South Cerney
Mike Stuart
mikestuart.scerney@btinternet.com
01285 860439

  • LATE last Saturday evening, two men were seen prowling around a detached property on one of the main roads in Cerney. A neighbour saw what was happening and contacted the police who arrived shortly afterwards. However, the men had by then driven away in a blue mini with a white roof and with 03 in the registration number. Fortunately, there was no break-in or damage to the building. Please do call 999 should you see anything of this nature happening or the police non-emergency 101 if you have seen a vehicle in the area matching the description.
  • CHARITY Cotswold Water Park ball on Friday, March 3 at the De Vere Cotswold. Drinks reception, a three-course meal with fine wines and entertainment including a magician, auction and guest speaker. Tickets £60 each on 01793 752413 or waterpark.org
  • THE contractors building our new leisure facility, Fenton’s, will be handing the keys to the parish council in the next few days and the sports hall will be in use by the early part of next month. The coffee bar/cafe will need specialist fittings not included in the main building contract before it can be used. These final works are being carried out by a local builder assisted by a group of volunteers.
  • COFFEEPOT will be held in the United Church this Saturday, January 21 from 10am, serving coffee or tea with the usual selection of cakes, toasted teacakes and cheese scones. No charge but donations to this year’s charity, Cirencester Signpost, will be gratefully accepted.
  • WE HAVE a couple of nice guys as our entertainment at the village hall club this Friday, January 20 so if you like feel-good comedy and slapstick humour come and join us. Doors and licensed bar open from 7pm with the show starting at 7.30pm, new members always welcomed.
  • THE first major Christian festival of the year, Candlemas, will be celebrated at All Hallows church on Saturday, January 28, 2.30-5pm and on Sunday, January 29, 2-4pm after which there will be a Candlemas service. On both days, home-made teas will be served. There will be a bring and buy stall and hand-made cards for sale.

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

  • SIDDINGTON with Preston WI meets tonight, Thursday, at 7.30pm in the Elizabeth Way community room. The speaker this month is Meg Blumson, who is a member of the Abbey 900 steering group. She will be talking about the forthcoming events planned to celebrate this year’s 900th anniversary of the founding of Cirencester’s Augustinian Abbey of St Mary by King Henry I in 1117.
  • A MORNING Praise service takes place at St Peter’s Church on Sunday, January 22, starting at 10am.
  • THE Church Wardens are pleased to announce that a new vicar, Reverend Jennifer McKenzie, has been appointed to replace Canon David Bowers, who moved on from our parish in June last year. It’s not yet known when she will take up her new position but it will be within the next few months.

Down Ampney
Melanie Fouracre
dastandard44@gmail.com

  • DAVID Job needs to know how many haggises are required for the Burns’ Night supper at the village hall on Friday, January 27. If you have not already confirmed your attendance to this annual village event, David would be pleased to hear from you – contact details on the front of the January Down Ampney News. Bar opens at 7.30pm and supper starts at 8.15pm. There is no entrance fee, but please bring a dish of neeps and tatties to go with your haggis.
  • CONSULTATION on the focussed changes to the Local Plan has begun. Villagers can find details of how to comment on the CDC website at cotswold.gov.uk/residents/planning-building/planning-policy/emerging-local-plan/. The consultation will close at 5pm on Monday, February 27.
  • THE gardening club AGM will be on Thursday, January 19 at 7.30pm at the village hall. 
  • HOLY Communion will be held at 8am at Driffield on Sunday, January 22 and Parish Communion will be at 10am at Ampney Crucis.
  • DOWN Ampney coffee morning will be held in the Dakota Room at the village hall at 11am on Wednesday, January 25.
  • BROADWAY Farm is to be developed by the Sanctuary Group. Ongoing investigation work is taking place particularly around drainage on the site. The Group intends to demolish the existing barns before the Spring and a fence will be erected along the site boundary to the rear of the site. Any queries should be addressed to the parish council in the first instance, or by email to the development team at enquiries@sanctuary-homeownership.co.uk
  • BEN Watkins is offering a baby sitting service on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Ben lives in the village and is a GCSE student. He can provide references if required. Ben’s contact details are in the Down Ampney News.