Items in current Issue of Doxey Times (September 2004)

Since the last report in Doxey Times, there have been many changes to Doxey Community Association’s website. We hope that these have produced more of the information that people are looking for and made it easier to navigate the site. No doubt there is still room for improvement, so, surfers please call or e-mail with your suggestions for improvements. Interesting pictures or stories for possible inclusion on the site would be welcome, too.

Finally, many thanks to the following sponsors of the site. We hope that Doxey residents will support them. You can find out more about them on this website.

Bradbury Rise Stores

William Sutton Housing Association

The Three Tuns

Happy take-away

 

If you would like to be a sponsor contact Iain on 607771.

Doxey Community Association, which exists to serve the interests of all people in Doxey, meets on the second Wednesday in every month. The meetings are held in the community centre, 43 Sutton Drive and start at 7.00 p.m. All residents of Doxey are welcome. If you have something which you would like to be discussed at a meeting call the chair on 251622.

The September meeting of the Association will be held

on Wednesday, 8 September

All Doxey residents will be welcome.

Work has started in Doxey on the footpaths around the bus stops in Doxey. This explains the strange markings which have been around for a few weeks. The area of footpath around each bus stop is to be block paved and a raised kerb installed. This is because low floor buses will be coming to Doxey soon. They have a step which lowers right down to kerb level, so the kerb has to be precisely positioned.

This quality service is a result of a partnership with the County Council, which has been promised for some time. Now it will be arriving soon and this means that wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and anyone who has difficulty with steps will be able to get on the bus easily for a trip to town.

Also, don’t forget the new Sunday service which has now started. Buses leave Doxey for town at 11.10, 13.10, 15,10 and 17,10. Buses from Stafford to Doxey leave Chell Road at 11.01, 13.01, 15.01 and 17.01. This is a service which a lot of people have been asking for. It is important that people use it. It could be withdrawn if there is not sufficient support.

Both of these developments have come in response to Doxey people expressing their views about their bus service. It shows that speaking out does have an effect sometimes.

There will be an opportunity this autumn for all Christians in Doxey to meet together for worship and to pray for our area.

A meeting to plan and fix a date for this special event will be held

on Wednesday, 15 September

Christians of all denominations are welcome. Please ring Helen on 248383 for further details.

Short New Opportunities for Work courses will be starting in Doxey in September. Subjects for the courses include the following.

There will be other subjects, too.

Assistance with childcare will be available for people taking part in these courses.

For more information call Dana or Imogen on 275515

Or the Stafford College enquiry line 275607.

Existing courses in Doxey will continue as follows.

Watercolour painting Mondays 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Keep fit Mondays 7.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

You may remember the questionnaire which was circulated in July. Sixty of these were returned. Thank you to those who filled them in. The winner of the draw was Mrs Gray.

Kate Lee who organised the questionnaire is analysing the responses and hopes to put on more courses in Doxey. Look out for the posters.

If you have any queries, call Kate on 07941 653 924.

Many apologies to the organisers of the coffee morning for not mentioning them in the last issue of Doxey Times as one of the participants at Doxey Day held in July.

The coffee morning takes place every Monday

from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

Everyone is welcome. It is a good opportunity to get out, have a chat and meet new people. Stay as long as you like or just drop in for a few minutes for a cup of coffee or tea and a biscuit. Contributions to costs are invited.

Many thanks to Pat and John Perks for the stalwart service they have given over several years in organising this event.

Readers will have heard of the government proposals to deal with congestion on the M6. Our MP, David Kidney, has organised several meetings about this, there have been articles in the local newspapers and there is an action group opposed to the proposal to construct a new motorway alongside the existing M6. The action group has a stall in the market square each Saturday.

If you have views about what should or should not be done, you have a chance to put these forward within the consultation process which is now taking place. You should write to

Steve Berry

Roads Policy Division

Department for Transport

Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

LONDON

SW1P 4DR

Or you can send an e-mail to: steve.berry@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

The litter pick was a great success. About a dozen people of all ages helped and Mick Johnson of Johnson’s Skip Hire took the collected rubbish away. Thanks to all involved.

The grass is being cut regularly, but there is still a problem with getting the holes filled in. The Council is not giving this very high priority. Letters to your local councillor or to the chief executive of the council will probably have an effect. Call 251622 for details where to write.

The litter doesn’t seem to have been so bad since, but there has been one bad case of fly tipping. Remember, this is illegal and there are big fines for anyone caught tipping rubbish in the wrong place. Also, the cost of clearing it up goes on your council tax bill.

Doxey children – and adults – had a good time on Fun Day – 14 August. There were traditional races, a penalty competition, parachute games and more.

Thank you to: John and Pat Perks for organising the event; Joan Harvey who presented the prizes; the William Sutton Housing Association for donating the prizes; Dave from Bradbury Rise Stores for providing refreshments; members of the Doxey Youth Forum and several adults, for helping with the event.

There were a number of mistakes in the last issue of Doxey Times. One was a word missed out. More serious were the following.

The date was given as July. Although it was actually circulated in July, it was really the August issue as there had already been a July issue sent out at the end of June

The location of the play area was given as the end of Greensome Crescent. It is actually at the end of Greensome Close. Some copies were corrected before delivery.

Most importantly, the Monday coffee mornings were omitted from the list of participants at Doxey Day. See the separate article for more details.

We are sorry for these mistakes and will try to do better in the future.

Published by the Doxey Community Association. If you need further information or want to make a comment or put something in a future issue of Doxey Times, call 251622, or e-mail: press@doxeyca.co.uk or leave a message at the Community Centre, 43 Sutton Drive.