PARISH MEETING

Funny people Chippy Folk. Having just distinguished themselves as great supporters of local democracy by fielding five outstanding candidates for a single Town Council vacancy and then turning out in huge numbers to vote, they decided to completely ignore the Annual Parish Meeting. That's the big opportunity to quiz councillors on what they have been up to. in the past year.  17 people attended. Take away the police, the district councillors and the journalists and I made it nine ordinary townsfolk - out of over 3,000 electors. Truly pathetic. Martin Jarrett and the working party who had cleaned up the cemetery were warmly thanked. KOPO and the Hailcorns Residents thanked the Town Council for their support. Town Centre Toilets were a big topic.....when was something going to be done about them Eve Coles said a new cleaning contract was being finalised next month so now was the time to shout. The Mayor would write a strong letter. The budget was there for new toilets but could somebody find a place for them John Hannis wanted to build them in the middle of the Market Place. Mike Howes was still searching for a location. Rob Evans thought they could be squeezed in on the burgage plots next to the New Library.  Somebody suggested that if the old Library was going spare that could be a site.  No Way, said Rob, The county needed the money. And in any case the Theatre were negotiating for an option on that site to expand its Youth Theatre. New Toilets sound like years away. The Parker Knoll site was discussed. The Town was objecting to the siting of industrial units next to Holy Trinity - they should be beyond the residential area and furthest from the town. The split of acreage between employment and residential seemed to have changed. Mike Howes warned that the Town must get all its objections together now. You can't add new ones later he advised as a member of the Planning Committee. And so on to this years real hot potato - Christmas Trees. The Mayor told us that new Heath and Safety legislation meant that there was no way to avoid spending around 10,000 on making the fittings and wiring safe. That sort of money was not available which almost certainly means that there will be no trees this year. Councillor Pat Lake is chairing a committee to try and find a solution.  Val Newey suggested we should get an appeal organised and start collecting straight away. John Hannis made it clear that Christmas Trees were a top priority and if necessary the council's generosity in other directions should be curbed. Looks as if Santa might have to slug it out with the Music Festival for funds this budget time. What a pity there was no vote of thanks to Chunky Townley and Clive Hill for organising a brilliantly successful Hospital Campaign, or to John Grantham for extracting the financial promise of the century out of the County Council in respect of a covenant on the Parker Knoll site. I reckon all three of them deserve the Freedom of the Borough.