Please Remember other users

We are fortunate to have a network of public footpaths through fields and playing fields in the parish.  At the request of local landowners, the Parish Council reminds everyone to stick to the public rights of way.  The presence of a public footpath does not give the public any right to use other parts of the field.  That applies to dogs as well!

Heel!

Unless your dog reliably walks to heel it probably needs to be on a lead to satisfy the legal requirement for “close control”.  Letting your dog run free is not permitted except where the landowner has given permission, or you are the landowner. 

Not only unpleasant

The widely held belief that it’s OK to leave dog mess uncleared providing it’s not actually on the path is ill-founded. It can transmit parvovirus, intestinal parasites and harmful bacteria to people and other animals. Furthermore, two livestock diseases have been linked to the presence of contaminated dog waste. Neosporosis can cause abortions in cattle. Sarcocystosis can cause neurological disease and death in sheep. There have been suspected cases of both these diseases here in Stinchcombe.

A reminder for landowners

Stiles, gates and other structures across public footpaths belong to the landowner. You have a legal duty to maintain them in a safe condition. A range is available from the County Council at subsidised prices and you may be able to get help with installation. Look out for an article by our new Footpath Warden, Andrew Davidson, in the Spring.

Kath Hudson

Love Your Lint: Your dryer fluff is useful stuff!

The effects of microplastic pollution are all over the news, recent studies even found microplastic in breastmilk. One of the main culprits of this type of pollution is our clothing; today 60% of all textiles are made from plastic fibres, which get washed into our waterways via our washing machines. As this isn’t very visible people may not realise its harm – but one look at your tumble dryer filter and it becomes immediately clear how much of these microfibres are coming off our clothes.

Matter did a trial run of its Love Your Lint campaign last year in partnership with eco-cleaning brand Smol and received 623 parcels of lint weighing over 23kg in total. The total lint they collected was the equivalent of 179 T-shirts! Together with partners such as Brunel University Londo, and Smol, Matter has been able to put this lint to good use. They have used the lint to assess the potential for cellulose extraction, the suitability of compressed microfibre as a replacement for insulation panels and test various recycling applications for sustainable packaging.​

This year, Matter wants to scale up the campaign and is calling for the general public to save up their fluff and send it to Matter HQ where it will be used for new and innovative microfibre research projects. 

Founder and CEO, Adam Root tells us, “Our ambition is to create a world with no waste, where today’s waste products are tomorrow’s raw materials. The lint you send us will be part of a microfibre research project we are doing to investigate how we can create a circular economy from waste materials.”

To get involved, simply put your lint in an envelope or small box (ideally recycled and not in a plastic bag) and send it to the Matter HQ: 

Matter, Unit 5, Avon Trading Estate, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0XA.

Best Wishes, Jayne Kirkham

Advent and Christmas services for St Cyrs and St Georges

• Saturday Dec 17th 5:00pm
  Outdoor Christmas Carol Service at St George with twinkly lights, hot chocolate and cookies
• Sunday Dec 18th
  6:30pm Candlelit Carol Service, at St Cyr
• Wednesday 21st Dec – 7pm
  Blue Christmas a service on the Longest night for those who don’t feel like celebration at St George
• Saturday Dec 24th Christmas eve
  2:30 pm Live Nativity at St Cyr (specially suitable for children)
  4:30 pm Crib service at St George (specially suitable for children)
  9:00 pm Christmas Communion Service at St Cyr
  11:00 pm Midnight Mass preceded by Carols from the Choir at St George
• Sunday Dec 25th Christmas Day
  10:00 am All Age Communion Service at St George

Join us from 1 December to open a daily family activity on our Advent calendar as part of our Advent and Christmas campaign – Follow the Star: The Great Invitation.

AUTUMN EXHIBITION

Join me at my Studio for a glass of wine and view my latest work, prints and cards

• Saturday & Sunday 12th, 13th November 11.00 – 5.00pm

Also open

• Friday, Saturday & Sunday 18th, 19th 20th November 11.00 – 5.00pm

Jane Lampard

Stinchcombe Parish Council applied for automated traffic surveys at three locations under the first tranche of Gloucestershire’s new Community Speed Watch Fund.  We chose locations where we believe there is a speeding problem and manual speed monitoring is not possible.  Our community speed watch teams are not allowed to monitor at locations where the speed limit is greater that 40 mph.  Even where the limit is 30 mph or 40 mph we cannot monitor if the Police have not approved a safe location.

There are also restrictions on where automated traffic surveys can take place.  There has to be street furniture to which the survey equipment can be secured and Highways personnel need to be able to install the equipment without putting themselves at undue risk.  

The three locations that we have subsequently agreed with Road Safety Engineers at Highways are shown in the maps StreetView images:

1) bottom of Taits Hill (50 mph area)

2) residential area on Berkeley Rd (60 mph area)

3) B4060 between Yercombe Lodge and Piers Court (30 mph area)

Obtaining traffic data can be the first step towards seeking a speed limit reduction and/or other road safety measures.  The recent serious accident on Taits Hill, the second in 2 years, can only strengthen the case at that location.

Kath

COME TO OUR OPEN DAY

NO LONGER WORKING FULL TIME OR RAISING A FAMILY? NOW’S THE TIME TO MAKE THE MOST OF LIFE.

COME TO OUR OPEN DAY on WEDNESDAY 5th OCTOBER 2022

THE CHANTRY CENTRE, LONG ST,
DURSLEY, GL11 4JB
FROM 10.30 am TO 1.00 pm

Refreshments available

FIND OUT ABOUT OVER 40 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS OR HELP US SET UP NEW ONES

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS, INCLUDING FROM BERKELEY, WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE AND OUR NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES.

More details on our website: u3asites.org.uk/cam-dursley or email enquiries@camanddursleyu3a.org.uk

Apple Day

Apple Day is an annual celebration of apples and orchards. It is celebrated mainly in the UK and traditionally held in October.  Apple Day was initiated by Common Ground in 1990 at an event in Covent Garden and has been celebrated every year since. 

Stinchcombe is celebrating our 2nd annual Apple Day on 1st October at Eaves Barn from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm and all are welcome!  There will be a working apple press, children’s activities and a cash bar (card payments also possible).  Tickets include a drink, sausage in a roll and a piece of cake, £10 for adults and £1 for children with all proceeds this year going to support charities in Ukraine. 

To buy tickets online please go to https://appleday.sumupstore.com or if you would prefer to pay on the day please email Jessica at  jessicaburchfiel@gmail.com with numbers of adults and children and any dietary requirements.  If you have access to any apples please bring them along for pressing!  Looking forward to seeing you at Apple Day!