Village SOS is a major new initiative from the BIG Lottery Fund and the BBC, which is searching for six UK villages with a great business idea that will help regenerate their community, and six enterprising individuals to become ‘Village Champions’ to work with the successful villages to help them achieve their ambitions of starting a successful rural business. The journey of the six successful villages will be documented by BBC One for a major prime time series in Winter 2010.  Any rural village community group can apply to the scheme, as can any business expert interested in becoming a Village Champion. The closing date is 14th August. For more information about the scheme, the application process and the grants available,  see the webpages at the BBC and Big Lottery Fund. Perhaps there are individuals/groups that may be interested in this?  Comments/ideas are welcome.

A Services Directory has been added to the website under ‘Village General’ which we hope will prove helpful to residents.  This directory lists organisations and individuals who provide useful services to the Alstonefield community.  It is not yet fully comprehensive and it is quite possible that there are names and/or services missing, so please help by sending your suggestions/recommendations to us by using the ‘contact us’ facility or leaving a comment.  Only parishioners may make recommendations for additions and removals to and from the directory. Many thanks.

It looks as though the public payphone apparatus at Milldale has been stolen. The loss has been reported to BT, who will hopefully replace the equipment. It is understood that there has been a number of similar thefts from surrounding villages. Given that the mobile phones signals in Milldale are poor, to say the least, the payphone is vital, especially in the emergency situations that occur fairly frequently along Dovedale.

The results of the questionnaires from two Parish consultation days last year indicated that Affordable Housing was one of the topics of primary concern. Following on from a talk with representatives from Staffordshire Rural Housing Association at the Annual Parish Meeting, we now have an opportunity to carry out a full Housing Needs Survey for the Parish, with a view to actively addressing resultant requirements, including identifying suitable site(s) for development. Please vote on this issue below (the results will be taken into account in any decision taken).

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Only registered users may vote. Validity of votes can be checked.

Do you have any news or items of interest to the community which should be published on the Home page of our website ?  If you are an individual or business in the Parish, please use the ‘contact us’ form to let us know.  If you belong to a Group or Club, ask the person who is administering your webpage to post the item. Thank you in anticipation…..

Gargoyles watch out, the Ladies Team is building in strength, but 4 or 5 volunteers still needed for the challenge match on 20th September. Please contact me or leave a comment here…..

The gentlemen of the Gargoyles Cricket Club have challenged the ladies of Alstonefield (and area) to a cricket match on the afternoon of Sunday 20th September! Interested in taking part? Please contact me or leave a comment here. Playing and non-playing roles available…..

Early morning finds me gazing through the bedroom window, first cup of tea of the day in hand. In the field over the garden wall are sheep and their lambs. I watch with amusement as two tiddlers size each other up, small heads down, brow to brow; laughing to myself at the tentative head-butt. thought better of as tiny hooves struggle for purchase on dew-soaked grass. Point made, one mite calls pax with a shake of the head and a feeble spring from all fours before the pair of them go their separate ways to find mums and nourishment for a more spirited sparring.
No doubt a few more days will see them joining the gang that huddles in corners before racing pell-mell with the pack to the far reaches of emerald-green turf contained by limestone walls.
Battles posponed, rivalry forgotten; pals united out on a spree.

I’ve got 3 complimentary tickets for the Buxton Antiques Fair (14th – 17th May). Each ticket admits 3 people. If you would like one, please ring me on 310125.