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Any resident of the parish of Wrington is welcome to e-mail opinions and comments as contributions to the formation of public opinion on matters of interest and concern to residents generally. The Editor reserves the right to refuse or edit e-mails.
Contributions to forum@wrington.org.uk
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Wake up Wrington!
Wrington - what do we want for the future ?
Nearly 12 years ago my family was lucky enough to come across Wrington when looking for somewhere to live between Weston and Bristol. We fell in love with the house straight away, and quickly realised how lucky we had been to land in Wrington village. If you are reading this then I don't need to extol Wrington's virtues: you will have your own list!
We live near All Saints' Church and regard the church as an important part of the village. The children always enjoy the services with the school visiting the church or the Rector visiting the school, and have thoroughly enjoyed a session looking around the church for historical clues.
We were shocked therefore to hear that there are plans afoot to remove the pews, the mediaeval screen and the font in order to make a large open space that would allow for a wider variety of activities.
There are those that would argue that as we don't attend the church regularly we shouldn't have any say about what happens to it. Perhaps that is true, but surely the congregation should have the right to a vote or at least some say in this important matter? It also feels to me that this is something that should be being discussed throughout the village and I certainly haven't heard anything on any of the grapevines I am party to!
This letter is a plea to think carefully before changing an important part of our village, and a wake- up call to those others of you who, like me, hadn't already heard of these plans and want a chance for it to become a topic for discussion.
Name and address supplied
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Democracy (not)
I'm an adult. I have a vote. I have a voice.
I have an MEP, an MP, a District Councillor, a Parish Councillor.
I can hire a lawyer to speak for me. Or an advocate. Or a PR specialist.
What I don't need, are neighbours, some of them anonymous, writing on my behalf, without consulting me.
That applies whether it's letters to [the Village] Journal about cats or letters pushed through front doors about the village club and its licence application.
Personally, I'm not a cat owner, but I've no wish to "restrain" anyone's cat. If the moggies don't eat the birds, a sparrowhawk will! I also have to say that I was grateful to get the letter about the village club, as it prompted me to write in support of the licence application.
So, please ask me what I think, but don't dare speak on my behalf without having listened to me - unless I elected you!
Paul Twynam
The Garth
Redhill
8th April, 2008
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Floods in Wrington
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From: Julie Firth 3rd February
Dear 'Webmaster'
I see there is a set of photos of the flooding in Wrington on 11 January on the Wrington website, to go with those taken in July 2007.
Our house was badly flooded on 11 January, for the third time since 1999, along with several others in the same road. Photos taken on and of these properties without the owners' knowledge have become public information.
We are also concerned at the way in which flooding is treated as public entertainment, e.g. strangers coming to see how badly your house is flooded; owners of 4-wheel drive vehicles driving fast through floodwater to try out their cars' capabilities, which creates waves and makes the flooding in houses worse; a picture of the floods was included in the 2008 cricket club calendar.
It took us three hours to cut up all our wet floor coverings and get them out of the house that evening, but none of the many people walking round Wrington to look at the damage stopped to offer any help. I am sure most of them will assume we are now back to normal.
The flood is only the beginning of months of hard physical work in the house and garden, time off work to meet insurance assessors and contractors, and trips to shops to replace household equipment, not to say the noise of fans and dehumidifiers.
We feel that people should be made aware of the havoc the floods are causing us and the need for some sensitivity.
Yours faithfully
Julie Firth
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From: Editor 11th February
Julie
I am very concerned at the distress you have been caused additional to the flooding itself. As far as the photographs on the website are concerned, they were mainly taken by David Glynn, the Chairman of the parish council planning committee. His purpose was quite simply to document this further disaster in order to bring home to North Somerset Council as powerfully as possible precisely the sort of problems you describe, and in a way that provides evidence for the argument that preventive measures are need as a matter of extreme urgency.
I, too, am a parish councillor, and I can vouch for the great efforts which have been made to elicit an effective response from NSC. I carried only some of the photographs David took. Many of them were taken at the same spots over a period of time to show the rate at which the flooding was occurring. We have received detailed submissions from other residents at our meetings, and these, too, were passed on to NSC.
These moves seem at last to be bearing fruit, as the parish clerk, Gabrielle Wilson, reported last week that "We have now received a response from David Turner, Director of Development & Environment at NSC to our letters of 8th and 22nd January on the flooding issue. He says that he would like to assure the PC that Wrington is their highest priority area in terms of trying to find a solution to the recent flooding problems, also that an independent surveyor has been engaged who will prepare a report which NSC with then be able to discuss with WPC. The last sentence states "We are doing all we can to try to ensure that the recent flooding problems in Wrington will not be repeated"."
From this I hope you will see that at least the photographs which appeared on the website were intended solely to have an effect supportive of those like yourself who suffered directly, and on whose behalf the parish council has been making urgent representations.
I totally agree with your point that everyone should be aware of the havoc caused and the need for sensitivity. Perhaps you would permit me to carry your statement, as a whole or in part, on the website ?
Richard
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From: Julie Firth 18th February
Hello Richard
Thanks for your response, it is very much appreciated. I know many people have written to NSC and I have also written to Liam Fox.
I am happy for you to use my email for the website if you think it would be useful.
Regards
Julie
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