N E W S

Notes of Annual Parish Meeting, 9 May

The notes of this year's meeting are now available under the relevant tab.

Annual Parish Meeting, Thursday 9 May

This meeting is NOT a parish council meeting, though it is chaired by the Chairman of the Parish Council.  The purpose is so that the council can explain what it has been doing over the last year and it enables the electors to have their say on anything which they consider is important to the people of the parish.  It also gives representatives of village organisations the opportunity to report on their activities over the last year.  Please come along to the Village Hall at 8.00 pm and be part of your community!

Cemetery Clean-Up Day – Saturday 21st July 2012, 10.00 am

The parish council is aware that many of the older graves in the cemetery no longer have anyone to look after them and many have become very untidy, particularly the ones with kerbs around them.  If anyone has an hour to spare, we are having a volunteer day to tackle these and tidy up the cemetery generally. Come with any tools you can and a supply of bin bags to hold the greenery

LITTER PICK

The parish council has organised a litter pick for the morning of Saturday 26th May.  If you can join us, meet outside the Village Hall at 10.00 am.

West Lindsey District Council is providing a quantity of Hi-Visibility jackets, gloves, bags, litter picking sticks.

Come on out and help tidy up our village!STOP PRESS!

The parish council now holds a small quantity of snow shovels and other equipment. If you don't have a shovel and need to borrow one, or know someone who needs help with clearing snow from their path/drive, contact the Clerk or any parish councillor."SMILEY SID"

Smiley Sid, the Speed Indication Device, has been out and about in Willingham recently.  He is a reminder to keep within the 30mph speed limit - this applies to all drivers, even (and perhaps especially) those who live here!  Expect to see him again soon - and make sure you are driving at safe and legal speeds.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAND IN WILLINGHAM

In order to take this project further Community Lincs is working in partnership with West Lindsey District Council and the Parish Council to find land for the potential development of affordable housing and is asking local landowners with land in the parish to come forward with suitable land for possible development.  This follows a Rural Housing Needs Survey which identified a need within the local community. 

All sites identified will then be considered by Community Lincs, West Lindsey District Council and the Parish Council for their suitability for affordable housing development.  Small sites, ideally for between five to ten properties, will be of particular interest, but larger sites will also be considered. The land may also be already allocated or have planning permission for housing. 

Land that is outside, but close/adjacent to, the parish development boundary, may be suitable as an ‘exception site’ for 100% affordable housing.  This would meet the local housing need.

John Mather, a Rural Housing Enabler at Community Lincs, said:

 “The lack of affordable homes in Willingham is cause for concern. In the current situation many local people, particularly the young, are finding they cannot afford to remain living there. Our survey highlighted several people or families who have already had to move out of the village due to the lack of affordable housing. It’s vital that these young people and families are able to remain living in rural communities, to ensure that they remain economically and socially viable in the long term. I encourage landowners to contact me if they are interested in using their land for affordable housing, which will in turn help many local people in need”.

If you have any questions or have land that you think would be suitable and would like to register your interest, please contact:

John Mather, Rural Housing Enabler, Community Lincs,The Old Mart, Church Lane, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 7DF

Tel: 01529 302466

Email: rhe@communitylincs.com

YOUR NEW PARISH COUNCIL

The election on 5 May was uncontested as only 4 people put themselves forward for election.  At the first meeting of the new parish council on 16 May, Mrs Dorothy Wain was re-elected as Chairman and 3 new parish councillors were co-opted.  The full list of parish councillors can be found under the Parish Council tab.

LITTER PICK

The parish council has organised a litter pick for the morning of Sunday 10th April.  Anyone wishing to join the litter pick should contact the Clerk.

We will be meeting outside the Village Hall at 10.00 am.

West Lindsey District Council is providing enough Hi Visibility jackets, gloves, bags, litter picking sticks for 10 people.

Come on out and help tidy up our village!

AFFORDABLE HOUSING - the search begins here!

There is a complete lack of affordable housing in Willingham and for some time now the parish council has been investigating the possiblity of a small number of such homes.  A need has been identified for 6 - 7 homes in the Willingham and Stow areas and the search for land is now on.

If you own land that you feel is suitable, the Rural Housing Enablers at Community Lincs would like to hear from you.  Landowners have until Friday 22 April to register their sites.  The District and Parish Councils will then assess all sites' suitability.

Land that is outside, but alongside, the settlement's development boundary may be suitable as an "exception site"  for 100% affordable housing.

If you have any questions or have land that you think would be suitable and would like to register your interest by 22 April, please contact:

Bob Bowe, Rural Housing Enabler, Community Lincs, The Old Mart, Church Lane, Sleaford NG34 7DF

Tel: 01529 302466            Email:  bob.bowe@communitylincs.com