An update on the Heritage ProjectHeritage Conservation Update – We are nearly there!The works in the Chancel have been completed. The monument, tombs and wall paintings have been beautifully conserved and are now available for all to see. The stained glass windows will be installed early June and we expect the Royal Coat of Arms back at the end of June.We are now taking bookings for school visits and group tours as well as hosting a range of events. There is something for everyone during the rest of the year. Why not join us for our very first event. On 20th June we have our FREE Midsummer Eve concert with the wonderful Cantiamo Chamber Choir, followed by Cheese and Wine. Get your FREE tickets via the link on the website or by contacting Pam on 07778 - 190082. We are hosting an art exhibition on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June.The Butterfly and Moth trail will be up in the churchyard all summer.We have lots of activities planned over the summer once the conservators have finished their work. The first is our family friendly Bio Blitz event with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust on Tuesday 26th May from 10-00am until 12-00. We launch our Butterfly and Moth trail the same day. On Saturday 20th June we host our Midsummer’s Eve Choir event and the following weekend 27th and 28th June there will be an Art Exhibition in Church. All details at www.sandonallsaints or find us at: www.facebook.com/allsaintssandon www.instagram.com/allsaintssandon.
Barbara’s Words of Wisdom:Emergency Phone Call-1 If you are depressed call Psalm 272 If you worry call Matthew chapter 6, verses 19 to 34 All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day
Conversion works to the Dog and Doublet - 2005. During the works to convert the upstairs function room to bed and breakfast accommodation many wall paintings came to light from behind the plastered walls. The paintings date from at least the early 1950s as some can be seen on various photos of the day when the room was used as a ballroom. The paintings have since been boarded over and re-plastered.
The Latest News from our Parish CouncilThere have been many changes over the last twelve months to Sandon and Burston Parish Council, and our clerk, Ginny Gibson, has been excellent with her guidance to us all and as Chair, her help and advice to me have been fantastic. Councillor Patrick Hickey stood down as Deputy Chair due to ill heath as did Councillor Liann Barnett, we wish both well; Councillor Owain Antcliff joined us and we currently have one vacancy. I would like to say a big thank you to our councilors, to those who have left us and a warm welcome to our new councilors. This last year has seen our main activity concentrating on three large issues:The River Trent bridge in Burston, forced off its riverbank on the Aston side of the river by a fallen Willow tree in 2023. The council has been pressing the County Council to resolve the problem ever since it occurred with numerous repair dates and a budget put in place in 2025. No works yet undertaken and a definite start date is set for June. We will wait and see…. The speed on A51. Whilst there was a proposal to provide 3 Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) in Sandon to encourage drivers to maintain the 40mph speed limit speed checks were undertaken which showed that in fact speed wasn’t excessive in Sandon village. The Council are now concentrating on other road safety issues in and around both villages, including the ongoing battle to have the speed limit reduced on the A51 from Sandon to past Burston. This continues with some new arguments to be put forward to the relevant authorities to make this very dangerous stretch of road safer for the local inhabitants and for all other road users. The proposed new development on Sandon Road at Beaconside. Planning permission for over 2,000 new homes is expected any day. The Parish Council have drawn the attention of the planning authority to the fact that provisions for a major roundabout have been included at the access to Beaconside. No provision to accommodate the extra traffic whatsoever has been made for the already dangerous Sandon Road/A51 junction. The Parish Council have commissioned a third party expert report and forwarded copies to the planning authority who sadly do not seem to be prepared to take the findings into consideration. There have been many other matters that the council have been involved in throughout the year, the refreshing of the floral planters in both Burston and Sandon and the Christmas Tree lights in both villages to mention just two of the more visible successes. Finally I would like to say a very big thank you to our very diligent clerk and to encourage members of the public to attend the bi-monthly meetings. Please remember that members of the public are always welcome at the Parish Council’s meetings, the next one is in July at 19.00 at the Parish Rooms in Sandon, we hope to see you there. Hugo Wildblood, Chair of Sandon and Burston Parish Council.Nikola Evans Parish Clerk: clerk@sandonburston.staffslc.gov.uk 07971 - 226170 Sandon and Burston villages are represented by Sandon and Burston Parish Council which generally meets every other month at Sandon Parish Rooms. For more information, please see our website www.sandonandburstonpc.org.uk.Parish council meetings are open to the public where everyone is welcome and there is a dedicated section where residents can present and discuss local issues. We begin at 7-00pm and finish no later than 9-00pm
