The Parish Meeting; Well you would never pick me to write up the minutes, my instinct to measure and judge what is being said is not what is required.
So yesterday evening in the church at an informal meeting as to the proposed wedding venue at the farm over the bridge I veered from saying bravo to the farmer's wife for starting out on such a gamble and yet siding with all those people who said that noise and traffic would be the death of the village.
The opposing factor have built up half a dozen vocal contributors. Starting with a very good speech, by our terrorist specialist, who said when he came back from abroad, he did not want the tranquil silence when sitting out in his garden to be broken by loud music. Yet several of of the opponents owned holiday cottages on their land, so businesses were conducted in the village.
My attention focused on the farmers there, R, whose farm is at the top of the hill stood by the wedding venue idea, another faction of this farming family were opposed to it.
Defending one's point of view is a very emotional act, you need to calm down and act with tolerance, this is what the first speaker had done, setting the tone. So very English of course, watching this adjustment of local farmers to suburban incomers into a village, that was not so long ago a place of self-sufficiency. The cry went up what about house prices? And being the socialist that I am cursed this obsession with money, but there again it stretches to territory as well.
The majority decision at the last meeting had been that people had accepted the wedding venue, or indeed had no opinion on it. So where did we arrive at last night, well the planning officer had accepted the restructuring of the barns, tomorrow I think it will go through at a council meeting.
11 0 clock is the time called for music to stop in line with the pub, car parking is still an issue, bat and owl boxes would be put in place. No balloons or those silly floating lanterns that do damage to birds. Yes it is arguing about the nitty-gritty which ended it all. One speech, three minutes long, is all the opponents have at the council meeting which seems a bit unfair. But they have all sent emails of objections.
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| Our village in 1950 |
When out selling tickets on Sunday for the Carvery, I talked to one of the people in those cottages. He asked me how A had got on painting the ceiling. I had felt embarrassed a bit about choosing her to do the job and not him, as he was also a decorator. but he said he did not mind at all and had actually taught A at Leeds and was interested in her work, well I gave her a glowing reference....
It is nice enough when people are mature enough to praise others that compete with them. That is so negligent in American politics and I miss that. I had those meetings. I just ask them to assign me a chore and then I leave.
ReplyDeleteThat is probably the answer Tabor. My chore was to sell tickets for the coming New Year meal, and of course you have to listen to people's views as well.
DeleteTempers often fly high in these village dilemmas - either that or nothing gets done at all. Itis all a bit frustrating as often one can see both points of view.
ReplyDelete'Tempers fly high' D hasn't got over being told off when his little dog strayed onto the verge outside someone's garden. The irate owner came out to tell him off, though as Jo said yesterday no one owns their grass verges, we have just adopted them.
DeleteI have only attended town meetings when it involved something that caused me deep concern. Those are usually well attended but I hate it when someone has just come to cause a scene. It is never pleasant and becomes too personal. There are two sides to everything and the only way to settle if is to listen to each other.
ReplyDeleteI think the discussion was fairly well rounded, and kept under control by an astute leader. As always of course the elephant in the room is outside forces such as the government and council.
DeleteOur church is currently trying to determine the best, most cost effective way to expand the building. J. as a retired builder is on the 'building committee.' The head of said committee--a nice enough fellow--has no hands on construction experience, but is pushing for a grander project then has been approved by a business meeting of the membership. J. is undoubtedly the most vocal of those who defend the more conservative and simple plan. I am weary of hearing it discussed, J. complains that meetings are redundant--I fear for the possible hard feelings that can develop in such situations. At such times as you describe it seems that one faction must end by feeling disgruntled.
ReplyDeleteThat is true Sharon, and sadly grudges go on for years. Our church needs work done on the fabric but the argument is in the village that the Church of England has enough money to service its own buildings.
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