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

  • MAJOR works to upgrade all the street lights in our village will be undertaken by SKANSKA on behalf of GCC over the next month or so. To reduce costs of electricity used and thus also reduce carbon emissions, all existing street lights will be replaced with LED lamps. The new lights will reduce the amount of light pollution and the white light will be better suited for our village. Letters explaining the works have been sent to residents in the areas concerned and a representative of the contractors will be at the Spar shop in Broadway Lane on Monday, February 27, to answer any questions you may have.  
  • THE new coffee shop/café has opened at Fenton’s. Over the course of last week, the new equipment was put into operation and tested.  The actual opening has already happened on Monday 20 and by now should be fully operational. South Cerney branch of the RBL intend to meet there for occasional coffee mornings. An area of land surrounding Fenton’s is owned by the parish council and has to be planted with shrubs and trees but the cost of such planting was not included in the money received from Redrow. It has always been known that the community will have to finance these works. To minimise the expenditure a work party of volunteers will be meeting on Tuesday, March 14, to start the planting. Anyone can join in so do come along with your spade and fork. Donations to help pay for the plants will be gratefully received. For more information, please contact me.
  • EVERY week the Gloucestershire Football Association puts their spotlight on one club in the county. Last week it was South Cerney FC’s turn when Simon Parkinson interviewed both Gordon Stratford and Kay Allen. His excellent Spotlight report can be seen on the GFA website gloucestershirefa.com. Gordon, the club chairman, has been involved with our team since 1963 while Kay has put in over 30 years’ service as club secretary. Their dedication to the club is shown in the interviews which include some very interesting facts about the club.

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

  • AT THE parish council meeting on Tuesday, February 14 it was noted that there is now a long list of outstanding items awaiting attention from Gloucestershire Highways, including the replacement of the missing Siddington School sign at the junction of Ashton Road and Park Way, the reinstallation of reflective posts on the bend beyond Barton Farm, resurfacing of the parking area by the playing field, repair of potholes or resurfacing in Pound Close and clearance of the drains by the Ashton Road bridge stanchions and opposite the entrance to The Twenties to prevent flooding. The considerable reduction of the highways budget and workforce means that progress is slow. Residents can report potholes and faulty street lights through the Gloucestershire County Council website gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-rights-of-way/roads/report-it/
  • MORNING Praise is at St Peter’s Church on Sunday, February 26, starting at 10am. 

Down Ampney 
Melanie Fouracre 
dastandard44@gmail.com

  • PARISH Communion will be held at Poulton on Sunday, February 26, at 10am.  
  • YOU can find all the ingredients to make your pancakes for Shrove Tuesday at the Village Shop.
  • ALL Saints’ Church will be hosting the Ash Wednesday Service at noon on Wednesday, March 1, and there will also be an Ash Wednesday Service at St Lawrence Church in Lechlade at 7.30pm.
  • SUGGESTIONS needed for an iconic film of the past to be shown at the next DAFFERS Film Night in the village hall on March 31.  Contact details for David Job or Gareth Cope can be found in the Down Ampney News.
  • THE Dementia Whisperer by Agnes Juhasz is being read in March by the village's book club. New members are always welcome. Please contact Marilyn if you are interested – see the Down Ampney News for contact details.
  • THE Mobile Library stops outside the school monthly on a Wednesday from 3.15-4.15 pm.  The next four dates are March 15, April 12, May 10 and June 7.  To find out more, go to gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/activities-and-services-in-libraries/mobile-library-service/