Chatbox

We were just concerned about the 70/80 who come into the village each Tuesday night to enjoy a quiz that has been ongoing for some 20 years or more. The speediest way we could do that was by asking our superb web site to post a notice . Of course there are many who regret the loss of this fine restaurant/ pub and I am but one of those. Having worked very closely with Allan and Jo over the years and having delivered free of charge some 900 meals to folks who would not go out during covid , I , along with other caring people , do demonstrate our willingness to help in any way we can. I hope those who criticise do step up to the plate as well and demonstrate just how they too help Audlem.
Hopefully all will continue to enjoy the quiz and this move does give good continuing trade for Richard and Sharon at The Bridge Inn.

My wife and I had to clean dog poo from our visiting 2 year old grandsons trainers yesterday. He was playing football and he managed to find, with his feet, three separate fresh deposits on the grass near to the children's play area on the Heathfield site. Our play session was ruined and we returned home to clean off the mess.

There are two trash bins located near to the play area and both are clearly marked NOT for dog POO. The bins were full to the brim with dog poo bags that have just recently been emptied by the contractors responsible for the site maintenance.

It seems that some dog owners take their dog poo away with them, others allow their dogs to poo wherever they want to and just leave it, whilst others bag the poo and place it in the NOT for dog POO trash bins.

Greenbelt is the company that manages the Heathfield site open areas.
The following text is taken from the Greenbelt written statement of services, page 2

Dog Foul removal from land
Dog foul will be removed to a licensed site by a suitably qualified contractor and costs will be recovered from residents.
Dog Foul removal from bins
Dog foul from bins will be removed to a licensed site by a suitably qualified contractor and costs will be recovered from residents

I have not yet seen a specific cost on my annual maintenance bill associated with dog poo removal.

Hi Peter would you be able to share details of the tree primer you found? We're also in need of someone. Thank you.

Obviously the only thing that matters is the quiz. Not the loss of jobs or an asset to the village

' There's none so blind as those that will not see.'

There's a shortage of tomato grow bags......... due to Brexit!!

In response to Judy's post, the only thing I would say is that this morning I was walking with someone else and we both came to the same conclusion. Of course she might be as blind as a bat as well, I will ask her tomorrow. Christine

As someone who walks the Turnpike Field up to three times a day, if you seriously can't see the abandoned doggie do in there EVERY DAY -you really need to go to a well known high street optician !

This morning at 8 am I walked through Turnpike Field and made a return trip about 9 am. Although I did look hard, I could find no evidence of dog poo on my route. It is the same every morning with one or two rare exceptions. It is a mystery where all this poo is hiding and I suggest that it is rumour rather than actuality. There is a real mystery, however – one of the picnic tables has been turned upside down, I reckon that took a bit of effort. Christine Johnson

Thanks for the geography/economic update John. You have reinforced my belief I do need to get my hands on growbags ! 😎�...�...�...

A simple search would have told Chris that the reason for the tomato shortage is due to high energy costs needed to grow them in the UK and poor weather conditions in Morocco and Spain affecting the growing and transport of tomatoes. Nothing to do with Brexit. Better luck next time!

Just been shopping (Sunday) and needed fresh tomatoes. There was not a single one in Morrisons, Aldi or the Co-op! Is there a shortage, and if so is it as a result of good old Brexit? Guess I will need to secure some tomato growbags this summer!

Sorted thanks after helpful phone call

Yesterday at 8.10 am I watched a man wearing a hat and blue coat let the white and tan little dog do toilet on a soil patch in front of the hedge of 4 Churchfields .
He looked around, bent down with a Pooh bag, walked off still looking round and then put the unused bag in his pocket still looking over his shoulder.
The evidence of what the dog left is still there. 😡

My usual tree pruner is currently unavailable. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Yesterday there was a dog in the children's playground. Today 2 dogs in the cemetery Once again dog owners with no respect whatsoever

Great congratulations to ADAS on their wonderful achievement. Very many thanks to you all for all the effort that goes in. The village (town ?) always looks beautiful throughout the summer months. Diolch yn fawr.

We have been told by Scottish Power that we are to receive this extra grant of £200 due to not being on the gas grid. Hope everyone else gets the same good news.

Congratulations to all the helpers! Amazing the hours that are put into our displays and sustainability considered too. Well done.

Chris, this is a fair point. We volunteers run the quiz as a low key, fun night for locals whilst raising funds for causes. As such, there is no audit and transactions for raffle tickets etc cannot be recorded. However, I have retained as much financial detail for the previous 2 quizzes as possible and I'll be happy to sit with you (or anyone else) to go through this in the interests of transparency and probity. Let me know when you're free.

Mr Greaves is very welcome to see our final accounts of the night and to see just how much we raise for this noble cause.
I do hope he has bought a ticket and will also be there supporting the cause and introduce himself to us on the night. His implication is not welcome .

I think Mr Hancock is out of touch with the real world for this suggestion. The amount of fly tipping will exponentially increase if this was implemented....which it won't be

Chris Greaves it's cash only because the newsagents are kindly offering to sell on behalf of the organisers. Plus I don't think you can compare this fundraiser to the shenanigans of APC

Not sure I'd be giving cash only to such a worthy cause without some transparency of the accounts given what's happened with other accounts recently

Mike Hancock makes a good point. In the late 90s, we lived in Brussels and we had the usual array of bins for glass, plastic and green waste. They were all collected free of charge. The equivalent of the black bin waste would only be collected if it was bagged up into very specific, branded bright orange bags...and those bags were available to buy in local shops and supermarkets but were priced at about £1 each. Certainly encouraged one to keep the landfill waste to an absolute minimum.