Playden village voice

May I ask you to be thinking about your team of 4 - 6 for the Quiz and Fish and Chip supper on 31st March? Tickets are £7.50 and must be pre-booked because of ordering the supper. Please remember your drink, glasses and condiments. It begins at 7.30 pm in the W. I. Hall. Phone 22 26 15 or 22 32 11 for bookings. There will also be a raffle.

The children at Playden School have had a busy week. Some of the Year 6 have been to an able writer’s day at Winchelsea School; the football team took part in a 7-a-side competition; the Big Foot Theatre Company came to perform in school to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens; Jaguars went to the Transport Museum in London and Meerkats went to a performance of Treasure Island at Brede School

There will be a chocolate mufti day on Wednesday 14th March..

The Spring Fair will be held on Saturday 17th March based on the theme of Alice in Wonderland. Doors open at noon.

Parents are invited to a free taster session of the healthy options available to the children as school meals. This is on Wednesday 21st March at 2 pm.

Mr. Brian Whitehead will be talking to the W. I. on Monday 12th March, about ‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’.This will be at 2 pm. The competition is an object beginning with ‘M’.

Rye Country Market re-opens today in the Community centre, Conduit Hill, Rye, from 10 to 10.45 am.

The Iden and Playden Garden Society meeting on Monday on 12th March at 7.30 pm welcomes Mrs. Ylva Blid-Mackenzie, joint proprietor of the Madrona Nursery, Bethesden, to talk about Exotic Plants.

Playden Parish Council met last week, and apart from Cllr. D. Stone, who sent apologies, all councillors were present. Also in attendance were RDC Cllr. Nick Ramus and ESCC Cllr. Keith Glazier, PCSO Dan Bevan and one member of the public.

There was further discussion about the leaves blocking surface drains in New England Lane. The truck with the whirly brushes cannot do the job, although the authorities proudly proclaim the “sweeping and gullies have been cleared.” No they have not. Cllr. Glazier thought that an on-site meeting might prove helpful.

PCSO Dan Bevan reported that pressure of his work now means that he can come to meetings only every 3 months. Two people have been charged with regard to burglaries. The Iden ram-raiders have been caught. There has been a spate of stolen number plates. Sheep have been out on the road 4 times, coming from the Butt Field. He is working with Playden and Iden together on the Cold Calling scheme and Neighbourhood Watch. He is delivering letters to every household. The new phone number to report incidents is 101.

Cllr. Glazier reported that the County precept will not increase. County will take the government money.There is a £500m capital expenditure. High speed broadband is planned for villages and rural areas. A positive decision about the link road from Hastings to Bexhill is expected in the next month or so. This affects not only the traffic but also the regeneration, jobs and housing allocation. A new Highways Steward has been appointed, but has not yet made himself known. Cllr. Glazier will chase this up.

Cllr. Ramus said that Rother has fixed the rate to be the same as last year. Rother will take the government money. The plans are in to increase the size of St. Bartholomew’s Court. There will be an Open day on Monday 12th March from 2 to 7 pm to view the plans.

There are no plans to replace the Total garage when it closes next week. Total are pulling out of retail sales. Cllr. Ramus has been in contact with Skinners and Jempsons to appraise them of the situation. It is possible that Jempsons will try to implement a 24 hour system, with payment by card.

Cllr. Ramus is now the chairman of the Rye Harbour Advisory Committee.

A county Flag has been provided, but Playden does not have a flagpole anywhere. At present it is flying at the clerk’s house.

Some work has been done as detailed in the Local Action Plan (LAP) but there is lots to do. Anyone running a local business who would like to advertise their services is asked to get in touch with the parish website at www.playdenparishcouncil.org.uk or phone the chairman on 280 537. Angela Alexander from RVA will be invited to the Parish Assembly on 3rd May.

Plans will go ahead to develop a Walking Bus.

Jubilee plans include a picnic in the Butt field and mugs. Working in collaboration with Iden and Rye Foreign, mugs will be presented to all children at Playden School and will also be available to purchase at £4 each. Numbers will have to be collected, so could you be ready to order as soon as the word is given.

There will be a written invitation to the picnic, which you will be asked to bring with you. There could be advertising on the back page if you wish to avail yourself of this opportunity.

The next council meeting will be on Thursday 5th April.

Tomorrow, 10th, there will be a Spring Beach Clean at Rye Harbour. Meet at the car park at 10 am with work gloves if you have them. The first wheatears and sandwich terns should be coming in now for you to observe while you help to remove the winter’s rubbish. Hot soup will be served at the end.

Weekday services will be at 9.30 am - Morning Prayer, and 3.30 pm - Evening prayer on Wednesday.

The 11 am service for the 3rd Sunday of Lent will be Parish Communion led by the Vicar.

Marion Lovell, Abingworth, New England Lane.