What can we do for you?

Like most parish councils, ours does not have huge financial resources and relies largely on goodwill and voluntary effort.  However, whatever it does do, it does it for you, the parishioners.  Therefore, it is very important that the Council listens to what is needed and continually takes into account the views of people who live in the parish.  This is partly achieved through working with a Parish Plan (see our website or contact the Clerk). Our Parish Plan was first written in 2003, and updated in February 2007. 

We are now due to review the plan, to see what we have achieved and what changes need to be made.  To help with this, you will find a brief questionnaire with this newsletter which lists the issues that you have said are important in the past (and which we have tried to address), and asks whether there are new priorities.  PLEASE have a go at filling in the form (which is anonymous). Only then will the Council know what work it should be concentrating on, and set its priorities accordingly.  Please return the form to the Clerk or one of the Councillors (names and addresses on the back page of this newsletter; the form is also downloadable from the website). Thanks, in anticipation.

New Clerk

In December, Councillors said goodbye to Judith Dove as Clerk, showing their thanks and appreciation for all her hard work at a Christmas get-together at The Manor in Oxen Park. The new Clerk, Mandy Lane, took over from Judith on 1st Dec 2007. Mandy has lived in Oxen Park since 1989. She has a background in environmental research and worked for 12 years at Merlewood Research Station in Grange, retiring in 2006 not long after staff were moved to Lancaster. Her interests include hill-walking, dogs, horses and the natural environment. She is 'Judges Secretary' for the Rusland Show Committee and runs the website for the Oxen Park Cinema Club.

May Elections: 
Could you do a good job as a Parish Councillor?

All town and parish councils in Cumbria hold an election once every four years in May.  This year, 2008, it's the turn of Colton Parish Council and we are aware that some councillors may decide not to stand for re-election.  In an ideal world, we would have councillors from all parts of the parish. There are three wards in our parish (west, central and east - approximate boundaries can be seen on the parish website) and we have three councillors representing each one.  If more than nine names come forward, then elections are held.

If you are over 18 and would like to help to make a difference and play your part in the local community, why not think about becoming a councillor? Parish councillors should: (a) be willing to contribute (preferably in a positive way!); (b) see different points of view - listen to others and try to understand their position; (c) be a problem solver - many local issues are long-running, complex and sensitive; (d) be accessible to the community that he or she serves; (e) be patient - take the time to understand what people are saying or trying to do. If this sounds like you (or someone you know), then please consider putting your/their name forward.  Further details are available from the Clerk, or at www.calc.org.uk (or speak to an existing Councillor). 

Affordable Housing

Colton Parish has set up an Affordable Housing Working Group to assess what actions can be taken to address the housing need highlighted by the survey last autumn. The survey indicated that the principal need concerned families with adult children wanting 2-3 bedroom rented accommodation. There was also a requirement expressed by elderly people wanting to down-size to single-storey housing. At present, the Working Group is assessing the existing housing stock in the Parish and what affordable housing is currently available. More immediately, the survey found that not many people who expressed a need for housing had registered with the relevant authority – we do encourage you to do so:

To apply to be registered on the South Lakes Housing waiting list you must fill in an application form.  From the information you provide, a decision will be made as to whether or not you qualify to be put on the list. Application forms are available from: South Lakes Housing, Town Hall, Queen Street, Ulverston, LA12 7AR (Tel: 01229 584424)  or from  www.southlakeshousing.co.uk

Post Office Closures

The local public consultation period for post office closures in Cumbria is approaching. The start date given on the Post Office website (see below) for Cumbria is 18^th March 2008. One of the access criteria set by the government is that 95% of the UK rural population should be within 3 miles of a post office. It is worth noting that Colton had three post offices not very long ago and all three have already been closed! Your Parish Council wrote to the government (DTI) last year expressing concern and will write again during this consultation period. If you want to keep your nearest post office open, write to the Post Office directly at: National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM (no stamp is required), and/or  support your MP (Tim Farron) in his campaign by signing his petition and writing a letter of support to his office as soon as possible – send it to: Tim Farron, Post Office Campaign, The Cottage, Yard 2, Stricklandgate, Kendal LA9 4ND or Email: tim@timfarron.co.uk.

 If you have internet access you can follow developments at: www.postoffice.co.uk - click on ‘Services & Info’ – then ‘Network Change Programme’ (under News and Updates) – then on the left-hand panel, click on ‘Current Public Consultations’.

Parish Lengthsman Pilot Scheme

We are pleased to have received many letters of appreciation regarding our Lengsthman, Chris Slater.  “He really has made a difference”, “Vegetation cut back on roadsides has made country lanes safer” and “He really has done a splendid job in double quick time” are just some of the many comments that we have forwarded to the County Council to show how popular the scheme is. Please keep the letters and requests coming in and remember you can e-mail the Lengthsman Administrator, Penny Lovegrove, at: lovegrovebouth@btinternet.com or ring her on 01229 861091. 

Other highways issues, e.g. potholes, may be phoned through direct on the 'Hotline' to Cumbria County Council Highways on 0845 6096609.
 

 

Bench at Oxen Park The Parish Council has been delighted to accept a proposal from David Oldham that he purchase the new bench at Oxen Park and place a plaque on it in memory of his wife Ann. The bench is situated on the Bouth road just outside the village on a high spot overlooking the Rusland Valley, one of Colton’s many wonderful views.

News in Brief

Adult Social Care: This is much in the news at the moment, and is of particular concern in rural areas like ours. At the last Grange and Cartmel Community Board meeting, Nick Smith, Commissioning Manager, Adult Social Care, Cumbria County Council gave a presentation on the draft "Commissioning Strategy for Older People and their Carers 2007-2016". Comments are welcomed from the public on this document, which can be accessed from their website at: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/adultsocialcare/adults/strategies.asp. Copies are also available from the offices in Kendal: Adult Social Care South Lakeland, County Offices, Kendal. LA9 4RQ. Tel: 01539 773377, Email kendalssd@cumbriacc.gov.uk . Office hours: Mon-Thurs 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Fri 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m..

If you need help now with adult care, telephone  01539 773377, or for urgent help out of office hours, ring their Emergency line: 01228 526690.