MalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DC Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk 1

ISSUE 3 2019 THE ANNUAL MAGAZINE FROM MALVERN HILLS DISTRICT COUNCIL

PROUD PLAN TO OF OUR SUPPORT PLACE ROUGH JOIN THE SLEEPERS WITCH MARK HUNT

TAKE THE ZERO WASTE CHALLENGE

RESIDENTS’ SURVEY HAVE YOUR SAY 2 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk New Residents’

Survey

Make your voice heard Do you think we are spending be used to influence our future your money on the right decision-making. priorities? Are you satisfied with the way we run things? What So if you want your priorities to would you like us to do more of? become our priorities, then get involved. The survey is available Let us know by taking part in our to complete online at www. residents’ survey. What you think malvernhills.gov.uk/public-notices- really matters and your views consultations and takes just a few will be used to help decide what minutes to complete. Hurry though actions should be included in our as the deadline for responses is Five Year Plan, which is currently Sunday, 6 October. being updated. Your views will also

New scheme to improve broadband speeds

Residents in rural communities are upgrade and the community putting in speeds of less than 30Mbps. This being urged to take advantage of the rest. Some 50 schemes are already scheme covers most parts of the a new scheme aimed at improving registered across the district. district, except for Malvern Town. broadband speeds in hard to reach areas. Upgrades can be funded through Visit www.superfastworcestershire. the Gigabit Broadband Voucher com/complementary-schemes to find Some 89% of properties across the Scheme which allows residents to out more. district can now access superfast access a voucher of up to £500 each broadband speeds of more than and businesses up to £2,500. By 24Mbps - up from 47% in 2014 - working together as a group and thanks to investment by the Superfast pooling vouchers, significant amounts To find out if your home has programme and BT of money can be raised to fund a access to superfast broadband Openreach. superfast broadband upgrade. A legal already, enter your postcode at organisation – an official residents’ www.superfastworcestershire. However, some more remote group, parish or town council - is com/#where-when. parts of the district are still unable needed to access the funding. Remember if superfast to access faster speeds and the broadband is available in your benefits they bring. To tackle this, A more generous voucher scheme, the area, to enjoy faster speeds residents in those areas are being Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme, you will need to upgrade your urged to form a Community Fibre is also available offering up to £3,500 current Internet package. You Scheme. This involves a provider, to small and medium sized rural can use any Internet service such as BT Openreach, paying for the businesses and £1,500 for rural provider though, it does not commercially viable part of a network residential properties, with broadband have to be BT. MalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DC Malvern Hills District Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk 3 Residents’ Sites for new homes

Survey

to be revealed

Proposed sites for an These will be considered by additional 14,000 new each council in October and homes and 169 hectares of then be put out for public Play park revamp delay employment land across consultation for six weeks from South Worcestershire will go 4 November. Information on out to public consultation how people can get involved from November. will be released nearer the time. Please look out for details in the More than 1,000 sites were put local press or ensure you keep forward last year as potential right up to date by joining our locations for new housing consultation email list at and employment land as part www.malvernhills.gov.uk/emailalerts of the review of the South Worcestershire Development The current SWDP runs until Plan – the document which 2030 and includes provision guides development across the for 28,400 new homes and area. 300 hectares of employment Earlier this year we company to carry out land – a significant proportion announced plans for the work but none Planners have assessed each site of which has already been a £500,000 revamp could implement against a number of criteria to built. The review will extend of the Priory Park the agreed scheme decide if they are suitable. The the plan up until 2041 and play area following within our designated findings, along with technical meet increasing demand for feedback from budget. We are evidence and feedback from new housing and business parents and children. currently working on the Issues and Options public expansion. Work was expected a revised plan for the consultation held at the end to be completed play area as part of a of last year, have informed More information about this summer but wider vision for Priory recommendations to Worcester the review can be found at unfortunately our Park. This will allow us City, Malvern Hills and Wychavon www.swdevelopmentplan.org preferred contractor to deliver an improved District Councils on the best withdrew from the experience for all locations for development across project. We attempted users as well as value the area. to find another for taxpayers. 4 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk Kempsey J Michael M Allen Council Updated May 2019 07974 643076 District 07375 860264 Upton & Hanley Ripple alvern Hills J Owenson D Walton M 07944 408307 Broadheath 07931 098468 Kempsey D Harrison 01905 828107 A Morgan 01684 592405 Hallow Upton & Hanley D Clarke 01905 640850 12 Broadheath D Chambers 07400 590711 11 B Behan Longdon 01452 781030 14 Baldwin 13 01886 888832 P L Cumming 10 7 8 8 5 15 16 Morton

M Davies

07739 633249 9 6 4 Woodbury P Cumming 01886 888832 Wells 3 This area shown in detail yellow section, left J Gallagher 07888 898549 T Wells 22 West 2 07702 996203 Wells M Dyde P Whatley 01684 878599 07447 497671 & Leigh Powick K Wells 077491 90360 B Williams 01886 853377 19 Pickersleigh 20 Link 21 Dyson Perrins S Rouse 1 01886 833653 Alfrick & Leigh Teme Valley Teme D Godwin 07974 966412 C Palethorpe 07947 532412 16 Wells 17 Priory 18 Chase 07816 117225 Pickersleigh R Whitehead Link N Mills 07719 157852 Tenbury B Thomas 01584 319305 P Bennett Pickersleigh 07494 963969 13 Upton & Hanley 14 Longdon 15 Morton Link K Aksar T Penn 07397396439 Tenbury 01584 810328 C Bovey Pickersleigh 01684 562967 Link K H Chan Chase 07809 506735 10 Powick 11 Kempsey 12 Ripple S Charles 07411 294226 18 19 20 Chase Sarah Rouse J O’Donnell 01684 569414 8 Broadheath 7 Hallow 9 Alfrick & Leigh 17 Leader of the Council 21 22 Chase Malvern Town and surrounding Wards Malvern Town C Baldwin : 07769 948280 2019-2020 5 Baldwin 4 Woodbury 6 Martley West Priory C Reed N McVey C Palmer 07721 758356 07793 971857 07966 932894 Dyson Perrins Dean Clarke Malvern Hills DistrictMalvern Council West Priory J Raine J Wood Chairman of the Council B Nielsen Political Groups formed Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Democratic Group Independent 07814 196911 077345 69910 2 Lindridge 1 Tenbury 3 Teme Valley 3 Teme 07940 228818 Dyson Perrins Key to Wards MalvernHillsUKMalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DCMalvernHills_DC Malvern Malvern Hills Hills District District Council Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk malvernhills.gov.uk 5 5

Environment, economy and engagement at heart of new leadership’s vision

It was all change after voters went to the polls in May’s local elections. The result left no single political party or group in control of Malvern Hills District Council. Instead the Democratic Group – made up of Green Party and independent councillors - ended up with the most seats with 14 councillors. They joined forces with the nine Liberal Democrat councillors to form a new partnership to lead the Council.

Four months on and we caught up with Council Leader Cllr Sarah Rouse, of the Democratic Group and who represents Alfrick and Leigh, to find out a little more about the new leadership team’s vision for the district.

How does it feel to be elected Leader lose sight of the fact money remains of Malvern Hills District Council? tight in local government and we need Cllr Rouse has put in It’s a huge honour. I am just an ordinary to continue to be as efficient as possible place a team with specific person with a passion for where I live to meet our financial targets. responsibilities to help direct and the people of Malvern Hills district. council decision-making. The As councillors we have all been given Does working with another political full line-up is as follows: an opportunity to make a difference group make decision-making more and we want to repay that faith by challenging? Cllr Sarah Rouse doing just that. It does, but we must simply remember Leader of the Council to put residents first. It has always been and responsible for What have the last few months been my intention to ensure every councillor Resources like since the new leadership team has a voice that is listened to and to took charge? work cross-party to make a positive Cllr Tom Wells Exciting and daunting. There have been difference for our residents. People I Deputy Leader of the lots of new people to meet and it has spoke to on the doorstep were clear Council and responsible been a very steep learning curve. I have that they wanted all councillors to for Community Services put in place a brand new team, we have work together. We are local councillors passionate and committed staff and we’re focusing on local issues. That will Cllr David Harrison just keen to do our very best for residents. remain my focus. responsible for Planning and Infrastructure You have four years until the next election. What will your priorities be Cllr Tom Wells, Leader of the Cllr Natalie McVey for the district? Liberal Democrat Group, has responsible for Housing The economy will be a key focus, been elected Deputy Leader and Health particularly supporting our high streets. of the Council. He said: “Liberal The environment will be at the forefront Democrat councillors are happy Cllr John Raine given the increased focus on the need to work with others who share our responsible for to tackle climate change. Investing in simple, common sense approach Environmental Services our communities will also be at the to getting things done. We are heart of everything we do, especially ambitious to make Malvern Hills an Cllr Beverley Nielsen issues like transport in rural areas. We’ll even better place to live, work or visit responsible for set these out in more detail in our and keen to give residents a much Economic Development revised Five Year Plan which will be bigger say in our decision-making.” and Tourism published early next year. We also can’t 6 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk

Last year residents of Malvern Hills district generated more than 12,156 tonnes of non-recyclable waste. This not only costs millions of pounds to deal with but is also a huge waste of water, energy and raw materials.

While we all know about recycling, many of us are unaware it actually comes pretty far down the list in terms of waste management.

So, if we are going to save the planet and live more sustainably, we need to focus more on reducing, reusing and repairing and only recycle when other options are either unavailable or impractical.

To help you start to do this we are running the first Worcestershire Zero Waste Month between Could you live 23 September and 20 October. Together with councils across Worcestershire, we will be putting on activities and issuing information a to help you start your journey to a lower waste zero waste lifestyle.

Highlights include: lifestyle? • Sign up for the Zero Waste challenge at www. letswasteless.com and see how much you can reduce your waste by in just four weeks. • Look out for our Love Food Hate Waste volunteers who will be in supermarkets across the county offering advice on smarter shopping and food waste reduction. • Learn more about simple fixes for household items and how Malvern Repair Café can help revive an item that looks beyond repair. • Clear out your closet and donate clothes to your local charity shop. Reduce Reuse Recycle • Book a free place on our clothing repair and Use a reusable cup Repurpose your clothes Use your recycling bin creative clothing workshops and see how you can save your clothes from the bin. • Attend the Malvern Hills District Greener Living Fair, taking place on 19 October at Malvern Priory from 1pm-3.30pm and supported by Transition Malvern Hills. • Plus lots more tips and advice.

You can find out more by visiting www.letswasteless.com and clicking on the Zero Waste Worcestershire link or sign up to our waste and recycling e-newsletter at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/emailalerts

Clear out your closet and swap clothes MalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DC Malvern Hills District Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk 7

Sell or donate – when having a clear out don’t just go straight to the bin. How much is Sell items online first, offer to friends your food waste and family or take to your nearest charity shop. costing you? Imagine if you bought five bags of food shopping and Remember, you may threw one straight in the bin. Madness right? Well that’s what not get to zero waste the majority of us are doing every single week. In fact over overnight but as long the course of a year the average family with children throws as you’re moving in the away £810 worth of food. You pay for this waste twice as not right direction then only do you not eat the food you have bought, but Worcestershire Top tips to help it’s a start. County Council spends about £5million a year of your Council reduce your waste Tax disposing of household food Recycle your crisp packets waste. It also wastes a huge Buy less – the easiest way to reduce You can now recycle crisp, amount of water and carbon your waste is to just buy less. Spend emissions generated during money on the things you really popcorn, pretzel and nut packets at dedicated public drop-off points. the growing, manufacture and need. Even if you really need it, ask processing of food. yourself do I need to own it or is We are supporting the KP Foods and there an alternative available? Terracycle scheme to collect these type of packets and recover the Cut out food waste – you will save plastic contained within the lining money and help the planet. See so it can be used to make other Top tips to help reduce separate article. products. your food waste: Refuse disposables – if it can only Buy what you need – check be used once then look for a longer what you actually need before lasting, reusable alternative. you go shopping, make a list Make simple swaps – replace and stick to it. This can save you aluminium foil with a reusable money and avoid overbuying. product, use reusable sandwich Steer clear of those ‘just in case’ wraps instead of plastic bags, take purchases and give loose fruit a reusable bag with you to the and veg a try rather than multi- supermarket to put your loose bags you know won’t all get fruit and veg in, use a reusable eaten. Understanding portion container when buying meat from sizes can also help. There’s a the butcher or deli counter, use bar handy calculator available at soap instead of liquid soap, buy www.lovefoodhatewaste.com refillable cleaning products…the list is endless. Store food properly – read the labels and follow the instructions Get composting – if you haven’t to ensure food is maintained for got a compost bin yet then they are as long as possible. Freeze food available at a discounted rate from on or before its use by date to www.letswasteless.com ensure it doesn’t go to waste. Drop-off points have been installed Repair before you replace – a Eat what you buy – Check out at Malvern Splash and Sport Dyson quick internet search will provide the contents of your freezer Perrins and we are looking for other you with information on a range of and meal plan to use up what’s locations in Tenbury and Upton- simple DIY fixes for basic household available first before buying upon-Severn. Other recycling points items or take them to Malvern Hills more food. You can also turn not run by Malvern Hills District Repair Café and see if they can help. your leftovers into new creations. Council are available in other Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com Check out the second hand locations. Visit www.terracyle.com for recipes and inspiration. market first – charity shops or to find the full list. Crisp packets Eat the crusts on bread and furniture reuse shops are great should not be put in your green try leaving the skins on your places to hunt for bargains as are bin as the sorting plant at Norton is potatoes when making mash, online auction sites and market unable to process them. places. chips or roasties. 8 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk Could you help end mental health discrimination? One in four of us will experience Where to go if you need support a mental health problem in our lifetime, yet there is still too Worcestershire Wellbeing Hub an information and signposting service often a stigma attached to it. for adults experiencing low mood, anxiety or stress. Visit www.hacw.nhs.uk/ Worcestershire Time to Change is wellbeinghub or call 01905 766124. looking for people to sign up to become champions to campaign to end Worcestershire Healthy Minds mental health discrimination in their supports adults experiencing stress, communities. Champions run activities, anxiety or low mood. Referrals can be get involved at events, speak out about made by a GP or by yourself. Visit www. mental health and much more. hacw.nhs.uk/our-services/healthy-minds or call the Wellbeing Hub. Funding of up to £500 is available for NHS Every Mind Matters champions with personal experience support information including a quiz to of mental health problems to use to help you assess your mental wellbeing run anti-stigma activity which sparks and an action plan to help improve your conversations about mental health. This mental health. Visit www.nhs.uk/oneyou/ can include hosting stalls in shopping mental-health centres, pub quizzes, sports events, art and craft activities, dog walks, etc. Being a champion is a flexible and voluntary If problems with your mental health commitment. Champions can do what aren’t going away and are affecting they have time for, and what they are your daily life or causing you to feel that comfortable doing. life isn’t worth living, you’re harming Get regular advice yourself or have thought about self- and information For more information on getting harm, it’s important to tell someone. about improving your health involved, visit www.comfirst.org.uk/ You can call Samaritans for free 24 hours and well-being by signing up worcestershire_time_to_change, email a day on 116 123. If your need is a life to our e-newsletter service timetochangeworcestershire@comfirst. threatening emergency dial 999. at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/ org.uk or call 01684 312754. emailalerts

To keep health risks to a minimum men and women should drink no more than Are you aware If you’re worried about your own 14 units a week, spread evenly over or someone else’s drinking, you of how much you’re three or more days. This is because the can contact the following for help: drinking? risk of alcohol related cancers increases beyond 14 units a week. One You ‘Drinking’ Assess your alcohol consumption Alcohol plays a part in many of and access further information at our lives, yet drinking too much www.nhs.uk/oneyou can have serious consequences. Health risks include long-term Swanswell Reovery damage to the brain, nervous Partnership system, liver, heart and pancreas. Swanswell can provide It can also cause depression and medical support directly lead to weight gain. or in partnership with GPs through one-to-one and If you are drinking more than this a group support. The harm goes far beyond damaging week then you may have a problem. If Call 0300 303 8200 those who drink too much, affecting you wish to cut down one way of doing Alcoholics Anonymous families, communities and ultimately so is to have several drink free days a 24/7 helpline on 0800 9177 our whole society. This harm is entirely week. An app is available to support 650 or visit their website preventable though and that is why you to do this. For more information www.alcoholics- reducing the impact of alcohol is one of visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ anonymous.org.uk the priorities for the Malvern Hills District healthandwellbeing Health and Well-being Partnership. MalvernHillsUKMalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DCMalvernHills_DC Malvern Malvern Hills Hills District District Council Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk malvernhills.gov.uk 9 More support for

A new action plan is being finalised to change the way support is provided to people sleeping rough.

The Rough Sleeping Task and Finish Group has been working hard over the last six months to come up with a How you can help those sleeping rough blueprint to transform the way help is offered to those on the streets. The group is made up of representatives from We know there are lots of caring people across the public, housing, charitable and voluntary sectors across the district who are keen to play a role including national homelessness charity Shelter. in helping support people sleeping rough. The most obvious way to help seems to be to give money directly. Unfortunately your Key issues being looked at include how best to meet people’s basic generosity could be doing more harm than accommodation needs while long-term support is provided to deal good as many people on the streets have with underlying mental health, drug or alcohol issues. complex needs including issues with drugs and alcohol, so there is no guarantee your There are six key areas the plan will focus on: money will be spent the way you intended. Developing affordable and accessible accommodation If you want to help here are some things you Improving information, advice and guidance can do: Tackling welfare related poverty Access to employment Tell us Prevention Let us know if you see a rough sleeper by Raising public awareness visiting www.streetlink.org.uk or call our housing team on 01386 565020.

It is hoped it will be published by the end of the year. Other actions Volunteer your time being taken include the recommissioning of the Homelessness Get involved with a local group or organisation Prevention Service for single people and childless couples. This helping support rough sleepers. began during the summer and the new service should be up and running by October. It will focus on intervening earlier on to Donate to our alternative giving prevent people from having to sleep rough in the first place. A No scheme Second Night Out service will ensure people new to the streets get Look out for the local scheme we’ll be setting assistance straight away while the number of emergency shelters up over the next few months and donate. The provided during cold weather is expected to increase from two to money you give will help fund our work with five. This is to help protect rough sleepers in more rural locations rough sleepers to help get them off the streets. and Malvern is one of the areas being looked at. A review into rough sleeper deaths across Worcestershire, including Sign up for cold weather alerts When the temperature drops significantly two towards the end of last year in Malvern, is also being carried out emergency measures are put in place. Sign up by the Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board. to our newsletter at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/ emailalerts so you know when this is activated. Stay up to date on this and other news by signing up to our email alerts service at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/emailalerts 10 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk

YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY

Support with life skills, issues around people in our decision-making as mental health and the environment they are the group least represented are among the top concerns of the in traditional consultations. district’s young people according to a major survey. More than 1,200 11 to 17-year-olds were questioned on various topics The Bigger Picture Survey was carried ranging from hobbies and life out by Malvern Hills District Council after school to physical health and to strengthen the voice of young community safety.

The results revealed: • 60% of those surveyed were happy to live in the district • Boys spend most of their time gaming, on their phone or playing sport while girls spend time on their phone, hanging out with friends and listening to music • 41% plan to go to university after school, 23% intend to get a job and 13% an apprenticeship • 49% don’t intend to stay in the district once they leave school • A majority wanted help with developing life skills like basic budgeting, moving out of home and basic cookery • 42% have experienced or know someone who has experienced a mental health issue • 26% experienced abuse online but only 40% of those reported it

to look after their mental health. A campaign is The results have been used to develop a Youth being designed to encourage young people to Action Plan which the council will deliver along be less reliant on their phone and we will also with partners over the next five years. Actions work with schools on environmental issues. include creating a Youth Chairman and Youth Forum to help guide decisions affecting young You can read the full findings of the Bigger people. A series of toolkits are also being Picture Survey online at developed to help support work in schools to www.malvernhills.gov.uk/youth develop life skills and teach young people how MalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DC Malvern Hills District Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk 11

Support for our Changing High Streets

Masterplans are being drawn up However, as more and more people to help the district’s town centres move to shopping online conditions respond to changes in shopping are going to get more challenging for habits. traders. How councils should respond to this was discussed at an event earlier A total of £55,000 has been allocated to this year where councillors heard from a develop a future vision for town centres series of experts. in Malvern, Upton and Tenbury as well as retail centres at Barnards Green and Among them was Jackie Sadek, Chief . Executive of UK Regeneration, who said: “The tectonic plates of retail are The blueprints will be used to shifting and the future of our town inform bids for funding to help high centres will not be retail alone but a streets adapt to future pressures and mix of uses – leisure, health, education identify where support from partner and anything else that will help attract organisations will be needed. footfall. It’s about experiences, because experiences can’t be bought online.” The district’s town centres are currently better placed than many other parts of the country to cope with changes to the Keep up to date by joining our latest retail sector with relatively few empty news e-newsletter at shops and a good range of independent www.malvernhills.gov.uk/emailalerts businesses.

Support from District Council helps open the doors to funding for rural business diversification

A fishery in has been awarded £15,900 as part of efforts to grow the rural economy.

Broad Oak Trout Lakes received the money from the LEADER programme to help diversify the business to ensure it remained competitive in a changing market. The Gilver Lane fishery opened in 2006 and over the years has expanded to add corporate events, tackle sales and Shepherd’s Hut accommodation. Changes in spending habits though and a need for more Charlotte Vincent, comfortable, accessible accommodation prompted the from Broad Oak Trout Lakes, said: company to convert the fishing lodge at Broad Oak into two self catering units. “We have worked hard to create a An application was made to Worcestershire County beautiful place where guests and Council for LEADER funding, backed by the support of fly-fishermen can come to relax and Malvern Hills District Council’s Visitor Economy Officer Victoria Carman, who was also on hand to offer advice. restore their senses, but we would not The grant received paid for 40% of the conversion costs have been able to turn our vision into of the project with the new accommodation already reality without the support of the district proving a hit with guests. and county councils.” 12 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk Don’t let loan sharks take a bite out of you Have you ever been offered a cash loan? If you suspect a loan shark you can report Did they fail to give you paperwork? in confidence by calling 0300 555 2222, Did they add huge amounts of interest text 078600 22116 or use the online form to your loan? Have they threatened at www.stoploansharks.co.uk where you you? Are you scared of people finding can also find more information. out? Have they taken your bank card, benefit card, passport, watch or other If your income is low, you have a poor valuables from you? credit rating or you only need a small amount for a short period of time then If you answered yes to any of those there are alternatives to loan sharks that questions then you could have borrowed are legal and safe. money from an illegal money lender, more commonly known as a loan shark. You One of them is to consider borrowing are not alone. It is estimated across the from a Credit Union. We have partnered UK 310,000 people are in debt to illegal with Six Towns Credit Union which offers If you need debt advice money lenders. We support the work of a range of services including a Christmas then seek help from Citizens the national Illegal Money Lending Team savings account, low cost loans to help Advice South Worcestershire to raise awareness of what loan sharks are, with everyday expenses and essential by calling the Adviceline on support victims and direct people to safe appliances like fridges and freezers. Visit 03444 111 303. and legal alternatives. www.sixtowns.co.uk for more information.

Who is watching your neighbourhood? Action to prevent

• Promoting and sharing crime death and injury at prevention measures to help stop Gullet Quarry crime happening in the first place and to protect yourselves and your neighbours • Supporting the police by helping them gather information and local knowledge to help catch criminals that may be operating in your area We have recently finished a six week public consultation on the People living in Neighbourhood introduction of a Public Space Watch areas are less likely to be Protection Order (PSPO) to save burgled, become victims of anti-social lives and prevent injury at Gullet behaviour, environmental crime (such Quarry. Are you interested in helping to as graffiti) and doorstep crime. make your area a safer place to If introduced, the PSPO would live? If so, then you may wish to join As well as forging close links with the initially run for three years and give your local Neighbourhood Watch or police, Neighbourhood Watch schemes police the power to fine people up consider setting one up if a scheme will also work with other organisations to £100 for entering the fenced area isn’t available in your area. such as South Worcestershire Rural around the quarry, swimming in it Community Safety Partnership, Malvern or failing to hand over alcohol when Being part of Neighbourhood Watch Hills District Council, Trading Standards asked to. doesn’t mean you have to be a nosy and the Fire and Rescue Service. curtain twitcher, a vigilante or some kind of have-a-go-hero. What it does For information on local schemes Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/ mean is you have the opportunity to or for support to create a public-notices-consultations create a safer neighbourhood by: Neighbourhood Watch in your area, for the latest update. • Raising awareness of when a crime email [email protected] has happened or call 01684 862213. MalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DC Malvern Hills District Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk 13 Together we can SCRAP fly tipping

We will continue to investigate every About two thirds of the fly-tips fly tip where we believe there is a we deal with every year contain realistic chance of finding evidence household or garden waste. You to support a prosecution and take can play a big part in tackling fly action to bring offenders to justice. tipping by simply following the SCRAP code: Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/ fly-tipping-and-littering for more uspect all waste carriers. Do not S information or to report fly tipping. let anyone take your waste away until you have seen their waste carrier licence.

Check they have a waste carrier What about businesses? licence on the Environment Agency’s A new campaign has been launched If you are a business then you also website. have a legal duty to ensure your to fight back against people illegally waste is managed properly until dumping their waste across the district efuse any unexpected offers it is recycled or disposed of. You and cut clean up costs to the taxpayer. R to have your rubbish taken away, must use a registered waste carrier particularly from people offering the or register to carry your own waste SCRAP fly tipping aims to highlight service door to door. and keep the correct paperwork how residents have a key role to play in for two years. catching the fraudsters and cowboys sk how your rubbish will be who blight our area by leaving waste A disposed of and seek evidence of We offer a commercial recycling across the countryside, rather than this. and waste collection service to disposing of it properly. help businesses meet their legal obligations. Visit www.malverhills. You may not realise it but you are legally Paperwork must be obtained. Get a gov.uk/commercial-waste or responsible for the waste you produce, proper invoice, waste transfer note email commercial.collections@ known as Duty of Care. Even if you pay or receipt, including a description of malvernhills.gov.uk for more someone to take waste away for you, if the waste being removed and the information. they then go and dump it you can be fined waste carrier’s contact details. up to £400 or face prosecution in court.

Adopt a street and help keep our district tidy Individuals, schools, businesses and If you are passionate about community groups in the Malvern Hills keeping where you live clean and district area are welcome to apply. In tidy then sign up to our Adopt a return for signing up, Malvern Hills Street scheme. District Council will provide people with free litter picking equipment to keep for The scheme offers people the as long as they are part of the scheme. chance to make a difference to their community by becoming The move is part of the council’s pledge regular volunteer litter pickers for to raise awareness of environmental an area of their choosing. crime and work with communities to help tackle issues such as litter, The area chosen can be small or fly-tipping and dog fouling. large but must be public land unless permission from the landowner has To sign up to join the fight against been obtained. People are being asked littering visit to litter pick at least three times a year www.malvernhills.gov.uk/adopt-a-street on dates of their choosing and at their convenience. 14 Malvern Hills Proud of Our Place / www.malvernhills.gov.uk

Help us record ancient graffiti used to ward off evil spirits

Daisy wheel

Butterly mark

Daisy wheel Images courtesy of Shona Robson-Glyde

Now, we are appealing for the public to Concentric circles and daisy wheel An appeal is being help us build a more accurate picture of the use of these marks by reporting made to the public to potential sightings.

help record an Apotropaic in Greek means averting ancient form of evil and our ancestors would often carve such marks into timber framing, graffiti believed to infill panels and stonework to ward off witches and evil spirits. Popular have been used to hotspots for such carvings were around windows, doors and chimneys. The protect people from most commonly used apotropaic marks are daisy wheels – a circle with evil. six internal petals – interlocking circles, concentric circles and intercutting Vs that appear to the viewer as an M or W. Apotropaic marks – or witch marks as they are also known – have been The custom dates back to the 13th discovered in many properties century but appears to have grown in An example of scorch marks throughout the country and our district popularity during the 17th century. has more than its fair share. Some were Unsurprisingly it was most popular even found in the basement of the during times of civil war and plague. Council House in Malvern during recent Identifying apotropaic marks can Anyone who thinks they renovation work. be difficult though as they are often have spotted a mark should confused with marks carved into timber email a picture to Aidan Smyth, As part of the planning process these by carpenters, tally marks in barns used our archaeology and marks are recorded by archaeologists to keep a record of crops and scorch planning advisor, at and are being used to build up a marks designed to protect buildings [email protected] record of how superstitious previous from fire. generations were. MalvernHillsUKMalvernHillsUK MalvernHills_DCMalvernHills_DC Malvern Malvern Hills District Hills District Council Council malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhillsdistrictcouncil malvernhills.gov.uk malvernhills.gov.uk 15

New clubhouse supported as part of Get help from your investment in our communities councillor’s Ward A brand new clubhouse has been opened • £300,000 towards the revamp of Malvern Budget at Malvern Victoria Bowls Club with the Town FC to provide better facilities and If you are a community support of a £28,000 investment by more opportunities for both the sporting group in need of small Malvern Hills District Council. and non-sporting communities. amounts of money to support specific projects The project will allow the clubhouse to be then get in touch with used for a greater range of activities such your local councillor. as short mat bowls, table tennis and pilates. The aim is to encourage wider participation All 38 of our councillors are in sport to improve the health and well- given £500 each to spend being of the community. every year on things they believe will make a difference The money came from Section 106 funding, to residents in their area which is paid by developers as part of legal and support our priorities agreements linked to planning applications. of Building Stronger and It can be used to improve, adapt or create Healthier Communities, new facilities such as outdoor play spaces, Driving Economic Growth new allotments or village halls. and Making the Most of our Superb Environment. Town and parish councils, as well as not- for-profit organisations and charities, are Last year small grants among those who can apply for money, if were given to a range available in their area. of organisations for everything from equipment • £50,000 to Malvern Town Council for for brownie and scout Other recent uses of S106 money the creation of state-of-the-art, free to groups and Christmas include: use, basketball courts in Victoria Park. events to repairs to village This is subject to planning permission • Almost £33,000 to help fund new play halls and a scheme to deter being granted. and fitness equipment at Berryfield burglars. Sports Ground, . • £147,000 towards the creation of a woodland burial ground in Martley. To apply simply get in • £40,955 to The Malvern Hills Trust to touch with your district enhance Townsend Way Community • £8,000 to help with improvements to councillor. Details can be Woodland so it can be enjoyed by more Ripple Community Hall. found on page four. people. The project includes improved pathways and the installation of benches and signage. Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/ section-106 for more information. GARDEN Bulky waste WASTE collections Collections from your doorstep Let us do the hard work for you

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