New Year Message
I am sure that we are all glad to see the year 2020 behind us as there was little to celebrate or enjoy during the past twelve months.  But here we are at the start of the third decade of this century and there does seem to be the hint of something that looks a little brighter.

One thing that the year 2020 has highlighted, if not brought into sharp focus, is that we have had to become more conscious of those around us as their needs and actions can have an impact on our lives.
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As we approach the coming year we can perhaps use that awareness to look at ourselves and our community. Perhaps it is time to re-set our values, priorities and try to plot a way forward that can be inclusive, lighten the general mood and hope that when things improve we will be in a better place.

The Parish Council is looking positively at how it can help to bring the community together and find ways to bring some direction and purpose to activities within the parish. And by doing so engage with you the parishioners in the way that we shape the future of our community. A process that will be important as we take steps towards a degree of normality

The parish has the benefit of being an attractive, welcoming and safe place to live with facilities that should provide the opportunity for involved participation.

Our Playing Field is the envy  of many parishes and has well maintained equipment to bring enjoyment to the very young through to the early teens with the added benefit of the Tennis Court.

Our Village Hall has been for many years the focal point of the parish and could again be a sound community facility. There is a real need to resolve the future of the hall for, as many of you know the existing hall is in need of urgent repairs. Your involvement in the outcome of the ongoing discussions will be sought in the very near future.

The Parish Council is considering entering the Best Kept Village competition. If we do this it could be the vehicle to showcase the attractiveness of our village and give us all the opportunity to work together for a common aim. We have a lovely village; why not make the  outside world aware of what we already know.

It would be good to revive the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. This again would be something that brings together people within our community. Garsdon already has this scheme up and running to good effect
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The last year has been fairly dismal but there is a platform for a brighter future, provided that we work together with purpose and shape the future of our community. Any  thoughts and ideas that you might have to help in this process that will aid us to collectively achieve this goal will be welcome – just contact us.

I really hope that the coming year will allow us all to move progressively towards a more stable and meaningful future.

John Cull
Chair – Lea and Cleverton PC

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