Parish council: Horton parish councillors met last week for their monthly meeting and were pleased to learn that arrangements had been made for the secure storage of council records and archive. Inquiries had revealed that superfast broadband via fibre optic service would be available in the parish from early summer. The clerk and chairman had met the new manager of Greenfield forest and understood that consideration was being given to securing an alternative timber trans-shipment route via Cam woodland and the B6255 to avoid Newhouses Lane. Councillors recommended that an application for listed building consent to re-point Helwith Bridge be granted by the planning authority. It was noted that the application for a rail head at Arcow quarry would be considered by the YDNPA planning committee at its March meeting. The planning officer had recommended that the application be granted subject to several conditions including all those recommended by the parish council. It was understood to be still the intention of Hanson to install a rail head at Horton quarry as and when the capital funding was available. Councillors offered a vote of thanks to the outgoing clerk Ian Flemming for all his endeavours on behalf of the council and community over the past five years. He will formally hand over his position to the newly-appointed clerk Belinda Roos on April 3. The next council meeting will be on Monday, April 14 at 7.30pm in the village hall.

St Oswald’s: There will be a 10.30am morning service in St Oswald’s Church on Sunday.

Whist drive: The monthly whist drive was held at the Golden Lion. The winners were: ladies – B Garnett, D Pullen, M Wellock and M Davis; gents – M Davis, M Wright (sub), V Jones (sub) and H ackson. The next whist drive will be held on Tuesday, April 8 at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome, new players and old, novice or experienced.

Gun Club: Members of Penyghent Gun Club met at High Birkwith Farm by kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Morphet and family. E Sharpe and A McLernon were the field marshals for the 30-bird sporting layout competition. The winner of the High Birkwith trophy with 22 kills was K Humphrey. Second was R Carr with 21 kills and third was R Bold with 17 kills. A ten-bird pool shoot followed which was won by E Sharpe with nine kills. The next members shoot will be at Horton Quarry on Sunday, April 6 at 1pm.