Heighington Parish Council Newsletter

Letting You Know! ... MARCH 2003 No 22

Mrs Sandra Rudolf, Clerk to the Council, Parish Council Office, Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington, Lincoln LN4 1JS Tel (01522) 790846

Dog Fouling: Once again the Parish Council has to remind parishioners about dog fouling. The Parish Council is keen to minimise the problems of Dog Fouling that occurs throughout the village, but in particular the Potterhanworth Road Sportsfield and the Station Road Recreation Ground are very bad. These are areas where children play and there can be few worse activities than having to clean dog mess from children clothes and shoes. Dog walkers are reminded to clean up after their animals as it is an OFFENCE not to do so. The maximum penalty for not cleaning up is a fine of £1,000. The Parish Council provide many dog faeces bins which cost a considerable amount of money. Please use the bins to deposit the faeces or take it home to dispose of. Please STOP USING LITTER BINS for this purpose. A Dog Warden is very active in the village in a further effort to reduce the problem - in addition all residents can help to keep the village environmentally friendly by reporting offenders to the Clerk - Telephone (01522) 790846 ~ Worms in dog faeces can cause blindness!

Heighington is suffering with more than its fair share of dog fouling on pavements and Open Spaces - COME ON DOG WALKERS "YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT US NAMING AND SHAMING" please 'Clean It Up'

Please observe the speed limits ~ Watch your Speed!

Traffic Matters: Parking of vehicles on both sides of the High Street makes the passage of buses, dust bin wagons and large vehicles etc very difficult and drivers who perform "illegal U turns" outside the post office are a danger to all. It will have been noted that Millfield School has not had a Crossing Patrol Officer for some months and indeed it has been suggested that a "Pelican Crossinj should be installed at that point on Washingborough Road. The Parish Council would welcome villagers views on the matter. However, the latest news from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership is that an appointment of a Crossing patrol Officer is imminent. The delay has been due to the need to obtain comprehensive information and references before the applicant is trained. It is hoped that the position will be filled within a very short time. With or without a patrol, the area around the school has become very hazardous for both drivers and pedestrians due to excessive speed, inconsiderate parking, and drivers ignoring the "Turn Left Only" sign at the Mill Lane/Washingborough Road/High Street junction.

Golden Jubilee Medallions: There are a few medallions still available on a first come first served basis at the Parish Council Office (rear of Jubilee Hall, Monday to Friday 9am to 12 noon)

Highway Code: There is a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding the Highway Code. Firstly, as to whom it applies, it is not just for people who are learning to drive. There are rules that apply to all of us from the moment that we step out of our front gates onto the highway, be it as a pedestrian, cyclist, motorist, horse rider, or dog walker. We should all be familiar, if not conversant with the Highway Code, not just learner drivers. Secondly, that it is only advisory and not obligatory. This again is not so. Although the Highway Code is not the instrument of the law, it contains numerous rules that are taken directly from the various acts and regulations that apply to matters of the highways. This is made clear in the Highway Code by the use of the words MUST and MUST NOT. One example is regarding the use of fog lights which should only be used when visibility is seriously reduced (this is defined as being less than 100 metres) and MUST be switched off when visibility improves so as to avoid dazzling other road users. It is therefore an OFFENCE to use front or rear fog lights when visibility is normal - ignoring the Highway Code is perilous; observance of the Highway Code will make the roads safer for everyone!

Canwick Hill - Update: An additional message sign will be placed near Hall Drive indicating which lanes are available downhill. This will hopefully prevent drivers making last minute lane changes near the Washingborough Road traffic signals. Alterations to road markings will narrow lanes preventing overtaking up the hill. The introduction of a 40mph limit between Hall Drive and Mill Lodge has been agreed by the County Council and is now out for public consultation.

Child Health Clinic: This clinic is held in the Jubilee Hall, Heighington every second Thursday throughout the year. Two Health Visitors and a Nursery Nurse are in attendance. Clinics give parents an opportunity to discuss anything that may concern them about their child's health and general behaviour, and are excellent places to meet other parents, make friends and provide information on local parent and toddler groups.

North Kesteven Community Service Awards: This is a chance for residents to say 'Thank You' to a person in their community - a person who cares a little bit more and puts in "extra" to help others. Names are being invited for the NK Community Service Awards 2002-2003 and any resident wishing to nominate someone can do through the Parish Council - applications have to be submitted to the NKDC before 11 April 2003.

The Branston and Heighington Family Practice: A message from the Practice Manager: "It has been over a year since the new appointment system was introduced at the surgery and in that time over 18,000 appointments have been taken by patients to see the GP's and Nurses at the surgery. The Surgery staff have done a tremendous job in trying to satisfy everybody's requirements. However like all GP surgeries in the country trying to cope with an ever increasing demand, already over-stretched, and with limited resources ~ the Practice Manager would be grateful if you would consider the following before contacting the surgery (a) Do I really need to see a doctor, or can other sources help me e.g. the local pharmacy? (b) Before requesting a home visit, is there any way you might get to the surgery, as every home visit can take up to an hour of the doctor's time. Additional points to note include that the dispensary at the surgery is closed on Thursday afternoon and no repeat prescriptions can be issued on Thursday afternoon. A practice nurse clinic operates on a Monday morning at the Heighington Branch Surgery, High Street; if you live in Heighington and need to see the practice nurse bear this clinic in mind when requesting an appointment".

Heighington Village in Bloom Competition: This competition is run by the Parish Council annually and every household is automatically entered because you live here ~ the four categories include Hanging Basket, Container/Window Box, Overall Front Garden and Village Centre Display. So come on everyone lets get busy!

Recycling Waste: Residents are asked to bag up Textiles before placing them into the recycling waste bin as otherwise they become dirty and unusable. Waste paper, cardboard, cans and plastic can all go in the same bin but residents are asked to leave the tops off the plastic bottles before placing them in the bin as it helps to compress the plastic if the tops and bottoms are separated.

Post Offices and State Benefits: One of the main services that the Post Office offers is changing. From April 2003, the Government will begin to change the way that all benefits and state pensions are paid. Instead of a benefit book and giro cheques, which are cashed at the local Post Office, the Government want to pay by direct payment into an account of your choice. On the other-hand the Post Office is offering a basic Card Account into which your benefits can be paid; you can then collect your cash as and when you wish to from your local Post Office, as you already do now, The staff at the local Post Office will be pleased to advise you on their services - so do call in. Additional services at your local Post Office include motor vehicle licensing, pre order Bureau de Change, travel insurance, personal banking i.e. cash, cheque deposits, you can also make cash withdrawals, free of charge from the followings banks' current accounts, Barclays, Alliance & Leicester, the Co-operative Bank, Lloyds TSB and Smile. To ensure that there is a future for your LOCAL POST OFFICE please continue to support their services to the community

Living Boundaries: The attention of the Parish Council has once again be drawn to the boundaries of some properties where hedges, shrubs and trees hang onto the footway and obstruct passage for people in wheelchairs, and parents with prams and probably a small child walking at the side. This forces pedestrians into the road, which is dangerous - Please take a few minutes to look at the boundaries of your property and if you see foliage that overhangs - trim it back, it only takes one small branch to blind or disfigure a person for life!

Heighington Parish Precept for 2003104 financial Year: The Parish Precept for the financial year starting on 1 April 2003 is £53,162 and represents £50.85 on a datum Band ‘D' property; this amount is shared into five areas to include Administration at £24,718 (46.50%) to cover expenditure connected with the annual audit, insurance, postage, telephone, stationery, clerks salary, and NNDR of the buildings. Repayment of Public Works Loans £6,802 (12.80%). Open Space £9,222 (17.34) includes maintenance of pavilions, playing field and sports field, employment of a litter picker and dog warden, dog bin emptying service and provision of litter and dog faeces collection bins, plus a gratuity for weekly inspections of the Children's Play Areas. Grants & Donations £1,295 goes toward the upkeep of the Old Village Hall, towards maintenance costs at St John' Churchyard, and a gratuity for raising the Flag on ceremonial occasions throughout the year. Finally, Projects £11,125 enables the Council to save toward refurbishment of the Tennis Courts, provision of a Christmas tree, to supplement grant aid towards the installation of swings on the children's play ground, an upgrade disabled facilities at the Jubilee Hall, property maintenance fund an refurbishment of the Parish Council Office, together with a small contingency to cover unforeseen expenditure.

Annual Parish Meeting: Residents are cordially invited to attend this annual meeting which will take place on Monday 14 th April 2003, starting at 7pm, in the Jubilee Hall, High Street. This is a meeting where any Elector of the Parish can raise questions with regard to parish affairs. The Agenda will include a report from the Chairman, the 2003/04 financial year precept and Charity Accounts. 11 monthly Parish Council meeting will follow the Annual Parish meeting.

Street Lighting: Requests for street lights to be installed on the footpath across the green at Almond Avenue (near the Children's Playground), and for an addition footway light in the vicinity of the sheltered accommodation at Almond Avenue a being progressed.

A date for your Diary - forthcoming Walk of the Recreation Footpaths

Heighington: Monday 7 July 2003, has been earmarked for this annual evening Meeting at the Jubilee Hall on the High Street at 7pm, and return for refreshments - Look out for posters publicising this event later in the Year ~ make a note in your diary - a short stroll or a lengthy walk on a summers evening - its up to you.