Barley Parish Council
Classic Christmas Fayre, Lights, Parking, Gritting...
The Barley Remembrance Service was very well attended again with the weather being kind this year, wreaths were laid on behalf of residents by Cllr John Connor, a wreath was laid by Borough Councillor Martyn Stone and our vicar Kathryn Heyworth gave us a reading. The new flagpole gave us chance to fly the “Lest We Forget” flag the few days before Remembrance Sunday and we flew the Union Jack, as designated by government protocol, on the day itself. Most then went back to the Chapel afterwards for tea and scones and a catch-up.
The next big event is the “Barley Classic Christmas Fayre” on Sunday 10th December organised by the Events Committee. It will start with a Village Hall Christmas Fayre from midday, a Xmas Lights Switch On, carol singing and a Father Christmas grotto at the Turning Area followed by the traditional Barley to Bethlehem around 5pm. The Cabin will be providing refreshments on the Turning Area from 4pm and the Pendle Inn will follow with Christmas Carol Karaoke from 6.30pm – it will be a great Xmas start for our village. The Parish Council are delighted to support this event and we have provided grant monies for road signage and three Gazebo’s.
The Parish Council has purchased some more Xmas lights for 2023. We have had a setback as some of last years lights have gone missing from the Village Hall but we are pressing forward and replacing them. The Council agreed to gradually increase our Xmas lights each year until we reach an agreed optimum; this year there will be stars on the Chapel and Village Hall plus lighting braids on both these buildings plus the tree, the bus shelter and the toilet block. We are planning for it all to come together for the Christmas Fayre.
As you might have seen, the County Council has now erected the “Resident Parking” signs and then they covered them with bags a few days later. The next thing to happen will be the removal of existing and the painting of new road lines. Then a further Highways Order will need to be approved before the restrictions are introduced. Within this period residents will be able to apply for parking permits – my expectation is it will be January before it is introduced.
We have just had our first cold snap of the winter; we are scraping ice from our cars and wondering if there is worse to come. The good news is that accesses to our village remain on the County Council’s Winter Maintenance priority treatment network and so we expect to see a Gritter on our roads when it is freezing or snowing.
Be aware that the passing of a gritter does not necessarily mean you will not encounter ice; run-off water from fields can remove the salt and salt needs vehicle movements to make it active so it is still hazardous if you are the first on the road. Salt is also generally ineffective below -8˚c and only 35% of the road network is treated – this should be enough to tell you that we should be extra careful driving in cold rural areas. Be careful out there!
On behalf of the Parish Council, I would like to wish everybody in the Parish a Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2024.