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 Read the rest of this entry »

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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Sulgrave Village Shop provides a regularly changing selection of wines covering a wide range of styles. There are written labels for all the wines to provide a brief summary of the style and flavours so customers will have a reasonable idea of what they are getting and, hopefully, won’t be disappointed.

See the following pages for more information on how the Sulgrave Village Shop wines are selected and and advice on what wine to drink this Christmas.

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Sulgrave Parish Council wishes to make residents aware of the consultation being undertaken on the matter of compensation along the proposed High Speed Rail (HS2) route. The proposals include a guaranteed purchase scheme for those within 60m of the line, a voluntary purchase scheme for those within 120m and a hardship purchase scheme for those beyond – requiring various conditions.

As can be seen from the above map, the route would pass within 1400 metres of the nearest houses in Sulgrave.

Click here to see an extract from the Department for Transport Route Map through the Sulgrave area, tilted so that the orientation is north-south. It gives details of the lengths of the proposed line which would be in cutting, at ground level, on viaduct and so on, together with details of the proposed bridges.

The consultation period for the proposals closes on 31 January. HS2 project staff are manning two nearby information events – in Chipping Warden Village Hall from 1.00 pm to 8.00 pm on 9 January and in Brackley Leisure Centre from 12 noon to 8.00 pm on 16 January. If you consider the proposals are inadequate please ensure your response is lodged by 31 January.

Click here for full details of this consultation.

Click here for HS2 Action Alliance’s comments.

Residents are also reminded that the South Northants Action Group against HS2 are seeking donations for funding their activities. Full details here.

Coming soon – “HIGH SPEED RAIL LINE – LATEST NEWS” – a page on this website dedicated to up-to-date information on all matters connected with the High Speed Rail project.

The apple tree on the small green “island” near to the Village Shop was planted over fifty years ago in the mistaken belief that it was a flowering cherry! The above photograph was taken in 1961 since when “The Cottage” on the right has been considerably enlarged. The large opening in “Forge Cottage”, hidden behind the new sapling, was once the entrance to a wheelwright’s shop. Note the magnificent elm which until 1974 stood on what is now the garden to “Kirklees” and behind the cottages a sycamore which stood on Castle Hill. The apple tree has provided “ammunition” for several generations of children and recently lost a limb, resulting in the somewhat bizarre shape seen in the photograph below.

Colston Bassett Blue Stilton

A wide range of Christmas food products can now be ordered at the Village Shop. These include vegetables, salads, fruits, bread (various), flowers and wreaths, and Delicatessen items such as Game Pie, Pork Pie, Chicken and Ham Pie, Cheeses (Stilton, Brie de Meaux, Somerset Brie, Cheddar and Black Bomber), Roast and Smoked Hams, Cumberland Sausages, cream and dairy products and Murray smoked salmon. Orders must be placed by Monday 3rd December (Cream and Dairy Products by 18th December). Collection date week commencing 19th December.

Download your order forms here.

Vegetables – Salad – Fruit.

Xmas Bread Order.

Xmas Flower and Wreath Order.

Delicatessen Xmas and New Year Order List.

Completed order forms should be taken to the shop or posted to: Sulgrave Village Shop, The Reading Room, Magpie Road, Banbury, OX17 2RT

Villagers will not need reminding of the death last year of our much loved community postman, John Down. Planning permission has now been granted for the installation of a bench in his memory outside the village shop. A final push is needed to secure the £500 required for this project and all donations will be gratefully received.

See next page for full details.

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Quality fresh flowers can now be bought daily at the village shop. You can order a bouquet or an arrangement which, depending when in the week you order, will be delivered to the shop within a week. You’ll get a telephone call to let you know that they’ve arrived; David will provide more details next time you are visiting the shop.

Read the latest news update from the shop.