If anyone has any news items to report or announce - anything to do with the village or its inhabitants - then please send it to This could be charity or special events, 'Big' birthdays anniversaries etc.
The Arkendale contact for the Knaresborough Post is Sarah Shipman. She also may be able to include your news in the paper and obtain free publicity. It does need to reach her at least a week before the event. Please contact: .
Historical Parish Minutes
The minutes book for the Arkendale Parish Council, covering meetings from the first one in 1894, through to May 1996, was recently been rediscovered. Although there is a gap in the record between 1953 and 1971, it gives a unique insight into the life of the village over the years.
The book itself will be given for safe keeping to the North Yorkshire Archives at Northallerton, but the entries have been scanned, and the digitised pages stored on CD for access by today's villagers and researchers.
Anyone wanting further information, or a copy of the CD should contact Gavin Holman - gavin@ibew.co.uk
See: Arkendale Parish Council Minutes - 1894 - 1996
[Gavin Holman - 11 March 2010]
Parish Council - February 2010
The Parish Council were very pleased to welcome Cllr John Watson (NYCC), Cllr Anthony Alton (HBC) and Mr James Malcolm from the Highways Department (NYCC) at their meeting held on 16th February. Full minutes of the meeting will be displayed on the village notice boards but the following points may be of particular interest:
Cllr Anthony Alton (Harrogate Borough Council) confirmed that there would be no increase in the Council Tax demanded by Harrogate Borough Council next year and that recycling collections of garden waste are to be extended.
Cllr John Watson (North Yorkshire County Council) informed members that the Council Tax set by NYCC is going up by 2.9% next year – 0.4% of this is because there is a legacy of £20 million in costs for repairs to the roads after the very bad winter. He also advised that the timetable on the Waste Incinerator plans at Allerton Quarry is slightly delayed again, and that the final planning decisions will not be taken by NYCC until next year (2011).
Mr James Malcolm (Highways) discussed the problems caused to the road system by the winter weather. In particular potholes are a problem, but he said that there will be further funding in the next year for strengthening and improving the roads.
The matter of a new bench seat is be discussed at the Annual Parish Meeting, before a decision about is finally made, and it was also decided that the Parish Council would like to adopt the Pay Phone kiosk at Arkendale
The poor condition of some road signs was noted and it was agreed that the Clerk should request that the sign opposite The Bluebell public house should be replaced, and that the 'children crossing' sign opposite the church gate should be moved to the other side of the road, where it would be more helpful..
The next meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday 18th May 2010, immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting which is a meeting which parishioners are encouraged to attend; it provides a very useful opportunity for important issues and concerns to be raised.
[Sarah Shipman - 28 February 2010]
Bicycle Thieves
This is a message from North Yorkshire Police.
There has recently been an increase in bicycle theft in the Harrogate area. We urge all residents to keep bikes out of sight and safely secured. Remember that the security of any shed or outbuilding must reflect the value of its contents. Please keep your bicycles safe. If you have valuable items stored in a shed it is advisable to update your security.
[Cynthia Strong - 20 February 2010]
Potholes
As a result of recent bad weather, there are some very large potholes appearing in the roads. If you are an internet user you can contact North Yorkshire Council on the following website: www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=42 and click on 'Report' for a brief form on which to explain where the particular potholes are. If you do not have access to the internet please contact your local parish councillors so that they can make the report on your behalf.
[Sarah Shipman - 26th January 2010]
Christmas
At the time of writing this, it has just stopped snowing and the countryside looks particularly beautiful with the sun going down through the trees and casting a yellow glow over the snow-covered fields. However such weather brings with it hazards for motorists and pedestrians alike, and, however much we may secretly wish for a white Christmas, common sense prevails and I hope that conditions will improve for all of you to reach your destinations safely over the Christmas period. May I take this opportunity of wishing everyone who reads this column a very blessed and joyful Christmas.
Times of Church services are available here on the website, and there is something for everyone. If you would like to know more please telephone or email Sarah Shipman.
In a week's time Christmas will all be over for another year and we will be looking back over the past year and forward to 2010 Here in Arkendale it has been a very exciting year with the completion of the new Community Hall, and the committee are working hard to ensure that in the new year the hall will be used and enjoyed by a wide variety of organisations. May I take this opportunity to ask you to spread the word about the wonderful facilities we now have, and bookings can be made through Mrs Caroline Houseman tel:340240.
Arkendale WI will hold their first meeting of the new year there at 7.30pm on the 6th January and new members will be very welcome. May I please remind current members that the subscriptions will be due that night and we are also asked to bring a tombola prize.
So at the start of a new decade and with a new hall, Arkendale and the surrounding villages have much to look forward to. May I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2010.
[Sarah Shipman - 20th December 2009]
Coneythorpe Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree was erected on the green on Sunday 13th December. Supplied by Thorpe Trees, it is one of the looked forward events in the village. Let the festivities begin!
Community Hall AGM
The AGM was held last week but it was attended by no members of the public other than committee members. In future years it will continue to be held during the last week in November ( a change from the past) . The chairman, Alan Stokes, reported that 2009 had been a momentous year for the villages and the committee because all the previous year's endeavours have resulted in the building of the new community hall at a cost less than 5.0% over that originally budgeted. The accounts are currently with the auditor.It was noted that bookings for the new hall were going well and users were happy with the facilities offered; Caroline Houseman is in charge of bookings and she can be contacted on tel: 01423 340240.
[Sarah Shipman - 5th December 2009]
Quiz Night
 Last week the Quiz Night at the BlueBell in Arkendale was well attended and there was a great deal of laughter and fun throughout the evening. The food was very good with sumptuous cakes and unlimited tea and coffee, coutesy of Ken, the landlord. Many thanks to him and his team for their generosity and also to all who were involved in compiling and delivering what was an extremely entertaining quiz. In the region of £200 was raised for Church funds.
[Sarah Shipman - 25th October 2009]
Pampered Chefs
Over 30 people attended the Pampered Chef evening on Wednesday and the event succesfully raised over £200. This was a superb effort, particularly considering that there has been so much happening in the village in the last few weeks for which local people have been asked to make contributions. There are no fixed dates as yet for any other events this year but please watch the events page for details as they emerge.
[Sarah Shipman - 16th October 2009]
The Community Hall is Open!
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The communities of Arkendale, Coneythorpe, Clareton, Flaxby and Ferrensby woke up last Saturday with a sense of excitement and disbelief After so many years of hoping for a new hall it was hard to believe that the dream had, at last, been realised.
During the morning, there were last-minute preparations to be done but soon the new hall, bedecked with bunting and flowers, was ready for the grand opening. The only aspect of the day out of the control of the committee was the weather, and no-one could have anticipated what a wonderful sunny day we would all enjoy so late in September.
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Click here for pictures of the opening day
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At 1.30pm, the first of two sets of morris dancers entertained in the Blue Bell car park; they were a group of ladies from Knaresborough, and their dancing was a fitting start to the celebrations, after which Alan Stokes, chairman of the committee, made a speech in which he looked back over the years. Canon Peter Midwood then blessed the new hall and all those who would use it and everyone said the Lord's Prayer before the actual opening ceremony.
The committee had always wanted this day to be a truly community occasion and this was symbolised very poignantly by the cutting of the ribbon being performed by the oldest member of the community, Mrs Emily Houseman, 95, with the youngest, Joshua Taylor, aged five days. Although Joshua slept through the whole proceedings, there will be plenty of photographs to remind him of the part he played in what was a very historic occasion.
Well over 300 people passed through the hall at some point in the afternoon. There was wine and soft drinks, plates of cakes, and a chance to view the hall inside and out, to reminisce with pictures of days gone by in the old Nissen hut, and to catch up with old friends and memories of village events. One lady came who had been born many years before in the Blue Bell, others came who had lived in the village and moved on.
Further entertainment from Ripon City Morris Dancers, soprano vocalist Ione Cumming, Kathryn Howe and her newly-formed children's choir, Trevor Rowe and Jo Smith was enjoyed throughout the afternoon.
On Sunday, a special service of celebration for the new hall was held at Arkendale Church. Canon Peter Midwood and chairman Alan Stokes led the well attended service, which was a fitting end to what was an exceptionally happy weekend for everyone involved.
Everybody involved with the project to build the new community hall, and organising the celebrations on the opening day should be congratulated on a superb job done, the benefit of which will be enjoyed by the local communities for years to come.
[Sarah Shipman/Gavin Holman - 2nd October 2009]
Report from the YORKSHIRE POST:
Hall dream comes true for village after wait of 78 years - by Lauren Potts
For 78 years, residents of the North Yorkshire village of Arkendale have shared a dream. It began in 1920 with a humble Army hut, donated to the village after the First World War, which fast became the centre of community life. But despite being its importance - the centre for parties, Women's Institute meetings and generations of friendships - it was in desperate need of a revamp. Designs were drawn up as early up as 1931, but the stumbling block, as always, was money.
However, after years of planning and continued support from residents, the proud unveiling of Arkendale's new village hall last weekend signalled the end of a seven-decade struggle. The old hut had had to be demolished in 2007. Chairman of the Village Hall Committee Alan Stokes said: "It was always an ongoing project, looking at how to enhance the hall, make it bigger. But committees have to go through a process of exploring things before reaching a decision. Commissioning architects began years ago. But of course, there was no money. So it took a while."
Committee members over the years worked tirelessly to set up a new communal meeting place, but it was only recently that finally plans got off the ground. "We had designs and quotes from architects when I joined as chairman of the committee in 2005," said Mr Stokes. "One architect quoted us £300,000. But Arkendale only has 270 residents so we had to take a more pragmatic approach."
It became clear that the largest hurdle was funding for the project. Mr Stokes added: "From 2005 the community resumed working hard to raise money. But it was clear that even with help from the surrounding villages we had to start looking at obtaining grants."
Even though it was a long process, outside organisations were forthcoming with donations, the main funds coming from the Big Lottery Fund and WREN, a waste recycling company. "In the beginning we found it difficult to get funds, but once people saw us working on it, they began to help," said Mr Stokes. Between the two companies, £220,000 was donated towards the cost of rebuilding the village hall from sustainable timber supplies, with additional, tireless fundraising from Arkendale residents. Mr Stokes added: "The fundraising never really stopped, but in recent years it has been revitalised. We have held auctions, quiz nights, car boots, we even held a miniature music festival in a nearby field." Charities such as the Arkendale 10k Run provided additional funding and businesses further afield such as Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate donated both money and produce.
Finally almost eight decades since the idea was first formulated, the village gathered for the hall's grand opening. Attended by the whole community, plus residents from the surrounding areas of Coneythorpe, Clareton, Flaxby and Ferrensby, the afternoon met with great success. "More than 300 people attended, plus, the weather was glorious," said village correspondent Sarah Shipman. "We have been working for years for a new hall. It is an achievement for everyone."
The oldest and youngest residents, Emily Houseman, 95, and Joshua Taylor, just five days old, marked the occasion by snipping the ribbon outside their eco-friendly village hall. "It really has been a great encouragement to the community," added the committee chairman, with a sense of pride. "We are delighted that Emily and Joshua were there to bring the old and the young together. It is, after all, our aim to bring the community together."
But the work is far from over. "It's an ongoing project. We will need money so that the community can continue to use it for themselves. Once a few things are finalised, we will be straight back onto the fundraising," he added.
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The big day has arrived
As a result of donations from the Big Lottery Fund, WREN and other donors, and very hard work by members of the villages, the Arkendale Community Hall is, at the time of writing, nearing completion.
We are therefore very happy to be able to issue an open invitation to everybody who lives in the villages of Arkendale, Coneythorpe, Ferrensby, Clareton and Flaxby, and indeed to anyone else who has been connected with any of those villages in the past. The grand opening ceremony of Arkendale Community Hall is to take place this weekend on Saturday, 26th September from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. During that time there will be Morris dancing, live entertainment from Ione Cumming and a newly-formed children's choir, a chance to see the history of the old hall, and a chance to have a good look round the new one. The cutting of the ribbon ceremony will be performed at 2pm. Please take this opportunity to meet up with old friends and make this event a really memorable community occasion.
[Sarah Shipman - 19th September 2009]
Special Service
On Sunday, 27th September at 6pm there will be a special service of celebration in Arkendale Church. With the new community hall in the forefront of our minds that weekend, the service will be a service of praise and thanksgiving, focussing very much on the future and all that is good in all the villages that the new hall will serve.
[Sarah Shipman - 4th September 2009]
Cake Stall
The cake stall in Knaresborough market on Wednesday, 26th February, raised about £260 for Arkendale Church funds. Thank you to all who contributed cakes, produce and preserves for the stall and to all who supported us on the day. A particular thank you to those who braved the pouring rain to set up the stall and sell the wares. It was not the sunny weather we had hoped for but, despite that, good humour and laughter prevailed.
[Sarah Shipman - 4th September 2009]
Farming
There has been some publicity in the press recently from people who have complained about the tractors on our country roads. Yes indeed, at this time of year, we are regularly held up by farming vehicles 'chugging' along, sometimes covering our windscreens with bits of straw, and sometimes leaving a good supply of sods of earth in the middle of the road.
However I wish to come to the defence of the drivers of those farm vehicles. We live next to a farm and have seen first hand over the last few weeks how hard our farmers work day and night to bring in the harvest. Theirs is no 9 to 5 job; they are up with the sound of the cockerels and still working non-stop when we're putting our lights on in our homes.
In Arkendale we are proud to have working farms in our community and proud of our farmers. At a time when farming faces so many bureaucratic obstacles and difficulties with climate change, a little inconvenience on the roads at the farmers' busiest time of the year is a small price for the rest of us to pay for the benfits we all enjoy as a result of the dedication and hard work of farmers both in Arkendale and elsewhere.
[Sarah Shipman - 23rd August 2009]
Community Hall
There has been much activity at the new hall during the past week and the building is in its final stages of completion. The kichen equipment has been installed, utilities connected and furniture ordered. The new hall will be almost completely finished by the end of the month if all goes to plan.
The hall committee are preparing for the grand opening on the afternoon of September 26th which will be here very soon. While we feel very excited about this new venture, it is also useful to remind ourselves that the day to day running of the hall is going to incur certain costs which will be covered by some letting but also by continued fund raising. Therefore the donor plaque scheme for raising funds will continue both now and beyond the opening date.
[23rd August 2009]
New Community Hall Grand Opening
A date has been fixed for the Grand Opening; the festivities will be on the afternoon of Saturday, 26th September. More details will be given as soon as they are available but, in the meantime, please put the date in your diaries because it promises to be a 'real village occasion'!
Arkendale, Coneythorpe, Clareton Parish Council
A meeting of the Parish Council was held on July 22nd at 7.30pm in Arkendale Church and the following points of interest are taken from the draft minutes:
Mr Peter Thorndyke has resigned from his position as Parish Clerk and he was thanked for all his hard work over the last five years. The appointment of Mrs Zillah Hopps to replace him was approved by the Council.
Under 'Planning' an email was received from County Councillor John Watson, saying that the timescale for the incinerator planning application has slipped by three months. A decision upon the 'preferred partner' (ie the successful bidder) will not be made until at least September, because the discussions with the two finalists are taking much longer than expected. This should not be seen as a precursor to the cancellation of the whole project. A planning application will probably be submitted in March 2010 and a decision made in March 2011.
Under general village maintenance, it was agreed that a new leaflet that has been issued by Harrogate regarding dog fouling and the law should be delivered to every property in Coneythorpe and Arkendale.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Tuesday, 15th September in Arkendale Church at 7.30pm. We would encourage members of the villages to attend. In the meantime all details for the Parish Council are on the website or on the village notice boards.
New Hall Fundraising
The new hall is progressing well but funds are still needed for equipment inside, for example chairs and tables, crockery, kitchen equipment.
Thanks to all who came and supported the Arkendale Garden party where a record £730 profit was made for community hall funds. The Committee are as always very grateful to all those who helped make the afternoon a success, especially Sue for offering to let us hold the event in such a splendid garden, Ruth and Rob for masterminding the lovely food and organising the tombola and also to The Bandits for wonderful entertainment all afternoon.
Many villagers lent a hand, by offering delicious salads, washing strawberries and also by helping to move furniture to and from the garden. At this very busy time for the trustees and committee with the hall rebuilding project, it was wonderful to see such support.
Annual Village Assembly 2009
Minutes of the Annual Village Assembly for Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton held in Arkendale Parish Church on May 27 2009.
There were four Parish Councillors present, the Parish Clerk, 16 members of the public and our Harrogate Councillor, Anthony Alton and our NYCC Councillor, John Watson.
The Chairman, Peter Topham, gave his annual report on the activities in the parishes during the past year and this can be viewed on the notice board and on the Arkendale web-site.
Alan Stokes, chairman of the village hall committee talked about the new hall being built that was now very noticeable on its site next to the Bluebell Inn. He said that the builder had indicated that the building would be ready for handing over the keys to the committee by mid August this year. It would then need to be fitted out internally with such items as blinds, cutlery, and furniture, hand dryers, kitchen equipment etc. There is sufficient funding in place to cover all the costs but fundraising must continue to ensure there will be adequate reserves available. He emphasised that this would be a 'community hall' not a commercial venture, but it will be hired out to various organisations such as educational groups
Jane Watson, the Coordinator of the Coneythorpe & Clareton neighbourhood watch scheme described the way the organisation operated using telephones, e-mail and personal contact and said that it was useful not just as a crime fighting tool but also providing pastoral care in that it meant that people were kept in touch with each other. It was noted that Arkendale had a similar scheme run by Jane Hartley and Cynthia Strong.
Gavin Holman gave a brief talk about the new Arkendale web site, requesting comments and criticism. The site is open to all local organisations to post minutes of their meetings, details of forthcoming events etc. The site also contains details about the village and its amenities. There are plans to link it to the Coneythorpe web site too.
Coun John Watson provided some very useful information about the proposed waste incinerator at Allerton Park, the full details of which can be found on both the notice board and the web-site. This is a matter which is of great concern to the villagers and meetings have already been held to discuss it. However Coun Watson felt that the time for protest groups and Parish Councils (if they decide to object) to become really active is when the Planning Application is actually submitted at the end of September 2009 when the precise details of the proposed site will be available.
Dog Fouling
 There are some dog-owners who are exercising their pets in the village without using poop scoops; the results are particularly unpleasant on grassy verges where children could be running around. Please ensure that you clear up after your dog at all times where others could be walking.
Village Spring Clean
Thank you to those people who turned out last Saturday for the Arkendale village spring-clean. It proved to be a much easier job than usual which may well be due to two factors: the vigilance of the residents and also the relatively new litter bins in the village which, according to Harrogate Borough Council, are regularly used.
10K Run - 29th March 2009
The tombola at the 10K run raised a wonderful £411 for village hall funds.Thank you to the many people who donated prizes for this.
Arkendale Church raised £730 from the sale of refreshments and the barbecue at the 10K run. Thanks to everyone who baked or came to help on the day.
[Jean Cox]
Village Hall - 20th March 2009
Any news this week will seem very low key after last week's long-awaited news; building has started on the new village hall and it heralds a very exciting time for both Arkendale and the neighbouring villages.
Although most of the work so far has been done by people living in the villages of Arkendale and Coneythorpe, it is hoped that those living in other villages too, like Ferensby, will want to join us and benefit from all that the hall will have to offer.
Once it is built other talents and expertise will be needed, and if you feel you would like to offer some help with the hall when it is built, please contact the Chairman, Alan Stokes, on 01423 340517.
In the meantime, fund-raising goes on so that the hall can be equipped to the highest standards, and the next event is detailed below. Please give support in every way you can.
Church Services
Next Sunday is Mothering Sunday and there will be a village service for all ages in Arkendale Church at 9.30am. The Sunday School will be taking part, and there will be coffee after the service.
The 10km Run
On the following Sunday, March 29, there will be no service at Arkendale because many of the congregation are involved in one way or another with the 10km. Both the Church and the Village Hall Committee will be busy at this event, and volunteers are urgently needed to help both groups.
The Hall Committee is running a tombola stall and need plenty of good prizes; please pass these to Caroline Houseman (01423 340240) or Alan Stokes above.
The Church will be feeding both runners and their families (and anyone from the village who would like to come and join in the fun afterwards) with drinks and cakes and their usual hot dogs and beefburgers from the barbeque.
If you can bake some buns or muffins, give some much-needed assistance with the catering on the day, or help to sweep out the barn the day before and set out tables and chairs in the morning, please contact me (Sarah Shipman, 01423 340515).
All this activity will take place at Sunnyside Farm and all offers of help will be much appreciated, however small.
[Knaresborough Post]
Arkendale's £250,000 hall gets under way - 13th March 2009
Work has begun on the new £250,000 village hall in Arkendale. Following years of planning and negotiatons, work started earlier this month on the site for a new timber frame, environmentally-friendly building, specially imported from Scandanavia.
A ceremony held on Monday morning to mark the occasion saw the Village Hall Committee joined by Edward, Lord Mowbray, local residents and Martin Gallon, of Blue House Construction, who has supported the committee throughout.
Alan Stokes, Chairman of the Committee said: "We asked Edward, Lord Mowbray, as we wanted someone who had an interest in the community. He fulfils this and is often in the village. "We equally wished to demonstrate a wider interest than just Arkendale in that the aim is for the new village hall to serve villages around Arkendale such as Coneythorpe, Clareton, Ferrensby and Flaxby."
The old hall was recently demolished after 87 years and after a great deal of hard work say the Committee, everything was in place to go ahead with the £250,000 project.
"We were awarded a grant of £173,000 from the Big Lottery Awards for All Fund three years ago which covered early architect and professional fees," explained Alan. "We also received £50,000 from WREN. Without their help, the project would not have been possible at all. Other smaller grants have been received and ongoing fundraising events make up the balance."
Work is expected to be completed by early summer.
Alan added: "The community has been very loyal in supporting the fund-raising events for the hall in the past, however fund-raising needs to go on as the new hall will require furniture and kitchen equipment etc so events will be ongoing to raise funds for these.
The first fundraising event will be the Arkendale 10k Run at Sunnyside Farm on Sunday, March 29 at 11am. A family day out; there will be a barbecue, refreshments and tombola. Donations of prizes to Caroline Houseman or any other member of the committee.
[Knaresborough Post]
Church News - 27th February 2009
The grand sum of £201 was raised for church funds at the tea-tasting
on Saturday. There was plenty of laughter as new and exciting teas were tasted; the 'St Bartholomew's Tipple', specially blended for the occasion proved popular, but equally popular was Blue Sapphire. However, despite all the interesting flavours and smells, Yorkshire Gold was the tea that continued to please the majority!
May I thank everyone who attended the event, those who donated prizes and/or cakes, all who helped on the day and also those
who kindly sent donations because they couldn't attend in person.
Last, but not least, may I thank Taylors of Harrogate who donated samples of some of the teas for tasting.
The next event for Church funds will be the 10km Arkendale run on Sunday March 29. As has happened for the past two years, the Church members will be providing refreshments for runners, families and friends at Sunnyside farm. There will be a well-stocked barbecue and cakes and drinks. Please put the date in your diaries.
The service at church on Sunday, March 1 will be a Village Service at 9.30am.
Parish Council Meeting - 4th February 2009
The Parish Council met on Wednesday, February 4; there were five members of the public in attendance plus Anthony Alton, our Harrogate Councillor, and John Watson, our North Yorkshire County Councillor.
Due to the resignation of one of the Parish Councillors because of pressure of work, an advertisement has been put on the village notice board for a replacement councillor. If anyone is interested in filling the vacancy, please contact the Clerk of the Council, Mr Peter Thorndyke or the Chairman, Mr Peter Topham.
Routine business was discussed before Coun Watson reported on the energy waste scheme proposed for North Yorkshire.
He said that an EEC directive made it essential to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill from 65% to 10%. Accordingly, North Yorkshire County Council have received bids from various companies to build and run a central incineration plant in this county.
Although three sites are being considered in Thirsk, Selby and Allerton Park Quarry, the latter is very likely to become the preferred site. Coun Watson estimates that they will need a building about 100 feet tall and a chimney 200 feet tall, but the building would be built at the bottom of the quarry. It is therefore not possible to determine how much of an eyesore it would be but some part of it would definitely be visible from the Coneythorpe to Arkendale Road.
Concerns were expressed about the amount of extra traffic that such a project would generate, especially along the A59, thereby exacerbating the problem at the Flaxby junction. Also concerns were voiced about the possibility of noxious emissions from the chimney although assurances have been given that modern technology has overcome this potential problem.
The project is still in its very early stages of discussion and Coun Watson has promised to keep the Parish Council informed of various developments.
The issue of dog fouling was discussed again and Harrogate Borough Council leaflets on the topic are to be distributed round the villages of Arkendale and Coneythorpe.
The matter of rodent infestation at Clareton was also discussed. The situation has improved due to the intervention of Tim Canaver of HBC but the problem of rats on the roadside still needs to be addressed.
The Clerk has been asked to look into the cost of a commercially prepared and maintained website for the village of Arkendale.
The date of the next meeting will be March 25. If there are any matters that the public would like to be brought up at this meeting, please pass them on to any of the Councillors or the Clerk.
W.I. Meeting - 4th February 2009
The meeting of Arkendale WI was held on February 4 in Minskip Village Hall. Mrs Jean Stokes welcomed members on a very cold snowy evening.
An invitation had been received from Roecliffe WI, inviting our members to a talk to be given by the Mouseman of Kilburn on February 13 at 8pm, cost £3. Five members will attend.
Attention was drawn to the questionnaire in the January issue of the WI Life magazine concerning the way forward for the organisation during the next 50 years.
Eileen gave details of the group meeting to be held at Coronation Hall on Tuesday, February 17 when the curator from the museum in York would speak about Victorian Costume.
Jean introduced Tony Brown who spoke about his trip to the Arctic. He had begun his journey from Svalbard which was as far north as it was possible to go. We learnt about the different types of ice and saw wonderful cloud formations above the snow covered mountains. The sky had been blue nearly all of the time he was there and this was reflected in the sea. He quoted from a poem written by a soldier during the first world war - Diamond Light on Snow - and how true looking at the wonderful photographs he had taken mostly from the boat they stayed on. Especially fascinating were the pictures of a female polar bear unaware that all her movements were being filmed.
Diane gave the vote of thanks and supper was served by Pat and Maureen.
Our next meeting will be held on March 4 when Pat Dunnill will show members how to make an article using beads. Visitors are most welcome to attend our meetings which begin at 7.30 pm.
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