The Sheepwash Times

Your Community Magazine

"Delivered free to 5,250 homes in Branston, Heighington, Washingborough, Branston Booth, Canwick and Potterhanworth... the Sheepwash Times is 'Your Community Magazine' ".

http://www.tucann.co.uk/the-sheepwash-times.html

It might be their 'Community Magazine', but it certainly isn't ours... yet! The Sheepwash Times are kind enough to host some of our articles, but we are not included on their circulation list. You may like to see what the Editor had to say when I emailed him:

Original Enquiry

From: Geoff Hall
Sent: 27 June 2015 14:58
To: sheepwashtimes@tucann.co.uk
Subject: Circulation - The Sheepwash Times

Hi Ben,
I am the chap behind the online Nocton blog and have just been given a copy of your community magazine.

I see you have published a number of articles relating to our village of Nocton in the magazine for July 2015/Issue No 79, but see that:

1. Nocton is not mentioned on the front cover of the magazine, nor
2. Do Nocton village residents appear to benefit from the circulation of this excellent publication.

For some years, Nocton has relied upon the Nocton ‘Doodle’ (a simple community leaflet) to keep updated with forthcoming events, or reports thereof. However, this is no longer to be supplied in ‘hard copy’ format. This leaves many residents bereft of local community news, although those with internet access can still view village news online.

You will see on my blog ‘Companion Sites’ that a number relate to businesses. If they were to see your excellent publication circulated around the village, you may gain some additional advertising revenue that will contribute to, or indeed cover, the costs of providing The Sheepwash Times to every household in Nocton. I’m not aware how you ensure deliveries, but there were local residents who used to hand deliver the Nocton Doodle… and who may pick up the mantle if your community magazine were to be made available here.

Please will you consider the viability of allowing Nocton village residents the opportunity to have a copy of The Sheepwash Times, even if it is only for a trial period of say 12 months. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Sincerely,
Geoff

Reply

From: Sheepwash Times
Sent: 30 June 2015 14:16
To: Geoff Hall
Subject: Re: Circulation - The Sheepwash Times

Hi Geoff,
It is something we are considering but the additional costs involved make it unlikely in the near future. It is not just the cost of the production and delivery of the 500ish copies required for Nocton but also the cost of additional pages to all copies of the Sheepwash Times caused by additional content. The likely cost is in the region of £500 per month in all and that will be a challenge to get from additional advertising at the moment.

Can I assume that, as you make no mention of it, the MACLA news is not that useful for Nocton? If so, would that be because it is only quarterly or does it not serve the village well?

I would like to be able to do something for Nocton at some point. Can I ask you which villages Nocton naturally groups with, in your opinion? It is always best to have an honest local view of how a village sees itself rather than us having to make judgements about which settlements go together.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

Kind regards,
Ben Cann
Editor

My response

From: Geoff Hall
Sent: 30 June 2015 15:12
To: 'Sheepwash Times'
Subject: RE: Circulation - The Sheepwash Times

Hi Ben,
Many thanks for your reply.

I can see why the costs of production may inhibit circulation, but you will probably see why your publication would be useful for our village, when I attempt to answer your further queries:

• MACLA fulfils a certain need – which is incorporating Nocton with other local villages’ news – but as this is a quarterly publication, by the time it is circulated it is sometimes the case that events have passed and the content appears dated. Neither is it a colour publication. I must emphasize though, the Editor has been extremely supportive in agreeing to accommodate Nocton by incorporating our material and circulating the magazine to the village. 
• I think our natural grouping is with the village of Potterhanworth. The two communities provide the backbone of the Nocton & District Women’s Institute (which meets in Nocton Village Hall every month). Furthermore, our Parish Council has formed a partnership with Potterhanworth Parish Council with the aim of developing a formal Neighbourhood Plan. Lastly… but not least, the congregations of both All Saint’s Church at Nocton and St Andrew’s at Potterhanworth are supported by many residents from the other village… and I believe there is also the Community Choir at St Andrew’s which is also supported by residents of Nocton.

N.B. there was an attempt to include Dunston village in a ‘closer working relationship’  to prepare a tri-village Neighbourhood Plan, but the offer was declined sadly. The only connection that remains, is with support to the occasional Dunston Twinning Association event… and the ‘Dunston Hub’ that is held once a month.

Hope this helps,

Regards,
Geoff