West & Middle Chinnock Volunteers COVID 19
There are lots of volunteers in West & Middle Chinnock already helping residents. Examples include:
Jane and Jonathan 01935 882716 Follow our West & Middle Chinnock Community Webpage Facebook page bit.ly/chinnockvolunteers During Lock down and until at least 2nd December 2020 please check on line for any information on which local services may be in place or previously planned local events.
Request from Gary & Ruth of Hillview Close. Could you please let them have any used postage stamps & old mobile phones for their charity Canine Partners. (www.caninepartners.org.uk)
Travel Somerset New travel website for Somerset. The aim of Travel Somerset is to improve how we tell people about what's happening on the roads in Somerset from planned roadworks and public events to unplanned incidents, accidents or congestion. Sign up for travel alerts or subscribe for emails about roadworks in an area of your choice. go to www.travelsomerset.co.uk |
About Us
West Chinnock is a village in Somerset, England, situated near the A356 road 4 miles (6.4 km) north east of Crewkerne in the South Somerset district. The village forms the civil parish of West and Middle Chinnock with the neighbouring village of Middle Chinnock and has a population of 592 (2011 census).Middle Chinnock was a separate civil parish until 1884. It was then absorbed into the parish of West Chinnock. In 2003 the parish was renamed West and Middle Chinnock.
Living in West & Middle Chinnock: Our villages have a great vibrancy with a variety of clubs and societies, a pre-school and primary school, two churches, a recreation ground and pavilion, children's play area, a vey active community village hall, local pub and lots more. Links to Local Somerset Services Latest Planning Applications in the Villages 39, Ridgway, West Chinnock 21/00639/HOU Carrying out of alterations to the existing integral garage to habitable accommodation. The erection of a single storey side garden room extension and the erection of a detached single garage. If you would like to comment on an application
Dog Fouling report website is https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/environment/environmental-health/environmen tal-protection/dog-fouling/ Somerset CC link to verge cutting schedule. <https://www.travelsomerset.co.uk/grass-cutting/> |
News on the Patch
Churchyard Maintenance in West Chinnock
Update 11th June 2021 At Wednesday’s Parish Council meeting our new Rector, Revd Nick Clarke, apologised for the condition of the churchyard and explained the difficult situation that the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of our church, St Mary’s West Chinnock, are in. We therefore felt it would be helpful to summarise what he said here. For many years, churchyard maintenance was contracted out at a cost of over £1000 per year. The cost of the upkeep of our church, our churchyard, and a share of the cost of our Rector is paid by the church ‘membership’ of just 10. UK churches do not receive any money from the Government, the national Church of England, our Diocese of Bath and Wells, or the Council. They rely entirely on charitable giving from Church members, with some event-based fund raising. A drop in that giving in 2019, for a variety of valid reasons, led to a considerable drop in income. Therefore in 2020, the PCC decided to stop paying for grass cutting, taking the opportunity to promote wildlife in parts of the churchyard following Government and Church “Re-Wilding” policies. This was to be on a trial basis with a maintenance plan drawn up after consultation with the community. Sadly, due to the continuing Covid pandemic, this has not yet taken place. In 2020, St Mary’s PCC expenditure (£9,973) exceeded income (£9,379) by £593. However, the actual position was much worse because the PCC also failed to pay the their ‘Parish Share’, which covers the cost of Ministry shared across our seven parishes. In reality the 2020 loss should have been over £8,000. Concurrently, we have needed to address urgent repairs to the church tower to avoid a potential health and safety risk to visitors which would force the closure of the Church and Churchyard, if not undertaken soon. While grant funding has been secured for most of the tower works, and an application is pending for the balance, failure to secure that additional funding will result in the loss of virtually all our small remaining reserves. Requests for help with this year’s May Grass Cutting and Maintenance Day in the Parish magazine attracted very few volunteers. Despite working hard in poor weather, this small band were not able to do all the hoped-for mowing, strimming and tidying. The weather has since promoted very rapid growth of vegetation leading to the churchyard’s current and unacceptably overgrown state. The PCC acknowledges that using the Community FaceBook page is probably a far better way to let residents know what is happening in the church and churchyard, and to secure the requisite help. In summary, the PCC wishes to unreservedly apologise for the current state of the Churchyard and recognises that our rewilding policy is not striking the right balance between conservation and the feelings of the bereaved. Rest assured, we value and welcome all visitors to St Mary’s church and churchyard and aspire to create a space which the majority of our community appreciate, enjoy and consider appropriately reverential. In recent days, there has been many comments and suggestions of how that might be done. We hope that this can be translated into practical help, either physical or financial, so that our Church and Churchyard can be maintained in a condition that everyone can appreciate as places of beauty, worship and remembrance of loved ones as well as a place to celebrate God’s good creation. It is therefore proposed that a series of work parties be held to restore the churchyard into an acceptable condition, whilst a long-term solution is put in place. The first 2 of these will be on Saturday 19th June and Saturday 3rd July, from 10.00am to 1.00pm. Please note there will not be a session on Saturday 24th July as previously envisaged. Furthermore, so that the PCC can draw up a long-term Maintenance and Re-wilding plan, your views would be welcomed at an open meeting, which will be chaired by our Rector, Revd Nick Clarke, to be held on Thursday 8th July (date to be confirmed) from 7.30pm in the churchyard or church. If you are unable to attend on 8th but would like to comment, then please do so to stmaryswestchinnock@outlook.com so all questions and comments can be collated and distributed as appropriate. Development of West & Middle Chinnock
Recreation Ground Back in 2016, the Community Plan Survey identified the Rec as one of the key assets of the village and the number one priority for improvement. A committee was formed, chaired by Neil Cochran, which has now had several discussions after a slow start due to Covid. Committee members have some differing views of how best to develop the Rec, but have agreed a common vision: “To create a destination benefiting the whole community, which is a key focal point within the village for building community togetherness, delivering spaces for social cohesion, recreation and exercise as well as promoting personal and community wellbeing and positive mental health benefit”. To get the best possible advice for the village, the committee has decided to use a professional landscape consultant with experience of designing recreation spaces such as ours. Their remit will include discussing ideas with the committee, producing an initial plan or plans, running a public consultation exercise in the village to hear community views, and modifying the plans accordingly. Overarching design requirements include:
As plans progress, we will update the community through the Parish Council, the Parish Magazine and relevant social media and websites. And our aim is to hold the public consultation at some time over the summer. In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact Neil (email: neil_cochran@hotmail.com). Supported by SSDC, West & Middle Chinnock Parish Council and a number of local villages. Launch presentation 22nd June 2021 - see details below.........
Some of the main lockdown restrictions being lifted on 17th May - small steps - take care everyone.
Apologies for the amount of small print on the advert below - Please contact the Clerk if you would like a copy either hand delivered or sent via email. kdullerpheme@gmail.com or call 07957 358 431 A copy will also be displayed on the village noticeboard in the bus shelter opposite the school.
While our churches are closed you can access our on-line Sunday service each week at http://hamhillchurches.org/ 
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