BREWOOD & COVEN

PARISH COUNCIL

with & Coven Heath

Newsletter Summer 2012 Your Councillors Jubilee Park Grand Re-opening The Jubilee Bank Holiday saw local residents and Bishops Wood Members of the Council celebrate the opening of Jan Jeffries (Chairman) the newly refurbished playing field in with a

John Pegg ‘Picnic in the Park’. The rain held off long enough to Brewood allow local children to help MP for South , Andrew Ball Gavin Williamson, perform the formal opening, which David Evans was followed by refreshments and a play on the Cllr Anne Holmes equipment. George Martin The refurbishment was led by Brewood and Coven Dr Richard Taylor Parish Council in collaboration with the Brewood Mac Webb Phoenix Youth Group who set out to create a fun,

Coven colourful, challenging place for play and exercise that was accessible to all. Moira Alden-Court Janet Carr The project cost of £36,517 was financed from funds accumulated by the Parish Council, a donation from Brewood Fire Service and a grant of £19,000 made by The Veolia Richard Dakin Tom Fellows Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund. The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, McNabb Laurie, said, “Play Paul Smith (Vice Chair) One vacancy for areas have a vital role to play in communities, providing a place where children and young

co-option people can meet up, have fun and exercise outdoors. They also contribute to friendships and interaction by providing a place where parents and carers can meet up when looking Coven Heath after children. The Trust was happy to support this important scheme and hope it is used Linda Tomkins and enjoyed for years to come.” District Councillors Ivor Clay Superfast Broadband for your Village? Councillor Vacancy

Brian Cox July offers an opportunity for residents and local businesses for the Ward of Coven

Mike Hampson in the Parish to register their interest in having access to A vacancy still exists on

Anne Holmes Superfast Broadband, providing a faster and more reliable the Council for a Member

service. to represent Coven. If you County Councillor Staffordshire County Council's 'Broadband Demand Survey' would like to be Rex Roberts O.B.E. considered for co-option runs until 31 July 2012 (extended from 1 July) and will gather to the Council then The scheduled meetings information as to where the highest demand for a better of the Parish Council are: service exists in the County. please contact the Clerk,

12 & 26 July, With plans for a Broadband service providing around 24 Sue Groom on 01902 850809 for more 9 August, megabits per second for 90% of the County it is imperative

13 & 27 September, that the local community come together to complete the information.

11 & 25 October, survey and secure a better service if at all possible. An excellent way of

8 & 29 November, This is an opportunity to make the needs of the community finding out more is to

13 December. heard. Superfast Broadband will be key to supporting the attend a meeting of the

sustainability of rural communities for years to come, so Council - details of the Council Meetings are please complete a survey by 31 July. Survey forms will be forthcoming meetings are held at 7.30pm in the available in local shops and pubs, Brewood Library and the listed alongside. You Council Chamber, 35 latest issue of Staffordshire County Council’s ‘Your have to be over 18 years Street, Brewood Staffordshire’. Alternatively, you can access the online of age and on the and include a public Broadband Demand Survey by visiting the link on this electoral register of this participation session. Council’s web site at Parish or live within 4.8km of the boundary. http://www.brewoodandcovenparish.org.uk/news/

IF YOU REQUIRE THIS NEWSLETTER IN LARGE PRINT PLEASE PHONE 01902 850809

Summer 2012 Page 2 of 4

Olympic Torch Relay Local fundraiser, assistant scout The 2011 National Poppy Appeal saw the Royal British leader and experienced marathon runner Beccy Jones- Legion celebrate the 90th Anniversary of its formation and Reading has had, as she herself described it, ‘a dream come also saw the district’s best-ever collection as a result of true’ when on 30 June she had the opportunity to be an magnificent support from Brewood, Coven, Bishops Wood official torchbearer in the London 2012 Olympic Torch relay. and Wheaton Aston, with a total of £10,342 being The Council is delighted to be able to congratulate Beccy not forwarded to the national total. only on being selected but for her selfless efforts on behalf of Contributions towards this total were received from the others, a true inspiration. Poppy Walk around Chillington Estate which raised Diamond Jubilee Celebrations The Council would like to £1,544 and Mrs Linda Evans who knitted 1,300 woollen thank those members of the community who joined forces to poppies raising a further £1,332. hold Jubilee celebrations. With four days of events in Bishops Mr Trevor Abbotts, Honorary Poppy Appeal Organiser, Wood, a Jubilee Fun Day in Coven, commemorative tree gives sincere thanks from the Legion to all the walkers for planting with a toast to the Queen in Coven Heath as well as their sponsorship, to Mr for allowing access a Picnic in the Park, St Mary & St Chad’s Church Jubilee Fair to the Estate, to Mrs Evans for her marathon knitting epic, Trade event and tea parties in Brewood , those concerned are to the host of people who helped with the yearly appeal to be congratulated for all their hard work. and to everyone who made a contribution in 2011. Allotments Coven Heath Allotments Association is continuing Parish Council 2011/12 End of Year Accounts The its work to develop small taster plots for those new to Finance Report as presented at the Annual Parish allotments and small, raised allotments providing easier meeting held 26 April is available from the ‘Parish Budget’ access for the disabled. Anyone interested in renting such page of the Council’s new web site: allotments should contact the Clerk, Sue Groom on 01902 www.brewoodandcovenparish.org.uk 850809. This year, the Council is also giving greater attention to ensure the Garden Rules are adhered to by all tenants and Congratulations to all Brewood Voluntary Car Drivers in particular that allotments are kept ‘in a clean, decent and on record number of journeys! good condition and properly cultivated’. The Brewood and District Voluntary Car Scheme exists to Playing Fields In preparing the 2012/13 budget, provide lifts for local villagers, usually the elderly or consideration was given to providing some form of running / housebound, who have no transport of their own but need walking track around Coven playing field. The views of any to get to doctors’ surgeries, clinics or hospital members of the community who may be interested in using appointments. Transport is provided (subject to such a facility are sought by the Council – please contact the availability) by volunteer drivers who incur no personal Clerk, Sue Groom on 01902 850809. costs; insurance premiums are usually not affected and The Council has also been pursuing something to deter birds drivers are reimbursed expenses at a set mileage rate. from perching above the swings at the Council’s playing An incredible total of 3,102 passenger journeys were fields. Whilst there are a number of options available, they are undertaken during the 2011/12 financial year, covering a not deemed appropriate for children’s play areas. The total of 22,338 fare miles. This has increased by 374 recommended solution is to try cable ties with the ‘tails’ left journeys from year 2011/12, an extra 5,030 miles but the sticking up. These will be trialed at Bishops Wood , where we number of drivers has not increased and there are still have received numerous complaints in recent weeks. passengers whom we are unable to help as we do not Dog Fouling Dog walkers failing to clear up after their dogs have drivers available. continue to be a problem, not only across the Parish but also Could you help by sparing a few hours a week or even a on the Council’s playing fields; this could prove particularly month? Have you considered what it could mean to give harmful to children. The Council is pleased to hear South just a little of your time to the benefit of someone who Staffordshire Council is stepping up its patrols to enforce the really needs it? Please give it some thought – all travelling rules with offending dog walkers facing a £50 fine. expenses are refunded and you may be surprised to find Bilbrook A/T Home Selling items such as bottle/jar openers, just how enjoyable it is. non-slip mats, long-handled grabbers, long shoe-horns etc. All profits are reinvested into the project. Visit Bilbrook House, Please phone Tanya on 01902 851786 between 9.30am – 10 Carter Avenue, Bilbrook, Fridays 9am to 1pm. Phone 12.30pm weekdays for more information. An answering Emily Simmonds on 01902 851675 for details. machine is available out of office hours. Unemployed ? Looking to change your career? Thinking about going into business? Visit the South Staffs Enterprise Clubs providing the guidance and support to get your business ideas off the ground – whatever stage you are at. What’s more, they are absolutely free. Clubs are available as follows: Library WV5 9EZ 10am to 12 noon, fortnightly from Wednesday 4th July. Bilbrook Children’s Centre, Lane Green First School, WV8 1EU 12 noon to 2pm, fortnightly from Thursday 5th July. Library WV6 7QU 2pm to 4pm, second and fourth Friday of the month from Friday 13th July.

Summer 2012 Page 3 of 4

South Staffordshire Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Residents in Brewood were recently surprised to hear of a proposal – and it is only a proposal at this stage – drawn-up by an architect working with a local landowner; it showed how an area of land could be developed to provide housing and other services in Brewood. It is expected this may be the first of many proposals drawn-up for land throughout , including this Parish, as developers speculate how future housing needs may be met in the most sustainable way. In recent years, South Staffordshire Council (SSC) has sought proposals from local communities in order to prepare an assessment of potential housing sites in South Staffordshire to meet the need for growth and new housing that SSC has defined in its Core Strategy. This has led to the production of the latest Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment or SHLAA produced in 2011 which is in the process of being updated for 2012. The SHLAA is a piece of evidence to support the Core Strategy and it is the Core Strategy which sets out SSC’s strategic locations for growth and housing numbers for villages in South Staffordshire; this document itself is now in its final consultation stage, ending 8 August 2012. Information extracted from the Core Strategy shows the housing numbers allocated for Brewood to be 65 houses and Coven 32 houses. When combined with the 32 houses proposed in Wheaton Aston, this gives an expectation of Locality 2 providing 8% of the total of around 1,610 houses for the district up to 2028 specified in the Core Strategy. South Staffordshire is split into 5 geographical localities: north, north-west (locality 2), north-east, central and south. It is believed that at this stage allocating housing development of any scale in Bishops Wood and Coven Heath would not be considered sustainable, for a number of reasons including more cars on the roads due to the limited transport options available. In these areas SSC would support rural exceptions housing and infilling. To date, potential housing sites have been suggested to SSC by landowners, developers and members of the community with more work having been undertaken to gather further information to support informed decisions. As yet, no land has been allocated for development, although the SHLAA includes information with regard to the suitability of land to provide sustainable housing but it is only a study of potential sites. It is through a Site Allocations Development Plan Document, to be produced by SSC in due course, that any decisions will be made. In early autumn 2012, SSC aim to follow up this work with a wide-ranging, six week consultation enabling everyone, including local communities and stakeholders, to make their views known. At this stage information about the Core Strategy, the SHLAA and the areas of land suggested can be found on the SSC web site (www.sstaffs.gov.uk) by following the links to ‘Planning’ and then ‘Planning Policy’; a link to this site is also available from this Council’s web site (www.brewoodandcovenparish.org.uk) by following the South Staffordshire Council links from ‘Useful Links’ and of particular interest ‘Appendix 6 – Table of Sites’. SSC warns that there will be difficult decisions to be made when trying to strike a balance between protecting the Green Belt and providing new housing, particularly when some villages in South Staffordshire will have land available only in the Green Belt. With 80% of the District deemed Green Belt, this is not surprising. This Council understands that the consultation will take the form of an options document, public exhibitions, meetings and direct consultations with a host of consultees. All of the information will be made available online, at the SSC offices in , the Parish Council office in Brewood and South Staffordshire libraries. Further details will continue to be made available on the Parish Council website and on Parish Council notice-boards as we head towards the consultation, currently expected in the autumn. Watch out for further details of the consultation due early in autumn 2012 Your views will be important when housing provision for this community is considered Don’t leave it to others – make sure you have your say

Summer 2012 Page 4 of 4

The Parish Council is delighted to announce the launch of its new web site. With its new look, modern feel and easy navigation, the site continues to provide news, details of forthcoming events, local services as well as lists of organisations, clubs and local businesses in the Parish.

The site also provides information about the Parish Council, Minutes of meetings, the Council’s recommendations for local planning applications and Parish Newsletters. The online ‘Contact Us’ is already being well used as a means of easily contacting the Council and it is hoped the ‘Forum’ will in time be used as a means by which local residents, club / group representatives and the Council may discuss issues and events relevant to the Parish.

The Council is indebted to Mr Al Dutton of The Handy Bookshop in Coven for volunteering to redevelop the site which now not only looks good but is easy to keep up to date. All his hard work is greatly appreciated. This Council led the way more than ten years ago when Dave King developed the original Parish Council and community web site – something of a rarity in those days. We are very grateful to Dave for providing this Council and the community with a presence on the web for so many years; as a result his information has provided much of the material for the new site. And finally, look out in September for news about the Parish Council’s photographic competition – full details will be on the web site nearer the time.

Visit www.brewoodandcovenparish.org.uk to keep up to date and let us know what you think

Croft House The condition of Croft House on Brewood Road, Former Royal Ordnance Factory Site – Cat and Coven has been a cause of concern to residents of Coven Kittens Lane Following the withdrawal of plans for and the Parish Council for some time. Progress has been warehousing at this site last year, it is now understood undeniably slow up until now, and even though work has that BAE Systems are progressing plans to create a new been carried out to tidy up the netting, it is hoped that the manufacturing business and office complex instead. The efforts of South Staffordshire Council will lead to the proposed height of the units is planned to be reduced – longstanding concerns of the community soon being resolved. addressing a concern arising on last year’s plans.

Summer Sussed 2012 CONTACT DETAILS Once again the Parish Council is pleased to be able to provide Summer Sussed events in the villages of the Parish during the summer holidays. The activities will be free entry as usual even Council Office though this year the activities are funded solely by the Parish Council with marketing and 35 Stafford Street, Brewood, administration provided by South Staffordshire Council. Booking will be essential by phoning ST19 9DX South Staffordshire Council on 01902 696518 or 01902 696525. More information will also be Tel. 01902 850809 available by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] . Activities will be available as follows: Open 9.30am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday. Bishops Wood Village Hall: 23 July 10-12 Cheerleading and 15 August 10-12 Street Dance

Clerk: Sue Groom. Brewood Jubilee Hall: 8 August 2- 4 Athletics and 20 August 10-12 Dodgeball Coven Memorial Hall: 1 August 2- 4 Kombat and 23 August 10-12 Street Dance Assistant Clerk: Maggie O’Brien. Email the Parish Council: REPORT PROBLEMS TO Voluntary Car Scheme [email protected] CLARENCE 0300 111 8000 Tel. 01902 851786 Web Sites: [email protected] Open 9.30am to 12.30pm www.brewoodandcovenparish.org.uk; for pot-holes, street lights, Monday to Friday www.bishopswood.org.uk; www.brewoodvillage.org.uk; blocked road drains – flooding, Co-ordinator: www.covenvillage.org.uk; www.covenheath.org.uk; overgrown hedges Tanya Postles. www.brewoodparish.org.uk Next Police Surgery scheduled: 27 July Brewood Co-op 4.00 to 5.00pm; 26 July Coven Co-op 11.00am to 12 noon