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The Pocket Park Zip Wire under construction

Julie Russell says:

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

You have baked, bopped, zumba’d and shopped all in memory of the much missed Claire Purves…. and raised a quite extraordinary £8,000. Claire’s family have found great comfort in all your endeavours and support and would like to say a huge thank you by inviting you to the launch of the Sulgrave flying fox.

So please join them for tea and cake at Sulgrave Pocket Park on Sunday 24th March at 2.30 pm.

Claire’s beautiful brave children Megan and Jack will be there to take the inaugural ‘flight’.”

Ring-binders, filing trays, stationery items, books, printers.

Desks, filing cabinets, book cases, storage unites, table and chairs etc.

New, as-new, part-used and at a fraction of the retail prices.

Hywel Lloyd at The Old Forge, Church Street, Sulgrave.

9.30 am to 12 noon, Saturday 23rd March 2013.

How the turbines would appear from Greatworth

The proposed Spring Farm Ridge Windfarm between Helmdon, Greatworth and Sulgrave was refused planning permission by South Northants Council in June 2011. The developers, Broadview Energy Ltd, appealed against the decision and after a public inquiry in May 2012 the planning inspector allowed the appeal. This decision was quashed by the High Court following a legal challenge. The Planning Inspectorate has announced that the refusal of planning permission will be the subject of a new public inquiry to be held later this year. The Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group applied to the Inspectorate for Rule 6 status at the inquiry and this has been granted. This means that the Action Group will be one of the main parties at the inquiry together with South Northants Council and Broadview Energy Limited. The Group will be retaining the services of a barrister to lead the case against the windfarm proposal with the aid of expert witnesses. All those who appeared at the previous inquiry will have the same rights to make written representations and/or appear at the inquiry to give evidence to the Inspector and ask questions of other witnesses. These include representatives of three parish councils, Helmdon, Greatworth and Sulgrave.  The date of the inquiry will be posted on this website as soon as it is known.

Former Sulgrave villager Nigel Dawe sends an appreciation of Philip as follows:

Very sorry to hear that Phillip had gone. He was the big brother of my best mate when
I lived at the Wool House.Phillip always scared me a bit, he seemed so tough ! He
would do anything for most. I remember when I picked my BSA Bantam up from
Banbury and broke down half way home. I resorted to pushing the bike and obviously
it was taking a long time to get home, so my lovely worry guts mum asked if Phillip
would drive towards Banbury and see if I was laying in a ditch somewhere. (She
always thought the worst). As I was half way up one of the many hills on the way, It
was great to see Phillips old Mk.1 Land Rover approaching. It didn't take many seconds
and the bike was in the back and we were heading home. The breakdown was entirely
my fault, I found I hadn't taken the choke off and starved it of air !!!!
Anyway, have a good rest Phil, you deserve it. You might meet my mum, step dad and
half brother now you are up there. For sure that's where you'll be.

Philip Henn (1934 -2010)

How the turbines would appear beyond the old railway viaduct, from Priory Farm, Helmdon

Broadview Energy’s proposal for five 125 metre high wind turbines between Helmdon, Greatworth and Sulgrave was refused planning permission by South Northants Council in June 2011. The company appealed against this decision and a public inquiry was held at Towcester in May 2012. The Inspector, Mrs Elizabeth Fieldhouse decided to allow the appeal. South Northants Council and Mrs Veronica Ward on behalf of the Helmdon, Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group, brought a legal challenge to this decision. The case was heard in the High Court in December last. His Honour Judge Mackie QC found that whilst the Inspector had identified conflicts with the Development Plan policies in respect of the main issues at the appeal, she had failed to accord the Plan the weight which the law requires. He therefore quashed the appeal. The Planning Inspectorate is currently deciding what steps to take to remedy this situation and it could be that there will be a new public inquiry. Details of this decision will be posted on the website as soon as they are available.

With driving difficult in the snowy weather, villagers find all they need on their doorstep

The year ended with the shop just under 5% ahead in total gross sales compared to 2011, with December sales up on the previous year by 11.6%.

Read the latest report on the village shop.

South from the Barrow Hill footpath on a bright Spring day

A series of images from 2012 can be seen on the following page, many of which have not previously been published on this website (more…)

Carol Singers on Castle Green

See following page for more pictures of carol singing on Castle Green on the Friday evening before Christmas.

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