This will be my last entry as Town mayor. It has been a very busy two years and in May I hand over to Cllr Elizabeth Cardwell, Elizabeth is a very experienced councillor and will do a great job for the Town.
May Shirley and I thank all those organisations and clubs who invited us to their functions throughout the last two years. These were very enjoyable times. It was great that the Mayors of Newbury, Thatcham and Marlborough helped us to enjoy our Lights, Extravaganza and Carol Services.
Last year we had various projects to do for the Town. Two of these were
completed. They were the two playgrounds, the wall, trees, and path at St.
Lawrence’s Church and work to refurbish
St. Saviours. This year we will be carrying on with the work at St Saviours,
and we will be replanting trees at the War Memorial ground at Bulpit Lane.
A difficult project has been the obtaining of land for allotment sites around the town. There are some 90 people who want allotments and the council is obliged to supply.
We await with anticipation for the Local Development Framework to give the Town its proposed allocation of Government housing which should happen about May.
The crossing at the canal bridge is now being actively progressed with various bodies to, we hope, a satisfactory outcome. The proposals will then be put to public consultation.
I am afraid that the coming year will require the Council, and us all, to look to our purses and to trim for leaner times, and it may be necessary to lower the Councils financial horizons over the coming year. We have predictions from all quarters with, I believe, no clear strategy.
May I remind you that the Parish meeting is to be held on Thursday 19th March 2009 at 7.30pm in the Corn Exchange, The Council hopes that as many towns people attend as possible?
It is your opportunity to talk to your Council in open forum.
Peter Harries, Mayor of Hungerford