Articles and Reports of Interest
The following items relate to matters which the Parish Council consider will be of interest to residents.
Comments to the Parish Council or direct to Shrosphire Council are welcome.
Bus Pass Concessions
In 2009 Shropshire Council issued thousands of people with new concessionary bus passes. These were issued with a 3 year life span and are therefore, coming up for renewal during the next 12 months.
Shrosphire Council are asking people to be are aware of the need to check the expiry date on their pass and apply for a replacement at the appropriate time if they require one. We are looking
for assistance in spreading the word to try and manage the process as
Below is a link to more informaiton and also a copy of the renewal application form, should you find this useful.
All the information and contact details are on the poster and application form, but should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact Shropshire Council on 01743 210336. Below is the link to the information on the website:
www.shropshire.gov.uk/buspass
ConcessionPoster Jan12FP2 (1209.3KB)
ConcessionRenewal_Form_Jan12_FP3 (323.68KB)
Closure of the road over Thistleford Bridge, Lee Brockhurst for repairs to be carried out to Thistleford Bridge.
Due to the narrowness of the road and the nature of the work and that the work is being carried out immediately next to the edge of the road Shropshire Council will need to close the road for the work to be carried out safely. The road will only be closed at Thistleford Bridge, there will still be access to any properties or land either side of the bridge.
The road closure will start on Wednesday 26th October and at this time it is anticipated that the work will take one week to complete. If the work can be completed sooner, then Shropshire Council will look to reopen the road at the earliest opportunity.
During the closure there will be a signed diversion directing traffic around via Lee Brockhurst, the A49 and the B5063 to Barkers Green and on to Aston. Please see the link below for a copy of the diversion plan.
There will be access through the site for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists/horse riders while the work is being carried out.
Thistleford Bridge -Diversion Route (6348.03KB)
Shrewsbury /Crewe Railway Line disruption August 2011
Shrewsbury Crewe disruption August 2011 (663.46KB)
ABS - Tell us About it!
The everyday crime and disorder described as anti-social behaviour - from vandalism and graffiti to drug dealing and harassment - ultimately has an impact on the quality of life of everyone in Shropshire. And there's now an easier way of reporting incidents than ever before.
The Safer Stronger Communities Partnership believes that all residents and tenants have the right to live peacefully within their home and community, and is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour. The partnership has introduced a single reporting number for people to report incidents of anti-social behaviour.
The telephone number 0345 678 9020 went live on Tuesday 28 June, with Shropshire Council's customer service centre taking calls Monday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Fridays 8am to 6pm, and Saturdays 9am to 1pm.
Outside of these times the CCTV monitoring centre will take calls as part of the out-of-hours service. The telephone number is available to both private residents and housing tenants, and gives everyone a single point of contact to report anti-social behaviour.
Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police and Registered Social Landlords have also established a team to provide help and advice where additional resources are required, or where the issue requires a co-ordinated multi-agency response. This team will be used where appropriate to help ongoing investigations or to start new investigations where requested, providing support when necessary.
Councillor Steve Charmley, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:
"I welcome this new approach to tackling anti-social behaviour in Shropshire which is being undertaken in partnership. It should be recognised that anti-social behaviour differs from place to place. For instance, in one neighbourhood, people will be concerned about off-road motorbikes, in another vandalism and graffiti, and street dealing and drug taking in another. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
"A significant number of anti-social behaviour incidents require a multi-agency response to resolve the issue. There is no one service area or contact point where incidents affecting victims can be reported, the issues cross over many different services and this single point of contact will make our response much more effective."
Police Inspector Ian Rouse said the new multi-agency team and 24-hour hotline would provide a quicker and better service to victims of anti-social behaviour:
"Our number one priority is to help victims and to alleviate the misery they are subjected to in the most effective way possible. The police in Shropshire handle more than 16,000 complaints annually about anti-social behaviour - all impacting on people's quality of life.
"The police will still take action and resolve complaints where necessary but there are many, many calls relating to low-level anti-social behaviour, which by their nature, will be investigated and resolved by other agencies."
He added:
Supporting the project is national housing provider, Sanctuary Housing - which manages some 16,000 homes across the midlands. Regional director for Sanctuary, Jason MacGilp, said:
"This is a real multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour. Our priority is to increase community confidence, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the victims of anti-social behaviour and taking action against perpetrators."
The Safer Stronger Communities Partnership is the community safety partnership for Shropshire, made up of the West Mercia Police, Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police Authority, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Primary Care Trust and the Probation Service.
Proposed Road Closures
Northwood to Whixall (28KB) log-120 (516.52KB)
Lighteach Road (29.5KB) log-121 (332.77KB)
Post Office Lane (28KB) log-122 (548.95KB)
Extra money for road repairs
Shropshire Council will receive £3,615,511 from the Government next week and has already started to put together a programme of works highlighting and prioritising the roads most in need of repair.
This extra money, announced in this week's Budget, is more than double what was awarded last year and will give a much-needed boost to the programme.
Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said: "This is fantastic news and I very much welcome this additional funding, which I know will make a real difference to local people.
"Due to our constant permanent repairs, our roads have faired very well considering we experienced the coldest December on record. However, this extra money will help us to repair our roads quickly and keep the county moving."
Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for transport and IT, added: "Ploughing this extra money into repairing our roads represents a significant investment in road maintenance at a time when we are also looking to save a significant amount of money.
"Improving the state of our roads is one of our top priorities, and it is vital that we continue to invest in and maintain our infrastructure to support motorists and businesses."
Although the council regularly reviews the condition of the roads, it also relies on help from local people to identify those which are in most need of repair. Therefore, it is encouraging people to get in touch and report potholes online at www.shropshire.gov.uk/hwmaint.nsf , by emailing customer.service@shropshire.gov.uk or calling 0345 678 9006.
The council is currently in the process of making it easier to report potholes so that it can concentrate on repairing the areas of road that matter to local people.
Reminder about waste collections in bad weather
Residents in the Shropshire Council area are being reminded what to do should their waste and recycling collections be disrupted due to the bad weather.
If there is any disruption to the waste collection service, the council and their contractors Veolia are asking people to follow the advice below:
1. General waste bins and garden waste bins. Please put your bins out on the day stated on your collection calendar and leave them out until they are collected. If the collection crew can't get to you on your scheduled day they will come back as soon as they can.
2. Recycling boxes. Please put your recycling boxes out on the day stated on your collection calendar. If they are not collected, please take them back in as they can be a trip hazard, but put them out again on your next scheduled collection day.
Anyone who receives a 'sack collection' of general waste should put their waste out on the day stated on their collection calendar. If it is not collected, they should take it back in, as it may be trip hazard, and put it out again on their next scheduled collection day.
Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for waste, said: "Shropshire Council and Veolia are committed to offering residents the best possible waste and recycling collection service. However, sometimes events beyond our control, such as severe bad weather, means there may be disruption to the waste collection service. With the current cold spell predicted to continue, we want to remind people what to do if we are unable to empty their bins or boxes due to snow or ice."
Anyone with any questions should contact Shropshire Council's customer service centre on 0345 678 9007.
Success of council's campaign to cut junk mail
Shropshire Council's waste management team has won national recognition for their efforts to reduce junk mail in Shropshire by encouraging residents to sign up to the Mailing Preference Service (MPS).
The team reached the final three in the Best Waste Prevention Project category of the prestigious UK LARAC Awards and was presented with a certificate of recognition by celebrity environmentalist Dick Strawbridge MBE.
Over the period of the campaign - which ran during the year 2009/10 - Shropshire recorded an additional 4,870 registrations with the MPS which represents an increase of 15%.
Research has shown that households which sign up to the Mail Preference Service receive 20kg less junk mail each year. In addition, the resulting reduction in paper use has been shown to yield a saving of 4kg of CO2 and 140 litres of water for every household that signs up.
Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for waste, said: "I would like to congratulate the hard work that the waste management team put into the campaign, and thank the public for their response, which has been fantastic. This is further recognition of how highly regarded Shropshire's waste management services are around the UK.
"Whilst recognising that direct marketing can play a role, the majority of this mail is unwanted and is a needless waste of paper. Most households welcome the opportunity to be selective about the mail that comes through their door and this is why the MPS was created. This campaign was a great way to encourage local people to sign up to it."
To sign up to the Mailing Preference Service, visit www.mpsonline.org.uk, or call 0845 7034599.
Shropshire Community Tree Scheme
Local Tree Warden: Eirene Craney Telephone 01948 710218
Shropshire Council is currently running a free tree scheme encouraging people to plant native trees. So do you know of somewhere locally which might benefit from some tree planting? To find out more about the scheme and download an application use the link below or speak direct to Eirene:
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/environment.nsf/open/3B24CB246C9AA7908025755A00696685
Council well prepared for winter
Shropshire Council is well prepared for winter, with extra salt in its barns and depots ready for gritting the county's roads.
The council ordered its salt supplies in March and it currently has 20,000 tonnes, 5,000 tonnes more than last year.
As well as lots of extra salt, the council has reviewed how it grits the county's roads. The defined network (important routes which are gritted before 8am) has been looked at and, to work more efficiently, previous divisional boundaries have been removed. This means that fewer gritters are needed to grit more roads, saving the council £30,000 this winter and £51,000 in subsequent years.
The gritter fleet has been reduced from 28 to 25. However, the council and its contractor, Enterprise, has just welcomed six replacement gritters to the fleet. These were recently unveiled by Tony Durnell, Shropshire Councillor for Monkmoor.
The savings for this winter will be reinvested in the winter maintenance service by providing positive improvements. One of these includes installing around 70 extra salt bins around the county following consultation with parish and town councils.
The council will continue to treat secondary routes following the defined network if resources allow. It also has a network of farmers with snow ploughs on hand to help clear snow and ice as and when needed.
Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for IT and transport, said: "In light of last winter's conditions we have increased our salt stocks. This, along with more efficient routes, means that we are well prepared for this year's winter weather."
People can see the new defined network by visiting www.shropshire.gov.uk/hwmaint.nsf
Free business advice clinic to come to Ellesmere
Business advice clinics set up by Shropshire Council's economic development team have proved so popular that plans are being made to hold more to meet demand.
The clinics, which are supported by Business Link West Midlands, offer free and impartial advice to new and existing business throughout Shropshire.
Monthly clinics are currently being held in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Wem, Market Drayton, Ludlow and Bridgnorth. Due to their popularity, and to help meet demand from businesses in other parts of the county, the council is now looking to hold the clinics in other market towns as well.
Following a number of enquiries, a business clinic is being held on Tuesday 9 November at The Boathouse in Ellesmere.
Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for economy and waste, said: "Whether you have an established business or are thinking of starting up a new business you can book a one-to-one session with an experienced business adviser. A whole range of advice is available, from completing a business plan to exporting Shropshire beer to Europe. Their popularity clearly tells us that there is a demand for such advice, particularly during the current
economic climate."
Businesses should book a place at the event by ringing Shropshire Council's economic development team on 01743 252259 or 252531.
ROAD CLOSURE - UNCLASSIFIED ROAD FROM RYEBANK TO EDSTASTON - 06 DECEMBER 2010 3 DAYS - CARRIAGEWAY STRENGTHENING
Hundreds of jobs available to help with 2011 census
Shropshire Council is helping to promote hundreds of job opportunities for
people to help make the 2011 census a success.
The census takes place on Sunday 27 March 2011 and about 200 temporary jobs
are available across Shropshire. There are a number of different roles
available: census collectors and special enumerators will go out into the
community and encourage people to fill in the questionnaires, with census
co-ordinators managing the process.
In addition, census coverage survey (CCS) staff will carry out doorstep
interviews with the public. Jobs are being appointed now on behalf of the
Office for National Statistics (ONS). People can go to the official
website at www.censusjobs.co.uk for more information.
James Roe, director of census recruitment, said: "Census jobs offer people
a unique chance to get involved in a national project that has the
potential to deliver real benefits to them and their local community.
We're looking to find individuals who can spare some time to help gather
the information we need in their area and earn some extra money, while
helping to change things for the better.
"Roles will be full or part-time, for a few weeks or several months, and
will require a range of skills, so there really is something for everyone."
Councillor Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, encouraged people to
look out for the census on 27 March next year. He said: "It's very
important that people are aware of the census, because the amount of
funding given to the county depends on how many people live here - and the
Government only knows that by how many people fill in their census return."
Help to 'Kick Start' your home improvements...
Can't afford to get repairs or improvements to you home? Shropshire Council's new schme may be able to help!
Draft Shropshire Parking Strategy
Shropshire Council is inviting feedback on the recently published Parking Strategy. This is a very important policy with wide ranging implications. Please keep in touch with the Parish Council's website for information during this consultation period.
There does appear to be confusion over the deadline for feedback - Shropshire Council has quoted both 17 September and 13 October. The Parish Council has asked for clarification.
Follow the link below for copies of all documentation
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/parking.nsf
The Big Society - decentalising from Whitehall to local councils and communities
The Department of Communities and Local Government have just published their new action plan for shifting power from Whitehall to local councils and communities to make the Big Society aspirations part of every day life. The plan sets out a new 18 month programme for the Department to deliver radical decentralising and transparency reforms that put citizens and councils in control of their communities. The full report, which includes the timetable for
Localism Bill and proposals regarding the power of general competence, can be found at this link
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/structuralreformplan
Kingpin Tyre Fire July 2010
Issued by Shropshire Council on behalf of the multi-agency response team.
Public reassured as Wem fire extinguished
A fire at an industrial estate in Wem has been extinguished after quick action from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and other agencies.
The fire started at Kingpin Tyres on Sunday 4 July at around 1pm, causing black smoke to billow from the site. A multi-agency response was called for by the fire service because of concerns about whether the smoke posed a danger to public health.
The Environment Agency, Health Protection Agency and Shropshire Council were on site quickly yesterday afternoon to start monitoring air quality and found there was no cause for concern. Monitoring teams were stood down just after 1pm Monday 5 July following a meeting between all agencies involved in the response to the fire. Officers from the Environment Agency found no evidence of pollution in the nearby watercourses, but will continue to monitor them over the coming
days.
The fire took hold in a pile of rubber particles and Martin Timmis, head of operational response at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire was extinguished by about 8am on Monday.
He said: "There was a similar fire at the same site in September last year which took weeks to put out, and our experience there helped us deal with this one much more quickly. The company has made the rubber stack significantly smaller since then which helped reduce the fire risk, but we will be urgently talking to them about what more steps can be taken to improve fire safety on the site in the future."
Superintendent Pete Lightwood of West Mercia Police, who chaired the multi-agency meeting, added: "Our primary concern is the health and safety of the public and we are satisfied that there is no health risk
associated with the smoke, although we did advise people to close their windows and doors as a precaution while the fire was burning.
"The Environment Agency will be reviewing Kingpin's waste permit, which is standard practice after an event like this, and further discussions will be held with the company about improving conditions on the site to make it safer. Our paramount concern is the health and well-being of the public and the swift response by agencies helped deal with the fire very quickly."
Residents attending the Wem and Shawbury area Local Joint Committee meeting were updated on the latest situation from Shropshire Council officers and the fire service. The meeting will took place Monday 5 July at Shawbury Village Hall at 7pm.
The multi-agency team is made up of the fire service, police, Environment Agency, Health Protection Agency, the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trusts and Shropshire Council.
Kingpin Tyre Fire Shropshire Council Report June 2010
A major fire broke out at Kingpin Tyres Ltd, Wem on 8th September, which required a response from the emergency services and partner agencies for the next two and a half weeks. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service retained a presence on site for some four months following the fire. There were a number of challenges involved in dealing effectively with the incident and there were concerns regarding the health of the public in Wem as well as concerns for the local environment and water.
Once the fire had been safely extinguished, all agencies involved in the response conducted internal debriefs (followed by multi-agency debriefs) to identify any lessons which could be learnt from the incident. The following report includes the numerous recommendations made.
Kingpin Tyre Fire SC report 0610 (209.42KB)