Written by Sue Pragnell on behalf of Silchester Parish Council

At the council meeting at the beginning of November it was decided to change the format of the monthly ‘Parish Council News’.   From now on the News will be written by a different councillor each month, thus giving us the opportunity not only to tell you of current events relating to the Parish as whole, but also to give you an idea of the areas of interest that each of us pursue.   We do, of course, work very closely as a council but, as you will find out over the coming months, we all have special areas of interest!

I am kicking off because, as some of you will have seen during November, a new trail (which I have been working on with Hampshire CC) has been waymarked within the parish – the Silchester Trail.

Following an application by the Hampshire Museums & Galleries Trust to the Heritage Lottery Fund three new walks in the Basingstoke area have been formed – the Silchester Trail, the Basing Trail in Old Basing and the Mill Trail in Whitchurch & Laverstoke.   As a result we have created a new circular walk, using existing rights of ways, starting at Bramley station with an alternative start point at the Calleva Arms.   The money allocated to us has been used to replace all of the stiles on the walk with gates, provided us with four new interpretation panels (one combined with the new Village Hall notice board) as well as upgrading waymarking and fingers posts together with the new trail waymarking.   We have also been able up update our leaflet ‘Exploring Silchester’ with an easier to read map.

The Silchester Trail is just over 8 miles and encompasses the ford at Clappers Farm, the church, the amphitheatre, the wall and returns to Bramley station via Church Lane.   For those who would like to do the full walk it can download at www.hants.gov.uk/walking.  For others, who wish to follow the core of the route (just under 4 miles) this can be found in the revised Exploring Silchester which can be downloaded from the Parish Council website www.silchester-pc.gov.uk or by asking for a copy at the Calleva Arms which in itself is a very good starting point for the walk.

All three trails have now been officially opened and I hope that many of you will enjoy walking our new trail.

Other points the council would like to bring to your attention this month are:

There has been a recent spate of break-ins to cars parked in the Silchester Roman Town car park in Wall Lane.  At least five cars where broken into over one weekend and handbags were stolen from the boots of hatchbacks.  Please do be careful not to leave items of value in your car when going for a walk.

Also Police are appealing for information after an incident in October at the Roman wall.   A man driving a small blue hatchback got out of his car, exposed himself to a woman walking round the wall, then got back into his car and drove away.   The police have stated “walkers are reminded to be aware when walking alone and to report any suspicious people to the police as soon as possible”.  Please do remain vigilant and should you need to contact the police you should, in the first instance, contact our local beat officer, PC Mandy Jewell on 0845 045 45 45 or dial 101.

Following the cessation of the Reading bus service from Tadley to Reading a new Travel Information Guide has been prepared and this can be viewed and downloaded via the Parish Council website www.silchester-pc.gov.uk.

The council are now starting to formulate the next stage for a Parish plan. We really do need volunteers to help us achieve this very important task and anyone who would like to be involved please get in touch with Cally Morris either by email (clerk@silchester.org) or by phone (0118 970 1745).

The council has again arranged for the collection and recycling of your Christmas trees.   Please drop off your old tree just inside the entrance to the pavilion car park, on the left, and it will be taken away to be chipped and then used on local play areas and paths.    Trees can be left from  Monday 4^th January up until Sunday 31^st January 2010. 

Date of next meeting – Monday, 4^th January 2010 at 8pm
Club room, Silchester Village Hall
Please do come and join us, hear of more of our plans for your village and have your say.

And finally, on behalf of all your councillors and the clerk may I take this opportunity of wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas and New Year.