2021 was another strange year with its ups and downs, but the Shop did not do too badly and we survived. However during my break and the shop's closure at the end of the year, the shop had no income which inevitably damaged the business. At that time I received lots of kind messages of support from a lot of my customers and villagers. This was so heart-warming and comforting knowing that I would be ok as I have your support.

Sadly this did not materialise as physical support! Only a few of my loyal and regular customers have been supporting the shop. (Thank you for your loyalty!). I appreciate you moral support very much, but it is not enough to keep the shop going.

Please don't forget that:

The Post Office wouldn't exist without the Shop:
The Post Office was very busy for Christmas and couple of weeks after the New Year, which is great. Our Post Office attracts a lot of customers from villages around as we are the last one standing but please be aware the Post Office would not exist without the shop.

Newspapers wouldn't exist without the Shop:
Those of you who buy newspapers from the shop are familiar with me complaining about Smiths News service (or lack of it). I have to apologise for interruption to our services since late November. Hopefully we are getting back to normal.

 However the whole object selling newspapers in the shop is to attract customers and increase footfall for the business.  Other than that, it's not worth all the anxieties & problems it creates. So, if you are having your paper delivered or picking you papers from the shop, but don’t come in to shop you are not supporting the business which defeats the object.

Remember, No Shop = No Post Office and no Newspapers!

This is hopefully the last time I am going to moan and grumble, the rest I leave up to you. I don’t expect you to do your weekly shopping in the village store, but if you care about having your shop, don’t just wave hello & pass.
 
USE IT OR LOSE IT! Thank you, Yari.

Greedy developers CALA Homes who have already ignored local residents views in their pointless Community Consultation have just discovered that they propose to build on land that floods! But guess what - the greedy developers will fix it so that never happens! Who would have thought it - greedy developers fixing the flood risk so you'll never have a problem. Hmmmm.

​CALA Homes the greedy developers of - Willow Bank, Alderon held a Community Consultation Event - and guess what? They completed ignored the overwhleming views of residents. Who would have thought that the greedy developers ignored the views of local residents? 

Well, here's the results:
105 people attended the public consultation event. A total of 70 feedback forms were received at the event. 

• 89% of people were NOT in favour of the development
• 82% strongly disagreed that this development would provide much needed affordable housing
• 82% strongly disagreed with the design and layout of CALA's proposed development. 

Dear All
 
In September Police and Crime Commissioner, Martin Surl announced that he had taken the decision to reopen the work to assess the case for a change in the governance of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS).
 
Work carried out by Office of the PCC (OPCC) has identified a number of clear benefits a change in governance could bring. They are all contained in an outline business case, now available on our website.
 
The next stage is to gather the views of people who live and work in Gloucestershire and this includes you. It is very important that as many people as possible take part in the consultation so please have a look at the outline business case and spare a few minutes to complete the short, anonymous, online survey. Please also circulate this e-mail and the links to your networks, including staff/members/contacts. This link also takes you to a short video explain the options and the case for change.
 
There are four models of governance to consider. These are:

• No change / status quo: This would mean Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service remains part of the County Council and collaboration continues to be progressed on a voluntary basis.
• Representation: This is where the PCC would become a formal part of the existing governance for fire and rescue in GCC, with full voting rights.
• Governance: Here the PCC takes on responsibility for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service in much the same way he currently does for Gloucestershire Constabulary. The role would become the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Police and fire would retain their own chief officers and staff and be operationally independent of each another.
• Single employer: This is where the PCC would take on responsibility for fire alongside the police and also appoint a single chief officer for both services. Front-line services would remain distinct but support services would be increasingly integrated.

 
Against a statutory test of critical factors (economy and efficiency, effectiveness, public safety) and an additional assessment of deliverability, our analysis shows that the Governance Model would achieve the best outcomes for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and for Gloucestershire residents. This would mean that the PCC would become the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
 
Governance of GFRS would be very much the same as is it with the police. Neither the PCC nor the OPCC would be involved in any operational activity but there would be a requirement to develop a police and fire plan setting the strategic direction of the service as well as overseeing funding. Roles won’t change either – police will stay police and fire will remain fire.
 
A summary of the benefits we believe would be achieved with a governance change for GFRS are:​

​During this consultation period you can view the plan on the Alderton website or on the Tewkesbury Borough website or you can download a copy of the Alderton NDP from the link below:

alderton_submission_ndp_final4__170817.pdf
Download File

The ANDP documents are also available on paper:

• St Margaret's Church, Alderton (open during daylight hours)
• Tewkesbury Borough Council offices: Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5TT (between 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30 and 16:00 on Friday).

 
If posting or handing in representations forms to the Borough offices, please use the following address: Tewkesbury Borough Council: For the Attention of The Neighbourhood Planning Officer, Council Offices, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5TT

Comment on the ANDP
During this consultation period you can make representations or comments by using the Alderton NDP Reg 16 Consultation Comments Form on the the Tewkesbury Borough website.  ​

​ or downloaded from here. 

Alderton Wanderers - 128/7 off 20 overs
Dumbleton CC -107/6 off 20 overs
Alderton win by 21 runs

Fantastic performances all round from Alderton Wanderers CC players in the local derby v. Dumbleton CC on 31st May meant that Alderton were able to retain the bragging rights over the 'auld enemy' for another year.

It was a great night with a lively atmosphere created by the cricketing wives/partners in our own Barmy ladies army! Alderton batted first and scored 128 off our 20 overs for the loss of 7 wickets in part due to about 24 runs scored in one over by Rupert & JK (John Kopec). Dumbleton were never really up with the pace after some accurate bowling and great fielding so they finished short on 107 - 6 off their 20 overs.

Everybody contributed to the victory as you can see below:

• Jack - amongst other achievements it was awesome fielding by him at long on to prevent numerous boundaries that helped to secure our victory
• Steve - accurate, left-arm, Exocet missile bowling that kept the Dumbleton CC club captain on his toes
• Guy - quiet but authoritative leadership (with plenty of good delegation) wins him the Mike Brearley award - no batting, no bowling, but what a captain!
• Rob H - usual chirpy self and said the right things at the right time to encourage the team to victory as well as bowling a couple of fantastic deliveries that bamboozled some of  the Dumblie players
• Tom - a wise old head on a wise old body! Knew his limitations when fielding so great thinking to toss the ball up to Jack for him to launch it back to the keeper. His classic cover drive was the shot of the evening.
• Rob S-G - superb fielding out in the deep to prevent several boundaries and a magnificent throwing arm to launch the ball straight back in over the stumps. Dedication and commitment to the cause is unquestionable
• Matt - had another hat trick chance but once again thank goodness he didn't achieve it as we'd never hear the last of it. Took the pressure of bowling the last crucial over on his (very) broad shoulders without flinching!
• Mark G - we're not sure who he's had bowling lessons from over the winter (maybe a psychotherapist!) but it definitely worked. Great, consistent accurate bowling helped to pin DCC down in the middle overs of their innings.
• JK - this guy would dive into a pool without any water if it would stop the opposition scoring a four! Absolutely and totally committed to the cause.
• Craig - absolutely brilliant 6 onto the pavilion roof and then bounced over into the pond. Never seen that before at DCC even for the Daryl Mitchell (Worcestershire CC captain) benefit match. Respect to you.
• Rupe - usual, strong batting performance that we have come to love and expect. Scored 35 and backed this up with a solid bowling performance.
• Darren - good performance behind the stumps only conceding 1 bye. Great to send their overseas Aussie player packing back to the pavilion after catching him behind.

Andy W & James S - thank you both so much for your awesome support, it was really appreciated.

All in all this was Alderton Wanderer's most complete performance since the club was formed 5 years ago. Onwards and upwards now as we attempt to make 2017 our most successful season ever.

Local residents tell us that BT will offer their customers BT Infinity 2 Unlimited broadband at up to 71 MBp/s for £24.95 or BT Infinity 1 at up to 38 MBp/s for £19.95 per month for the first 12 months. Bizarrely this is cheaper than the existing broadband package! 

Don't forget to compare prices though as if you're out of contract you can also now get one of the other broadband providers like Sky, TalkTalk, or many others to provide your connection.