Chairman’s jottings
Since our last Newsletter in November, Christmas has come and gone and 2023 has arrived. I would like to thank the small dedicated team responsible for erecting, decorating and lighting the Tree on The Green. It was really good to see. Thanks also to all who contributed to the Christmas Fund by donating on line or in the Village Shop.
In my introduction to our last Newsletter, I made reference to the withdrawal at the last moment of the sale of the old carpet shop and the Parish Council’s resolution to action certain procedures. One step we undertook was to contact SLDC and request they took action under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to instruct the owner to take remedial steps. Whilst some visible changes have been made we were very disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, that this is apparently all SLDC felt able to do and have advised us that they now no longer consider the building to be an eyesore. Please be assured that as a parish council we wanted a lot more but other powers over which we have no control were of a different mind.
On a different subject, but a perennial concern to villagers (well most of us) is that of dog fouling. As we have said many times before there is a fine of £1,000 for failing to pick up your dog’s poo. If we own a dog, we also have responsibilities and clearing up after your dog comes at the top of that list. SLDC have provided extra litter bins in recent years and used poo bags can be put in all the litter bins as well as in our grey wheelie bins. So can we please ensure that we do pick up after our dog and make our village a better place. On a similar line please remember that on all roads with a speed limit of 30mph dogs must be kept on a lead. There are notices around the village explaining this legal requirement.
Finally, the Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st March and I hope you can come. More details are elsewhere in this Newsletter.
Roger Atfield – Chair Levens Parish Council