Etchingham

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN: You should by now have received your copy of the Neighbourhood Plan Survey, please return your completed forms by April 24. The questionnaire is completely anonymous, the details will only be used to help create the Neighbourhood Plan.

Completed forms can be returned to the Parish Office, the Post Office, Butchers or the Shop & Deli, each household should have received one form, if individual members of the household want to complete their own form further copies can be obtained from the Parish Clerk 01580 819048 paulette.etchinghampc@gmail.com , the Clerk is normally in the office 10.30 to 12.30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

VILLAGE SPRING CLEAN: The village spring clean will take place on Saturday April 22, keep the date free, more details to follow soon.

UP THE GARDEN PATH: Burghwood House, Sheltered Accomodation, Hurst Green, the Residents Association have a project, which has been chosen by “ Tesco Bags of Help “ for voting during March and April. They wish to remove very steep steps in their garden and replace them with a sloping path and hand rails for all residents and visitors to be able to use and enjoy the garden, whatever their mobility. If you shop in one of the local Tesco branches please use your vote to help them complete the project. The ‘Bags of life’ scheme uses the 5p carrier bag charge to fund community projects, the project with the most votes is awarded £5.000, which would go a long way towards helping us complete our project.

Voting area covers Tesco Stores in Hawkhurst, Battle, Bexhill and Tenterden. For more details of the project take a look at the website http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme

CELEBRATORY TEAS: To celebrate the 30th anniversary of St Michael’s Hospice, they are inviting all supporters to free celebratory teas, which are taking place in six locations throughout Hastings and Rother. On Sunday June 11, a Celebratory Tea is taking place at Stonegate Village Hall, with a choice of two sittings at 2pm and 4.30pm.

The events are completely free, with thanks to the Big Lottery Fund. There will be afternoon tea and live music for all to enjoy. Spaces are limited, so early booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made at www.stmichaelshospice.com/teas

SAINSBURY VOUCHERS: If you shop at Sainsbury’s and are offered ‘Active Kids’ vouchers please make sure you collect them, if you do not have children or grandchildren of school age Etchingham School will be pleased to accept them.

MOBILE LIBRARY: The Mobile Library now visits Etchingham once every three weeks, on Tuesday mornings 9.40am to 10.20am.at Parsonage Croft outside the School and village halls.

Here are the dates to the end of June, April 4 & 25 – May 16 – June 6 & 27.

If these times are not convenient, or you miss the Library when it visits, it will be at Hurst Green village hall, 12.15pm to 1.00pm and Burwash, Rother View 2.10pm to 2.30pm two days after the above dates. March 26, Mothering Sunday - Family Service, Reverend Sally Epps.

CHURCH OPENING: The Church is open every day for visitors from 11am to 4pm. If you have not already been in, visit on a nice sunny day so that you can see how bright the Church now is with nice white walls.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: The annual, very popular Etchingham Music Festival, in the Church. takes place this year Saturday July 1 to Sunday July 9, both dates inclusive, put the dates in your diary and I will give you the full details of concerts nearer the time. Save the date, Saturday September 9, village show and event, details here when available.

FUTURE EVENTS: Do you, or your group or organisation, have events planned for coming months? Send me the dates and basic details now, I do not need the full details yet, just what the event is and the date. I can then give your event a mention well in advance of the date, people can note the date and I can then put the full details in nearer the date, this lets people know in advance when your events will be and can help avoid a clash of event dates.

SENDING INFORMATION: Get information for this column to me as soon as possible. There are several ways to get your info to me, but email is preferred because there is less chance of errors during copying. I need information by 10pm on Monday to be sure it will be in time for inclusion, I can sometimes add extra items on Tuesday morning, but this cannot be guaranteed. You can deliver to 2 Park Farm Close, telephone 01580 819532 or 07484 635014 or email colin.boylett@gmail.com you will also find a form on the village website ( http://www.etchinghamvillage.co.uk/village-voice ) to send your information from there, look for the Village Voice link near the bottom of the column of links on the left-hand side of the website page.

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