Welcome to our Spring edition of ECN. Let’s hope that warmer, sunnier weather will soon be with us. It shouldn’t be too long before you are able to enjoy walking the footpaths again. ‘PROWD’ updates us with news of recently repaired paths. With the right to walk designated paths comes the need to respect keeping close to them where possible. Let’s also not forget that mowing grass is a crop on which someone’s livelihood depends, so please pick up your dog’s sticks to avoid damage to the grass cutting blades.
While on the subject of byways, I still remember the rough roads in France back in the 1960s, which seemed so primitive compared with smooth surfaced British roads at that time. Over the past 50 years good progress has been made to improve roads in France. My first encounter with roads in Romania was more than 20 years back, and I soon learned the skill of driving to avoid abundant potholes; even their roads have improved now. How wrong I was to think it was a skill I would ever need in Britain. If we did not laugh at the many satirical stories about the dire, degenerate state of our roads, then tears might come to our eyes; along with damaged suspension, buckled wheels and ruined tyres. How ever did we allow such an essential amenity to decline so?
Most of us slept through the very heavy overnight rain on 8th/9th March, until daybreak revealed some homes within an inch of being flooded. It’s unclear how other parts of the Village stood up to that downpour, or who has logged those incidents, but in Middle Street it would have been so much worse if the roadside ditches had not been cleared just a few weeks earlier. Sincere thanks are due to Alan Spencer for taking initiative to do that work. However, many ditches and culverts remain in a dire situation. The poor state of three culverts under lower Bath Road caused the road to become flooded right up to the front doors of several homes. If continuing neglect of ditches and culverts is not brought to the attention of those who can get some action, then homes will remain at serious risk of flooding.
The prospect of an ‘ecology project’ is mentioned in Parish Matters. This may build on work last year by the ‘Ponds And Wildlife Society’ (PAWS) and earlier work at the Allotment Pond. Many people have a wealth of knowledge on important natural life in Eastington, and much enjoyment and heightened awareness could be gained by sharing and discovering such things together. Recording details in the right place about wild life, and where it lives, also brings significant benefits to those living here. Those seeking to change or develop Eastington would have up-to-date information to guide them to respect the special places recorded. If you are interested in this project, please let us know.
We are grateful to Steve Mills for his article about Alkerton House; demolished to make way for the Swallowcroft estate back in the 1970s. As one generation takes over from the last we may just glimpse parts of a journey from heyday to decline. Someone recalled the horses, Pilgrim and Goldie, in the stables, together with maypole dancing on the lawns of Alkerton House. It would be sad not to capture more recollections about its heyday, so if you have any memories or photos to share, please get in touch.
And finally…. In the last edition we reminded you that ECN aims to keep residents informed about local events and proposals. Having modernised the printed publication, this year ECN seeks to widen community participation and to balance content, rather than just relying on what gets submitted. That means seeking out things that have missed attention, which in turn means extra jobs for the ECN team. It would be really helpful if you can share your ideas about this with us. And I would be really delighted to hear from you if you are interested in joining us to achieve this goal.
Andrew Niblett T- 824841
