POOR’S LAND CHARITY - The Parish Council runs this charity on behalf of the community. Each year there is a small amount of money available for gifts to local people in need. Application forms are available from the Post Office from 1 November; please return them by the end of November. Distribution takes place in early December. In recent years the amount given each applicant has been between about £30 and £60.
The Co-Op store in Caton is closing for refurbishment on Monday 16th October at 3pm, and will be closed for about 5 weeks. During this time a small "pop-up" store will operate from the forecourt, selling the basics.
Peter Collins at the Victoria Institute is updating our emergency plan, and would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to get involved, perhaps as a Community Emergency Coordinator or by offering practical help. Our village - and the section of Quernmore from Crook o’Lune to the Lune Aqueduct - are working with Lancaster City Council, local universities and a local firm to develop an emergency communication system for vulnerable people to use in any emergency. More information later.
In the recent Neighbourhood plan survey, many of you told us how much you value our green spaces. These include: Station Field and Bowling Green; River Lune Millennium Path; Area of Separation between Brookhouse and Caton; Caton County School Playing field; Fell View green; Caton St Pauls Playing Field; Beckside. To make sure each of these is protected, we now have to apply, with evidence, for each to be designated a Green Space by Lancaster City Council (‘to provide local communities with the power to identify those areas of green space valued by local people’).
Tenders invited for work in the village The Parish Council would be interested to hear from local firms able to take on the grass cutting that needs to be done regularly throughout Caton and Brookhouse. Also a local gardener is asked to bid to look after the War Memorial and two planters elsewhere in the parish. Contact the Parish Clerk Gill Mason for information on 07882 949110 or catonparishcouncil@gmail.com
Lancaster City Council raised a number of objections to our draft plan (NDP), and several developers have proposed sites in our villages for housing development. Since then, the Steering Group has met several times to consider how to proceed, working with officers from the Forest of Bowland AONB and Lancaster City Council, as well as our planning consultant. The Steering Group did consider abandoning work on the NDP, but unanimously decided to continue with the plan in some form.
A place for children to play, learn and grow
We inspire children to explore the world around them as they have fun learning through play. Our friendly, well qualified team of practitioners are passionate about teaching children as they develop their skills and knowledge. We were awarded GOOD in our latest Ofsted inspection. Open weekdays, 8.30am – 3.00pm during term time
We are now reserving places from September 2017 onwards.
If you would like to visit Infinity Pre-School please contact Claire or Becky
Saturday soccer is recommencing after the summer break on Saturday 16th September and fortnightly netball on Saturday 23rd. Starting times 10am until 11:45am held at Caton Community school playing field/sports hall. Football is for children aged 7-14 yrs and netball for children aged 9-13yrs. A charge of £1 per child and refreshments will be given during the morning. For more details contact Tim Preece on 01524771682or Richard Sutton on 01524771740
St Paul's Churchyard Volunteers are urgently needed to help with mowing, strimming and keeping our churchyard tidy. Can you help? If so please contact George Woodend on 770989.
The Link invites all members of the Youth Groups (uniformed or not) to write a paragraph telling the village what it means to you to be a member of your Youth Group. Please e-mail this to the editor. The winning entry will be published in The Link and we will award a prize of £100 to the Youth Group to which you belong. Entries close on 30th September
Our draft Neighbourhood Plan went out for formal consultation in May and June. The response from Lancaster City Council came through in mid-July. One reason for the delay was that ours is the first Neighbourhood Plan to reach this stage in the Lancaster District. The other issue is that Lancaster has been preparing its own plans for development and housing and as a result, several developers have proposed areas in our villages which they think might be suitable for housing.
Test your local knowledge with the quiz now available from the Victoria Institute. 30 questions, covering Caton and Brookhouse adn teh immediate area. Cost £1 to enter, in aid of the Victoria Institute's refurbishment of their disabled toilet. Prize is £5. Closes 30th September 2017.
Lune Valley Pre-School Centre was inspected by Ofsted on 14 July 2017 and awarded GOOD. .
Revised plans have been published for the land off Sycamore Road. Key documents have been printed off and can be consulted at the Victoria Institute, and the full plans can be seen on the Lancaster City Council Planning website. Previous comments have NOT been transferred to the revised application. Comments should be made by 28th July. 17/00730/REM Land off Sycamore Road Brookhouse.
55 visitors from our twin village of Socx (Northern France) arrived in the village on Saturday 8th July. This was the biggest party we have entertained so far. On arrival, having met their hosts, they enjoyed a welcome drink and super refreshments in The Station. On Sunday, after spending the day with their hosts, everyone came together in the evening for a Jacob’s Join supper and dancing in a village garden, with music being provided by the Caton Folk Band.
A monthly lunch club at The Station has just started. It will run on the second Tuesday of each month, starting 12.30pm. For more information please contact Sue Brown on 771559. This is a WI initiative but is open to everyone, men and women, of all ages.
Preparations for the new football season are underway. Pre-season training for the senior teams takes place on Tuesdays & Thursdays at the Caton sportsground, behind the Station Hotel, starting at 6.30pm from the 4th July. All new & existing players warmly welcome!
Recent Ofsted Report (19th April 2017) - St Paul’s school are delighted to let the community know that our super school continues to be graded as “GOOD” with safeguarding being highly effective.
DalesBus is running a Sunday and Bank Holiday service between Lancaster and places in the Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales. One route goes to Malham, including stops at Clapham, Austwick, Giggleswick and Settle. It picks up at Caton Medical Centre at 0907 and reaches Malham at 1050. The return bus leaves Malham NPC Car Park at 1605 and arrives in Caton at 1738. There's also a service to Clapham, Slaidburn and Clitheroe which leaves Caton Medical Centre at 0933 and returns for 1832. .
Welcome to Ruby and Goldy, who have taken over at the Post Office/Londis store in Brookhouse. There's no change in the Post office opening hours, and there will still be familiar faces behind the counter. Many people in the villages will want to thank Paul and Rachel for their hard work and enthusiasm over their years in this key village service.
