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UPDATE on erection of 14 new dwellings together with change of use of agricultural land to form public open space at Swimbridge Glebe Field

The NDDC Planning Committee took place on Wednesday 27th February at the Civic Centre, Barnstaple to discuss the Glebe Field. Jean Watkins at Planning Dept gave a very clear and concise presentation on the history of the project and the planning application. The outcome from that meeting was that both the planning applications for 44902 and 45152 have been deferred for negotiation. The Planning Authority will negotiate with the Developer and will look in particular at: 

the access: to try and reinstate vehicle access through the housing estate as the vehicular access opposite the school has some serious visibility issues and if it is moved further up the hill will have a large cost impact as the drop from the road to the field is very steep. 

affordable housing - the Planning Authority would ideally wish to secure 7 affordable houses, not 4 as indicated on the Plan (the 5th is the large Diocese house which is under question as being classed as affordable). 

The Jubilee Hall Committee has appointed architect, Jim Gardiner of the David Wilson Partnership to draw up plans for the Jubilee Hall improvement scheme.  The Jubilee Hall Sub Committee invited seven architects for quotes, and short-listed three for an interview. Jim Gardiner of the David Wilson Partnership was outstanding in his presentation at interview with innovative ideas, common sense and importantly we all felt we could work well with him.  He also has lots of experience in design for local community projects.  The Jubilee Hall design should be with us in outline within the next eight weeks – watch this space!  

Our many thanks to Cllr David Butt, Cllr David Luggar and Cllr Joe Tucker for supporting the Jubilee Hall Improvement Scheme - they have each kindly allocated £500 from their community budgets; a total of £1,500.  This will be a great help towards the architect fees, which will cost in the region of £6k to take the scheme up to planning stage.   The hall has already raised over £2k + the above £1.5k.  We now need to start raising funds to make the improvement scheme a reality.  It is expected that funding the building project will be through a combination of grants applications to several funders and community fundraising.  If you have any fundraising ideas that you would like to put into action to help make our improved hall a reality, please let one of the Jubilee Hall Committee Members know or  Julie on 830311 – we’d like to hear from you.  Come and be part of it.  

Fitness Pilates Class led by a qualified fitness instructor only £3.50 every Thursday evening starting 1st May, 6.15 – 7.15 pm in Swimbridge Jubilee Hall  

These sessions are suitable for a variety of people and there will be options for participants to choose their own level.  

These sessions are not suitable for people with a current back or joint problem, also expectant mothers are advised not to attend.  

The aim of the sessions is to enjoy yourself while increasing strength and balance, improve posture, enhance core stability and increase flexibility and mobility.  

The exercises are practiced in various positions standing; laying face up and down and on your sides so you will need to bring something to lay on - this can be a yoga type mat, blanket or a camping foam roll, etc.  

You need to wear clothing that allows you a good range of movement; these classes normally exercise without shoes.  

Some key points you will learn are Pilates breathing, pelvic floor muscle engagement, finding your neutral spine position and good body alignment that will improve your posture and energy levels.  

There have been several reports of empty cider bottles in the river and along Hannaford Lane.  As many as two a day are being collected from the river alone and a large number of empty cans have been discarded in the hedgerows along Hannaford Lane. 

To whomever this concerns, PLEASE take your litter home – the cans and bottles are a danger to wildlife, it makes the village look untidy and it’s not fair to expect someone else to pick up your litter. 

The hall’s all spruced up thanks to Mick Bennett, Kelly Day, Amy McLaughlin, David Netherway Annie Urry-Clark, Saskia Verton-Smith and Julie Whitton for painting the village hall on Saturday 19th April.  They managed to paint all the rooms on the day and it is now looking much brighter.  Thank you also to Claire Hall, Malcolm Whitton and Ian Godfrey for helping to put it all back together again.

Ian McLaughlin and Simeon Day have recently completed a wonderful wildlife and vegetable garden for the children at Swimbridge Primary School.   The existing pond has been restored and a seating area, two vegetable planters and homes for birds and insects have been added.   It’s now set to be the hub of all things wild and veggie with the garden being used for school lessons and after school clubs.

Originally Annie Clark's idea, the School PTA paid for the project and David Harrison at Jewsons in South Molton was very generous in his support and help with materials, whilst Ian and Simeon designed and built the garden for free. 

Ian and Simeon have set up “garden by design” - a landscape gardening company specialising in environmentally friendly gardens.

If you want to find out more about their work visit: Garden By Design

or contact Ian & Simeon on: 01271 830022 or 07789 267017

bug box

bird box

finished garden

enjoying the garden

Mike Clift has asked for it to be mentioned that a dog litter bin has now been attached to the lamp post on the road in front of the allotments on the Square.  Lee has stated that the bin will be emptied every week and has been kindly funded by the Parish Council.

FANTASTIC NEWS!   Syd & Bernie Pring Ellis have just been notified by the Post Office that Swimbridge Post Office is one the of post offices staying open. 

Did you know that as well as Postal Services you can go in and top up your mobile, buy foreign currency (commission free!), insure your house and car, pay your bills, buy gift vouchers for many High Street stores, draw out cash from selected banks, and much, much more.

Swimbridge Post Office also sells (and if you wish, you can place an order with them) for newspapers & magazines (there is a delivery service available, please ask at counter for details) - greeting cards, wrapping paper, sellotape, envelopes, etc fresh milk, sweets, cold drinks, ice creams and lollies and much more such as cigarettes & tobacco, rolling papers, filters, matches & lighters, sugar, tea bags, coffee, salt, bisto, butter, cheese, dog & cat food, soap powder, washing up liquid, toilet rolls, bin bags, tin foil, kitchen roll, j-cloths, plasters, pain-killers, spaghetti, sauces, tinned tomatoes, hot dog sausages, sweet corn, corned beef, ham, tuna fish, baked beans, a selection of biscuits, batteries, etc.

(Tues starts as from the 10th June) 6.15–7.15 pm, Jubilee Hall.   

Due to popular demand, a SECOND CLASS is starting every Tuesday evening as from 10th June (AS WELL AS the Thursday class which has already started) .  

A blend of exercises from Pilates and Yoga that will help to harmonise the mind and body.   

For further information call Gary Shrimpton on 853963, 078 7038 2994 or just come to the sessions.  

£3.50 per session but if you attend both classes in the same week, the class will only cost £2 instead of £3.50. 

PC Glen Clark, our Neighbourhood Beat Manager has asked to include his note in the newsletter:  

“I am writing to you in regards to reports of intimidating and threatening behaviour being committed by individuals in Swimbridge, specifically along the Station Hill area.  What concerns me most is that this anti social behaviour, which will not be tolerated, has been directed to children as well as adults.  As the village police officer, I would like to promote a reasonable attitude towards community well being. I do not want underlying issues to ruin the harmony of the village.  Therefore I would like to encourage you all to report incidents of intimidating and threatening behaviour, specifying dates, times and the individuals committing the anti social behaviour.” 

... has just returned from another highly successful visit to our twinning village in Normandy, Sainte Honorine du Faye, in May.  A great time was had by all visiting the historic town of Rouen and taking part in various events laid on by the French hosts.  

Swimbridge Parklands wants to monitor the views of the village about the need for a park, to test whether the village is happy for us to speak on your behalf (at planning committee meetings for example). We will be circulating a petition door to door setting out the committee's aims, or you can sign at the Post Office or Jack Russell Inn. 

The 2008/09 elected trustees are John Bartlett, Russ Copsey, Steph Dyer, Judith Thompson and Julie Whitton.  The co-opted trustees are Trish O’Sullivan and Sarah Smith.  The appointed trustees are Cllr David Luggar representing NDDC until May 2011, Parish Council (tba) and School (Gary Reed).   Additional members are Kevin Clarke, Clare Hall, Jade Knill, Leah Mahoney and Peter Stern.  The Officers elected for 2008/09 are Chairman-Judith Thompson, Vice Chairman-Russ Copsey, Secretary-Julie Whitton, Treasurer-John Bartlett

Swimbridge Parklands Committee is a registered charity (and has been since 2002). The objects of its constitution dated 24 October 2002 is as follows:     “The objects of the Charity are to acquire, improve and protect land in the parish of Swimbridge for use as a recreation area, playground, and playing field, and to provide other facilities associated with the recreation area, for the benefit of both the community at large and persons who by reason of youth, age, infirmity, disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances have special need of such facilities, with a view to improving their conditions of life.”

The new Parish Councillors that were recently co-opted onto the Parish Council are Eddie Dennis and Gail Rogers.  Your Parish Councillors are Ray Liverton, Solomon Singh, Bob King, Andy Comerford, Michael Crumpton, Eddie Dennis and Gail Rogers.  The Parish Clerk is Lee Wadsworth who can be contacted on 01271 830705.  The Parish Council meets on the 2nd Wed of every month at 7.30pm in the Jubilee Hall.

The architect plans for the improvements to the Jubilee Hall have now been drawn up.  The site has had some severe restrictions due to location of the sewerage pipe which lies at an angle to the back of the hall which a building cannot be erected within 3 metres either side of the pipe.   In addition there is an even bigger restriction in that a culvert pipe lies at an angle from the main road across the front of the Jubilee Hall and regulations state that a building cannot be erected within 7 metres either side of that pipe.   The expense of moving these pipes is phenomenal - it therefore means that the Architect has had to come up with an innovative design that overcomes the logistics of the pipes to ensure the improvements will complement the existing hall yet taking it forward into the 21st century.   The sub committee is very pleased with the designs and they will be shown to the village to shortly.

Raised £770 for the School PTFA funds.

Good luck to Sarah Wearne and her fiancé on their wedding day on Saturday 26th July

Welcome home Richard, Erica Whiteley (nee Gooch), Madison & Jackson who have just moved back to Swimbridge.

Happy belated 40th birthday to Louise Young (Chair of Swimbridge School PTFA) on Tuesday 22nd July.

Well done to all those who have just received their exam results.  All the best with College, Uni, etc, and good luck to all those who are starting new schools, pre-school and toddlers.                 

David Netherway has reported that the village collected a generous £144.03  from the Lifeboats house-to-house collection which will help save lives at sea and around our coast.    

Swimbridge Juniors skittles has just started Thursday evenings at the Jack Russell Inn – see Paul Darch (landlord of Jack Russell) for details  830366

Swimbridge School PTFA has a bouncy castle available for hire to raise funds for the School PTFA.  Only £45 per day hire – a bargain!  

To book contact Swimbridge School on 01271 830437.

Someone tried the backdoor of a house on Station Hill a few weeks ago.  Luckily the home owners were in and the intruder ran off.  

Ron Bachell gauges the rainfall in Swimbridge for the Met Office (via the Dept of Environment) and has done so since 1963/64.  He confirms that we certainly have had a lot of rain; 156.5ml in July, 165.7ml of rain in August, and 17ml of rain came down on us on 1 September alone.  

So in just two months and one day (July, Aug and 1st Sept) – our summer - Swimbridge had a total of 339.2ml, that's a village drenching 33.35 inches of rain, for all of us that haven't a clue what 339ml looks like!!