The Parish Council has published a consultation document on the future development of Sherington. This has been distributed to all parishioners together with a questionaire to enable the residents to express their views. Read the document here.
Milton Keynes Council's magazine, The Messenger, published an interview with Derek Ferris, the chairman of Sherington Parish Council, in its February 1999 issue. Read the interview here.
The Beavers apologise for the cancellation of the February Jumble sale. It has been re-scheduled for 13 March. Thanks to everyone for their support. The amount of jumble collected was tremendous.
SCAN wishes to thank those who gave donations this month: the splendid sum raised at Chicheley's Coffee Morning, most welcome support from Sherington and North Crawley Parish Councils, a very generous donation from Cranfield via Mrs Collier, another from a reader in Little Crawley, and a third from a lady who used to live in Little Crawley, Bill also sends a contribution from a Little Crawley resident and another from East St in Olney, add to that a donation from a lady in Chicheley Church, another from Gayhurst and a wonderful sum from Upminster.
Ernie Walton - Phyllis Walton thanks all of Ernie's friends and her friends who helped during his last few days and who offered so much support in every conceivable way before, during and after the funeral. Special thanks to the Revd Maurice stanton-Saringer who was so kind and supportive.
Joan and Roy Kingswell would like their friends and neighbours to know how much they appreciate the help and kindness shown to them recently.
In Class 1 the children have continued to feed the birds at the bird table and several familiar characters have been numbered amongst the visitors. The topic has expanded to recognising the birds by their songs and playing these back from a tape has agitated the local population! Chinese New Year was celebrated in story and discussion when the school returned after half-term holiday: 'Kung Hai Fat Choy' to you all. Eric Cale has been the choice of author for Literacy Hour with the children adapting his characters and extending his stories and writing some of their own.
In Class 2 History continues to be a main theme with Year 2 children studying Florence Nightingale and her times and Year 3 the altogether different topic of 'Invaders and Settlers: the Vikings'. In the Friday 'Carousel' all the children have greatly enjoyed studying and reproducing ceramics in the style of Clarice Cliff with Mrs Feasey.
Thanks go to Nigel Rawlings and John Risby for some loveley new bird boxes which have now been fitted in the school grounds. Also many thanks to the the PTFA for the refurbishment of the role-play corner for the youngest children - the delight on their faces when they saw 'presents' so soon after Christmas was wonderful. The thank you letters were truly heartfelt.
A reminder to Sherington School Mums: the Mother's Afternoon is on 12 March at 2.15pm.
The school needs to replace its cooker - is anyone about to move or thinking of replacing a cooker? The school would be very pleased to hear from you.
The Playgroup's annual Social Services Inspection was held at the end of January. The Inspector gave a warm response to the group and particularly commended it for its 'happy, relaxed atmosphere'. A big thank you to the staff for that.
As many of you will be aware, the Playgroup currently offer a four-year-olds only session on Friday mornings. Before this was introduced the Sherington Toddler Group met on Friday mornings in the hall but were kind enough to move their session to the afternoon to accommodate the Playgroup's needs. Since changing times numbers for the Toddler Group have dwindled dramatically as many of the little ones are asleep or feeding at their new time of 1-3pm. This is a cause for concern for Playgroup as, in theory, the toddlers will progress into Playgroup attendees, so the committee and staff have been looking at ways to improve matters. The initial thoughts are to swop session times and therefore have the Fun For Fours on a Friday afternoon. The Playgroup would like to run this on a trial basis for half a term and would welcome any feedback from parents. The new session time would probably be 12.45 - 3.15pm thus enabling older siblings to be collected from school prior to the end of the session. Please let Sue or a committee member know your views on this ASAP.
Continuing the theme of clothes, topics for the second half of term are clothes from India, Japan, Africa and North america. During the last week of term The Playgroup will be looking at Easter finery. All contributions that fit in with these topics are most enthusiastically welcomed! To finish off the term it is planned to have a Fashion Show on Thursday 1 April. More details will follow, but the group would like to welcome as many of you there as possible.
As 'Spring Cleaning' season approaches, don't forget the Playgroup. They are always grateful for books, clothes for the dressing up trolley, vehicles, puzzles and any other robust toys. They have a particular need for a cash register and other items that can be used to turn the home corner into anything that sparks the imagination, from a shoe shop to a cafe to a vet's surgery.
Finally, don't forget the Playgroup AGM on Tuesday 16 March at 8pm in the Village Hall. Your Playgroup needs you!
The bulk skip will be in Leys View from 16 to 18 March.
Many thanks to all those who responded to the consultation and filled in the questionnaires. The number of questionnaires delivered to households and businesses in Sherington was 402 and 224 were returned (over 55%) which is a magnificent response. The table below gives details of how the questionnaires were answered.
| A | Restrict development to infill plots.... for the immediate future | YES 181 | NO 37 |
| B | Development of four sites... for inclusion... in review of Local Plan 1. Rear of School Lane 2. Land off Bedford Road 3. Land off Crofts End 4. West of High Street | YES 19 YES 25 YES 25 YES 20 | NO 197 NO 191 NO 192 NO 197 |
| C | Village Appraisal (assisted by consultants) | YES 192 | NO 28 |
(Not all questions were answered on every sheet, but all answers were counted.)
The Parish Council has to send in a response to Milton Keynes Council by 31 March 1999.
Thank you to those who also sent letters or special notes. The Council will continue to keep you informed.
This will be held on Tuesday 13 April at 7.00pm. It will be followed by the April Parish Council Meeting at approximately 7.30pm.
Local elections will be held on Thursday 6 May in the Village Hall. Nomination papers will be available in March and may be obtained from the Parish Clerk or from the Civic Offices in Central Milton Keynes.
The Council Tax for houses in Sherington for the year beginning 1 April 1998 is given in the following table.
| Band | £ | Band | £ | Band | £ | Band | £ |
| A | 447.43 | C | 596.58 | E | 820.29 | G | 1118.58 |
| B | 522.01 | D | 671.15 | F | 969.44 | H | 1342.30 |
The average Council Tax charge in Sherington is £735.16.
Of the £671.15 payable for each Band D property, £22.35 goes to the Parish council, £5.83 goes towards the provision of open spaces, highway verges and recreation grounds, £50.76 goes to Thames Valley Police Authority and £592.21 to Milton Keynes council.
The total Parish Precept for Sherington in 1998/99 is £11,790, of which £9350 is used for Parish purposes and £2,440 is for open spaces and verges. In 1997/98 the Parish Precept was £10,900.
The total Milton Keynes Council budget for 1998/99 is £158,725,000.
The following applications have been submitted to Milton Keynes Council:
May Cottage, 1 Church End - Single storey rear extension. - Listed building within a Conservation Area - 99/147/MK - Any representations by 25 March.
| Premier Division | ||||
| 6 Feb | Silverstone | 1 | Sherington | 1 |
| 13 Feb | Stewkley | 2 | Sherington | 0 |
| 20 Feb | Sherington | 1 | Grendon Rangers | 0 |
| 27 Feb | Sherington | 3 | Marsh Gibbon | 1 |
| Intermediate Division | ||||
| 6 Feb | Sherington Reserves | 1 | Abbey National | 2 |
| 13 Feb | Sherington Reserves | 1 | Steeple Claydon | 1 |
| 20 Feb | Tingewick Sports | 5 | Sherington Reserves | 3 |
| 27 Feb | Heath United | 3 | Sherington Reserves | 1 |
The following houses have recently been advertised for sale.
Details are available from local estate agents, especially those in Newport Pagnell or Olney.
The Manor, £650,000. 8 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, listed Grade II, 4 acres of grounds with moat and orchard.
Photo
3 bedroomed detached bungalow, £185,000.
3 bedroomed semi-detached house (1930s), £74,950.
4 bedroomed detached house, £185,000.
2 bedroomed detached cottage (1800s), £89,995.
Plans are now underway for the visit to Saméon on the weekend of May 8th and 9th 1999 and we are looking forward to seeing our French friends again.
| Baptism | 31 Jan | George David Pease |
| Wedding | - | - |
| Funeral | - | - |
| 2 Mar | 7.30pm | Sherington School | Parish Council Meeting |
| 12 Mar | 2.15pm | Sherington School | Mother's Afternoon |
| 12 Mar | 8.00pm - 9.30pm | Village Hall | Silent Auction (see below) |
| 13 Mar | 2pm - 4pm | Village Hall | Grand Jumble and Table Top Sale - SCAN Beavers (see below) |
| 16 Mar | 8.00pm | Village Hall | Playgroup AGM |
| 21 Mar | 7.30am | The Knoll | Thumbstick Walkers |
| 24 Mar | - | - | Deadline for copy for April SCAN |
SCAN Beavers - Grand Jumble and Table Top Sale
Saturday 20 February, 10am - 12 noon, Village Hall
To book table (£5) telephone 217835.
Doors open to set up only 9.15am.
Entrance fee 20p. Children free. All proceeds to SCAN Beaver Group.
| 2 March | Mrs E Milnes | 4 Hillview |
| 9 March | Mrs P Teasdale | 33 Crofts End |
| 16 March | Mrs P Ellis | 3 Hillview |
| 23 March | Lent Lunch | The Old Rectory |
| 30 March | Mrs G Hetherington | Carter's Barn, Church Road |
| 6 April | No meeting | - |
On Thursday 18 February, a small but select group of members enjoyed a supper of fish, chips and tea followed by a quiz ingeneously devised on questions about fish, potatoes and tramps.
On 4 March the Group is off to the Royal Theatre, Northampton, to see Charles Dickens' 'Dombey and Son'. Get your tickets from Katie Hayes (Tel: 217881). Transport will be arranged; the Group'll have to leave early in the evening as the performance begins at 7.30pm.
On Thursday 18 March at 8 pm in the Village Hall, Mr Gerald Stratton will talk about 'Newport Pagnell in the 1950's' and his recently published book of that title.
Something else to look forward to on Thursday 1 April, when Julie Williams has volunteered to give a talk/demonstration on patio and container gardening. Meetings are at 8pm in the Village Hall and visitors are very welcome.
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