It would be fantastic for everybody to see the village at it’s tidiest and in bloom and we could also be in with a shout for a winner’s spot to boot!

So get those borders and hanging baskets looking their best and make the most of the summer.

The Parish Council, on behalf of the communities of Laneham and Church Laneham, would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Fred Clark and Brenda Barber who have served continuously on Laneham Parish Council for the last 4 decades.

Fred and Brenda recently stood down from their Vice-Chair and Parish Councillor roles on 10th May 2010 after 41 and 38 years service. Both Fred and Brenda recall many heated debates over planning issues along with successes like the re-build of the Bus Stop on Dunham Road, the Trentside Meadow recreation project and “Best Kept Village’ awards.

Brenda moved to Church Laneham in 1954 and is very protective of the hamlet she lives in and loves (and no doubt will remain so, we feel sure we haven’t heard the last of Brenda yet!).

Fred was born and bred in Laneham; a champion of free speech and dedicated correspondent, Fred served as Chairman for a continuous period of 15 years and Vice Chair for 25 years, and we take comfort in the fact that Fred will continue to take an interest for many years to come.

We hope that Fred and Brenda will enjoy their additional leisure time and that they will continue to participate and be valued members of our community.

Thank you Fred and Brenda.

Laneham Parish Council

CLICK HERE to see the picture gallery.

Got out on the bike on Sunday morning with the intention of taking a picture or two of the new village hall at Treswell that I drive past everyday. It looks very impressive and whilst I was admiring it I had the pleasure of bumping into Derek Farr whose dog was scampering round the block chasing a weasel of all things!

Whilst talking to Derek he was good enough to show me inside the new building and I have to say it is a great achievement for all involved. As far as Village Halls go it is very much” state of the art” and will be suitable for all kinds of events both on a personal level and commercially.

The function room is fantastic with a lovely bar, high end music systems and lighting. A stage that would suit amateur productions and seats for 100 people. The kitchen is very well kitted out to cater for 100 people too.

Derek was keen to stress many people had helped and the project had attracted funding from The Big Lottery Fund, Waste Recycling Environmental Network, Wilkinsons, Nottinghamshire County Council, Bassetlaw District Council, EDF Energy and the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

Heated from a Ground Source System of three, 60 metre deep bore holes the building should be warm all year around using sustainable energy resources. Of course there will be overheads and Derek said all involved were keen to promote the great facility and hope that it will attract sufficient patronage to keep it going as it should.

Well done to everybody involved!

To hire the hall etc please contact Mrs Stephanie Bell 01777 248719 – Email: stephbell27@btinternet.com

The Council consists of 7 members, with a Parish Clerk to ensure smooth administration. I believe that the purpose of the Parish Council is to make the Parish of Laneham a more enjoyable place in which to live. To this end the Council interfaces with service providers such as Bassetlaw District Council, Notts County Council, the Police etc., to make sure Laneham receives the services to which it is entitled. The Council also is a focus point for Community projects and is instrumental in obtaining funding for such projects. As all the Council members live in the community, it is in the best position to represent the villagers interests and uses the Parish Plan, 2008 as guidance.

To my knowledge, this is the first time a flyer has been distributed to all households advising them of the forthcoming elections. I have two reasons for doing so. Firstly, as a number of Councillors are “retiring”, it is very important that they are replaced, so that Laneham Parish Council can continue to function as an independent Council. Secondly, but equally important, is to improve the democratic process and give all the eligible residents the opportunity to put their names forward. I very much hope that there will be more than 7 applicants which would necessitate an election. I feel that if Councillors are actually elected, then this gives them more authority in representing residents.

So please consider standing as a Councillor for Laneham Parish Council. Forms are available from myself (228439) or The Returning Officer at Bassetlaw District Council and need to be submitted before April 8 . The amount of commitment is down to each individual. As a minimum, Councillors should attend as many Parish Council meetings as possible. They are held on a monthly basis and last a maximum of 2 hours.

George Scrini

Chairman of Laneham Parish Council

A fabulous effort and the result is a tribute to the people involved.

Likewise, do you have any pictures/photos you would like to share. We’d all like to see them and I can help with scanning them if need be. Please let us know and let’s get a great library together!