VILLAGE DIARY: - Extracted from the Bentley Bugle (local news booklet)
(NOTE: There is no Parish Council meeting scheduled for the 8 January 2009)
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BENTLEY VILLAGE NEWS: The NEWS section, on this page, is a type of 'blog', was created to offer an insight into what is happening in Bentley (Suffolk) based on comments received by the webmaster or from the webmaster's perspective.
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VILLAGE NEWS: - (Latest on top)
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCENT: At the 4 December 2008 meeting members of the public heard that, unless there is a need for an Extra Ordinary meeting, the published Parish Council meeting for the 8 January 2009 will not be taking place.
LOCAL HOMES for LOCAL PEOPLE MEETING: It was agreed, at the brief meeting held in the Village Hall on the 26 November 2008, that a survey should be carried out to ascertain if there is a local requirement to provide 'Affordable Housing' somewhere in Bentley. This will be further discussed at the 4 December 2008 Parish Council meeting. The cost of the survey, using the services of Suffolk Acre and their Rural Housing Enabler package, would be between £200 and £600, as mentioned at a previous Village meeting, the final cost is dependant on how much work the village undertakes. Click here to view a copy of the BABERGH PRESENTATION made at a previous Village meeting.
UPDATE: At the 4 December 2008 meeting members of the public heard confirmation that a survey was to go ahead and would cost £250.
GRANT AID to St MARYS Church: At the 6 November 2008 Parish Council meeting, members of the public heard the Parish Council, after previous councillors had suggested a possible way forward (Note 1), have now clarified the situation regarding grant aid for the church and will be giving an annual grant of £1000 for the next 5 years to help with urgent refurbishment.
Note 1: Grant aid to charities, and details about the Powers of Parish Councils to incur expenditure, is covered in great detail within the book 'Local Council Administration' by Charles Arnold-Baker available from SALC (Scroll down the publications list to Other Handbooks.)
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PRUNINGS (Branches) LEFT BY THE ROADSIDE: At the 2 October 2008 Parish Council meeting, members of the public heard that all the branches, left by the roadside throughout the village during pruning work carried out by a bus company, will shortly be removed.At the PC meeting on the 6 November 2008 members of the public were informed that Suffolk County Council is dealing with the matter as most of the cutting were still laying by the roadside.
Latest UPDATE: At the 4 December 2008 meeting it was confirmed that all the cuttings have now been removed from the verges.
UPDATE: At the 27 November 2008 - Most, but not all, of the cuttings have been removed - in future it would be preferred if the cuttings were removed on or very shortly after the trees were pruned
HGV TRAFFIC THROUGH THE VILLAGE: For many years the Parish Council, under different Chairmen, has tried to get a weight restriction imposed on the NARROW C426 to prevent HGV traffic using the village as a through route in order to avoid congestion usually at the Codock Mill interchange. Traffic surveys were carried in an attempt to add 'weight' to the Parish Councils case all without success. New proposals to alter the routes used to divert traffic, including HGVs, when the main road is blocked, are under investigation. Hopefully more information will be available soon.
UPDATE: At the PC meeting on the 6 November 2008 members of the public were informed that this matter was still being progressed with possibilities of a pedestrian crossing and mini roundabouts being provided at certain locations. Once again it is hoped that more information will be available soon.