manned by Volunteers and sells good quality adult and children's second-hand clothes and accessories, toys, bric-a-brac, books, C.D.'s, curtains, materials and many other miscellaneous items.  Do come along and have a look at our stock, parking is free and our prices are very competitive.

If you would like to know more about volunteering at Hydon Hill, contact Volunteer Co-ordinator, Sandra Cameron on tel. 01483 860 56 extn 228 she will arrange for you to come and have an informal look around the home.  Or why not visit the homes own website
www.lcdisability.org/hydonhill

Since the last edition of the village news, the Parish Council Allotments Committee has held two meetings with hopeful allotmenteers.  The first was an open meeting for anyone interested in the project, held at the end of February, primarily to explain the council's proposals and to take on board the comments of villagers, but also to find a handful of volunteers to act as a Steering Group for the formation of an Elstead Allotments Association.

The second was a joint meeting between the Allotments Steering Group and the Parish Council Allotments Committee to finalise the planning stage for the set-up of the Elstead Allotments. Most, if not all, of the outline arrangements are now agreed: the allotments will be in the north-west corner of the parish council-owned meadow adjacent to the recreation ground.  The site is a distinct "appendage" to the meadow, can be fenced off, and should accommodate about 24 allotment plots of one-half standard allotment garden: this is the usual size for domestic allotments.  There is, potentially, scope for expansion in due course if demand is overwhelming !  The ground will be roughly prepared and ploughed, and the allotment area will be enclosed by rabbit and deer "resistant" fencing by the parish council.

A limited access will be available from the Milford Road entrance to the meadow, but this will be regulated and available only for bulky or heavy deliveries: normal pedestrian access will be from the recreation ground car park, which will be enlarged using an environment-friendly grass reinforcement method, which will also be used for the construction of a path from the car park to the allotment entrance.  Work will also be undertaken to pipe a water supply to the site from the cricket pavilion.

The council will now get cracking on delivering the allotment site, and the Allotments Steering Group have been asked to consider and comment on the administrative arrangements, including the formation of an official Allotments Association, and the proposed terms of an agreement with the parish council for the management of the allotments.  Although the parish council will provide the initial set-up requirements, the intention is that thereafter the "Elstead Allotment Association" will organise and run the day-to-day management of the scheme, at no ongoing cost to the council.  The allotments will be self-financing.

I shall be sending an Allotmenteers Pack to all of those folk who have expressed an interest in the allotments, and a formal application form for inclusion in the scheme.  Any new applicants are asked to get in touch with either the Steering Group chairman, Iona Gunner (iona@gunner.co.uk), or the membership officer, Michael A'Bear (abear1@btinternet.com). A full meeting of all the interested parties will be held when final numbers of applications are known and the Association will be formally created and officers elected.  It is intended, initially at least, that membership will be restricted to residents of Elstead.  The Parish Council will formally endorse the arrangements at its meeting on Monday 27^th April

We are on our way !