2005/02
Those gales
Compared with many parts of the UK, we escaped quite lightly, but a lot of trees came down. A small band of volunteers took it upon themselves to go out with chain saws, clearing roads and footpaths, so that ‘normal’ service could be resumed very soon. We know their names, but we’ll not embarrass them here. Several people have offered them money, but they have declined. To them we say a big “thank you”.
Children’s Playground
We have now had our Safety Inspection Report, from RoSPA, and it is not as bad as had been feared. We have set up a Working Group, under the Chairmanship of Councillor Sue Gibson, to look at detailed implications, and to obtain estimates. Hopefully we will soon be in a position of being to rectify the deficiencies, so that our children can continue to enjoy the facilities, in relative safety.
One bit of really good news is that the Holehird Trust has sent us a grant of £2,000 towards the cost of the work. It is a pleasure to be able to say “thank you” for the second time in this newsletter.
Cemetery Chapel
We are almost able to proceed with the installation of essential services, so that the building can be brought into use, on occasions other than warm sunny afternoons. We think that we have sorted out those few technical obstacles which were holding us up, but we still have to jump over a few more bureaucratic hurdles. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. Keep watching this space, or the Parish Council Minutes, over the next few months, to see some signs of progress (we hope).
“Buy a Brick” is just one of the money-raising ventures promoted by the Cemetery Chapel Development Committee. Your £5 donation won’t actually result in you being handed a brick, but the allocations are building-up the gable wall (on paper). If you would like to chip in, in this way, please contact Terry Keefe, on 762846, or t.keefe@lancaster.ac.uk
Car Park
Most people know that we have any area of the foreshore which is used for the parking of cars. We don’t call it a ‘car park’, because it isn’t. In fact, the potholes have grown so big and deep that we can only call it a ‘car trap’. We had hoped that those kind people at United Utilities would donate the stone, which they excavated from Ashmeadow, but they couldn’t spare any, as they need it at Milnthorpe.
The Parish Council cannot afford to do anything worthwhile, to improve the surface, so we have offered it (on a long lease, at nominal rent) to both Cumbria County Council, and South Lakeland District Council, to form a proper car park (only). The County Council is not interested, but the District Council might be. We shall see.
