PARISH COUNCIL: At the April meeting the parish council, chaired by coun Tony Wilkins, heard that footpath SS156 through Berryfields Farm would be waymarked by the county council, and that the chairman had asked that the Far Longdon path should also be marked. The multi-sports club plans for various improvements were discussed and it was felt that some of the ideas were sound, but that there should be a site meeting between the parish council and the club to discuss the plans.

There had been an appeal against the district council's tree preservation order on trees next to Ilmington Manor. At a recent planning meeting it had been decided that the four poplars could be cut down, but that the rest of the trees would remain subject to the preservation order.

Coun Sabin asked if there would be any objections to the cricket club resurrecting the Longsdon Cup, and there were no objections. He also reported that the cricket club store shed was falling down, and could the club rebuild the shed with a concrete base, block construction and timber cladding. There were no objections to this, and the chairman and coun Sabin would decide on the site. The clerk should find out about planning permission.

Coun Maguire had received a request for a pull-in opposite and just below the Grey House in Grump Street. At present there was a car parked there most of the time, and sometimes there was not room to pass. A request for the road to be widened should be sent to the county council.

Coun Hawkins reported on a further complaint about cars turning in the Manor Barns drive in Middle Street. The county council had already been asked about this, but there was nothing it could do. There was already a No Through Road sign near the entrance to Middle Street, and it was up to the residents either to put up a notice saying No Turning or to put up a gate.

The chairman reported that there was some difficulty in establishing the route of footpath SS151, running between Mary's Cottage in Back Street and the drive to the Grange. Coun Chris Saint agreed to see if there was a larger scale footpath map than the definitive one normally used.

Coun Saint drew attention to the Community Development Fund which was available for grants up to £5,000 for local projects. The closing date for applications was June 15.