PARISH COUNCIL -- Abbeydore and Bacton Group Parish Council met at the village hall on Monday, September 10, when the chairman, Mr Watkins, welcomed WPC Fiona Farrington, the new Golden Valley beat manager. In answer to a query about electric supply interruptions, the clerk read out a reply he had received from GPU Power Distribution explaining the reason for the interruptions.The clerk reported that an instructive meeting had been held with Longtown Parish Council to discuss the Parish Lengthsman Scheme.The Abbeydore council had applied to join the scheme and was awaiting the decision of the district council.

The Queen's Golden Jubilee was discussed and proposals included commemorative mugs or a party. Further discussions would take place with other parish organisations.The repair of Jury Bridge appeared to be complete and the road between the Cockyard and the Forty Acres was now open to traffic. Parish finances were discussed, including confirmation of the clerk's salary, budget proposals for 2002-2003 and future donations to charities. A proposal to re-surface the village hall yard was discussed and parish council delegates to the village hall committee were asked to obtain further details of the proposal.

The next meeting of the council is provisionally arranged for Monday, November 12, in the village hall at 7.30pm.