A record-breaking, bumper issue this time, with a packed first week of June and plenty of other information, including details of resurfacing in Church Street, lost keys, nesting curlews, New Homes Bonus application and the latest Bystander, along with reports of recent events.
 
In this issue:
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The Swan Inn will be closed for staff holidays until Friday 2nd June.
 
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Services at St James’ Church during June will be held at the following times:
  • Sunday 4th: Family Service, 10.30am (with Peter Stansbie)
  • Sunday 11th: Holy Communion, 10.30am (with Ven. Chris Liley)
  • Sunday 18th: Morning Praise, 10.30am (with Joanna Williams)
  • Sunday 25th: Service of Thanksgiving, 3.00pm (with Rev. Claire Lording)
All are particularly welcome on Sunday 25th June at the Service of Thanksgiving for everyone who gives help to St James’ Church.
 
Please note that this year’s Race Night, in aid of St James’, will take place on Saturday 16th September, not the 14th as stated in the Bystander.
 
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Angela Fitch writes:
Birlingham Photography Club will welcome Permajet print and paper specialist, Colin Hulley, to their monthly meeting on Tuesday 6th June. Colin will tell us all about monitor calibration, printer settings and using the right type of paper to get the best out of your photographs.
 
Meetings are open to anyone (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult); we start at 7.00pm and finish at 8.30pm. £3pp to include light refreshments. More information at www.birlinghamphotography.co.uk or phone Angela on 07585 904636.
 
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The next Cuppa & Chat takes place on Wednesday 7th June, from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. Come and enjoy tea, coffee and cake in Birlingham Village Hall – an opportunity to meet friends and discuss the following day’s General Election.
 
All are welcome and transport can be provided if required. For more information, please contact Adrianne Woodward on 01386 750936.
 
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The General Election takes place on Thursday 8th June. The Polling Station at Birlingham Village Hall will be open from 7.00am until 10.00pm and the results will be announced the following day.
 
There are five parliamentary candidates for the West Worcestershire constituency: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative), Samantha Charles (Labour), Edward McMillan-Scott (Liberal Democrat), Natalie McVey (Green Party) and Mike Savage (UKIP).
 
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June Hiden, Clerk to Birlingham Parish Council, writes:
It is understood that there will be resurfacing to sections of Church Street during June and this will take two days. No exact dates can be given at this stage, due to the weather, but there will be signage for the road closure the week before.
 
Further works are due at a later date, when hopefully more information can be circulated nearer the time.
 
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A set of keys (car keys certainly and possibly house keys as well) was lost somewhere in the village sometime last week.
 
If you have found them or or know where they might be, please phone 01386 751790 or email news@birlingham.org.
 
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There are Curlews nesting on Asham Meadow, which is rare. Some signs will be going up at entry points hopefully to encourage dog walkers to keep their dogs under control so this ground-nesting bird is not disturbed.
 
Full details can be viewed at www.birlingham.org/docs/curlews.pdf.
 
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David Kew writes:
As you may be aware, Birlingham Flower & Produce Show instigated a request for additional funding via the New Homes Bonus scheme at the end of 2016, which finally culminated in an official application in May of this year.
 
The application was for a second marquee to replace the ancient one we were gifted by The Swan in 2014 and has been supported widely by Birlingham Cricket Club and The Jubilee Committee, who would both like access to it for various village events.
 
Unfortunately questions were raised at the last Parish Council meeting which meant that the decision on the funding was deferred until the next meeting on 19th July, leaving us precious little time to guarantee this year’s event on 2nd September.
 
We have however been asked by the Parish Council to request additional support from the village for the funding, which is why this notice is being circulated. The marquee is envisaged as being available for village events upon request to the Flower & Produce Show Committee and we see it as being an asset for the next few years.
 
If you have any positive comments that you would like to make regarding this application then please feel free to email them to June Hiden (birlingham_clerk@yahoo.co.uk).
 
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You should by now have received your copy of the Spring Edition of the Birlingham Bystander. As this is the first edition published by the new Bystander Committee, its members will be pleased to hear your views on this latest issue. Please send any comments, including constructive criticism. to bystander@birlingham.org.
 
The Committee is now looking for articles for the Autumn Edition, to be published in November, so if you would like to contribute in any way please get in touch.
 
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John Hill writes:
On Wednesday 10th May the Birlingham Annual Parish Meeting was held in a revised format at the Cricket Ground Clubhouse; both our County and District Councillors were present. Many village residents were present and enjoyed presentations not only from the Parish Council but also many of the clubs which exist so that villagers can enjoy their various hobbies and pastimes.
 
After a break for refreshments, there was an open session for questions on several topics. My thanks go to all those who attended and in particular to those who spoke, the Cricket Club for the use of their facility, Marion New for the food, but mainly to June Hiden who organised the whole event so successfully. Hopefully this format is a beginning  for future Annual Parish Meetings.
 
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John Hill writes:
At its meeting on Wednesday 17th May, Birlingham Parish Council discussed a number of issues, including the following:
  • Co-option of new councillor, Mr Steven Byrne
  • Review of procedures and policies
  • Approval of Annual Return prior to External Audit
  • Update on Village Design Statement from Councillor Yates
Full minutes of the Parish Council meeting will be available shortly.
 
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Paula Aston writes:
Sunday 21st May saw the village come out in force for our first Family Day. Whether it was running a stall, setting up gazebos, throwing eggs or just coming along for a fun afternoon, what can I say apart from 'What an amazing day!' The sun shone on us after a rainy week in the build-up to make the afternoon perfect.
 
I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped and came along to make the afternoon perfect and to raise a fantastic £1200 for our beautiful church. Same time next year?
 
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HM Revenue & Customs and West Mercia Police have issued the following warnings:
  • HM Revenue & Customs have issued a warning about ‘phishing emails’ and advise that should you receive one you DO NOT OPEN it. The subject line will read ‘Your 2016 Tax Report’ and the advice is to forward it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete the message.
  • West Mercia Police have warned that a new fraud trend has recently hit the UK where fraudsters contact victims claiming to be from Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and trick them into paying bogus debts and taxes. Full details at www.birlingham.org/docs/ir_fraud.pdf.
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The following planning application has been determined by Wychavon District Council:
  • Peacock Barn, Lower End: Application for a Lawful Development Certificate (Existing) - the use of the garden and grounds (as outlined in red on the attached plan) ancillary to the holiday let accommodation at The Pig Sty (formerly known as Peacock Cottage) in breach of condition no. 3 attached to planning permission 81/00241 (Case No. 17/00320). Refused. Full details and reasons for refusal can be viewed on the Wychavon DC website at https://plan.wychavon.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=90702.
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This email is distributed by Birlingham Jubilee Committee and is available to residents of Birlingham, their families and friends. If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails, or have any comments or items for inclusion in future emails, or wish to be removed from the mailing list, please write to news@birlingham.org.
The email is open to any organisation or business within the parish to promote events. Inclusion of an event does not imply that Birlingham Jubilee Committee supports either the event or the views of the organisation promoting it.