Playden

Intermittent here again. Lovely sunny morning for a change.

Bookings are coming in nicely for the Ghostly Encounters evening to be held in the Playden W. I. Hall at 7.30 pm on Saturday 15th February. But there is room for a few more. Do come.

This will be a splendid, spooky evening when Phillipa Urquhart will tell three stories of a suitable scary nature. The one called The Doll’s Ghost is especially for younger members of the audience, and Dracula’s Ghost and To Let, set in British India won’t frighten them too much.

Supper will be served during an interval, and will consist of soup and a Ploughman’s Platter, which can be vegetarian if you wish. It is ESSENTIAL THAT YOU BOOK YOUR PLACE SO THAT CATERING CAN BE PLANNED. Please phone Viv on 01797 224 606 or me on 01424 815 247. Tickets are £8 children £4.50, all payable at the door. Bring your own cutlery and chosen drink. There will be a raffle too.

Come and be enthralled by the stories told with consummate care by a professional story teller. Cheer up your winter evening with Friends of Playden church. I look forward to seeing you there.

Playden Parish Council met last week. It was an unusual date because all the winter meetings have had to be rescheduled .

Apologies were received from Dan Bevan, PCSO and RDC Councillor Paul Osborne. The attendees were Cllrs. Tony Lenihan, Alan Blackman, Marion Lovell, Chairman David Stone and the Clerk, Mr. Ray Harrison Lowe. RDC Councillor Nick Ramus was also present and 2 members of the public.

Blocked drains and pot holes again featured in the Public session. There is water going everywhere on the roads because there are drains not functioning in Houghton Green Lane, New England Lane, the A 259 and the road up to Iden from the Peace and Plenty.

Unfortunately ESCC Cllr. Keith Glazier was not present to hear these complaints. It was agreed that the weather was exceptional, but that did not cure long-standing problems.

Cllr Ramus reported that RDC is considering more options for cut-backs. At the moment the recommendation is a 0% increase in the Rother rate, but £620,000 savings have to be made.

The industrial site on the Bexhill to Hastings road will have 1.000 new homes developed, but parishes must expect an increase in housing.

Rye Harbour is developing industries and hopes to offer 500 new jobs. The river dredging has increased the possibility of larger coastal shipping vessels calling in.

The infrastructure in this area of East Sussex is very poor - roads, services, schools etc. etc. Ashford has 7,000 and Tenterden 500 new homes planned.

The Ambulance Station will be incorporated into the Rye Hospital development.

A planning application for development at Wren’s Cottage in New England Lane has been received. The buildings represented no difficulties, but it was felt by the council that the parking arrangements were at present not satisfactory. The council would like to see improvements so that vehicles do not intrude into the Lane.

Playden Precept will remain at the current level of £5,000. It was felt that any increase in the current economic climate was not fair.

The damaged oak tree in the Butt Field is undergoing work. The footpath to the church is now open again, and the rest of the tree will be felled as it is dangerously unbalanced.

Thanks were expressed to Rye Foreign Councillor Julie Ramus for her efforts to keep the footpath to the bus stop and the telephone clear of leaves and mud.

Cllr. Alan Blackham is working with Cllr Lenihan to improve and update the website for Playden. It is hoped to make it a focus for the Community, carry advertisements for events and services on offer in the village, and highlight clubs and organisations around.

At present the address is www.playden.info and it is hoped that it will be live by Easter.

Mrs. Lovell expressed her thanks for her time on the council, but will now have to resign, having moved away from the village. She felt that she would rapidly become out of touch, but is willing to attend meetings to report on the activities of the Council. This offer was accepted. but if a new Village Voice correspondent appears, she will relinquish all claims !!!

Many homes will have received a flier about the Council and its activities. But please note that the NEXT meeting of the council is on THURSDAY 6th March at 7.30 pm in the W. I. Hall.

It is good to hear that the Vicar, Teresa Munro is taking up light duties again after her illness and operation.