over the last twelve months, it has been very much appreciated.

Janet Ivison

Chairman of Stoke Lacy Parish Council

Farewell to Alma Westwood

The service held at Stoke Lacy Church on 14th August was a particularly poignant one as the community said farewell to Church Warden and village stalwart, Alma Westwood.

Following the death of her beloved husband, John, in 2021, Alma decided that it was time to move nearer to family to Feckenham, near Redditch, but not before Stoke Lacy made sure she realised how much she would be missed.

Rev Wallace Brown led the service in his own, interactive, inimitable and much enjoyed style; Rev Kina Robertshaw gave a powerful sermon; and Rev David Gifford was in attendance (see photo above).

The service was very well attended and ended with a presentation to Alma from the PCC and clergy by Richard Combe, Church Warden, of a framed aerial photograph of St Peter & St Paul's Church, taken by drone expert Bill Morgan.  

It was then over to Mary Caiger's for drinks, refreshments (lots – in true Stoke Lacy style!) - and reminiscence, where the numbers were swelled by more local residents who wanted to show their appreciation of all Alma's hard work and dedication over the years.

A huge thank you to Mary for making her home and garden available for this memorable occasion.

The joyous atmosphere was, however, slightly tinged with sadness that this was the end of an era although Alma told everyone that she will be back from time to time which was reassuring to hear!  

Alma Westwood is kindness personified, she has been a steadfast and calm presence within our community for many years and we all wish her a long, happy and healthy future with her family.

Village Hall 21st Birthday Party

7.30pm Saturday 1 October

Dancing to ‘The Cats Whiskers’ Ceildh Band

Tickets £10 to include 'pork rolls, puds and prosecco'

See poster above.

New treasurer required

The Trustees of the Village Hall are actively seeking someone for the voluntary role of Treasurer.

If you feel that you could fulfil this position and would like to find out more about this job, which is not an onerous one, then please call Janet on 01885 400601 for a chat.

Found at the hall

We have two items of clothing left at the Hall after the Jubilee Celebrations.  We also have a bunch of small keys, (possibly padlock or suitcase type) found a while ago and a separate single key with a tag attached, found recently at the Hall. If you think they may belong to you and can identify them, then call Janet on 01885 400601.

Janet Ivison

Chairman of the Village Hall Trustees 

Apple Juicing at Stoke Lacy Village Hall

At the Village Breakfast event on Saturday 22 October, 9.30am to 12 noon.

Bring your apples, which must be in good condition, to give to Simon Abbiss, and order your bottles of pasteurised apple juice, which will keep for at least a year, at £1.95 each, to collect the following week from the Village Hall.

Simon will be assisted by members of the Garden Club who will be there to receive your apples and take your orders.

The first speaker of the autumn

 Terry Green of the Hedgehog Preservation Society will give a talk about "Hedgehogs in Your Garden".

7.30pm on Tuesday 25 October.

It was originally planned for March 2020 but was cancelled because of floods, so we are very much looking forward to hearing it.

Regular meetings

The club meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month. 

From about October to April we have meetings at the Village Hall and in summer we organise garden visits, generally car-sharing to get to them. 

New members are always very welcome.  

Annual membership for the Club is £6. 

For more information about the club:

ring/text 07360 960855

email stokelacygardenclub@gmail.com

At an energetic AGM, among the laughter and banter of a group of friends, Bromyard Probus Club agreed to keep in office the current Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary, and to continue having its meetings at the Falcon, on the second Tuesday of each month,12-12.30pm.

Good company and delicious food is what the Club is about, after all, as well as raising modest sums for charity and hearing interesting stories.  Probus is a non-political, non-sectarian international umbrella organisation with independently run clubs throughout the world for retired professional and business men aged 50 years and over, who come from all walks of life and experience.

The speaker on October 11th will be Kevin Lovell on Bromyard’s famous Christmas lights, and on November 8th the trio of John Alexander, John Davies, and Edward Brazier will discuss climate change and its effects on agriculture.  

The Club is keen to attract new members.  All retired or semi-retired men are welcome to join our cheerful company in the bar of the Falcon at 12.00, ready for lunch and a talk starting at 1.00.  If you would like to join us, please contact Secretary Malcolm Penny on 01885 490291, or at malcolmpenny75@gmail.com to book a place at the lunch table.

Stoke Lacy PCC Christmas A'Fayre

12.00 noon-2.00pm Saturday 18 December

Festive stalls.  Hot pork rolls.  Afternoon tea and cakes.

See poster above.

The Stoke Lacy Church, called the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, is a beautiful Victorian church on a site that has been used for a church since Saxon times.  The church has a strong connection with the Morgan family, of Morgan Cars fame, who were Rectors and whose family graves from 1887, are in the churchyard.

Services and other events are held at the church regularly and everyone is welcome to attend.

The church demands a great deal of care and attention, which is provided by volunteers.

Again, everyone is extremely welcome to volunteer to help.

The Stoke Lacy PCC 100 Club is a fundraising scheme for the church. Members can win cash prizes of up to £100.

To be a member for 2022, pay £12 per number (as many numbers as you like) by direct transfer to the bank account (NatWest 52-10-23; account 02205475 or by cheque to Stoke Lacy PCC (Tina Lifely, Stoke Lacy PCC Treasurer, The Farm, Moreton Jeffries, HR13QY).  Either way, please email Tina Lifely at lifesim90@hotmail.com.

Winner at the Summer Fete: Sally Barrett £100

Winners in July: James Godsall £20, Janet Watson £10, Olive Riley £5. 

Winners in August: Sally Jones £20, Jensen Jones £10, Janet Parker £5.

Winners in September: Sally Barrett £20, Richard Combe £10, Frederick Lifely £5.

Queries: Tina Lifely, 01432 820154.  

Anyone over 50 years old is welcome to pop in to say hello and hopefully wish to join us. 

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 10.30 am at Stoke Lacy Village Hall. 

See “Upcoming Events” for details. 

For further information: Daphne Montandon 07929 108457 or 01886 884402 or Margaret Woodley 01432 820270. 

The Stoke Lacy Book Group is open to all and new members are extremely welcome.

It meets on every second Thursday of the month, in the afternoon during winter and in the evening as daylight hours extend.

The group reads a book a month and then meets to discuss it over a glass of wine.

For more information, call Chris McNaught on  01432 820008.

West Mercia police has launched “Neighbourhood Matters”, a messaging system that enables residents, businesses and community groups to keep in touch with local policing teams.

Contact PCSO 6439 Sue Berrett on 07773 045837.

Sign up at: www.neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk

Meetings are held in Stoke Lacy Village Hall on the second Friday of each month at 2.30pm.

If you would like to join, please contact Mary Wells

mwells1933@gmail.com