NEWBURGH NEWS April 2007.

Dear Resident,
This time last year I was urging you to cast your votes at the forthcoming elections for both Parish and District Councillors.
Because of District Council boundary changes and the subsequent transfer of electors from one ward to another, it has become necessary to vote again in the forthcoming District Council election in May.
Please place the following dates in your diary, full details later in this Newsletter: -
6th May, 2.30pm Bluebell Walk.
13th May, 10.30am Civic Service.
19th May, 9.30am Litter picking.
23rd May, 7.30pm Annual Parish Mtg.
30th May, 7.30pm Annual Gen. Mtg.
All residents are most welcome to come along.
Following our success last year, I ask you to please keep an eye on your immediate area to ensure that the village is litter free.
We need your help!
As Chairman, on behalf of the Parish Council, I wish to express thanks for the support given to us over the past year by the various organisations and by willing and sometimes anonymous individuals.
Reg Porter.
Chairman.

Bluebell Woods Walk.
This will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday, 6th May leaving the Red Lion at that time. The walk is about 2.5 miles taking roughly 1.5 hours and will be led by Peter Fletcher. All are welcome to join in. It is best to wear strong shoes in case of mud and also slacks, as there are a few stiles.

Annual Parish Meeting.
This will be held in Newburgh School on 23rd May at 7.30pm. We have decided to include entertainment again this year as our choice last year was so well received. However, an important element of the Meeting is for our Chairman to present his report on a very eventful 12 months.
It’s your village, your Meeting.
Come along, you will be welcome.

Visions and Values.
Councillors have spent some time in determining our Vision and Values for the next few years. These are in draft form and the views of residents are important before they are adopted. The project will be launched for consultation at the Annual Parish Meeting on 23rd May. Your views are important to us.

Civic Service, Sunday, 13th May.
All residents are cordially invited to attend our Civic Service, which will be held at Christ Church at 10.30am on the above date. District Council Chairman, Mrs May Blake will be present along with our own Chairman
Join us afterwards in the School for light refreshments.

Open Gardens, 8th July.
Arrangements are now well under way for this event, which proved so popular last year. Gardens will be open from 12.30pm to 5pm. Entrance by pre-purchased programme at £2.50 per adult. This year, there will be 11 gardens in the scheme, many of them new to this project. Don’t miss this event; place the date in your diary now.

Best Kept Village Competition.
You will recall that last year we met the challenge and became the Best Kept Village in Lancashire. What an achievement – can we do it again?
The War Memorial is always kept in excellent condition, thanks to the efforts of a number of people. Last year this was rewarded with the accolade of being the best Memorial in Lancashire. There is further good news in that the War Memorial has now been added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
Judging will take place from the end of May to the beginning of July and they will be looking for the over all tidiness of the village and the condition of properties, gardens, etc. Please help us to maintain standards and again do well.
To start the ball rolling, we are having a litter picking morning commencing at 9.30am on Saturday, 19th May. See you at the front of the Red Lion Hotel and give us a hand.
Litterpickers will be provided.

Best Kept Garden Competition.
This popular event is again being held and we are pleased that Mavis Woods, like last year, will be one of our Judges. She will be accompanied by a new colleague. We hope that residents will make that special effort with their front gardens to impress the judges and present an attractive vision to both residents and visitors.

Parish Council Meetings.
Residents are always welcome to attend our Meetings, which are held in the School at 7.30pm. Dates are: -
30th May, Annual General Meeting.
27th June and 25th July.

Disability Equality Scheme.
The Parish Council has adopted this; Meetings & information open to all. Website designed with this in mind.
Meetings accessible to all.
Newsletter in various formats.
Carers invited to contact us.
Contact the Clerk for help.

Lost spectacles!
A pair of glasses has been found close to the Post Office. If you know who has lost them, speak to Irene at the Post Office.

Newburgh Fair Events.
6th June. Douglas Valley Lions are holding a Big Band Concert in the marquee at 7.30pm for 8pm start. 40’s Fancy Dress is optional. Tickets are £10 from Brian Thomas 463409 or Ron Hughes 463885.
7th June. Family Bingo Night from 6pm to 8pm. Pay at the door.
8th June. The ever-popular Talent Show Night. Give names to Elizabeth Allsop 01704 891370 or Jez Hall on 464186. Tickets from Hazel Flight on 463239 or Joanne Sheffield 462162.

9th June. Newburgh Fair.
The theme for this year is “Countries of the World” and the procession will leave the School gates at 12 noon. We encourage everyone to take part and don some traditional dress from around the world. If any children want to go on a float, contact Hazel Flight.
We would ask that people avoid parking on Back Lane until after the procession. Please ensure that only one side of each road is parked on to allow the procession through, especially Woodrow Drive.
9th June. Countries of the World Ball. This is a traditional Black Tie event. Tickets from Ann Menarry 462886.

Newburgh Fair Craft Show.
A reminder that the categories in the Photography Section are Reflections,
Theme in Red, My Friend/Friends and Abroad.
Another Competition is to design a flag for Newburgh, which will be made into a standard to represent the village at future events.
Watch out for details of all the Craft Competitions in the Fair programme.

Play Area.
Progress is being made towards establishing the new Play Area with a conditional award of £15,000 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund and a £5000 Capital Grant from the District Council. This means our total is now about £25,000 (including £5,000 from Newburgh Fair and other donations). We need another £5000 to reach the total amount required and decisions are awaited from other grant-awarding bodies.
The final step is for the Parish Council to secure a lease on the land from Liverpool Diocese, preparation is now in hand.

Businesses on the Website.
Businesses have their own pages on
www.newburghlancs.co.uk and there have already been about 800 “hits” since the site was launched last year. So, if your business is not listed and you would like it to be included, either click the Contact us link and provide details or call Chris Moore on 463471 and an entry can be prepared for you It’s free and the publicity may help.

Strawberry Farm, Course Lane.
Now available for Spring & Summer: bedding plants, hanging baskets, peat, etc; Tel: 462695.

Newburgh Women’s Institute.
We are a friendly group of women who enjoy lively meetings with very interesting speakers. Refreshments are served afterwards. Meetings are held in Newburgh School at 7.30pm
Future meetings are: -
21st May – Thorntons Chocolate.
18th June – Photography.
16th July - Members Night.
Further information from Patsy Hey on 01257 463171.

Parbold, Newburgh & District Garden Society.
Visitors are welcome to come along and share knowledge with local gardeners. Future meetings: -
16th May – The Campanula Family.
13th June – Growing Annuals.
Meetings in Parbold W.I. Hall at 8pm.
19th May – Plant Sale at W.I. Hall.
22nd May – Trip to Hayes Garden World and Holehird Gardens, pick up in Newburgh.
Further details Tom Forster 462647.

1st Parbold & Dalton Brownies.
Brownies is for girls aged between 7 & 10. We meet each Tuesday at 6pm in Newburgh School Hall. We have lots of fun playing games, making things, learning new skills and working towards badges. For more information or if you want to join contact Joanne Sheffield on 462162.

Rainbows.
Rainbows is for girls aged 5-7 years. The programme is based on four things: Look, Learn, Laugh and Love.
If you want your daughter to join, you need to get her name on a waiting list well before she turns 5. Contact: -
Helen Fairhurst on 464423 and
Julie Munro on 462532.

Appeal by Newburgh Beavers.
We meet each Monday during term time, 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Newburgh School.
Unfortunately, as we no longer have enough Leaders, the Colony will have to close at the end of the Summer term.
We are hoping that somebody might be interested in getting involved and prevent this from happening.
The new Leader will join a team with 2 existing Leaders and help to share the small workload and the fun. At each meeting there is a parent helper managed on a rota basis.
We hope there is someone reading this who is prepared to help!
For further information contact Chris on 462106, Jackie on 464490 or Phil on 07803 966913.

School News.
The School has been a hive of activity with so much going on. It is wonderful that the children and parents become so involved, whether it is sporting activities, competitions or day to day life of the School.
We enter into the final term of the School year with so much in store that it can appear as though we will never fit it all in, but I am sure we will.
For our year 6 children this is their final term before they go out into the world of “Big School”.
At Newburgh School we seek to ensure that the educational foundations are firm and strong and along with our pastoral care, equip our young people for the challenges that are ahead of them in the wider world.
Janice Reynolds.

Message from PC Steve Hackney.
Come along to PACT Surgeries at the Tea Room, Course Lane on: -
9th May. 10am to 12 noon.
10th June. 1pm to 3pm.
10th July. 1pm to 3pm.
11th September. 7pm to 9pm.
A welcome to the new Police Community Support Officer, Martin Sullivan who will be assisting me in policing the rural parishes. In general terms he will work opposite shifts to me. He can be contacted on 462239.

Sports Field, off Cobbs Brow Lane
There is concern that dog owners are not removing dog faeces left on the Sports Field and Play Area. This is very serious with obvious dangers to children. It is against the law not to clear up after your pets.

Christ Church, Newburgh.
A warm welcome to everyone who would like to join us at our Services.
Each Sunday, Holy Communion 9am and Morning Service at 10.30am.
Vicar Rev David Towler Tel: 463267

A large print version of this Newsletter can be made available on request.

Parish Council Contacts.
Reg Porter. 01257 462463
Rebecca Richardson. 01257 463942
Jackie Citarella. 01257 463621
Clare Gillard. 01257 464533
Chris Moore. 01257 463471
Elaine Pratt. 07771 767062
Alex Sunderland. 01704 893116
Maureen Turner. 01257 462970
Published by Mr B. Howard, Clerk, Newburgh Parish Council.
Tel: 01257 462423.
newburghpc@btopenworld.com