CHARLCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS:
The next meeting of the Charlcombe Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 16th January 2024 starting at 7.00pm, in the Foyer of St Stephens Church, Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5SX. The agenda for the meeting will be published a week before the meeting .
If you are a member of the public and would like to participate in the meeting, please email the Clerk at charlcombepc@gmail.com no less than 24 hrs prior to the meeting.
The draft minutes from the 31st October Parish Council meeting can be read here .
NEWS:
Farming in Protected Landscapes – call for more projects
Cotswolds National Landscape has had a great response so far, resulting in more than £2.5m being awarded to over 100 projects in the Cotswolds, but we’ve still a long way go. The programme is extended to March 2025, making an additional £1.76m available to farmers and land managers in the Cotswolds.
The programme offers grants of up to £250k for projects that will:
- support nature recovery
- mitigate the impacts of climate change
- provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage
- protect or improve the quality and character of the landscape or place
For full details about the programme and funding criteria, please visit our website.
For ideas and inspiration, take a look at the list of projects we’ve supported up to March 2023.
We still have some budget available for projects that can be completed before March 2024. Please get in touch asap to discuss potential opportunities. We can process applications very quickly.This could be a good option for winter works, such as hedge laying or scrub management – or anything else that you might want to do over the next few months that may be eligible for grant support.
Most of our remaining budget is for projects that will be completed by March 2025. Defra are particularly keen to see more ambitious and innovative and projects in the mix for the final year, showcasing FiPL’s value alongside other schemes. So if you have a big idea, please tell us about it.
Please get in touch asap to discuss any ideas or questions you may have- and please also tell your colleagues, friends and neighbours.
Email: farming@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk or Call: Scott Brown – 07841 663 601
Live Well is an online resource which provides an wide range of information, resources and support for families living in B&NES, with targeted information for parent carers with a child (aged up to 25) with additional needs and adults needing care or support.
B&NES Energy Efficiency Initiatives
- Bright Green Homes
Funding and support available to owner occupiers and private rented households not on gas heating to install a range of energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies. Income criteria apply but some post codes are exempt.
For more information go to www.energyathome.org.uk
Notes from Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 17th May 2023
All residents of Charlcombe Parish were invited to the Annual Parish Meeting on Wednesday 17th May in the Lansdown and Langridge Village Hall. The notes from the meeting can be found here.
Our three new parish noticeboards are now in place
The parish council has bought three new noticeboards to replace the twenty year old noticeboards in Langridge, Woolley and Upper Weston. The first was installed in Upper Weston with the others following in February. A huge thank you to the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens for their help in assembling and installing the noticeboards.
Staying safe around livestock when out walking
The National Farmers Union website https://www.countrysideonline.co.uk/care-for-the-countryside/countryside-code/ provides some excellent guidance for how to keep safe and to enjoy your time out walking in the countryside. It includes a video giving specific advice about walking with your dog near livestock.
Improvements to drainage on Osborne’s Lane
This section of the lane, which is used by pedestrians travelling between Broadmoor Lane and Weston, has been prone to flooding making it near impassable to those on foot. Recent work to add a larger drain and culvert have helped mitigate the issue.
Improvements to the footpath behind Charlcombe Church
Using funds from the Ward Councillor Empowerment Fund, the Parish Council commissioned the installation of additional steps and handrails on the very step footpath that runs behind Charlcombe Church, making it easier for walkers to use.
Grassland Restoration Advisory Service
As part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Bathscape project, this service provides advice to owners of fields and meadows with potential to become more flower-rich and biodiverse.
Flower-rich grasslands along with their considerable benefits for wildlife have declined enormously over the last 80 or so years. To help address this, available is a free grassland restoration advisory service, potential to access small grants for meadow restoration, botanical surveying and a party of volunteers who can carry out work such as wildflower seeding using local provenance seed.
If you are a small landowner within Charlcombe parish who would like to find out more about engaging with the grassland service, please contact Rob Stephens who is working on this project for Bathscape Rob.Stephens@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Future Bright offers FREE career coaching, training and support to help individuals develop the skills and confidence they need to take their next step. They provide support, advice and skills training to specific groups within B&NES. For more details visit www.futurebright.org.uk or call 01225 395555 or email futurebright@bathnes.gov.uk
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Following a transfer of service back to Bath & North East Somerset Council on 1st
July 2022, the number to ring if you suspect an adult is being abused or neglected
(this could be you or someone you know) will be 01225 394200.
Phone lines are open Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm and Fridays 8.30am
to 4.30pm; at all other times, call the Emergency Duty Social Work team on 01454
61 51 65 (evenings, weekends and bank holidays). If you think someone is in
immediate danger, ring the emergency services on 999.
You can also report a concern via email; there is a new email address to use for
safeguarding referrals; please use Safeguarding_Adults@bathnes.gov.uk.
Worrying about Money?
Advice and support is available within B&NES for those who are struggling to make ends meet – further details are here
One farm through one century
An opportunity to hear about life at Manor Farm in Langridge going back to 1917 via this Bathscape Podcast https://footprints.captivate.fm/episode/105-years-at-manor-farm-langridge
It’s very interesting, going from pre-mechanisation to war-time to modernisation. The current owners describe their successful Emorsgate seeds business.
Bath Preservation Trust – New Quick Guide to Energy Efficiency in Old Homes
B PT has released its new quick guide on how old homes can help cut carbon emissions, as an update on our existing energy efficiency guidance in Warmer Bath. This new publication includes a number of helpful no cost and low cost tricks and tips to reduce energy usage whilst keeping old homes warmer, and is intended to empower residents to make changes this coming winter with minimal risk to historic fabric. You can find the guidance available via our website: https://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/new-quick-guide-from-bpt-advises-how-all-old-homes-can-help-cut-carbon/