Here’s a photo taken by Graham Barnes showing the team of guys working in Garvald this week to rebuild the manholes and resurface the road at Burnside Court. It’s great to see our village being looked after. If you notice a road in poor condition or a pothole, you can report it online at the East Lothian Council website.

A reminder about the ‘Woodlands Project 2’ meeting this Wednesday 16th April at the Village Hall. Drop in any time between 6.30 and 7.30pm to give your feedback on the proposal to remove the remaining conifers on the south bank of the Papana Burn at the West end of the village and also to thin out the trees overlooking the road bridge.

Please drop in to register your comments, Wednesday 16th April (6.30-7.30pm) at the Village Hall.

At last December’s Community Council meeting a proposal was made to assess the need for a follow-up to the recent woodland management project. The aim would be  to complete the work that was originally planned almost a decade ago by felling the remaining monoculture of conifer trees (on the Papana Burn South bank at the West end of the village) and replacing them with mixed deciduous trees. In addition, work would be carried out to remove twelve conifer trees next to the roadside beyond Papana bridge, to give space for the existing deciduous and Monkey Puzzle trees to thrive.

Do come along to find out more about the areas affected and provide your comments. All residents of Garvald are encouraged to give their opinion on this matter and the project will be initiated only if the majority of villagers support it.

If you can’t make it to the meeting please complete the feedback form, which will be posted on the website soon.

The minutes from the February meeting of the Garvald and Morham
Community Council are now available on the GMCC page. Among the items discussed were Emergency Planning, Crystal Rig funding and Local Area Partnerships.

Garvald & Morham Community Council

AGENDA
For meeting to be held on Monday, 7th April
At 7pm, Morham Village Hall

1. Attendance and Apologies
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising from Minutes
4. Councillors’ Report
5. Resilient People – Emergency Planning
6. Update from Kirstie Shearer, Council Liaison Rep
7. Update from Ian Smith, Broadband Rep
8. Update from Phillip White, Funding Rep
9. Update from Ian Middlemass, Treasurer
10. Local Planning Applications
11. Garvald Neighbourhood Watch
12. Garvald Woodland Update
13. Garvald and Morham Updates
14. Correspondence Received
15. A.O.C.B.
16. Date of next meeting

Everyone Welcome

Garvald has a new Police Community Officer. PC Lynn Black is taking over from PC Kelly Brown. If you need to contact Lynn for any reason, email her at lynn.black2@scotland.pnn.police.uk or call her on 01620824101 ext 4009.

Phillip White has obtained permission by the Monks of Nunraw to organize the safe removal of the remaining wood which has been left on the bank opposite the park after the clear felling operation. There is a large quantity of good firewood available but it needs to be removed safely and then sawn up into manageable cuts.

Volunteers helping to remove and chop the wood will be able to take a supply firewood for a small fee of £5. This will be used to cover the petrol and oil used by the Chainsaw Operators. Any funds raised that are surplus to fuel expenses will be donated to the Village Hall. There is a huge quantity of wood to be collected and there should be wood available to all helpers.

Action Plan:

• First, remove as much good wood as we can from the banking and pile up on the village side of the burn. This will take a few attempts, depending on how many people come to help.
• The next stage will be to cut the wood into suitable sizes, ready for volunteer helpers to take away.

If you are able to help on one or more Saturdays in the near future, either gathering wood or sawing the wood with a chainsaw, please contact Phillip using the form below.

Irresponsible dog walkers are failing to clean up after their pets, and the matter has now been reported to East Lothian Council Dog Warden. Further details about reporting an offence can be found on East Lothian Council website on the dog fouling page, and some of the relevant details are listed below.

Who is responsible for cleaning up after dogs?

Under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003, if you are in charge of a dog you must clear up after it – regardless of your age and whether or not you own it.

You must pick up any fouling immediately and throw it away in a proper bin or take it home with you. (Please note that picking up dog fouling in a bag and then leaving the bag lying around is still an offence.)

The Act applies to all Council or privately-owned land, including:

• ground that is carefully cut and maintained
• natural long grass areas
• beaches: kicking sand over a piece of dog dirt simply means that a child building sandcastles will find it later!

Excuses (such as not knowing your dog has fouled or not having a bag with you to pick it up) won’t be accepted by our wardens, and you will still be fined.

Poop Scoop Bags

Free poop scoop bags are available from most council offices and libraries.

The minutes from the December meeting of the Garvald and Morham Community Council are now available on the GMCC page. Among the items discussed were speeding in Garvald, progress on the Garvald Woodland Project and proposals for a Neighbourhood Watch Group.