VILLAGE meeting: It's that time of year again.

Ellisfield's annual parish meeting is taking place next Friday, April 22, at the Memorial Hall.

Doors will open at 7.30pm with tea, coffee and biscuits available. The meeting will start at 8pm.

As you're probably aware, this is not a parish council meeting. Every resident is invited to hear the latest news from all the village organisations and you can have your say about any matter that affects the community.

Also, our county and borough councillors will be there to answer any questions you might have about such things as the planned housing expansion in Basingstoke.

RECYCLING: The special theme of this year's meeting will be waste recycling.

As you might have seen here a month ago, only 17 per cent of the refuse picked up by the Ellisfield and Axford refuse collection on Fridays comprise the recyclable items we put out in bags or "piggy back" bins.

Our guest this year is from the borough council, and she will be giving us a highly visual guide as to what can and can't be recycled.

Be prepared to share the hall with every kind of rubbish imaginable!

SOCIAL: After the meeting there will be wines, beers and soft drinks available, as well as some good food.

IMPORTANT: If you live in Ellisfield and you care about the village, then you should attend this meeting.

Put the date in your diary and on your wall calendar now. No excuses - be there.