Peaceful Misterton - probably just how we like it

Since it's a bit quiet in Misterton and nothing happening apart from the sewage problems and the railway splashing the cash about, I've gone on a nit picking expedition.

The parish council notice board  I saw has absolutely sod all on, you can find out when the County and District Councillors have their local surgeries, you can even see a notice on the forthcoming VI meeting.  As far as anything to do with the parish council there is nothing, no minutes no copies of the annual reports, something that most of us are interested in, given the current spending binge.  No wonder we aren't applying for Quality Accreditation, we  wouldn't pass at the first base.  Times have really changed in that department.  The clerk should get her butt out of the office and start visiting the notice boards and keeping them up to date, or is that the job of the chairman?

Also what's happening at the Co-op garden (forgotten its official name already), a bit of stringy crime ribbon around the stoney piece in the centre.  Is it falling down?  Or, worse still, has somebody tried to nick it.  Looks like a pea on a drum on that garden but would look very nice elsewhere I suspect.

Nail it down or lose it

Would you believe it, someone nicked the pump/generator carrying the you know what away on Station Road.  Rumours abound at who nicked it, local job?  Someone seen hanging round having a good look before it went.

And then there are the other two idiots, caught on camera on Newells Terrace.  A little taster of their fashion sense is going round the village, unfortunately I haven't got an original piece of film to show you but I would say their mothers would know them.  One dull pink top and bottom, the other pink bottom, grey top, with hoodies of course and the second with a little dash of style of a bit of brighter pink at the midriff.  Complete with the essential fashion accessory of a hacksaw, with black handle. If you recognise them I'm sure the police would love to know who they are

At Last - Make your Vote Count

Interestingly the wording on the notice, more or less tells us what we were told in 2010.  So in fact they have wasted even more money when this could have been all sorted by 2010.  Hopefully they will move their backsides and let every one in the village have a copy and give them chance to vote.

The Drains are Collapsing

It's hot and what you might call a glorious summer for a change.  To mark the occasion we have another sewage collapse and the smell of you know what down Station Street.  A possible reason for the collapse has been suggested as being due to railway traffic down Soss Lane, carting tons of stone in preparation for replacement of the railway bridges.  They have now closed Station Road where it veers off from Station Street to repair the collapse, which means any more loads of stone will have to go over the little canal bridge on Station Road, plus all that other heavy traffic that tries to navigate the bridge, which in the past has included Stobart trucks.  Another bridge collapse?

Anyway, if this tells us anything, it does tell us that our water and sewage pipes are not to 21st century standards and are all in need of major renovation before any further major house building takes place in Misterton. 

I seem to remember some halfwit at a village meeting stating quite categorically that this village was flat!  Flat my arse.  As it currently stands the developers for the Gravelholes proposed site  have not indicated how many houses they want on the land adjacent to the school, just publicising the bribes first to wet our appetite.  Can you imagine what will happen if these got built, a high point in the village, and water travelled down.  They argue that the pipes on new properties are larger nowadays, they probably are, but they join smaller older ones and this village's drainage is old.

I doubt it will get through, unless somebody falls asleep on watch.  Bassetlaw would be delighted if it went through, all they think of is  council tax, the more the merrier for them.  There are of course some people who think it would be a good idea and we are all entitled to our views.

Let's just hope it doesn't all end in tears.
 

Misterton Centre

I see from the July Minutes of the Parish Council that they are looking for alternative accommodation for when the lease runs out at the Misterton Centre.  I do hope they are not thinking of moving across the road to the Victoria Institute because it is unlikely that the Police will follow.  Like everyone else, the Police are cutting costs and if there are no other partners involved to save on costs, that is the last you will see of them in this village.  At least if they have a toilet to visit and a kitchen to make coffee etc., you will be able to get hold of them quickly if the need arises.  There is also the fact that to turn it into an office it would have to be sold first and regardless of whether it is sold to the Parish Council or not, the Trustees must obtain the best possible price.  When you've bought it, then you have to start and alter it.  The possibilities for spending money are endless on that building.

Unless the Parish Council have forgotten we are the most northerly outpost in Bassetlaw, forgotten usually, well until we pay our council tax.  So, getting a policeman out from Harworth to police our streets is important and with no incentive of a watering hole, sightings might be limited.

What are the alternatives, a space at the Social Club.  Is there any now? Buy the library and refurbish.  I suspect it would cost an absolute fortune, apart from the fact that a demolition job would be more appropriate, making it cost even more and chucking money at that would be another eternal black hole.  Anywhere else?

Would the Police or Bassetlaw participate and share costs in a new venture like they do now, very doubtful.  Rock the boat now and the partners will fall out.

They could of course shut it down altogether, save on costs, and make us travel to Retford when we have a problem with A1 Housing or Bassetlaw.  Now that would be massive mistake not to mention a total lack of policing in the village.  They might have forgotten all that trouble we had a few years ago but I haven't. 

P S  I do hope they don't go borrowing money because it wont be on our behalf, we're too busy keeping our debts low..

Misterton Community Trust aka Victoria Institute

Apparently there is a Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 30th July, when it is mooted they will decide on when to hold the Public Meeting. I see it is not on the Agenda, but that might be intentional if they are still trying to flog a dead horse.  The apathy within the village on this project is sending certain individuals into a frenzy of activity, aimed I suppose to present a lovely picture of what can be done with the VI and get a vote on keeping it, regardless of the fact that finding a grant will be non existent.

Although I have to admit to being really biased on this and just want it sold,  even looking at the pros and cons gives a big fat sell.  Trouble is, when you have raised your flag of defiance, it's very difficult to concede defeat and I suspect this enthusiastic bunch will hang onto the bitter end.  Hopefully by then the pot should still have a few coppers left.

Publish and be Damned

When it comes to money I have to admit to being a bit anal.  Lists for this and lists for that.  So, when I look at our 'Published' accounts for 2012/2013 on the Misterton Parish Council website, it's a bit upsetting when they are so small, you cannot read them.  And, if you blow them up, they are too blurred to read.  This might be fine if we get them in paper form once a year but since this new lot took over, as far as I'm aware we have had nothing.  Which makes it a poor show for those residents who do not have access to the Internet or probably don't even want it.  Now they might think that  it is just fine and it saves money in printing costs, but when they can blow huge sums on other projects, it is a bit disappointing. 

Talking about money, I see we are having new signs to the village, which say Welcome To Our Village, another unnecessary expense, in my opinion.   Just a thought but will they be placed before Newells Terrace or after it?

What's the problem

I have been pointed in the direction of another website, Firbeck Online, and the piece relating to an anonymous email sent to a parish council member.  Since there is little happening in Misterton and it relates to a comment made earlier, I thought I would high jack it and copy it in.

It was written by a Phil Rogers, a member of the parish council and licensee of the Black Lion

"To Whom this may concern

I think the verbal assault on Nic Stevens and her private life is totally unacceptable.

This has been done by someone who has created a spoof email address just to cause upset and harm to one of the hardest working people I know.

Nic has worked tirelessly for this village, Creating youth interest, Farmers market, Fund raising for the Church and generally going out of her way to help people.

And this is the way she is repaid for this hard work. The sender of this email does not even have the courage to put their name to the slanderous accusation made in it.

I for one, and I can only speak for myself as a parish councillor will be pressing for Police involvement in this matter. This sort of behaviour is not acceptable.

What do people want from the Parish Council. We have to move forward and stop this back biting we are only trying to do the best for everyone who lives in Firbeck and not just the minority.

Nic on a personal note don’t let this mindless idiot get you down."

What is interesting is the attitude of the Parish Council, none of this, nothing to do with us mate, like from our own council, who apparently have no interest in assisting past members with the onslaught of anon letters received whilst they were in office.  Trouble is, for some people finding out the truth might be a bit close to home.   Since those who received the letters were accused of having their fingers in our till, if it was me on the receiving end, I would want the village ducking stool brought out and since we haven't got a pond, then use the sewage tank at Walkeringham.  That's where they belong.

Don't know who runs the Firbeck Online website but it is a good one, something we ought to have in Misterton, warts and all.

Bit of a Puzzle

I enjoyed the Gala, the weather was great, plenty of stalls to spend on and plenty for children, which is what it's all about.  I would think that a nice profit has been made for the charitable causes because the turnout was fabulous for a village event.  Well organised as well.

There was a stall for the Victoria Institute, friends or whatever, but what puzzled me was the fact that there was a trustee also on the stall.  What doing, didn't get close enough, or want to, but surely there is a conflict of interest here.  Undoubtedly  they were flogging a dead horse but why if the majority of public opinion is against.

Parish Council stall, where was that, no sign of our Beckingham councillor, other than in the bar and looking decidedly untidy.

What's all this with the old Library as well?  Another demolition job as far as I'm concerned but then certain people seem to have other ideas.  Now that would be costly, both to purchase and then give it a massive facelift internally and externally.

Looking at the Parish Magazine and parish council brief piece,  there appears to be a bit of a disagreement regarding the supposed S 106 agreement with Langley relating to the houses and the sports field, giving up the front piece to Langley.  I'm told legal advice at the time, both from Bassetlaw and the pc's legal advisers, was no, just renew the lease.  So who is right, or who thinks they are right.  Time will tell, but if someone is not careful I can see houses on the front piece of the sports field, might even get the sports field land locked! 

Gala Day - 6th July 2013

Since the Gala Committee moved the venue to the rear of the Social Club it has proved a particular success in wet weather and the parking is better.  At least you can drown your sorrows in the sanctuary of the bar if it decides to pour with rain.  This year should be a good year since the weather is forecast to be good, so all being well this Church sponsored event should have a good turnout.

There will be plenty for everyone, including a representative of the Parish Council for a change, although it will be Councillor Simpson who actually lives miles away at Beckingham.  Why he should want to be on our council I have no idea, although I could hazard a guess. He's felt a bit unwanted lately, so many elections fought and lost in an attempt to get back onto Bassetlaw District Council.

I wonder if there will be a stall for the Friends of the Victoria Institute, trying to drum up support again  for this derelict building.  This might sound as if the village is apathetic of anything that happens but you would be wrong.  When the church needed funds to repair the roof after thieves had stolen the lead, an organised appeal led to the £33,000 required being obtained in I believe, less than 8 months.  When there is a real need our village will give its full support in barrow loads.

Anyway, have a good day.