PARISH COUNCIL: The March meeting of the parish council, chaired by coun Tony Wilkins, heard from Susan Brock that more than 80 per cent of the questionnaires sent out for the parish plan had been returned, and 35 youth surveys. The returns were being analysed and a working group would meet after Easter to consider the results. The draft report would be ready for the annual parish meeting in May, and the project should be completed by September.

The meeting then heard that dry stone walling training courses would be held in Ilmington in September and October; the new entrance at Dumbra, Lower Green, had been completed and the vehicles were now being parked in the drive.

The chairman reported that he had obtained a quotation of £1,700 for the new bowls club fencing, and that the club was pursuing the matter of a grant. He also reported that the tennis club has asked Mr John Bradley to draw up plans for the shed, to include one single toilet suitable for the disabled within the existing building. There would be a meeting soon of all interested parties to discuss what would be required in a new storage shed to replace the container. This meeting would be organised by Mr Malcolm Lowe.

There had been more complaints about the siting of the Cotswold AONB marker stone at the junction of Front Street and Mickleton Road. The present site was considered to be dangerous and the county council should be asked to move the stone further into the verge and away from the road. The new site should be agreed by the parish council.

The chairman had recently met the engineer from the County Network Group to discuss highway matters. Frog Lane, Grump Street, Hurdlers Lane and Ballards Lane would be resurfaced. Featherbed Lane and the steep bank by the Upper Green would be repaired, and the surfacing of Campden Hill and Front Street would be carried out in May and June.

From Monday there will be a bus service between Ilmington and Lower Quinton - two trips each morning each way. This will be the 23 route and will still go into Stratford via Clifford Chambers after calling at Lower Quinton.

Coun Danny Wilkins reported that the public telephone in the pavilion was never used and it was coating the sports and social club money. It was agreed that it could be taken out of the pavilion.

CONCERT: The village is hoping to have a life-saving defibrillator in the not too distant future. To help raise the cost of the machine there is a concert at the village hall on Saturday, April 16. The Alcester-based Tarantara choir under their conductor Jonathan Hill will be performing their wide repertoire of music which ranges from Bach to John Rutter and from Faure, the Beach Boys, and Sinatra and the Beatles. In addition a few talented musicians will be adding variety to the programme. A few tickets are still available by phoning 01608 682609.