Abacus Pre-school are holding their annual duck race on Sunday 8th January 2017

The Duck Race is held in the field behind the Co-op in Fenny Compton.  Tickets are now on sale to buy a duck for £2.50. The ducks are launched into the stream in three heats, and then there is a winner’s race and loser’s race.  It’s a chance to win the much-coveted duck trophy, as well as supporting the local pre-school.  You don’t have to be able to attend on the day to buy a duck and have the chance to win.

Bacon sandwiches, hot dogs, hot drinks, cakes etc are all available on the day.

If anyone would like to buy a ticket, they can be bought from Abacus.  Or drop the money in a sealed envelope into Spinney Bank, Avon Dassett marked ‘Duck Race’, together with your name, address and contact telephone number. The tickets will then be popped through your door in readiness for the big day.

New plans for the design of the proposed garage at Old Orchard House (Ref: 15/03070/FUL) have been received by the planners. Comments may be made on the planning website and the new plans will be considered by the Parish Council at the meeting on 12th December.

The 75 Public Bus service operating from The Parade in Leamington, down the Tachbrook Road and out to Bishops Tachbrook that was introduced in June has carried very few passengers and consequently will cease operation from Monday 19th December 2016.

However, a New 76 service will be introduced by Stagecoach to replace some of the route currently served by the 75.

The service will run every hour during the day from Leamington Upper Parade via Old Warwick Road (for the Railway Station and Morrisons), Shires Retail Park, Queensway (providing a new off peak facility to this area), Tachbrook Road, Heathcote Lane, Othello Avenue, Tachbrook Road, Harbury Lane towards Warwick Gates, Heathcote Lane and turning at Hawkes Drive roundabout to stop at the new stop to be put up just past the junction to Nightingale Avenue (new David Wilson site) before returning back to Leamington.

Following negotiations, the current 77 service operated by Johnsons Coaches will be revised and re-routed around Bishops Tachbrook village with a route to Leamington to cover parts of the 75 service and to serve the new development on Oakley Wood Road. Both the new 76 and revised 77 services will start operating from Monday 19th December 2016.

The 76 and 77 timetables are here:

• Ser 76 Dec16
• Ser 77 Dec16

Please see advice on preparing for the cold weather from Warwickshire County Council:

• Preparing for Winter

The AGM minutes and accounts of the Dassett Country Show have now been published: https://www.avondassett.com/clubs-groups/dassett-country-show/dassett-country-show-minutes/

Read about the good causes supported by this year’s show.

Abacus Pre-School in Fenny Compton is raising money to create a new interactive outdoor learning area.

They have successfully raised over £3000 last year alone and plan to raise even more this year through local events and community fundraising. They are applying for an Aviva Community grant to fund a new outdoor learning area to complete their new building.

Please vote for them at: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-2684

The Comic Relief Local Communities Programme, which offers grants of up to £5,000 for Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull, has had very little take up from groups applying for funding.

The programme seeks to empower local people to create lasting change in their communities, and priority will be given to small, locally based organisations in areas of disadvantage.

The closing date is 30th November so there is still time to apply for a grant, if you meet the criteria.

You can find out more about this programme, and how to apply, here:

http://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/comic-relief-local-communities-programme/

The Dassett Country Show AGM is on Thursday 10 November at 7.30 in the Reading Room. All welcome. The results of this year’s show will be presented, applications for funding for local projects will be considered and the committee for next year’s show will be elected.

Please see below a letter from the ‘Hands Off the Horton’ group calling for the Parish Council to take action on the suspension of maternity services:

• Horton Hospital

Volunteer car drivers needed to help transport people to and from medical appointments

We are looking for community-minded volunteers to help provide home-to-health transport.

Applicants must;

• hold a full UK driving licence
• have a suitable vehicle
• and have a serious passion for helping others.

or call: 01926 412600