The Society held its 54th annual general meeting recently in the village hall. It was attended by 50 members. The annual report from the chairman summarised the work that the committee and members had undertaken throughout a busy year which had been dominated by two particular issues – the proposed charging for the Westbury Hill car park and the proposals to redevelop part of the Carlton Court shopping centre.
Both of these issues remained unresolved at the time of the meeting. The Society had organised a survey of use of the Westbury Hill car park to demonstrate that the car park is fulfilling the role as a short stay car park, with high turnover and few breaches of the 3-hour limit being observed, negating the reasons given for the charges. A public meeting in January had enabled the Society to explain and discuss the proposals affecting Carlton Court.
Members had been very active repairing and maintaining the formal beds in the sunken garden in Canford Park. Every two weeks gardening sessions had been undertaken throughout the last 12 months and over 30 members had been involved. The remaining rose beds were now in order and last month one of the former rose beds, that had been lost to lemon balm, was reinstated as a rosebed. Members and nearby residents had been active in maintaining and significantly improving the Packhorse garden at the bottom of Chock Lane.
A new transport sub-group has been set up to continue work undertaken informally by a local group. Following the sad closure of Mogfords store last September, the Society had been active in publicising the re-opening which took place in March, which was a cause for celebration.
The committee and officers were re-elected, but the chair identified that there was a need to fulfil a role of liaising with the business community, which no longer has its own association.
The treasurer noted the growth in income from a growing membership. The Society was very grateful for two donations in the last 12 months. This had assisted the Society in being able to underwrite the significant difference between the donations from residents and businesses for the excellent flower displays in the village centre and their cost. The Society arranges for both summer and winter flower displays. The winter displays are at their best when the bulbs are out and the display of tulips this spring has been a delight. Blaise nurseries have excelled themselves again. Sadly, as has previously been reported, the hanging baskets will be missing from the street scene this year.
The Society has had an active talks programme in Westbury on Trym library throughout the year. The next talk on Thursday May 22nd, when Alexia Gardner will give a talk on the History of Teddy Bears.
Andy Renshaw, Chair, Westbury on Trym Society