THE parish council held its annual parish assembly on April 24 in Mepal Village Hall. There have been a number of solid achievements during the year. At our second attempt to win funding from the county council s local highway improvement scheme, we wer

THE parish council held its annual parish assembly on April 24 in Mepal Village Hall.

There have been a number of solid achievements during the year. At our second attempt to win funding from the county council's local highway improvement scheme, we were successful - and we owe thanks to our county council member Philip Bailey for his support in this. Parishioners have long complained about the dangers at the junction of the A142 and the road into the village.

Substantial works have already been carried out.

A sign to slow down westbound traffic is also to be installed. This work will have a cost to the parish of £800 equivalent to £1 per elector.

Grant funding was won from the Fenland LeAP Leader+ Scheme administered by Cambridgeshire ACRE. The scheme paid for the installation of a large new community noticeboard on the gable end of the village shop and a further noticeboard on the recreation field.

Sally Shipley took over responsibility for Mepal People some time before she became our clerk in 2003, and skilfully wore both hats for three years. She has now handed Mepal People on.

Recycling bins have been placed in the lay-by on Bridge Road. These will bring a small income to the parish council.

Thanks to Mike Stacey for clearing up the rubbish so often previously on his litter patrol.

Our work with the Parish Paths Scheme, which we joined last year, continues successfully and we also continue to support the Youth Club. We have been pleased to continue our support to the Parochial Church Council of St Mary Mepal, which assists them with the burden of maintaining and keeping tidy a parish burial ground - valued by many who do not actively support the church, and to support the village hall committee (who are of course an independent trust body) as they gradually improve the hall.

The parish council was pleased to support the refurbishment of the war memorial project by securing grant funding, but is debarred itself from fund-raising. A well-attended celebration day was enjoyed at the school, and work on the memorial was complete in good time for Remembrance Day when the War Memorial was rededicated.

The most major item of special business for the council has continued this year to relate to our major parish council-owned asset, the Recreation Field, and the Pavilion project. Our jubilation at the award of grant funding of £160,000 from the Football Foundation was marred by the discovery of legal difficulties. A deal of ingenuity and negotiation were combined to find a solution to the problem. But it took valuable time and effort, and inevitably but sadly seemed to some to betoken a lack of enthusiasm within the council. We are now back on track, and continuing to make funding applications.