NORDELPH COMMUNITY WEBSITE -- FEBRUARY 2007
QUICK TOUR Welcome to our first update of 2007!
The winds came, blew hard, broke branches and fence panels and scattered the wheelie bins across the roads. This all prompted the Guardian newspaper to publish a third leader in praise of wheelies and how they have revolutionised rubbish collection -- and latterly recycling. They also made an interesting suggestion that might just capture the imagination of Nordelph residents:
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Wherever you normally park your wheelie bin, for at least one day of the week it stands by the side of the road. And if every bin along the road reminded the passing motorist of the prevailing speed limit, we might just get through to the speed merchants that -- especially along High Street and Birchfield Road where a significant number of front doors open directly onto the street -- exceeding the limit is dangerous! It seems like a simple cost-effective and pro-active gesture. We've even done a bit of research into where you might get speed limit stickers. Disappointingly, the Halfords we looked into couldn't help (although they do sell Welsh 'L' plates -- 'D' plates in fact, for which there can't be a great call in Wisbech!)
If anyone locates a cheap source of these, let us know!
Parish Council
There's quite a lot about the Nordelph Parish Council in this month's update. In part that's because there have been two meetings since our December update -- an additional one was called to take opinions on a planning application that was creating some concern among residents. We couldn't have a reporter at this extra December meeting, but the December minutes are available, as is a report of the January meeting. And the previous October minutes as approved at the first of these meetings are also now available.
As you will read in the December minutes, the planning application that was of such concern -
for the erection of three dwellings in the garden south of Corner House on High Street -- was throroughly discussed and eventually recommended for rejection after a vote. The Parish Council's position was just one of the factors considered by the Borough Council Planning Committee when it discussed this proposal on February 6th. We understand that at this meeting it emerged that the Highways Department and the Fire Service share the concerns of the affected residents. However, one of our Borough Councillors, David Pope made a prepared statement rejecting these arguments and stressing that High Street was a minor road leading to few houses (an observation that ignores a working farm). As a result, the application has not been decided until a further site visit has been carried out on Friday 9th February at 2pm, followed by a decision at the reconvened committee meeting in Kings Lynn.
And there are a couple of good reasons why it might be useful to have your Parish Council at the forefront of your thoughts at this time of year. One very obvious one is that come May this year, your present Council will cease to exist -- it's election time! It's now that you might consider whether you're happy with the job that they've been doing -- and if not, what you're going to do about it. Like standing for election -- any council needs new blood and it would be cheering to have a contested election (albeit uncomfortably expensive for a small community!)
But there's something else you might like to consider. The next (and last) meeting of the present Council will be on March 21st, immediately following the 2007 Parish Assembly. One item that will be on the agenda then is whether Nordelph should do as many surrounding villages have done and compile and publish a Village Plan. There's a report of a presentation that the Council received at the January meeting from the organisation that exists to promote these documents. We don't believe that our website reports (unlike the minutes) need to be balanced and impartial, because they're personal accounts. The person writing this account wasn't impressed, and it shows. But you may well not agree, and in any case the dissatisfaction was with the presentation, not necessarily the idea of a Plan. The Parish Assembly is the place for you to learn more, and for you to have your say.
Fen Football
Back in February last year we were delighted to publish a contribution from Gordon Smith on Football in the Fens. Gordon is the official historian of Wisbech Town FC, and he's now published a book "Early football in Wisbech" - the years 1880 to 1920. It's available at the following shops - Ecetera Kitchenware, York Row Wisbech and Colin Payne (Printers), Old Market Wisbech and from the Wisbech town football club shop (open on matchdays) and from Gordon himself (e-mail him at gordon@wisbech.net for info). The price is £11
Arts & Crafts
There's quite a bit from the Nordelph Arts & Crafts Club this month, too. They're one of the village's liveliest organisations, contributing a lot to village life, and this month is no exception. On February 14th, between 2.00 and 3.30, they'll be having an Open Afternoon and Tea Party in the Village Hall to support the work of the British Heart Foundation. This is in the middle of half term, so children are especially welcome -- in fact there's a children's 'have-a-go' craft table especially for them. You've possibly seen their posters around Nordelph, but if not -- or if you could post one somewhere to spread the news -- you can download one by clicking.
And the NACC is contributing to the website as well. Rather than simply celebrate the crafts they practice by themselves, they'll be adding regular pages to this site about what attracts them in what they do. You can find the first of these, on cross stitch, available this month. They've now got their own index entry (we filed them under 'Leisure' before), from where you can access these craft pieces in future -- and of course this month you'll have the alternative routes of clicking above, or by following the trail of our 'New Items' buttons.
And more ...
We've added extra content to several other regular features this month as well. There's a third brewery in our series on Fen drink -- the Wissey Valley Brewery. You can find out just why their signature ale 'Cap'n Grumpy's Best Bitter' got that name!
There's another favourite image this month, too -- an appropriately seasonal one!
'Vegetable of the month' is back, with the Jerusalem artichoke.
That's the vegetable that has nothing to do with Jerusalem, and isn't an artichoke. It's also great as a wind break, and good at breaking wind! And if you want something (else) to do with it, there's a recipe for soup in our 'Fen Cooking' section. By the way, we've now 'completed the year' with our descriptions of what's in season when, which you can examine on our Fen Food master page.
Next month will also 'complete the year' in another sense. In early March, our visitor counter (the number just to the right of the heading) will have been in place for just a year. We seem to be getting a regular 'hit' of 150 visitors per month, which is far in excess of the number we believed we were talking to. It was this counter, and the information it gives us, that revealed just how many people overseas look to the site for news and information. Next month, we'll publish a bit of analysis of the figures -- and reveal just who it was that was bored enough to access the site on Christmas Day!
Finally, the second in the series of meetings to determine the future of the Church will be held on Monday 19th February at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.