Hale Carnival 2009 Progress Report.

The below progress report has been supplied by Peter Platt-Chairman of Hale Carnival Committee. 

Preparation for Hale Carnival 2009 is now at an advanced stage of which will take place on Saturday 13th June 2009 commencing at 12 noon in the newly refurbished Hale Park.

Once again the Carnival Committee of voluntary village residents have planned the Carnival to include an afternoon of enjoyment for all of the family. We have continued to include our tried and tested and successful attributes, those being the fun fair, donkey rides, Waldo the Clown, free face painting and of course the inclusion of several activity groups from within the community namely Hale Tai Chi, Hale Line Dancers and junior dance troops. We also welcome the teams from Hale Bank and Hale Village to take part in a charity football match.

Each year however seems to be increasingly difficult to match similar events of previous years, mainly due to increased financial costs as well as reduced voluntary participation and help on the day. This is taking into account that the Carnival is now totally dependant of self financial support, mainly by you, paying guests visiting the Carnival during the afternoon. To support your safety and enjoyment during the afternoon it is rewarding that we can still rely on some support from our local and borough councils, political groups within the village and contributions from vendors who we invite to take part during the afternoon. The voluntary offer of marshalling on the day is a valuable asset to the success of the Carnival.

It is important to offer variety, be innovative where we can and to provide entertainment provided primarily by village activity groups. For some youngsters this is a great opportunity to show what the youth of today can really do and play an integral part of the community spirit we have created within the village. To date we can confirm that this years entertainment will include an arena falconry display as our main attraction, of which will include a marquee exhibit of these fine birds of prey. I am also pleased to welcome Reefs Reptiles which will give the opportunity to alleviate your fears of snakes and spiders and a host of other reptiles and amphibians. Reefs Reptiles will provide hands on exhibit of a good cross section species of exotic animals, a great opportunity for a photo shoot. For those up and coming racers we will be providing a scaled 24 hour

Le Mans track with the person recording the fastest lap being presented with a prize. Similarly we are confident of securing a F1 racing simulator for those who really want to put the pedal to the metal. Finally we have secured the inclusion of a four sided climbing wall of which will provide increased difficulties of rock face climbing all under the supervision of instructors.

Not forgetting the crowning of the Rose Queen, our annual fancy dress competition and raffle, Hale Village Carnival continues to be an annual event of historic and traditional proportions. However without your participation whether it is as volunteer helper on the day, a vendor or a guest during the afternoon, we would not be able to continue in this truest of English Carnival traditions of which dates back to 1952.

I will continue to update Carnival arrangements as they develop, so please if you would like to participate on the day, please do not hesitate to make it known via this web site.

I look forward in anticipation of scarecrows and sunshine.

Peter Platt (Carnival Chair 2009)

 

 

Light Aircraft Crash Lands Near Hale Village

Sunday lunch time saw a light aircraft make a crash landing in a farmers field, one mile from Hale Village.  The incident happened around 13.15 hrs on Sunday afternoon.  It is not known why the plane landed in the field by Burnt Mill farm, at the top of Carr Lane, but the emergency services where quick to respond to the incident.

The aircraft was later removed from the field, with help from Phillip Lunt.

The aircraft was built in 1978 and is a Piper PA-38-112, singled engine aircraft, operated by Liverpool Flying School.

 

The area were the plane landed is known amongst plane spotters for light aircraft making an orbital manouver, if there is a que of larger aircraft on approach for runway 2-7 (two seven),, light aircraft can often be seen in the zone above this field orbiting in a circular pattern for several minutes allowing larger aircraft in a que to land on runway 2-7 (two seven).

 

 

(Images taken by Mr V G. Phillips)

New Village Pride Sub-Committee

Monday 2nd March saw the newly formed Village Pride Sub Committee meet for the first time, headed by Councillor Stuart Sage,, around a dozen villagers met in the side meetings room of the village hall.

Amongst the discussions and plans of action,, where initiatives to introduce planters around the village in new areas, tidy up eye-sores on the estates and possibly tackle the bad parking antics during school time of a morning and afternoon at Hale C of E.  Other plans of action included to research and  introduce hanging baskets from lamp posts around the village and research the introduction of bollards and estate fencing in parts of the village to make it look like a village once more.  One comment was made, that the last time anyone done anything on mass to tidy up the village, was when the Queen came to Hale in 1968, where all the old locals planted out the village with summer bedding etc  and cleaned the place up.

Sources of funding will be looked at from the Area Forum, WREN and the Lottery, along with fund raising and involving the local schools Hale and Hale Bank. 

 If everyone pulls together, then it is possible to make the village, a village once more?

 The next Village Pride Sub Committee meeting will be announced in due course, possibly in the next 2  to 3 weeks.

Odd Goings On At The War Memorial

The village green, were the War Memorial is,, has for some time now,, well decades in fact, had some odd goings on taking place there, this part of the village seems to have some odd attraction or mysterious pull to it-a bit like the Bermuda Triangle… From Blackie throwing snowballs through the cab of an old army wagon in the late 1940’s, Dot Brass playing around the the golden privet bushes when she was in her youth,, balloons and placard’s being positioned on it for past carnivals (Millennium time), demonstrations being organised with non villagers, to a christmas tree being mysteriously sawn in half (twice?).. Some goings on are more controversial than others?
Take for instance,, the scattering of human remains in one of the flower beds on the green or speeding vehicles crashing into the railings?
This week (2nd March),, while near the park entrance, two occurrence’s took place, first, two ladies were spotted laying a bunch of roses in the square flower bed where human remains have been scattered (without permission from any legal body or authority?), they weren’t from the village as when they finished their business,, they got into a black taxi and headed off up the High Street towards Liverpool? It would suggest that these people may be linked to the scattering of the ashes, or the ashes themselves (relatives?)  It would be interesting to learn of, who actually granted permission for the scattering of the ashes on the green.  It is believed that there is an on-going investigation into the Hale Branch of the RBL about their conduct and behaviour regarding the green?
Then it appears that a vehicle has being speeding down the High Street and took the corner too fast past the Post Office and narrowly missed crashing into/through the railings near the tall village sign on the green.
Only last week, a consultation exercise took place by Halton Borough Council to introduce speed cushions on the main road through the village, to slow down speeding vehicles, surely now there is more call for any form of speed calming on the main road judging by what has took place in and around the High Street/War Memorial!?
Below you can see evidence of the above mentioned goings on,, around or on “the village” green..  The first four images show where a vehicle has come around the corner, from the post office direction too fast,  lost control and  bounced off the railings between the village sign and the bollards.  You can see long skid marks across the white road markings-on the pavement and also on the grass.  This idiot must have been going more than 30mph, is he daft or something?

The last two images show where the human remains/ashes have been scattered, along with were the roses have been placed on March 2nd- marked with a circle.

For many years Alf and Doug Stones lovengly cared for the green for the village and kept it tidy, from mowing the grass to clipping the 15 or 20 privet bushes that were around it, I don’t think they ever laid claim to it, unlike other people seem to be doing currently,, from-and outside the village?
The village green is registered on the DEFRA website, as a “village green/common land”,, a simple search on the internet will direct you to the required information.
If you are unable to do this (or have rose tinted glasses), here is a starter..
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/pdf/protected-areas/common-land/village-green-1993.pdf

William…