April 2025 Minutes
Present:
Rob Jarvis, Andy Croyle, Nicholas Watts, Suzanne Chappell, Jim Mitchell and Louise McGuinness
County Councillor for Tongue End Ward, Elizabeth Sneath
11 Parishioners
Apologies had been received from Deborah Croyle, Paul Barrett, Sharon Hall and Nicky Mansellas-Cooper.
Clerk: Angela Harrison
In the Chair: Rob Jarvis
Mr Jarvis welcomed everyone to the Deeping St Nicholas Annual Parish Meeting.
He thanked everyone for giving up their time to come along and hoped that they would take the opportunity to meet their Parish Councillors, find out what projects are being planned and to become a part of what the PC are doing to enhance the village and the lives of its residents.
Before the open forum, the Chair spoke about the nominations for the Pride of Deeping St Nicholas Awards. He explained that these awards are to recognise those people who selflessly give up their time in so many different ways, to ensure that we all live in a much brighter, safer environment. Their actions often go unnoticed, so this is our way of saying thank you.
The Chair added that all of our Parish Councillors are volunteers and many are involved with community groups and although they cannot be nominated individually, collectively he wanted to put on record, a huge vote of thanks to each and every one of them for all they do working for the community.
Sadly, there were no nominations for the Young Achiever Award, even though there are some great young people in the village. He asked that we all look a bit harder next year, and search out the good among the younger members of the community.
Mr Jarvis read out the list of awards, (as follows), and the Clerk presented them on his behalf.
COMMUNITY HEROES: 14 Nominations
1. Village News Volunteers
For delivering to every household, in all weathers, to ensure residents are kept up to date with what’s going on in the village.
2. Community Speed Watch
For raising awareness of speeding and making the village a safer place for all.
3. Village Fete Committee
For organising a fund day for the whole community to enjoy.
4. Good Neighbour Scheme Volunteers
For supporting residents in their hour of need, providing Chatter Natter benches, and collaborating with partners to improve services for parishioners.
5. Neighbourhood Watch Team
For working in partnership with the Parish Council and the Police, in order to make Deeping St Nicholas a safer place to live.
6. Church Bell Ringers
For the sweet sound of the Church Bells throughout the village.
7. Charles Sly
In recognition of his unwavering support to the village.
8. Yvonne Kohter
In recognition of being truly inspiring, motivating and bringing people together.
9. Glenn House
In recognition of his litter picking through Hop Pole whilst walking his dog.
10. Jayne Jarvis
11. Lesley Prentice
12. Kathryn Towers
In recognition of their continued support of the Good Neighbour Scheme.
13. Revd Erica Crust
For her community spirit, allowing the use of the Church for special events and ensuring the Church remains the focal point of our village.
14. Lynne Carter (3 Nominations) WINNER
In recognition of her work through the Good Neighbour Scheme and for going above and beyond to help people.
SPECIAL ACHIEVERS: 5 Nominations
1. Trevor Jackson
In recognition of working free of charge to install the village defibrillators.
2. Peter Squires
In recognition of his voluntary work to maintain the play areas and as Chair of the Gardening Club.
3. The Community Gardening Club
In recognition of their tireless efforts to brighten up the village over the past 4 years.
4. Philip Green
In recognition of his support, not only producing the Village News but helping other local groups.
5. Yvonne Kohter (6 Nominations) WINNER
For bringing people together through fitness and friendship, providing support, improved mental health and general wellbeing.
The winners, Lynne Carter and Yvonne Kohter, each received a certificate, bouquet of flowers, box of chocolates and a gift card.
The Clerk then handed over 2 more certificates, and explained that although the Parish Councillor’s couldn’t be nominated, there were 2 that had received nominations for Community Heroes, from the public.
The first certificate was for Rob Jarvis who had been nominated ‘the amazing things he has achieved, despite his disabilities, through working with various committees and projects, especially for the new play equipment.’
The second certificate was for Deborah Croyle, who was nominated for ‘always being ready to put the village on the map and for making it the lovely village it is to live in.’
The Chair then invited Nicholas Watts to read out his Roads and Highways report, as follows.
The village entered the ‘Best Kept Village’ competition in 2024 but was hardly likely to win with our pavements growing grass on them and plants growing up on the road edges of our pavements. They were growing in the compacted soil where the roads join the pavement and it is too stiff for the road sweeper to gather up.
When we were cleaning out a chicken shed last July, we hired a small Bobcat, (mini digger/excavator), and when it was no longer needed, I brought it over to the Main Road and went along cleaning the growing plants and debris off the pavements. I then tried to clear the compacted soil from where the pavement meets the road, with limited success. I have had further attempts with our fore-end loader bucket, and have probably cleared more than a ton of soil from the road edges, but there is still plenty left.
The Main Road is in a bad state near Chestnut Farm, next to the hedge on East Reach farm, and there is a nasty dip in the road at the Halfway House, but despite reporting it on LCC’s FixmyStreet, multiple times and by several people, nothing has been done yet.
The North Drove Bank carriageway has numerous potholes along it, which have also been reported on FixmyStreet, although some potholes have been filled in at the Cuckoo Bridge end of the road.
The only bit of good news we have had, is that the 2 interactive speed signs which were erected nearly a month ago now and are working well. These will record data which can be accessed by the Police and Road Safety Partnership which will help us reduce the speed of traffic along this stretch of road. Many thanks to Trevor Jackson who helped install these signs along with Graham Butler, the Lincolnshire Road Safety officer.
The Chair thanked Nicholas for his report and for everyone’s attendance.
He encouraged residents to take some time to speak with the Parish Councillors who were present and to have a look at the plans for Littleworth and Hop Pole play areas that were on display.
Meeting ended at 7pm