The Council has now made Application to South Gloucestershire planning for the Change of Use permission necessary to being work on the burial ground at Churchend. The Burial Ground project has its own web site at www.charfieldburialground.org.uk and the Planning Application can be seen on the South Gloucestershire planning portal. Do feel free to comment on the application (especially in support of the application!).

We continue to liaise with South Gloucestershire about this trial, discussing comments from the parishioners and working with them on technical improvements – particularly to the timers on the streetlights. It was clear in the early months of the trial (which will conclude in June 2010 when the new established policy will take over) that some of the lights were switching incorrectly. This was eventually tracked down to mis-manufactured timers. These are now being swapped out for new ones. Most will be replaced during February and March.

When the timers are swapped out, there is a short period before they ‘learn’ what time of year it is. This is because they rely upon a solar clock, which needs to see a few cycles of day/night before locking in. If you find a light that appears to be operating incorrectly do let us know, but be aware that they might simply be calibrating themselves. South Gloucestershire has given us a table that explains the predicted on and off times for the new switches.

The first replacements will take place in Underhill Road with others to follow.

The now twice annual village litter pick has become a popular community event, and one that turns in positive results long after it’s over. A clean space is less likely to be littered upon than one that is already covered in rubbish. By cleaning up the crisp packets and drinks cans from our hedgerows and gutters, the whole village looks better and stays looking better for longer.The Parish Council has organised another skip and Councillors will be standing beside it in the Memorial Hall car park on Saturday 20th March, ready to hand out litter pickers, gloves and black bags to anyone willing to offer an hour or two.

The litter pick will run from ten in the morning through to four in the afternoon (10h00 – 16h00). Councillors will be in the car park by the skip. Just come up and get involved. The only thing we ask is that you return the litter pickers as soon as you’ve done with them – we have only ten (the gloves are yours to keep).

Please come and join in, and help clean up our village. It’s a satisfying and simple way to put something back into your community.

CHARFIELD VILLAGE LITTER PICK
SATURDAY 20th March 2010
10:00 TO 16:00

 The event was initially postponed due to bad weather but eventually started at eleven and kept going until rain stopped pick at around three thirty in the afternoon. Many thanks to all who came out to support the village.