Surlingham

The family of Mary Shaw have asked me to advise that her funeral will take place at 1pm on Thursday 9th March at Waveney Memorial Park & Crematorium, Warren’s Lane, Benacre Road, Ellough, Suffolk NR34 7XE and afterwards at The Ferry House, Surlingham.

Everyone who knew Mary and wishes to celebrate her life are invited.

For more information, please contact Clive Evans on 538234

There will be 2 services in Surlingham:

• 12th March at 9:30am Holy Communion
• 19th March at 11am – Mothering Sunday family service

The Egyptian geese in the field between Ferry Road and the Gun Club now have chicks. Could all walkers and dog owners please be mindful.

Information and photograph received from Mary Pipes

Surlingham Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2023

Present: Councillors Richard Atkins, John Broom, Phil Reeve, Pat Scowen, Dave Swinborne, Martin White, Pam Wilson, the Parish Clerk Janet Rogers and five members of the public.

1. Welcome by the Chairman – The Chair opened the meeting and gave a warm welcome to the residents in attendance. He then explained that this was the Parish Clerks last meeting as she had decided to retire at the end of February. The Councillors presented her with a card and gift of gardening vouchers. The clerk thanked the Councillors.
2. Apologies and approval of absences – None
3. Declarations of Interest – None
4. To approve as accurate the minutes of the meeting on 17 January 2022 – Approved
5. Matters arising from those minutes, one of the deep-water signs for the pond has been installed. Metal poles are required for the remainder. Action: JB to supply these. He has also obtained a throw line and life ring. Councillor Scowen attended the zoom meeting regarding the Village Cluster Developments. Action: PS to provide a report. Councillor Atkins drew attention to an entry in the village newsletter referring to the footpath to the Ferry House which he felt was misleading. Action: RA to provide a correction for the editor to include in the next edition.
6. Progress report for information on items not on the agenda: Councillors/Clerk. Clerk reported the VAT claim to 31 January of £497.37 had been received. The plumber has installed the water heater in the servery and addressed the leaking overflow in one of the toilets which was causing damp on the outside wall. The Clerk confirmed invoices for February will be raised before handing all equipment and files to the new clerk on 1 March 2023.
7. To receive reports from the County and District Councillor – Not received
8. Public Question Time – A parishioner thanked the Clerk for her contribution to the parish over the last 6 years, updating the village website, contributing to the newsletter, and supporting the church and events in the village. Another parishioner mentioned a recent report on the number of times raw sewage is allowed to enter the river and the broads. Action: PS to draft a letter to the Environment Agency asking how often this has occurred from the pumping stations on Ferry Road and The Covey?
9. Approval of the appointment of Charlotte Rust as Parish Clerk and change of Council meetings to second Tuesday of the month. Approved
10. Planning Permission 2023/0137 Residential dwelling north of The Green. Councillors agreed the plans are quite detailed considering this is a request for outline planning permission and certain assumptions have been made prior to being presented to the relevant agencies. Is this a suggestion or an intention of how the site could/will be developed? Mature trees and hedges have been removed on the plans causing concern on two counts first the loss of those trees, hedges, and habitat. Secondly, speeding, the trees currently obscure the ‘long view’ down a straight road which has no footpaths, and they act as a natural form of traffic calming. Removal will have the opposite effect. The drainage ditch has been removed on the plans. Disposal of surface water on the site is mentioned there is no explanation of how surface water from the highway will be managed. The green already suffers from flooding during periods of heavy rain. It is not clear if there will be any access to the farm through the site. In which case how will agricultural vehicles access the farm to the rear of the site? The design of the proposed property is not in keeping with the character of the village. The property is much higher than others nearby which are mainly bungalows. Without more clarity the Parish Council must object to this application. Action: Clerk to notify SNDC.
11. Correspondence – 1) Request for additional Dog Bin in The Covey nearer Wheatfen. Denied due to cost of emptying by SNDC – Action: Clerk to notify the parishioner 2) Complaint – Finials on new entrance to The Manor are unsightly and contravening planning application 2022/2250 ball finials have been replaced with WCs. Action: Clerk to notify SNDC Planning officer and inform the parishioner.
12. Hall – Councillor White’s paper on projected receipts and payments. Agree increase in hire charges April 2023, ongoing Management, current repairs required to Kitchen (door and socket). Following discussion of Councillor White’s paper, it was proposed to increase the hourly hire charge with effect from 1 April 2023 as follows: £10 for one off hire, parties etc. £8.00 to regular groups/clubs, and £7 to the school. Hire charges have not been increased since 2019. Agreed. Action: Clerk to notify hirers. Repairs – The Trust had reported the outside door to the kitchen is rotten and a further socket is also required. Action The Trust has been asked to provide a quote for replacing the door. Orange Fox Ltd need to be contacted to install a socket. Ongoing management of the hall was not discussed. There had been complaints about the floor being left dirty after hire. Steps have been taken to address this.
13. Finance – Authorise Payments: Wages £540.59, PAYE £ 186.00, WAVE £15.86 Plumber £110, ADEPTA £120, ICO Subscription via Direct Debit £35.00, Payments via the debit card: Toilet Rolls £44, Paper hand towels £29.95. Water safety Signs £67.03. Authorised
14. Cyclists using footpaths – There had been instances where aggressive cyclists had clashed with walkers on the footpath between Bramerton and Surlingham. On one occasion a walker was pushed into a ditch. It was thought there was a petition that the council could sign up to stop cyclists using footpaths. Action: Councillor Wilson to investigate this. Clerk to report the incidents to NCC Trails team.
15. Additional Item raised by Councillor Swinborne – Parishioners had complained about the volume of loose gravel on all road around the village. The sweepers had been round but there was still a lot that remained several windscreens had been chipped. Action: Clerk to report this to NCC.
16. Date of next meeting 14 March 2023 Items for the next meeting – Update on Petition preventing cyclists using footpaths. Parish Hall – Check handrail, step is crumbling and the line highlighting the edge of the step needs repainting.

Breakfast Club Assistant – Surlingham Primary Schoolteaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk

https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/jobs/midday-supervisory-assistant-msa-surlingham-primary-school

Dear Customers

We have been made aware via comments and from our in-store CCTV that there have been several thefts of late within our Farm Shop. Notably by children both making underpayments for items and stealing handfuls of change from the change tin.

Our little farm shop is based purely on trust, and it is very sad that these few are ruining this experience for others, especially when we know many other children will be utterly blameless and will be sensibly using the shop for themselves and/or shopping for their parents.

Being unattended as it is means we can keep the shop open for longer hours, adding a convenience to you and creating a trusted and unique shopping experience. We would potentially be looking at being able to employ someone to help grow, improve, and staff the shop at some stage in the future, but thefts make these goals much harder to achieve.

We have no intentions to be naming and shaming/ posting names and images, rather we simply ask parents to continue to make their children aware that this is unacceptable behaviour. We have CCTV cameras up in the shop and all over the farm site as well as signs announcing this. If theft continues, we will first have to try only allowing under 18’s in the shop if accompanied by an adult. This is not something we would wish to do as it goes against the spirit of the shop and what it is about, but we would be left with no other option if things carry on as they are.

Our aim is to create a convenient and safe place to stock up on essential items as well as the wonderful local produce that is on offer. Stealing not only affects us, but also those who supply us who rely on such outlets to sell their produce.

May we take this opportunity to again thank you for your continued support. We are incredibly grateful for your custom over the last few years since the shop opened and simply wanted to make you aware of the situation/predicament we are in as it cannot carry on as it is without us having to make changes to the way people shop or may even lead to an eventual closure of the shop altogether.

Do please get in touch with us if you have any suggestions/questions.

On a different note we have just had a fresh coat of tarmac placed on our drive!

The Fish Van will be with us this Thursday 23rd Feb 2023 1:30PM until 3PM and then will have a week off on Thursday 2nd March and then back again as normal on Thursday 9th March. Will remind closer to the time also.

Kindest regards

Yare Valley Farm Shop

NR14 7GD

Info@yarevalleyoils.co.uk

01508 538206

The Ferry will be holding another quiz before the summer season starts on Friday 31st March at 19:00. This time there will be a small entry fee in aid of St Martins charity for the homeless. Quizmaster Paul presides.

The usual mix of quirky and fun questions. A must for the diary.