December Report

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP



December Report


The week were due out in December coincided with icy conditions, so it was decided not to risk a visit to an already overwhelmed A&E unit.

The team have been kept busy with St Mary’s inviting a member to read at the popular carol service. Gareth sing song obliged as he can read. We had a member assisting with putting up the village Christmas tree and another presenting a Christmas workshop at Westbourne School in Penarth.

There will be some trees to plant in January that were handed out to people as part of a plan by the woodland trust to have a national forest of Wales. If you have a tree to plant just think about how big they are going to be as it can cause disputes in the future.

Weather permitting we hope to meet on the village green at 9.30 on January 9th

At present we are 100% bus pass but keen enough to help keep Wenvoe tidy.

Happy new year.


By the way –

TREES

  • Almost 300 different species of insects can live on mature Oak trees
  • A mature Oak tree weighs at least 1.5 tonnes
  • The crown of a mature Beech tree produces enough oxygen to keep 3 people alive
  • There are at least 600 different species of Oak in the world.
  • The Oldest tree in Britain is the Fortingall Yew in Scotland – it is over 4,000 years old!
  • The tallest tree in Britain is Ossians Douglas Fir in Scotland – It is 64.6m high.
  • The Bristle-cone Pines are the oldest trees in the world – a staggering 8,000 years old. They grow in the Southern Rockies in the USA.
  • A mature Beech standing alone in the open evapo-rates 75 – 100 gallons of water per day

 

 



Russell Godfrey Column – Jan 2023



WARD COUNCILLOR

RUSSELL GODFREY COLUMN


Firstly can I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Further to my column in last month’s What’s On, I would like to apologise, for any confusion with regards to the removal of the Bridge on Port Road; the wording with regards to the Bridge was misleading, I can confirm that there are no plans to remove the bridge.

I can however also confirm that I am working on the possibility of there also being a pedestrian crossing at this location, for the following reasons:

  1. To allow safe passage into the heart of the Village for those in Wheelchairs, Electric Buggies, Pushchairs, Walking Difficulties and on horseback, many of these have contacted me to raise this issue.
  2. The proposed pedestrian crossing at The Walston Castle, to allow Cyclists safe passage through the village to link up with the cycle path at the other end of the Village, would mean they would encounter the blind bend at the rear of The Walston. Many cars leaving the Village cut that corner, which is very dangerous for Cyclists entering the Village

 

I hope this provides a clearer explanation.

It’s great news that the Community Council have set up a group to look at ‘Rural Issues’, including footpaths and bridal paths; they have already done some great work.

Also its really good to hear that a team are working on reviving the Wenvoe Festival, possibly the weekend of 22nd/23rd July next at the Wenvoe Playing field. If you have any suggestions or can help in any way, please contact Rhys Jervis on 07429 530288.

Finally it has been confirmed that the tennis courts will be refurbished by the spring next year, this funded and supported by Tennis Wales. If you would be interested in setting up a Wenvoe Tennis Club, please contact me on Tel: 07927 588924

 



AGM Notification



NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH


Advance Notice

The Wenvoe Neighbourhood Watch AGM will be held at 8.00pm on Wednesday 8 February 2023. Any Resident is welcome to attend. Reports will be received and officers elected for the coming year.

Home Security

It is winter time so the police and Neighbourhood Watch advise you to take particular care over the security of your home. Suggestions are:

  • Lock windows if possible.
  • Put interior lights on a timer if you are out or away at night.
  • Ensure doors are locked particularly patio doors.
  • Make sure any exterior lights are working.
  • Keep a helpful eye out for neighbours.

 

Watch out also for your garage. Recently an intruder broke into the garage of a Resident. Luckily only minor items were taken but it shows that these events happen in Wenvoe.

Cyber security

Information from Action Fraud shows that large amounts of money were lost to fraud involving online purchases over the festive season in 2021-22. Advice is:

  • Protect your account. Set up 2-step verification and use strong passwords.
  • Choose carefully where you shop. Research first to make sure that you are buying from a reputable business.
  • Pay securely. Use a credit card in preference to a debit card because of the legal protection available. Also consider using a payment platform such as PayPal, Apple Pay or Google.

 

PCSO visit

The PCSO holds regular question and answer sessions at the village Hub building. At the last visit a police officer came and explained the procedure if the village wanted to conduct a traffic speed operation through the village. This is where a team of residents are authorised to use a handheld radar speed machine (gun) with results sent to the police who can issue warning notices to speeding vehicle owners. The police provide training and supervise the operation. A minimum of 9 volunteers are required to form teams of 3. Volunteers must complete a police vetting process which can be conducted at home. Any interested Resident can obtain further information from Jackie Gauci, 029 2132 8539.

 



Police Matters for December 2022



POLICE MATTERS FOR DECEMBER 2022


A total of 24 incidents were recorded in the month of which several concerned thefts at the retail parks.

Our Ward Councillor was present at the meeting and he apologised if any misunderstanding had occurred over the future of the Port Rd footbridge. While stating that the bridge was unsuitable for wheelchairs, prams and horses he was able to confirm that the bridge would not be removed although discussions were taking place over the best location for a set of pedestrian operated traffic lights.

Cllr Godfrey also reported that he was exploring the possibility of attracting GP services to the community. The tennis courts would be refurbished in the spring and he was also involved in helping to rehouse some of the tenants at Cambrian Park who were being evicted.

At the meeting a presentation was made by Natural Resources Wales over their flood alleviation schemes with particular reference to the nearby Cadoxton river and stream plans.

A brief update was given over the current position over the planned scheme for a solar farm at Parc Woolton where a scoping process is currently being carried out.

An update was given following the inaugural meeting of the Wenvoe Rural Affairs Committee and this will be the subject of a separate report in What’s On

 



‘Auld Lang Syne’ And A Warm Welcome To 2023



‘AULD LANG SYNE’ AND A WARM WELCOME TO 2023


With the worst of the pandemic seemingly behind us, this year’s New Year celebrations were likely to have had a welcome and more traditional feel about them. Many of us will have planned to enjoy parties and join in the traditional singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. A good time perhaps, to remind ourselves about its surprisingly interesting history and influence around the world.

The story starts in Scotland with the poet Robert Burns (right) . He is credited with adapting and partially rewriting an old Scots -language poem or folk song in 1788. That year Burns sent a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum with the remark, ‘The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man.’ In 1799, it was set to a traditional tune, which is basically the one we are familiar with today.

One interesting story about Auld Lang Syne involves Queen Elizabeth II. At Hogmanay in Scotland, it is common practice that everyone joins hands with the person next to them to form a great circle around the dance floor. At the beginning of the last verse (And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!/and gie’s a hand o’ thine!), everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbour on the left and vice versa. Outside Scotland the hands are often crossed from the beginning of the song, at variance with Scottish custom. The Scottish practice was demonstrated by Queen Elizabeth II at the Millennium Dome celebrations for the year 2000. Some press outlets berated her for not ‘properly’ crossing her arms, unaware that she was correctly following the Scottish tradition.

In Scotland, it is often sung at the end of a cèilidh, a dance, and at weddings. At weddings, it is performed in the same way as at New Year, but the bride and groom are often lifted up in the centre of the circle. The tune is also played, and sung by the crowd, in the final stages of the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In Great Britain, it is sung at the end of the Last Night of the Proms and played at the close of the annual Congress (conference) of the Trades Union Congress. The song is also played at the Passing Out Parade of Young Officers in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as well as at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, for young officers joining the British Army. It also has a similar role in countries who are members or former members of the Commonwealth of Nations including Canada, India, Pakistan, Singapore and Bangladesh.

In fact it is also widely known and popularly sung in many countries, especially English speaking ones. The song is widely used by the international Scout Movement, at the closing of jamborees and other occasions. In the Netherlands, the melody is used as the Dutch football song “Wij houden van Oranje” (“We Love Orange”), performed by André Hazes. In Thailand the lyrics have been adapted as a patriotic song about the King and national unity, although many Thais are not aware of the song’s Western origin. Most surprisingly perhaps, before 1972, Auld Lang Syne was even the tune for the national anthem of the Maldives and using the current words!

 



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