Produce Show 13th September 2015

Annual Produce Show

at BURTON GREEN VILLAGE HALL

We hope you are all tending your vegetables

 and watching out for your longest runner bean.

Is your carrot going to be the “smallest”

You can make your lemon curd now so it is nice and fresh. 

Please keep in the fridge.

Make sure your pickles and jams are labelled and dated

Have you taken your photos yet; don’t forget to get them printed off.

There is still time to knit a baby coat for the competition

 and for sending overseas if you wish.

Come along and get some 

fresh prize winning vegetables

 and cakes in the AUCTION

Looking forward to seeing you all on 

SUNDAY 13^TH SEPTEMBER

HS2 Plans Could be Derailed and then Corbyn Backtracks

Full report here:
HS2 plans could be derailed if Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour leadership


Jeremy Corbyn Backtracks

But this from the Financial Times, September 7th.

"Mr Corbyn voted against HS2 in 2013 but his opposition appears to have evaporated in recent weeks. This summer, he wrote a draft speech opposing the project: but when he delivered it, all references to the line had disappeared.

"Mr Corbyn recently told the Financial Times that it was too late to halt the first section of the route from London to Birmingham — and he would not stop the second leg to Leeds and Manchester. "


Commencement of Work Could be Stalled by Two Years

Other sources are claiming that the project could be stalled by 2 or 3 years:

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/work-hs2-could-stalled-two-9971644
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/09/05/hs2-faces-years-of-delays-say-experts/

Afternoon Tea for the Retired - Sunday 9th August

Retired of Burton Green

AFTERNOON TEA

With

ENTERTAINMENT

Sunday 9th August

3pm

Village Hall

£4.00

Minutes of Residents' Association Committee 15th July 2015

Minutes of Burton Green Residents’ Association Committee Meeting July 14th 2015

Present
   
Hilary Cox;  Andy Gibbs; Terry Heyes;  Judi Hibberd; Bron Putnam; Diane Swindells; Rona Taylor ; Faith Ward; Mary Webb. Alice Hawkins.

In attendance: Cllr Caryll Green, Derek Lawrence.

1. Apologies
   
Apologies had been received from Janet Hickinbottom.

Summary of actions following the meeting	Responsible
Form still needed from PC for grant	Andy Gibbs and Caryll Green to find form
Grant form still needed to be filled in	Judi
Problems with the Thistle Estate	Caryll to ask WDC
Letter to Broadwells re deliveries	Rona to write to Le Van
Welcome leaflet to go to Dereck Lawrence electronically	Judi

Minutes of the last meeting and Matters Arising

The minutes of the previous meeting of May 5th 2015 were approved.

Matters arising from the previous minutes:

• The money raised for Nepal was paid into the official charity( see accounts)
• Andy did send ideas to WCC re use of community fund.
• Mary put up the parking notices
• Police did look into the man sleeping rough on the Greenway
• Flower tubs are in place and being watered
• Judi unable to find form on PC site so Caryll to find the form for her

All other matters arising had been covered or were to be agenda items.

The minutes were approved.

2. Treasurer's Report

A report was circulated.
Thanks were given to Terry.

3. Residents' views/concerns

Derek Lawrence, Chair of Friends of BG School attended the meeting to suggest a coordinated BG electronic calendar. There are 9 groups in Burton Green who could have the dates of their events recorded. Each group could access the calendar and have designated persons to upload dates. Janet and Judi to upload for the BGRA.
Derek Lawrence will tell us how.

Alice reported a problem with the Thistle Estate property in Red Lane. The building has damaged a neighbour’s septic tank requiring a new pump to be installed. There are concerns re its status and the concerns were handed to Caryll Green of the PC to continue with. Alice will let the complainants know who is dealing with it.

4. Update on and discussion of Residents' Association initiatives and issues

Report back from meetings June 5th and 12th to negotiate with HS2, attended by RA,VH and Greenway representatives
Rona reported back that there was a pre meeting chaired by John Whitehouse to discuss the issues and then the meeting with HS2. The village hall are asking for 30% more space and more area outside. The rest of the land will hopefully be bought by WCC and a wildflower meadow was suggested. There will be pedestrian access to the Greenway behind the new village hall and a Greenway carpark which would act as an overflow for the village hall car park. Ideas are needed as to what happens to the area over the tunnel. Suggestions were made re the old site of the village hall. The siting of the building will take account of the aviation pipeline under the field.

Speedwatch.  Nothing to report and thanks given to the team. The camera was used at the school summer barbecue to speed gun the children and adults so it was a re-use of resources.

Broadband update – we are 3 months in to the promised 6 months so awaiting an email soon. Mary reported that a lot of BG was leafleted about it.

Retired of Burton Green – future events
Afternoon tea on Sun 9th Aug
Lunch on Thur 29th Oct

Circus event- was a great success and thanks given to the Jubilee Committee and the Stanworths for providing the venue. The circus cost £1500, the toilets £168 and the insurance £26. The take was £1482 so we made a loss of £212.

Mary has some photos she would like printed at Costco and Terry agreed to the cost. She wants to put them up in the HS2 space in the entrance of the Village Hall and will ask the committee if she can.

Diane reminded us it was the Queens 90th birthday in June 2016, this could be the focus of a future event.

Bugle- will go out the first week of Sept, deadline for entries is 19th Aug

Welcome Pack - Judi reported that it was finished and passed to Deirdre Vernon and Chris Langton to use if new residents arrived. There is no distributor for Cromwell Lane and no decision was made. Derek Lawrence offered to distribute around his network and Judi to send to him electronically.

Celebrating 60 years of BGRA – founded Sep 1st 1955- Rona suggested marking the event at the AGM. It was agreed to have a Costco cake and 60 candles and sparkling wine.

5. Village Hall 

 Diane reported that they are on the verge of appointing an architect. Talks with HS2 are slow and she confirmed they are asking for 30 % more space and more outdoor space. May need to petition re loss of income if they leave the present hall before the next one is built.
Next event is the Produce Show on Sun Sept 13th
Faith thanked the village hall committee for the barbecue held on the 11th July.

6. HS2 Opposition Group

Andy said that AP2 had been published yesterday and that we need to petition by August. General message is thanks for all the changes but it’s not enough. Discussion ensued about tunnel exits and portals.

7. Parish Councillor's Report

Caryll reported that we have 8 of the 11 councillors with co-option of Andy Gibbs, John Vine, Dipa Jethwa and Ray Watkins. There is now a full complement of BG councillors and more recruits from Warwick University are anticipated.

The PC have been looking at the parking issue in BG and are going to leaflet all householders about being considerate when parking. This is not for out of area drivers, a problem that has not yet been addressed.

Broadwells is appealing Warwick District council’s enforcement order and so the PC will put in a submission as to why it continues to be opposed to the work going on there. There is particular concern about the need to replace the hedge removed by Broadwells site.

8.  Any Other Business

Mary has had a lot of information on Macmillan since running a coffee morning to support them. There is a date in Oct they are encouraging us to note and Rona suggests we talk about this next time.

9. Date, time and venue of Next Meeting

The next committee meeting would take place on September 15th at 7.30p.m.at the Village Hall.

Thanks were expressed to all for attending.

On Yer Bike

This is a contributed article, written by Sally Davids, an aspiring local poet and freelance writer:

On Two Wheels in Burton Green: A Quick Guide to Cycling in Warwickshire

With its blissful rolling hills, lush green trees and picturesque skies, Shakespeare’s own country is a haven of sights, sounds, and smells perfect for the leisurely stroll or relaxing bike ride. And with so many beautiful attractions en route, visitors and locals alike can make the most of Burton Green’s gorgeous landscapes as well as Warwickshire’s big, open spaces and small, winding lanes.

Highlights

With popular destinations like Coventry about 40 minutes away by bike via the shortest route, Burton Green is ideally placed. The area is surrounded by beautiful, pastoral countryside and quaint villages. The most popular way is via the Kenilworth Greenway, Warwickshire’s most popular bike network, running through some of the country’s most scenic locales. This is the perfect setting to bring the family for a picnic and do some nature watching, as well as enjoy a number of recreational activities.

Further afield lies Warwick and the beloved city of Stratford-upon-Avon just less than 2 hours by bike. There are several other routes in the region showcasing the best that the county has to offer, and most of them are completely accessible for people of all ages and levels. These include:

• Coombe Country Park
• Pooley Country Park
• Ryton Pools Country Park
• Burton Dassett Hills Country Park
• Brailes Hill & Ascott
• Stratford Greenway
• Burton Dassett Hills Country Park
• ...and more incorporating but National Cycle Networks and local trails

Gearing Up for the Ride

While many cyclists pass through Burton Green, the village itself has no bicycle shops or repairs but there are several throughout the area which cyclists can use up Coventry way and further south in Kenilworth. These include:

• The A1 Motor Store: CV7 7EL
• Biker’s Paradise: CV4 9UY
• Jardine Cycles: CV4 9PP
• Motor World: CV4 9DU
• Funky Bikes: CV5 6ET
• Albany Cycles: CV5 6NF
• Sports Direct: CV1 1DL
• Re-Cycle Bike Repairs: CV1 4AE
• Hawk Factory Cycle Stores: CV1 4JJ
• Cycle One Stop: CV1 5PR
• Cycle Repairs -uk-: CV3 1FP
• Halfords: CV3 4RP
• Coventry Recycled Cycles: CV3 2BE
• Behind Bars: CV8 2EL
• Mike Vaughan Cycles: CV8 1LY

Many of these stores serve as a handy one-stop-shop for repairs (or new models), accessories, and protective bicycle gear. Specialists can assist with what kind of bicycle and equipment is suited to individual riding style and level.

Safety and Security

Regardless of age, all cyclists should wear protective head gear and knee and elbow pads are also recommended, as well as safety features on the bike like front and rear lights and reflectors. Cyclists should also be aware of the road rules, including how to signal, when and where right of way is granted, and which public areas are permitted for cycling use. Understandably, many cyclists will want to stop en route for refreshments or shopping. Bike theft continues to be a huge problem in the UK as well as damage seats and tires. You can help prevent loss or damage to your bike by securing it with double locks, removing wheels, seats, and other accessories, using designated bike parking areas like parking meters, lockers, racks and corrals, keeping it within safe distance to where you are walking, and preferably within view. If you have a valuable bike, register your serial number and consider purchasing coverage. Preferably, try not to leave your bike unless you can keep it within safe distance.

Useful Tools

There are numerous tools available online and in app stores that instruct you how to do a bike tune-up, how to monitor your bike routes with GPS and keep track of your progress, where you can find the nearest bike repair shop, weather, points of interest, and more. Some of the top recommendations are:

• Cycle Hire
• Bike Gear Calculator
• BBC Weather
• Map My Ride
• St John Ambulance First Aid for Cyclists
• CycleMaps

Note that many of these are free, but could use up your smartphone’s data. They are great ways to enhance your ride and also provide open forums where fellow cyclists can meet and share stories, advice, and organise events, whether it’s a cycling derby in Coventry or simply a meet-up in Burton Green. Summer is usually when the height of these events occur, but luckily the English weather is fairly hospitable for cycling year-round with moderate temperatures (and, of course, a fair helping of rain depending on the year). And with Burton’s Green’s own beloved sites and nearby attractions, there isn’t a better place to begin exploring the mighty Midlands. Wherever the tranquil routes of Warwickshire take you, just remember to gear up, respect the road, and enjoy.

Local Resident Secures Release of Secret HS2 Report

Dr Paul Thornton has fought for years to get a report released which has been blocked by the Government - despite lengthy and costly Freedom of Information Act requests.  The report now released provides evidence of the weakness of the HS2 project and coincides with the Government's decision to postpone previously promised rail upgrades.

These are just a few examples of media coverage about the newly released disclosures (click on the paragraph headings, to read the complete articles):

Transport Officials Warned HS2 was Unaffordable in 2012
"A highly critical Department of Transport report on the viability of HS2 has been released by the government. The 2012 review of HS2 has been released under freedom of information, and confirms that officials believed then that the project was unaffordable. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin had tried to fight anti-HS2 campaigners’ demands for the report to be released... In the report, the Department of Transport said “the costs of this project are so large, and over such a long period, that it will not be able to afford it alongside all its other likely spending commitments.”

Suppressed HS2 Report Reveals Serious Cost Concerns
"The crisis in Britain’s railways is threatening to engulf HS2, with the government being forced to release a damning report showing the Department for Transport believed the high-speed project was unaffordable given its other spending commitments...  Until now, ministers have claimed that upgrades to the conventional railway would be delivered alongside HS2. But the reorganisation of Network Rail and its new, strict funding caps mean there will need to be further negotiations before work on promised schemes, such as electrification, can go ahead... The rail historian Christian Wolmar said: “There has always been an unstated conflict... I think that line [HS2] will come apart.”

Fears of Spiralling Costs are Laid Bare in Previously Hidden Official Reports
"The June 2012 report published today states: ‘Without a comprehensive budget in circulation it is difficult to have fully meaningful discussions on affordability'. The Department for Transport believes however that the costs of HS2 are so large, and over such a long period, that it will not be able to afford it alongside all its other likely spending commitments... Dr Paul Thornton who had sought to have the reports published said: ’At the time these reports were written, the Government were publicly claiming a myriad of benefits from HS2 while reassuring all and sundry about the costs. These reports show clearly that behind the scenes, they knew they could not substantiate those claims."

Rail Farce Raises Serious Questions About HS2
"It is six years since the TaxPayers’ Alliance first calculated that major capital projects tend to go 38 per cent over budget on average... But as Patrick McLoughlin could tell you, the problem is still not solved. The latest news that £38 billion of rail improvements has been put on hold (because Network Rail wildly over-promised on its capacity to deliver them) is troubling and frustrating in itself. Sizeable amounts of money may already have been wasted, and rail passengers who have spent years waiting for upgrades face yet more delays... All of which raises serious questions about the biggest of the Government’s capital projects: HS2. Keen readers will remember that the ConHome Manifesto suggested HS2 should be cancelled and the money used to benefit the North of England in other, more effective, ways."

___________

These are a few extracts from the 'ConHome Manifesto'. This document was published in September 2014, but gives some insights into progressive Conservative party thinking:

"The distance between Manchester and Leeds is about the same length as the Piccadilly Line. Yet despite the proven success of infrastructure upgrades like the Northern Hub in the Greater Manchester area, Whitehall’s big idea for the North is HS2 – a luxury train to London that won’t even reach the North until 2032 at the earliest, won’t reach certain key cities like Liverpool at all and which won’t provide east-west links across the region. While George Osborne’s recent suggestion for a new high speed line – or ‘HS3’ – between Leeds and Manchester is to be welcomed, its very name says all we need to know about Whitehall’s order of priorities... We propose: To scrap HS2 and re-direct the planned public investment in its entirety to a Northern Infrastructure Fund....

"For all the importance of railways, motorways and airports, these are essentially technologies of the 19th and 20th centuries. A forward facing infrastructure policy needs to get serious about the new networks of the 21st century.... Sophisticated robotics, civilian drone technology, self-driving vehicles, smart utility infrastructure, decentralised energy sources, advanced user interfaces and the pervasive deployment of electronic sensors will enable us to transform the economy within decades."

Berkswell Open Gardens (NGS)

Sunday 28 June (11am - 5pm). 

Combined admission £5.00, child free. 

Light refreshments at

 Yew Tree Barn, Holly Oak, The Tower House & Eardley Cottage. 

To see details of each garden (including a photo of some), click on the NGS icons on the map, or on the individual links listed below. 

Four of the properties are very close together, just around the corner, in Waste Lane.

To enlarge the map, click the full-screen icon, near the top right corner of the map.

Batavia 
Brookside House  
145 Duggins Lane 
Eardley Cottage 
Fairways 
Fern Cottage    
Firs Farm 
Holly Oak 
Old Hall 
The Pines   
Squirrels Jump 
The Tower House 
Yew Tree Barn

BBQ Village Hall - 11th July

BURTON GREEN VILLAGE HALL

Hodgetts Lane

BARBEQUE AND MUSIC

Saturday 11^th July

7.30 til late

Tickets Adults £15

Children/Students £7.50

Bring own drink and glass 

Contact  024 7646 2070/024 7646 2641 for tickets

Or email davidline@onetel.com

Burton Green School Summer Fayre June 26th