Editorial

Welcome to Brookenby's first volunteer-led inter-active village newsletter where up to date information and news will be available throughout the day...This first edition is an attempt to show what is achievable, but I have written a fair amount just to get the magazine published, so more copy, please. And photographs to accompany any articles and reports - they are always wanted, preferably in jpg format as an e-mail attachment so I can edit to fit the page.

Aims to:

Maintain, as far as possible, up to date information relevant to the lives of all residents in Brookenby.
Maintain a non-partisan and non-biased editorial.
Maintain coherency within the village of Brookenby
To provide a sounding board for all residents.
To provide clubs and societies with opportunities to report on their activities and successes (and failures?).

The Editor's say...

"We pledge our support"

This was the message from the Chief Executive of West Lindsey at a gathering of representatives from four former RAF communities located in West Lindsey. (RAF Scampton, Newtoft, Hemswell Cliff and Brookenby). But Mrs Gill also included Lincolnshire County Council in that pledge, so it was a powerful message.

At a very well attended seminar organised by West Lindsey, representatives of the four small communities gathered in the Families Centre at RAF Scampton (appropriately named 'The Vulcan Club') to try to put forward a joint strategy to improve conditions in these villages. Representatives from each village were formed into 'Village Teams' which produced their major concerns which were then handed on to another village team to prioritise - and then justify their reasons. It was very interesting to learn what others thought the various various villages' top priorities should be! At the end, we all agreed to maintain progress and meet again to further co-operative actions.

But at least we can all be confident that something is at last being done to improve the lot of residents in all the former RAF sites. But we must make sure that this initiative does not falter, we all have values we can share with the other villages.

Hedge flailing

Why is a local farmer slashing his hedge for the second year in a row? Once again he shows a remarkable lack of interest in the local wild life by removing the food on which the birds depend during winter. And, should we get the same snow falls and easterly winds we suffered last year, the snows will be blown across the road and thus make the journey between Brookenby and Binbrook hazardous again. I was always under the impression that hedges were only to be cut down once every three years - not every year.

Winter contingency planning

It seems fairly likely that this winter may imitate last winter! Snow is on its way - or so our armchair weather experts tell us. The Parish Council has already purchased a small number of wheelbarrows and shovels to enable volunteers to move snow from roads and grit around the village. But as a village we may need to do more. There are some residents here who may require lifts to the doctor, or even to go shopping, but do not have their own modes of transport. Can you help?

I would like to start a list of volunteers who are willing to drive in deep snow (and have vehicles appropriate for the task) and willing to be called upon to help out when necessary. Please drop me a line (e-mail or snail mail) with details of whatever help you can provide: vehicle; generator; hands-on help; contact details - in fact anything you can do.