In this the first edition of the Appleton Wiske Parish Council Newsletter we just want to introduce you to what is going on with your Parish Council and in the community. This Newsletter will provide you with information about Parish Council business during the past few months and an overview of our plans and projects for the future. We will also update you on what is going on in the village and use this Newsletter to bring to your attention issues that we feel need airing or explaining. It is hoped to publish a Newsletter quarterly. From Five to Seven Since May of this year we have had some new faces on the Parish Council (though not all of them are new to the Parish Council) and we were also able to increase the number of Councillors from five to seven. Parish Council Business   The Parish Council was happy to support the skatepark in the village and we are delighted that this has become a reality with the opening of the skatepark on the Recreation field in July, just in time for the school holidays. The Parish Council has been trying to sort out the Village Green access problem. With the Government’s White Paper on Access across Village Greens coming

Parking on the Village Green

Villagers are reminded that it is an offence to park a vehicle on the village green. The Parish Council has tried to take a realistic approach to parking on driveways and other areas which are also designated part of the village green. Unfortunately, some parking on the grassed areas still takes place, on some occasions for just short periods, e.g. when work is being carried out on adjacent properties, and in other instances for extended periods. The Parish Council has a duty to prevent this type of inappropriate use of the village green. If the only option left is to resort to legal action against the vehicle owners who park on the grass then it is possible that all parking on the village green will be affected, including parking on driveways and on those other areas used for general parking. We therefore ask that all residents co-operate by keeping their vehicles off the grassed areas so that we can continue the approach to parking that has been taken in the past.

Dog Fouling

Complaints of Dog Fouling have been made to the Parish Council who have passed these on to the Dog Warden. Additional notices have already been posted at the entrances to the Churchyard where the public footpath is a ‘highway’ and the same regulations apply here as apply to the pavements and public areas around the village. Copies of a leaflet on Dog Fouling, published by Hambleton District Council, are being distributed with this Newsletter. The telephone number of the Warden is on the leaflet and he will investigate complaints about dog fouling in confidence if asked to do so.
 
 

POST OFFICE – CARD ACCOUNT.

Many of you are probably aware that it is the government’s wishes to change the way that pensions and allowances are paid. Their aim is that all pensions/allowances are to be paid via a bank account. The concept is understandable. Payments will be transferred electronically and appear on your statement. This is fine for those who have easy access to their preferred bank, but for those recipients who wish to continue to collect their pension at the Post Office; the answer is the Post Office Card Account.

All holders of pension/allowances will in due course receive a letter from the relevant government department advising them of the forthcoming changes and inviting them to have their pension/allowance paid into a bank account. It is at this point, you must reply, either by telephone or by letter, to state that you wish to continue to receive your pension at the PO.

The next step is the receipt of a "Personal Invitation Document" which you take to the Post Office, which in turn will provide you with a Card Account application form. When completed correctly and returned to the relevant government department, a plastic card will be issued, together with a four-figure pin number. The above two items are the key for collecting your pension/allowance at the Post Office. It is, I fear, quite a long process.

If you, like us on the Parish Council, believe in the importance of the Post Office in the village, the above process is worth the effort if it means that the Post Office continues to be viable. It is worth noting that over the past few years the Post Offices in East Harlsey, Welbury and Great Smeaton have all closed, to the detriment of village life in general. If you are of the opinion that your contribution however small would make no difference – think again – if we all thought like this the post office would have closed long ago.

We would urge all those residents who are fast approaching senior citizen status to think about the above card account and consider the effects the absence a Post Office would have on our community.

If you require any further explanation regarding any aspect of the Post Office Card Account please enquire at the Post Office.

Alliance and Leicester, Barclays and Lloyds TSB customers are now enjoying the speed and ease of automated banking at the Post Office. For cash withdrawal, all they now need is their card and PIN.
 
 

Medicine Collection Service

Medicines prescribed at the doctor’s surgery which is held in the village hall on Tuesday mornings are collected by volunteers and are normally in the village by 6.30 p.m. in the evening. They are then available in the Village Shop early on Wednesday morning. If anyone requires their medicine before Wednesday morning, please ring 881660 for information on where they can be collected. If there is no answer from this number, then please call 881278.

This service is in urgent need of additional volunteers to join the collection rota. Medicines are collected on Tuesday evenings from Mowbray House around 5.00 p.m. (but not later than 6.00 p.m.) and either delivered into the Village Shop on Wednesday morning or handed over on Tuesday evening to someone else in the scheme. It is important that we find additional volunteers if the scheme is to continue in its present form. If you are able to join the rota please contact Ken Blackwood on 881660.