Annual Report 2019/20

This report reviews the year to May 2020 and some of the things with which the Parish Council has been dealing. This is normally presented to the village annual meeting which of course we couldn’t have this year.
Coronavirus has probably been the most dramatic thing during this period – a national crisis which has affected Paston as everywhere else. It has been remarkable how everyone has coped, and it’s striking that the fall back measures and safety nets put in place by District and Parish council have been relatively little used, which is due to everyone helping each other in all sorts of ways. And what great posters appeared done by Paston’s children.
Highways An electronic speed warning sign is coming which can be moved from place to place, The gas terminal companies are paying for it and we await a remittance from just one of four. A warning sign showing life size children is also being prepared
Planning applications are looked at and commented on. The major application has been that of the Holiday Village to demolish the former main buildings and erect 18 new lodges along the roadway. The plans were approved with some but not all of the amendments requested by the Parish Council
Coastal protection – “sandscaping”. During July a dredger off shore and a team of bulldozers were depositing and spreading sand from out to sea up to a height of 7 metres on a stretch of beach alongside the gas terminal and either side Everyone is watching to see how effective it is. The contractors were Team Van Oord, a Dutch company
Footpaths – Yarmouth Way and Sandy Lane – the County Council footpaths team have now examined the evidence and recommended that it be registered on the definitive map as a public right of way. In absence of any objections being upheld, that should soon happen.
The Church The Diocese have given formal approval for the re-ordering and installation of toilets and creation of space, to make the church more suitable for events, particularly educational , and the PCC are now fund raising. Sadly due to the virus crisis the Heritage Lottery Fund have cancelled an application for a grant towards restoring and conserving the wall paintings.
The other main event was the creation last summer of the garden of remembrance by the lych gate, to be a resting place for departed residents’ ashes and plaques, which had been by the tower. They were moved by our Rector and members of the PCC with shovels and wheelbarrows, followed a few weeks later by a formal re-dedication attended by nearly 60 relatives not just from Paston but from all over the country and from overseas, using the event for many family re-unions.
Community group projects The playground having been re-equipped the next planned addition is a shelter/ pavilion.
The Paston in bloom flower project is now showing results with daffodils down Pond Road and Bears road for a second spring and the flowers by the wall.
The Pond, with its reeds and wildlife has been a great feature of the village. with families of ducks, geese and moorhens. It belongs to Pip Clabon who has put a lot of work into it
Website and Facebook – we now have both a Facebook page and a new smartphone friendly website with info on Paston, and details of Parish council business ( which we have to have by Law) www.pastonvillage.org.uk. Following some attempted scams involving impersonation of parish council members our personal e mail addresses are not longer shown on the website but you can communicate with us on parishcouncil@pastonvillage.org.uk.