Simple Simon

I've heard that some of the new properties built on Wat's Meadow will be used for social housing. I also understand that the Hart & Trumpet pub is being turned into flats.

I went past it yesterday and the roof was blowing in the wind? Who owns the old kebab shop that was burnt a couple of years ago, because that's all boarded up now and looks really rundown.

Is there any difference between the cost of an Arriva fare and Tanat Valley to Oswestry?

P.S. Driving over St. Mary's in the Fields: S-C-A-R-Y!!!!!

Frankton are a series of locks with basins inbetween. A staircase consists of a number of locks all in a row. I don't think there are any on the Llangollen Canal, but I do recall Grindley Brook (?) and Hurlston Locks (?) on the Shropshire Union. The answer to taking a boat up a staircase if the first lock is full: You let the water out of the bottom lock until it reaches canal level, open the gates and chug in. Close the gates. Then you go to the very top lock and using your windlass empty the water into the 2nd one down. Continue this process until you reach the lock occupied by your own boat. Using the windlass, let the water flow into the occupied lock until it reaches the level of the next one up. Open the gates and chug in. Close the gates and repeat the process from the top lock all over again. A very slow way of getting up hill using downward flowing water!

Who owns that shack and the land that it stands on?

Ha! You're a fountain of knowledge, Maggie, but tell me, how does one get a canal boat UP a staircase if the first lock is already full?

There was a programme on telly last night about star gazing and it included an item on a town in Somerset that switched off all of its lights for an hour to get a better view of the stars...but it was pouring with rain! However, I do feel it was a worthwhile thing to do as it cut down on light pollution and saved a bit of money. Is this a project any of the 4 villages would like to adopt for next year?

Just a quick not to express my appreciation to all the people that have provided me with information about the kids listed above.

Wats Dyke was mentioned during the Transport Meeting late last year. It forms part of a route through Oswestry. I also understand that parts of the original route was dug up when they were constructing Wats Meadow in Gobowen.

Over the past few years the skateboard ramps have been put up on the pavilion car park for one day sessions during some school holidays. It takes time and a number of people to fit the ramps together and take them apart after the session. The space available on the car park is a bit restricted and the ramps aren't safe to use if they get wet. One solution is to have a permanent BMX/skateboard circular track on the Gobowen playing field, perhaps making use of the mounds of soil by the sports courts and down at the far end of the field. The track would need a proper surface allowing for a smooth rides and trick moves. The track could be as big, or bigger than the one at Ellesmere. There is plenty of space down at the bottom end of the field providing it is not situated too close to the river. Does anyone think this is a good idea?

Selattyn & Gobowen Parish Council would like to hold more community events on the playing fields during 2012. In order to do this they need ideas from local people on what sort of events the community wants and also help from volunteers to organise events and help to run them on the day. Ideas currently being considered include holding a community fun day to mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee in June and organising a bonfire and fireworks display in November.

I have a further 2 names to add to the list: "Courtney .M" "Josh .C" As before, if you have any information on these individuals please private message me. Thank you.

I've experienced the rise in rail charges (I'm not calling it "fares" - that would be silly). An Off Peak Return from Gobowen to Shrewsbury was £6.60, it's now £7.10.

Last year I found a load dumped in the Shropshire Council wheelie bin just outside the pavilion car park, and I've heard reports that issues have been dumped in the High Lea area of Oswestry. Having said all that, I've seen really young kids with trollies delivering them, so perhaps the Chronicle should take a long hard look at their distributors and the conditions they work in.

It's Friday 6th January 2012 and I've just witnessed a bin collection with a twist: One caged backed lorry was comming around and emptying both the orange (plastic and metal) and the green (glass) bins into the back. Has anyone else noticed?

At the beginning of the Christmas holiday I noticed lots of new graffiti written and drawn with black permanent marker on the play equipment. It's dirty stuff and it's scrawled on equipment in plain view of pre-school kids and mothers. The culprits included their names with the graffiti, so I'm gathering information on them.