The Link Magazine

OFFTON AND WILLISHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Reinforcing its determination to combat antisocial behaviour, SCC has appointed a special phone number: 08456 034715, under the 'Play Your Part' initiative, for the public to report such behaviour. More information is available from Alan Keely: 01473 265159 alan.keely@suffolk.gov.uk

Suffolk Constabulary will close the Public Enquiry Desk at Ipswich Town Hall, effectively from towards the end of 2010 and reduce the number of opening hours at others. The nearest one is at Stowmarket.

People suffering from breathlessness can attend six week rehabilitation courses to assist them. Contact your GP or Practice Nurse. More details on the notice boards.

MSDC have issued byelaws covering Skin Piercing. They are placed on deposit at MSDC Offices.

The Parish Council welcomes PC Matt Brown who has been appointed for our villages. He replaces Sian Uttley who has moved to Elmswell and leaves with our best wishes.

The road closure of the B1115 in Bildeston High Street, scheduled for July, will now take place on 22/23 August. See Notice Boards.

Pip Sands: Parish Clerk
01449 721173

OFFTON AND WILLISHAM CARPET BOWLS CLUB.

The summer league fixtures are well under way, with almost half of the matches played. We started the beginning of May with a home game against Martlesham, we made a good start with three teams playing well, and the visitors, apart from one team, found the mats difficult, at the end of an enjoyable evenings bowling, Offton and Willisham took the match by three games to two, and with a superior shots total, we won by 8 points to 2.

Our next match was away at Old Felixstowe, they are a tough team to play against, especially on their own mats, once again there was some good play by both sides, one of our teams played really well and managed a win, the final score being a reverse of the first match, and we lost 2 points to 8.

We finished the month by entertaining Claydon at home, another team we find hard to beat, but this time we just managed a win, it was a hard fought match with good bowling by both teams, and at the end we shared the games two each, but Offton and Willisham had the greater number of shots by a small margin, the end result was 6-4 to us.

We began June with a visit to Tuddenham, another club were we find adjusting to the mats very difficult , and we normally don't win a game, but one team had a good night and bowled well, and managed to win their game, we lost the other three, and went down 2-8.

Our last match in June was the return game at home to Old Felixstowe, again there was some good bowling by both teams, and the visitors managed to adapt to our mats, better than we adapted to theirs, it was a close match, with the visitors winning two games, the home team won one and one was drawn, O/W were fortunate to have a greater number of shots, by a small margin, and so the points were shared 5-5.

The club are looking forward to the new village hall being completed, and we hope it might encourage some new members to join. We welcome anyone who would like to have a go at playing at our club nights on Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm, for more information contact Valerie on 01473 657023, or any club member.

Offton and Willisham New Village Hall - Status Report July 2010

I am pleased to report that progress is very good on the new site. The foundations and base slab are now in position and ready for the building manufacturer to start prefabrication off-site.

A difficulty has been identified getting power safely delivered because of the proximity of the existing high voltage lines. This is being worked through with EDF and I am hopeful that a solution agreeable to all parties has been found.

The funding position remains 'difficult'. The delay in completing the sale on the old hall means we could not start work as soon as we had originally hoped meaning the original building quotations needed to be revisited leading to some inevitable increases reflecting those in the raw materials. Against that, we have received notification in the last month of another successful grant bid and we still have several applications in for consideration.

The original intention was that the roof of the hall should be terracotta to match the nearby houses and the barn at Castle Farm. MSDC have refused permission for this and it will now be mid grey as in the opinion of their landscaping officer, this merges better into the scenery especially when viewed from a distance. While this decision can be challenged it would cause an three month delay in the build.

By the time this update lands on your doormat, we should be seeing real signs of construction starting. Please come up to take a look but ensure you observe the warning below. As always, any questions or problems (or donations!), please contact myself or any committee member.

Robin Derriman 657431 7 Lower Coney Grove.
(Next door to the site)

WARNING
[New Village Hall]
Residents are reminded that the land is now a 'building site'. No-one should attempt to cross through the barriers unless escorted by the contractor. Hard hats and protective clothing will become compulsory. Please stress to children that building sites may look safe and interesting, but are very dangerous and full of hidden hazards. We do not want a child to be hurt while this is being built.

NOTICE OF AGM
Offton and Willisham Village Hall Management Committee
The 2010 Annual General Meeting will be held at 8pm on Thursday 9th September 2010 in the Village Hall.
ALL WELCOME

OFFTON & WILLISHAM VILLAGE HALL

We are pleased to report a total of £96.00 raised from our recent Picture Quiz. Our thanks to Jessica Tappenden for her hard work in compiling it; and congratulations to the winner Mike Southgate from Somersham.