The town has a fascinating history which dates back to the small fishing village of Meeching. During medieval times the river out to sea at nearby Seaford, but this changed dramatically in 1579 when a disastrous storm blocked the river mouth and caused the river to break through the shingle bank between Meeching and Seaford. Eventually a permanent channel to Meeching was made and the name of Newhaven was adopted. The name Meeching gradually fell into disuse, although it is still preserved in local street names and the name of a local school.

A regular cross-channel ferry service to Dieppe started in 1851 and this continues to operate and offers the most direct route between London and Paris. Newhaven’s importance came to the forefront during two world wars when it became one of the major supply ports for the Western Front during the Great War and was an embarkation port during the World War Two for the Dieppe Raid and the D-Day landings.

During the latter half of the twentieth century the port of Newhaven, in common with many other ports such as Liverpool or London, experienced a decline. Once, nearly the whole population of the town worked either in the port or on the railway, but this is no longer the case. Nonetheless, Newhaven people remain proud of their maritime heritage and their town’s status as a port. The town has started the twenty-first century with a number of regeneration initiatives, many of which reflect the maritime heritage of the town and provide a link between Newhaven’s historic past and the future.

Despite its status as a working town, Newhaven has plenty to offer the visitor. There are two major tourist attractions within the town – Newhaven Fort, a nineteenth century cliff-top fortress, complete with ramparts, guns and underground passages, which houses fascinating displays and audio-visual presentations of life in wartime Britain – and Paradise Park, an attraction for all the family, which includes a dinosaur park, collections of fossils, minerals and crystals, wonderful indoor and outdoor gardens, crazy golf, a miniature railway and children’s amusements.

Newhaven Town Council was formed in 1974 and comprises of eighteen elected members representing three wards in the town. The next elections for the town council will be taking place on 5 May. A Mayor is elected annually and there are currently three members of staff.

It owns and manages four community halls and children’s play parks, recreation grounds, allotments and amenity areas as well as a recreational nature conservation area with ponds. During the past few years the council has carried out a number of improvements to these areas by partnership working with the District Council. A recent innovation has seen the installation of a green gym. The council is also the Burial Authority for the town and owns and operates a cemetery which has been in existence since 1885.

On of the council’s priority areas is supporting facilities for children and young people and further partnership working is evident with the councils support for youth clubs. There is strong connection between the council and voluntary sector groups and organisations and this is reflected by a grant’s scheme and other partnership funding activities.

The current financial difficulties affecting the country make the role of the town council far more challenging and the new town clerk will be required guide and lead the council through these interesting times.

This vacancy has occurred due to the retirement in September of the clerk, Ian Everest, who will be leaving us after ten years service.

The town also boasts a 12^th century parish church and is renowned for some of the finest Georgian architecture to be found anywhere in the country.   It is a town that successfully combines the old with the new.   Many buildings having Georgian fronts, are often found to conceal structures of Tudor and even earlier times, but while retaining original features, today they provide accommodation for shops, offices and homes.   It is a happy mixture that can be found in most of the town centre streets, resulting in lively activity – business and residences in harmony.  

Geographically, Farnham is ideally situated with easy access to the M3, M4, M23 and M25 motorways and airports at Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton.   Farnham offers a wealth of opportunities for residents and tourists alike; it is located at the start of the North Downs Way and is an ideal starting point for exploring not only the immediately adjacent countryside, but also London and the south coast.   A direct rail service links Farnham with London in under an hour. 

Farnham is a good example of how a concerned local community, working with conservation-minded local authorities, can retain and enhance its heritage and special character while developing and diversifying is centre, so as to keep it vital and viable;  it boasts one of the longest established conservation societies and one of the longest established building preservation trusts in the country.   Currently a Regeneration Scheme is under consideration for a town centre area of the town known as East Street; an exciting prospect for the town. 

Until the Second World War breweries and hop growing gave employment to the majority of the town’s workforce with some small industries also flourishing from time to time; farming was the major occupation within the surrounding countryside.  With the growth of the population, instead of breweries, small factory and light industrial units and offices now give employment to many in addition to the residents who commute to London. 

In these days of increased leisure and tourism, Farnham is becoming increasingly aware that it has much to offer both the residents and its visitors.   There is a purpose-built sports centre which covers a huge range of activities and the area is well served with golf clubs, a town football club and rugby club.   In Farnham you can play cricket, tennis, bowls, archery and judo … and a myriad of other sports.   It is also renowned for its artistic and musical acumen and if your gift is to act, or sing, or paint, there is an organization here in Farnham to welcome your talent. The town is also home to The Maltings, the University College of Creative Arts and the Ashgate Gallery. 

The Town Council is always anxious to represent the views of the people of Farnham and The Town Council staff proactive in focussing on quality services.  The Farnham councillors have always been enthusiastic promoters of the principle of subsidiarity and in recent years successful negotiations have resulted in the legal transfer of the allotments, the cemeteries, and the Town’s CCTV system together with the acquisition of a community centre and the Town Hall.

The Council also runs the monthly Farmers Market is responsible for a number of local free events that are held throughout the year, encouraging local businesses to participate and benefit from the increase in number of visitors to the town. 

The Town Council has formal twinning links with Andernach (Germany) and reciprocal exchange visits are made and school exchanges fostered and encouraged.  

Farnham has a rich history and a bright future.

Click here to see the job vacancy for a Town Clerk and RFO

The town has a population of some 11,330 (with 8,626 electors).  This is 22% of the total population of the Borough of West Devon.  Seventeen percent of the population is under 16, and 21% over 65.   The Council runs the Pannier Market, the Town Hall, most of the open spaces, the Guildhall Square car park, the allotments and cemeteries.

The Council is the ‘Lord of the Manor’ for part of Whitchurch Down.  It has in its care a large proportion of the old listed buildings in Tavistock.  It provides “street furniture” and play parks.  It also makes a major contribution to the cost of community organisations ranging from the Citizens Advice Bureau to the local band.  One of its most important functions, though, is to provide a democratic representational voice for the Tavistock community.  This commonly involves making representations to the County and Borough Councils concerning matters relating to Tavistock such as highways, transport, planning and development control.

Since November 2003 the Council has held the status of a ‘Quality Town Council’ having passed strict appraisals by external auditors. The Town Council has 17 elected Members, representing the three wards of North and South Tavistock and Tavistock South West.

Built in 1864 the Town Hall is a Grade II listed building substantially renovated in the early 1990’s.  In Victorian Gothic style, faced in green Hurdwick stone, the Hall has a wood panelled Great Hall, a minstrels’ gallery and bar facilities.  It is available for a variety of purposes ranging through balls, wedding receptions, conferences, dances, exhibitions, stage shows and fairs.  In January 2000 an embroidery depicting the history of Tavistock was presented to the Town by the local Embroiderers’ Guild, and is displayed by the Mayor’s Parlour.  Also of note are some 19 oil paintings of notable persons from Tavistock’s past hanging in the Great Hall.  A painting by local artist Arthur Reed of the old Bedford Square and Abbey Bridge hangs in the Rundle Room, with others of the Town in the Council Chamber.

The Town Council manages some 32 properties and one area of farmland, most let at commercial rents.  Most are listed buildings and one (Court Gate) is also scheduled as an ancient monument.   The rental income of over £400,000 a year is used to defray that portion of the total Council Tax that would otherwise be payable by the inhabitants of Tavistock to fund the services provided by the Town Council.

Historic Heritage.

A Market Charter was granted in 1105 by Henry I to the Benedictine Abbey of St Rumon and Our Lady.  The Town Council is the present custodian of this Charter which is still extant, and has the right to operate all markets within a measure of two leagues (6 2/3^rd miles) of the Town.  The present Pannier Market was built in 1864 by the 7^th Duke of Bedford, the then holder of the Charter, and is a Grade II listed building.  Markets are held every day except Sundays and Mondays throughout the year, and up to 170 tables each day are available for rental to traders.   In 1305 Edward I made Tavistock a Stannary town, granting a charter for the administration of the marketing of tin mined from west Dartmoor.

A number of listed and scheduled buildings, statues and ruins are in the care of the Town Council.  These are maintained at public expense as part of the built tradition of the Town, and attract numerous visitors each year.  They include: Abbey Chapel Tower, Court Gate, The Still House Tower, Betsy Grimbal’s Tower, St John’s Well, Statue of the 7^th Duke of Bedford (1864), Statue of Francis Drake by Boehm (1883)

An area of 3.6 hectares on both sides of the River Tavy is in the care of the Town Council.  Utilised as a ‘Green Lung’ of the Town for generations, the Meadows contains a children’s play area, floral gardens, a bandstand, putting greens and grassy open spaces.  There are tennis courts, some public and operated by the Council and some leased to Tavistock Tennis Club.  Tavistock Bowling Club leases ground at a peppercorn rental, and there is a facility for the public to play bowls on the public green.  A large area was leased in June 1987 to West Devon Borough Council for 999 years at a peppercorn rent, and is the location of the Wharf Arts Centre and Meadowlands Swimming Pool complex with associated car and coach parks.  The Town Council provides a bandstand, several picnic tables and park benches.  A skateboard park is sited in Benson’s Meadow and the footbridge over the River Tavy has recently been replaced.

The Town Council is the holder of ‘Manorial Rights’ (essentially freehold and mineral rights, subject to old leases and commoners rights) over 188.34 hectares of Whitchurch Down both within and without the Dartmoor National Park boundary.  These rights were purchased from the Bedford Estate in 1964 for the sum of £750 (£10,503 at today’s values).  In partnership with users the Council seeks to manage the downland area by restricting the use of the land to purposes compatible with the environment and grazing rights whilst maximising the recreational, leisure and tourist potential.

For many years the Council has assumed responsibility for the administration of the annual Goose Fair.   This involves liaising with fairground operators and traders, co-operation with the police and other authorities, setting and collection of rents and charges for traders sited on the highway and on land owned by the Town Council, and the administration of bills associated with the Fair.  A ‘Park and Ride’ scheme is also organised by the Council to alleviate the parking and transport problem in the Town on the Goose Fair day.

Twinning

The Town has formal twinning links with Pontivy (France) and Celle (Germany).  There is a flourishing Twinning Association in Tavistock which is represented on the Town Council’s Twinning Sub-Committee.  Reciprocal exchange visits are made and school exchanges fostered and encouraged.

Tavistock Town Council is seeking a new Town Clerk – click here to see the full town clerk job vacancy

Callington currently accommodates a population of approximately 6000 persons.  Since the mid 1970s the population of the town has nearly doubled. This means that the town is undergoing considerable change that looks likely to continue. The town is expanding and the challenge is to make certain that the facilities and infrastructure also change in order to retain the quality of life of its inhabitants.

The Town Council comprises twelve members who were elected in a contested election. A Mayor is elected annually and the town is almost unique in also having the very ancient title of ‘Portreeve’. The Town Council has five staff.

Although a small town the Council is very active.  The Council owns its own centrally situated Town Hall complex with the adjacent Pannier Market. Within this the Town Council offices are situated and these provide what is in effect a ‘one stop shop’ with the staff providing information on a wide range of subjects and services. Callington is a burial authority with its own cemetery.

There are two large recreation fields and numerous areas with play equipment, which the Council maintains. Other areas of responsibility are; public conveniences, bus shelters, skate park, allotments, CCTV, Annual Fireworks display and other community events such as Christmas and Christmas lights, flower beds, free car park, a wide range of publications including a monthly free newsletter, web site etc.

The Town Council in consultation with the community produced the Town Plan in 2005 and the review process for this has already started with the 20/20 Vision. Every opportunity is taken to obtain grant funding to provide extra facilities, two of the parks have recently been updated [with play equipment chosen by the children and teenagers] at a cost of £160,000. The Town Council also works with community groups such as the Town Forum and the Community Area Network Panel.

Ahead, there are not only the usual challenges that face any proactive council but there is also the complete change of structure to local government in the County of Cornwall. The new Unitary Authority came into being in 2009 and the transfer and devolution of responsibilities, assets and facilities will create an interesting time and one that is full of challenges and opportunities.

Callington Town Council is seeking a suitably qualified, experienced and highly motivated person to undertake the usual duties of a Town Clerk. Callington has a population of 6000 and an annual budget of £262,000. The Council is one of the most active in Cornwall and the successful applicant will require a wide variety of skills. CILCA or a Local Policy qualification is required or must be obtained so that the Council can maintain its Quality status. The next few years will provide many challenges as Cornwall is a Unitary Authority and we require someone with the skills, enthusiasm and commitment to take Callington into the future.

Closing date for applications Monday 28^th March 2011, interviews will be held w/c 4^th April 2011

The position offers a wonderful opportunity for a person with wide ranging skills, and the ability to communicate and work in partnership with Councillors, the general public, local government officers and the private sector.

Click here to see the full town clerk job advert

North Hykeham Town Council

The first North Hykeham Parish Council meetings was held in 1894. With the growth of the town, North Hykeham successfully achieved Town Council status in 1973.  In 2006 North Hykeham Town Council was immensely proud to be awarded Quality Council status.

The Town Council Committee meetings are currently held at six-weekly intervals.  There are 18 councillors. The Town is divided into 5 wards: Moor (3 Councillors), Mill (6 Councillors), Memorial (3 Councillors), Witham (3 Councillors) and Forum (3 Councillors). The Council is served by the Town Clerk, a Deputy Clerk and an Assistant Clerk. There are five Committees of the Council plus additional sub-committees and working parties who report and make recommendations to the Full Council for approval. Committees meet every six weeks. These five committees are Finance & Policy, Parks & Recreation, Environment, Community Liaison and Planning.

North Hykeham Town Council currently has a vacancy for a Town Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer

Responsibilities
North Hykeham Town Council is responsible for the maintenance of all our open spaces: Village Green, Witham Fields, St Aidens and Glebe Park; Mill Lane cemetery; allotments at Mill Lane and Chapel Lane; football pitches at Witham Fields and farmers’ markets. A further allotment site is currently under construction.The council also owns and manages the public toilets on the Village Green. We have one Senior Groundsman, three Groundstaff, a Dog/Park Warden, an Environmental Warden and a Toilet Attendant.

North Hykeham’s History

North Hykeham’ Motto “AUDIATUR ET ALTERA PARS” freely translated means “One should also listen to the other side and not always assume one is always right”.

North Hykeham, both as a village and, since 1973, as a town, is rightly proud of its independence from Lincoln.  The old village dates back to the Angles, Germanic invaders who occupied much of Britain after the Romans left in 4AD.  The Danes and Vikings arrived in Lincolnshire in 9AD, hence places with names ending in – by, thorpe and ham (which means ‘village’).

North Hykeham Church was first mentioned in 1160 but, by 1535, it was merely a ‘free chapel’ but was in ruin by 1700.  From 1700 there was no church in North Hykeham.  All Saints Church was built in the late 1850s and the Methodist Chapel was built in 1881.  In 1894 the first Parish Council was established and met in the village school.  In 1948 the Parish Council moved to the Memorial Hall (‘The Tin Tabernacle’) on Newark Road.  The present Memorial Hall was built in 1969.  In May 2006 the Town Council moved to its new premises in Fen Lane, an extension of the existing pavilion.

After the Second World War, the expanding population of North Hykeham resulted in three new Primary Schools and two Comprehensives.  The post war period saw a housing boom in North Hykeham.  In 1970 fifteen acres at Fen Lane were purchased to accommodate three or four football pitches and a children’s play area.  With the growth of the town, North Hykeham successfully achieved Town Council status in 1973.

In 1988 North Hykeham was twinned with Denzlingen in the Black Forest region of Germany.  Saint Cyr Sur Mer (France) and Città Della Pieve (Italy) have since been twinned with North Hykeham. 2008 saw the 20th Anniversary of the Twinning Association with Denzlingen.

A new Town Cemetery was consecrated in May 1998 and, in addition to the new Asda Superstore, the Forum and Hykeham Green, more facilities are planned to cope with new housing developments.  The 2001 Census showed North Hykeham had a population of 11,538 but this is expected to exceed 14,500 shortly.

In 2006, after much hard work by staff and councillors over a couple of years, North Hykeham Town Council was proud to be awarded Quality Council status and this was renewed in 2010.  North Hykeham is proud to lead the way in community involvement, provision for young people and development of the town to provide for its continuing population growth.

North Hykeham remains proud of its history and looks forward to the future.

http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/NorthHykeham/

Peacehaven did not exist prior to 1916, although there was a small initial development a decade earlier. The story goes that in 1915, Charles Neville saw an expanse of derelict land ripe for development. Within a year he had bought a number of acres of land in the Parish of Piddinghoe. Mr Neville came from a showman family. It was the showman side that made the difference, for he thought of a new way of promoting his new estate. He did not advertise it, but thought about how to promote a new Town using a competition. As far as is known, no one had done this before. Using most of the national newspapers, he asked the public to name his new Town. The winner won a plot of land worth £100, plus for the runners up, 50 prizes of plots of land in the new Town worth £50, and a fee of three guineas (£3.15 in today’s money) to cover the cost of the conveyance.

The competition was exceptionally popular with some 80,000 people entered. With so many entries the number of runner up prizes was increased to over 2,400. It was thought that Mr Neville saw that this was a way of selling a large part of his holding without costing anything. The purchasers paid for the conveyance, transferring the land to them, and Mr Neville’s company, the South Coast Land & Resort Company would supply the new owners with either a house or the materials to build one.

However, The Daily Express saw the scheme as a fraud and took Mr Neville to court, who filed a counter-claim for libel. Although the legal proceedings went as high as the House of Lords, Charles Neville in the end lost. But by then the publicity had done the trick and everyone knew of Peacehaven. And so out of barren farm land in the Parish of Piddinghoe, the Town of Peacehaven was to grow into a Town larger than the County Town of Lewes until more recent times.

Development did not start until after the end of the 1914/18 war and Neville’s South Coast and Land Resort Company would tailor its home designs to suit the means of the plot holders. The one-bedroom ‘Exeter’ for example, cost £360 and was built of bricks made from clay found to the west of Roderick Avenue.

During the Second World War the Canadian Division was based in the area where much of the countryside around Peacehaven was taken up as a training ground. Many of the troops took part in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid where many lost their lives or were taken prisoner of war.

A much loved former resident who left an indelible mark on the Town is Gracie Fields. The foremost female entertainer of her day, Gracie owned a house in Telscombe Cliffs and bought another for her parents in Dorothy Avenue, Peacehaven. She later gave the property to the Theatrical Ladies Guild as a home for the children of touring actors. This is now Dorothy House a residential retirement home.

The 0 degrees longitude Greenwich Meridian Line, from which the world takes its time and measures its global position, runs through the Town. The cliff top Meridian Monument gives tourists the opportunity to walk the Meridian Line with a foot in both the Eastern and Western hemisphere. A recent guide book has been published which allows walkers to follow the Meridian Line through the countryside.

The recent resignation of the Town Clerk, Sheila Baker, has created a desirable vacancy for the right applicant (click here for details).

The Town Council Office forms part of Community House, owned by the Council since 2002. Community House is part of the thriving Meridian Shopping Centre built in the late 1970’s by East Sussex County Council and now owned by the Co-operative Group.

The Council employs 15 staff, has an annual budget in excess of £550,000, and manages over £3m of assets including Community House – a large building with many rooms/halls for hire; a large sports park – home to Peacehaven & Telscombe Football Club; Annex Community Room; parks, gardens and floral displays. The Town Council hosts and facilitates a number of community events and entertainments, theatre (Peacehaven Players), including a monthly cinema. A thriving, indoor market is held four times a week at Community House. The Council undertakes, under agency terms, grass verge cutting for East Sussex County Council and Telscombe Town Council. Detailed information about the Council and its services can be found on www.peacehaven council.co.uk.

Today, Peacehaven is a thriving coastal Town surrounded by open countryside. It is conveniently sandwiched between the City of Brighton and Hove in the west and the Port of Newhaven in the east and located on the borders of the new South Downs National Park. The Town is mainly bungalows, semi-detached and terraced houses built around a straight east west and north south road structure. The population stands at about 13,500 with about 10,600 electors.

A major new development is the Southern Water Treatment Plant, due for completion in 2012 and through several related S106 obligations amounting to £1.6m; the Council is currently working closely with Lewes District Council on a new sports park complex.

Peacehaven takes great pride in its unique creation, but residents also appreciate just how lucky they are to live by the sea with the great wealth of open countryside within easy access.

The Town’s crime rate is lower than the national average.  Schools are highly rated – three infant/primary schools and Peacehaven Community School for secondary education.

Peacehaven Town Council – website

Newark Town Council is currently seeking a new Town Clerk

Newark-on-Trent is an historic market Town dating back to the 12th century, situated in north Nottinghamshire between Nottingham and Lincoln.

The Town itself has an imposing 12th Century Castle, Civil War connections and a lovely cobbled marketplace featuring its Georgian Town Hall. Oliver Cromwell fought battles against the Royalists just outside Newark and King John was poisoned and died at the Castle.

Newark was granted its own Coat of Arms by Queen Elizabeth I in 1561, incorporating the beaver, otter and eel, all references to the Town’s location on the river Trent. Its motto ‘Deo Fretus Erumpe’ translates as, ‘Trust in God and sally forth’.

In 1626, Charles I raised the status of Alderman to that of Mayor and Henry Gill was elected the first Mayor of Newark that same year. The Town Mayor’s role is that of civic representative for the Town. The majority of Mayors have been men but there have been several female Mayors, the first being Kate A Quibell, 1957-58.

The “Clerk to the Council” is the only officer that the Town Council is required to appoint. S/he is the custodian of documents and records such as accounts, minutes and order books and is the professional advisor to the Council. This appointment goes back to 1579 when the “common clerk” was appointed to collect the fees from the market traders.

The River Trent has played an integral role in the life of Newark for many centuries. Before other means of transport were developed, the river was the only practical way to transport large and heavy goods over long distances as well as access to the sea for overseas trading. The river banks housed a thriving inland port with wharves, warehouses, mills, maltings and breweries which brought employment and wealth to the Town.

The nearby Sherwood Forest provided much timber, particularly oak during the medieval period from which many large buildings in and around Newark were constructed. As available timber became more scarce for buildings, through the reduction in stock and the demand for oak for ship-building, stone and brick became more popular, but several fine examples of timber-constructed buildings can still be seen.

During the years between 1714 and 1830, the whole of Great Britain enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, leading to a boom in house building. This was typified by the Georgian style, characterised by geometric proportion and balance in the pattern of windows and doors, and associated columns, parapets and pediments. Newark developed such styles and became known as a Georgian Town with many grand examples of the Georgian period, one of which is the Town Hall, completed in 1776 by John Carr of York but influenced by Robert Adam with whom he worked on Harewood House. The famous composer and pianist Franz Liszt gave a concert in the Town Hall on 11 September 1840. The Town Hall now houses the Town Council and Town Treasures and Art Gallery.

Although Newark has its historical connections, along side its medieval and Georgian buildings, Newark’s streets host many buildings in the Art Deco style which originated in the 1920s and 30s, deriving its name from Paris’s “Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes” in 1925.

For over 250 years, until the second half of the 20th century, Newark stood at the heart of English brewing and malting industries. With good water supplies and transportation facilities, and with easy reach to barley-growing areas, the Town had many advantages over its rivals, and became known as “The Metropolis of Malt”. Many varieties of beer and malt were produced in vast quantities for local consumption and exported around the world.

A statutory duty of the Council is responsibility for the Cemetery which dates from 1856. Many notable Newark residents are buried in the Cemetery which is also a burial place for a large number of Polish servicemen who perished during the Second World War.

In keeping with the objectives of the European Union, Newark has twinning arrangements with the following Continental Towns: Emmendingen, Germany (in 1984), St Cyr-sur-Loire, France (1992) and Sandomierz, Poland (2006). In addition to these associations, the Town also maintains sister links with several other Newarks of the world.

Newark enjoys excellent road and rail links situated on the A1 and the main East Coast railway lines including the developing Eurolink network, and is within easy reach of both the Nottingham East Midlands International Airport, and the Robin Hood Airport at Doncaster. The east Lincolnshire coast is only an hour away by rail or road.

Nottinghamshire County Council and its neighbour, Lincolnshire, offer a variety of school options, including comprehensive and grammar schools with adequate bus services linking the Town and the schools. In and around Newark, there is a wide range of leisure and sports facilities, museums, community centres, theatres, parks and open spaces. The Council has a commitment to produce a variety of events such as Newark in Bloom, Brass Band concerts in the Castle grounds, Tea Dances in the Ballroom of the Town Hall, and the wonderful Christmas Lights celebrations.

Lymington was recently judged to be the most attractive seaside town in the south. Its town centre is a conservation area, with many buildings dating from the Georgian period and earlier. It has a thriving marina with two popular and prestigious sailing clubs. There is a rich selection of characterful pubs and welcoming restaurants with menus to suit all pockets. The busy Saturday street market, originating from a charter signed 800 years ago, attracts visitors and shoppers from a wide area and is always especially crowded on sunny summer weekends.

The town is conveniently situated just 11 miles across the New Forest from junction 1 of the M27. There is a main line station 4 miles away at Brockenhurst with frequent fast trains to London. Inter-city trains connect with most regions of the UK. Southampton and Bournemouth airports and shopping centres are within a 45 minute drive. Wightlink provides a 24 hour vehicle and passenger ferry service to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. Housing is relatively expensive, especially in Lymington itself, though prices in Pennington are a little more affordable. Current prices for a three-bed family home of average status range between £250,000 and £400,000.

Pennington, which lies to the west of the main town, is a significant residential area that is still remembered for the small rural community that it used to be a century ago. Many families whose roots can be traced back over generations still consider it to be their ‘village’. Pennington Common is a popular recreational area, especially for dog walkers. Parts of it are also protected sites of special scientific interest. In the summer months it often accommodates circuses, fun fairs and summer events.

Pennington also includes tracts of salt marshes where the layout of the former salt pans is still visible in the pools and lakes of the area, The abundant wildlife includes thriving colonies of marine and marshland birds and is a destination of choice for ornithologists. The coastal path from Lymington to Keyhaven provides an invigorating walk affording magnificent views of the Isle of Wight.

The Council is responsible for the maintenance of over 200 acres of recreational open space, the largest example of which comprises Woodside Gardens and park to the south-west of the town. Here formal gardens, play and sports facilities sit side by side. There are further full-sized sports pitches, along with the Lymington Bowling and Tennis clubs, near the centre of the town. Pennington also has a spacious sports ground adjacent to a popular sports club. The Council also manages a unique outdoor lido.

The 571 km²  of the New Forest, one of the UK’s most popular rural tourist venues, is right on Lymington’s doorstep, with its vast tracts of woodland and heathland, home to hundreds of wild roaming ponies, donkeys and cattle, not forgetting leisure walkers, cyclists and hardy hikers!

Haywards Heath was once known as the brightest and prettiest of Sussex residential districts and was the most populous town on the main line once it left Surrey. Thus quotes the 1911 town guide. A century on, efforts have been made to retain some of this charm despite the large growth in housing development.

The population is just over 23,000 and is set to grow even higher with the pressure on the South East to provide more homes. The town has good connections by road and rail to London, and the coast. Gatwick and the M25 are just 15 minutes away.

The town has been luckier than many during the recent recession and has a vibrant shopping centre with many independent shops as well as the usual national multiples. Regeneration schemes are being looked at with plans coming forward in the next year or two.

The town is blessed with lovely parks, one, Victoria Park, is situated right in the centre of the town and is valued by local residents as one of Haywards Heath’s best assets. From the park there are wonderful views across to the South Downs

The Town has five Conservation areas one is Muster Green, which is situated on the entrance to the town. This green with its traditional flower beds is maintained to a high standard by the Town Council and is a focal point for the Town’s Spring Festival.

The Town Council offices are just around the corner from Muster Green and although built in 1990 has the look and charm of a Georgian building. As well as the Council offices and Council Chamber it has meeting rooms which are let out to the community. It is also licensed to hold Marriages.

It is an attractive area in which to live and work and has a wide variety of attractions on the doorstep with good communications to the larger centres of Cambridge, Peterborough and, of course, London.

The district was formed in 1974 combining the former Urban Districts of Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Royston with Hitchin Rural District. It occupies the low chalk hills of the north-eastern Chilterns, extending north into the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire plain around Ashwell and Hinxworth, and south to the valley of the River Lea around Codicote.

The area south and west of Hitchin is dominated by small hamlets linked by a network of winding lanes with high hedgerows, while to the east of Baldock, the landscape is open, with few hedges and larger, more nucleated villages.

Each of the towns has a distinctive character: Hitchin, Baldock and Royston are medieval market towns, each retaining numerous historic buildings, while Letchworth Garden City is world famous as the first Garden City.

The Council’s priorities are town centres, green issues and sustainable development, refl ecting the fact that we are an area of growth, but one which also seeks to preserve the history and culture of our towns. We have recently restructured our senior management team and part of that has been to combine our policy / partnerships and community development teams. The Policy Team manages relations with our Strategic Partnerships and has recently developed the Partnership’s Sustainable Communities Strategy which informs the District’s long term vision.

So, if you enjoy the challenges of being “in at the start” and seeing ideas evolve into delivery, then these could be posts to suit you.

We also have two challenging posts in our Community Safety Team. We have an excellent record in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and work closely with the police and other agencies to minimise social problems. Would you like to help us keep up the good work?