Arnside Parish Council

It is with considerable regret that we have to announce three resignations. In December, Councillors Colwell and Pierce resigned, only to be followed, in January, by our Treasurer, Tony Cookson. They will all be sorely missed and we thank them for all their efforts for the benefit of the community.

There is a rather tedious legal procedure to follow, before new Councillors can be appointed. However, it is hoped to have the vacancies filled in time for the March meeting.

As yet, it is undecided whether, or not, to replace Tony, and a decision will be made, at a Special Meeting, on February 16^th. For the months of February and March, Jayne Beaumont (Deputy Clerk) will keep the show on the road, as Acting Responsible Financial Officer. At the Special Meeting, the Council will consider proposals for us to transfer to a Receipts & Payments system of accounting, as from the 1^st April. Such a move is intended to make the Council’s finances more easily understood.

We have been successful in our bid for QP Accreditation. Now Arnside is the first, and only, Council to be awarded this status, in the South Lakeland District, and joint second in Cumbria.

We were delighted to hear that we have been awarded £12,500 from the AONB Sustainable Development Fund, and this has enabled us to press on with the construction side of the project. Undoubtedly, we will find that the money will not stretch to everything needed to fit-out and make the Chapel useable, but it does seem as though the end is in sight.

The Council has now decided to move to the new premises, as soon as the work has been finished.

We are still promoting, as heavily as we can, the “buy a brick” campaign. In return for your £5, you’ll not actually receive a brick, but you will have your donation marked on one of the paper bricks within the picture of the gable end, of the Chapel. We can no longer offer the entire wall, because we have already had an enthusiastic response, but if you can spare quite a bit of cash, for a good cause, we can fix you up with quite a few bricks. Please contact Terry Keefe on 762846, or t.keefe@lancaster.ac.uk All donations, be they large or small, will be very gratefully received.

Some residents have complained about the use of noisy boats off our foreshore, and the Council has decided to take what action it can. We must emphasise that we have no intention of spoiling the pursuit of leisure, for those residents who enjoy the tranquillity of the bay, but we do object to visitors who bring their noisy jet-skis, and water skiing boats to our waters, mainly because Windermere will no longer tolerate them. As from 1^st January 2006, there have been locked barriers at the entrances to the two PC-owned slipways to the foreshore. Members of the Arnside Sailing Club, and a few others, have been provided with the combination code, for the padlocks, and may come and go as they wish. However, one jet-ski owner has already had his application refused, and has been advised that it will be illegal to launch across the foreshore. In fairness, it has to be said that he has accepted this stance without any hard feeling.

Below the High Water Mark, there is nothing that your Parish council can do, but the measures taken for the foreshore should go a long way towards preserving the peace of our bay.

Much of the equipment, at our children’s playground either has come to, or is approaching, the end of its useful life. Apart from that, it is looking somewhat jaded. The Council has decided to investigate the possibility of having a totally new range of equipment, and already Playdale Playgrounds have come up with a scheme, for us to consider. Their suggestions are on view in the Parish Office, and can be inspected on any Wednesday morning, between 10.30 and 11.30am.

The Council has established a Working Group, under the leadership of Councillor Sue Gibson, to take these proposals forward. It is desirable that a Working Group should comprise a number of people who are not Members of the Council, and we are therefore seeking interested people - please contact Sue, as below.

Dave Willacy	01524 - 762153	(Chairman)
Ted Casey	01524 - 761605	(Vice Chairman)
Jack Baker	01524 - 762021
	Vacant
John Gallagher	01524 - 761226
Sue Gibson	01524 - 762822
Ken Hargreaves	01524 - 762238
Terry Keefe	01524 - 762846
Ros Lishman	01524 - 761322
Pete McSweeney	01524 - 761113
	Vacant