NEWTON AND BIGGIN PARISH COUNCIL

Judith Leggatt                      Chairman                 01788 860429

Richard Greenaway             Vice Chairman         01788 860154

Pauline Holdsworth                                             01788 860432

Derek Brown                                                      01788 860153

Michelle Essam                                                   01788 860326

Heather Miles                     Clerk                        01788 570326

Further details of meetings etc will be added in the near future

NEWTON AND BIGGIN PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL REPORT - 13TH MARCH 2008.

This year, 2007/8, has been a mixture of old running sores, planning, new problems and - yes - successes.

Reilly's aggregate reclamation site on the Watling Street continued with its "over zealous" tipping of rubble and has been closely monitored by the Parish Council and Warwickshire CC. Reilly's were eventually taken to Court and fined and we're now trying to get the situation corrected and Public Fottpath R107 re-opened.

Another footpath needing care is R104 which runs between The Hollies and Hillcrest Farm. The style is very dangerous and is to be replaced with a self-closing gate, as is the gate on the far side of the field.

The picnic site has suffered more subsidence, presumably as a result of the combined effects of wet weather and the passage of time. Rugby Borough Council will be surveying the bridge and are topping up the most weeks. At our request the worst affected area has been taped off.

Our long running battle with the County Council to get them to fill in holes in and at the sides of roads has been a dismal failure this year. I'm sorry! We promise to keep on at them.. The road drains, however, have been cleaned throughout the village leaving only 3 near St Thomas Cross still to be done.

The Parish Council commissioned a Housing Needs Survey last September. It was conducted by the Warwickshire Rural Community Council and Warwickshire Rural Housing Association. One third of the village responded , which is a very good response rate for this kind of survey. The results showed the need for 2 new homes for local people. The final amended survey report was received 2 weeks ago and hopefully will be ratified at our next meeting - then it should be available for the public.

This is the year that the Parish boundary changes took place, removing areas of what is now the Coton housing estate. This has reduced the population of the Parish by 50%, but has also reduced the number of households paying the Parish rate by the same amount.. This means that we've had to raise the rate back to what it was about 5 years ago (before Coton was built) in order to pay for street lighting etc.

The really good news this year was winning the grant from Rugby Borough Council to build "the footpath to nowhere" (as it's been christened). Having got that long stretch improved we are hoping to to do the next bit to St Thomas Cross. We are awaiting a quote and we'll then examine our finances and try for another grant.

The village notice board is falling apart. Richard has done a temporary repair and we've asked for a quote for a new one (which will hopefully be more user friendly to those of shorter stature).

It is still 2 years until the next Parish Election but I would like to make it clear that I will be standing down at that time, and I have the impression that I won't be the only one. So - please think about this. We need to encourage some younger, energetic and enthusiastic people to oversee the future needs of the village.

Coming back to the present - we have a litter pick on Sunday 6th April. Please join in if you can. It would be really helpful if someone could bring a spade to tidy up the edges of the new footpath.

My very best wishes to all who live in Newton and Biggin for a happy and succesful year ahead.

Judith E. Leggatt,

Chairman - Newton and Biggin parish Council.