From our Chairman
Hello again,
In my July article, I said that I had two main objectives for this financial year, in addition to the normal running of the Centre. These were to register the Centre with the Charity Commission, and to carry out an ACRE recommended process called a Health Check.
Disappointingly, there has been no progress at all on the first of these. It is a four-step process, with the first two steps depending on other parties outside our control, and so far, nothing is happening.
We have done rather better with the Health Check. This is a structured approach to checking that we comply with all the legislation that affects us. There are seven sections to it, dealing with different areas of legislation. Two of these are complete, except for the final approval by the Committee. Several more are nearing completion.
The normal running of the Centre is proving quite challenging. Jack Pope, who has been our Treasurer for four years, retired from the Committee as he plans to return to the USA. This caused something of a panic, until Paul Mansfield volunteered to join us and take over the role. We took this opportunity to switch our accounting system over to one recommended by the Charity Commission, in preparation for the Centre becoming a charity. Paul is rapidly getting on top of the job, and making valuable contribution to the running of the Centre. We have also appointed an auditor.
Jane Wosika has taken up the role of Health and Safety Officer, including looking into our obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act. She is already making useful progress, and is working on arranging a DDA audit.
Bookings are picking up again, after a relative quiet period over the summer holidays, and Don Hatt is being kept very busy with all the arrangements.
Ron Watkins has agreed to help Alan Thirlwell with some aspects of building mainenance, in addition to providing a useful link to the Mead Club, which is vital to the smooth running of the Centre.
One aspect that I find saddening, is the way a few people treat the Centre. There is some low-level vandalism outside, and a lot of untidiness, some of it deliberately mischevious, inside. Instead of recognising the place as a worthwhile asset, they seem to regard it as a target for mischeviousness.
The fire alarm has caused problems for some time now. It always tests out as working if there was a fire, but it also does some self diagnostics, and keeps telling us there is a problem somewhere. This problem has been impossible to locate, so we are now planning to replace the control panel. Once we know the panel is reliable, we will be able to use it to identify further problems, if any.
Lee Pelling had been planning to start Neighbourhood Policing Team surgeries in our small meeting room, but this has been delayed by his being detailed for a particular investigation elsewhere. We hope these surgeries will start soon now.
I expect I shall be writing more in due course, to keep you informed of events at the Centre. In the meantime thank you for taking the time to read this.
John Marples.
Paxcroft News
Medical Centre or Public House?
In what seems to be a rather surprising development, the West Wiltshire DC Planning Committee recently refused an application to alter a planning agreement which would have cleared the way for a public house to be built on the plot of land at the entrance to Hackett Place (next to Star East).
The original Section 106 planning agreement between WWDC and the developers set aside this plot for a medical purposes, but after a period of time, the developer applied for this condition to be removed. At the Planning Committee meeting on 13th September, the application to remove the medical use condition was unanimously rejected despite the WWDC Planning Officer's recommendation.
According to local councillor Ernie Clark, "WWDC has also been instructed to work with the developer and interested parties to endeavour to secure a medical use".
More housing planned for Paxcroft Mead
Gallagher and Heron, the original developers of Paxcroft Mead, recently put on an exhibition at the Community Centre. They displayed plans to build a further 190 houses in the area north of Green Lane, extending Parsonage Road. The plans show that the houses are to be built at a density of 40 dwellings per hectare, which looks like rather a lot of houses in a relatively small plot. Perhaps more worrying is access to the site. The only way in and out is via Parsonage Road. Even with working time restrictions, this could be a nuisance to existing residents.
No plans have been submitted yet, so we will have to wait to see firm proposals.
The Editor
Half term suggestions
Radstock Museum
With half-term coming up, the museum in Radstock is a fascinating place to spend a few hours.
Radstock is in the centre of the North Somerset coalfields and the museum focuses on what it was like to be a miner at work, at home and at play. There is a superb re-construction of what it was like working down the mine with about 1 metre of headroom. In it's heyday there were 79 collieries in the Radstock area and in the early 20th century they were producing about 1,250,000 tons of coal per year.
Radstock was also the crossroads for the old Great Western and the Somerset and Dorset railway lines, so there is a fair bit for railway buffs too.
Until November 30th, the museum is featuring an exhibition of Patchwork and Quilting. The 180 exhibits include antique and contemporary quilts, doll's house quilts, Somerset Patchwork and much more. Some of the quilts are for sale.
The museum is staffed entirely by local volunteers also who act as guides. The museum has full wheelchair access and has induction loops fitted. There is free parking 70 metres away.
The museum also has a well stocked shop and a tea room.
The museum is closed on Mondays, but open every other day from 2 - 5pm (Saturday 11am - 5pm. Admission is £3 with concessions available. Refer to the website http://www.radstockmuseum.co.uk for further details.
Trowbridge Museum
More local than Radstock, Trowbridge Museum in the Shires Shopping Centre is also a fascinating place to spend a few hours.
In its heyday, Trowbridge was well known for its cloth and woollen industry - it was refered to as the "Manchester of the South". The evidence of these industries is still all around town. If the weather is good and you fancy a stroll, you can get a leaflet on the Woollen Trail from the Tourist Information Centre (in the Park). This guides you around the trail giving information and history of not just the mills, but weavers cottages and other features.
The Trowbridge Museum was opened in July 1990 and is located on the second floor of Salter’s Mill. This was the last working woollen Mill in Trowbridge and did not shut until 1982. Today both Museum and Mill have been incorporated into the Shires Shopping Centre. The Museum’s unique location provides many advantages, not least ample parking, shelter from the elements and lifts and escalators for those that might require them. And admission is free!!
The museum tells the fascinating story of Trowbridge's people and past. The woollen industry played a crucial part in the town's development and working textile looms are on display. We even produce and sell our own work.
Other displays include a reconstruction of the town's medieval castle and a timeline highlighting Trowbridge's past from the medieval period through to the Second World War. There are also reconstructions of a Weaver's Cottage and Taylors, a draper's shop. Other displays include the history of Brewing and the Life and Works of Sir Isaac Pitman, Trowbridge's most famous son. There are plenty of child-friendly interactives too.
Exhibition of Textile Art
This temporary exhibition running until 31st October 2007 showcases work by 30 different textile artists. The colourful, lively and varied selection of original artwork includes lace, weaving, fleece and tapestry. There are boxes, jewellery, and scarves as well as pictures and hangings.
The Museum is open Tuesday - Friday from 10 till 4 and Saturdays 10 till 5. For further details visit the museum website at http://www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk/
Jonathan Hawkes
User Group Focus
The Croft Mother and Toddler Group
The Croft Mother and Toddler Group meets twice a week at the Paxcroft Mead Community Centre. This is a well-supported toddler group that welcomes Mums and their children. All ages are welcome from birth to school age.
There is an enormous selection of new and well-maintained toys and books for the children to enjoy. These are organised into areas so that the babies have their own area. There is generally a craft table for you to enjoy with your children.
It costs £1.80 a session per family group. You and your children can have a drink and a biscuit as well as have a chance for a chat, meet new friends and have a change of scene.
For further details call Nicola Harris on 01225 754364
Come along. You'll be glad you did.
From the Editor
How did you come to live at Paxcroft Mead? Talking with my neighbours, there have been many unusual reasons for moving to Paxcroft Mead. Do you have a story you would like to share in the newsletter? Send your story via email to info@paxcroftmead.org.uk or post it or drop it in to: - The Editor, Paxcroft Mead Community Centre, Hackett Place, Trowbridge, BA14 7GW.
We hope you have found this edition of the PMCC newsletter interesting. If you have, perhaps you could forward it on to friends and neighbours and encourage them sign up to the emailing list via our website - http://www.paxcroftmead.org.uk/contact_form.htm
We would also welcome suggestions and contributions for future editions. Please contact us via email at info@paxcroftmead.org.uk
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