Cople
Welcome to the Cople village web site.
If weave maid any spelling miss steaks or udder errors please let me no, thanks, Ian
What's On Soon
Saturday 25th May - Heritage Day at Cople Church
Saturday 25th May - Delta Ladies
Saturday 25th May - Over 60s Craft Fair
Sunday 26th May - Bulky Waste
Saturday 1st June - Mark Calder
A603 Road Evening Closure
The Bedford Borough Council will be resurfacing the A603 between Balls Lane, Willington and Willington Road, Cople for 8 week nights between Monday 8th July 2013 to Thursday 18th July 2013 (specific dates will be advertised locally closer to the time.)
The closure is anticipated to be in operation between 2000hrs and 0600hrs. Where possible access will be maintained to property and premises but may be restricted from time to time according to local signing.
Childhood Memories - Ernest Storton
Ernest Storton, 1909 - 2003, was born nearby in Hatch and moved to Cople in 1914. In 1989 Ernest wrote his memories of his childhood in Cople which were then published and distributed in Cople.
In March 2013 Ged Peeke, the currect editor of Cople News, has kindly transcribed Ernest's orginal article for republication.
Download Childhood Memories, Ernest Storton 1989 PDF
Any Children for Tennis?
This spring & summer children from Cople Lower School are taking part in a programme of tennis lessons.
LTA liaison coach, Dave Revell, inspired children at the taster session at Cople Village Hall on a recent visit.
For further information please contact the Cople Lower School.
Broadband
The Bedford Borough Partnership Board has match funded the £440k received from Broadband Development UK (BDUK) to improve broadband access and speeds. The aim is to have 90% of premises receiving above 25 Mbps (superfast) broadband by 2015, with 100% having at least 2 Mbps (basic). The Joint Local Broadband Plan is being carried out alongside MK and Central Bedfordshire Councils.
Formal procurement for the delivery of projects began last month and it is expected that this will be completed in the middle of 2013, with most of the work being carried out in 2014. The Council is keen for as many people as possible to register their interest in having access to superfast broadband as this will help them arrive at a better deal with the prospective supplier if it can be shown that there is a demand. Residents can register at www.bedford.gov.uk/broadband.
Cardington Airfield Development
The 94-year-old airship industry in Bedfordshire could come to an end if a planning application goes through, protesters have claimed.
Plans have been submitted to build 167 homes, near Shortstown, south of Cardington airfield and hangars. Campaigners say if this land is built on, the airfield will not be "operationally viable".
See BBC news http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-19570262
For those concerned about this additional development you can sign the e-petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-cardington-airfield/# After signing up you are asked to donate to iPetition. This is optional and does not help finance the Cardington campaign. Your name will have already been added to the petition regardless of whether you donate, you can now close the i-petition window without following the "payment" link
Shortstown and RAF Cardington Memories
Jane Harvey asks "Is there anyone in Cople who can help in my local history research?"
I live in Shortstown and run two websites one about the history of Shortstown www.shortstownheritage.co.uk and one recently set up about RAF Cardington www.rafcardingtoncamp.co.uk
If anyone has any memories or photographs of any time spent in Shortstown or RAF Cardington I would love to hear from them. I have also heard that during WW2 decoy buildings resembling the 2 sheds at Cardington were set up in some fields around Cople - can anyone comment on this please?
I can be contacted onjyh@shortstownheritage.co.uk or alternatively by phone 01234 740671. Thank you, Jane.
Photos
I have added some pictures from the Bedfordshire v Oxfordshire cricket match played at Cople May 13th 2012. If you know their names please email me and I will update the captions.
New albums have been added to the Cople Photo Albums with photographs from Julie Scherrer and Vaughan Southgate.
The sell-out Friend's dinner and talk by Charlie Porter, "Tales from Wood End", and the first Heritage Open Day for Cople Church. The latter is to be held usually on the last Saturday of each month for six months, this has been a great success.
Community Garden Shortstown
From Caroline Williams, Shortstown Community Garden. 01234 313815/07888 730184. email: shortstowncommunitygarden@gmail.com
I have just started a Community Garden in the area, and am looking for support from residents in the area. The garden I have recently set up in Shortstown, having the use of part of the Shortstown Lower School's plot. I have the backing from BPHA, have set various networks such as on Facebook and also a link with Shortstown Heritage Site. I have also have connections with Mile Road Allotments, Shuttleworth College and Bedford Borough Council, so quite a lot of work has been undertaken.
The land I have is temporary, the school is moving next year. I am therefore looking to grow interest through demostration at the site I have at the moment, in order to form a committee and eventually get funding. I am also looking for a permanent location in the area, this may well be more suited in Cardington or Cople, as finding land near to Shortstown is turning out to be impossible.
My vision is to grow something that is self-funding and pretty much sustainable, and have fairly ambitious goals. Do you think that this is something that the residents might be interested to get involved in? Or would you like to know more about this?
If it is of interest to someone in this area, I would love to hear from you (see above)
Village Hall web pages
The Cople Village Hall now has its own mini web site
See booking rates, facilities, contact details and photographs. Village Hall is available for hire, discounts offered to Cople residents and regular hires.
Charity Shoot
Paul Walsh and Charlie Porter recently came up with the brilliant idea of having a Charity Shoot on their respective farms to raise funds for St John’s Hospice and the Friends of Cople Church.
Cople Photo Albums
Police 101 Non-Emergency Number
Bedfordshire Police have launched a new number providing people with a new way to get in touch about non-emergency issues. 101 is now the main number to call Bedfordshire Police when it is less urgent than 999
Distraction Burglary
The police newsletter has asked everyone to be aware of a distraction burglary with a new twist that took place recently in Milton Ernest
If you live near to an elderly or vulnerable person please take the time to think about who might be calling at their home.
Details on our Police Reports page
Get Safe Online
BEWARE: Internet users are being warned about cold callers who offer to fix viruses but then install software to steal personal information.
Never accept these calls and do not follow their advice
Get your own good advice from getsafeonline.org A joint initiative between the Government, law enforcement, leading businesses and the public sector.
Parish Council
A section has been added to this Cople web site to promote the work of our Parish Council. The council will provide details of minutes, meeting agendas and other items that are of interest to Cople residents.
You will find a permanent link to the Parish Council page in the right hand menu of this page
Next Meeting
Click here for the next meeting date
All members of the Council and local residents are invited to attend.
Your new neighbour
Beware of visitors claiming to be your new neighbour
Ringmaster, the Police information service, has asked that we make residents aware of a distraction burglary alert. Someone is calling on the elderly claiming to be their new neighbour
Local Shops
Willington Post Office
Although Cople has no full time shop of its own the Willington Post Office sells a useful range of basic food, bread, wine, some good-looking fruit and vegetables and newspapers. We urge residents to support the Post Office whenever possible.
Summerhill Farm Shop
Also March 2008 has seen the opening of a new shop in Cardington, Summerhill Farm Shop. Since then Summerhill have earned a good reputation selling salads, vegetables, bread, fruit, meat, cheese and other delicatessen items sourced locally where possible.
Safer Neighbourhood Team
A new web page has been added for the Cople Safer Neighbourhood Team police officer.
Who is your local bobby? When are his/her Cople surgery/walkabouts? Do you know what Ringmaster and Smartwater are? Read about local crime statistics and contact links in the Cople Safer Neighbourhood Team's newsletter here.
We are also including recent, local crime reports on the 'Ringmaster' page. This lists reported crimes in this area and offers advise on how to avoid becoming a victim.
Local weather
Webcams
Web and weather cams are usually fixed cameras uploading an image every few minutes. They are often run privately and may not always be working. I have not found any cams in Bedford. The live cameras below are within 40 miles and usually have similar weather patterns
Clifton weather cam (10 miles south)
RSPB Sandy bird feeder (10 miles east)
Ampthill weather cam (12 miles south)
Stopsley, Luton (20 miles south)
Flood Map
Online map from the Environment Agency. Most of Cople seems clear, Water End has a risk from an extreme flood
