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News from Castle Cary Town Council, Winter 2011
Having reported last time that we had a full complement of thirteen Town Councillors, we now have two vacancies. Barry Moorhouse has resigned from the Council after several years as Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee. We were very
fortunate that Barry was able to take over the roles previously filled by the late Alan Bond. Jim Hood has served on the Council for many years and actively participated in planning matters. We thank them both for all their hard work. The Council is very keen that
these vacancies are filled.
The Town Council hosted the private annual joint meeting with Ansford Parish Council recently. The main topic was the development of the district council’s Core Strategy in which the areas of Ansford and Castle Cary are seen as one area of population. The consultation period for the Core Strategy has been delayed until the New Year. The District Council needs to consider an infrastructure report prior to releasing the Core Strategy as a document for public consultation. It may be possible for Ansford and Castle Cary to work on a Neighbourhood Development Plan after the Core Strategy has been completed; however, funding to do this will need to be secured before this can go ahead.
Castle Cary Town Council in line with other towns and parishes nationwide is required to set a budget (precept) to cover the financial expenditure of the Town Council for the forthcoming financial year which runs from April to March. The precept will be discussed at the Council meeting in the School Room at The Methodist Church on Monday 12th December 2011, at 7.30pm.
Awareness-raising about the Market House project got off to an excellent start with a free musical event in September which was closely followed by an excellent fundraising Barn Dance at the Caryford Hall in October. The Grand Christmas Draw – tickets for sale now – should raise a substantial sum for the project. Phase I of the internal refurbishment of the ground floor of the Market House will commence on 19th December and will probably take six weeks to complete. Phase II to cover the Shambles area will be started shortly after completion of Phase I. We will be unable to offer space for coffee mornings until the first weekend in March due to this work. Community Office hours will also be restricted during this time. Details of opening hours will be posted on the Town Council’s notice board nearer the time.
The news of the County Council’s decision to cut youth work provision in Castle Cary and Ansford led Ansford Parish Council, Castle Cary Town Council, Ansford Academy, and local groups with an interest in youth activity, to work together to secure funding for a
part-time youth work post. For further details see Ansford Parish Council’s report in the Newsletter.
Chris Edwards on behalf of the Tourism Group attended an Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP) Award ceremony in Sheffield in September. He collected 1st Prize for the “Foody Train Event” – this was organised by the Heart of Wessex Line to promote local food along the Weymouth-Bristol railway line. Chris Edwards along with Laura Tilling and Jane Wilde volunteered to offer passengers samples of food generously supplied by Oates and Musson, Martins and Pantry by the Pond. The Tourism Group hope to work on other projects in association with the Heart of Wessex Line in the near future.
The franchise for the whole of the Great Western region rail network will be re-let from April 2013. First Great Western is very keen to keep/regain this franchise. Opinions and views will be considered from members of the public; however the Tender for the
franchise will be written against a background of public spending cuts and the MucNulty report suggests a substantial reduction in the cost of running railways. Nevertheless there may be an opportunity for long-standing issues and aspirations to be addressed. If you have any opinions about the local train service, please pass on your comments to the Tourism Group, c/o the Town Council. Your comments will be forwarded to First Great Western.
The number of people who volunteered their services to keep the library open was very encouraging and this passionate response probably helped the county council to make the decision to extend the previously much reduced opening hours. At the current time it is not possible for volunteers to work on the front desk in the library due to various restrictions, but other ways they can be help have been offered. The Library is open on Tuesdays from 10am till 1pm and from 2.30pm to 5pm, Wednesday from 10am till 1.00pm, Fridays from 10am till 1pm and 2.30pm till 5pm, Saturdays from 10am till 12.30pm.
This autumn South Somerset District Council offered the Town Council a good quantity of free spring bulbs. Volunteers from the Moat Garden project and Gardening Club kindly helped with the planting of bulbs at the Moat Garden, The Triangle and Fire Station where the flowers can be seen and enjoyed by the whole community.
For household recycling and refuse collections day changes over the Christmas period please see notice on Town Council notice board outside the Market House, check the 'Local Services' section of this website or contact Somerset Waste Partnership
of 0845 345 9188, www.somersetwaste.gov.uk. Christmas trees under 6ft can be collected with your normal refuse collection day between 9th and 20th January 2012 for disposal. Please place your tree next to your bin or sack and remember to remove all
decorations.
