LAUNCH ISSUE

FREE to the residents of Snitterfi eld

I S S U E O N E SUMMER 2 0 0 2

The fields off Park Lane elcome to the fi rst issue of ‘SNIPE’ a W quarterly publication, produced by the residents of Snitterfi eld for the residents of Snitterfi eld. We must count ourselves very lucky WHAT DO to live in such a delightful village in the countryside, with YOU WANT an award winning village shop, (that most villages would die for), an organic farm shop, two pubs, FOR YOUR two churches, a surgery, tennis and bowls club etc, but no post offi ce, VILLAGE... but then I guess nothing is perfect! Just as SNIPE was going THIS... Results of The Village Appraisal STOP PRESS ...OR THIS? survey, showed lack of to press, it was discovered communication within the village that FIVE green fi eld was a key issue. Good communication is vital, sites have been submitted in order to maintain a thriving for inclusion in the community. So here we are, with the sole aim of putting that into Stratford-upon-Avon place, hence the need for SNIPE! Local Plan The ‘vision’ for this new publication 1996 - 2011. is to ‘create an awareness within the village’, covering important The sites are: issues affecting all residents of 1 North of Road Snitterfi eld, whilst also providing a 2 South of Bearley Road, forum for your ideas and opinions. joining Hurdler Lane Some of the issues covered in this, our launch issue, are Possible 3 North of Church Road Closure of the Surgery, Policing, (Appleton House) the New Parish Council, The Village 4 East of White Horse Hill New developments on Park Lane Cricket Team, Traffi c, Wildlife, etc. (behind Park House) We urge you to refer to The Link A spokesman for the Parish Council (Parish Magazine) for forthcoming 5 West of White Horse Hill said that they would ‘resist these events etc. (land running down to opportunistic developments and The Green) are looking into how they relate Please help us get this village to Local Planning policies and working together more, National policies concerning green particularly on issues that affect These sites are ‘developer belt and housing needs’. our every day lives, we need your opportunities’ and if they meet They urge the villagers to support contributions to make SNIPE work, the required policies and were their objections and plan an be it an article on an issue you included in the Local Plan they approach, especially regarding are steaming about, or a letter to could be developed at any time sites that affect their property, ‘Sniper’s Corner’, whichever, please between now and 2011. facilities or visual amenities. let us air your views! USE YOUR This is a very serious threat to the LOCAL NEWS TO AIR YOUR VIEWS! The plans of the proposed sites character of the community and are available for inspection on the would fi ll in some of the important village notice board opposite the green spaces that keep Snitterfi eld The Foxhunter. Editor, Diane Hoe special. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT LEFT TO LOSE?

Your village is shaped by YOU, just as much as the other 1100 inhabitants. Where you shop, where you drink, where your children study, where you go for services – these all have an effect on our community. If you’ve been following the Archers (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) you may recognise this everyday tale of country folk. At one time your village had a post office, a shop and a doctor’s surgery. They have had mixed fortunes in recent years. The post office closed, and despite re-opening briefly, it closed again after vicious attacks on the staff. The shop too closed, re-opening with new owners, and in 2001 won the hugely prestigious Glenfiddich award for best village shop nationally. YOU made it a success by supporting it and making it a new focus for the community. We now have a second shop, Villagers protesting about the threatened have to look at the service we closure of the doctor’s surgery in Snitterfield Medlars organic farm shop on Photo: Courtesy of The Herald Press Kings Lane, which also needs your are providing….the surgery in could serve a number custom to thrive. as its villagers, and we know that of people who use Snitterfield and And now we are beginning to feel this village is bursting with vital is open all day rather than just like extras in the current Archers and vibrant people. Our role is to the morning’. He adds that it is storyline. In Snitterfield, as in make them aware of each other, to premature to protest now, since Ambridge, the doctor’s surgery get you all talking and thinking... no final decision has been made. has always been a comforting and doing! But when do you protest - if not fixture. But proposals may be afoot BEFORE it’s too late? If you have to close it. Are we in danger of strong feelings on this issue make If you have strong opinions on the losing a lifeline? The people who them known to us here at SNIPE, potential closure of the surgery, would be most affected are the to your MP John Maples, and to the you may wish to write to the elderly, disabled and young families authorities concerned: doctors at the surgery. without cars. The nearest surgeries The moral of this particular story are in Claverdon (which has no The Senior Partner reaches beyond a single issue. bus route from Snitterfield) or in Chestnut Walk Practice Village facilities can’t be taken for Stratford, where our infrequent Chestnut Walk bus service delivers patients to the granted and they need our support Stratford-upon-Avon town but leaves them with a long if they are to thrive. CV37 6HU walk to the practice. Let’s not reduce important issues to griping and blaming. SNIPE is here No doubt Dr David Buckley, a South Warwickshire Primary Care Unit to challenge you, to encourage senior partner in the Snitterfield Westgate House debate, to provide a forum for surgery, is not the Wicked Witch Market Street in our story. He and his colleagues ideas and possible solutions for have served us well and are trying our village. CV34 4DE to make a practical decision. And If you have an opinion, voice it could it perhaps be that we have here. If you have an idea, float it here in our pages and see what South Warwickshire Community Health been Sleeping Beauties – with Council many of us using the Stratford happens. If we want to see something new Elta House surgery rather than supporting Birmingham Road the village practice? Dr Buckley happen in our village, let’s get off Stratford-upon-Avon is quoted in the Stratford Herald our communal backside and do something! A village is only as vital CV37 0AQ (Lesley Fall and Jo Bell) of 9 May 2002 as saying ‘We do Left to right: Gerry Stammers, Dr John Fitchford, Sylvia Morlidge, SNITTERFIELD PARISH COUNCIL Peggy Joslin and Bill Collett The new Parish Council took responsibility for the Parish affairs on 13 May this year. This Parish Council will continue the work started by the previous council and during the next month or so prioritise the important issues within the parish. A commitment given by the Chairman to make available information relating 5 May 2002. The purpose of this new Protection of Environmental Features to planning applications is high on the Code of Conduct is to ensure anyone for the Parish. priorities and to clear the backlog of in a public office, conduct themselves The Warwickshire Structure Plan has agenda items including the agreement in a responsible way, with respect, made a big impact upon developments with the District Auditor of the with impartiality, without compromise, that will be permitted in villages such as accounts for the last two years. discrimination, or conflict of interest. ours. All major development must be in the Main Towns and Main Rural centres The council members are available to The future of the Parish is changing, we for our area, this means effectively help and assist in any Parish related must make a Parish Plan and our Parish no development within our village issues and the members are as follows:- Appraisal and Village Design Statement without the local need being identified form the basis of a new incentive by Mr Gerry Stammers, Chairman, and proven. the District Council to plan the Parish Telephone 731364 around the needs and wishes of the The District Local Plan is under review Mrs Peggy Joslin, Vice Chairman, residents. This must be done with the and changes will be made to the Telephone 730300 involvement of everyone in our Parish, criteria for our village status, we will Dr John Fitchford Telephone 731357 we can only plan our future with your keep you informed of the change and Mrs Sylvia Morlidge Telephone 731279 input. how they will effect our village and Mr Bill Collett Telephone 731382 parish. Changes have already started, we are The council members are all bound no longer a category 2 village, with Please remember - the Parish Council by the new Code of Conduct for a built-up area boundary. Our new needs your support and input to Parish Councillors. This document status is one of a Local Centre Village. ensure the development of developed by the Standards Board for These are villages with facilities such our village and parish under the instructions of The as a general store, primary school, is in line with our Department of Transport and Local bus service etc, we are covered by the needs and Regions and came into force on Green Belt policies and other policies expectations. relating to the Enhancement and SNITTERFIELD VILLAGE APPRAISAL The basic purpose of a Village To this end, a Steering Group was every household. formed in Snitterfield. We set appraisal is to give the residents Volunteers have already started work to assembling the appropriate of a village the opportunity to on a number of projects, of which this information, distributing a number newsletter is one; others are: express their opinion as to what of newsletters, a questionnaire and changes and improvements organised three open days in the • Traffic/road safety they would like to see, and at village hall. The response to the • Footpaths the same time to say what they questionnaire was excellent with • Facilities for children and young would like to see conserved. 75% of households completing it, the people results were analysed by computer • Village Hall The key feature of an appraisal, and it is on these answers that the • Conservation is the involvement of the local appraisal will largely be based. • Neighbourhood Watch community so that any plan developed Community involvement and self-help from it may be seen to represent Progress on these projects will be are also important features. their wishes. The document will be detailed in future issues of the The response so far has been very adopted by Stratford District Council, newsletter. encouraging with volunteers for as a formal document, which the May I, on behalf of the Appraisal distributing a variety of material and council will have to take into account Steering Group, take this opportunity others inputting questionnaires into as representing the views of the of thanking all those who have helped the computer. residents. The District Council is bound so far. to take note of the appraisal in such We expect to have the appraisal John Holmes matters as planning, development and completed towards the end of June Chairman, Appraisal Steering Group formulation of a District Plan. and a copy will be distributed to The Green - rural retreat or . . .?

A haven for wildlife, the ‘lightning tree’ three-storey houses under situated behind The Green, is just one of the construction. beautiful, historic oak trees of the village. Stagnation benefits no-one, and my own inclination is to encourage the use of land for rural activities and pursuits sooner than the more obvious ‘purely for New 3 storey houses dwarf the cottages and houses on The Green profit’ house building. After residents had several I do hope that the more excessive conversations with contractors and building that has taken place can be builders, a large sign has been placed curtailed and that housing will be at the cross roads, contradictory confined to that which is required to the ones at the entrance to the by the village, in keeping with the village directing them down this style and size of existing properties way! Irate drivers, finding it too late (although it is to be noted that a to turn, are faced with no alternative My family and I moved into The substantial number of houses has but to continue. If The Green or Green only eight years ago, we been quoted for this alone). culvert suffers structural damage knew then we didn’t want to Traffic volume and on-road parking from these heavy lorries - will we, live anywhere else. We arrived on The Green, as with everywhere the residents, through no fault of on a sunny June day and were else, has increased of late, and I do our own, have to face paying the bill immediately struck by the feel sympathy with the number of for repairs? tranquillity, the birdsong, the householders who have no off-road We count ourselves fortunate to abundance of flowers and trees, parking and have to squeeze their live in such a pleasant village, and open green meadows and fields, vehicles into any available space. hopefully we will not be put into and quiet leafy lanes. It was almost Although it sometimes feels the situation of saying ‘we loved as if we had time-warped back to a hazardous driving through this Snitterfield before it was concreted bygone era. twisting lane with cars parked at all over’. Once the open green areas Of course times move on, and since angles, it does have the advantage have gone, they will have gone then we have seen a number of of reducing speed and acts as a forever, never to be replaced. We changes to The Green and the village natural traffic calming measure. really have to define and hold overall, both in the increase of Of concern at the moment to all onto what living in a ‘village’ really traffic and of building developments. residents is the number of large, means. Most recently, apart from the usual heavy lorries delivering materials to These are my own views. You may improvements to private dwellings, the building sites. Earlier objections have your own, or information you the major changes on The Green were raised at meetings of the want to share with the village about have been the addition of a Barn previous parish council about the your street or road, if so put pen to training centre and a new indoor movement of heavy vehicles through paper and contact SNIPE now. school and extensions to the the centre of the village, especially stables. Currently there is a field of down The Green and over the Jim Crow polytunnels being erected for the culvert, but to no avail. fruit farm and a group of new large

Could you make a difference? How much do you enjoy living in Snitterfield? Would you like the opportunity of putting something back into the village? Can you spare just one evening a month, plus the occasional site visit? We are looking for a sixth member to join our ? inspirational Parish Council by the end of July! One of our main aims in this term of office, is to carefully monitor planning and building issues in the village, so if you would like to have a voice in this and other such issues, then this is your opportunity! We are determined to ‘make a difference’. Send an application as soon as possible to: Mr I A Wilkins, 21 Flower Road, Stratford- upon-Avon, CV37 0AE SNITTERFIELD CONSERVATION GROUP The recenly conducted village appraisal indicated a high level of concern among many residents regarding the way our village may be developed in the future. This, combined with the current dramatic increase of inappropriate new developments, has led to the establishment of The Snitterfield Conservation Group. Their main aims are to maintain and improve the environment of the Parish of Snitterfield and to is special to you or that you would Snitterfield village in 2002, but will it still look like this by 2010? create awareness among residents not want to lose. of conservation issues. It intends The group intends to be an is something happening now that to achieve this by recording and ‘environmental watchdog’. It will you are concerned about then cataloguing all the things that be somewhere to go for help when contact either of the following the residents value within the you believe something within the immediately: Parish. This could be a beautiful village that you care about is about Elaine Wilkinson view, buildings, a tree, a pond, a to be destroyed or damaged. Let telephone 731127 stile, a post box, an allotment, the them know the kinds of things you Marjory Yates village shop - in fact anything that wouldn’t want to lose and if there telephone 731541

batting, bowling, or both. We don’t have people along just to make up the SNIPER’S CORNER numbers! Don’t put your foot in it! BUT if we are to take this any further Dear Sirs we need more help and support. Firstly What does it take to stop dog owners we need more players. With a great deal allowing their animals to foul the of effort we have managed to attract footpaths and pavements of Snitterfield? eleven players for every match so far, Bins are provided for owners to dispose BUT WE NEED MORE. It doesn’t matter of their pet’s waste, and no doubt what standard you play to, what age you responsible owners use these, but there are, or if you can only play one game are still a number of idle owners who a week - as long as you like cricket and seem to think that their dog’s excrement want to enjoy an afternoon with our is other people’s problem. team. Anyone for Cricket? I have had to clear this foul mess from Cricket was always played in the village outside my house, manoeuvre a push Following the formation of a nomadic until the club folded about 25 years ago. chair round it in Smiths Lane and Snitterfield Cricket Team last year, We do know there is plenty of funding circumnavigate it on pavements and during which we managed to fulfil available to help start a club in the footpaths. five fixtures, (1 victory, 4 defeats), we can village, we just need to show there are now announce this year’s fixtures. Owners who do not want this disgusting enough people who want to play the and unhealthy filth on their own property Summer 2002 game, and help with the running of the should not expect the rest club. Surely in a village this size we can 2, 9, 16 June 14, 21 July of us to live around it. find enough people to lay on a game 4, 25 August 8 September Those who offend of cricket! The team has been formed with a view should be named! to laying our own pitch in the village If you are interested in playing, or Sylvia Birbeck over the next couple of seasons. contributing in some way, Our aim is to try to have a team of eg: as committee member, fundraising, players local to the area. grant applications etc, then please All our matches are ‘friendlies’ played contact Lee at Snitterfield Stores against similar sides, with everyone Telephone 01789 730007 who plays taking part in the match - ie, SNITTERFIELD – PART OF THE STRATFORD DISTRICT POLICE SECTOR

I am most pleased to write about our policing service in this newsletter. Taking over as Commander of the Stratford District Police Sector in April, I realised that we have a challenging task in providing a service to both rural areas and towns, with almost 400 square miles and 250 villages and hamlets to look after. On 8 April I attended Snitterfield Parish Council meeting to introduce myself and to get a feel from local people about policing matters. It was a positive meeting and I was made most welcome. What came across to me clearly was the great value people place on having a police officer seen on patrol in the John Harris, our Community Beat Officer villages. People are reassured by the overt presence of the police. Our Community Beat Officers are over 80 cases of other types of I received many questions a vital part of our policing service. theft and over 50 cases of criminal concerning who the Community They are hardworking officers who damage. Possibly linked to the Beat officer now was, and how seek to form close partnership with criminal damage are issues relating often Snitterfield is patrolled. the communities they work in and to nuisance and vandalism caused The Community Beat Officer is really are the ‘problem solvers’ of by a small nucleus of young people PC John Harris and he is based at the police world. It is their job to in Snitterfield. Clearly, these are Henley Police Station. John has get to grips with the emerging issues that the police want to been away from the beat for a problems on their beats and deal make inroads into, working with considerable period of time to with the cause, finding the right the community. I should point out work on a major incident, but I am solution. We are working hard to however that, by comparison to glad to say he is now back to his find ways to maximise their visible many other beats the overall level normal duties. He can be contacted presence in the villages and raise of crime is low. Our overall aim is to at Henley Police Station on 01564 their profile. make it lower still. 792691. His mobile phone number Some of the key issues being Therefore, please get to know your is 07747 136008. John’s beat covers addressed by John Harris in Community Beat Officer, Snitterfield, Claverdon, Preston Snitterfield include car crime, theft PC John Harris. Bagot, , Wolverton and criminal damage. Last year, on Information you have may help to and Bearley. He works alongside the Snitterfield beat there were solve a crime. And don’t forget that PC Adrian Langley, also based at just over 100 cases of vehicle crime, if it is a real emergency, dial 999. Henley and who has responsibility (mainly theft of and from vehicles), for the Tanworth in Arden beat. Chief Inspector Mike Slemensek The Parish Council Barry Armitage, Neighbourhood Watch investing in our Officer for the South Warwickshire future generation Police Area writes: The Parish Council recently My name is Barry Armitage and I am the refurbished the play areas within the Neighbourhood Watch Officer for South village after vandalism attacks - let’s Warwickshire. keep the areas looking as good as I am glad of the opportunity to write a few words about new for our young ones. neighbourhood Watch (NHW) to the residents of Snitterfield. My role is a result of the Crime and Disorder Act that dictated that local councils, the police and other relevant agencies should adopt a partnership approach to community issues and the like. My role is funded by the Stratford and Warwick District Councils, the County Council as well as the police. It is my responsibility to develop NHW, which means the formation of new schemes and importantly the development/support of existing schemes. Communication from both the police and within NHW itself - before and after is an issue that continues to demand attention; without effective communication , consistent police support AND up to date information on local criminal activity, I can understand that NHW schemes can become disillusioned and demotivated. I am working hard to try and bring about improvements in these areas. Please get in touch with me at Stratford police station (tel 01926 415669) if there are matters that you would like to discuss. Alternatively you may wish to speak with Renate Stephens (your village NHW Co-ordinator) on 01789 731426. renate has been involved with NHW much longer than I have, and she has a wealth of practical experience.

The concentration of poison fed to young birds and animals is FATAL! Let’s imagine, we ‘re a young hedgehog, busily searching for food, we stumble A wet spring is not good, slugs and across a larder of plump slugs and snails snails thrive in these conditions, and to feast upon, OR - we’re a song thrush, I must admit, I am really struggling looking for our favourite delicacy of slugs to keep them at bay myself. and snails, to feed our eager young But, be responsible in the use of chicks who are hungry after a slug pellets, be selective and use cold spring night, and we come as few as possible, then collect up upon a flower border with a the dead or dying slugs and dispose of them out of rich succulent meal awaiting. harm’s way.

These are just two of the many Snitterfield is blessed with a good number of creatures that live on slugs and hedgehogs and thrushes, so let’s keep it that way. snails, and other garden pests, the My own recommendation is to sit in list is endless – so is the death from the garden with a gin and tonic and slug pellets! The manufacturer’s label recommends – keep listen to the song thrush saying away from pets etc – so what are they doing to our ‘goodnight’ - it’s well worth it! valuable wildlife? SNIPE – SNITTERFIELD VILLAGE NEWSLETTER HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW We want the village newsletter to be shaped by your needs and opinions. Please take a moment to fill in this form, so SNITTERFIELD? that we can improve the newsletter and make sure it’s what Use your powers of observation you want. We need your feedback – bad or good. to identify this object situated PLEASE fill out this form, try your hand at the competition to the right, cut somewhere within the parish along the dotted line and then place in the SNIPE Box at the village shop, and... or send to SNIPE, 14 The Green, Snitterfield, CV37 0JG, before 10 Aug 2002. ...win a meal for two at your Your age (please circle) Under 16 16-24 25-35 36-45 45-60 60+ local pub! Did you enjoy the newsletter? kindly donated by The Snitterfield Arms Which articles did you like best, and why? or The Foxhunter

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The views expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or other members of the SNIPE editorial committee.