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Paxcroft Mead News – September 2008 |
Contents
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Editorial CommentA bit of a race to get the newsletter out in time this month! Things seem to have been a bit quiet over the last month, so we don't have a huge amount of news, but again I am pleased to include Jack Pope's “Letter from America”. We are lucky to have the Caribbean Celebration in the Community Centre on October 18th and it promises to be varied, tasty and enjoyable with a variety of activities, food and music. Half term is coming up at the end of October and there are some special events – we have a couple in the Forthcoming events section If you have a news item or event you would like to share in the next newsletter, please send your contribution via email to editor@paxcroftmead.org.uk or post it to, or drop it in to:- To ensure we have the largest possible distribution, please would you forward this newsletter 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 |
The Mead Club Committee is busy planning the programme up to Christmas and beyond. The activites will be varied and there will be something for everyone.
The next major event at the Community Centre is the Caribbean Day (full details below) where the Mead Club is working with the organisers to provide the bar facilities. N.B. Mead Club members and guests are expected to pay for this event.
There will also be the Halloween party on Saturday 1st November which will have a family entertainer and live music plus disco – more details will be advertised shortly on the Paxcroft Mead website and noticeboards.
The trial of “Adult Nights” has proved to be popular, so it has been decided that the last Friday of every month will be for adults only.
The weekly Quiz Night is very popular. Hosted by Bill and Helen Johnson, the Quiz Night provides an ideal opportunity to flex the grey matter and to have a good time in the pleasant atmosphere of the Mead Club. Towards the end of October is the Trafalgar Night themed quiz – no guesses what that one is about and we are sure to splice the mainbrace and “toast to the immortal memory”!
The Mead Club AGM is on Tuesday October 14th (7.30 for 8 pm) at the Club. If you would like to join the committee, or just fancy doing the odd session behind the bar, please make yourself known at the meeting.
Finally a reminder that subscriptions are due on the 1st October (see notice in bar).
A couple of years ago, Persimmon Homes gained outline planning permission to develop on land south of Paxcroft Mead and in preparation for this new development, full permission to extend Leapgate across Green Lane. Associated with this is the proposed Hilperton Relief Road (over the Hilperton Gap) which also has planning permission.
As many of you know, due to the current financial situation and the downturn in the housing market, Persimmon Homes have recently made many cutbacks in their business.
The result of this is that the elements of the various planning permission which were “for the benefit of the community”, e.g. the Gap Road, a new primary school, social housing etc., appear to be in limbo. The West Wiltshire District Council Scrutiny Committee has invited Persimmon to attend their November meeting . This will be on Wednesday 19th November at 7.00 pm in the council chamber.
If you are interested in hearing what's going on, members of the public are welcome to attend. N.B. Persimmon haven't accepted the invite yet – update in the next newsletter and a report in the November edition.
OCTOBER IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. One of the local celebrations will be taking place on Saturday, October 18th at the Paxcroft Mead Community Centre. The full programme of events is shown below.
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Presenting A Caribbean Celebration SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Paxcroft Mead Community Centre Trowbridge BA14 7GW 1pm - 11pm |
| Part 1: 1pm - 6pm
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Part 2: 6:15pm - 11pm
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ENTRANCE FEE: (from 6:15pm) |
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This event is supported by Wiltshire County Council, Wiltshire Police, Trowbridge Town Council & West Wiltshire District Council |
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We are currently working with our traffic unit to target youths who race around the car parks in the HACKETT PLACE area. The Police Reform Act 2002 introduced a section of law known as SECTION 59. Where vehicles are causing alarm or distress to residents, Officers have the power to issue a SECTION 59 notice to the owner.
If an owner receives two of these notices, their vehicle can seized by police. The owner then has to pay a release fee to retrieve their vehicle. If they do not pay, their vehicle can be crushed.
Below are a few guidelines for reporting anti–social behaviour problems to the police whilst still remaining safe.
Residents are advised to take the following action in the event of anti–social behaviour:
If any residents would like information about setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in your local area, please contact PCSO MIKE CAINE for further details, either by telephone, email, or by leaving a message at Trowbridge Police Station (opening hours – MONDAY to FRIDAY, 09:00 – 17:00).
Telephone 0845 408 7000 ext 725542 or email hilpertstavertnpt@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
One of the things we like about living in Central New York State is that there are four distinct seasons.
We had a lovely Summer. They tell us it was a bit wetter than normal but we still had many warm days (a few were a bit too warm). We are now into Fall (autumn). The days are noticeably shorter, the nights very cool (as low as 2°C) and the days are pleasantly warm (22–25°C). The leaves are beginning to turn color – the green of summer is being replaced by the reds and oranges of the maples along with the yellows of the beech and birch. The grass continues to grow but at a much slower rate. We should only have to mow once or twice more and then the mower can be put in the shed until Spring. Out will come the snow thrower instead. Our driveway is about 120 ft by 20 ft so there will be a large amount of snow to move when we get a storm of 12 inches or more.
The campaign for the Presidential election has a little more than a month to run. Most people will be happy when election day comes and it will all be over. Sarah Palin's nomination caused some excitement, but I wish there was more discussion of programs and proposals and less about personalities, shoes and lipstick on pigs.
As part of our efforts to become part of the community we have been to several church suppers – usually chicken, baking powder biscuits (similar to scones but much lighter), gravy, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, veggies and home made pies and cakes for dessert. These are prepared by the members of the church as a means of raising some extra funds for the church and are always very good.
Susan has a spot – “Pope Across the Pond” – on the Graham Seaman Show about 8:15 am each Friday on BBC Radio Wiltshire. Tune in for more about the U.S.A.
The highly successful Trowbridge Festival of Textile and Weaving is still running until 1st November, at Trowbridge Museum in the Shires.
The exhibition of contemporary textile work in the museum and the other museum exhibits provide a unique insight into Trowbridge's industrial past. How about taking the children/grandchildren over half-term? After the fun-filled (and very busy) summer workshops staff have recharged their creative batteries and have something new for October. No doubt there'll be something suitably scary for halloween! The mice are getting restless – look out for their new hiding places when the holiday starts.
The exhibition also includes demonstrations of some of the restored exhibits, such as the Dobcross (Old Dobby) Loom.
It is sometimes hard to believe, but Trowbridge has a proud history and a visit to the museum will open your eyes to the Town's glorious past.
For more details, have a look at the museum website - http://www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk.
The museum will be finishing the year with an exhibition celebrating the 160th anniversary of the railways coming to Trowbridge. The exhibition runs from 22nd November through to the end of February 2009 and is a must for all railway history buffs (like me).
If you have anything related to Trowbridge's railway heritage that you would like to lend to the museum, then contact Katherine White – katherine.white@trowbridge.gov.uk
On Thursday 30th October between 10.30 – 12.30, Trowbridge Museum is hosting a drop–in session of craft activities in the museum education facility.
The activities, led by Louise Mansbridge, include making your own: –
The event is open to children and is free. Children under 8 should be accompanied by an adult.
On Saturday, 1st November, we have a family entertainer and live music plus disco.
More details coming soon on the PMCC website.
Following the success of last year's event, The Friends of the Mead School are holding another Christmas Shopping evening on Friday November 7th. Further details to follow in the next edition.
If you would like to have a stand at the event, please get in touch either by email or call Mel Jacob on 01225 767874.
On December 6th, the programme of Christmas activities in Trowbridge starts with the Christmas Street Fayre, followed in the evening by the switch on of the Trowbridge Lights. There is a full programme of events scheduled right up to Christmas – more details in the next edition.
The Parish Church of St James in the Town Centre is open every morning, including Saturdays, for coffee and quiet prayer. In addition, on Wednesdays the Church is open from 12 noon until 2p.m. for anyone who wants to pray for themselves, relatives or sick friends. A trained lay prayer minister is also available at this time if the visitor would like prayers said for them, by someone else. The Church is worth a visit because of the beautiful ornate ceiling which was carefully renovated to its original condition after the dramas of the fire and the spire collapse in the late 80's and early 90's. There is also a model of the Church on site, showing how the Church looked before the two catastrophes mentioned above.
If you know of any events that would be of interest to the community, please drop me an email to – editor@paxcroftmead.org.uk.
Previous newsletters are available via the Paxcroft Mead Newsletter archive. To access the archive click here
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