Parish Council Achievements – Since 2000
What has Milton Ernest Parish Council ever done for us? You might be surprised by the list below:
§ Reduced the A6 speed limit from 40mph to 30mph.
§ Installed a traffic controlled road crossing on the A6.
§ Added a footpath to the Playing Field.
§ Provided speed humps on Thurleigh Road.
§ Published ‘The Importance of Milton Ernest’ village history book.
§ Devised the Heritage Trail and accompanying leaflet.
§ Provided three new public notice boards.
§ Purchased and created the Riverside Meadow amenity area.
§ Installed two picnic benches on Riverside Meadow.
§ Gained permission from the landowner for walkers to access part of Milton Ernest Hall’s land.
§ Installed dog waste bins.
§ Provided the adventure trail at the Playing Field.
§ Instigated the resurfacing of Arkwright Road, Bedford Road, Church Green, Huntsmans Way, Radwell Road and Rushden Road.
§ Provided three speed activated signs on the A6.
§ Installed railings at the bottom of the village green to make it less likely that a child should run onto the nearby busy A6.
§ Supported village organisations with time, expertise and money.
§ Ensured the proposed ‘Milton Court’ became ‘Butterfield Court’.
§ Installed a Youth Shelter at the Playing Field.
§ Widened the A6 path on the dangerous bend opposite the Maltings.
§ Provided representatives for various village committees.
§ Installed a new light column in a dimly lit Huntsmans Way garage block.
§ Fought a successful campaign to prevent a planned gravel pit.
§ Successfully fought three attempts to demolish the Maltings.
§ Worked with Bedfordia to reduce unpleasant odours.
§ Changed the grass cutting contractor, with great results, after listening to the feedback from the village.
§ Installed benches at two locations.
§ Replaced the bus shelter after it was demolished in an accident.
§ Donated almost £14,000 under Section 137 to village organisations and over £10,000 to All Saints’ Church.
§ Replaced a fence, which had been missing for decades, to conceal two eyesore vehicles in Huntsmans Way.
§ Employed litter pickers to keep the village as tidy as possible.
§ Installed wooden gates at the A6 entrances to the village.
§ Provided a Christmas tree with lights.
§ Adopted Parish Plan April 2010 and in response implemented the following:
- installed energy saving, time-controlled street lights
- installed a zip wire on playing fields
- installed a skate board simulator
- investigating provision of tennis courts
- establishing allotments for the village
- providing recycling facilities
- wider provision of groceries being sold by Garden Centre
- encouraged the creation of a number of new clubs and societies in the village
What is a Parish Council?
Parish or Town Councils are an important tier of Government within the UK; a Parish/Town Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government in the UK and is a properly constituted local authority.
The powers and duties, and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below national government and also below district and borough councils. Parish & Town Councils are elected and can help on a number of local issues, like planning applications or running local sports grounds and community halls.
The Parish Council has legal responsibilities as an employer, and sometimes as an owner of public land and buildings.
Parish Councils are Statutory Bodies, having powers under a number of different Acts (the Local Government Act 1972, the Public Health Act 1936, etc.). Only a few Councils need to use all their available powers. It is up to each Council to choose what is appropriate for the community they serve.
The Council raises funds by the annual Precept is set in January of each year. The amount required is guided by the setting of the annual budget in the November preceding.
The Parish Council precept is added to the Council Tax bill and collected by Central Bedfordshire Council (on behalf of the Parish Council).
The Council also raises funds through grants from other organisations.
Parish Councillors
We will endeavour to keep the information provided on our own site accurate and up to date.
If you spot any errors or omissions please contact us by email so that we can investigate and correct.