Recently in Observations Category

The law states that the Cricket Pavilion which is under control of the Parish Council must have a water risk assessment in place.

 

We therefore hope that our 'elected' Parish Council members take great care when making decisions, especially where the safety of their Parishioners is concerned.

 

In the 'August 2011' Parish Council minutes Cllr Higgins who is Chair of Sports & Leisure Committee reported,

 

"A water sample from the showers is to be send to Aqua Cert Ltd to be tested for the presence of the Legionella bacteria"

 

A good decision made here to protect this building and its users?

 

The HSE, (Health & Safety Executive) say about just taking samples for legionella,

 

"It depends. Sampling and testing for the presence of legionella bacteria is just one way of checking that your system is under control. But it is not a simple test, as sampling and detecting legionella requires specialist help."

 

So what should the Parish Council actually be doing to protect the users of the pavilion from the legionella bacteria?

 

The HSE, (Health & Safety Executive) say,

 

"Under general health and safety law, you have to consider the risks from legionella that may affect your staff or members of the public and take suitable precautions. As an employer or a person in control of the premises (eg a landlord), you must:

 

1.         Identify and assess sources of risk;

2.         Prepare a scheme (or course of action) for preventing or controlling the risk;

3.         Implement and manage the scheme - appointing a person to be managerially responsible, sometimes referred to as the 'responsible person';

4.         Keep records and check that what has been done is effective."

 

So does the Parish Council know better than the HSE?

 

The HSE say that,

 

"You need to appoint someone to take responsibility for managing the control scheme that you have put in place. The 'responsible person' needs to be competent - that is, they need to have sufficient knowledge and experience of your system to enable them to manage and control the scheme effectively."

 

So what is going on here Cllr Higgins? I do not think the HSE would be in agreement with the decision process that has gone on here and the overall health and safety of the users is your responsibility! Your comments would be appreciated.

The referendum looms, but who even knows on what date? It seems to have caught the popular interest even less than the royal wedding.

Yet the cost of this opportunity to vote is enormous. For my two grandchildren, the political bargain which made it possible will cost at least £40,000 each (fees, maintenance and compound interest) if they decide to go on to higher education. Consequently, I take the vote seriously.

I understand the question. I learned about the various systems of proportional representation over sixty years ago when as a working-class lad I had a free place at a good independent school (and a free place at a top university to follow). At the time, I couldn't decide which voting system was the best; I still don't know now.

I fear that the referendum will be settled by the votes of those who want change, and the apathy of those who are undecided.

Whatever else, I intend to vote. I hope you will.


Ian

As were many people in the village and beyond, I was shocked and saddened to hear of Andrew's death.

Others will no doubt write of his contributions to the work of the Parish Council, and to the activities of the Ebor Players. My own memories of Andrew are particularly associated with Pageant 2000, and with the village developments made possible by that triumph.

Andrew was the Pageant Director. This title involved him in a multitude of roles.

A small group of enthusiasts had the idea of producing a millennium pageant and, despite setbacks, succeeded in obtaining a substantial grant for its production. Andrew was one of that group, involved in driving forward the initiative and writing the application. Subsequently (I believe single-handedly) he  extensively revised and added to the traditional pageant script.

For about a year, Andrew was involved almost full-time in chairing the Steering Group, auditioning actors, co-ordinating the work of three producers, and supervising a complex programme of rehearsals. On the administrative side, a good deal had to be done in arranging publicity, compliance with licensing rules, provision of insurance, contracting for lighting, sound, catering, etc. and most importantly liaison with the Palace, where our Archbishop was extraordinarily helpful. Costumes, properties and scenery had to be planned and made. In all of these matters, the friendly contacts Andrew and Romy had formed with local people proved essential.

The production itself was a triumph. The large number of people involved enjoyed themselves (as did the sell-out audiences) but, more importantly, found themselves to be part of the community in ways they had never experienced before. We owe this to Andrew.

The financial success of the Pageant proved important in ways that those involved never anticipated. A trust was set up to administer the funds generated by the millennium celebrations. The majority of this money was profit from the Pageant. Andrew was involved in deciding what was to be done, and as the Parish Council's representative on various working parties, shared in the work involved. The Sensory Garden and the Pinfold are the most obvious products of that work .

As individuals and as a community we are in Andrew's debt. We celebrate and mourn him.

Bishopthorpe dot net gets quite a few email queries, and sometimes we're asked things that are best put to our readers/viewers to answer.

Tim posted the following message about getting fresh vegetables etc. in the area (and he was also very complimentary about the website!)...

This is a query about living in Bishopthorpe in general, though while I'm at it, I'm very impressed with the site! It's great, easy to use and full of info.

My query, however, is about obtaining fresh, local produce in and around Bishopthorpe

I've just moved to the town, and as there seem to be plenty of farms and such around the place, I would love to be able get my hands on fresh vegetables, and fruit where possible, straight from the farms, (though I'm suppose it's mainly just potatoes this time of year) Milk and eggs are a top priority too!

I wasn't sure how to find such things, but hopefully this website is my link to some experts in Bishopthorpe, and you might be able to point me in the right direction

Any advice would be most welcome, many thanks, Best, Tim

So, can anyone give Tim any suggestions? Brunswick Nursery has some great produce I believe, but there must be other places too. And does anyone deliver in the area?

 

Random rants, observations, and comments from around the village.

If you're an authorised contributor to bishopthorpe dot net you can raise new topics on whatever subject you want, and anyone can get involved in the discussion by using the comment facilities.

But lots of people have views and opinions on things that aren't already being talked about, and don't want to go through the bother of becoming a fully fledged site author.

So this topic can be used as a way of getting your voice heard. Just click on the title and then use the 'Comment' form to talk about whatever you want. You'll need to give your name and email address, and your message will appear. Others can respond, or raise new topics.

Think of it as the readers letters section of bishopthorpe dot net...

 

I can't take the credit for this piece I'm afraid - Linda (you know, Local History Linda) has been dealing with some technical 'challenges' over the last few days so I'm posting this on her behalf...

 

Strolling through Bishopthorpe is hard going on the slippery footpaths but, with perseverance and camera in hand, the winter sun brings its own rewards.

Archbishop Drummond's gateway stands resplendent on a crisp December day.

 

Midnight Mass has been celebrated in this church since it was built and consecrated in 1899.

 

Eerie winter shadows stretch across the snow towards the Archbishop's walled garden.

 

In Church Lane - kind thoughts for others at Christmas.

 

Ivy creeping over an old wall in Acaster Lane.

Season's Greeting to you all, and best wishes for 2010

 

The clearance of the main traffic routes through Bishopthorpe during the current snow problems has been excellent. Once out of the side streets, we have been able to drive without problems.

Unhappily, this is not the case for pedestrians. Even in the village centre, pavements have not  been gritted.

Over 20% of Bishopthorpe residents are aged over 60. Many of these are unable to drive, for reasons of health, cost, or simply because (now widowed) they had always relied on their husbands to be the family drivers.

Christmas is imminent. How do they get to buy the supplies they need without significant risk? Anyone who has had an elderly relative die from pneumonia contracted after a fall and a broken hip will understand the problem all too well. For others, a recent joint replacement can be hazarded by a fall. One could quote many other examples of the difficulties old people face.

I know that the City Council is short of money, and that its policy on snow clearance has been generally accepted as a reasonable compromise between cost and need. It seems to me, however, that its application in the present circumstances has revealed its limitations.

It may be too late to do anything in 2009, but one can hope that it will be re-examined in the light of experience. Perhaps too, our Parish Council's sub-committee dealing with the problems of the elderly could take up the issue.

Ian Hodson

A recent report in Link and discussions at the Parish Council meeting have highlighted cases of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in parts of the village.

The article below about the Pinfold area was sent through to bish dot net a couple of days ago, by a villager concerned about these activities. Although it's written in a light hearted way it does raise some serious points.

But what do we think about life in Bishopthorpe? Do we really have an escalating problem, or has there always been a certain amount of bad behaviour that tends to play itself out over time? Are we seeing more damage, more rowdiness, more assaults than we used to, or in comparison with other areas in and around York? And what should we be doing about it?

What do you think...?

 

THE PINFOLD

According to Wikipedia, the Pinfold was used to keep stray animals which had been rounded up because their owners had failed to supervise their use of common grazing land. A fine had to be paid for their release.

Passing by the Pinfold at the corner of Acaster lane and Copmanthorpe Lane the other evening I thought that the Parish Council had reintroduced a by-law bringing the Pinfold back into use as all I could see was some hapless, brain impaired waifs and strays waiting for their owners / parents to reclaim them.

But what had these owners / parents done that their offspring are confined to the Pinfold?

1. Failed to supervise their waifs and strays while using common grazing and drinking places (The bars at our wonderful local hostelries)
2. Allowed them to stray on the public highway therefore being a danger to themselves and the law abiding citizens of our lovely village and a danger to visitors who are maybe not aware of the straying animals that frequent our Main Street

I would like now to congratulate the officer appointed by the Parish Council who is responsible for rounding up these waifs and strays but who is that person? It cannot be our esteemed Community Police Officers because they go home at lunch time. It must be a super hero that is on call 24 hours a day to ensure the supervision of these waifs and strays.

But rumour has it that the waifs and strays are not as stupid as one imagines, as they appear to make their own way to the Pinfold to await collection and when the owners / parents fail to show up because there is something on TV they want to watch instead of supervising their animals, they try to dig themselves out of the Pinfold causing damage that has to be repaired at the cost of all of us.

So they are as stupid as one imagines as they could just walk out of the Pinfold the way they walked in without causing any damage at all and go home.

I will lay bets on that the Pinfold does not suffer damage from these waifs and strays in December, January and February when the weather is inclement to say the least.

We live in one of the most beautiful villages in the York area if not the whole of Yorkshire. Can't these idiots and their owners / parents understand that the law abiding residents will not tolerate our environment being constantly damaged and destroyed and that people have the right to enjoy our village and its history.

It is up to everyone who knows who causes this damage to report it to the authorities so action can be taken against them.

Why not a photographic stocks on the Bishopthorpe  web site with names and pictures  of the culprits so the rest of us can throw virtual rotten fruit at them. What a good game that would be.

Until we all say enough is enough these idiots will continue to damage and destroy our environment so let's put a stop to it now.

 

I was recently asked to talk (twice) about how the Bish dot net web site was set up and how it is used. Of particular interest was how local government in general, and wards and parishes in particular are involved in 'hyper-local' web sites.

The Bish site has pages by its local councillor (one of only 2% of Conservative ward councillor who have pages in the country - the Lib Dems have 7% and labour 1%), and by its Parish Council.

So its disappointing to see that the ward councillor has not been able to keep up his pages since he became Lord mayor - surely some interesting tales to be told about this ancient post! More of a problem is the failure of the Parish Council - always concerned to engage more people in its activities - to provide a more detailed account of what it is doing on your behalf. For example the significant re-opening of the village hall - just reported - deserves a prompt and full news story with plenty of pictures. But the council also needs first to provide full details about itself, and then encourage people to use the web site to air their views on what is important in local affairs. As a (random) example of the first look at Ashover PC's site (http://www.ashover-pc.gov.uk/id_index.html). Or look at http://www.parishblog.org/ to see another example where people do comment on local affairs.

Bish dot net has a growing national reputation for its village web site - and residents should be as proud of that as they are of the other amenities there - and they should make their voices heard on local affairs.

Its the 21st century way, right?

It's getting towards that time of year again, so our canine correspondent John Verity offers a timely reminder about pets and fireworks...

 

I know that Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Years Eve seem to be a long way away, but now is the time to prepare yourself and your pets for the forthcoming period of the year when countless fireworks are discharged. Again this year November the 5th occurs mid week so we can expect a week or two of loud explosions that could send my four dogs into a state of panic unless I take action now. So how can we cope with fearful dogs and other pets?

Ideally we should take our animals to a distant corner of the countryside where they are away from the noise altogether but of course that is not possible.

So we have to make preparations now.

First consult your vet and seek their advise on the best method of calming down the dog.

On the market there are CD's of fireworks that can get the animal used to the sound before the real fireworks start. Ask your vet about a DAP diffuser that emits a Dog Appeasing Pheromone, similar to the scent of a lactating bitch. Don't worry we cannot smell it but the dogs can and the scent can have a calming effect on the dogs. For those who prefer the natural remedies a product called Valerian is available from www.dorwest.com. this has the similar effect of a DAP diffuser. Some dogs may get the calming effect from a method of massage called the Tellington T Touch which uses a technique that helps a dog overcome a variety of health and behaviour problems by specific movements. More information on this T Touch is available on www.ttouchteam.co.uk.

Another method that works with my dogs is the use of a radio. Try Classic FM as this appears to be the most calming radio station and is used in the kennels of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

I have not mentioned our other pets. Cats should be kept indoors during the hours of darkness and other furry friends kept in a quiet area of the house and the radio can be used to calm them down.

One last word. Keep calm yourself. Do not let the animals see that you are nervous as that will cause them to pick up that signal. Do not leave the animals alone in the house if they are nervous of the explosions and if you are having a firework party let your neighbours with pets know so that they can take extra precautions to avoid their pets becoming nervous and agitated.