PARISH COUNCIL: At the parish council meeting held last Wednesday evening further discussion took place about the appointment of a lengthsman - an ancient title for a person who would be responsible for doing a variety of jobs around the village, all designed to keep public areas clean, tidy and free from unwanted clutter. The scheme, prompted by the district council, was thought to have great merit. There will be further announcements in due course. On the subject of nominees for the Wychavon bursary, there was unanimous agreement when the name of Dr Hugh Nunn was proposed, it being felt that he has done invaluable work in and for the village over the past years and still continues to contribute in a variety of ways, some of which are not necessarily in the public eye. Comments were made about street lighting. Further consideration is also needed regarding the siting of the recycling bins; their removal from the Coach and Horses car park has not solved the problem of finding a suitable site. In answer to the question - Do we need them, Cllr Holt pointed out that Wychavon District Council is under great pressure to provide re-cycling facilities, which means that Harvington must find a spot for the offending bins. A letter to BT about the positioning of a new telegraph pole in Old Village Street produced a reply which gave little hope of its re-positioning, but the matter is still under discussion so there may still be hope. Cllr John James spoke on the Village Plan and put forward the suggestion of obtaining specific information about what had happened in the past through a survey, but the matter was not resolved at this stage, councillors pondering the question of whether this village should seek quality village status. Meanwhile readers are referred to the next edition of the Harvington News. It was reported that there having been no response whatsoever to the idea of starting a Rural Safety Initiative for the purpose of dealing with nuisance and minor crime, it has to be assumed that the village is satisfied with the situation as it is at present.

Cllr John Redman, in reporting on progress made in planning the re-development of the village hall, gave notice that there is to be an important village meeting in the hall at 8pm on Wednesday, March 9 at which the architect working with the management committee will explain and offer for discussion the series of four options currently being considered. Details of the options together with plans and other relevant information will be on display before the meeting and will again be displayed in the hall the following Saturday. Cllr Redman stressed the importance of this work for the future of the village and said that it is vital that residents respond and keep themselves informed as to what is happening. Readers are urged to watch out for posters and other vehicles of information.

ST JAMES' CHURCH: There is to be a Thanksgiving Service held in church at 6pm next Sunday, January 30 to remember the plight of the people affected by the tsunami disaster but also to give thanks for the ready response shown by people of this village to calls for help. The Rector spoke last Sunday about his pride in the village when he announced the results of the three efforts which between them raised well over £7,000, saying at the time that he felt a service which might gather together many of the people who had prompted and encouraged this response and those who had given so generously would be both appreciated and appropriate.

PANCAKE TUESDAY: Pancakes will be on sale (to be consumed on the premises) in St James' church from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday, February 8. The members of the social committee are hoping for a good response.

POPPY DAY: David Graham, the village's link with the British Legion, is now in a position to announce the amount raised during the poppy day sales last November. At £550 it is, sadly, well down on the previous year's figure and Mr Graham realises that this is because he was unable to find enough volunteers to cover the whole village with door-to-door sales.