More Magistrates needed in Staffordshire

The search is on for people who are interested in giving something back to their communities by becoming magistrates. The position of magistrate dates back to the 14th century and is a respected and responsible position. Magistrates are there to provide local justice for local people.

You will need to possess integrity rather than paper qualifications and have the ability to make fair and reasonable decisions.

You should be able to listen to all sides of an argument and have a good knowledge of people and different aspects of human behaviour.

Personal qualities and experience of life are vita! and new magistrates will receive all necessary legal and other training to enable them to carry out their duties.

Applicants should be under the age of 65 years and be prepared to sit for at least 26 half days per year.

There are three Benches of magistrates in the county. The Central and South West Staffordshire Bench covers Stafford, Cannock, and South Staffordshire and court sittings are held in Stafford and Cannock. The North Staffordshire Bench covers Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands with courts at Fenton and Newcastle-under-Lyme. The South East Staffordshire Bench covers East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth with courts sitting at Burton upon Trent and Tamworth. There are currently vacancies on all three Benches.

There are certain occupations which would preclude appointment as a magistrate. These include applicants holding some posts within the Police, Probation and Crown Prosecution Services or their spouse or partner. There are also a few other occupations details of which, together with helpful advice, guidance and application forms, can be obtained from:

Mr Nigel Pursey
Secretary,
Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for Staffordshire,
County Buildings,
Stafford,
ST162LH

E-mail: nigel.pursey@staffordshire.gov.uk

New lighting in Goose Lane

Abbots Bromley Parish Council, in cooperation with Staffordshire County Council, has initiated the provision of additional lighting in Goose Lane that will make the daily visits to the nursery safer for both parents and children.

By part-funding the project, the Parish Council has made possible this extension of the existing lighting in the hope that it will considerably improve the safety along this stretch of Goose Lane during the winter months.

Installation of the lighting columns at the end of November was carried out by ABB. This work was followed up in the new year by Central Networks completing the supply connections to make the new lights operational.

A request is now being made to extend the 30mph limit to the end of the new lighting.

Railway line through Abbots Bromley?

Promoters have indicated that the route could link the Stoke – Derby line from a junction near Uttoxeter to the Birmingham –Derby line at junction near the remote Fal Vale farm between Lichfield and Burton. The line is being promoted to facilitate the movement of China Clay from Cornwall to the Stoke on Trent Potteries, avoiding the busy bottleneck at Birmingham New Street Station. The promoters, ABP have also been keen to stress the potential value of the line to bring tourists to the area. They state that it is their intention to construct a station for the village at the site of the village hall and if things go according to plan, a start could be made in early December.

“Rumours that ghost trains are already running on the line are completely unfounded” said Abbots Bromley Players director Joan Machin. “It is completely untrue. We have only just started rehearsals and the special effects for our play are still in the development stage. Nevertheless, producing the impression of an express train crossing the stage for our production of Arnold Ridley’s play “The Ghost Train” will tax our production team to the utmost, though we have every faith that they can achieve it.”

Villagers shouldn’t be alarmed however. This is Abbots Bromley Players forthcoming production of the classic railway thriller,”The Ghost Train”.

The play, about a haunted railway station, was written by Arnold Ridley (who played Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army) and is set in the 1920s, when a group of passengers are stranded at a remote Cornish railway station for the night. Unfortunately for them however, the stationmaster informs them that they cannot stay on the station all night because regulations of the Great Western Railway do not permit and anyway, the station is haunted. He then regales them – in lurid detail – of the railway accident 20 years previously that occurred at the station and which is re-enacted each month by the Ghost Train that thunders through in the dead of night – and tonight’s the night!

Will it run?

Is everything really what it seems?

How can Abbots Bromley Players possibly run a railway train through the village hall?????

The play is being performed in Abbots Bromley Village Hall from 8th to 11th December.

Tickets are £5 from members, the village Post Office or Maggie Hoskisson on 01283 840828.

Abbots Bromley Action Group – 2nd November

There will be a meeting of the Abbots Bromley Action Group (and anyone else who wishes to attend!) on November 2nd at the Village Hall at 7.30 to initiate work on some of the actions proposed in the recently distributed Abbots Bromley Action Plan.

Walk to the wind farm

On Sunday 17th October, the Abbots Bromley Footpath Society will be leading a walk up the Staffordshire Way to the site of the proposed wind farm in Bagot’s Park.

Anyone interested is invited to join the walk which will leave the Butter Cross at 2pm.

Burton CAB has the answers to your questions

Q: Why is Burton CAB so busy and why can I never get though on the phone?
A: Because lots of people want our help. Last year we advised over 5,000 people. More volunteers are always needed so that we can help even more people. We can�t always see people as quickly as we would like but we always see everyone who needs our advice as soon as we can.

Q: Could I volunteer?
A: Yes. At Burton CAB we are always looking for new people to join our team. You don�t have to have formal qualifications and many volunteers find that the CAB experience can provide a route into paid work.

Q: How do I find out more?

{*]call Paula Beesley on 07939 542 941, Paula will arrange to meet you to help you find out more about being a volunteer at Burton CAB.
[*}ring the national recruitment line on 08451 264 264.
[*]www.citizensadvice.org.uk has lots of useful information about volunteering at a CAB.

New telephone number for Police

In a major change to the way Staffordshire Police can be contacted, 08453 30 20 10 will be used as the single non-emergency number with effect from 4 october 2004.

The new easy-to-remember number is intended to improve access to the force and reduce the incorrect and unnecessary use of 999 calls.

Consultation on Clean Neighbourhoods

Alun Michael has recently advised that the time limit on the Clean Neighbourhoods consultation has been extended and suggests that this is a key element in the Government’s drive for cleaner, safer, greener communities.

The (link expired) is available on-line.

Local Plan Review – 2nd Deposit

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

NOTICE OF DEPOSIT OF REVISED PROPOSALS FOR THE ALTERATION OF A LOCAL PLAN EAST STAFFORDSHIRE LOCAL PLAN

East Staffordshire Borough Council has revised the proposals for the alteration of the above plan. If, and when, these revised proposals are adopted it will form part of the development plan for the area of East Staffordshire Borough Council. The development plan forms the basis for decisions on land use planning affecting that area.

Copies of the revised proposals are available for public inspection, free of charge, at:

{*]The Town Hall, King Edward Place, Burton on Trent between 7.45am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. [*}Midland Grain Warehouse Reception, Derby St, Burton on Trent between 8.45am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. {*]Burton Library, Riverside, Burton on Trent between 8.30am and 6.00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.00am and 6.00pm on Tuesday, 8.30am and 8.00pm on Thursday and 8.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday. [*}Uttoxeter Library, High Street, Uttoxeter between 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am and 7.00pm Friday and 9.00am and 4.00pm on Saturday. [*]Barton under Needwood Library, Dunstall Rd, Barton under Needwood, between 10.00am and 5.00pm on Monday and Wednesday, 10.00am and 8.00pm on Thursday, 10.00am and 2.00pm on Friday and 10.00am and 1.00pm on Saturday.

Objections to, and representations in respect of, the revised proposals should be sent in writing to Philip Somerfield, Principal Policy Officer, Policy and Corporate Affairs, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2EB before 5.00 pm Monday 4th October 2004. Objections and representations should specify the matter to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made. They may also be accompanied by a request to be notified at a specified address of the withdrawal, adoption, approval or rejection of the plan. Objections may only be made in respect of those parts of the plan which have been revised since the original proposals were made available on Wednesday 5th April 2001.

Only objectors whose objections arrive at the address specified above within the 6 week period beginning on Monday 23rd August 2004 and ending on Monday 4th October 2004, will have a right to have their objections considered at a local inquiry or other hearing.

Further information is available from the Town Hall at the address given above or on the council’s website.

Abbots Bromley Village Show 2004

Despite the deluge that threatened to drown the ‘Fun Runners’ on the eve of the show, the run was very well supported and the whole evening set the tone nicely for Saturday’s festivities.

As ever, there was an enthusiastic response from the children to the Fancy Dress competition, and The Horn Dancers, the British Legion, local owners of Classic Cars and the Firemen all gave their support to the venture making a colourful and entertaining spectacle as the parade made its way to the Village Hall. Added interest was provided by the marching band and the vintage brewery vehicles kindly provided by Coors.

Reverend Simon Davis opened the Show and, once again, the sun shone on our annual event. There were a number of new attractions this year; Punch & Judy and Quad Bikes for the children with the excellent Burbage Brass Band providing a musical interlude, but the variety of stalls offered something for everyone. Most interest seemed to centre around the Fat Club’s ‘Guess the Weight’ competition. Negotiations are currently underway for a 2005 Calendar!

Most village clubs and societies were well represented with stalls and services ranging from refreshments provided by the scouts, guides, cubs and brownies to face painting by the Jelly Tots. The generous donations from their takings helped us on the way to the £1,000 plus profit, which will go towards providing a Christmas party for the children and support for the Evergreens’ outings.

Following last year’s show, we were also able to support the new First Responders Unit and the Under 5’s Play Scheme Project. We ask that any suggestions as to how the rest of the profit should be used this year, or requests for donations should be passed, in writing, to a member of the committee by 10th October.

The committee would like to thank all those who supported the show this year in whatever capacity. We look forward to your continued support in the future.

Diary dates

{*]Annual General Meeting – 8pm Tuesday 12th October 2004 at the Goat’s Head [*}Show Day 2005 – 11th June