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.

Bits and Bobs

The notice board at the Jubilee Gardens is looking very faded with the photographs bleached out by the sun.  Some of the plants have died, although some of them were dead shortly after they were put in, although they probably had a bit of help with a tug here and there. Also put in by people who knew little about gardening other than emptying a pot into the ground.  I reckon she is going to be a high maintenance lady.

The seat at the side of the railway bridge on Station Street has been broken.  Is this a casualty of large Stobart type vehicles not getting under the bridge and having to turn round in a limited space.  One of these days we will have a bit of trouble there.

The notice board  on Marsh Lane has virtually nothing on it relating to the Parish Council, no past minutes no future agenda.  Are the rest of the same?

All going quiet on the Victoria Institute, wonder what their next move will be.  I'll say one thing about this little pantomime, war makes strange bedfellows.

Election Result

Well we have our result.  Not a big turnout but I suppose not to be expected, although the turnout at Beckingham was 30.7%.

Anyway good luck to the new chap, he's going to need it because according to what you hear, you need your tin hat around that table.  Some of the participants are not very friendly and a bit scary. Let's see if he can liven and stir things up.

The Old School House

I see this building is now going up for auction with a guide price of £75,000.  Three bedroom, two reception etc.  Also a lot work and expense to bring it up to scratch.  Having said that, if it is done properly it will be a nice family house.  It certainly makes the bungalow across the road look relatively cheap at £125,000.  At least you could live in that one while you renovated, and it has a garage and back garden plus doorstep access to the village shops without dragging your car out.

It does however, leave the Victoria Institute looking a decidedly poor relative when it is eventually sold, as common sense must dictate.  The thing that really annoys me about this building is where were all these 'friends' when the building was vacated and vandalised 10 years ago.  Not a whimper from any of them.  Spending money then might have been a viable option, if only to put the more responsible billiard players back in control.  Now they ask for our support on a project that is doomed to failure.  Too much money needed for something that will have no real purpose other than to gobble up cash.  Already a grant of £10,000 has been spent for a feasibility study.  A complete waste of money in my opinion and to commit more to this project will be folly.

Still no news on the election results yet.

Cast your Vote - Thursday 20th June

We have a chance to vote for a Parish Council member.  You might think it doesn't mean much, but when you think that there is a budget of  £50,000 plus a year involved, plus what's left in the bank, to me it is  very important.  Without pointing any finger, Misterton does not seem as proactive as it used to be, nearly not worth getting the Epworth Bells for the bit of print that Misterton  takes up.  So, we have a chance to add a bit of spice to the proceedings, water down the non combatants so to speak and vote for a proactive individual.

A leaflet on each candidate has been distributed around the village, so we can look at their CVs and see how they relate to what we want in our village.  One apparently thinks his feet are already under the Parish Council table and there are a few inaccuracies that might get him into trouble with Bassetlaw.

Personally, I've looked at  the evidence and know where my vote is going, I want someone who doesn't stand up and talks about it but gets on with it.

Anyway, as they say, what will be will be.  

Interesting

Someone obviously wants to keep me up to date with the goings on in Misterton.  I had an email this morning about a meeting that took place last night.

Apparently a large number of parish council members (but not all) and others, were seen going into the home of another council member on Hillsyde Avenue.  What for, no idea really, but it seems very odd.  I have heard of these little meetings before where it was thought they carved up what they were going to do at the next PC meeting so they were all singing from the same hymn sheet, to the detriment of those outside the group.  Very undemocratic.