Christmas Carol Singing in the Village Centre

On Thursday, 17 December 2009 villagers gathered to sing festive Chrismas Carols by the Christmas Tree.

It even snowed! Making the event very festive.

Accompanied by Chorley Silver Band and lit by the lights of Astley Pharmacy, who stayed open and gave singers mince pies and mulled wine - residents came together to sing carols.

It was a lovely festive start to the season!

Click on picture to enlarge

Bulb Planting Posse

In mid, November, at just a few hours notice and in a rare gap in the wet weather, Councillors and residents came together to plant over 1,350 English Blue Bell bulbs and four big boxes of sprouting daffodils clumps on the green space by the school. The sun was out and allowed everyone to do the planting quickly in the pleasant conditions.

Click on picture to enlarge

COUNCIL SET TO WELCOME SIDs ARRIVAL

Councillors from Astley Village Parish Council have taken the decision to purchase a Speed Indicator Device (SID), for the village, after they received shocking information revealed in a traffic survey conducted on Chancery Road.

So alarmed at the facts revealed by the survey, the council’s Chairman Cllr Mark Perks brought the findings to the Council’s July meeting.

The traffic survey carried out by Lancashire County Council highways unit, revealed some very interesting trends but also some shocking statistics about speeding vehicles on Chancery Road.

• In an average week there are a surprising 25,201 traffic movements on Chancery Road, that is adding all the vehicles going both ways for 24 hours a day for a full week.
• Wednesday in Astley Village is the busiest traffic day with an average 3,949 movements
• Sunday the quietest with 2,913 movements.
• Heading south from Euxton Lane roundabout, through the village to Westway junction gets more traffic than heading northbound by over 500 vehicles passing by.

The survey’s most shocking statistic though revealed the speed of those vehicles. Taking the busiest day, a Wednesday, over the full 24 hours, of the 2,063 vehicles that travelled down Chancery Road heading southbound:

* 560 were doing 30mph or under but,

* 1,503 were travelling 30 or over

* 7 of those 1,503 were travelling over 50 mph.

Most shocking of all, one Friday evening between 8pm and 9pm there was a vehicle clocked at 65+ mph.

Astley Village Parish Council Chairman Mark Perks commented, “ The only through road in the village is Chancery Road which has a speed limit of 30 mph. All the residential areas lead of this road.

With a primary school, two sheltered accommodation homes and so many junctions along its route I am staggered by the speeding traffic statistics.

The survey indicated that on one of the busiest days 1511 vehicles over 50% of those using this road were breaking the speed limit. A serious and shocking road traffic accident is just waiting to happen.

The speed of traffic through the village is brought up regularly at PACT meetings. The Parish Council feels most strongly that action is needed to combat the dangers of speeding through our village and the purchase of a Speed Indicator was felt to be a useful tool to have.”

The Council has received a grant from LCC Parish Champion to assist in the purchase of the speed indicator device. The aim is to not only reminder drivers of their speed, but also to record data. The device will record the speed of traffic and use this information regularly to provide to residents through the parish newsletter.

Astley Village Parish Council meets the standard and is awarded Quality Status...

The Certificate was presented to the Chairman, John Lawson by the Chief Executive of Chorley Council Donna Hall. Also attending on a lovely Spring afternoon infront of Astley Hall was Cllr Dennis Sewards (left), Cllr Catherine Bates and the Clerk, Debra Platt (right).

Astley Village Parish Council Chairman, John Lawson says “The Parish Council gaining Quality Status was a proud moment for me and the Council. It has worked hard over the last few years to update and improve the Council’s service to the village in line with Quality requirements.“

“The final elements of the required criteria to apply for status were completed in 2007, when the Clerk gained her Quality Clerk certificate known as the CiLCA (Certificate in Local Council Administration); it gained a fully elected Council and later in the year the Council completed its first year of publishing the Council’s newsletter, quarterly.”

Some background is included below about the Quality Parish Council Scheme.

Quality Status

The Quality Parish and Town Council scheme was launched in June 2003, following the publication of the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000. The scheme is designed to provide benchmark minimum standards for parish and town councils, and enable them to better represent the communities they serve. The scheme also aims to enhance relationships between local councils, principal authorities and community and voluntary sector organisations.

In order to achieve Quality Status, parish and town councils must demonstrate that they have reached the standard required by passing several tests including;

• Electoral mandate
• Qualifications of the clerk
• Council meetings
• Communications
• Annual report
• Accounts
• Code of conduct

The tests exceed the statutory duties of parish and town councils and represent the standards that an efficient, well run parish council should achieve. The Quality Scheme is currently under review, and we await the Government's proposals on its future development.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the concept of Quality Parish and Town Councils come from?

The Rural White Paper ‘Our Countryside: The Future, a Fair Deal for Rural England, published in November 2000, recognised the important role of the first tier of local government and proposed a number of initiatives designed to enhance the role of parish and town councils. Subsequently, in June 2003 the Quality Town and Parish Council Scheme was launched.

What are the aims of the scheme?

The three main aims are;

1.To provide a benchmark of standards for parish and town councils;

2. Enable them to work more closely with partners in the delivery of services

3. Enable them to more effectively represent their communities.

How many Quality Parish and Town Councils are there?

From approximately 8,700 Parish Councils around the Country, currently there are 533 Quality councils (Jan 08) but the figures are rising every day.

Criteria

What type of tests does a council have to pass to become a Quality council?

In order to achieve Quality status, parish/town councils have to complete a number of tests. These tests are split largely into seven categories;

1. Electoral Mandate;

2. Qualifications of the Clerk;

3. Council Meetings;

4. Communication;

5. Annual Reports;

6. Accounts

7. Ethical Framework

The tests are designed to ensure that the town/parish council is functioning as an effective, representative and active council.

How long does the Quality status last for? When does a council need to re-accredited?

If a parish council is successful and is awarded Quality status, the accreditation process lasts for four years and up to three months from the date of notification. Applications for re-accreditation may not be made before the four year period expires. Instead there will be a three month ‘grace’ period following the end of the four year period in which a parish wishing to be reaccredited must re-apply.

The Benefits of Quality Status

Quality parish and town councils are not only in a position to show their local communities that they are performing above national minimum standards but they are in a better position to influence the decision making process and/or take on additional services and areas of responsibility, from their principal local authorities.

Who benefits?

The benefits of this scheme affect three groups:

1. the community

2. the parish or town council itself

3. the principal local authority

1) Community benefits:

• local people will know that the council will be well led and is accountable, visible and representative
• more responsive services - the Quality council will be capable of solving local problems with greater authority and have real ownership and control over services and decisions that effects local lives
• real contact and discussions with their Quality council
• a local access point providing information on services

2) Benefits to the parish or town council itself:

• greater credibility in the eyes of the local community, voluntary and private sectors and principal local authorities
• greater civic pride
• more representative of the local community
• better ability to articulate the needs and wishes of the local community
• it will achieve more by working in partnership with other organisations
• able to demonstrate that it is effectively and properly managed which will install greater confidence in the community
• delivery of more local services - if the council wishes to
• greater involvement by the voluntary and community sector and principal local authorities, e.g. developing parish plans, market town health checks etc
• a better informed community
• a well trained clerk, through the Certificate in Local Council Administration
• possible more powers and funding in the future

3) Principal Authority benefits

• reassurance that the Quality council has been independently assessed and is therefore capable of working with the principal authority and can deliver services on their behalf or in partnership
• reliable evidence of the competence of the Quality council, through the four year re-assessment process
• proof that the Quality council is willing and able to be fully involved in local issues (this will be particularly valuable when implementing new initiatives)
• stronger partnership working, with the town or parish council bringing their local perspective and experience to the table. Quality councils should be more innovative and pro-active, and will want to share their ideas and experiences
• increased confidence that the quality council is representative, competent, well managed and therefore capable of taking on and sustaining an enhanced role

Carol Singing around the Christmas Tree

First Christmas December 2008

The event was a great success and attended by over 60 residents who all come together to sing carols in the open air by the Christmas Tree.

Accompanied by Chorley Silver Band residents sang carols and shared mince pies and chocolates.

Reverend Cree from St Laurences Church also attended to lead us in to the singing with a prayer and sent us home with a Christmas blessing.

Thanks were given to Chorley Silver Band, the Parish Council for organising the tree and carols and also to all the residents who attended to sing.

Click to see photo enlargements.

Carol Singing around the Christmas Tree

A night of singing around the tree has been arranged for Monday 15th December at 7.00 pm. The singing will be accompanied by Chorley Silver Band. Please come and joine us.

Thinking of Christmas Already!

At its recent meeting Astley Village Parish Council decided to embark on a village project to lighten up the village’s Christmas.

With the kind permission of the land owners the Parish Council is planning to erect a village Christmas Tree and lights on the Green, infront of the shops in the centre of the village.

It is hoped the tree will help villagers feel a sense of community involvement, and raise the Christmas mood, enough for them to come out of their houses and join in with Christmas Carol Singing in the open air around the tree.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Mark Perks commented:

“Other neighbouring villages such as Euxton, Croston, Eccleston and others have Christmas trees and some also have very popular carol singing events.

The Parish Council hopes that Astley Village can join in with the Christmas involvement and in coming years this becomes a village event worth waiting for.”

Wrong Connections

Action-Douglas & Yarrow along with United Utilities and the Environment Agency are asking - Is your home polluting Chorley's watercourses?

If your home is post 1960, or you have moved or added appliances such as a dishwasher, washing machine etc - you need to check your wastewater pipes are correctly connected to the sewer.

If your waste pipes are connected to the drain instead of sewer the dirty water may end up in your local river or stream and harm wildlife.

It is your responsibility as a home owner to ensure your waste water reaches the right place to prevent pollution.

More info www.merseybasin.org.uk