It’s that time of year again and it seems to come around more quickly with each advancing year. Also as the year ends we look forward to a fresh start and a chance of new beginnings. It’s a new start for some of us at the Parish Council. Mr John Archer was welcomed and Mr John Meadows was wished well in his retirement. The Councillors expressed their thanks and gratitude for his tireless efforts over a considerable number of years. We also wish to thank Mrs. Josie Beattie for her time and efforts whilst serving in the Parish Council.

This brings me to another new beginning. As John resigned I became chair of the Kirkland Parish Council, but I wanted to share with you how my involvement with Kirkland began. Since arriving here from Yorkshire (don’t stop reading just yet I’m only a mere Lancashire lassie doing my bit for the mission ont’ dark side o’ Pennines) I have moaned about the speed limit on The Avenue. It has always seemed ridiculous that the speed limit is 50 mph outside a school and worse still 60mph outside a nursery. Following one such conversation, or moan, it was suggested that I attend the Parish Council meeting. With trepidation I duly went along to be met with much head nodding from like minded people. We haven’t achieved (yet!) a reduction in the speed limit, just a temperamental sign and SLOW written on the road, but it remains high on the agenda. Thus I became a Parish Councillor– it was never something that featured on my "Things to do before I’m 40" list.

I was somewhat naïve as to what Parish Council and Councillors actually do and I suppose had never really given it much thought. Obviously there are the planning applications to be gone through, though just how much influence we truly have remains questionable. Then there’s Mr Tim Hoyles our parish lengthsman who works hard keeping the village looking neat and tidy. Mrs Gillian Benson is our Clerk and keeps both the meetings and the Councillors very well organised. Mrs Benson also does the clerical and financial work, very often behind the scenes. Parish Councillors also have responsibilities to represent Kirkland on other committees involving road safety (Wyre Area Road Safety Group), the Kirkland Memorial Hall, the School House Trust, Police and crime in the community (PACT) and the Association of Parish and Town Councils (LAPTC). The Parish Council also receives an ever increasing number of documents from all levels of Government and other organisations for example the NHS and Primary Care Trusts. These are duly distributed, read and commented on.

Finally the Councillors are responsible for managing the budget. I myself was ignorant of how Parish Councils are funded and I’m not sure how many of you will be aware. Your Council Tax Bill contains an amount which goes directly to the Parish in which you live. This amount or precept funds services in the Parish, namely staff costs, our Parish Lengthsman and Clerk, also subscriptions, insurances and public liability for council property, maintenance of various benches and bus shelters and to improve services within the community.

It is particularly the services within our community that we are interested in as we start 2008. We want to know what you think the community lacks or what would make a real difference to the vast majority of people in our community. How do you want Kirkland Parish to look and feel in 10 years time? For example, is there somewhere where a

bench would be really good, a full size football pitch at the Memorial Hall perhaps, an area of park/woodland area that belongs to the community for the community, or perhaps a better children’s play area (this is something which we continue to lobby for at the Memorial Hall site but we are on a waiting list for it to be refurbished by Wyre Borough Council). Obviously not all suggestions may come to fruition and indeed some of them may require some fundraising along the way. We are here to serve the Parish and the parish is made of parishioners so tell us what you’d like to see either in writing or via email (addresses at the end).

However, there is a but. We are only four. We need a fifth Parish Councillor. We meet every third Tuesday, on alternate months in the parish room behind St. Helen’s Church. Our next meeting is 15^th January, 2008. Please come and join us. Even if you don’t want to be a Councillor all the meetings are open and everyone is welcome.

For me I’d like to see a little coffee shop. Somewhere I can fasten the dogs up outside and sit and read the paper in peace. I look with envy at Great Eccleston Village Centre, but then I think we can be great too in our own small way, after all we already have a cathedral.

Dr Alison E. Sykes aesykes@doctors.net.uk

At 6.30pm. The Churchtown Society’s Carols and Santa visits in the Church Square, with music, mince pies and mulled wine. Please bring your own torches or lanterns but please be safe.

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The Churchtown Society Village Gardens Competition 2007

Front Garden

Winner 5, Kinsacre
Runner up 11, Ainspool

Frontage

Winner 8, Fylde Rd Cottages
Runner up 12, Church St

Hanging Basket

Winner 16, Ainspool Lane
Runner up 17, The Green

Floral Container

Winner 18, The Green
Runner up 7, St Helens Close

Congratulations to all who received an award and thanks to The Churchtown Society for organising this annual village event.

PACT meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at Catterall Village Hall from 7.00 pm. Residents are encouraged to attend to report problems or concerns they have with in the Village.

The following planning applications have been granted recently:

Aged 18 and over, male or female to meet with friends every third Tuesday on alternate months. Sense of humour desirable, preferably patient and understanding, but equally tenacious and determined. Pay very poor but child friendly hours available. Next meeting 15^th January, 2008.

The Clerk has an office in Catterall Village Hall. Residents are welcome to view planning applications in Kirkland or to discuss issues to be raised with the Councillors about concerns in the Parish.

Gillian Benson

Clerk to Kirkland Parish Council

C/o 57, Hamers Wood Drive,

Catterall,

Garstang 01995 600689

Kirkland Parish is also available on the web

www.kirklandparish.org.uk

‘Dean House’, A6, Garstang By-Pass Road,

Catterall, Garstang. PR3 0HL Tel; 605260

East View, A6 By Pass Road,

Churchtown, Garstang PR3 0 Tel; 602154

Catterall Hall, Catterall Lane,

Catterall Garstang. PR3 0PA Tel; 604241

‘Kinnersike’, Cross House Farm,

A6, By-Pass Road, Churchtown. PR3 0PR Tel; 604829

57, Hamers Wood Drive, Catterall, Tel; 600689

31, Boyes Avenue, Catterall. PR3 0HB Tel. 603763

1, Stone Cross Gardens, Catterall. Tel. 604035

C/o Constituency Office, Great Eccleston Village Centre,

59, High Street, Great Eccleston, PR3 0YB Tel: 01995 672977