Reports

How do people like the new Threads section?

Two respondents selected “I love it” and one selected “It’s ok”. Nobody selected “What do you mean?” or “It’s not for me, thank you.”

This is an encouraging result. All three answers are at least accepting of the new section, with two expressing enthusiasm. The third respondent has not identified anything requiring correction, so the existing arrangement can continue.

The website displays these results as 67% and 33%.

Each answer represents one-third of the total, so a change in enthusiasm by one person would have a substantial effect on the percentages.

Would people join the r/tinchapel subreddit?

Two respondents selected “Yes, I’ll do it now” and one selected “Maybe later”. Nobody selected either of the options declining to join.

Two-thirds of the answers therefore indicate an intention to join immediately. This is welcome, although the account still has no followers. Anyone who selected “I’ll do it now” but has not yet done so is reminded that the wording was their choice.

Do respondents live in Wrinhale?

All three respondents selected “No”. Nobody selected “Yes” or “Undeclared”.

The consultation has therefore found no Wrinhale residents spying on our website. This follows the previous consultation, in which nobody selected Wrinhale either. It is possible that asking the question under the heading “Trick Question” did not encourage full disclosure. The result does not settle whether anyone in Wrinhale is reading the website.

How do people like the website?

One respondent selected “It’s great” and two selected “It’s better than it used to be”. Nobody selected “It’s ok” or “Don’t like it at all”.

All three answers are favourable, although two have chosen to express this by referring to the website’s previous condition.

Improvement is welcome. It would nevertheless be useful to know whether those two respondents now consider the website good, or simply less bad. The question did not provide space for this distinction, and I accept that this was an omission in its design.

What follows from this?

The Threads section has been well received by the people who answered, and the website has attracted favourable comments. The subreddit has two promises of immediate participation and one possibility for later.

These are small question totals and do not establish wider public opinion. They are, however, the responses available, and I am pleased that none of them requires the website to be taken down.

Geoff Thomas
Caretaker & website maintainer

1. Purpose of the activity

The outing was arranged to provide a group activity outside the Chapel and an opportunity to observe the variety of car colours passing through the local area.

Participants were divided into two teams. Team A observed traffic leaving Breef, while Team B observed traffic entering Breef.

Each team was required to identify ten qualifying cars in each of five colours: blue, silver, red, white and yellow. Photographic evidence showing the registration number was required for each entry.

2. Progress

Blue, silver and white were completed reasonably quickly. Red took longer, after which both teams concentrated on yellow.

Several members continued to announce white cars despite their teams having completed that category. They were reminded that additional white cars would not assist with the outstanding yellow requirement. Further white cars were acknowledged but not recorded.

The shortage of yellow cars became the principal factor affecting the duration of the outing.

3. Review of Team B’s submission

Team B initially reported that it had completed its activity sheet.

Examination of the photographs identified two entries which did not meet the published requirements:

• One yellow vehicle was a van.
• One yellow car was a hybrid.

Both vehicles were yellow. This was not sufficient.

Both entries were removed, reducing the team’s accepted yellow total from ten to eight.

Tony Whitlesay asked how participants were expected to identify a hybrid from a bridge. I referred him to the notice, which expressly excluded hybrid and electric vehicles.

He said that this explained the rule but did not answer the question. The entries remained excluded.

Team B subsequently identified one further qualifying yellow car.

4. Final results

Team A completed the activity. Team B finished one qualifying yellow car short.

The results should not be taken as a complete traffic count or evidence that cars entering Breef are less yellow than those leaving it.

5. Conclusion

When the outing ended, members of Team B asked whether they could continue counting during the journey home.

This was not permitted. Tony said they would be looking out of the windows anyway. I confirmed that looking could continue, but counting had closed.

Team B’s result therefore remains 49.

6. Points for future consideration

Members suggested that a future outing could count cars of any colour towards a single total. This would reduce the time spent waiting, although it would also mean we were simply counting cars.

Members did not regard this as a significant objection.

No further event has been scheduled.

7. Outcome

One team completed its sheet and the other came close. The outing provided an opportunity for members to spend time together outside the Chapel and generated sufficient material for this report.

No prizes were awarded, in accordance with the original notice.

Geoff Thomas
Caretaker

Congratulations to The Usual Suspects, who won with 13 points out of 15.

The supper was enjoyed by all. Thank you to everyone who brought food and to Jean for keeping the hatch open while also taking part in the quiz.

Final scores

One point was awarded for each correct answer.

The two teams on 11 points share third place. Understandably, neither team wished to delay supper for a deciding question.

Questions and answers

General knowledge

Local knowledge

For question 9, Mary said that some of us had never stopped coming. This was accepted as technically correct but it wasn't what was written down.

Picture round

“Caretaker” was accepted for question 15. “The man asking the questions” was also accepted, although I would have preferred my name.

A glass serving dish remains at the Chapel. Please collect it within 48 hours or it becomes chapel property.

Geoff Thomas
Caretaker

Headline figures

• Total steps: 167,676.
• Household visits: 476 individual calls to 34 different houses.
• Confectionery collected (remaining): 851 sweets, 99 mini chocolate bars, 8 chocolate coins and 5 lollies.
• Sweets eaten during the event: 131 declared.
• Largest confectionery haul: Tony’s grandson, with 92 items.
• Highest step count: Geoff Thomas, 12,418.
• Earliest departure: Tony and his grandson, 19:15.
• Latest departure: myself, 22:10.

Points requiring clarification

Tony’s grandson achieved the largest collection despite going home first.

Joseph’s 19 sweets eaten was his own declaration. The true figure cannot be known.

Step counts were supplied by participants using their own devices.

This was a community event rather than a competition.
The figures are published for information, although I am pleased to have recorded the highest step count.

The unfortunate situation that happened at No. 34 is not included in this report.

Geoff Thomas
Caretaker

1. Purpose

This evidence pack records the continuing community use of the Chapel of St Letus Salata during October 2026.

It follows the September report and provides further evidence that the building remains useful, regularly attended and actively maintained. The Chapel’s continuing position depends on demonstrating community benefit and keeping appropriate records of it. Both activities have occupied members during the month.

2. Current Uses

The Chapel continues to provide for:

• Sunday services and non-doctrinal observances.
• Public meetings, Committee business and local consultation.
• Shared meals, refreshments and ordinary social contact.
• Computer Club activities, gaming and practical learning.
• Exercise, recreation and seasonal events.
• Author visits and activities connected with reading.
• Archive work and access to local history.
• Community notices and information about local businesses and clubs.
• Library administration, volunteering and building maintenance.

October’s programme included a neighbourhood potluck, a community signal walk, three Sunday services, a 5G mast demonstration, a Wiki Party, Halloween costume coordination, a clock synchronisation exercise, an exercise class, hide and seek, and a book signing.

These activities required different arrangements, attracted different levels of attendance and gave members several reasons to get out of the house.

3. Community Benefits

The Chapel provides a meeting place for people who wish to organise something without holding it in their own home.

Benefits demonstrated during October include:

• Opportunities to meet neighbours and spend time outside usual social groups.
• Exercise and shared recreational activity.
• Access to books, computers, practical guidance and local information.
• A place to raise concerns about services affecting the surrounding area.
• Support for local businesses and clubs through the new website directory.
• Continuing access to the Chapel’s history and records.
• Tea, biscuits and somewhere to sit between the more organised parts of the programme.

The Committee considers these ordinary uses important. A building does not have to host a major occasion every time its door is opened to be of benefit.

4. Attendance Evidence

The following figures are taken from the published October service and event records.

These are attendances at separate activities. They should not be added together and described as individual residents, since most people came to more than one event. Several attended all of them.

The demonstration figure records everyone present, including opponents of the Chapel’s proposal. It demonstrates participation in a local matter, rather than agreement about it.

The Board Games Night planned for 24 October was cancelled owing to lack of interest. No Sunday service was held on 25 October during my annual fishing trip; three people nevertheless arrived and were recorded. These arrivals have not been counted as attendance at a service that did not take place.

No attendance figure was available for the comparative tea tasting or Halloween parade when this report was prepared.

5. Volunteer Activity

Volunteer work during the month included organising activities, opening and closing the building, arranging seating, preparing refreshments, maintaining records and updating the website.

Further work included:

• Collating signal-walk observations and recording event attendance.
• Preparing the Halloween costume register.
• Comparing, setting and labelling the Chapel clocks.
• Taking over administration of the phone box library.
• Preparing club reports, guidance and shared learning activities.
• Publishing local business and club information.
• Maintaining parking allocations and investigating breaches.
• Recording consultations, correspondence and complaints.

The cancellation of the 25 October service also prompted correspondence offering help with opening the Chapel during my absence. This was deemed to be insincere so wasn't taken forward.

6. Maintenance And Stewardship

The south-west gutter and downpipe were inspected on 11 October. A tennis ball was removed, drainage was restored and the side entrance returned to regular use. No replacement parts or scaffolding were required.

Huffmorton Construction Ltd. waived its £25 charge and donated the equivalent amount towards six books for the phone box library. The work therefore improved access and contributed to another community facility.

A Flood Defence Plan was published following examination of the November 1986 flood records. It sets out responsibilities, preparations and matters requiring further advice. We have not arranged the installation of physical flood defences.

The clock exercise established an Official Chapel Time Reference and brought all three clocks into agreement. A digital display was added to the website which means people can now check the time right from their phones.

Parking arrangements, badge allocations and loading limits were introduced and followed by an investigation into three breaches.

7. Social Contact And Refreshments

The potluck provided an opportunity to welcome new faces and share food. Sunday gatherings and club activities continued to provide regular company, including occasions when the principal address was shorter than intended or unavailable.

Jean’s Hatch introduced online tea and biscuit pre-ordering during October. The Visit page now brings together refreshment information, library guidance, booking arrangements and practical instructions for using the building.

A proposed change of tea was examined by the Committee and challenged by Jean, leading to a comparative tasting. The potential annual saving of £13.80 remains a projection, rather than money already saved. No continuing change of supplier is claimed in this report.

Refreshments remain a substantial part of the Chapel’s usefulness.

8. Hall Hire And Sports Facilities

The Visit page now sets out the hall’s availability for meetings, activities and sporting use, together with booking and equipment-hire arrangements.

These are advertised facilities and arrangements. Attendance at bookings for each activity has not been established by this report. Priya’s exercise class provides separate evidence of actual demand for physical activity at the Chapel.

9. Library, Computer Club And Public Information

Responsibility for the Community Phone Box Library passed to the Chapel during October. A Book Register, borrowing regulations and registration form now support its administration. The library remains available to people who are not Chapel members.

The Computer Club continued October’s Sensible Soccer series and reported progress at the 18 October service. No final championship result is included in this report. Other activity included the Wiki Party, password-security discussions, member articles, website-building resources and the adoption and naming of Brian the digital fish. A November HTML and CSS session has been proposed. This proves the club is active and is well attended.

The website also gained a local business and club directory, clearer visitor guidance, linked document threads and an expanded system of Chapel Approved badge recognition for external websites. These provide ways for people beyond the immediate congregation to find information, contribute material and become involved. Online involvement is recorded separately from physical attendance.

Two public consultations were reported during October, covering refreshments, website use, local issues and proposed transport and communications improvements. Response totals were small and varied between questions. They provide useful feedback from respondents without establishing wider public opinion.

10. Local Representation And Continuing Work

The signal walk and demonstration brought residents’ reception difficulties into the public record. On 30 October, East Thameside Council requested landowner consent, contact details, an access plan and information about provider interest before taking the mast enquiry further.

A letter to Mr Christopher Dunn seeking the requested permissions has been published. This is continuing correspondence, rather than being final approval for a mast.

The proposed Breef airfield development also remains a proposal. Consultation responses expressing interest in a Los Angeles–Breef flight do not establish a route, an airline commitment or passenger arrivals at the Chapel. At least one flight was diverted away from Breef due to it not yet being ready to accept international arrivals.

11. Conclusion

The Chapel remained in active and varied community use during October.

The evidence includes regular Sunday gatherings, shared meals, recreation, exercise, reading, practical learning, local campaigning, maintenance and volunteer administration. Library responsibility and clearer hall-hire arrangements have extended the facilities offered to the community.

Not every activity attracted its expected attendance. Some attracted considerably more. One was cancelled, one Sunday opening did not take place, and several proposals remain unfulfilled. The committee is trying it's best but resources are tight. We have advertised for a sports correspondent and someone to lead the art club. These posts remain unfilled.

The Committee asks that the Chapel continue to be recognised as a community asset and that its users be allowed to remain, subject to continued safe and ordinary use, and appropriate record keeping.

Prepared by Geoff Thomas, Caretaker.

How did people find the Chapel website?

All four respondents selected Neocities.

Nobody selected Bluesky, a search engine or word of mouth.

This is a clear result for the people who answered. Neocities is bringing people to the Chapel website, and maintaining our presence there looks worthwhile.

It does not establish that nobody has found us through the other routes. Someone may have been told about the Chapel, looked us up and then declined to explain how they got here.

Where do respondents live?

One respondent selected Near Chapel Lane. Three selected Elsewhere. Nobody selected Wrinhale, Rexhale or Breef.

The largest group is therefore Elsewhere, which accounts for three-quarters of the answers while providing the least assistance with our ability to understand our audience.

The result shows that the website is reaching beyond the local area. It does not tell us how far beyond them.

No Wrinhale responses were recorded. This answer was included to find out whether anyone in Wrinhale was reading the website. We know that the Wrinhale Community Action Group has a very strong motivation to find out information about our 5G mast bid. It can only be assumed that they were instructed not to participate in the poll.

Is there support for the 5G mast campaign?

Two respondents supported the campaign. Two said they needed more information. Nobody selected No or Undecided.

There is no recorded opposition among these four answers which allows us to describe this as unanimous support among those who have reached a decision.

The new threads feature on the website should help those respondents that needed more information, to find all related documents in one place. It is not clear why they didn't just use the search bar.

Would people use a direct Los Angeles–Breef flight?

One respondent selected Yes, for business. One selected Yes, for leisure. One selected No. Nobody selected Possibly, depending on the fare.

The website displays 33% for each of the three selected answers. These are three equal shares; the missing percentage point is a consequence of rounding, rather than an unrecorded visitor.

Two of the three answers express interest in using the proposed route. This is encouraging.

The question did not ask when people would travel, how often, or which direction they would start from. This was the main failing of the question itself.

We will be passing these results to the manager of Pan-continental airport with the aim of keeping the proposed flight route front of their mind whilst we continue to develop Breef airport fit to receive international travellers.

What follows from this?

These results describe a small number of answers in this consultation. They do not establish wider public opinion or prove sufficient demand to establish an international air service.

Geoff Thomas
Caretaker & website maintainer

The results are displayed below.

What should we make if you ask for “the usual”?

Six people chose tea with milk and no sugar. Three chose tea with milk and one sugar. Neither black tea option received a vote.

This gives us a reasonably clear answer. If somebody asks for “the usual” without further explanation, tea with milk and no sugar would satisfy two-thirds of those who responded. It would disappoint the remaining third, but only by one sugar, which can be added.

Making it with sugar first would be harder to correct. There is therefore both a democratic and a practical argument for leaving it out.

All nine respondents wanted milk. The milk rota remains more important than any disagreement about sugar.

Which biscuits should not be allowed to run out?

Custard Creams received four votes, Digestives three, Rich Tea two and Bourbons one.

Custard Creams came first, although six of the ten respondents preferred something else. The result supports keeping a supply of Custard Creams; it does not support replacing all other biscuits with them.

The narrow difference between Custard Creams and Digestives is also worth considering when buying stock. One additional Digestive vote would have produced a tie. We should probably continue buying both rather than treating this as a decisive rejection of the Digestive.

Bourbons received one vote. Jean may have a view on their general popularity.

Why are people visiting the website?

Eight people were just looking around. One wanted information about events and one wanted visiting information. Nobody selected “No idea”.

Most respondents therefore appear to be browsing rather than arriving with a particular task. This helps explain why the most viewed document on the website is about a gutter inspection.

Is there anything to raise with the Committee?

One person said “Yes”, four said “No” and four said “Not at this time”.

It would be convenient to report this as eight people having no concerns. That is not quite what they said. Four gave an unqualified “No”; the other four left open the possibility of raising something later.

We therefore have one known concern of unknown subject, four people with nothing to raise and four whose position may develop.

If you selected “Yes”, please send us the details. We cannot respond usefully to the existence of a concern alone.

What follows from this?

The clearest finding is that the standard brew should contain milk and leave sugar to the recipient. Biscuit preferences are more divided, and continued variety looks sensible. Most website respondents are browsing, but a smaller number need straightforward access to practical information.

These are ten responses, rather than a complete account of public opinion.

Geoff Thomas
Caretaker & website maintainer

1. Purpose

This evidence pack summarises why the Chapel of St Letus Salata remains a community asset and should continue to be available for community use.

The pack has been prepared because the Chapel’s continuing position depends on demonstrating ordinary, regular, and beneficial use.

2. Current Uses

The Chapel is currently used for:

• Sunday services and observances.
• Public meetings.
• Seasonal events.
• Computer Club.
• Talks and discussion evenings.
• Archive work.
• Refreshments and informal social contact.
• Community notices.
• Practical volunteering.
• Maintenance, cleaning, and inspections.

3. Community Benefits

The Chapel provides:

• A low-cost meeting place.
• Regular company for residents who might otherwise see few people.
• A neutral place for local concerns to be raised.
• Continuity with local history.
• Volunteer opportunities.
• A base for small clubs and interests.
• A reason for seasonal traditions to continue.
• Tea, biscuits, and somewhere to sit without having to buy a full meal.

4. Attendance Evidence

Attendance is recorded for services and events where practical.

Recent examples include:

The Committee accepts that not every event reaches its expected attendance.
This should not be interpreted as lack of value. It may instead show that expected attendance was optimistic.

5. Volunteer Activity

Volunteer activity includes:

• Opening and locking the Chapel.
• Moving chairs and pews.
• Cleaning after services.
• Maintaining the noticeboard.
• Managing keys.
• Preparing refreshments.
• Checking the building after weather.
• Cataloguing archive items.
• Producing forms and notices.
• Updating the website.

Much of this work is unpaid, and some of it is not even thanked at the time.

6. Maintenance And Stewardship

The Chapel users continue to identify, record, and address building matters, including:

• Roof leaks.
• Heating failures.
• Access issues.
• Yard surface concerns.
• Guttering.
• Cupboard storage.
• Key control.
• Forms and incident records.

The Chapel is actively maintained.

7. Social Contact

The Committee considers the social value of the Chapel to be significant.

Refreshments, ordinary conversation, seasonal gatherings, and regular company are not side matters. They are part of why the building remains useful. The Chapel gives people somewhere to go and someone to speak to, particularly where other local provision is limited, expensive, or located too far from the lane.

8. Conclusion

The Chapel remains in active community use.

Its value is demonstrated by attendance, volunteer work, events, records, maintenance, complaints, refreshments, and the fact that people continue to argue about arrangements because they expect the Chapel to continue existing.

The Committee therefore asks that the Chapel continue to be recognised as a community asset and that its users be allowed to remain, provided safe and ordinary use continues.

Prepared by Geoff Thomas, Caretaker.