A CLOCKTOWER, street parties and mementos are all being suggested as ways for Addingham to mark the forthcoming Millennium.

Parish Councillors discussed how to mark the celebration of the age, with ideas ranging from those that celebrate the present to those that mark the village's remarkable historic past.

Coun Alan Jerome said: "I know I am being old fashioned, but going back in time to events such as coronations, the children were given something as a memento.

"I know people will see that as old fashioned and not forward-looking, but I still come back to the idea of celebrating something so that in years to come, people will be able to say: 'When I was at Addingham First School, this is what I was given.

"My thoughts are on something that would be a present to the children in the schools and some money for street parties."

A street party along the lines of a gala for the village was suggested to be held at a time when village youngsters could be involved, rather than New Year's Eve next year.

Coun David Pratt said that he felt there was a danger of losing the open spaces within the village and a Millennium project should reflect this.

He said: "I wanted the idea of really what Alan has discounted and that was really making a mark within the village."

And the idea of a lasting monument in the village was a popular one with Coun Daniel Palmer, suggesting a clocktower with a history of Addingham.

On a similar theme, Coun Bill Preston said: "The sawmill is in the centre of the village. It would be an ideal nature reserve and with this development that is going on now, we can do something about it.

"We have lost a lot of footpaths with the bypass and that, to me, would be ideal."

Councillors agreed to discuss the matter further at the next meeting and to look at the possibility of using council funds and any available grants.

Chairman Coun Stephen Crossley-Smith said: "I think the idea of having a monument of some sort, perhaps with a history of the village, is excellent. I don't see why we shouldn't take on several things.

"We haven't got a budget, we are at the ideas stage now. I think we can find some funding from within the council and some from outside.

"I think we should think of something major as this is only going to happen once. We want something that commemorates the Millennium and also the history of the village as well."

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