Dear All

Looking for volunteers to help spruce up the playpark at 5.00pm on Saturday the 3rd of August.

We will need brushes, power sanders, long flex (to reach Hazel’s house) etc, so if you’ve got those all the better. Also, if there are any professional painters in the village, expert advice would be much appreciated.

Let me know if you are interested in helping on 01620 830 307 (or using form below).

Please spread the word – the more people that come along, the quicker the job!

All the best

Rufus

Dear All

You will remember that the idea has been put forward that we put together a gang of volunteers to help clear snow from in front of the homes of people who are too old/infirm to do it themselves. Before the summer arrives and we forget all about this issue, can I ask you to think about the following questions:

1) Would you be willing to be part of such a group?
2) Have you needed this sort of help in the past / do you know anyone in the village who does?

Please let me know using the form below, so that I can get a feel for the scope of the challenge and the potential size of the group we might be able to put together.

Many thanks

Rufus

Dear All

Please take a look at the following police information leaflets, which were sent to the last Community Council meeting. Police_Pamphlet_1 is about stopping the theft of Red Diesel; Police_Pamphlet_2 is about stopping thefts from heating fuel tanks; and Police_Pamphlet_3 is about protecting off-road vehicles.

Hope they are useful.

Rufus

Dear All

Following on from Tim’s post about the snow plough idea, the Community Council would just like to clarify that the idea was only turned down after lengthy debate on the grounds that: 1) Crystal Rig had indicated in writing that it would not support it as it was work ‘the Council should do’. 2) There were widely held concerns about issues of liability, health and safety etc; 3) It was felt that as the problem was sporadic and relatively infrequent, community funding of the levels needed would be best spent elsewhere.

That said, everyone agreed that the problem was something that should be addressed, so it was felt that – as Tim explained – we would do the following: 1) Scope out the extent of the problem; 2) Work out what cost-effective equipment is needed (eg. grit bins, shovels, etc); 3) Get together a group of volunteers to help dig out those in need when the
time comes; 4) Work to ensure that the Council upholds its statutory duties so that main roads (and as many side roads as possible) are kept clear.

Rufus has said that he is happy to move this forward, but would like help (Indeed, if anyone would like to take on the co-ordination of a group to tackle this, that would be great). Anyone who is interested in lending a hand both in terms of collecting information and/or wielding a shovel please use the contact form below.

Cheers

The Community Council

To update you all on the Garvald Woodlands Project I can confirm, as a result of several discussions since our last meeting, the bottom line is that everyone concerned is very keen to bring this to a conclusion and, whilst time is not on our side, the aim is still to have these trees down later this year.

Unfortunately, the exceptionally late harvest has pushed thing back significantly, and then the ploughing and reseeding of the field required for the extraction of the timber presented a further potential delay. However the tenant, Mr Hamilton, appreciates the position and is happy for the trees to be taken over this land, and is prepared to replant where necessary.

The abbot, Father Mark, appears every bit as keen as we for the felling to go ahead, particularly since he is again receiving direct requests for this from villagers despite having chased everyone concerned for action.

Scottish Woodlands has also reported some delays with finalising the documentation required to allow them to proceed.

It has been pointed out that due to the loose soil conditions within the field, a repeat of the particularly wet weather we encountered recently could make it impractical for large vehicles to gain access to the site. We therefore have to hope for some frosty conditions instead.

Jim Thomson

Dear All

Hopefully you know that there is a CC election coming up on the 4th of October and that anyone can stand for election.

Just a reminder that nomination forms for the CC elections must be returned to the Returning Officer no later than 4 pm on Thursday 13th September 2012. Details can be found on the East Lothan Council website.

The minutes from February’s Garvald and Morham Community Council Meeting are now available to download from the GMCC Minutes page – enjoy!