Chairmans Report - Nov ‘23
Hello Stocking Pelham!
I am so pleased you are reading this from our new website - thank you. This is an evolving platform for you to communicate with us and us with you. So please exploit this resource to full effect. We need to hear your opinions, concerns and ideas so we can represent you and make the things important to you happen. You will realise we have no magic wand and sometimes change/developments take an inordinate amount of time and effort but my mantra is ‘if we don’t do something - nothing will happen’, so it’s really up to all of us. I and your Councillors, want to work with you to make Stocking Pelham the place we want it to be.
A Village Sign
The Parish Council has been awarded a £3,000 grant (courtesy of the Hundred Parishes Society) to go towards a village sign. There will be a competition asking for what you think should be depicted on the sign so please check the website for future announcements.
The Pub
The Cock Public House is slowly becoming more than just a dream and I thank all of you who have played a part to get to where we are now. There is still a huge amount of work to be done but as I said, if we don’t do something, nothing will happen, so watch this space for updates and developments.
Planning
As well as being Chairman of the Parish Council, I also lead on Planning. Some of you are adverse to development in the village whilst others advocate development and want to see the village expand. I respect all your opinions and it is my job to create a balance within the realms of sustainability and infrastructure demands. We have to recognise we cannot please everyone all of the time but we will try and give our reasons behind our actions. All of you, I am led to believe, are against industrialisation of the village and ‘urban sprawl’ but I take to the Parish Council all applications for careful consideration and consensus opinion.
St. Mary’s
Our church is a valued one thousand year old asset. It is vulnerable financially and by poor attendance at services. Please support it in any way you can - it’s a case of use it or lose it, and it would be a devastating loss to the Stocking Pelham Community. Your support would be appreciated by the Church Wardens, Jane and David Bailey, who by their own admission, are getting older. You can help and support by donating, helping with grounds/building maintenance, attending services, cleaning, polishing etc - your help will be greatly appreciated. We have the Carol Service on the 17th December and, on the 31st December, we are privileged to have Bishop Alan of St. Albans leading our morning service. It would be a great opportunity to demonstrate to him our support for the church. Please come if you can.
“To encourage a vibrant and inclusive community, where people thrive”.
Stocking Pelham Parish Council has now agreed our vision (above). We are now considering our priorities and Councillors are working towards achieving the vision.
Our next public meeting will be held at the village hall on December the 12th at 1830hrs. If you want to see us in action, come along to our public meetings in the village hall and have your say or just listen, you’d be most welcome.
Tony Southam
Chairman, Stocking Pelham Parish Council