Village Voice October 2010 23
Village Voice Postbag Hope for the Monument MELBOURNE Civic Society hopes that there will soon be a satisfactory resolution to the problem of ownership and responsibility for the Monument in Castle Square, which was highlighted in last month's Village Voice. It recognizes that it is an important part of Melbourne's heritage since it commemorates the historic 1832 Great Reform Act when the right to vote was extended and parliamentary constituencies were reformed. In view of the present tight budgetary constraints on Authorities, the Civic Society is very willing to offer assistance with funding any refurbishment. It also urges the need to verify the rather alarmist fear that the structure is unsafe. Let us hope that some tender loving care will restore the Monument to its rightful status as a landmark in Melbourne's rich history. Pam Adams, Secretary, Melbourne Civic Society
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Thanks for Festival help WE would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped to make Melbourne Festival a success again this year. Our hosts, the Friends of Melbourne Festival, sponsors, helpers, the Army Cadets and everyone who came along and bought tickets. This year we sold over 1,000 concert tickets and, having cancelled two concerts due to low ticket sales, we have broken even. The Trail sold a similar number of tickets to 2009 and with this, combined with a generous donation of £1,000 from Cllr John Harrison's Derbyshire County Council Community Leadership Allowance, we can now start planning for 2011. Next year's Trail dates are 17th and 18th September. It was great to see so many local businesses busy over the weekend and our local clubs, churches and charities raised over £5,000 by providing refreshments to visitors to the Trail. So thank you everyone who supported Melbourne Festival. Sharon Brown and Phil Dobby.
Dog fouling shock I AM new to the area and am astounded by the dog fouling issue in the area, particularly on pavements. I have never seen so much 'dog mess' on pavements in the areas I have lived in previously. The problem is not confined to pavements, as many grassy areas seem to suffer the same problem. We are lucky enough to live in such an idyllic area which is spoilt by inconsiderate others. It is particularly annoying to me as I am a dog owner, albeit a RESPONSIBLE one who always picks up their dog's mess. Dog owners, PLEASE, PLEASE carry a suitable bag with you when you are out with your dog and do the right thing, PICK UP THE MESS. Stop spoiling Melbourne. A concerned resident and dog owner.
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Feeling at home here MY wife and I moved into this little jewel on Sunday, August 1, this year thanks to the kindness of a son of Melbourne, Robert FarellBrunt, better known to many of you as Rob Brunt. We brought with us little Oscar, a German shepherd pup without a brain whose sole aim in life seems to be to eat us out of house and home. I haven’t yet had to pawn my car, but it’s a close run thing, watch this space! We only moved from Derby where we kept a conservative social club, Jackie, my wife as the steward and myself as the catering manager before being made redundant. When a homeless hostel was built directly opposite the club, drunks and general ne’er do wells abounded in the vicinity, defecating and urinating every day behind the club walls, so we arrived here with a somewhat jaundiced view of our fellow man. On our first full day in the village we took Oscar a walk up to the cricket field. What should have been a five-minute stroll became a half hour trek. Everyone we met said hello, everyone wanted to stroke him, not one of those lovely people was carrying a can of extra strong lager, nor did they ask us to “borrow them a fag” and amazingly no-one tried to mug us! Neither of us are naïve enough to believe that even this lovely little village doesn’t have an undesirable element, but Jackie summed it up when she commented to me that it was just like Ireland. I was born and bred in Ulster and have taken Jackie there many times, in spite of its recent troubles and leaving out the ridiculous bigotry, the people on the whole are lovely, lively people and for her to say what she did about Melbourne was the ultimate compliment. I’ve always wanted to retire in Northern Ireland, but due to circumstances, that will never be possible. This little piece of England is at least as good, if not better. So if you happen to glimpse a scruffy old F*rt wandering about smiling, (No it’s not Robin the pharmacist) just congratulate yourselves, it'll be me. Take a bow people of Melbourne and thank you all, we feel at home here. Dave and Jackie Barton of Hope Street.
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