BROAD TOWN NEWS – DECEMBER 2023 / JANUARY 2024
Keeping everyone in touch with what is going on in and around our parish.
PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE - Email: btpcclerk@outlook.com
Floding Wiltshire Council is requesting that evidence of the recent flooding events and impact on our community be shared. This information is crucial in gaining priority and may support future funding applications from DEFRA. The Details required are : • Property address • Dates and times • Photographs and video • Maps showing when and where flooding occurred • If pumping was required to protect properties • If sewage services and or septic tanks were affected Wiltshire Council will not share any data with outside agencies other than the Environment Agency. Please send any of the above information to the Clerk to collate and pass onto Wiltshire council.
Wilts are also keen to have an Emergency Contact for the village – please see the details about the role on the website at https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/news/local-flood-emergency-contact-required/ Contact the Clerk if interested.
Leaves in the Road Take care when blowing leaves etc onto the road since this can block drains leading to flooding issues. Better to dispose of the leaves rather than transfer the problem to someone else. Also a number of culverts have been found to be blocked by children’s toys such as Frisbees – please be vigilant.
Bobbyvan A reminder to all about the free service the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust provides to all those who are over 60 or 18+ with a registered disability living in Wiltshire. Since 1998, the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust (WBVT) has worked in partnership with Wiltshire Police to provide a free home security service for elderly and vulnerable people throughout Wiltshire. The charity funds the operation of three Bobby Vans that provide mobile workshops for Bobby Operators. For more details please see the flyer on the website at https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/news/wiltshire-bobby-van-trust/
RoSPA report on Redhills Play Area RoSPA have carried out their annual inspection of the play area at Redhills and no significant problems were found. The report can be viewed at https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/yourcommunity/redhills-playing-fields-and-play-area/
Next PC Meetings - Monday 11th December and Monday 8th January The next Parish Council meetings will be at 6.30pm in the village hall on 11th December and 8th January when we will be agreeing the budget and setting the precept for the forthcoming year. All are welcome and the agenda will be posted on our website and on the notice boards in due course
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
What our S.I.D. saw last month.
The SID has been located at Marlborough House monitoring Southbound traffic (heading to Broad Hinton) The SID counted 19,869 vehicles passing which equates to approx. 710 a day. 7% of vehicles were speeding.
BROAD TOWN CHURCH
Services for December
3rd Advent Carols & Readings 5.00 pm
13th Carol Service* 7.00 pm
17th Communion 10.30 am
24th Communion 10.30 am
January Services to be confirmed.
*Church Carol Service – Wednesday 13th December – 7.00 pm. Followed by Mulled Wine and Mince Pies.
Church Audio System:- We now have a new Audio & Loop system in the Church. This has been made possible thanks to the generosity of ‘Friends of Broad Town Church’ who regularly contribute for specific projects that we could not otherwise afford.
Beetle Drive Very many thanks to Andrew & Rosie for organizing this fantastic fundraiser for the Church; a great fun evening was had by all. The amount raised was an incredible £658.20
FOODBANK
The next collection will be 9th & 10th December at the Village Hall - 9am to 4pm. Please be as generous as you can for this Christmas Collection.
SHELTER
Don’t forget to post your Christmas greetings to your Broad Town Friends and Neighbours on the banner from Monday 4th December.
PROSPECT HOSPICE
The recent Village box collection raised £234.05. Thank you for your continued support.
BROAD TOWN SCHOOL
The BTSA is holding a Festive Craft Afternoon/Shop on Friday 15th December. All are very welcome, 3:15-5pm. Join us at the village hall for some Christmas crafting, shop for some lovely yet inexpensive Christmas presents. Teas, coffees, mince pies and a baked goods competition all to get you in the festive mood. We look forward to hosting this festive event and hope the community can come along!
CAROL SINGING
Carol Singing around the Village - Friday 22nd December - Meet at Village Hall at 5pm. Bring a torch and wear something warm. Will finish back at Hall for Fish & Chips (Food for Thought), Mulled Wine and Community Carols. If you know of someone who cannot make it to the Village Hall then we may be able to arrange the singers to go to them; please call Rosie. Further Details: Contact Rosie Law - Tel 731472
COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNINGS
Our December coffee morning will be on Wednesday December 13th which will be a fundraising morning in aid of Cancer Research UK. There will be a raffle and plenty of cakes so please come along to enjoy our final coffee morning of 2023! Any ‘Made in Broad Town’ craft and produce items not sold at the Church Coffee Morning on the 2nd, will also be available to purchase. The community coffee mornings are always on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, so our first coffee morning of the new year will be on January 10th, followed by one on the 24th so please join us from 10 – 12 noon in the village hall to enjoy delicious homemade cakes, sausage rolls, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
BROADTOWN SOCIAL CLUB EVENTS & NEWS
Friday 22nd December - Community Carol Singing. Get into the festive spirit with mulled wine, mince pies and a good old sing song. Food for Thought on site for takeaways/eat in. The chosen charity for this year is Cancer Research UK and we are hoping to raise a bumper amount thanks to the Community Coffee Morning donating the proceeds of their Christmas Raffle and the Church donating half the collection from the Carol Service on Wednesday 13th December. Sunday 31st December – New Year’s Eve party ❖ Dance the night away with live music from the Dog House Band (guaranteed to fill the floor) ❖ Bring in the New Year with Big Ben on the big screen ❖ Bring your own table food! ❖ Tickets £10/adult, £5/U16 to include entertainment, a free standard drink and automatic entry into a free prize draw to be made on the night. We won’t mug you to buy raffle tickets! ❖ See poster for details but get in quick as the tickets are selling fast! Tickets available at the Social Club on Friday evenings or from Anne by email to annebroadtownveday@hotmail.com or text 07916701844.
BISHOP ANDREW’S DECEMBER LETTER
Thanks for all your hard work as always. Forward to Adventure! In my former parish, there were various experiments we made to make the most of the unique atmosphere of preparation and excitement accompanying Advent. Shortest-lived was what we called the Nativity Crawl, which involved the familiar festive cast dressed in costume and released in stages onto the high street, to work their way along the five pubs situated there, finding ‘no room at the inn’ until culminating (with carols and swaddled doll) in carols at the last pub en route. It was fun but didn’t quite catch light. More successful was what we called The Adventure, whereby each evening in Advent, a small space around the benefice – someone’s garage, or a school porch – would open for just one hour to give a glimpse of something festive and hope-filled. Different households or groups would take responsibility for one night each, so the load was spread: some would simply sing carols and serve mulled wine, others were more adventurous and creative, but all were exciting steps along the way to Christmas Eve, which took place in the lychgate of one of the churches. I recall this project (which wasn’t my idea, by the way) fondly, because it began to change the rumour about church in the community and brought alive a season that still kindles spiritual yearnings among so many. My seventeen-year-old daughter told me this week that ‘getting ready for the party is better even than the party itself’. In Advent, I’m inclined to agree. God bless.
SWINDON FOOD COLLECTIVE
Thank you to broad town community who participated in harvest 2023 you donated 185.7 kgs. This will help us greatly, as we continue helping people in Swindon and surrounding areas who are in food crisis. Thank you all for your kindness and generosity.
SWINDON & DISTRICT SCOUTS XMAS POST 2023
For Christmas Cards Only Special Stamps 35p for 2023 available in Royal Wootton Bassett from: - Sainsbury’s, Borough Fields, Church Croft, St Barts, High St (10am-Noon Mon-Sat), Radways the Cobblers, The Arcade, High Street, Rootz, Hairdressers, Woodshaw.
Items must be posted in the Special Green Post Boxes at the above locationsSwindon Scouts Post Delivery Area Ashbury, Badbury, Bassett Down, Bishopstone, Blunsdon, Broad Hinton, Broad Town, Bourton, Bushton, Castle Eaton, Chiseldon, Clyffe Pypard, Coleshill, Cricklade, Greatfield, Greenhill, Hampton, Hannington, Highworth, Hodson, Hook, Inglesham, Latton, Liddington, Lydiard Millicent, Purton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Salthrop, Sevenhampton, Shrivenham, South Marston, Stanton Fitzwarren, Tockenham, Wanborough, Watchfield, Wroughton, NO DELIVERIES TO LYNEHAM, BRADENSTOKE, BRINKWORTH
Don’t forget to use special green scout post boxes (see above). DO NOT use the special scout Christmas stamps on cards posted in Royal Mail Post Boxes or the recipient will have to pay a surcharge.
Last time for posting 4pm on Tuesday 12th December.
INFORMATION FOR BROAD TOWN stamps will be available for sale at the Community coffee morning on Saturday 2nd December 10am to 12.30pm when items for posting will also be accepted.
The deadline for items for the newsletter should be sent to: - BroadTownNews@gmail.com by the 22nd of EVERY month. For any queries, please contact Ray Manley 01793 731564