Thank you to everyone who filled in their Town Plan Questionnaire.

The return date for completing them was extended for two weeks  as there had been porblems with distributing all the copies to residents.

All the completed questionnaires which were handed in to the 'drop off' points have now been collected and work will soon begin on analysing the responses. the Town Forum will then put together the new Town Plan for 2008-2011. This will create the 'blueprint' for Town Council plans and will be distributed to all residents when it has been completed.

Please click hyperlink to download a copy of the  Town Plan Questions 2008 Final v2.doc (328.00 KB 18.06.2008 11:45)

We've now almost completed the planning for our SECOND Funday on the Burgage on Saturday 21 June from 12 noon until 4pm..

Last year's event was a great success and we hope that this year it will be BIGGER and BETTER. Everything starts at 12 noon, so come early to make the most of the afternoon!

Bring along anything you have found/dug up and would like to have identified. the Newark and Sherwood Young Archaeologists have a Finds Officer coming to their stall to help identify any mystery objects you might have. Not Antiques Roadshow - but very interesting. They are also hoping to create ground mosaic with help from visitors to the Funday.

Pete's Gentle Jazz Band will be playing all afternoon and the bouncy castle, fire engine and police car will all be here again. There will also be a stilt walker, balloon modeller and juggler to entertain the children.

There are over 30 stalls which include greetings cards, books, tombola and bric-a-brac and mini 'boules' to keep everyone occupied. To keep you all well fed there will be a barbecue provided by the Rugby Club, crepes from Anna Joyce, ice creams, teas from the Southwell WI and Pimms and a chocolate fountain by the PTA from Lowes Wong Junior School - or just bring your own picnic and chill out!

With the help of participants at the Funday, ArtSpace will be creating a piece of Community Art on the day which we hope will go on public display in the town after it is completed. Our thanks to the Handicentre for their generosoity in providing the base for the piece of art.

The Annual Town meeting was held on Wednesday 21st May when the outgoing Chairman, Councillor Beryl Prentice gave her report on the past year's events.She also thanked her fellow councillors for their hard work during the year, the council support staff and local residents who have contributed to council activities during the year.

Councillor Graham Ball (Liberal Democrat) was unanimously elected as Chairman for 2008-2009. Graham was Vice-Chairman last year and has also previously been Chairman of the Finance and Policy Committee, the Planning Committee and Leader of the Council.

Councillor Andrew Gregory (Independent) was also elected unanimously as Vice Chairman of the Council and proceded to Chair the meeting as Councillor Ball was in Belfast on business.

Councillor Peter Harris was elected as Leader of the Council

All members agreed that in the interest of continuity, it was sensible for the main committee representation to remain unaltered, with only one or two minor alterations on other representation.

Planning: 

Chairman- Councillor Brendan Haigh;  Vice-Chairman - Councillor Andrew Gregory.

The Highways Working Party will be elected from members of Planning Committee

Finance and Policy:

Chairman: Councillor Peter Harris;  Vice-Chairman Councillor Malcolm Rose

Town Forum: Chairman Councillor Peter Harris

Southwell Tourism Partnership: Chairman - Councillor Beryl Prentice

For a full list of members of committees and working parties please look on the pages where the council miniutes are detailed.

Newark and Sherwood District Council have issued a notice  giving their intention to commence charging in King Street and Church Street car parks from Monday 12 May. Charges will apply from 8am to 6pm but there will be an initial period of 2 hours free parking followed by charges of £1.50 to cover the next three hours and £1 an hour thereafter. The initial free period has only been permitted because the Town Council has agreed to pay £5000 from the town's precept to the District Council.

Southwell Town Council opposed any charging regime that did not take into consideration the three conditions they re-iterated at their previous meeting. Other places in the District such as Edwinstowe and Ollerton are not having charges imposed on them and the introduction of the charging in Southwell will have serious implications for on-street parking.  The Council has written to the District Council to express its concerns.

There is insufficent long stay parking  in the town and because of the historical structure of the town, many householders who live in the centre have no off street parking. The District Council has stated that residents parking is the responsibility of the County Council, who also state that they do not operate residents' schemes.

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT you can write to the District Council at Kelham Hall. The 'consultation' period ends on 11th April.