NEWS HERE AND THERE

RUSHCLIFFE BOROUGH COUNCIL have issued a statement highlighting the fact that Radcliffe-on-Trent will be the focus of their fifth 'week of action' from May 12, 2008, onwards – prior to the opening of the special week, there will be on Saturday May 10, 2008, a village event connected to it although as this is written final details are not available.

The Borough Council say weeks of action pull together expertise from many major organisations to tackle issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour, health, drug and alcohol misuse, benefits, housing advice, littering, trading standards, truancy and fire and road safety. Staff from the Borough Council and partners will tackle issues of concern to local people which were identified in a door-to-door survey in March.

They say the survey revealed that residents are concerned about anti-social behaviour – street drinking, rowdy behaviour and intimidation by some young people and criminal damage. There was also concern about dog mess. The fire service will be giving talks in schools about fire and road safety. The police will be targeting known offenders. The Borough Council will be clearing up graffiti, giving advice and walking round the area to see what needs tackling. Housing organisations will be making sure tenants are acting responsibly. On Saturday May 17, 2008, there will be a family fun day where people can get advice. There will be increased police patrols – and everyone will be putting reducing crime as the top priority.

Eddie Fearon, cabinet member and local Radcliffe resident said: "This isn't just a week of action, it's the start of an ongoing sustained effort to maintain and improve the excellent environment that Radcliffe deserves. This will be a joint effort by all partners and residents who are directly involved in improving their area."

All homes in Radcliffe will or already have received a leaflet telling them what's happening each day, or you can go to the Rushcliffe Borough Council customer services contact point which is open each day from May 12, 2008, to May 16, 2008, at the Radcliffe Police Contact Point from 10am until 2pm.

The Borough Council say that those involved in the week of action will include themselves and Notts Police, Fire Service, Notts County Council, Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council, Spirita and De Montfort Housing, Notts Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Neighbourhood Watch.

The pre-week event in the village on May 10, 2008, will be starting in the morning and ending about 2pm. The venue has yet to be decided. 

This is an exciting venture for the village and one that we have to feel fortunate to have obtained, because Bingham and East Leake were also bidding for it.

We have come to the end of the first year of work for the new council and members are reflecting on what has been done, as well as looking forward and seeing what needs to be done. The main item on the agenda seems to be refurbishment plans for The Grange and while this is a major task progress is being made on what has to be done and, just as importantly, when. We will do our very best to cause as little in convenience to regular users as possible.

Mike Elliott

Clerk to the Parish Council

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CEMETERY REFURBISHMENT

IN ADDITION to planning permission having been granted to the Parish Council by Rushcliffe Borough Council for an extension of the Cemetery at the rear of The Grange a refurbishment scheme on the existing area is underway. This work involves tidying some of the unkempt areas in the existing cemetery and will in due course involve improving the vehicle pathway down the centre of the burial area.

The current planning permission granted on June 2, 2007 for the extension to the burial area runs for three years which means work has to commence on the scheme by June 2, 2010.

The Council and the Parish Church are in negotiations following a request from the latter for the Council to take over the maintenance of the churchyard. Steps are in hand to officially declare the churchyard "closed" and once the authorities have given the go ahead to this the Parish Council have to accept responsibility for the area concerned.

The Council will be taking over the responsibility for maintenance of the Parish Churchyard from August 1, 2008. The Parish Church have requested this action and the Parish Council have no choice but to accept it which means it would be responsible for meeting costs of the work that would need to be carried out.

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A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY OR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY? - THEN TELL US PLEASE!

A CALL is being made by the Parish Council for information on any village resident celebrating a golden or diamond wedding anniversary or 90th, 95th or 100th birthday. The Council would wish to mark the event with a small presentation and asks that anyone celebrating in this way contacts us or asks their friends to do so. The Council office is at Grange Hall where the phone number is 933 5808 and where the clerk Mike Elliott will be pleased to hear from anyone.

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CEMETERY CREMATED REMAINS PLOTS

OVER the years, parishioners may have be come aware of the gradually reducing number of traditional cremated remains burial plots available in Radcliffe on Trent cemetery and in anticipation, two years ago, the Parish Council created an area at the top of the cemetery using memorial kerbs. Currently  there are only two traditional cremated remains plots that are not reserved and once these are taken, the Council will only be able to offer the new memorial kerbs.

Quite a number of the memorial kerbs have been sold already, these can be pre-bought for £250, with an inscripted lettered plaque costing a further £50. To find out more, any interested parishioners should contact the Parish Council office in Grange Hall.

There are a few full graves still available in the cemetery - all of which are located between existing plots, but hopefully in 2008 the cemetery extension will be free of knotweed so that can be brought into use.

Parishioners are reminded that the cemetery is a lawned area and “grave gardens” are not permitted. Please ensure that any graves for which you are responsible comply with our Cemetery Regulations, a copy of which is available from the Parish Council office.

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POLICING -  Pc Paul Moon is our Police Beat Officer and says he would wish the word to be circulated in regard to vehicle crime, with a plea for owners not to leave any goods on display inside them. A number of incidents have occurred in recent weeks that might have been avoided if goods had not been left on display. Pc Moon is actively concerned in the policing work in Radcliffe and holds regular meeting point sessions at The Grange when he welcomes visits from any resident.

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PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN - Coun. Graham Leigh-Browne is the Chairman of the Parish Council following the retirement of Coun. Mick Brown. Vice-Chairman is Coun. Mrs Georgia Moore. 

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SINCE the Grange Hall website of the Parish Council - www.radcliffe-grangehall.co.uk - there have been over 6600 hits to it including some from the United States of America, Belgium and India.