If you were wondering what the excavation work on the solar farm site was recently, well, yes, they were digging for treasure. As part of the developer’s planning conditions, they were required to conduct an archaeological survey and that is what we saw. The upshot was that they did find traces of what seems to have been an early Roman farm on the high ground at the northern end. The evidence is currently being documented in a report to go to the County Archaeologist very shortly and it is expected that findings of interest would be put on public display in due course. More news should follow in due course.
According to James Hartley-Bond, the Project Management Consultant at developer, Low Carbon, "The project at Twelve Acre Farm is progressing well and construction should start in the spring. We hope that electricity will be flowing to consumers by mid-summer [2021]."
The 57 hectare (140 acre) 'Aurora solar farm' has a 40 year lease after which it will be decommissioned and the land returned to its former use. It is estimated to produce enough power for 9,900 homes.
Martin Spurrier, November 2020
Virtually all the village's 'street furniture' has now been scraped, protected and re-painted to give a very smart and distinctly 'cared for' feel as you enter South Leigh. Many thanks to all involved and to Graham Soame who created and co-ordinated the project that was completed despite the Lockdown.
Village Green
The first phase was reported in the last bulletin (see below). That involved scraping the Limb Brook bridges and other railings, and protecting them with primer before top coats of our new 'village green' gloss. With this done, the team pressed on with the bus shelter and then, appropriately 'distanced', the second phase saw the completion in white of the remaining bridges up towards the A40 at Barnard Gate.
New Benchmarks
Meanwhile, the hardwood benches at Margery Cross, Lymbrook Close (the Irene Kew memorial bench, 13th January 2008) and at Gunn Cottage (the Queen’s Golden Jubilee bench, 3rd June 2002), which have served the community so well, were unbolted and taken away by the team, repaired and the heavy verdigris-like growth sanded off (see progress picture!). Finally, they received multiple coats of wood preservative and a silicon preservation cream. They were then re-bolted or concreted back in position. Each bench took three or four days to complete.
The Signs are Good
And finally, the finger post and road sign at Margery Cross were de-rusted, primed and painted in white gloss, like the latest bridges.
This was an outstanding Lockdown project and many thanks for Phase II go to D’Arcy and Evadne, Martin Collett, Martin Spurrier, Oliver, Gary and Vijay, and Dick and Konstantin for a glittering performance… and, of course, to Scrape & Paint Team Leader, Graham.
Martin Spurrier (14.08.2020)
Virtually all the village's 'street furniture' has now been scraped, protected and re-painted to give a very smart and distinctly 'cared for' feel as you enter South Leigh. Many thanks to all involved and to Graham Soame who created and co-ordinated the project that was completed despite the Lockdown.
Village Green
The first phase was reported in the last bulletin (see below). That involved scraping the Limb Brook bridges and other railings, and protecting them with primer before top coats of our new 'village green' gloss. With this done, the team pressed on with the bus shelter and then, appropriately 'distanced', the second phase saw the completion in white of the remaining bridges up towards the A40 at Barnard Gate.
New Benchmarks
Meanwhile, the hardwood benches at Margery Cross, Lymbrook Close (the Irene Kew memorial bench, 13th January 2008) and at Gunn Cottage (the Queen’s Golden Jubilee bench, 3rd June 2002), which have served the community so well, were unbolted and taken away by the team, repaired and the heavy verdigris-like growth sanded off (see progress picture!). Finally, they received multiple coats of wood preservative and a silicon preservation cream. They were then re-bolted or concreted back in position. Each bench took three or four days to complete.
The Signs are Good
And finally, the finger post and road sign at Margery Cross were de-rusted, primed and painted in white gloss, like the latest bridges.
This was an outstanding Lockdown project and many thanks for Phase II go to D’Arcy and Evadne, Martin Collett, Martin Spurrier, Oliver, Gary and Vijay, and Dick and Konstantin for a glittering performance… and, of course, to Scrape & Paint Team Leader, Graham.
Martin Spurrier (14.08.2020)
I thought we should, in public form, express our thanks to Martin...
Anyone who has been around and about the byways and main-ways of the village will either have seen signs of clearance, mowing, pruning, tidying, removal of stones and rubbish, remaking of edges which careless drivers have wrecked and other acts of improvement. You can see Martin's work in the slide-show below - Moors Lane, in front of the pub and down Chapel Lane or you may have seen the master worker himself who seems never to take a break.
Dick Pears (18.04.2020)
Exercise Scrape and Paint Phases II and III
Overview
On the weekend of 21st / 22nd March volunteer teams from the South Leigh community scraped and painted three galvanised iron road bridges crossing the Limb Brook on Station, Chapel and Barnard Gate roads. The paintwork on the bridges had fallen into disrepair. The bus stop shelter at Shores Green was also painted, having earlier been repaired by the team.
Thanks to all involved.
Phase II and III is now being planned. It will see the remaining ‘street furniture’ refurbished, and the bus stop shelter put to a community use, an initiative that has already started. The overall project has the support of the South Leigh Parish Council.
The overarching objective:
To enhance the built environment of South Leigh and High Cogges, and to do so as a community project. Once government guidelines allow, we want to push ahead!
Phases
Tasks
Phase II
Three of South Leigh's road bridges over the Limb Brook on Chapel, Station and Barnard Gate Roads and the bus stop at Shores Green received a thorough spring re-furb in late March, 2020.
Coronavirus did little to deter a team of community volunteers led by Graham Soame on Saturday, 21st March and, by Sunday night, they were all scraped, primed and freshly painted. There are still a few bridges to do up towards the A40, and the bench and bus shelter at Lynbrook Close, so volunteers for Phase II will be warmly welcomed. Just let Graham know: planning@soame.co.uk.
A huge 'Thank you' to Oliver, Barbara, Sophia and Elizabeth Jackson; Remy, Arietta and Harry Martin; Tim Lawson and Martin Spurrier; John Alexander, Martin Collett, and David Brooks; Russell and Anne Cherry; and Graham, Janet, Oliver and Valerie Soame, many of whom you can see below.
The South Leigh Charity has been helping people in the Parish for centuries. Currently, its limited funds mean that, despite its wide-ranging powers, it can help people in need in only a small way. To help us to do more, particularly now, the charity can accept donations.
If you know someone who might benefit from what the charity has to offer, or would like to make a donation to it, please contact, in confidence, one of the Trustees: