Harvington

This week, the children's favourite bears have been at school with their owners, sitting at desks and listening to stories, taking part in competitions and challenges and paying (where they can) small fees for the privilege of doing so, all contributing to the total. The bears even had their own fancy dress competition! Next is the concert at the arts centre on July 6 at 7.30pm, the annual garden party (at which everyone including guests, is required to dress for the occasion, on July 12 at 1pm, the leavers service in church on July 16 at 10am and sports night on July 17 at 6pm on the village cricket ground. All of these events are open to the public and support would be welcome. It is hoped that readers will also be willing to respond to an appeal for vegetable seeds. This comes from the school's continuing connection with Clive Guest who will be remembered as the manager of Safeways supermarket who has worked for the children of Gambia for many years. He will take seeds with him when he visits Gambia in the next few months and teach the children there to plant, cultivate and use them in their diets. New packets are not needed the idea is that any left over from this year's planting can be sent to the school and these will be given to Mr Guest. Please respond, if you can, by July 20, last day of term.

PARISH COUNCIL: The public forum opened to worries about the proposed sand and gravel extraction attaching to the creation of the Windmill Fishing Lakes, with questions about the date of the planning committee's final decision. Chairman Dennis McKenzie said he expected a decision at the end of this month. The parish council has been given permission to apply for a judicial review if the decision is unfavourable. After some discussion about ways and means of borrowing with money which to pay for same, it was formally proposed that borrowing consent should be obtained, legal advice taken as required and preparations made for moving to a judicial review within the six-week period allowed if this was necessary. It was recognised that, in the event of a contest between the parties involved and the possibility that the village could be faced with paying the costs if a decision were to be made against it then the sum to be borrowed could be as much as £25,000. Mr Gerald Wolstenholme spoke of his visit to Wychavon planning department's display in Church Lench Village Hall in connection with the 10-year Structure Plan. A handful of other Harvington residents, also attended. The meeting originally set for March in Grafton Flavell had been cancelled because of foot and mouth and then been resited in Church Lench but, he claimed there had been minimal notification to Harvington parish council and parishioners, and none which indicated the extent of the likely effect on the village, hardly anyone had been present. Mr Wolstenholme asked if it was intended that planners would be able to say that Harvington residents were not interested in the future of their village? He also asked why Harvington, which he said seemed destined to have more development than any other village in the district, not been chosen for a mounting of the display. Closure of the public forum precluded any further open discussion, but the matter was again raised when it appeared on the agenda. Coun McKenzie said that he would give urgent attention to the question and would, at the least, be urging residents to attend a forum planned to take place at 6, Merstow Green on Saturday, between 10.30am and 4.30pm where there was to be 'feedback on consultations and presentation of the development options'. Other business included complaints about grass-mowing another contractor was asked to take on the task of mowing the playing field, while the matter would be taken up with the present contractors. Other complaints included problems arising from the increased use of the footpath alongside the village hall. It now serving as access to the playing field for motorbikes. It was agreed that a formal notice should be put in the Harvington News giving the exact situation in regard to the restrictions on the use of the path. After that, the police should be notified of any infringement. Various names had been suggested for the new development at Harvington crossroads and after some discussion Marsh Court was decided commemorating the success of Mr A E Marsh who, built up the business which became the landmark Black and White complex on that corner.

STRUCTURE PLAN REVIEW: Over the last weekend, coun McKenzie obtained from Wychavon a map on which the proposed developments for Harvington are shown. This was displayed in the village hall last Saturday and Sunday and on Monday evening. At least 400 residents attended.

HISTORY OF HARVINGTON: The 36-page booklet written by John Winterburn of Stratford, (whose son now lives in Harvington), will be on sale in the village hall tonight when the author will be present to show photographs and other source material and to answer questions about the compilation of his material. Priced at £4, the book will contain text, colour illustrations, maps and line drawings. Mr Winterburn will donate £1 from the sale of each book to some worthy cause agreed with the village. Inquiries can also be made direct to the author on 01789 296201.