South Cerney
Mike Stuart 
mikestuart@southcerney.com

  • RECENTLY a group of local council members, past and present, met representatives of Thames Water to discuss what measures are being taken to ensure that any future periods of excessive rainfall does not result in overburdening the sewers and surface drains throughout the village. It is obvious that there are several factors which need ongoing attention, in particular the removal of gravel and sand from the River Churn. The future of the emergency pumping station which was set up by the entrance to the Limes was also discussed. It is essential that all concerned ensure that there is no reduction in efforts to keep our village safe from flooding. Future meetings are planned.
  • A POLICE neighbourhood community meeting is being held in South Cerney Village Hall on Tuesday, August 2, starting at 7pm. These meetings are open to all members of the public from the area covered by our local police team and include Siddington, Kemble, Somerford and Coates. It is an opportunity for members of the public to hear from the police what has been happening in the recent months and also for you to tell the police your concerns and what you would like to be done in the near future.
  • IT IS upsetting to report that two young trees planted by the parish council have been badly vandalised in the past few days. One in Clarks Hay and the other outside Kingfisher Place have been deliberately snapped off just above ground level. If anyone has any information as to who carried out these senseless acts please inform the police using the non emergency 101 number.
  • BECAUSE of the extremely large amount of green material left at the community composting site at Upper Up it is requested that no further materials are taken there until further notice. Essential repairs are about to be carried out to the original four bins and until those works are finished we cannot shred the big stuff into useable size pieces. Anyone willing to assist in helping deal with the backlog should please contact me.
  • THE South Cerney show takes place at the end of next week so now is the last opportunity to collect a schedule from the Post Office to enable you to take part in our excellent show. Please do support this very long standing village organisation in its 101st show.

Siddington
Alison Wagstaff
01285 655838
awsiddington@yahoo.co.uk 

  • THERE will be no service at St Peter’s Church on Sunday, July 31, but there is a cafe church service in the Elizabeth Way community room, starting at 6pm. This friendly and informal service is open to everyone. 
  • PETRINA Brown of Cotswold Water Park Trust attended the parish council meeting in July to present the findings of the WILD project, the aim of which has been to carry out an in-depth analysis of water quality and biodiversity in local water courses. Siddington played a major part in this project and the findings provide an unprecedented level of information about the state of our local watercourses. Some work has already begun to introduce improvements in potentially problem areas as a result of this analysis. When an electronic copy of the information is provided it will be uploaded on the Parish Council website. 
  • YOUR local police team is holding a meeting for the public on Tuesday, August 2, in South Cerney Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. This is a combined meeting for Siddington, Ewen, Kemble, Coates, Pool Keynes, South Cerney, Cerney Wick, Sapperton, Preston and Somerford Keynes. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to raise issues or request that the police focus on a specific area of concern in their locality.

Down Ampney
Melanie Fouracre 
dastandard44@gmail.com

  • THE community garden has a waiting list which is open to all villagers and village community organisations. If you are a current community garden plot holder and may be thinking that community gardening is no longer for you, please contact the secretary at dacommu nitygarden@gmail.com to arrange a convenient date to give up your plot to the waiting list.
  • COMMENTS on CDC’s draft local plan should now be sent directly to CDC no later than Monday, August 8, to ensure that the village’s voice is heard. For more information see the August Down Ampney News.
  • PARISH Communion will be at Ampney St Peter on Sunday, July 31, at 10am. There will also be a family service ‘At the Seaside’ with activities and tea at Down Ampney Village Hall between 4-5.30pm.
  • THERE will be a car boot sale at Down Ampney Football Club on Sunday, August 14, from 12-3 pm. Entrance fees £5/car, £8/van. The bar will be open, address enquiries to Rachel on 07786 249163.
  • LEMON drizzle is the cake recipe this year for the 30th annual village show on Saturday, September 3, at 3pm in the village hall run as usual by Down Ampney Gardening Club. The Club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm in the village hall, annual membership £8.
  • CALLING all village cyclists. There is still time to sign up for the sponsored Ride & Stride taking place on Saturday, September 10, which is a tour of the area’s historic churches. Please call Ray Singleton on 01793 750 465 for a sponsorship form. Alternatively, you might like to spare an hour or two sitting in All Saints’ Church to help meet and greet the cyclists. If so please contact Janet Singleton on the number already given.