Alton Rural Regeneration Group
Minutes of the meeting held at the Royal Oak, Alton
on Tuesday 12th April 2005.
1. PRESENT: Alan Heath, Gillian Morrison, John Moorhouse, Ruth Murray-Walker, Sally Khadjenouri and Angie Hurst.
2. APOLOGIES: Dave Scrivens, Linda Goodwin, Claire Head, Maxine Rowlinson and Arthur Forrester.
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: Were read and agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING: There where none.
5. UPDATE ON THE BEST-KEPT VILLAGE: Areas in the village were identified to be looked after. Planters have been made for the entrance to the village. It was agreed to keep the wild area mowed and clipped. John agreed that he would arrange for the stone to go back when it came back from repair. The next litter-picking day would be 14th of May meeting at the Village Hall at 10am. Children from school had done posters keep Alton tidy for shop and house windows.
6. PLAYGROUND UPDATE: DEFRA and The Staffordshire Environmental Fund are involved in contributing £56,000.00 for the new playground at the Village Hall. Contracts are likely to be drawn up in May/June will the Village Hall to secure the funds. The playground will meet all European standards and will be an asset to the village. Alton Pre-School Playgroup can use the playground in the mornings. Hopefully it will be available for use in August 2005.
7. NEW PROJECTS: The next major new project will be looking at improving facilities on the school playing field, in Hurstons Lane. The aim will initially to draw up an agreement with the Schools Property Unit to draft out a plan of the land. We may need to get responses from villagers before moving forward with this. Another thought was to plant daffodils along the banks on Lime Kiln Bank. This could not be done until September.
8. WEBSITE: this is moving forward. Parish Council links are being looked at.
9. B & B DIRECTORY: This project is in Maxine’s hands.
10. PUBLICITY AND RECRUITMENT DRIVE: Angie Hurst has been recruited to be minute’s secretary. She was welcomed to the meeting. John agreed to find out if the Church Fete pamphlet had been printed yet. This seemed a good way to advertise. We should be telling the village what has been achieved so far. Alan would talk to Dave about funding for a permanent poster that we could advertise onto, preferably A3 size. Gillian would ask Lois Scragg who did the map for ideas. It was agreed we would come back to the next meeting with ideas for a poster/letter header.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: It was suggested that next years Calendar would have pictures of local residents now as well as the past. Ruth said she would look at this idea.
12. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:
12th May 2005 (The Royal Oak, Alton)
5th July 2005 (The Royal Oak, Alton)
2nd August 2005 (The Royal Oak, Alton)
6th September 2005 (The Royal Oak, Alton)
