MERRY CHRISTMAS

Skelton Village Trust Newsletter December 2011

Dear Member
Our six monthly Newsletters are intended to keep our members up to date with the Trust’s activities. Our website – address above – is a ready reference and well worth a periodic check

Whilst membership continues to grow, we always have room for more and would ask you to encourage your neighbours and friends in the village to think about supporting the Trust. They can do so by contacting any member of the committee – details overleaf – and upon payment of £5 per household or £3 per individual.

On behalf of your committee I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Philip Butler
Chairman

Christmas Tree
Last year’s Christmas Tree in the churchyard (and clearly visible from the main road) was appreciated by many residents and passers-by. This year, in conjunction with the Parochial Church Council, we shall repeat the exercise but with a bigger and better tree!

Planning
The committee has – as always – maintained a watch on all planning applications in the village, and particularly in the Conservation Area, where we have recently distributed to all households updated guidelines from City of York planners.

We are also monitoring the progress of the York Local Development Framework which is the (very) long term planning document for the city. Our concern as the Trust is obviously for any likely impact on Skelton – which at present seems minimal apart from the possibility of small scale housing additions. In this regard our Village Design Statement would be a ‘material consideration’ should such an application be made.

However, on the near horizon is the government’s proposal to – in its words – to simplify the planning system, which includes the controversial bias in favour of ‘sustainable development’ including within the Green Belt. Since our section of York’s draft Green Belt is very important to our village the arguments being conducted on the subject – but more importantly the final outcome - are of some relevance to us.

Archive 

Pictorial items from the Archive were exhibited in the village school during parents’ day. Members of the Trust committee and the History Group were on hand to talk to visitors. It is intended to stage an Archive exhibition for the wider public next summer.

Next summer we are planning to hold a Saturday event in the School to display some of the items which we hold in the archive. We would like feedback on holding such an event.

Trees Hedges and Bulbs
This year we have planted four more trees, one on the Pasture and three on Burtree Avenue Green. The Trust always welcomes suggestions for the siting of new trees. The Orchard View hedge project has now been completed and the general view appears to be that it greatly improves that area of the Pasture.
A sack of daffodils and also of narcissi bulbs have been planted in various locations around the village.

Treasurer
Ian Richardson will stand down at the end of our financial year (Dec 31) after ten years in the post which he has filled with application and enthusiasm. He will remain on the committee and his place as Treasurer will be taken by committee member Ian Hutchinson.
 

Wednesday 22 February Speaker and Social Evening
Our speaker is John Oxley, the York City Archaeologist whose subject is “ Bring out Your Dead! Archaeological investigations in York's Roman cemeteries" Tickets for what promises to be a fascinating insight into one of the York “digs” will be on sale in February.

NOTE: We welcome ideas – and even volunteers! – for future subjects related to our interests in local/regional history, conservation and planning

Thursday 3 May AGM
Following the business of the AGM there will be a presentation by Maurice Taylor of Ripon who gives talks on a wide range of subjects concerning Yorkshire and its history. "Hatched, Matched, Dispatched -Some Yorkshire Customs", full of interest and humour, is a joint talk with his wife.

Committee Members 2011/2012