Twyford 2020
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As most of you will have read in the local press, TVP heard in late last September that we had been successful in obtaining £15,200 of Government funding. This has been matched funded by the local community including the Parish Council, Polehampton Trustees and local businesses, giving us over £30,000 to spend in Twyford. As this money has come from SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, a quango which is about to disappear at the end of March, we have to complete all the projects involved in our bid in record time if we are to be fully re-imbursed!
Sue Goddard is leading on the environmental enhancements and Gordon Storey on the projects which aim to help the village centre traders.
The most visible achievement so far has been the 10 small lit Christmas trees decorating the shop frontages plus of course the large Christmas tree donated by Lady Elizabeth Godsal and restored to its rightful place on Bell Corner at the village cross-roads. We experimented with lighting this main tree by solar power, so we were relying on blue sunny skies for the festive season! This was not totally successful so we will have a re-think for next year. Special thanks go to Westgate Electronics for installing all the necessary electrics for the small trees and to Block & Deck for pressure-washing Bell Court.
The SEEDA funding also allowed us to organise a Masterclass on “Selling and Serving” run by the Metmorphosis consultancy for the benefit of many of the village centre traders. We will have to see if we can spot who attended the sessions!
Planning permission has been received for three interpretative display boards and work on these has now been commissioned. One is to be erected at Weavers Way to explain the history of the various mills in Twyford and the role played by the Loddon and Broadwater; the second will be at Bell Corner and describe the importance of the coaching inns along the Old Bath Road and mention the Old Fire Station which some of you will remember used to be where the new shops now are; the third board is going in Jubilee Corner to explain how the current planting scheme being introduced by a regular group of volunteers is designed to encourage butterflies and bees.
We are also seeking pre-application advice for the Parish Council to erect a traditional village sign to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Bell Corner. The idea is to combine this with a circular planter feature, which should provide a welcome enhancement to the forecourt.
Two more seats have been purchased for Wellington Square, thanks to some additional funding help from Waitrose and we hope this is just a start to making better use of this valuable public space. Improved signage has also been installed at Bell Corner and Weavers Way, with one aim being to encourage residents and visitors to explore the Loddon Nature Reserve which can be accessed off Silk Lane/Weavers Way.
There are quite a few more projects on the go, so watch this space!
Sue Goddard
Parish Plan Co-ordinator
January 2012