Felmersham Parish Council

The Parish of Felmersham comprises the two villages of Felmersham and Radwell, situated about half a mile apart, and several outlying farms and dwellings. The villages are fine examples of the limestone heritage villages in the North Bedfordshire Ouse Valley. St Mary’s Church, Pinchmill Pre-School and Pinchmill Lower School/Village Hall are all situated in Felmersham. There is one public house in Felmersham and a public house/restaurant in Radwell. The River Ouse, the gravel pits and local walks attract many visitors including tourists, fishers and artists. There is a picnic site on the Carlton Road maintained by the County Council which affords fine views over the Ouse Valley towards Odell. There is also a small caravan park on a farm by the river. Local employers are the Lower School, Pre-school, boarding cattery, dog kennels and dog grooming parlour, a riding establishment, livery stables and several home-based businesses and farms. Since the bakery/village shop ceased trading some 15 years ago, the nearest shops are in Sharnbrook, about 1½ miles distant.

The successful Pinchmill Lower School, catering for students up to 9 years, currently has a roll of 69, of whom 36 live in the Parish. The school building was recently enlarged to accommodate a new library, art room and an ICT room. According to the latest OFSTED report, the school is in the highest 5% in the country and was awarded the Green Flag Eco award in 2005. Pinchmill Pre-school, catering for 2½ - 5 year olds, is run by the Pre-School Committee of parents and recently relocated to a purpose-built facility with garden within Pinchmill Lower School grounds.

State Middle School and Upper School education is provided in Oakley and Sharnbrook respectively. A parent and toddler group meets weekly in Pinchmill Hall committee room. Sunday school children are accommodated in a private house, attending St Mary’s for a short part of the service.

According to Bedford Borough Council records, there are a total of 289 households, with 207 properties being in Felmersham and 82 in Radwell. The Parish is predominantly a commuter and retirement community and the majority of respondents would like it to remain as such. A quarter of respondents to the questionnaire were over 60, slightly higher than in 1993 when the last parish survey was undertaken, with just over a fifth being in the 50 - 59 age range. Seventeen percent of respondents were aged under 17, compared with 22% in 1993. A quarter of respondents have lived in the Parish for less than 6 years and it is encouraging to note that they are mainly in the 22 – 49 age group with young families. A third of respondents cited ‘village locality’ as the reason for choosing to live in the Parish, followed by ‘proximity to good schools’, ‘housing’ and ‘near to work’. One of the most notable changes in the last 10 years is in employment in the Parish. A third of respondents are currently in full-time employment, compared with 53% in 1993 with a quarter declared to be retired versus 14% in 1993. The remaining respondents are largely in part-time employment, education or training.

Apart from the home-based workers, only 10 respondents work in the Parish. Nearly half work within 10 miles but almost a quarter travel between 10 and 30 miles. Bedford is the preferred place for regular food shopping, followed by Sharnbrook and Rushden. Fifteen households stated they used the Internet for food shopping. Car ownership and usage is high. Only 6 households (all in Felmersham) did not declare having a car. Although many of the older properties do not have garages, nine out of ten cars were stated to be either garaged or parked off-road.

Swansholme – Felmersham’s “social housing” for parishioners built outside the village envelope (Section 106).

The Parish benefits from having a well-established Community Care Scheme, manned by volunteers, providing short-term help with transport, domestic support, household assistance and home safety.

There are many social events in the Parish, including an annual Summer Fair, the Boxing Day walk, an annual show, Carol Service, a dawn chorus meet, a sunflower competition, annual litter pick and concerts. Fund-raising events include the monthly Saturday coffee mornings in aid of the fabric of St Mary’s supported by many parishioners, whether churchgoers or not, many charity functions and Lower School and Pre-School events organized by Pinchmill School Association and Pre-School Committee. Pinchmill Hall committee room is host to a very active WI group, a Thursday Club for senior citizens, and clubs such as patchwork quilting, bridge, art and flower arranging. For girls, there is a Brownies Group. Felmersham Village Cricket Club is now based in Pavenham. The Parish has an active, well-supported Parish Paths Partnership (P3) group, a voluntary group set up and supported by Bedfordshire County Council and the Parish Council. The purpose of the partnership is to promote and maintain the public rights of way network and to enhance the countryside for wildlife and people.