Nocton in Lincolnshire

Walk on the wild side

2012-02-10T20:14:00.002Z

Parish Council Report

2012-02-09T16:14:00.000Z

From the Parish Council Meeting on 7th February 2012

A small number of hardy residents turned up for the Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 7 February. The meeting covered many topics and in the interest of briefness I have listed below just some of them.

A report of three recent thefts in the village had been received from the police. Once again heating oil had been siphoned from a domestic tank in the village - so please everyone, be extra vigilant and lock your oil tank caps!

The Dog Warden had reported that the Dunston bridleway is still subject to dog fouling and additional signage is being requested for posting in the village.

New Nocton Parish Council Notice Board
The Council agreed to purchase a new Notice Board which will be located on the Green along with the refurbished Coronation Bench. A grant from County Councillor Marianne Overton will help offset some of the cost.

Village Hall
A structural engineer was appointed to carry out a thorough report on the apparent subsidence which was affecting a part of the Village Hall.

An informal Working Group comprising the Chairs and Vice-chairs of the Parish Council, Village Hall Management Committee and Nocton Club is to be set up to help improve communication and liaison between the three main bodies involved in the use of the Village Hall.

Play Area
It was agreed to pursue the possibility of establishing a children’s playground in the village. As a first step, Councillor Williams, who is leading on the project on behalf of the Parish Council, will be circulating a questionnaire to residents in order to determine the level of interest, possible location and the nature of the equipment which might be provided.

Reports to the meeting from individual Councillors included the following issues:

The Chair, Vice and Councillor Faulkner had met with Karen Bradford (NKDC) to discuss a range of issues affecting Nocton Park. As a consequence, a meeting with the developer is being arranged to take these matters forward.
Parking at the entrance to Nocton Park on the bend by the horses’ field is a cause of some concern, as are the cars which park on the verge on Wellhead Lane. The police are to be asked to see if they can have a word with the offenders.
The Parish Council agreed to the purchase of commemorative mugs to be provided free of charge to children under 11 to mark the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (see enclosed order form). A decision on the purchase of a beacon which would be used as part of the village’s celebration activities on 4th June will be taken at the next meeting. A Diamond Jubilee presentation will be held on Saturday, 28th April setting out the celebrations being planned for Nocton on Monday, 4 June 2012

Date of next Meeting Tuesday, 7th March at 7pm

Councillor MaryAnn Williams

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Latest news

2012-02-08T14:15:00.000Z

Gas supply in Nocton - it's not too late to respond!

Following the article in last month's Doodle, there has been a rather disappointing response from residents about the possibility of having a gas supply brought into the village with less than twenty households expressing an interest so far. This represents only about 5% of properties in the village and it is most unlikely that this would be sufficient for the National Grid to take the matter further.

To give residents a little more time to decide whether or not they wish to respond to this survey, the Parish Council has, therefore, decided to extend its original deadline for responses to 16th March.

If you like the idea of having a gas supply to your property, then please let Doreen Green, the Parish Clerk, know by emailing her at noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk or by dropping her a line with your name and address to 1 Potterhanworth Road Nocton LN4 2BP.

The more people that are interested, the lower the costs will be!

Please note that expressing an interest at this stage does NOT commit you to having a gas supply - the Parish Council just wishes to find out how many people are interested in the possibility so that it can decide whether or not to take the idea further.

News from Councillor Marianne Overton

Please find a link to Marianne's February News.

Newsletter from Nocton Community School

Please click on the link to access the February newsletter.

Nocton Hall

As reported at the Parish Council meeting last night, representatives of North Kesteven District Council have met with Leda Properties to discuss the recommendations of English Heritage and Officers of the Council following the Options Appraisal. The meeting took place last Friday - 3 February 2012.

Leda have agreed to discuss the findings with their shareholders and intend to appoint a 'new designer' with experience of retaining a heritage ruin. It was agreed a further meeting will take place in three months time.

It has been suggested to Leda Properties that it would be useful to meet informally with representatives from the Parish Council. As such, the Parish Council will issue an invite shortly.

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Planning changes

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000Z

Countryside threatened by planning changes - CPRE

'MORE than half of England’s countryside could be at increased risk from development as a consequence of the Government’s reforms of the planning system, a major report has warned.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/countryside-threatened-by-planning-changes-cpre/44655.article

Stunning new maps show countryside at risk

'The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) today launches a report with detailed new maps showing that 55 per cent of England’s countryside could be at increased risk from development as a consequence of the Government’s reforms of the planning system.'

http://www.farminguk.com/news/Stunning-new-maps-show-countryside-at-risk_22747.html

A plain English Guide to the Localism Act 2011

You can read about the planning changes on page 11:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localismplainenglishupdate

Localism Act 2011

A little light reading for bedtime. If you require the actual statute, you can find the detail here:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/contents/enacted

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Heating oil

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000Z

Nocton Consortium

I have been informed that local residents on Manor Court benefit from ordering their oil as a consortium, making quite a saving.

This is what Mick Middleton had to say after discussing this issue with me:

"When ordering oil drops for Manor Court on Friday, I spoke with Jemma Crossland who is the Buying Manager for Chandlers and we talked about buying oil for whole village groups in order to get even better prices. Chandlers now have a dedicated web link for individual villages and Jemma created one for Nocton. Maryanne Williams, one of our Parish Councillors, has also spoken with Jemma and me about this. To get it started we suggested getting our details onto the link. If there are no objections I can call Chandlers on Monday and ask her to do this for Manor Court customers. They seem to have all of our customer details anyway. The link https://groups.chandlersoil.com/nocton

Anyone unable to use the link can register by calling Chandlers on 0845 6202010 and they will put their details on. Jemma will run the full ordering process by card, telephone, email etc and the link explains all this. There is of course no commitment to using Chandlers and I am happy to do a monitor/comparison check on pricing and amounts say twice a year.

Geoff has kindly agreed to mention it via his Nocton Blog as well as Chris of the Parish Magazine and by word of mouth.

Just need to discover oil in our front or back gardens!"

MaryAnn also kindly provided me with the following promotional material issued by Chandlers Oil:

GREAT GROUP SAVINGS NOW AVAILABLE FOR OIL BUYERS

CHANDLERS OIL & GAS INVITE YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOURS TO JOIN YOUR LOCAL OIL BUYING GROUP AND START REDUCING THE COST OF YOUR HEATING OIL

What are the benefits of joining your local 'Oil Buying Group' with Chandlers Oil?

Membership is Free and without obligation to order
Transport cost savings are passed to the customer in the form of lower oil prices for all customers
Regular deliveries
Advance delivery notice by post or email of the next two delivery dates enabling you to plan forward
Minimum order of 500 litres and no price differential – everyone benefits from the group prices
Reduced carbon emissions and ‘tanker traffic’ in your community
Order by phone or online
Monthly budget plan payments available
Dedicated staff to deal with your queries and trusted tanker drivers to deliver to you.

To join, simply click on the relevant link below and register your details. Don't worry if you don't have a Chandler's account number already, simply leave that field blank and I will fill it in for you. https://groups.chandlersoil.com/nocton

You can also call me on 08456 20 20 10 to place an order or to ask any questions.

Kind Regards

Jemma Crossland

Buying group Manager

Chandlers Oil

I would like to formally record 'thanks' to Mick for initially contacting me via my blog... also to Councillor MaryAnn Williams who was coincidentally pursuing similar arrangements with Chandlers Oil. I believe this could become a very good arrangement for Nocton residents. The more people that sign up for the service, the more competitive your prices will become..

By the way, I am not on commission nor do I benefit from promoting this... as my household is all electric!

Fortunately, it seems electricity users may be allowed to make similar arrangements in the future, if the following article is to be believed:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/liberaldemocrats/9060014/New-energy-secretary-Ed-Davey-will-help-cash-strapped-households-to-beat-soaring-power-bills.html

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Valentine's Show

2012-02-05T14:06:00.000Z

Latest news: EVENT CANCELLED

School calendar

2012-02-04T07:00:00.000Z

Terms 3, 4, 5 and 6

Please click here to view the term calendars for Nocton School.

For updates, you should check the school website: http://www.noctonschool.co.uk/

Where are these?

2012-02-03T08:11:00.000Z

Features of Nocton

Exhibit 1

Exhibit 2

Exhibit 3

Exhibit 4

Exhibit 5

Exhibit 6

Exhibit 7

Exhibit 8

Exhibit 9

Exhibit 10 [CARE - deep water]

Cake sale

2012-02-02T15:04:00.004Z

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Small World

2012-01-31T11:16:00.000Z

Nocton Nurseries

Since the sale of the Nocton Ltd nursery site to Munk Agricultural Services (http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/story-14267645-detail/story.html), I have been told another company, Winchester Growers Ltd are now leasing the site (http://www.winchestergrowers.co.uk/index.html).

If this is indeed correct, it is interesting to discover that it was the previous owners, Paul and Anne Clarke, who first established the company Winchester Bulb Growers Ltd way back in 1974. Paul and Anne then sold this highly successful company in 1994, prior to purchasing the Nocton Estate in November 1995. Winchester Growers Ltd was then established in 1995... from Winchester Bulb Growers Ltd.

It's a small World isn't it?

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Walk around village

2012-01-30T18:55:00.000Z

Yesterday we arranged to go for a walk around the village, along the many footpaths and by-ways, accompanied by Sheila Redshaw our own local historian.

My wife and I, along with our two Jack Russells in tow, met Sheila outside her bungalow. We set off down Potterhanworth Rd and it was nice to see the Beck flowing freely once more. The Beck on the lower part of Wellhead Lane has been cleared out recently... but it is slightly disappointing to see the contractors have not cleared the vegetation from the banking on the 'bungalow side'. However, the ducks don't seem to mind as they are happy bobbing along again and taking to the grass verges.

Wellhead Lane - Beck

We decided to cut through the Persimmon Homes and Sowerby developments into Nocton Park and across the playing field up to the allotments. Sheila was surprised to see the number of developed plots, having not walked that area since the allotments were created.

Taking the public footpath around the edge of Claypond Holt, we looked back over the grounds of the RAF Hospital site to Nocton Hall, endeavouring to locate the position of the lake and the eastern avenue of lime trees that once extended from the Hall to Abbey Hill.

My wife, dogs and Mrs Sheila Redshaw enjoying the walk

It was sad to see the skeletal remains of the huts on the old Hospital site, where the roofing sheets have all but been removed. Incidentally, I have not seen the barn owl for ages since this wanton destruction has taken place, so I can only assume the nesting habit has been disturbed. It used to regularly fly along the dykes, hovering occasionally before pouncing on vermin for its next meal. It was a real privilege to observe.

Joining the main estate road, we sauntered around to Lower Lodge and turned right through the woods, taking what we think used to be the laurel walk. A detour to see the snowdrops in the woods, near the gates of the old RAF Hospital, brought us onto the access road.

Snowdrops in the woods

There we bumped into the guy who maintains security of the site for Leda Properties. During our chat it was interesting to hear him say he works for the planning department in Mansfield. He mentioned in passing that Leda Properties had previously suggested to North Kesteven that five properties be built in the walled garden area and another ten properties on the RAF Hospital site, in return for maintaining Nocton Hall, but this offer had not been accepted. It remains to be seen what has/has not been discussed between Leda and NKDC over the years, all we really know is that no preservation/repair work has been completed to date and that is most unsatisfactory for the village.

Our final detour was to the old chestnut tree on the north-east side of the Hall, where Sheila pointed out a small plaque in the undergrowth.

Chestnut Tree plaque

The transcription reads:
"This chestnut tree was planted by Claude Ancliffe in 1978 - Building Supervising Officer at the RAF Hospital Nocton Hall 1946 - 1978.
This tree was grown from a chestnut taken from the chestnut tree planted by Katherene Howard, wife of Henry VIII on 13-10-1541"

Though I seem to remember reading somewhere, that chestnut trees had not been introduced into Britain at the time of Henry VIII!

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200 Club Winners

2012-01-29T11:46:00.000Z

Inaugural Draw

Nocton Club hosted the first 200 Club Draw on Friday evening. A short presentation from Jim Eagle opened the proceedings and the balls were then emptied into the tombola.

The audience watched expectantly as the tombola was spun before the first ball was extracted by Chris Hewitt... and the winner was:

Mr Keith Roe (181) - £65

Second and third places fell to:

Mrs Lesley Musson (194) - £25
Mr Rory Hambly (159) - £10

and the rest of us sank our sorrows into another drink from the bar! Ah well, there's always next month... and the month after.... and the....

David Reay presenting Keith and Lesley with their 'dosh'

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Broadband News

2012-01-28T13:11:00.000Z

Green Light For Lincolnshire Superfast Broadband

'Plans that will see 90 percent of Lincolnshire homes and business premises receive broadband speeds of at least 24Mbps by 2015 have been approved by the government.'

http://www.onlincolnshire.org/news/broadband-news/156

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Take one picture

2012-01-25T21:06:00.000Z

Size Doesn’t Always Matter…

It is like the story of David and Goliath or the FA Cup third round upset. In times of uncertainty in education proof that, offered the opportunities, the children of our country can produce the goods in any circumstances.

Nocton Community Primary School in Lincolnshire has the look of the quintessential village school. Designed by Sir Gilbert Scott (he of the St Pancras Hotel and Albert Memorial) and built in 1864, it stands in a quiet cul-de-sac opposite the church in a rural village. With 40 pupils it is a small, happy place with dedicated staff and supportive parents. Rural schools, like their inner city counterparts, have tight budgets and social issues. Nocton is no exception. Hidden away south of Lincoln this idyllic setting has just upset the odds.

'Take One Picture' is the National Gallery's countrywide scheme for primary schools. Each year the Gallery focuses on one painting from the collection to inspire cross-curricular work in primary classrooms. The challenge is then for schools to use the image imaginatively in the classroom, both as a stimulus for artwork, and for work in more unexpected curriculum areas. National Gallery Education then displays a selection of the work in the annual 'Take One Picture' exhibition at the National Gallery, and on their website. Of the hundreds of schools who took part, the work from just 17 will be exhibited in the iconic building with Nocton’s contribution being from the smallest school.

‘Work with Fire and Steel’ was the idea of the year 5 pupils at Nocton. Along with the Deputy Headteacher, Andy Canadine, and classroom Teaching Assistant, Pat Penistan, the five pupils created sword handles at a local blacksmiths forge. From raw materials and under the guidance of blacksmith Tim Mackereth and his wife Fran the pupils made a lasting and unique piece of work that captured the essence of the project.

The work so impressed the staff at the National Gallery that it has been selected to be displayed in the Trafalgar Square Gallery between Wednesday 9th May and Sunday 16th September. “Our pupils took the concept on board and ran with the idea” said Mr Canadine “We always encourage pupils to reach for the heights and push their boundaries of learning. This was a fantastic opportunity to show what a small school can do and demonstrate just how vital these hubs are to local people and the children”

As large academies blossom it is comforting and important to remember that small schools like Nocton bear good fruit too.

[Article released for publication by Nocton Community School]

200 Club

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000Z

Inaugural Draw

www.clanocton.co.uk

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Jim Broadbent in Nocton

2012-01-22T07:00:00.000Z

36-year-old film reel of Hollywood actor Jim Broadbent discovered in Lincolnshire

'A film reel has been found in which the Oscar winner assumes the role of a worker at Nocton Estate, south of Lincoln.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/36-year-old-film-reel-Hollywood-actor-Jim/story-14971867-detail/story.html

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Nocton Hall - 1925

2012-01-21T09:53:00.000Z

I thought it would be interesting to give people a glimpse of the property that once was - the following details have been extracted from the:

'Particulars, Plan and Conditions of Sale of the famous Agricultural, Residential and Sporting Estate of Nocton' - issued by Messrs Knight, Frank & Rutley. N.B. I have not reproduced The Agricultural Portion relating to '3,000 Acres of Highly Farmed Fen Land'.

NOCTON HALL
The stone-built Elizabethan-style Mansion stands in matured Pleasure Grounds surrounded by well-timbered Parklands.

Summary of Accommodation

Panelled Billiard Hall
Four Reception Rooms
Ten Principal Bed and Dressing Rooms
Four Secondary Bed Rooms
Three Bath Rooms
Maid's Room and Work Room
Sixteen Staff Bed Rooms and Bath Room
Ample Offices

The Residence

is reached by a long Avenue Drive, guarded at its commencement near Nocton Station and at the entrance to the Pleasure Gardens by stone-built Lodges; also by a second Drive, similarly guarded, from Nocton Village. The two Drives meet in a gravelled Forecourt at the Entrance Front, which gives access to the

Entrance Hall

and thence to the

Billiard Hall

measuring about 30ft.6in. by 17ft.9in., panelled in oak to a height of 7ft., and having entrance doors to the Pleasure Grounds. It is fitted with a modern well grate and carved oak mantel, with handsome mahogany doors (which are in keeping with those of the other Principal Reception Rooms) leading to the Staircase Hall and

Drawing Room

about 26ft. by 24ft., fitted brass mounted grate and carved marble mantel, with French windows opening on to the Broad Stone Flagged Terrace, which extends along the South Front; also double doors to the

Ball Room

a lofty, well-proportioned apartment, measuring about 50ft. by 24ft., exclusive of the wide window recesses on the South and East; fitted fireplace with handsome marble mantel and wide oak surround.

The Dining Room

measures about 38ft. by 23ft., with oak floor, fitted fireplace with marble mantel, and with serving lobby adjoining; Butler's Pantry, fitted sink (h. & c.), Cloak Room, fitted lavatory basin and W.C.

Business Room

about 20ft. by 18ft., fitted well grate and "Milner" safe.

Adjoining the Entrance Hall is the

Morning Room

about 18ft. by 16ft., fitted fireplace with marble mantel.

ON THE FIRST FLOOR

Approached by the fine Oak

Principal Staircase

with handsome newels and twisted balusters, and also by a Secondary Staircase, is the

Principal Suite

of two Bed Rooms and Dressing Room, fitted with well grates, and measuring about 26ft. by 16ft., 24ft. by 18ft. and 24ft. by 16ft. respectively; Lobby and Bath Room, fitted bath, lavatory basin and W.C.

Seven Bed Rooms

measuring about 24ft. by 17ft.6in., 17ft.6in. by 14ft., 24ft. by 16ft.3in., 26ft. by 16ft., 23ft.6in. by 18ft., 18ft. by 16ft.6in., and 23ft. by 13ft. respectively.

Two Bath Rooms

fitted bath, lavatory basin and W.C. Housemaid's Recess, with sink.

ON THE SECOND FLOOR

Four Bed Rooms and Bath Room

ON THE THIRD FLOOR

Seven Staff Bed Rooms

Bath Room and W.C., Lady's Maid's Bed Room and Work Room, W.C., Tank Room.

Approached from the Offices by a separate Staircase, are:-

Eight Menservants' Rooms and W.C.

The Domestic Offices

include:- Housekeeper's Room; Store Room, fitted cupboards and shelves; Still Room, Boot Room; Kitchen, fitted double oven range, hot plate and domestic boiler; Vegetable Room; Scullery; two Larders; Wood and Coal Houses; Servant's Hall; Boiler Room; Butler's Pantry; Store Rooms; Wine and Beer Cellars.

Heating - Central Heating is installed to the Ground Floor.

Water - Water is pumped by an engine to storage tanks on the Top Floor.

Drainage - The drainage is belived to be in good order.

A Range of Buildings

includes:- Laundry, Drying Room, two Laundry Maids' Rooms, old Stables, Pump House and Game Larder.

THE PLEASURE GROUNDS

are of natural beauty, and include

Wide Spreading Lawns
Tennis Lawn planned with space for four courts.
Shrubberies and Woodland Walks
and clumps of shrubs in great variety; specimen trees including finely grown Beech, Copper Beech, Horse Chestnut (including a fine old tree believed to be one of the oldest in England), Elm, Oak, Walnut, Cedar Deodora, Wellingtonia.

In the Park is an
Ancient Fish Pond

flanked with ornamental plantations.

The Walled Kitchen Gardens

are divided into two parts, and contain fruit trees, a Vinery and Greenhouse.

Orchard

The Garden Buildings

include:- Wood Shed, Potting Shed, Tool Shed, Boiler House, Pot Shed, Apple House, eight-light Pit, lean-to Greenhouse.

Gardener's House

stone-built, containing five Rooms, Scullery, Dairy and Wash House.

The Garages and Hunting Stables

comprise:- Large heated Garage for four cars, two Loose Boxes, six Stalls, Saddle Room, Forage Store.

A Five-Roomed Coachman's Cottage

Farmery

with Stable for three, Smithy and Shoeing Shed, four-bay Wagon Shed, Crewyards, Wood Shed.

Timber Yard. Gaem Larder. Old Well House.

Nocton Wood and Plantations

extend to about 472 acres and are stocked with Oak, Ash, Conifers and Underwood, and placed to hold a good head of Game.

In Nocton Wood is a pair of Keeper's Cottages, with Stabling and Kennels. In the Top Plantation is a stone-built five-roomed Cottage.
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Nocton Hall

2012-01-19T08:53:00.000Z

Options Appraisal

Coat of Arms - Nocton Hall - South Wall

You can now find all the detailed documents relating to the Options Appraisal online here:
Options Appraisal for Nocton Hall

These documents contain a comprehensive analysis of all possible options for the building and pleasure grounds - these are well worth studying.

Finally, a request... I am trying to locate any photographs that were taken of the interior of Nocton Hall, as none seem to be publicly available sadly. If any of my readers have such in their possession and they would be willing to let me borrow these to scan and record for posterity, please will you get in touch. Thanks.

N.B. Of course, any future use of these would carry an acknowledgement to their source of origin.

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'The Nine Brethren'

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000Z

Ancient Boundary Marker

'The Nine Brethren' is a remarkable tree which is situated deep within Nocton Wood, otherwise known locally as 'The Big Wood'. It is rumoured to be an ancient boundary marker separating the Lord of the Manor's land and that belonging to the old Augustinian Priory founded by Robert D'Arcy, the ruins of which are situated on Abbey Hill overlooking Nocton Fen and Wasp's Nest.

The tree was named 'The Nine Brethren' because of its unusual shape - the bole has divided into nine separate trunks allowing people to stand within its centre.

Cataloguing Sheila Redshaw's extensive archive of material, I came across an old map which identified the exact location of 'The Nine Brethren', together with an image showing what it looked like. This has prompted me to seek out this wonderful specimen to record it once again for posterity in 2012.

You may be interested to know that North Kesteven District Council classify Nocton Wood as:

'An outstanding wildlife site, and the central part of a complex of woodlands in this part of the District that are of County importance. It is also one of the largest woodland blocks in the District. The woodland type varies from high forest to coppice, and the shrub layer is rich. The soil is sandy and the ground flora is therefore quite different to the other woods in the area. The wood is an important bird habitat and, in overall terms, is one of the finest non-SSSI woodlands in Lincolnshire.'

You might have noticed logging lorries going through the village recently, transporting large amounts of timber and wondered where these were coming from. There is extensive maintenance work going on in Nocton Wood and I understand this is the source of the timber.

If you wish to read more about 'The D'Arcys' here is a blog entry posted back in 2007.

Plate 1: 'The Nine Brethren' in January 2012 [inset is a picture taken many years ago - I believe it was taken in Winter 1973].
Plate 2 and 3: these two images give better detail of this distinctive tree.

Plate 1. 'The Nine Brethren'

Plate 2. 'The Nine Brethren'

Plate 3. 'The Nine Brethren'

Nocton 'Doodle'

2012-01-16T11:15:00.000Z

January 2012

If you wish to read your local magazine online, please click here: Nocton 'Doodle'

Enjoy.

N.B. The day for the Valentine's Dance (on the back page "What's On" section is incorrect. The date should be: Saturday 11th February (as shown in the full advert on page 11).

Planning Application

2012-01-14T07:00:00.000Z

What: Erection of single storey side extension & erection of pitched roof to existing extension.
Where: Rose Garden The Avenue Nocton Lincoln Lincolnshire LN4 2BN

Ref. No: 11/1442/HOUS
Received by NKDC: Thu 15 Dec 2011 & Validated: Thu 29 Dec 2011
Status: Pending Consideration

More information online here:

http://planningonline.n-kesteven.gov.uk/online-applications/

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Alternative energy

2012-01-13T10:22:00.001Z

Would you like a gas supply in Nocton?

As some of you may be aware, residents in Dunston are being asked by the National Grid if they are interested in the possibility of having a mains gas supply to their village. A feasibility study is currently underway. Although the costs are currently unknown, it is thought that they would be in the region of between £2,500 and £3,000 per property. However, the more people that are interested, the lower the connection cost might become.

At its last meeting, the Nocton Parish Council decided to pursue this further on behalf of Nocton since it was likely that a number of residents in our village would also like to be able to use gas rather than rely upon the considerably more expensive oil for heating, etc. Accordingly, if you are interested in the possibility of having your property connected to a gas supply, could you please email the Parish Council at noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk quoting your name and address by 17th February 2012. Alternatively, please drop a line with this information to the Parish Clerk, 1 Potterhanworth Road, Nocton LN4 2BP.

It must be emphasised, however, that at this stage no guarantees can be given as to whether this will prove possible although it may well be that if there is sufficient interest, we can join together with Dunston on this, reducing the potential costs still further.

Please note that expressing a view at this stage does NOT commit you or the Parish Council to the supply of gas to your property. At this stage the Parish Council is just trying to establish the potential level of interest.

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Parish Council - January 2012

2012-01-09T17:58:00.000Z

Please find enclosed the report of the Parish Council from the meeting held on Tuesday 03 January:

Parish Council Report

The agreed Parish Budget for 2012/13 is also available to study:

Parish Budget

The January update from Councillor Marianne Overton has just arrived too. Nocton is mentioned specifically, so I have provided a copy of the document to read (N.B. You may also like to pay particular attention to the entry about future planning arrangements for our District):

January Newsletter
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'The Silent Woman'

2012-01-03T12:49:00.000Z

The following extract is taken from 'Some Notes for a History of Nocton' by Kate Norgate and Maurice Henry Footman (Page 23):

There was an 'old tavern where the buildings of the Manor Farm now stand; it was known as the "Silent Woman," and on the sign-board was a picture of a woman without a head.'

According to Wikipedia, the name 'Silent Woman, Quiet Lady or Headless Woman' has a number of theories, 'such as a landlady whose tongue was cut out by smugglers so she couldn't talk to the authorities, or a female saint beheaded for her Christianity. The pub signs sometimes have an image of a decapitated woman or the couplet: "Here is a woman who has lost her head / She's quiet now—you see she's dead".'

Another report on the origins of the name says: 'The headless woman on our sign is Judith, a seventh century saint who helped pilgrims on their way to a shrine in her village. Her family, constantly at odds with her religious persuasions, took her life by sword. According to the legend she picked up her head and carried it to the altar before she expired.'

In an age of illiteracy, the story was graphically represented by the politically incorrect logo you still see today.

There are still many “Quiet Woman” and “Silent Woman” pubs scattered throughout England.

The mediaeval St Peter's of Nocton

2012-01-02T20:33:00.001Z

'In 1773, St. Peter's Church and vicarage which stood only a few yards from the Hall, was completely demolished and rebuilt on the present site of All Saints. Sir William's monument and the font were preserved and installed in the new St. Peter's which was little bigger than the original church inside the park. The graves and stones adjacent to the Hall were heaped together and buried in a mound south west of the new Hall and left of the present drive as it turns eastwards to the hospital.'

Source: 'The Revelations of an Imp' - Douglas Craven-Hodgson (Chapter 10)

'George Hobart came to the conclusion that the vicarage and the church was inconveniently near the Hall; so by a deed of exchange, he gave the site of the present vicarage and church in exchange for the old one. He destroyed every vestige of the old church, which had been dedicated to St. Peter (except the font or Judge Ellys' monument), so we cannot tell its size or style of architecture, or any particulars about it; tho' the site may be recognised by the level of the ground to the West of the Hall, it stands high by reason of hundreds of coffins and bodies that lie beneath.'

Source: Handwritten notes by MH Footman. These notes seem to form the basis of his public lecture entitled 'The Story of Nocton', delivered on Monday 23rd October 1911. However, much of the content also appears in: 'Some Notes for a History of Nocton - Kate Norgate and Maurice Henry Footman. The reference to St Peter's Church appears on pages 21/22.

'The next church in Nocton was dedicated to St Peter and was close to Nocton Hall. However, the owners of Nocton Hall, George Hobart (3rd Earl of Buckinghamshire) and his wife Albinia Bertie, did not like the church being "too inconveniently close to their mansion", possibly because of Albinia's taste for gambling (which led to the Nocton estate being temporarily mortgaged in 1786 to pay her debts). George and Albinia therefore had the church (illegally) demolished and a replacement built on the site of the present church. The location of St Peter's is marked by a rise in the ground south-west of the Hall.'

Source: All Saints, Nocton

If you wander around the site of Nocton Hall, you will have noticed the mound of St. Peter's has become terribly overgrown over the years. It is covered with weeds, brambles, dead wood and multiple saplings, all but obscuring the site.

This neglected aspect, alongside the already deteriorating Grade II listed Nocton Hall, does nothing to discourage fly-tipping, thefts and vandalism of our local historical site. I therefore give up a little of my time every couple of years to clear the encroaching undergrowth which threatens to overwhelm the cultural heart of our village. If you frequent the area often, you may see a difference in the vegetation from time-to-time and may even see a lonely figure toiling away.

Let's hope 2012 brings some progress with Nocton Hall and its grounds.

Happy New Year folks.

_______________________________

Roger Helmer MEP

2011-12-31T12:30:00.000Z

Guido reports: Tory MEP Roger Helmer No Longer Resigning

Read Guido's report

To welcome in the New Year

Read the Dunston Dossier for January 2012

________________________________

Nocton Ltd

2011-12-29T13:00:00.000Z

I trust you've all had a super Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.

You may like to know that Paul Clarke has sold his Nocton bulb-packing complex for an undisclosed sum following a round of competitive bidding.

Nocton Nurseries sold to farming business

'AN agricultural business which was on the market for more than £2 million has been sold.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Nocton-Nurseries-sold-farming-business/story-14267645-detail/story.html

______________________________

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T19:00:00.000Z

A curse on it?

Nocton Hall - now an RAF Hospital - has a long history, though the present building goes back only to the year 1841. It replaced an older hall which was destroyed by fire in 1834. And this older building, it is said, was constructed from the stones of the ancient Nocton Park Priory - hence a curse which was laid upon the Hall, that it would never be in the possession of one family for more than three generations.

It is a fact that it never has been occupied by one family for more than three generations!

[Lincolnshire Echo - 13 June 1962]

As 2011 almost comes to an end, may I wish all my readers and friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

To use a quote from one of my favourite comedians, Dave Allen: "Goodnight, thank you, and may your God go with you".

Refuse Collections

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000Z

Thoughts of an Eagle

2011-12-22T10:03:00.000Z

As part of the cataloguing of Mrs Sheila Redshaw's archive collection, I am in the process of copy typing a manuscript: 'The Lords of the Manor of Nocton and their times - drafted by J Eagle'.

This draft manuscript was gifted to Mr John Ireson in 1966.

It came into the possession of Mrs Sheila Redshaw, after kindly being donated to the archive by the Ireson family, together with other material relevant to Nocton.

The following is text from a handwritten note, discovered within the draft. Whilst it is not signed, it appears to be in the same hand as J Eagle. There is no reference as to source, or whether this is original work, but there is a message in there and perhaps some parallel to the way we perceive life in 2011. I thought you might find it interesting.

"Age and Life

From the point of view of the teenager, at fifty-nine, Imust be considered an old man. This practice of drawing comparisons is one thatwe seem to follow for most of our lives. Thus a man of ninety can always turnto one of ninety-six to point out that he is younger. This measure of relativevalues through comparison can be comforting to those who would like toencourage the impression that according to such calculations they, at least,are so much younger; so they are not yet really very old – even at ninety.

Some people manage to condition themselves into acceptingthe advance of old-age gracefully with the thought that every age provides itsown particular compensating features.

It is so easy to deceive ourselves when we are young intothinking that time is a limitless factor in life. No doubt this is something tobe thankful for. The delay between twenty and twenty-one can seem almostendless, whereas the gap between fifty-nine and sixty is gone in a flash.Moreover, the step that separates sixty from seventy is a very short one forthose who are seventy.

The lonely and neglected occupy the most miserably pitifulposition in the world, and are often so tormented mentally, for want ofcompanionship, as to become either horribly narrow-minded and embittered, orunreasonably timid and fearful. Sooner or later they reach the point where theyare thought of as oddities. Even if they are gifted oddities, the stigma ofbeing thought odd stings at any age. Such people sometimes seek an avenue ofescape by claiming to be independent. But independence is only a novelty, andno-one has the talent to be completely self-dependent. Only the severelymentally sick can develop that particular attitude of mind in which they findtheir own solitude self-sufficient for their requirements.

Life is so full of so many bewildering complexities thatreviewed as a whole they become incomprehensible to our limited understanding,a fact that leads us to recognize and acknowledge the dismal depth of ourignorance, so that we are amazed by our incapacity to appreciate and understandthe problems of life that some people have to face. Indeed, one can easilybecome so hypnotized by the range and extent of these difficulties that it isimpossible to finalize ones research by concrete conclusions of a decisive andpositive nature.

Many people are at a loss to say just what they believe isthe purpose and meaning of life. In fact some people dismiss this question bysimply asserting that life has no purpose or meaning. To me this answer ismerely a form of evasion, a stubborn refusal to face facts. Even if life isonly to be recognized as a form of progressive development in the scale ofevolution it has a purpose and a meaning. Those with strong religiousconviction cling to the dogma formulated by the Church in which we areintroduced to spiritual values and the immortality of a soul. Thus the linkbetween religion and evolution is the common belief that life, like death, isnot an end in itself, but represents stages in the progressive continuationof something that began millions and millions and millions of years ago. Socalled indifference to the question illustrates apathy and stagnation in thefield of reasoning in some people, whilst in others it portrays a form ofmental paralysis developed to deaden the dread of what the unknown might mean."

___________________________________

Planning policy

2011-12-21T14:16:00.000Z

Rewrite 'yes to development' planning change, say MPs

'MPs are calling on ministers to rewrite a key part of its controversial changes to planning rules in England, removing the default "yes" to development.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16271888

'Significant changes' must be made to planning rules

'MPs are calling on the Government to rewrite its controversial changes to planning rules in England, which they say are biased in favour of developers.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/significant-changes-must-be-made-to-planning-rules/43784.article

NFU urges Government to stick with plans to streamline planning policies

'Changes to planning rules must ensure that the rural economy can be allowed to prosper alongside a healthy natural environment, the NFU said today after an influential group of MPs launched its review of the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF).'

http://www.farminguk.com/news/NFU-urges-Government-to-stick-with-plans-to-streamline-planning-policies_22429.html

Welsh Government delays mega-dairy verdict

'A direction has been issued under Article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 to provide Welsh Ministers with more time in which to consider the call in request.'

http://notinmycuppa.com/newsblog/welsh_government_mega_dairy

_____________________________

Mrs Sheila Redshaw's Archive

2011-12-19T11:46:00.003Z

There was mention of Mrs Redshaw's kind donation of her Village Archive at the Parish Council meeting earlier this month. The Nocton 'Doodle' editorial for December '2011... the year that changed a village' also makes mention of it.

I have been busy cataloguing the many entries and this is a 'work in progress'. I have uploaded an image of the Excel spreadsheet for you to view. When the original document is complete and posted online, you will be able to filter and sort all the entries, in order to identify the specific folder where the items are located.

The aim is not to reproduce every paper cutting, photograph, brochure etc online. The Excel spreadsheet is only a 'gateway' into all the items that Sheila collected over the years. In short, it is a list of content.

The documents will remain as a paper collection and will only be made available under controlled conditions, so that nothing goes astray. Copies and extracts can be taken where this does not breach copyright, however this service will not be available until everything is catalogued and a suitable system for viewing has been put in place. Please bear with me as the cataloguing is a huge undertaking requiring every scrapbook, folder, brochure, photograph album etc to be examined and every entry described.

I trust this gives more insight to the work being done behind the scenes to preserve what Chris has described as 'a fascinating social history of Nocton'.

_________________________________

News for Nocton

2011-12-18T06:38:00.000Z

Nocton 'Doodle'

Here is this month's copy of the Nocton 'Doodle' - with a reminder to buy your tickets for the New Years Eve Party at the newly renamed 'Nocton Club'. Early sales would really help for catering purposes.

If the 'Terms and Conditions' and 'Constitution' have also changed with the renaming of Nocton Social Club, can I request that someone get in touch with revised copies, so I can post them online for information - thanks.

CLAN

Nocton Hall Public Discussion

Diary date: 3 January 2012 - Nocton Village Hall - 7.00pm. More information in the 'Doodle'.

_______________________________

Planning Applications

2011-12-17T15:20:00.000Z

I have noticed two recent applications that have appeared on the NKDC Planning Online pages:

Abbots Grange, The Green, Nocton, Lincoln, LN4 2BG

Erection of conservatory, two storey extension to rear and single storey side extension

Ref. No: 11/1434/HOUS | Received: Tue 13 Dec 2011 | Validated: Tue 13 Dec 2011 | Status: Pending Consideration

Wellhead Cottage, Wellhead Lane, Nocton, Lincoln, LN4 2BW

Erection of single storey extension to east elevation, porch to west elevation, erection of detached double garage and garden store

Ref. No: 11/1401/HOUS | Received: Fri 02 Dec 2011 | Validated: Tue 13 Dec 2011 | Status: Pending Consideration

If you wish to view these plans, please enter the revant reference number in the search field provided:

North Kesteven District Council - Planning Online

____________________________________

2011-12-15T10:19:00.000Z

Nocton Community School News

"Term 2 has been a busy one with many exciting events taking place. A huge thank you goes to our amazing pupils, staff, parents and friends, with whose tremendous efforts our school is looking fantastic. We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and wonderful New Year and look forward to everything 2012 will bring!"

Read more here: Nocton Community School News - December 2011

The new website for Nocton School will go live tomorrow: www.noctonschool.co.uk - be sure to check in and have a look around.

________________________________

Report of Parish Council - December

2011-12-12T19:22:00.001Z

Parish Council Report of the Meeting held on

Tuesday, 6th December 2011

There was an excellent turn out for the December meeting and Parish Councillors shared a glass of wine and mince pies with all those attending prior to the start of the proceedings.

Nocton Hall – Options Appraisal

The most important issue on the agenda and probably the reason why so many people came was the report from Karen Bradford (Corporate Director – NKDC) on the initial and draft findings of the long awaited assessment and costed Options Appraisal for Nocton Hall.
Ms Bradford went through the following six options for the future of the listed building and its immediate grounds:

Retention as a Historic Ruin.
Full Restoration.
Retention of the Main House as a Ruin and a full restoration of the Service Wing (including the “pleasure gardens”)
Partial Demolition.
Partial Demolition with the retention of the Service Wing and Basement only.
Full Demolition.

Councillors made a number of comments on the presentation, mainly in connection with the number and nature of, and access to, the houses which would need to be provided on the former hospital site to meet the costs associated with options (2) and (3). However, it was emphasised that the entire process was at a very early stage and that more discussions would be needed with English Heritage and the land-owner before any conclusions as to the best way forward could be reached. As part of this process, the Parish Council had been asked by NKDC for its formal response to these initial options. To assist councillors in formulating their response, it has since been agreed to devote part of the Parish Council meeting on 3rd January for the purpose of hearing residents’ views and preferences on the future of the Hall. It was noted that the Parish Council will remain in close contact with NKDC as the situation develops.

Note: For those of you who wish to see the full presentation click on this link: Nocton Hall - update.

Village Archive

The Parish Council gratefully accepted, on behalf of the village, the generous and kind gift from Mrs Sheila Redshaw of her Village Archive. Arrangements will be made to ensure that the archive can be enjoyed by all and made available for research and other purposes.

The Beck and Trees on Wellhead Lane

Public concerns were raised once again over the state of the beck and the trees and bushes that overhang Wellhead Lane beyond the railway bridge. Councillor Goldsworthy reported that he had recently been told by NKDC that the funding had now been secured to enable the beck to be cleared (necessitating the use of a JCB digger). It was hoped that the work would be carried out in the near future. LCC Highways and landowners along Wellhead Lane area are to be contacted regarding the clearing of overhanging foliage.

Traffic Survey

Unfortunately, the traffic count through the village planned for the last week in November has had to be deferred because LCC considered that major road works elsewhere were likely to affect the situation and give a false measure of traffic volumes. It was hoped that the survey would now be carried out in early 2012 although concerns were expressed that the movement of lorries in particular will be far lower at this time.

A New Parish Councillor!

Finally it is with great pleasure that Geoff Hall was welcomed onto the Parish Council. Geoff has already set up the very successful Nocton Blog and many of us have seen him out and about the village, especially in the Nocton Hall area, attempting to keep Mother Nature at least partly at bay.

A very Happy Christmas to you all!

Next Meeting

3rd January 2012 starting at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall.

Councillor MaryAnn Williams

Nocton Village Hall

For those people who are relatively new to the village, you may like to have access to the Village Hall Management Committee Constitution dated 5th October 2006, just in case you wish to attend any of the monthly meetings.

The following documents may be of interest as well:

Nocton Village Hall - Terms and Conditions
Nocton Village Hall - Management Committee
Nocton Village Hall - Hire Charges

The Annual General Meeting is to be held on Thursday, 1 February 2012 at 7.30pm in Nocton Village Hall, Main Street, Nocton [as per formal notice dated 10 December 2011].

Nocton Social Club

I have also managed to obtain copies of the Nocton Social Club Rules and Committee for perusal:

Nocton Social Club - Rules
Nocton Social Club - Committee

________________________________

Dairy and other issues

2011-12-09T11:58:00.001Z

I still find it hard not to look at the farming press, even though the Mega-dairy campaign is over. The following may be of interest if you were sympathetic to the CAFFO stance.

Farmer seeks support for Free Range Dairy project

'A SOMERSET farmer is seeking the support of like-minded producers to push forward a Free Range Dairy initiative to promote the benefits of pasture-based dairy herds.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/farmer-seeks-support-for-free-range-dairy-project/43571.article

EU rules to give power back to dairy farmers

'European MPs have agreed rules to give dairy farmers more power to negotiate fairer prices for their milk.'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/06/12/2011/130414/EU-rules-to-give-power-back-to-dairy-farmers.htm

Spelman: Attitudes to water usage must change

'Britain faces a future of water shortages and lasting environmental damage with some rivers running dry....'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/08/12/2011/130463/Spelman-Attitudes-to-water-usage-must-change.htm

Business, Innovation and Skills: Water White Paper

Stephen Phillips comments.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2011-12-08a.406.2

What your local MP is doing for you

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/stephen_phillips/sleaford_and_north_hykeham

__________________________

Nocton Hall - update

2011-12-07T20:44:00.001Z

Parish Council meeting - 6 December

Karen Bradford (Corporate Director of North Kesteven District Council) attended the meeting to make a presentation to Parish Councillors on the draft Options Appraisal for Nocton Hall. Members of the public were also in attendance.

The draft Options Appraisal is awaiting a formal response from English Heritage (David Walsh - Historic Buildings Advisor also attended the meeting and he reported it 'is in the post').

Leda Properties (the current owners of Nocton Hall) have not yet seen the draft report, but NKDC are understood to be meeting with them on 15 December.

The draft Options Appraisal has received NKDC Officer's support, but it now needs Member's support. The Options Appraisal will be presented to the Executive Board in the New Year.

It was reported that a new Development Brief may need to be drafted (I assume this is because the 'Former RAF Hospital and Nocton Hall Development Brief - December 1999' now requires updating).

You can view the presentation slides regarding the Nocton Hall Options Appraisal by clicking on this link.

Representatives from Nocton Parish Council will have quarterly review meetings with North Kesteven District Council in 2012.

You may also find the following documents of interest:

New Corporate Plan for North Kesteven District Council
Central Lincolnshire - Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment - March 2011
Central Lincolnshire - Core Strategy Issues and Options

_____________________________

Spires & Steeples

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000Z

Arts and Heritage

'Spires and Steeples' is a waymarked Arts and Heritage Trail from Lincoln Cathedral to St Denys' Church, Sleaford. The Spires and Steeples website can be reached through my Companion Sites for ease of access.

One interesting aspect is being able to listen to Nocton villagers talk about the heritage and history of Nocton - you can listen to Chris Howard, Sheila Redshaw, Cliff Baxendale, David Rumbelow and Catherine Capewell by clicking on this link. It is fascinating.

ListenHERE is a partnership project between artsNK and SirenFM made possible by European Funding from RACoL (Regeneration Across Communities of Lincolnshire) and the support and involvement of the many communities along the Spires and Steeples Arts and Heritage Trail.

_____________________________

Xmas and New Year

2011-12-05T13:24:00.001Z

Carol Singing

If you would like to join us for carol singing please meet at the Village Hall on Sunday 18th December at 5.00pm . We will sing till around 6.30 and then we are invited to return to the Village Hall for mince pies and mulled wine, kindly provided by the Village Hall Committee. We need plenty of voices so come along and have a festive sing!

Quiz Night

2011-12-03T11:25:00.001Z

REMINDER!!!

NOCTON COMMUNITY PRIMARY

QUIZ NIGHT

NEXT FRIDAY (9/12/11)

7.30 PM FOR 8.00 PM START

Nocton Social Club

£2 per person

(Maximum 4 people perteam)

Here’s a taster!!

Which European city hasthe world’s longest canal system?

__________________________________

Nocton Hall - FoI and Internal Review

2011-12-02T18:24:00.001Z

This is the result of North Kesteven District Council's Internal Review into my Freedom of Information application and their response to it.

"From: Freedom of Information

Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 8:34 PM

To: Geoff Hall

Subject: RE: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall - Internal Review Outcome.

Dear Mr Hall

I am writing in response to your request for an internal review of the FOI response made by the Council in relation to your request 11/0588 – Nocton Hall.

Before giving the outcome of my review, may I first address the issue of the delay in sending this communication. Whilst there are a number of reasons behind this, the length of this delay does not meet the expectations of the Council in terms of its customer service standards, and rather than make excuses, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for the poor service that I personally have provided to you. I fully understand your frustration in the matter, and your decision to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner, and am sorry for the inconvenience that this will have caused you.

Moving on to the outcome of the review..... I note that the original request from you was

An account of all NKDC’s

Considerations
Decisions
Actions
Outcomes
Applicable Dates

with regard to the protection of Nocton Hall as a heritage property in the district of North Kesteven

As you are aware, the situation with regard to Nocton Hall is complex and actions related to this have been ongoing for a considerable period of time. Discussions as to the future of the Hall are underway at this time, and the Council have been working with English Heritage and/or the owners to try and resolve the issues. However, at the same time the Council has to be mindful of the potential for enforcement or legal actions against the owners dependent on the outcome of these activities.

I have taken these factors into account when reviewing the FOI response made and have the following comments:

A large amount of information is available via the Councils internet on Nocton Hall, including Planning Application Consideration and Decision information - through the Planning Portal; and Officer/ Councillor considerations and decisions through formal committee papers and minutes via the Councils Committee System. The links for these was provided as part of the response. Where the information is available in a publically accessible format, the Council does have the right under the Freedom of Information Act to direct the customer to this format and in this case I uphold this element of the response. However, should you not be able to access this information, the Council would usually offer this information in an alternative format, but has the right to charge for both the extraction of this information and the provision in that alternative format, as this would exceed the time limit for formulating responses under the FOI Act. Should you require this, (and in light of comments later in this email), please contact the FOI Assistant through the Freedom of Information Email box.
In relation to current activities associated with the options appraisal, any activities are in a ‘work in progress’ stage and could not be regarded as considerations, decision or outcomes at this stage. I have considered the use of exemption Section 22, and the public interest test, and in the case agree that it would not be to the public interest to publish information that is incomplete or subject to change at this stage. The outcome of the options appraisal will be published at a future date, and at that stage we will ensure that a copy of this is provided to you.
As this is very complex situation and as previously advised, the Council has to be mindful of their position to carry out enforcement or legal actions against the owners of Nocton Hall, the view of the Council is that it cannot jeopardise their ability to carry out these actions, and again I have to upheld the decision to withhold documentation under Section 31.

In relation to your request for this review, you also commented on (a) your astonishment on not receiving one document through this process and (b) the facility to provide redacted information.

On Point (a), whilst the Council has not attached documentation to the response, the Council has provided you access to a significant number of documents relating to actions, decisions and considerations on Nocton Hall and I refer to point 1 above.   I cannot therefore agree that we have not provided you with documentation.   If you would like to provide further clarification on the nature of the documentation you expected to see, then the Council may be able to consider this further (subject to the exemption comments above, and the paragraph below).

On Point (b), I have considered whether it was practical for the Council to inspect each document, committee paper and communication etc within our records to identify those that are not already in the public domain, and then to extract and provide you with appropriate documentation. The amount of information held by the Council would mean that the listing of, and extraction of, this information would significantly exceed the time limit previously referred to under the Act. As a result, the Council would have to charge for provision of this information. Should you wish to go down this route, the Council would assess the extent of this charge and notify you accordingly. However, I note that your request was very open, ‘namely all’, and would suggest that a second option would be to refine your request to specific decisions, consideration or actions, or to a reduced timeframe, which may reduce the cost to yourself.  However, I should also state that until the Council had gone through this exercise, we would not be able to define whether documentation (which is not already publically available) exists which would not significantly be affected by the exemptions above, and therefore how much of the document may be redacted. Irrespective of the amount of redaction undertaken, the Council would still charge the full amount advised for this exercise.

This completes my full response to your request for an internal review.   If you are unhappy with the outcome of the review, your next course of action is through the Information Commissioner.   However, I note from your communication earlier today that you are already planning to undertake this action.

Should you have any further questions or comments on this matter, I would request that you contact the Council through the Freedom of Information email address rather than personal email addresses to avoid issues of messages not being picked up when named individuals are absent from the office for a period of time.

Yours sincerely
Michelle Carrington

Head of Strategy and Customer Services

North Kesteven District Council"

I have felt it necessary to conclude matters with the following correspondence, whilst awaiting the Information Commissioner's report into my complaint.

"From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 5:45 PM
To: Freedom of information
Cc: Stephen Phillips [MP] ; Information Commissioner
Subject: Re: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall - Internal Review Outcome.

Dear Miss Carrington,

Thank you for your Internal Review of my Freedom of Information request. I have noted the content.
You will be pleased to know, I do not intend pursuing any further information at this time under this particular FoI. This decision will not prejudice any future FoI request directed to a more focused timeframe and specific Council consideration.

However, I will not be retracting my submission to the Information Commissioner (sent 1st December before your reply arrived in the evening), as I would like a second opinion on the matter, especially that relating to the FoI action of referring me only to a generic search facility of your web portal. My opinion is the response should have at very least included provision of specific web links to the relevant documents concerned (however I do accept your comment on supply of hard copy documentation).

I will await the Commissioner's report with interest, but meanwhile would like your Planning Officer’s/Development Manager's comments on the following, so that I can better understand the difficulties that are faced by a District Council in preserving properties of merit:

Statute

I believe the following statute are available to Local Planning Authorities (LPA) for the preservation and protection of vulnerable properties - S215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; S77/78 and 79 of the Building Act 1984; S54 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act) 1990 and S48 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act) 1990.

It would appear S215 provides a LPA with the power to take steps requiring land to be cleaned up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area. S54 is for an 'Urgent Works Notice' which only insists on the minimum work required to provide stability and weather-proofing to a property, and provide against theft and vandalism... and is only a temporary measure whilst consideration can be given to future action; whereas S48 is a formal 'Repairs Notice', possibly leading to Compulsory Purchase, if there is non-compliance.

Q: What other statute is available to a District Council for preserving 'at risk' properties, especially those that are Grade II Listed?

Observation

It seems that LPAs experiencing a lack of co-operation with the owners of a property, is one of the main reasons why an Urgent Works Notice (UWN) is served. In some cases, I believe Councils may be reticent about serving such an order, due to the perceived bad publicity and because of financial and resource implications. Therefore, as a general rule it is preferred to tackle problems through negotiation and persuasion, using building or historic grants to secure repairs, where these are available.

If an UWN is unsuccessful in persuading an owner to carry out at least emergency works, it would seem unlikely the owner has any interest in preserving the building and the LPA should consider using its compulsory purchase powers to bring about a change in ownership. Furthermore, as an UWN is unlikely ever to result in a full repair, the threat of compulsory purchase has been shown to be more effective in enforcing action.

Q: This is how I understand the processes involved, is this an accurate précis?

I would appreciate you letting me know which Officer this is directed to for a response and the timeframe under which I might expect a reply under your normal Customer Service standards. I will also look forward to receiving a copy of the Options Appraisal in due course.

Yours sincerely,
Geoff Hall"

The following concludes the correspondence on this whole affair.

From: Freedom of information
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 7:55 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: RE: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall - Internal Review Outcome.

Dear Mr Hall
Thank you for your response.

As you have not asked for additional information under the FOI Act, and on reading your additional questions, would regard these as a request for advice on development policy, I have not registered this under the FOI system. Instead I have forwarded your email onto Andrew McDonough, the Councils Development Control Manager. Our normal customer service standards for responses to written communication is 10 working days.

Yours sincerely
Michelle Carrington
Head of Strategy and Customer Services
North Kesteven District Council
________________________________
From: Andrew McDonough
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12:57 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: Nocton Hall

Dear Mr Hall

With reference to your email below, and in particular the two questions that you raise with regard to Statute, I am happy to comment as follows;

Q1: The main enforcement powers available to the Council with regard to the repair of Listed Buildings are Urgent Works Notices and Repairs Notices. Such powers should normally to be considered only as a last resort, and following negotiations with the land owner who ultimately, as custodian of the property, has the liability for the upkeep and repair. The drafting of a Condition Survey and an Options Appraisal are an integral part of the process for understanding the extent of works that need to be undertaken, and also for informing decisions with regard to possible formal enforcement action.

Q2: The use of compulsory purchase powers can be considered as part of the pursuit of enforcement action, but such a decision is dependant on many factors being taken into account. Such factors can include the financial risks to the public purse, but more importantly relate to judgements as to whether enforcement and CPO action is expedient and proportionate. I must stress that as at this point in time, the Council has not formally considered the use of either enforcement action or the use of CPO powers in relation to Nocton Hall.

I hope the above is of some interest and no doubt you will be able to keep track of progress as part of the briefings to the Parish Council.

Regards,

Andrew
Andrew McDonough
________________________________
From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 1:39 PM
To: Andrew McDonough
Subject: Re: Nocton Hall

Dear Andrew,

Thanks for this reply.

I am encouraged by the recent report by Karen Bradford to our Parish Council on progress with the Options Appraisal.

I shall be watching developments with interest and hope to be attending the update meeting with Karen, scheduled for 26 March at Sleaford. I do appreciate the work you have been doing to progress matters in what are difficult circumstances. May I wish you every success with your forthcoming strategy.

Best regards,
Geoff
_________________________________
From: Elizabeth Woodworth
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 2:24 PM
To: Geoff Hall

Subject: Information Commissioner's Office

19 January 2012

Dear Mr Hall,

Re: Complaint about North Kesteven District Council

Please find attached correspondence relating to your complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office.

Please note that to reply to this email it will be necessary to reply directly without changing any of the details in the subject box. This will ensure that your correspondence is allocated to the correct case.

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth Woodworth
Senior Case Officer
____________________________
From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 3:23 PM
To: Elizabeth Woodworth
Subject: Re: Information Commissioner's Office

Dear Ms Woodworth,

In consideration of:

1. The workload currently facing your Office, and that
2. I do not want to prejudice future good working relationships with the District Council

I have decided not to pursue with my formal complaint.

Yours sincerely,
Geoff Hall
____________________________
From: Elizabeth Woodworth
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 4:20 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: Information Commissioner's Office

19 January 2012

Dear Mr Hall,

Thank you for your email. I have now closed the case.

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth Woodworth
Senior Case Officer

__________________________________

Nocton Hall - update

2011-12-01T08:30:00.000Z

I am sad to report that I have not made any progress with obtaining information from North Kesteven District Council. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know I have been trying to uncover the historical record of all Council Officer's actions over the last ten years or so, in their endeavour to save Nocton Hall from total dilapidation.

I have had to resort to a Freedom of Information request because of the limited data supplied and have additionally requested an Internal Review as well, all to no avail. I am left with having to make a formal complaint to the Information Commissioner.

Just to remind ourselves what has happened to this historic Grade II Listed building, I have uploaded three photographs:

Nocton Hall - 1999

Nocton Hall - 2005

Nocton Hall - 2011

Soon there won't be anything left to salvage (you will see the northern chimney gable has now collapsed in the latest photo; the eastern gable upper bay window is looking very precarious too) - and following yet another visit yesterday, the fencing is down again - so much for 'security'!

I have reproduced my email to the Information Commissioner below so you can read this for yourself. Whether this will prompt the information I am seeking remains to be seen, but it is a last resort.

I understand Karen Bradford (Corporate Director of NKDC) and a representative from English Heritage are due to attend the Parish Council meeting on 6 December 2011 (my inaugural meeting) and a report on the findings of the Options Appraisal is expected to be delivered.

"To: Information Commissioner
From: Geoff Hall
Cc: Stephen Phillips QC MP
Subject: Complaint - North Kesteven District Council

Dear Sir/Madam,
It is with great regret that I have to write making a formal complaint against North Kesteven District Council with regard to a Freedom of Information request (11/0588).

Background
I am involved in cataloguing the history of our village, in particular that relating to the rich heritage of a Grade II Listed property, Nocton Hall.
The Victorian Society has classified this as one of ten most endangered properties in the UK.
I am endeavouring to uncover the actions taken by our local District Authority to save this once fine property, so that these can be added to the historical record.

Individuals in Emails
Mr Ian Fytche (Chief Executive)
Ms Karen Bradford (Corporate Director)
Mr Andrew McDonough (Development Manager)
Ms Helen Snowden (Freedom of Information/Complaints Assistant)
Ms Michelle Carrington (Head of Strategy and Customer Services)
Mr John Money and Mr Rob Kendrick (District Councillors)
Mr Stephen Phillips QC (Local Member of Parliament)

Attachments
1. Copy of your ‘Complaint’ Word Template
2. Link to all my email correspondence and replies from North Kesteven District Council on the Nocton in Lincolnshire website.
3. Copy of letter from Mr Ian Fytche to Stephen Phillips QC MP.
4. A summary of all information I have elicited to date from North Kesteven’s website appertaining to Nocton Hall.

Request
Will you please look into this matter for me, as I feel that North Kesteven District Council have not fulfilled their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with regard to:
a) A Freedom of Information request dated 7 September 2011.
b) A request for an Internal Review dated 6 October 2011.

Yours faithfully,
Mr GM Hall"

_______________________________

Latest news

2011-11-29T19:08:00.001Z

Bin Collections

North Kesteven District Council have advised the Parish Council as follows:

'If you look on our web site regarding Strike Action it is informing residents whose bins are due for collection on 30 November to put their bins out as normal. The web site will be updated by 9am on 30 November once we know what changes will be affecting the service.'

Parish Council Meeting - 6 December 2011

You may like to know that representatives from North Kesteven District Council and English Heritage will be attending this meeting to give an update on the Options Appraisal for Nocton Hall.

Here is a copy of the Agenda for the December meeting and the Draft Minutes from the November meeting for perusal.

New Years Eve

There will be a party at Nocton Social Club to launch the Jubilee Year in style.

Tickets (in advance) Adults £5; Under 18's £2
Tickets (on the night, only if available) Adults £8; Under 18's £3

Available from the Social Club Bar or via Committee Members.

Click here for the publicity poster.
_____________________________

Village Hall Xmas Fayre 2011

2011-11-27T12:57:00.001Z

Yet another brilliantly organised event by the Village Hall Management Committee - thanks to Philip, Joan and all who were involved.

Some really wonderful stalls, lovely tea, coffee and cakes... and friendly faces. It was super to have my family along to support this event as well; my two grandchildren, my son, daughter-in-law and daughter... and of course my wife too.

As they were otherwise engaged in looking round the stalls, I grabbed myself a pot of greengage jam from Sue Morris, I failed miserably in my attempt at winning a bottle of wine and so consoled myself with a mulled wine and mince pie. Following accusations of only thinking of myself, I repaired the damage and paid for my family's refreshments. At least they weren't able to keep grousing at me with mince pie in their mouths!

It was nice to be able to introduce my family to Mrs Sheila Redshaw, who kindly came to sit with us during the event.

The outside Christmas tree lights worked first time and people were taking photos with their own families placed in front of this festive spectacle. Father Christmas did his magic with the kids and each child was given a present, which was a really nice gesture.

I'll share a little secret with you - I even returned later for a sneaky visit to see how the Christmas tree looked once it was properly dark. The Parish Council should be well pleased with the decision to go with this... which is a nice addition to the village for Christmas 2011... and helps to start get us all in the spirit, given the depressing news on TV about the Eurocrisis affecting the UK.

Roger Helmer MEP

2011-11-25T18:03:00.001Z

UKIP steal Tory candidate and Helmer's last CCHQ battle

'unless Matthews is anointed his successor he won’t be resigning after all…'

http://order-order.com/2011/11/25/ukip-steal-tory-candidate-and-helmers-last-cchq-battle/

__________________________

Dairy news

2011-11-24T16:50:00.001Z

Big rise recorded in farm antibiotic usage

'Last week the European Commission unveiled a five-year action plan to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance in human and animal medicine.

At the same time an alliance of the Soil Association, Compassion in World Farming and Sustain published a report linking the rise in ‘superbugs’ like MRSA caused by drug resistant bacteria to misuse of antibiotics in ‘factory farming’.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/big-rise-recorded-in-farm-antibiotic-usage/43207.article

No agreement on milk contracts but Paice hails progress

'FARMING Minister Jim Paice said the dairy industry is moving closer to agreeing new voluntary contract arrangements, following a meeting of supply chain representatives on Wednesday.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/business/no-agreement-on-milk-contracts-but-paice-hails-progress/43203.article

Price rise needed as UK dairy farmers languish in bottom quarter of EU milk league table

'The NFU dairy board has called for milk buyers to come forward with a milk price rise before the New Year.'

http://www.farminguk.com/news/Price-rise-needed-as-UK-dairy-farmers-languish-in-bottom-quarter-of-EU-milk-league-table_22199.html

Call in the Powys Mega-Dairy decision

'Compassion is being joined by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in contesting controversial plans for a 1,000-cow mega-dairy in Powys after Councillors recently conditionally approved them.'

http://www.ciwf.org.uk/news/beef_and_dairy_farming/call_in_the_powys_megadairy_decision.aspx

___________________________

Time of goodwill and cheer

2011-11-22T16:39:00.001Z

Christmas Tree

Nocton Parish Council have taken delivery of a rather large Christmas tree for bringing some festive cheer to the front of the Village Hall for 2011.

The location used in previous years was somewhat strangely situated down the right-hand side of the Village Hall... in my opinion not the most obvious place for viewing from the road, but one that was probably dictated by the electric power supply. Furthermore, only a small diameter pipe had been installed, which rather limited the size of the tree which could be purchased and erected.

For this year, it was generally felt there was a better location for siting the Christmas tree. As there was no facility in place, Councillor Goldsworthy arranged for a 24" x 18" x 18" hole to be dug ready for the delivery and installation of the tree, which arrived this morning. However, this is only a temporary fix for 2011 and a more permanent fixture (a nine-inch diameter pipe) will be concreted in place for 2012 onwards.

The tree was quite heavy and cumbersome, requiring three men to lift it into place. Unfortunately there was insufficient time to complete the job properly today, as both people involved with the installation had previous commitments booked elsewhere. Adjustments will be made on Friday (25th Nov) to counter any leaning following settlement of the ground and the hole. It will also be given a more permanent anchorage with nylon rope guy lines - and the safety fencing will also be redone with more heavy duty posts.

The final job will entail stringing the low voltage lights from the Village Hall to the Christmas tree, with a timer placed in the circuit. Hopefully this will be completed Friday in readiness for the Xmas Fayre on Saturday.

Vintage Fashion Show and Afternoon Tea Party

By all accounts this was a very successful event with much positive feedback. The following report was circulated by the organiser, Julie Partridge.

'And it was all because you came on board and contributed your time and talents.

The result being we now have some funds in the Festival Coffers but even more importantly we have learned how to put on a show and give people something else really positive to talk about Nocton.
So here is the cast and huge thank you goes to:

John for arranging for the loan of tables, staging for the catwalk and PA system. We are making a small donation to the Fire and Rescue to thank them for allowing us to use such a professional piece of kit.
John and Wayne & Geoff for setting up the staging and technical equipment and Steve Moore for the use of his projector and screen, always knew it would come in some day!
Wayne for arranging for us to have use of the Stag and Nick for his jeep. My brother will not forget the spin you took him for and it did help him avoid buying my sister-in-law that dress!
Jane, Chris, Natalie, Alicia, Mike, Pat and Jess you all modelled beautifully and looked stunning in vintage and retro. Without you there was no show. Please pass this onto Alica and Pat for me.
Maria for handing the tea party so professionally, it ran smoothly because of your skills and leadership. Everyone had a real Maria's Tea Room treat and if you ever fancy a business partnership let me know!
Alice, Maisie and Jack showed us all how we can rely upon them when hard work is needed. They got stuck in and made team Maria a winner! Alice, please pass on our thanks to Maisie and Jack as I don't have their e-mails and take a big pat on the back yourself.
Val, Jilly, Jan, Maria, Ruth, Gary, me & Terry for the delicious cakes and sandwiches which adorned the cake stands and received great feedback. I know just how hard it is to bake under pressure and the fact that they were all home made was just perfect! We had a few more than needed so we sold some on the day and I shall be bringing a few round to anyone who says yes tonight!
Chris & Mike, Mandi & Gordon, Jon and Tracy; you all brought with you stunning stalls and enabled everyone to look, try and even buy great gear. You showed the greatest commitment to vintage and Nocton in so far there is never any guarantee of sales and yet you put is loads of effort which really paid off for us. I hope the experience was fun and I am certain more people will be buying vintage in the future and I have been asked for your details as the school is now thinking of doing something like this in the future. Please let me know if you are happy for me to pass on your numbers?
Jessie for being our official photographer - we are all looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labour and Mandi and Gordon wish to consider some for their website. They are also offering you the opportunity of taking more pictures wearing their collection anytime you wish!
Lynne Cant donated lovely linen and jewellery from her Aunt's estate. I will be holding onto the linen for future Festival events and the items that did not make the tombola will be sold in the summer and added to the total funds. Any residue I am instructed to donate to St Barnabus Hospice.

The shabby chic china I managed to collect over the last three months have become my new hobby and if anyone does want to hire it for future events please let me know.

If there is anyone I have forgotten I will be most embarrassed so please thank them for me and I just add I had a fabulous time and now need to give my voice and eyes a bit of a rest. Terry says thank goodness!

Warmest Wishes
Julie'

_________________________________________

Humbled

2011-11-16T06:35:00.001Z

Definition of humble

1: not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive
2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission
3: a: ranking low in a hierarchy of scale: insignificant, unpretentious
b: not costly or luxurious

Source: Merriam-Webster dictionary

As I continue to catalogue the mass of information that long-term resident Sheila Redshaw has collected over the years, I cannot fail to be amazed by the rich heritage of our village.

It is clear the Nocton Estate was a common denominator that bonded the community together... the hub around which the wheel turned. For example, the old Quarterly Magazines from Smiths Potato Crisps tell the story of how this company fostered a close bond between its business, the people who worked for it, and the community in which it existed.

Many generations have lived... and continue to live in and around Nocton. The same family names surface year after year. Many hark back to the days of working on the Nocton Estate... and I can see how this must have been a very close community in those days past. People working alongside each other during the working day and then socialising with each other in the small amount of free time they had left.

Unfortunately, this close community spirit began to be challenged as big investment companies bought out the Estate. This was the time when the relationship with the local community began to diminish, as the Estate workforce was reduced to a bare minimum. Yet despite this, people have endeavoured and worked extremely hard to keep the vibrant community spirit alive.

I have been humbled by the number of years some people in this community have dedicated to serving their village. It will be very difficult, well nigh impossible for any of the new residents to match this outstanding record. Some of these people are still around today so I won't embarrass them with a specific mention, but just as an example, there was the first woman to serve on the Parish Council... and did so for over 30 years... and a shepherd who organised Nocton Sheep Dog Trials for over 20 years, raising badly needed funds for the village. Now that is what you call service to the community!

Nocton is now different. It is no longer an Estate village and has become a commuter belt location for Lincoln/Sleaford and beyond. People don't necessarily work, or even spend their leisure time in the locality. No longer do we know every family in the village, nor all the news and gossip. People don't necessarily socialise with each other either, having many friends wide and far. So things change and we all need to adapt to this.

What is invigorating, is that the community spirit that was once so strong in Nocton, continues to fight through today. It is a legacy that has been left for this village and one that we must try and maintain for years to come.

The Nocton 'Doodle'

Good communication will become fundamentally important to this village, as the populous becomes more diverse. There is a great deal going on and we need to keep people informed, so if they so choose, they can get involved or support the local activities. To this end, I am pleased to welcome Chris Hewitt's new magazine, The Nocton Doodle - you can read it here.

_____________________________________

More News

2011-11-14T09:11:00.001Z

Nocton Festival 2012

There is a new website to help further publicise what is going on in Nocton:
http://noctonfestival2012.vpweb.co.uk/

Nocton Village Planters

I am writing on behalf of the residents of Nocton Village to thank you all for helping in our Nocton Planters Project.

The wish for a prettier village and some planters was highlighted by a recent CLAN (Community Led Action for Nocton) questionnaire, the project was executed by the Nocton Festival 2012 Group with donations from:

Branston Potatoes: Boxes and washed soil
The Mansfield Sand Company: Fertiliser and Soil
Nocton School and Parish Church: Hardcore
Park House: Additional Soil
Bell Brothers Nurseries Boston: All the Plants
Nocton Parish Council: Funding

and of course all the willing hands that moved, filled and planted all three planters.

Thank you all for your generosity and enthusiasm.

Regards

MaryAnn Williams

Nocton Parish Council

Councillor Marianne Overton

The following is an extract from Marianne's November 2011 newsletter:

'Planning
A joint committee of 12 voting people from 4 councils NKDC, WLDC, Lincoln & LCC have been planning where to allow 45,000 houses and 86,000 more people (over 5 new North Hykehams). The plan is designed to increase development over 20 years, but we saw how fast land was allocated once the permissive rules were in place, and then more was taken. That led to a boom and bust as many over-borrowed and house values fell. People tell me they want small amounts of development, in keeping with the roads, facilities and community. There will be formal consultation www.central-lincs.org.uk . The 160 new houses suggested commercially for Navenby have received overwhelming objection.'

___________________________________

For The Fallen

2011-11-13T07:00:00.000Z

I would like to devote today's blog to this First World War poem, in memory of all those who have been lost in conflict, having given the ultimate sacrifice.

You will probably be familiar with the 'Ode of Remembrance' taken from the fourth verse, as it is the one most used in services on Remembrance Sunday.

For The Fallen

'WITH proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted:
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.'

Laurence Binyon
(Poem composed in 1914)

We will remember them.

_______________________________________

News Update

2011-11-12T07:00:00.000Z

Nocton Festival 2012

Village Planters

The pansies are here! It would be great if a few people could volunteer their services to help plant these this Sunday!

When: Sunday 13th Nov at 1.00 pm.
Where: Meet outside Nocton Primary School on The Green.

Vintage Fashion Show & Tea Party - 19th November

All tickets for the show are now sold. Ticket holders are asked to arrive in good time to be seated with your party ready for the show to start at 2pm.

Parish Council Vacancy

I have lived in Nocton since May 2005 and now decided it is high time for me to become more involved in the 'day-to-day business' of our village.

I was extremely honoured that long-standing resident and Parish Councillor, David Rumbelow, proposed my nomination to fill the vacancy, with the Vice-Chair Ian Goldsworthy seconding this. My nomination was declared valid by Ian Fytche (Returning Officer) on 3rd November 2011 and the last day for receipt of nominations was yesterday (11th November) at 1200 noon.

Following a call to North Kesteven District Council Electoral Services yesterday afternoon, I was slightly surprised to learn that my nomination was the only one received for the vacant position. Shortly thereafter, I received an email in confirmation, with an acknowledgement that I can take up the vacant seat after 1200 noon on Wednesday 16th November.

I did think that more people might have been inclined to stand for election, particularly as there seems to be a new energy in the village following the last couple of years 'upheaval' with the Mega-Dairy Campaign. That said, I shall look forward to my new role representing the residents of Nocton as a Parish Councillor.

Finally, with the Government's new Localism Bill likely to impact in the not too distant future, I think it will be an exciting and possibly demanding time for local Parish Councillors. Hopefully, I will be able to help implement the changes required, supporting the more experienced Councillors as much as possible.

__________________________________

List of Issues

2011-11-11T08:25:00.001Z

Nocton Parish Council are endeavouring to sort out a number of issues around the village - these are listed on the document below:

List of issues as at 9th November 2011

If you have anything to add to this list, or any comments to make, please do not hesitate to contact your Council at noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk

____________________________

Nocton 200 Club

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000Z

For more information, visit: Nocton 200 Club

________________________________________________________

Wellhead Lane

2011-11-07T19:11:00.000Z

The Beck

It was brought to my attention the other day, that only the grating in the Beck had been cleared when village residents were expecting a full clean-out. I therefore raised the matter with Councillor Ian Goldsworthy over the weekend.

Councillor Goldsworthy has since telephoned North Kesteven District Council to find out the current position and was told more work is due to take place. The funding has only recently been obtained to clear the village becks, not just the one for Nocton, and work is due to start in the next few weeks. The grating has been cleared purely as a precautionary measure, to avoid any risk of flooding arising from the predicted heavy rain.

Clearing the Beck will entail more than just cutting back vegetation and a mechanical digger may well be needed to tackle the job. We are hoping that Nocton will feature as first village on the list, for necessary work to be carried out.

Nocton History

Many of you know Sheila Redshaw who lives on Wellhead Lane and her interest of collecting data about Nocton e.g. through paper cuttings, articles, magazines and photographs etc. This has much significance for those interested in the history of Nocton and Sheila has recently been wondering how she could make this collection more widely available, without the 'archive' being lent out and possibly lost to future Noctonians (if that is the right word to use).

As a first step, I have therefore offered my services to create a list of contents of the collection. I am currently going through every single book and folder in Sheila's collection and listing all the Nocton-related information in an Excel spreadsheet.

I am recording the Date of the item, the Title of the article, the Source of the item, a brief idea of the Content, the Folder No where it can be located and the Type of folder concerned. The spreadsheet will then be able to be searched using any of these descriptors... at very least it will give a unique timeline record of Nocton over the last 40 years or so.

I have just completed twelve scrapbooks and already there are 752 entries in the spreadsheet. I can assure you this is going to be a lengthy job, but a welcome one to occupy me throughout the dark winter months when the evenings draw in and there is nothing worth watching on TV!

Discussions are still taking place with Sheila as to how to safeguard this 'collection' for posterity and yet make it available to the community in the future.

____________________________________________________________

Parish Council Report

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000Z

Meeting - 1st November 2011

The Vice-Chair,Councillor Ian Goldsworthy, presided over the meeting in the absence of theChair, Councillor Tyler, and Councillor MaryAnn Williams took the minutes onbehalf of our clerk Doreen Green, both of whom were taking well earnedholidays!

Tuesday saw thefirst use of the new style of Agenda and Minutes for Nocton Parish Council,suffice to say there were no public questions submitted prior to the meetingand none from the floor, hopefully a sign that there is growing confidence inthe top table!

Village Hall Councillor Askew, on behalf of the Village HallManagement Committee, reported there were real concerns over the suspectedcontinued subsidence of one corner of the Hall. In view of the seriousness of the situation and the importance of ourVillage Hall to the community, Parish Councillors and members of the VillageHall Management Committee will meet as soon as possible to consider the optionsand agree a way forward.

B1188 andB1202 Some good andnot so good news on our village road situation. Alan Brown from LCC Highways has written to the Parish Council and is actioningmost of the problems highlighted on the recent village walk-round. However, despite the fact that accidents haveincreased on the B1188 (the only red route where this has happened), at themoment nothing is going to be done to address this. Councillor Marianne Overton (District) andthe rest of the Parish Councils in our Cluster Group are all working hard tokeep this high on Highways Department’s agenda. The other positive is that Highways will be asked to monitor the trafficthrough the village, probably towards the end of the month, to ascertainexactly how many vehicles pass through, how big, how heavy and how fast. It ishoped that the results of this survey will help us take action to deal with theproblems of traffic through the village.

DiamondJubilee Mugs Commemorative Mugs will be presented by theParish Council to all the children in the parish. A form will be circulated to each householdin the New Year, so that each child is counted and also to give people theopportunity to purchase these mugs at a competitive price.

200 Club See application and poster. A real opportunity to help our village andhopefully be a winner as well! Councillor Overton was delighted to see that Nocton is doing so much toencourage self help, as funding and help in the wider community continues todry up. Day Centres in Lincolnshire are closing making our villageget- togethers even more important. Proceeds from the 200 Club will help to supportdevelopments in the village.

Crime Metal theft in Lincolnshire is increasing and is highpriority for the police. We are allasked to be vigilant and report anything suspicious without, of course,endangering ourselves.

Play Park Councillor Neil Faulkner was concerned that theprovision of an infant play park in the centre of the village may well not beaddressed for a further 3 or 4 years. However, if indications are that this facility is needed sooner ratherthan later, then the Parish Council will progress this project more quickly.

Date of next meeting Tuesday 6 December 2011 at 7.00p.m.

Finally, a warmwelcome from the Parish Council to the “Nocton Doodle”

Councillor MaryAnn Williams

__________________________________________________________________

Sustainability

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000Z

Jim Paice is using this term more frequently with the 'intensive' argument, so perhaps we need to find out what it really means in the farming context:

Sustainability in Modern Farming

Farmers Weekly - videos

Part 1
http://youtu.be/sGgx65zOQ_k

Part 2
http://youtu.be/bh5ct1CsjKk

Part 3
http://youtu.be/KiqED8sTQaE

Part 4
http://youtu.be/6wrlDa0IM90

Part 5
http://youtu.be/cKCz9JUXfe0

Part 6
http://youtu.be/VSUOiJfWzUM
____________________________________________________________________

Help required

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000Z

Church clean-up for Village Wedding

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

There is a clean up planned at Nocton Church on Sunday 6th Nov at 2pm to get the church fit and ready to hold the wedding of Polly Hardy on Nov 12th.

The building works have been put on hold for a week to allow this to happen.

The Churchwardens ask anyone who is available on Sunday at 2pm to give up a little time and help out.

'The Doodle'

The first issue of the new Nocton magazine will be out shortly. Please could you let Chris Hewitt cwhewitt@btinternet.com have any submissions by close of play on Sunday 6th November

Many thanks
__________________________________________________________________

Power and planning

2011-11-02T11:00:00.002Z

You may recall that Government is looking to simplify planning regulation, thus making it easier for developers to gain permission for their developments. At the same time there is a move to devolve 'power' from central Government to District and Parish Councils. It therefore makes it all the more important for our local representatives to be well briefed on matters and able to respond to challenges when they arise, especially so when you read the following articles.

I'm sure the controversial Nocton Dairies' application is still fresh in villagers' minds and I believe the local community should not become too complacent. It would not surprise me if a similar application were to emerge, once the changes in planning legislation have been approved.

UK ‘will lead way on sustainable intensification’

'FARMING Minister Jim Paice has pledged that the UK will lead the way in promoting the sustainable intensification model of food production.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/arable/uk-‘will-lead-way-on-sustainable-intensification’/42644.article

New concerns over Foston pig farm proposal

'The Soil Association has renewed its calls for plans to build a 2500-sow pig farm to be scrapped after concerns were raised over the unit's impact on local residents' health.'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/01/11/2011/129822/New-concerns-over-Foston-pig-farm-proposal.htm

'Obnoxious' pig farm plan fails to win backing from councillors

'PLANS for an "obnoxious" pig farm in Foston have taken a blow after South Derbyshire councillors agreed to voice their objections to the scheme.'

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Obnoxious-pig-farm-plan-fails-win-backing/story-13731331-detail/story.html

Powys 'super dairy' is set for approval

'Controversial plans for a "super dairy" in Powys are likely to be approved after councillors ignored advice to reject it.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-15522600
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Making our community a better place

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000Z

Planters

The early morning mist had lifted and the grass was still wet from rain overnight. However, it wasn't long before the volunteers began to emerge, to congregate on the field off Wellhead Lane and consider the task ahead of them.

Three large potato storage crates (one full of soil washings from the spuds) and a tonne bag of fine compost, awaited their arrival. The crates and soil had kindly been supplied by Branston Potatoes Ltd and the compost by Steve Dickinson (Embsay Cottage). It all looked so straightforward, with the items sat there in the field, but to get these in place at their chosen locations required a little bit of thought.

There was much discussion about how the task was to be tackled, with various views and suggestions put forward and a plan slowly emerged. All that remained was for the crates to be put in place at the three entrances to the village and then filled with rubble for drainage purposes and then topped up with the soil and compost. Sounds easy doesn't it when you say it like that?

The first job was to get the large planters transported to the various locations, one for Wellhead Lane, one for Main Street and the last one (which was still full of soil) to Potterhanworth Rd. Fortunately for us, John Kania had brought his Volvo XC and trailer to transport all the heavy items to site. With a 2.4 turbodiesel engine this motor had no trouble at all pulling a trailer loaded up with eight wheelbarrows full with soil and compost - we would have been lost without this.

The first two crates were delivered to site and then the search for rubble began. We had been given permission to extract the waste rubble from the skips being used for the school and Church renovations and it wasn't long before all the wheelbarrows were filled and loaded onto John's trailer.

A few trips were required before the two crates had sufficient depth of drainage. Meanwhile, the remaining crate had to be emptied before it could be transported. Some volunteers had remained 'back at base' to dig this out as the 'rubble team' were doing their job. This was back-breaking work leaning over into a crate and shovelling earth onto a tarpaulin. As the soil 'washings' from the spuds had been sprayed with fertiliser in the fields, the smell from this was quite ripe but it did clear the nostrils!

With the remaining crate empty, it was transported to Potterhanworth Rd and the whole process of rubble, soil and compost was started all over again. By now the operation was running smoothly and it didn't take long to finalise the task. We will require a little more soil and compost to top-up the crates, to counter settlement and then they can be planted up. This should make a lovely display for the entrances to Nocton in the forthcoming Spring. A worthwhile job taking just over 4 hours work.

A big, big thanks go out to those who gave up their time to help:

Steve and Jilly Burr
Jim and Ruth Eagle
David Glew and Dominic
Geoff and Maria Hall
Michaela Hall and daughter
John and Jane Kania
Julie Partridge
Ralph Timms
Roy and Sue Welch
MaryAnn Williams

Apologies now if I have missed anybody.
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Stephen Phillips QC MP

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000Z

Written Answers

You may be interested in your local MP's recent activity:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=speaker%3A24836+section:wrans&o=d

They Work For You

This is the main page for your local MP, giving you access to many functions:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/stephen_phillips/sleaford_and_north_hykeham
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Tragic loss

2011-10-29T19:15:00.000+01:00

Van driver jailed after head-on crash which killed soldier in Lincolnshire

'A promising soldier who survived two tours of duty in Afghanistan lost her life when a white van driver hit her car head-on – just seconds after using his mobile phone to update his Facebook page, a court was told today.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Van-driver-jailed-head-crash-killed-soldier/story-13674265-detail/story.html
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Help required

2011-10-27T17:18:00.000+01:00

Amendment - PLEASE NOTE - time should read 10.00 am Saturday 29th October!

Community Spirit

2011-10-24T07:58:00.000+01:00

Woodhall Spa voted Best Kept Village of the Year 2011

Chairman of the Parish Council, David Clarke explains... "the beauty of Woodhall Spa is no accident".

"While no deliberate work went into the best kept village awards, we regularly look at what needs doing and it just gets done. We have a lot of volunteer groups in the village who are really great. There are a bunch of ladies that pick litter in the woods. We have a Britain in Bloom group that looks after all the planters in the village that are very popular. There is also a maintenance man that goes round painting fences in the village, cutting grass and repairing benches. We are very keen to get things done if they need doing." [Source: Lincolnshire Echo]

Woodhall Spa seem to have this about right. Perhaps the 'Woodhall spirit' is something we can emulate in our village too - certainly the idea of volunteer groups seem to be gathering pace?
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Cows belong in fields... again

2011-10-21T07:00:00.000+01:00

I have revisited this topic today, as a reminder of why I believe the campaign against the Nocton Dairies' planning application was fully justified.

Factory Farming Is Not the Best We Have to Offer

'Farming has been drastically altered in the U.S. over the last 25 years. Small farms have been replaced by large, industrialized factory operations, and animals and the natural world have become mere commodities in the process.'

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/13/factory-farming-is-not-the-best-we-have-to-offer/

Viral storm: why factory farming is bad for your health

'Matilda Lee reports on the alarming findings of a new book that shows how the threat of global disease pandemics is increasing because of our love affair with industrial animal farming.'

http://www.theecologist.org/how_to_make_a_difference/food_and_gardening/1110019/viral_storm_why_factory_farming_is_bad_for_your_health.html

An HSUS Report: The Welfare of Cows in the Dairy Industry

If you still harbour doubts over whether it was right to fight this application, you may like to read the following report:

http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/farm/hsus-the-welfare-of-cows-in-the-dairy-industry.pdf

EU to phase out antibiotics for farm animal diseases

'The European Parliament has backed the phasing out of antibiotics on farm animals for disease prevention in order to ensure such treatments remain effective for humans.'

http://www.farminguk.com/news/EU-to-phase-out-antibiotics-for-farm-animal-diseases_21989.html

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Neighbourhood Planning

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000+01:00

Doubts over bid to give Lincoln residents more say on local planning

'CITY residents could have greater influence on what is built in their communities by creating neighbourhood plans.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Doubts-bid-Lincoln-residents-say-local-planning/story-13572967-detail/story.html

Don't miss the chance to help shape village

'RESIDENTS living in a village near Sleaford are being given the chance to shape the way it will look in the future through the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Don-t-miss-chance-help-shape-village/story-13597790-detail/story.html

Neighbourhood Planning

'The Government has said that it wants to return planning powers to local people, and so is creating a new neighbourhood planning tier, that will be led by the community, rather than the relevant district, county or unitary council.'

http://www.planninghelp.org.uk/planning-system/neighbourhood-planning

Neighbourhood planning

'Neighbourhood planning will be taken forward by two types of body - town and parish councils or 'neighbourhood forums'.'

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/inyourarea/neighbourhood/

Hands Off Our Land: Councils given extra time to put in place protections from developers

'Planning reforms are to be delayed for up to two years to allow communities to develop local plans to protect them from the developers’ bulldozer.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8837097/Hands-Off-Our-Land-Councils-given-extra-time-to-put-in-place-protections-from-developers.html

Planning reforms 'are confusing'

'The government's planning reforms are "contradictory and confusing", a Commons committee has said.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15704312

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'To Do' List

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000+01:00

Action Required

Your Parish Councillors have prepared an initial list of issues that require attention to improve our village environment. At the last Parish Council meeting it was agreed this list could be published into the public domain, so that residents can see what is being planned on their behalf. This is not a definitive list however and residents are invited to provide other suggestions for action, via email to:
noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk.

Responsibility for such issues have yet to be clarified and Alan Brown and Steve Welsh of Lincolnshire County Council are still to accept in writing, the list of items agreed with them for action. It is early days, but the idea is to have an ongoing 'To Do' list so that outstanding tasks do not 'fall through the net'.

Click here to view the document: Nocton - List of Issues

New Community Magazine

You may like to know that Chris Hewitt has completed the final issue of the All Saint's Church magazine (October 2011). This should be arriving through your door any time now, if it hasn't done so already. Next month, a new village community magazine will emerge for Nocton.

The 'Nocton Doodle' will be produced and edited by Chris, with the intention of incorporating a wider range of articles/news for the community as a whole. Hopefully, this will impact on a wider audience who will view this as a fresh approach and find it of interest. All Saint's Church have decided not to continue with a unique Parish Magazine, but instead will submit their contributions for inclusion in the new village magazine, as will our other community groups. Any advertisements will be transferred to the new publication until their duration expires, but there will still be advertising space available.

This is an exciting time for Nocton, with many good works taking place around the village. The whole aim is to keep our village a delightful place to live and for others to use for their leisure activity.
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Heavy Goods Vehicles

2011-10-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

British Sugar

There seems to have been a rise in heavy goods vehicles using the village of late, many of which are tankers from British Sugar. There are also other tankers (WG Tanker Hire - http://www.wgtanker.com/hiretankers.html) which may also be contracted by British Sugar and delivering to the depot at Bardney.

I seem to remember in previous years, we encountered a similar increase in heavy traffic at this time of year... and can only assume it is to do with the beet harvest and subsequent sugar production at Newark. I think this was raised with the British Sugar Bardney depot a couple of years ago and we were told the old sugar beet factory is now used for storage and repacking of product, hence the requirement for tanker deliveries of sugar.

Branston Potatoes

We also seem to be having a few more of these heavy goods vehicles as well, although the reason for this is less clear. One can only assume they are coming through from the A158 at Wragby to get to the depot at Branston.

Rase Distribution

Heavy goods vehicles from this company also use this route to and from their Bardney depot, but generally these appear quite randomly rather than in a compressed period, such as the British Sugar tankers.

Construction Traffic

There have also been a number of vehicles supplying materials for the new anaerobic digester site at Wasp's Nest. However, as the construction of this site appears to be nearing completion, the heavy goods traffic may cease before too long.

Speed

Whilst the local firms who use the route all year round are sensitive (in the main) to the village, by keeping the speed down and negotiating the 90 degree bends with due care, the same can't be said for the contract drivers of some other heavy vehicles. With many of the local children and parents navigating the narrow pavements to attend school, it can be quite nerve-racking when these juggernauts pass by with little room to spare.

Perhaps this should be raised with the Parish Council in order that a timely reminder can be considered for all Transport Managers?
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Planning Reforms

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

Planning reforms will threaten Britain's ability to grow food

'The Coalition's controversial planning reforms have come under renewed attack ahead of the closing day of the consultation on the new guidelines.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8829592/Planning-reforms-will-threaten-Britains-ability-to-grow-food.html

Hands Off Our Land: Letters to the Editor

'The Telegraph has been inundated with readers' letters and emails about Coalition proposals to change planning laws in favour of new sustainable developments. Here is a selection.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8747157/Hands-Off-Our-Land-Letters-to-the-Editor.html

MPs sit in judgement in conservation versus construction planning battle

'Campaigners to air their views on George Osborne-Eric Pickles proposals to relax regulations'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/16/conservation-versus-construction-planning-battle

Hands Off Our Land: let’s encourage responsible local planning

'The Government’s plan is not perfect and needs significant amendments to balance the scales, says Hank Dittmar.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/8830767/Hands-Off-Our-Land-lets-encourage-responsible-local-planning.html

MPs to air planning law reforms frustration

'MPs will get their first chance to vent their constituents’ frustration with the Government’s controversial changes to the planning laws in Parliament this week.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8831355/MPs-to-air-planning-law-reforms-frustration.html

Draft National Planning Policy Framework

'Please find below the consultation draft of the National Planning Policy Framework.'

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1951811.pdf

More information at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/draftframework

National Planning Policy Framework: Myth-Buster

'A consultation is currently underway on the National Planning Policy Framework. This document explains some commonly held misconceptions.'

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1984490.pdf
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What's On

2011-10-16T07:00:00.000+01:00

Sat 29th October - 'Halloween Fun Night' - 7.30pm

Come and join the Social Club for free Juke Box, apple bobbing, fancy dress competition etc and have a 'scarily' good evening, all ages welcome.

Tues 1st November - 'Parish Council meeting' - 7.00pm

Nocton Village Hall

Tues 1st November - 'Village Photographic Competition'

Last day for entries to this years competition. The competition is open to all age groups who are resident in Nocton Parish (the Village, the Heath, the Fen and Wasp's Nest). Photographs of anything to do with Nocton, past and present... must have been taken by a resident of Nocton Parish. Photos no larger than A4. Winning photos and a selection of others will be displayed in the Village Hall throughout the year, until next year's competition.

Entries cost £1 per photo - please write your name and contact number on the reverse. Should be submitted to Philip Franklin, 3 Wellhead Lane (01526 322902) or Peter Askew, 31 Wellhead Lane (01526 322074).

Winning entries to be announced at the Village Hall Christmas Fayre in November 2011.

Sat 5th November - 'Church Guide Book' - 9.30am

This new book will feature photographs of the Church and is intended as a community project. If you have any photos you would like to be considered for inclusion, please bring these along to the Village Hall. The photos should be postcard size with your name on the reverse.

For more information, contact Sue Morris - sue@sjmtjm.myzen.co.uk

Sun 6th November - Church 'Clean Up'

Help required during the afternoon to clean up the church for Polly Hardy's wedding. Any volunteers would be most welcome. Contact the Churchwardens for details.

Mon 7th November - 'Welcome Winter Lunch' - 12.00 noon to 2.00pm

Lunch will be served between 12.15pm to 1.00pm in Nocton Village Hall. The Menu will include: Soup, Jacket Potatoes with Cheese filling, a selection of puddings and Tea or Coffee.

Pre-order your tickets (£4.00) from Ann 322739, Peter 322074, Sue 321455 or Joan 322902.

Tue 8th November - 'Cricket Club AGM' - 8.00pm

If you are interested in playing or helping the Club in any capacity, you are welcome to attend Nocton Village Hall - contact Joan on 01526 322902.

Mon 14th November - 'Nocton Women's Institute' - 7.15pm

No longer just jam and 'Jerusalem', Nocton WI welcomes new members young and old at the Village Hall. This month's speaker will be giving a talk on how dogs are trained to help the deaf.

If you are interested, come along or contact Doreen Green 01526 322323 for more details.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/8829090/Theres-more-to-the-WI-than-jam-and-Jerusalem.html

Wed 16th November - 'Nocton Church Flower Festival' meeting - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

A preliminary meeting to discuss the 2012 event. This particuar meeting is to establish if there are enough people with the interest and skills to put on a Flower Festival in Nocton. Anyone interested in flower arranging from this or the surrounding Parishes should meet in Nocton Village Hall.

Primarily the meeting is for flower arrangers, but also for anyone who feels they would like to help in whatever capacity e.g. catering, selling tickets etc. Any offers of help would be gratefully received.

The Flower Festival will be used to raise funds for the All Saints Church roof and other repairs. The proposed date for the Flower Festival is from 29 June 2012 to 1 July 2012.

Fri 18th November - 'Race Night' - 7.30pm

For more information, please contact Nocton Community School direct.

Sat 19th November - 'Vintage Fashion Show and Tea Party' - 2.00pm to 5.45pm

You will see a fabulous collection of vintage items on the catwalk as well as having the opportunity to buy from vintage sellers. You will also be treated to delicious high tea served on only the best shabby chic china! One lucky ticket will win something to treasure...you will kick yourselves if you miss it.

Tickets £5 (includes the Afternoon Tea) from the Post Office or by contacting Julie at jpartridge369@btinternet.com (supporting Nocton Festival 2012)

The main event of our Queen's Jubilee Day celebrations will be the 'Royal' Garden Party on The Green on Monday 4th June 2012, followed by a 1950s Dance in the evening... so make sure you attend the Fashion Show to buy that special article of clothing.

Sat 26th November - 'Christmas Fayre and Craft Fayre' - 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Come and meet Santa. Craft stalls £7.

For more information, contact Philip (01526 322902) or Peter (01526 322074)

Sunday 18th December - 'Village Carol Singing' - 5.00pm

Meet at Nocton Village Hall.

Every Monday afternoon - ' Nocton Community Library' - 3.00pm to 3.30pm

The Year 6 pupils of Nocton Community Primary School have a wide selection of books for adults and children, including both fiction and non-fiction. Please support your local library.
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CAFFO Reunion

2011-10-15T13:08:00.000+01:00

The local team (Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations - www.caffo.co.uk) who successfully campaigned against the Nocton Dairies Ltd planning application, had a reunion last night. Meeting at The Chequers for a meal and a few drinks, it was nice to catch up with old friends and acquantances alike, though unfortunately a couple of the original team could not make the event.

Guest of Honour was Pat Thomas from Compassion in World Farming, who brought along a surprise gift for the team. Philip Lymbery (Chief Executive) had publicly declared that CiWF wanted to share their Observer Ethical Award for Campaigner of the Year with the local CAFFO group... and Pat had kindly gone to the trouble of obtaining a duplicate award for us to retain for posterity. A nice memento for all the hard work that went into the campaign by everyone nationwide.

http://www.ciwf.org.uk/news/compassion_news/compassion_crowned_campaigner_of_the_year.aspx

Moooooooo!
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The History of Nocton

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000+01:00

NOCTON
PUBLIC LECTURE

ENTITLED

"The History of Nocton"

in Nocton Village Hall on

Wednesday, October 12th 2011

Dr Nicholas Bennett, as Maurice H Footman, Esq

----------------------------------------------------------------------

This was a really enjoyable event, with a super turnout, for a very interesting presentation. Wine and delicious desserts were served and a raffle held, all for a good cause - the Nocton Church Fundraising Committee.

The introduction was delivered by Carol Bennett at 7.25pm. Sheila Redshaw supplied most of the photographs and also has Maurice Footman's original text in an exercise book, which is hand-written with his personal notes (Eileen Moulds copy typed the original text back in 1988).

The pictures of the Georgian church of St Peter were taken from "A History of Nocton" written by Maurice Footman and Kate Norgate in 1900.

Other photos supplied:

Joseph Noble and the Chestnut Tree (Chris Parnell)
The inside of All Saints Church and some of the Vicarage and Gardens (Hilary Healey)
Nocton Railway Station (Trevor Peacock)
The James Gilroy's Cartoon of Lady Buckingham (Carol Bennett)
The 1st Earl of Ripon painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence ; George Hodgson; photos of the Ellys monument and the West Window (Sue Morris)

Powerpoint presentation:

By Sue Morris.

Maurice Henry Footman was born in Ipswich in 1860. He was the eldest child of Canon Footman who was Vicar of Nocton from 1881 to 1902. He married Lily Harriet Bridges in Stepney, London in 1889. The same year, he had published in Lincoln "The Orchard of a King" a romantic play in one act.

By 1891, he was a solicitor and living with his wife and his younger sister Hannah, who was studying to be a school mistress, at 1 Greetwell Gate, Lincoln St Peter in Eastgate. During March 1900 he was appointed Coroner for Kesteven County Council and one of his Inquests was held in October 1908 at Dunston, concerning two local young men who had died by misadventure by suffocation while examining a pipe in a well in Dunston Vicarage Garden.

Maurice's father, Canon Footman, died in 1902 and his mother and sister would have had to vacate the Vicarage at Nocton. Maurice was an Alderman for many years and in December 1903 he was elected Mayor of Lincoln. By the time he presented his Lantern Slide Show to the Nocton audience in 1911, he was living at Nocton House in Wragby Road, with his wife and 4 year old daughter, Catherine and his older sister Catherine.

Maurice died in the December of 1923 in Lincoln.

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MEP to quit

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000+01:00

With his outspoken remarks on certain topics Roger Helmer could well be missed, but some may be thinking 'about time too, it's long overdue'!

Lincolnshire MEP Roger Helmer to quit his seat

"CONSERVATIVE MEP Roger Helmer has announced that is to quit his seat in the European Parliament."

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincolnshire-MEP-Roger-Helmer-quit-seat/story-13539842-detail/story.html

Exclusive: Roger Helmer resigns as an MEP

For those of you who do not read Guido Fawkes' blog:

http://order-order.com/2011/10/12/exclusive-roger-helmer-resigns-as-an-mep/
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Parish Council vacancy

2011-10-12T15:27:00.000+01:00

The following letter has been posted on the village noticeboard:

"Our Ref: Elect/pce34
Contact: Electoral Services 01529 308238
Email: Electoral_Services@n-kesteven.gov.uk

Mrs D Green
Clerk to Nocton Parish Council
1 Potterhanworth Road
Nocton
Lincoln
LN4 2BP

10 October 2011

Dear Mrs Green

Parish Council Vacancy - Nocton (Deborah P. Wilson)

I have to inform you that ten valid requests for an election to fill the vacancy have been received and so a poll will be arranged.

I will contact you again when the date of the election has been confirmed. Please ask anyone interested in standing as a candidate to contact this office for a nomination pack.

Yours sincerely

Gill Hopkins
Electoral Services Officer"
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In the News

2011-10-09T07:30:00.000+01:00

Schools provide lesson in gardening to grown-ups

"TWENTY-two schools across Lincolnshire have signed up for a horticultural event taking place this month."

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Schools-provide-lesson-gardening-grown-ups/story-13500377-detail/story.html

Lincolnshire van driver asks to be locked up after causing fatal accident

"A VAN driver asked to be locked up by a judge after he admitted causing the death of a junior Lincolnshire Army officer who had just returned to the UK after serving in Afghanistan."

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincolnshire-van-driver-asks-locked-causing-fatal/story-13349369-detail/story.html

FW Awards 2011: Dairy farmer of the year finalist - Peter Willes

"Peter's well-publicised application for Nocton Dairies placed him in the spotlight... he also strongly recognises the importance of informing the public about dairy farming."

Peter was one of three dairy farmers selected for the Dairy Farmer of the Year award. He was pipped to the post by winner, Gavin Fowler of Higher Boode Farm, Braunton, Devon... who "has perfected the art of breeding health and fertility into his herd"... a "three-way cross to Montbelliarde, Scandanavian Red and Friesian". The other candidate was Fergus McDowell of Galloway.
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Nocton Hall - FoI correspondence

2011-10-08T08:54:00.000+01:00

"Even in the current economic climate money must be found to weatherproof these buildings and protect them from vandals. Future generations won't forgive us for leaving our heritage to deteriorate beyond repair."

Dr Ian Dungavell [The Victorian Society]
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/6298352/Most-endangered-Victorian-buildings-identified.html

Freedom of Information request

This is my correspondence to date with North Kesteven District Council. As you can see I am trying to obtain the underlying data relating to Council's considerations and actions relating to the preservation of Nocton Hall. The following emails are self-explanatory and are in date order:

"From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 8:00 AM
To: Freedom of Information @ NKDC
Cc: Nocton Parish Council
Subject: NOCTON HALL - Freedom of Information Request

Dear Sir/Madam,
I have been in correspondence with Karen Bradford and Andrew McDonough about Nocton Hall with minimal progress I’m afraid. It is for that reason I have copied correspondence to District and County Councillors, and others. When I wrote to Marianne Overton about making a formal FoI request, she responded, ‘There is no problem with such a freedom of information request. Sometimes it is helpful to have it catalogued.’

Hence my formal request below:
“I hereby request under Freedom of Information, an account of all NKDC’s

Considerations
Decisions
Actions
Outcomes
Applicable dates

with regard to the protection of Nocton Hall as a heritage property in the district of North Kesteven for the period:

Year 2000 (when Leda Properties gained possession of the property and grounds) to current date.

I also request copies of all Minutes/Notes of meetings relating to/supporting the above.”

Yours faithfully,
GM Hall"
______________________________
"From: Freedom of information
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 9:19 AM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall
Ref No: 11/0588
7 September 2011

Dear Mr Hall
Thank you for your email of 7 September 2011 which we received on the same day requesting information regarding : Nocton Hall.

Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely
Helen Snowden
FOI/Complaints Assistant
North Kesteven District Council"
______________________________
"From: Freedom of information
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 5:52 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall
Ref No: 11/0588
3 October 2011

Dear Mr Hall
Thank you for your email of 7 September 2011 requesting information regarding : Nocton Hall.
The information you requested is enclosed:

Further to your request, I can advise that a great deal of information relating to Nocton Hall is already available on the Council’s website. Various reports have been considered since 2000 and can be viewed by clicking on the following link - http://nkdc.moderngov.co.uk/ieDocSearch.aspx?bcr=1 - and entering the search term ‘Nocton Hall’.

In addition, any planning application history on the site is available online at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/planningonline. Once you click on the link and have accepted the copyright notice, you can either search using ‘Nocton Hall’ as the address or you can search for applications within Nocton in certain time periods using the advanced search facility.

There is also some information regarding the Hall site in the SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment) which is available online at http://www.ourcityourfuture.co.uk/shlaa. Page 111 of Appendix 3: SHLAA Update March 2011 on the webpage refers to the Nocton Hall site.
As this information is already accessible via a public domain, this information is exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

As you are already aware, the District Council has been working with English Heritage on an options appraisal for the Hall, however, this is not yet at a stage where the details can be shared with the public. The options appraisal will be made publicly available at the appropriate time in the near future. Therefore, this information is considered exempt at this time under Section 22 (1a) and (1c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We have also assessed this under the public interest test and consider that it would not in the public interest to release incomplete information at this time.

There are also various documents which are exempt under Section 31 (1g) and (2c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as releasing the information may have an adverse affect on any potential enforcement action that may need to be taken at some point in the future.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to Michelle Carrington, Head of Strategy and Customer Services, North Kesteven District Council, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 7EF.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely
Helen Snowden
FOI/Complaints Assistant
North Kesteven District Council"
_______________________________
"From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 8:14 AM
To: Michelle Carrington
Subject: Fw: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Ms Carrington,
I am of the opinion that this response by the FoI team at North Kesteven District Council does not satisfy the requirements of my formal request and your legal responsibilities contained in the Act. If all I wanted to access was the data already published in the public domain, then of course I already have access to the links provided.
My request was for:

“An account of all NKDC’s

Considerations
Decisions
Actions
Outcomes
Applicable Dates

with regard to the protection of Nocton Hall as a heritage property in the district of North Kesteven...” etc.

I’m sure you have my original correspondence. What I am seeking is all the underlying documents re: Officer’s meetings/emails etc that lead up to the formal actions recorded on your website. I believe you are duty bound to supply copies for me to consider. I would be amazed if all these fall within the exceptions stated and am astonished that not even one document has been provided to me for perusal.

Please will you look into this further via an Internal Review and respond accordingly, as I shall be pursuing this with your Chief Executive and Stephen Phillips QC MP if satisfaction is not received.

Yours sincerely,
GM Hall"
______________________________
"From: Geoff Hall
Sent: 06 October 2011 11:08
To: Freedom of information
Cc: Cllr John Money; Cllr Rob Kendrick; Nocton Parish Council
Subject: Fw: FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Ms Snowden,
I refer to our telephone conversation on 4th October when I expressed dissatisfaction with the response to my FoI request.

Having experience of requesting FoI data with other public organisations in the past, I am utterly dismayed with NKDC’s response. I find it hard to believe that not a single ‘hard copy’ or electronic underlying document exists concerning Council Officer’s considerations. I can appreciate that parts of content may need to be redacted, but at very least I would have expected a portfolio of paperwork relating to your Officer’s considerations and actions, leading up to when decisions were finalised by the various Committees/Panels.

There is no problem accessing the information already published in public domain (as per the links kindly provided) and I wouldn’t have taken the trouble to make a formal FoI request if that was all I required!

I have therefore requested an Internal Review and will raise this matter with the Information Commissioner and others if not satisfied with the outcome.

Yours sincerely,
GM Hall"
_________________________________
"From: Freedom of information
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 12:26 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: Internal Review of FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Mr Hall
Thank you for your email of 6 October 2011 asking for an internal review of our response to your Freedom of Information request relating to Nocton Hall.

I am writing to confirm that Michelle Carrington, Head of Strategy and Customer Services will undertake this internal review.

We aim to respond within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely
Helen Snowden
FOI/Complaints Assistant
North Kesteven District Council"
___________________________________
"From: Freedom of information
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 3:01 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: Internal Review of FOI Request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Mr Hall
I have been asked by Michelle to offer her apologises in relation to the internal review of your Freedom of Information request regarding Nocton Hall.

A reply on this matter may well take another 2 weeks beyond the expiry date of 3 November 2011.

Yours sincerely
Helen Snowden
FOI/Complaints Assistant
North Kesteven District Council"
____________________________________
From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 1:52 PM
To: Freedom of information
Cc: Nocton Parish Council; John Money [COUNCILLOR] ; Rob Kendrick [COUNCILLOR] ; Karen Bradford [NKDC] ; Stephen Phillips [MP]
Subject: FoI request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Ms Snowden,
I refer to my email of 6th October to Michelle Carrington requesting an internal review of my formal request. As you know I did not feel NKDC had met the formal requirements of the Act with their response.

I was advised on 20th October that Michelle would not be able to respond by the expiry date of 3rd November... and that it would take another two weeks to complete the review.

Unfortunately, there has been no attempt to keep me informed of progress and therefore, particularly in view of the delay, I would appreciate an interim report on how things are progressing please. For example, I now understand Karen Bradford is arranging to meet with two of our Parish Councillors over the matter of Nocton Hall and the Options Appraisal.

Perhaps you may like to comment on this too?

Yours sincerely,
Geoff Hall

N.B. You may also like to note I too will become a Parish Councillor for Nocton with effect from noon 16th November.
__________________________________
From: Karen Bradford
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 2:19 PM
To: Geoff Hall ; Freedom of information
Cc: Nocton Parish Council; Cllr John Money ; Cllr Rob Kendrick ; Stephen Phillips [MP]
Subject: RE: FoI request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Geoff
In response to your email below. I can confirm that I am meeting with your Chairman and Vice Chairman shortly, at their request, to discuss the draft Options Appraisal for Nocton Hall.
I can also confirm that Officers have met with English Heritage on the 31st Oct and we will be attending the December Parish Council meeting, along with English Heritage, to present the findings of the Options Appraisal.

I am still unclear why you are raising these matters formally under the FOI system when the Councils Officers have been keeping you informed for your BLOG, Officers and appointed Consultants have attended Parish Council meetings to report on completed pieces of work and the proposed framework for the Options Appraisal.

Look forward to seeing you again in December.

Regards
Karen
_______________________________
From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 3:26 PM
To: Karen Bradford
Cc: Nocton Parish Council; John Money [COUNCILLOR] ; Rob Kendrick [COUNCILLOR] ; Stephen Phillips [MP]
Subject: Re: FoI request 11/0588 - Nocton Hall

Dear Karen,
Thank you for this information, however you seem to be unclear about my intentions behind the FoI request.

I have no particular issue with current progress over Nocton Hall, other than that Council procedures seem to be indeterminably slow, with only small amounts of piecemeal information being released into the public domain... and only then when ‘prompted’ by direct correspondence or telephone call.

I accept there are certain matters of a legal nature, that may prejudice any future actions by NKDC, that cannot be discussed, however my aim of the FoI is to record all actions taken to save Nocton Hall over a much longer period i.e. from year 2000 to date. After all this is a building very much at risk, with an amazing history to it... which is held in high regard by Nocton residents... and any action taken by the Local Authority will also form part of the historical record.

I have no other way of accessing Councils Officer’s actions over the years, behind what is already recorded in the public domain, but this is exactly the information I am seeking to obtain which will form part of the ‘jigsaw’ of this once fine heritage property when it has been collated together. Hence the Freedom of Information request.

I look forward to hearing what you have to say on the following when we meet in December:

How any ‘negotiations’ with Leda Properties are progressing.
When the Options Appraisal report will be published out in the public domain.
What the outcomes are in respect of the Options Appraisal.

Best regards,

Geoff

_______________________________
From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 12:23 PM
To: Freedom of Information
Cc: John Money [COUNCILLOR] ; Rob Kendrick [COUNCILLOR] ; Nocton Parish Council; Stephen Phillips [MP]
Subject: Internal Review

Dear Helen and Michelle,
I requested an Internal Review over the limited content supplied by NKDC following my FoI request of 7th September (11/0588). You aimed to ‘respond within 20 working days’ of my email of 6th October... this expired 3rd November.

During the period leading up to this date, you wrote to me again on 20th October with an apology, saying that ‘a reply on this matter may well take another 2 weeks beyond this expiry date of 3rd November 2011’.

Despite your suggested 2-week extension elapsing on 17th November... it is now 27th November and I still haven’t received the findings of your Internal Review.

This further delay is most unsatisfactory and even though I gave you an opportunity to let me have initial findings on 14th November, no response has been forthcoming from yourselves on this particular matter.

Please note I now intend submitting copies of all my correspondence to the Information Commissioner, who will no doubt want to review this on my behalf. I shall however delay this action until 1st December to give you one final chance to let me have a full response.

Yours sincerely,
Geoff
_______________________________

Authors Note: The two blog entries of 10th May and 21st September give further background.

______________________________________

Official Notices

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000+01:00

Two items of interest have appeared on the Village Hall Noticeboard.

Notice of Vacancy for a Parish Councillor
Notice of Parish Council Accounts Audit

These are reproduced below:

"PARISH OF NOCTON

NOTICE OF VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF PARISH COUNCILLOR

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 87 (2) of the Local Government Act 1972 and Rules 5 (1) to 5 (6) the Local Elections (Parish and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 that

Deborah P. Wilson

has ceased to be a member of the above Parish Council and that a casual vacancy exists in the office of Councillor for the said Parish.

On receipt of a request in writing from any ten local government electors whom are on the register at the time of the request for the said Parish, an election to fill the vacancy will be held within sixty days from the date publication of the notice. If no such request is made, the vacancy will be filled through co-option by the Parish Council.

Requests for such an election should be addressed to The Returning Officer, North Kesteven District Council, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 7EF to arrive not later than fourteen days from the date of this notice (computed in accordance with Rule 5 of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006.

Dated: 6th October 2011

Signed: D Green
(Clerk to the Council, the Proper Officer for this purpose)

Name: Mrs D Green
Address: 1 Potterhanworth Road, Nocton, Lincoln, LN4 2BP"

The second Notice relates to the Audit of Parish Council accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011:

"NOCTON PARISH COUNCIL

NOTICE OF CONCLUSION OF AUDIT
Accounts year ended 31 March 2011

Audit Commission Act 1998; The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2011

Date of Notice 28/09/2011

Notice

The Audit of the Council's Annual Return for the above year has been concluded on 20/09/2011 by Clement Keys.

Rights

A local Government Elector for the Parish may inspect or take copies of the Statement of Accounts and Auditor's Certificate and Report by arrangement with the Clerk at the address and times set out below.

Days and times available

Date: Mon 10th Oct Time: 1.30pm - 5.30pm
Date: Wed 12th Oct Time: 8.30am - 11.45am
Date: Thurs 13th Oct Time: 8.30am - 11.45am

Address documents may be inspected or purchased:
1, Potterhanworth Rd
Nocton
Lincoln
LN4 2BP

Signature of person giving Notice on behalf of the Council - D. Green (Clerk)

(Notice to be displayed for 14 days)"
________________________________________________________________

CLAN Report

2011-10-06T06:47:00.000+01:00

I have been asked to publish the following by our Community Led Action for Nocton group:

Great feedback after CLAN Launch

"Thanks to everyone that responded to our CLAN consultations during September.

We are delighted to report that there seems to be tremendous support for community led action in our village. Responses flooded in from across all areas with a host of suggestions, thoughts and questions on how to move forward.

Our initial consultations, suggested back in April 2011, raised the following points for potential improvements to our community.

1. Changing Utilitarian Lighting and signage for more vintage items.

2. The possibility of a village shop and/or café (with the opportunity to sell fresh produce grown locally by residents, as well as emergency groceries.

3. Residents wish to make use of the fenced field opposite the Village Hall (with recreational facilities for everyone).

4. Enhancing the overall appearance of the village with flowers and reinstating the old red telephone box and painting the railway bridge.

5. Improving the Village Hall to make it physically more welcoming, so that more groups will make use of it for their activities.

After so much positive feedback received from questionnaires delivered in the village during August, followed by the success of the official CLAN launch in September, the CLAN steering committee has been very busy processing each and every view expressed.

We were delighted to note that an overwhelming majority of the village agreed with the points raised above and that they generally represented their own aspirations. It’s great to see that people want to be engaged within our community and wish to see things happen for the benefit of all.

Over half of those who have responded to our questionnaires have rated the Village shop/café as being most important closely followed by enhancing and improving the Village Hall.

We already have a number of interest groups working together within our community and we asked them if there are more that could be formed. Some suggestions were made; for example a bridge club, more keep fit (evenings as well as during the day), arts & crafts and even line dancing.

There is now a realisation that many people are concerned that something needs to be done for the younger members of our community. In fact CLAN did not see any responses at all from the under 21’s category. This causes us concern and we need to find out more information by engaging parents and our children directly at the earliest opportunity. Those who raised these concerns suggested using the village hall as a pre – school activity or to provide better sporting facilities for example but only by further consultation will we be able to find the right path to take.

Over a quarter of responses raised concerns about the state of Nocton Hall and what will happen to this wonderful landmark. A similar number commented about the general appearance of the village which provides us all with a challenge for the upcoming Best Kept Village competition.

So what’s next?

It’s clear that we need further consultation and it’s our aim to consult every person within our community. Plans are now being discussed and formulated within CLAN to help us achieve this. So be prepared for a cuppa and a chat if we come knocking at your door! After all you are a part of our community and we need your suggestions, opinions and above all support. "
_________________________________________________________________

Sleaford... and North Hykeham no more?

2011-10-05T07:06:00.005+01:00

Conservative Party to appeal over constituency shake-up plans for Lincolnshire

Nocton still falls within the Sleaford constituency boundary, but who will be joining us and who will be leaving us?

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Conservative-Party-appeal-constituency-shake/story-13471101-detail/story.html

Boundary Commission for England

Want to see what all the fuss is about? If so, you can download the proposed boundary maps here:

http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/whats-proposed/east-midlands/lincolnshire/

Parish Council 'shake-up' too

There was a good public turnout for the meeting last night. It was noticeable that Councillors had put much effort in trying to improve the format of the meeting... and it worked. There was effective progress through business, whilst still enjoying effective public participation.

An Agenda showing the revised format had been published on the village noticeboard in advance of the meeting, so the fact that public questions had been moved in timing should not really have come as a surprise to attendees. This didn't warrant a rather petulant departure by one member of the public, although I could understand the underlying sentiment if they had not noticed the revised Agenda beforehand.

A new Chairperson was appointed - Councillor Kate Tyler. Her introduction encompassed a message of thanks to the previous Chair (Councillor Deborah Wilson, who resigned after the last meeting) and an announcement that the resignation will result in a vacancy. Councillor Tyler went on to explain that various changes to business are now to be put in place.

With the devolvement of power that is likely to impact on the Parish Council with the Localism Bill, it has been necessary to review various 'housekeeping issues'. It has been decided to adopt new working methods to streamline the whole process for public meetings:

The most major change is to request public questions 10 days in advance, in order to give Councillors time to fully consider their response before each meeting.
The Clerk will also make herself available for Council business between 1.30pm and 3.30pm every Friday in future.
Councillors will also be publishing their telephone contact numbers on the MACLA website, the noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk email address will also 'go live' and where Councillors have their own email addresses for business, these will be published too.

Future meetings were announced:

1st November 2011
6th December 2011
3rd January 2012
7th February 2012
6th March 2012
3rd April 2012.

Full Minutes of the meeting will be published in due course on the MACLA website.
___________________________________________________________

Dog Warden

2011-10-04T08:56:00.003+01:00

What a load of .... poo

I took a photo during a holiday in Majorca which made me smile.

What doesn't make me smile is the amount of dog mess being left by irresponsible owners around our village.

It isn't the dog's fault that it doesn't clear up after itself and to help with this problem, the Parish Council provide the red dog waste bins dotted around the village and have them emptied regularly, so there is no excuse really. It is no trouble to take a plastic bag out with you whilst walking the dog.

It is however a great deal of trouble to clear evil-smelling poo off your shoe when people have insensitively allowed their dog to crap on the public highway and byway (which includes all public footpaths around the countryside too).

To a degree, although I believe it is still an offence, I can possibly understand those owners who don't clear up after their pets when they mess off the beaten trail in the long grass, well away from where people are likely to walk... but what is completely beyond me, are those people who take the trouble to bag their dog mess and then it leave hanging on a bush for others to clear, or throw it deep into the hedge. Now that really is bizarre behaviour!

As a result, our Parish Council has arranged for a new dog warden to patrol the village and surrounding area. His name is Michael Cummins and can be contacted on 07903 898451 and email: michael.cummins507@gmail.com

If you meet him, stop and have a chat. He will even dispense a bag for the dog poo if you have forgotten to bring one out with you... and to those who do not like clearing up after your dog, be warned you may end up with a fixed penalty notice.

Oh... and if you happen to see someone flouting the rules, you might like to pick up the phone or email Michael and give him a description of what you have seen.

Now then, I must remember to walk the dogs.
__________________________________________________

Nocton Hall

2011-10-03T07:36:00.001+01:00

Ian Fytche reply to Stephen Phillips QC MP

Following an intervention by our Member of Parliament over North Kesteven District Council's lack of communication with the community over our local listed heritage, you may like to see the Chief Executive's formal response to Stephen Phillips QC MP.

This does acknowledge that the establishment of CLAN could provide 'a potential opportunity for the Council to consider setting up a voluntary and not-for-profit Building Preservation Trust to oversee the future preservation and running of Nocton Hall'... but mentions the challenges of such would be substantial, considering the expertise and money that would be required for such a venture. However, there is a strict process that needs to be followed by NKDC before this can ever be considered seriously.

It is a real shame it has taken our local authority so long to get to this position. I will be interested to see the findings of my Freedom of Information request to analyse what constructive action (or otherwise), has been pursued over the years in respect of this matter.

I also feel strongly that this should not really be left for members of the community to be chasing up - it should be the responsibility of the local Parish Council to get proper recorded answers to formal correspondence on matters as important as this. I can't speak for what went on before May 2005 (when we moved to the village), but there has certainly been a noticeable lack of inertia since then. I have noticed though that the new influx of Parish Councillors are starting to put proceedings on a more formal and professional standing... and this bodes well for future Parish 'business'.

Nocton Hall is probably one of the most important features of the heart of our village and every effort should be taken to preserve this for future generations to enjoy.

If you wish to read the full text of the reply, please click on the link below:

110922 Ian Fytche reply to Stephen Phillps QC MP
_________________________________________________________________

Lincolnshire Day Festivities

2011-10-02T10:20:00.004+01:00

Nah then, I'm pleeased as a dog wi' two tails!

After deciding to take my lovely wife out for the evening to celebrate our 34th Wedding Anniversary, what better way than to turn out for the Lincolnshire Day fest at Nocton Village Hall.

Many familiar faces in the crowd, much laughter and banter, plenty to drink and eat... what a brilliant event! This has to be a permanent fixture on our calendar each year for the future. Furthermore, to celebrate by singing The Lincolnshire Poacher was the icing on the cake for me... having been affiliated to the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment 'The Poachers' during my service with Lincolnshire ACF, it brought back good memories.

Well done to all who were involved in organising this super event - you worked so hard with preparation and making it happen on the night for others - but the results were there for all to see and enjoy.

A big thank you to all who were involved in putting this event together:

Pete Askew
Lucille Auckland (Flowers)
Carolyn Franklin
Joan Franklin
Philip Franklin
Doreen Green
Ann Kennedy
David Rumbelow
Elaine Storr
Lorna Storr

Produce supplied by:

Also to any others who were 'beeyaverin away' to clear up the 'kelter'... and all that supported this fantastic event... nearly 100 of us on the night.

THANK YOU
_________________________________________________________________

Nocton Dairies Ltd - Accounts P/E 30/09/2010

2011-10-01T11:16:00.000+01:00

You may be interested in seeing the first trading accounts for Nocton Dairies Ltd. These can be viewed online at: http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/06970038

I was particularly interested in the text of the final two paragraphs under 'Going Concern' in 'Notes to the Abbreviated Accounts for the period from 22 July 2009 to 30 September 2010'.
______________________________________________________________

Companion Sites

2011-09-30T21:16:00.003+01:00

Facebook

Whether you use Facebook or not, the following pages are accessible for viewing:

Nocton - Community Led Action
Nocton Cricket Club
Nocton Social Club
Nocton Festival 2012

Click on the entries under 'Companion Sites' and you will gain access.
__________________________________________________________

Planning

2011-09-28T19:28:00.001+01:00

You may like to be aware of the recent applications that have been submitted to North Kesteven District Council for the Nocton area.

Applications

11/0633/FUL - Erection of detached house and integral garage

Land adjacent to The Pheasantry, The Green, Nocton, LN4 2BN [resubmission of 11/0176/FUL]

Status: APPROVED

11/0583/CCC - Field off Nocton Fen Lane, Nocton - received 1st June 2011

To construct a 2M high earth bund, install and relocate ancillary plant and equipment and modifications to the sites internal layout and surface treatment

Status: COMMENTS MADE

11/0754/FUL - Nocton Fen Lane, Nocton - received 8th July 2011

Change of use of land for burials, creation of car parks and improved access, gates and fencing

Status: PENDING CONSIDERATION

11/0915/HOUS - Hallsyard House, The Green, Nocton, LN4 2BG - received 15th August 2011

Erection of replacement porch to front elevation

Status: PENDING DECISION

11/0916/FUL - Plot 35, Nocton Park Rd, Nocton, LN4 2BZ - received 15th August 2011

Variation of house type for Plot 35 [Original Plans 02/0693/RESM - for 79 dwellings and access road, plus existing road improvements]

Status: PENDING CONSIDERATION

11/0917/FUL - Plot 37, Nocton Park Rd, Nocton, LN4 2BZ - received 15th August 2011

Variation of house type for Plot 37 [Original Plans 02/0693/RESM - for 79 dwellings and access road, plus existing road improvements]

Status: PENDING CONSIDERATION

To view

1. Click here:
http://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building/planning-applications/online-planning-applications/
2. Click on 'I accept the copyright notice'
3. Enter the relevant reference number and click on 'Search'.
_________________________________________________________

Localism

2011-09-27T09:49:00.007+01:00

What is this all about?

The Government is planning to pass more power down to local residents and Parish Councils, so they will have more control over how their village is managed.

The County News - Autumn 2011 - published by Lincolnshire County Council, had some interesting information for local communities this week.

In the 'Face-to-Face' article, Councillor Sue Woolley stated:

'... local government is full of talk about "localism"... '
'The idea is to transfer more power down to a "grassroots" level, particularly parish and town councils.'
It may also be possible to transfer certain budgets to local councils, which can then organise improved services for themselves.'
'A bigger society is all about a renewed sense of community...'

The Grassroots special feature went on to comment:

'Parish and town councils have always been at the heart of local communities - but often with limited power - now that is changing... '.

So what will need to change, if anything?

What the County News articles fail to highlight, is that more power attracts more responsibility. With small councils growing in importance, not all will be well placed to handle this added responsibility and some preparation may be necessary.

I have attended many parish council meetings as we have moved around the UK over the years and have found hugely differing practices. Some are very professional in the way they conduct business, others are quite frankly amateurish and ineffective.

'Localism' will require much more of Parish Councillors and their employees, who will need to refresh their knowledge and skills to keep up to date with current best practice. This can be done through training courses and seminars, all of which are provided... but I believe this must be an expected duty of public service for the future. Of course, much of the day-to-day parish and town council work is carried out by a paid clerk, but this will also apply to them.

With the Government committed to creating a 'Big Society', the role of the Clerk and Parish Councillors will be key to progress in the local community, encouraging self-help and providing more services for local residents. There will be more local decision making and involvement, but only if handled correctly. So my belief is that Parish Councils will have to become more business-like if 'localism' is to succeed.

For example, how many Parish Councils have adopted Emergency Planning for their community, creating a contingency plan for severe winter weather? This may involve having a formal plan to mobilise volunteer groups to clear snow and spread grit in the village, or it could be a rota of individuals who will visit elderly neighbours to make sure they have enough food and are warm enough in a cold snap. These are the type of activity that will be required with more local control... just one amongst many.

It is extremely encouraging to see our local community now attempting to put together a Parish Plan through CLAN, who will submit their report to the Parish Council in months to come. Unfortunately, we in Nocton are a 'little late to the table'. Many other Parish Councils had their Parish Plans in place years ago e.g. Parish Councillors in Saxilby adopted 'localism' about 5 years ago before the term was born, when they developed a new vision for their parish - and Peter Odam (Chairman) astutely said it was "about making the parish more business-like".

Finally, local communities are being invited to bid for monies in the "Councillor Big Society Fund". With £160K available, this equates to about £2K for each of the 77 council areas. Residents and local groups can nominate a good cause through their County Councillor... but this will only happen if the community can take the trouble to get involved.

For more information, visit: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/bigsocietyfund and http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ (click on 'Local Democracy' at the top of the home page).
_______________________________________________________________

Photographs

2011-09-26T10:30:00.000+01:00

I am attempting to create an archive of local photographs to augment this village blog. You will see the link entry on the right hand side.

Illegal Dumping

Once again, inconsiderate individuals are taking the easy option of getting rid of their unwanted items in the Nocton Hall grounds. This time a divan bed (with kiddies books and toys inside) and mattress has been dumped . I really can't understand why this journey cannot extend to visiting the local municipal tip, instead of disposing of it in the woods with the risk this involves.

We will be reporting this matter again to our local Council, so that the items can be collected and their investigation team may be able to find evidence within the rubbish indicating who disposed of it and prosecute accordingly.

__________________________________________________________

Bulb planting

2011-09-24T14:02:00.002+01:00

Thank you

It was good to see over a dozen willing volunteers turn out for the bulb planting activity in the village. With 300 daffodil bulbs to plant (100 each for Main Street, Wellhead Lane and Potterhanworth Road) kindly donated by Paul and Anne Clarke (Nocton Ltd), this was a very welcome labour force, keeping the numbers of bulbs to be planted by each individual to a manageable level.

Not so welcome though, was the hard seam of limestone that was only three or four inches below surface that met every spade when attempting to plant the bulbs. The loan of a JCB would have been useful!

It will be nice to see the display each Spring when these bulbs sprout forth, waving their yellow heads in greeting as people enter the village.

A big 'thanks' to all those who volunteered their time this morning.

Photos from the Wellhead Lane 'gang'

Photos from the Main St 'gang'

Photos from the Potterhanworth Rd 'gang'

Property in Nocton

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000+01:00

Local properties for sale

Rightmove
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Bardney Sugar Factory

2011-09-22T07:57:00.000+01:00

Bardney sugar factory to be demolished amid rising safety fears

'DERELICT sugar factory buildings are to be almost completely demolished for safety reasons, ten years after they ceased production.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Bardney-sugar-factory-demolished-amid-rising/story-13349381-detail/story.html

The History of Bardney Sugar Factory

'This website celebrates 74 years of sugar beet processing and sugar manufacturing at Bardeny Factory.'

http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/thehistoryofbardneysugarfactory/index.asp

Bardney Village History

http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/bardneyvillagehistory/index.asp?catId=22768

Bardney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardney
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Nocton Hall - latest update

2011-09-21T07:47:00.001+01:00

Email to North Kesteven District Council - dated 20th September 2011

'From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 12:12 PM
To: Karen Bradford [NKDC] ; Andrew McDonough [NKDC]
Cc: Stephen Phillips [MP] ; Nocton Parish Council ; Rob Kendrick [COUNCILLOR] ; John Money [COUNCILLOR] ; English Heritage

Subject: Nocton Hall

Dear Karen/Andrew,
I wrote to you by email (Andrew - 18th August & 4th September / Karen - 4th September) regarding progress on Nocton Hall. I also included a suggestion that representatives from the local community meet with both NKDC and English Heritage about the outcome of the Options Appraisal.

To date I have not had the courtesy of a reply from either of you, nor even a ‘Read Receipt’ to my correspondence. As such, I have found it necessary to make a formal Freedom of Information request over the whole issue.

Would you please let me have an interim report on what is happening about the Options Appraisal.

I would also like to know what is being done to facilitate our request to meet with you.

Yours sincerely,'

Reply from North Kesteven District Council - dated 20th September 2011

'From: Andrew McDonough
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:22 PM
To: Geoff Hall
Cc: Karen Bradford

Subject: Nocton Hall - Options Appraisal

Dear Geoff

Thank you for your email this morning, and I apologise for the delay in replying to your earlier correspondence.

By way of update, I can advise as follows;

The Options Appraisal is at an advanced stage of preparation, and Officers have recently met with our Consultants to review the initial findings. The final draft is now due to be received by the Council at the end of this month.
Upon receipt of the final report, there will obviously be the need for Officers to carefully study its findings and to consider its recommendations. This will need to be done in conjunction with English Heritage who you will recall are joint funders of the study.
The Options Appraisal itself will also need to be presented to Members of the Council and I anticipate a detailed report being presented to the Council's Executive Board once Officers have fully considered the options and are in a position to assess and make a recommendation on the most appropriate way forward.
At the appropriate time the Council will make public the Options Appraisal and I anticipate a presentation being made to the Parish Council, acting as locally elected representatives.
Likewise, there will be the need for Officers to engage with the current owners on the findings of the Options Appraisal and to explore with them their own intentions on resolving the future of the Hall, having regard to their liability and obligations as land owner.

It's difficult at the present time to outline a timetable that takes us to an Executive Board meeting, as much will depend on the findings of the Options Appraisal and the tasks that it will recommend. However, I do anticipate the Report containing some commentary on the scope for a Building Preservation Trust to adopt a role in the future management of the Hall. In this respect I read with interest the establishment of the CLAN group and your expression of interest in exploring this potential. With this in mind, I do agree that it would be helpful to holds talks with representatives of CLAN once we have had the opportunity to fully consider the Options Appraisal, and perhaps we can keep in contact to arrange this at the appropriate time.

I apologise if it appears that the Council is proceeding in a very cautious manner. However, the potential serving of a Listed Building Repairs Notice represents a formal legal process on behalf of the Council that is ultimately subject to a right of appeal and potential legal challenge. In this respect, it is critical that the Council proceeds in accordance with due process and part of this entails discussion and dialogue with the owners and which has to involve an element of confidentiality. It would be wrong for the Council at this stage to express or infer any preferences in terms of the future use or restoration of the Hall.

I understand that your Freedom of Information Requests are being processed and that you are due to hear from the Freedom of Information Officer shortly.

If you would like to meet informally to discuss any aspects of the above, then please do let me know and I will arrange.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew McDonough

Development Manager'

My response to North Kesteven District Council - dated 20th September 2011

'From: Geoff Hall
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 2:11 PM
To: Andrew McDonough
Cc: Karen Bradford ; Stephen Phillips [MP] ; John Money [COUNCILLOR] ; Rob Kendrick [COUNCILLOR] ; Nocton Parish Council ; English Heritage

Subject: Re: Nocton Hall - Options Appraisal

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for the detail contained in this reply which gives us far more information on progress to date.

I’m not sure there would be much merit in having an informal meeting with you currently, but shall look forward to a formal invite for members of CLAN to be involved, once the Options Appraisal has been fully considered and made public. Likewise, I’m sure the Parish Council will also want to be involved with this matter, subject to any constraints outlined.

I note your comments with regard to the legal aspects of this case and my Freedom of Information request.

I look forward to hearing from you again regarding the arrangement of meetings with representatives of CLAN / Parish Council.

Yours sincerely,
Geoff Hall'

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What's on

2011-09-20T08:27:00.040+01:00

You may wish to visit 'Nocton Festival 2012' on the web. Just click on the following link and it will take you to the updated Festival page on Facebook (there is no need to sign up for a Facebook account!): Nocton Festival 2012

Saturday 24th September - Best Kept Village 2012

We have 300 bulbs to plant ready for next year's 'Best Kept Village' competition. Can you spare some time to help us on Saturday 24th September - 10.00am onwards? If so, we would love to see you with your spade or other planting tools. We will be planting the verges of each entry road into the village - you won't miss us!

Please help us to plant bulbs in the village. Meet outside Village Hall at 10.00am.

Saturday 24th September - Period Dress Disco

60's/70's/80's - Shell suits and luminous colours welcome - at Nocton Social Club

Saturday 1st October - Lincolnshire Day

A three-course meal of Lincolnshire Fayre - Lincolnshire food and drink at Nocton Village Hall.
Tickets £10 each - including wine.
Call 01526 322902 / 322704

Tuesday 4th October - Parish Council Meeting

Nocton Village Hall at 7.00pm.

Wednesday 5th October - Nocton PCC Meeting

7.30pm

Wednesday 12th October - Village Hall Coffee Morning

Free tea and coffee (10.00 am - 12.00 midday)

Wednesday 12th October - The History of Nocton

If you are interested in the history of our lovely village, can I recommend this wonderful presentation, and all for a good cause too.

Saturday 19th - November - Vintage Fashion Show

Vintage Fashion Show at Nocton Village Hall - the show starts at 2.00pm - but willing volunteers are needed beforehand. Ever fancied the catwalk, or do you just like dressing up? Are you a dab hand at baking cakes? If not, there are still ways in which you can help out at this period event - see below for more information.

Things to help with:

Crockery - can you loan any cups, saucers, tea plates, cake stands from years gone by? Don’t worry if they don’t match!

Catering - can you assist with providing finger sandwiches, small cakes, sausage rolls, pastries?

Tombola Donations - any old bits of plaster jewellery, glass beads or other bits and pieces from the 40’s and 50 in the back of your drawer?

*Tickets* are available now. £5.00 (includes a Lucky Programme Ticket and afternoon tea).

There is something for everyone, whether you are aged 5 or 95, so bring along the whole family and all your friends.

*Contact* Julie Partidge: 01526 321540 or email - jpartridge369@btinternet.com

Saturday 26th November - Village Photographic Competition

Saturday 26th November - Christmas Fayre and Craft Fair

Nocton Hall - Revelations of an Imp - Postscript

2011-09-19T07:13:00.003+01:00

What has happened to Nocton Hall and the Estate since?

This chronology is not from the book 'Revelations of an Imp' and is my attempt at bringing things up to date based on information from various sources. I have endeavoured to approach this in date order.

1919
The Hodgson's sold the Hall and Estate to Mr William Dennis of Messrs W.H. Dennis and Sons, Kirton.

1925
The Hall and Estate was acquired by James Herbert Dennis (son of William) on 28th July.

1927
James Herbert Dennis moved into The Manor House and there is evidence to suggest that Nocton Hall became a Preparatory School for Boys.

1936
James Herbert Dennis sold the Hall and Estate to Smith's Potato Crisps (1929) Ltd & Smith's Potato Estates Ltd on 1st May.

1940
The Air Ministry acquired the Hall and 200 acres of parkland for a wartime contingency hospital. The hospital (RAF Nocton Hall) was developed.

1945
The Hall and part of the grounds were established as the RAF's permanent hospital for Lincolnshire. Nocton Hall was used to billet the female RAF medical staff. Sadly, the Hall and grounds were never again to be reunited with its Estate.

1970
Smith's Potato Estates Ltd sold the Nocton Estate to a subsidiary, The Smith's Food Group Ltd on 26th March... which soon entered liquidation.

1971
The Liquidators sold Nocton Estate to Toms Foods Ltd on 5th February.

1975
Toms Foods Ltd sold Nocton Estate to British Field Products Ltd on 4th August for £3,098,000. British Field Products was a farming company of the Guardian Royal Insurance Group. It appears this was the beginning of selling off certain assets from the Nocton Estate e.g. The Old Ten Row cottages were sold to Simons Building Maintenance Ltd for redevelopment on 31st March 1983.

1983
Around this time a decision was also taken to close RAF Nocton Hall, however this actually resulted in the lease of Nocton Hall and its grounds/hospital to the US Army as a USAF wartime contingency hospital. Shortly thereafter though, the Hall and grounds were finally separated off and sold for private development, leaving the RAF Nocton hospital site as a separate entity. The hospital site continued to function as a contingency hospital for American Forces during the Gulf War of 1991/92, but was sold in 2000.

Mid-1980's
Nocton Hall and the surrounding grounds consisting of wood, woodland, grassland and cottages was purchased by a Mr Torrie Richardson. He sold off the cottages for redevelopment to provide capital to convert Nocton Hall into a residential home, but unfortunately the venture ended in bankruptcy following intervention by a major creditor due to revaluation of the asset. This was a real shame as it was a significant local employer.
N.B. you may be interested to read about how one of the cottages (The Garden House) was renovated:
http://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/uploads/files/homes_and_gardens/homes-and-gardens-0310.pdf

1995
The remaining land of the Nocton Estate (over 7,000 acres) was purchased by Paul and Anne Clarke (Nocton Ltd) in November. It was at the time, the largest 'ring-fenced' farm ever to be sold to a private individual and was still an ongoing agricultural concern. Paul and Anne replaced much of the arable crops in year 2000 with the growing of bulbs and flowers, which was where their original business experience was gained, becoming one of the largest flower producers in the UK. This was the first time since about 1925, that the Nocton Estate had a resident owner again.

2000
A company named Leda Properties purchased the Hall and grounds (from the Liquidators), together with the old hospital site. It seems Leda Properties were granted planning permission to turn Nocton Hall into a private home, but it was never redeveloped and fell into disrepair. Much of the architectural content has since been robbed out, vandalised and stripped of anything of value.

An urgent works notice was served requiring Leda to maintain the property and keep it secure, but following later examination of the site, it was discovered work had not commenced, nor was it being scheduled. North Kesteven District Council therefore set about the process of instructing contractors to carry out the required work and recoup the costs from Leda.

2004
Unfortunately, on the evening of Saturday 24th October, a devastating fire took hold of this historic building. The fire was well developed by the time the fire brigade arrived at 11.45pm, requiring ten crews at the height of the incident. Crews were still at the location dampening down and investigating how the fire started until Sunday afternoon. The fire left the structure in a precarious state and the building is now dangerous to enter.

2007
Turning back to the Nocton Estate, Nocton Ltd sold approximately 60% of the Estate farmland (much of it fenland) to a Danish consortium (Nocton Fen Farms Ltd), leaving roughly 2,800 acres in the ownership of Nocton Ltd.

2009
A further 340 acres was advertised for sale in June, along with Grange Farm. This was purchased by two dairy farmers, Peter Willes and David Barnes (Nocton Dairies Ltd - incorporated 22nd July 2009), as one of the company's first transactions.

In October, the Victorian Society decided to list Nocton Hall in its top ten endangered buildings list for England and Wales. Due to continued dilapidation of the property, English Heritage also placed it on the UK 'Buildings At Risk' register and are now seeking for North Kesteven District Council to secure and preserve what is left of the old Hall.

Nocton Dairies Ltd then made an offer for the remaining Nocton Estate farmland which was still owned by Paul and Anne Clarke. This purchase (circa 2,400 acres and five properties) was realised in December 2009. Nocton Dairies Ltd intended to develop a mega-dairy on Nocton Heath, but following a vigorous local and national campaign, the plans were withdrawn because of objections from the Environment Agency. Peter and David continue to farm their land as an arable concern through a local farmer, Robert Howard.

2011
This appears to have left one remaining asset from the old Nocton Estate days in the hands of Nocton Ltd, that of the old Estate Yard (incorporating a state of the art packhouse, dormitory buildings and glasshouses in 52 acres) developed by Paul and Anne for their very successful bulb and flower business. This 'Nursery and Agricultural Complex' is currently for sale through Savills (September 2011), with offers invited in excess of £2,000,000.

Over the remaining years very little action has been taken to protect Nocton Hall, certainly not from the elements which have continued to cause instability. Further thefts have also occurred of masonry and scrap metal and the Hall is now virtually an empty shell. The once fine gardens are overgrown and the fine specimen trees hidden by more native species.

North Kesteven Distrct Council have managed to get Leda Properties to secure the perimeter of the Nocton Hall building with temporary fencing, but this has required constant attention to keep it secure. The old RAF Nocton hospital site has been the focus of much illegal activity and almost everything of value has been robbed out.

Since English Heritage have classified Nocton Hall as one of Britain's most 'at risk' properties, North Kesteven District Council have finally contracted an Options Appraisal to determine a best way forward, yet after many months the findings of this report is still awaited (September 2011)

We are now reliant on North Kesteven District Council and English Heritage to create the next chapter of history for this once proud architectural gem, with the local community eager to support this venture. Let's hope the relevant authorities don't leave it much longer, or there won't be anything left to salvage.

If you have enjoyed reading 'Revelations of an Imp - 20 Centuries of Characters who made Nocton Hall their Home' by Douglas Craven-Hodgson, can I recommend some further reading for you.

E.J. Willson and the Architectural History of Nocton Old Hall
by Carol Bennett

This particular paper is a detailed analysis of the architectural history of Nocton Old Hall - it is a superb piece of writing. Carol, who lives locally, has kindly given me permission to publish her paper electronically. This paper was originally published in 'Lincolnshire People and Places: Essays in Memory of Terence R. Leach (1937 - 1994), edited by Christopher Sturman, SLHA, Lincoln, 1996.

Click on the following link to access the document: Architectural History of Nocton Hall

All Saints Churchyard, Nocton

You may like to view a list of people who are buried in the local churchyard. You will recognise a number of names connected with Nocton Hall. See here:

http://www.interment.net/data/eng/lincoln/allsaints/index.htm

Finally, the following entries were incorporated into 'Revelations of an Imp' as a Postscript along with a few other items not reproduced here:

American Friends

Our American friends have again come back to the Hospital, originally set out by their Military Command in World War II. Let us wish them every happiness on their third visit to Nocton. Their presence in the midst of the park, can only be a matter for rejoicing.

R.A.F. Hospital Nocton Hall Station Commanders

1947: Group Captain C. C. J. Nicolls
1947 - 1949: Group Captain L. C. Palmer-Jones
1949: Group Captain D. A. Wilson
1949 - 1952: Group Captain L. M. Corbel CBE
1952 - 1953: Group Captain P. A. Cooper
1953 - 1955: Group Captain S. R. C. Nelson QBE
1955 - 1959: Group Captain H. C. S. Pimblett CBE
1959 - 1961: Group Captain E. S. Sidey
1961 - 1964: Group Captain W. B. Thornburn
1964 - 1966: Group Captain J. M. Urquhart
1966 - 1969: Group Captain E. S. Odbert MBE
1969 - 1973: Group Captain T. A. Evershed
1973 - 1976: Group Captain I. H. Mercer
1976 - 1979: Group Captain M. H. Rogers
1979 - 1981: Group Captain I. G. Currie
1981 - 1983: Group Captain D. R. Crockatt

The last prayer of Lady Jane Grey who spent so many happy days at Nocton Manor

This prayer by Lady Jane Grey, the girl who was Queen of England for nine days, was written when she was fifteen. A year later she was executed.

O merciful God, consider my misery, best known unto thee; and be thou now unto me a strong tower of defence, I humbly require thee. Suffer me not to be tempted above my power, but either be thou a deliverer unto me out of this great misery, or else give me grace patiently to bear thy heavy hand and sharp correction. It was thy right hand that delivered the people of Israel out of the hands of Pharoah, which for the space of four hundred years did oppress them, and keep them in bondage; let it therefore likewise seem good to thy fatherly goodness, to deliver me, sorrowful wretch, for whom thy son Christ shed his precious blood on the cross, out of this miserable captivity and bondage, wherein I am now. How long wilt thou be absent? - for ever? Oh, Lord! hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and hast thou shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure? wilt thou be no more entreated? is thy mercy clear gone for ever, and thy promise come utterly to an end for evermore? why dost thou make so long tarrying? shall I despair of thy mercy? Oh God! far be that from me; I am thy workmanship, created in Christ Jesus; give me grace therefore to tarry thy leisure, and patiently to bear thy works, assuredly knowing, that as thou canst, so thou wilt deliver me, when it shall please thee, nothing doubting or mistrusting thy goodness towards me; for thou knowest better what is good for me than I do; therefore do with me in all things what thou wilt, and plague me what way thou wilt. Only in the meantime, arm me, I beseech thee, with thy armour, that I may stand fast, my loins being girded about with verity, having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and shod with the shoes prepared by the gospel of peace; above all things, taking to me the shield of faith, wherewith I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and taking the helmet of salvation, and the sword of thy spirit, which is thy most holy word; praying always, with all manner of prayer and supplication, that I may refer myself wholly to thy will, abiding thy pleasure, and comforting myself in those troubles that it shall please thee to send me; seeing such troubles be profitable for me, and seeing I am assuredly persuaded that it cannot but be well all thou doest. Hear me, O merciful Father, for his sake, whom thou wouldest should be a sacrifice for my sins; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory. Amen!

(Taken from 'God of a Hundred Names' by Barbara Greene and Victor Gollancz).
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