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MID-JANUARY 2020
Markfield Parish Stanton Village Hall events Neighbourhood proving popular with villagers Plan UPDATE
F
IRSTLY, a big thank-you from the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to everyone who completed either a “Household” or “Youth” questionnaire. The information you provided us with will be invaluable when it comes to the next development stage of the Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
STANTON UNDER BARDON Village Hall closed 2019 with some very successful and well attended community events.
Our last Film Night, showing Fishermen’s Friends, was enjoyed by villagers from Stanton and surrounding villages, many of whom commented on the excellent quality of the film and the acoustics in the hall. The Hathern Band entertained us at our Christmas Party The Queen’s Jubilee charity had a very successful Christmas Party for the “Recycled Teenagers” of the village and we are all grateful to them for all the hard work that goes into this annual event. We also held our second Christmas Concert with the Hathern Brass Band on 8th December. We had a good turnout of people from Stanton and surrounding villages, with several villagers attending their first event in the hall, and the mulled wine and mince pies helped to put everyone in the Christmas spirit. We are grateful to everyone who helped make the event such a success and we have already secured a date with the excellent Hathern Band for another performance next Christmas. (TURN TO PAGE 2 ...>)
We received 372 completed “Household” questionnaires, which represents a response rate of18%. The Rural Community Council, who are working as our advisors, say that level of response is good. Although the Steering Group tried various routes to try and encourage 11 to 17-year-olds to complete the “Youth” questionnaire, only 39 were received. Thanks, must be given to South Charnwood School, Markfield Scouts and the Queen Bees for their assistance. Most of the completed questionnaires we received had been filled-in by hand and thus required manually inputting into the computer programme, which will analyse them. A big thanks to Di and Jacqui for doing that work for us. Although analysis of the questionnaires won’t be completed until early February, that doesn’t mean work on the NP can’t progress. This month the Steering Group, in conjunction with their planning advisor Colin Wilkinson, will be developing the plan’s overall structure as well as considering specific areas where more detailed information is needed. This could include plotting important viewpoints both into and out of the parish. For example, thinking about the possible planning application to expand Cliff Hill quarry, where can it be seen from and to what extent. Other areas of information gathering could include the condition of rights of way and important trees and hedgerows. All of this and other information will have to be carefully recorded, since, in due course, it will become supporting evidence for the plan’s policies. If you’d be interested in helping with the survey work then please email the steering group at npsg@markfieldpc.org.uk
Letter
Tony Lockley
Markfield resident
Carols on The Green was a lovely occasion I WOULD like to express my thanks to the organisers of “Carols on The Green”. With the backdrop of the spectacular Christmas tree and the arrival of Father Christmas in Markfield it was a lovely occasion for all ages, and the refreshments in the Methodist Church, courtesy of the parish council, were greatly appreciated. The Christmas tree on The Green has been a “beacon of cheer” during the festive period and has surely brought a great deal of pleasure to residents, visitors and all who have passed through the village. Many folks, including my family from the north-east and south-west of the country, have been seen having fun and taking selfies by the tree. Perhaps their images have been shared world-wide! Wishing a Happy New Year to all Herald staff and readers.
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