STOKE PARISH COUNCIL WWW.STOKE-PC-WORCS.GOV.UK

Issue 2014.2 PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2014

Chairman's Message I make no apologies for opening this Chairman's message by mentioning the amount of complaints received recently concerning dog walking & dog- fouling in our recreation areas. Please remember that these are children's playgrounds, and serious health problems can be caused by dog mess.

I appreciate that your dogs need exercise [I am a dog owner myself!] but there are designated paths and areas where they can be walked. I should also point out that there are penalties which must be paid if you are convicted of allowing your dog to foul public areas. Your co-operation really Inside this issue: would be appreciated. (cont'd over....) Chairman’s Chairman’s Message (cont’d from front cover)... message 1

Footpath Wardens: 'Changes Afoot!' 2

County Councillor News Update 4

Stoke Prior First School Tribute 5

Fire Safety Awareness 6

Parish Council meetings calendar 6

Advertisements 7

Parish Contacts and Information 8 2

On a lighter note, your Parish Council is still looking into the idea of putting an 'outdoor gym' into one of our recreation areas which could be a health benefit for people of all ages. If anyone has any suggestions or comments regarding this or any other project, please contact your local Parish Councillor (contact details on page 8). Remember - we are YOUR Parish Council, and we welcome and value your input.

I would also like to welcome Jillian Howe back on to the Parish Council. Jill has been a valuable councillor in the past and I look forward to her contribution now that she has returned. Jill replaced Dr. Mike Thomson, who resigned from the Council due to his work commitments.

I am very grateful for the confidence the Council has put in me by, once again, electing me as Chairman; however, as this is my 5th year as Chairman, I feel that, next year, I should step down and let someone else take the reigns. I will, of course, continue as a councillor and continue to work within the community.

May I end this message by wishing Councillor George Verney, and his wife Brenda, our best wishes in these difficult times whilst he has been suffering from ill health recently. JOHN ELLIS, Chairman, Stoke Parish Council

'Changes Afoot' - Introducing the new Footpath Wardens Parishioner David Braisted recounts the story of how he was invited to a meeting with the County Council in the mid-1990's to join a discussion about the poor state of the County's public footpaths. He, along with others, agreed that 'something needed to be done' to improve signage and to enable easier access. A few weeks later, he was Stoke Prior's first Parish Path Warden (PPW) and he was the one who had to do it!

David spent the next 20 years inspecting and reporting, way-marking, clearing & generally acquiring an encyclopaedic knowledge of The Stokes' 73 footpaths and bridleways; all-in-all, some 21 kilometres long. He played a major part in establishing the John Corbett Way (the 'Salt King' walk) - a history trail path which starts in our parish and ends in .

Over the last couple of years, David has wanted to move on and spend even more time enjoying his passion for trains and exotic travel, ideally both at the same time! He had been looking for a volunteer replacement without success and, just when he thought he had the job for life, two volunteers 3 turn up at the same time.

Mark Tovey (left) and Chris Jewson - having survived the in-depth scrutiny of the County Council - attended their respec- tive 'Essentials' induction courses and, having been given the tools of the trade, began to take over from David in early 2014.

Mark retired from the Civil Service in 2011, and Chris - a Mechanical Engineer - is currently working part-time until his planned retirement in the spring of 2015. They have both benefitted from an excellent hand-over from David, supplemented by detailed post-walk discussions at various local Pubs. Perhaps it is no coincidence that "Real Ale" was identified early on as something all three have in common!

Having spent the first part of the year getting to know their way around, it became clear that the parish paths were generally in a good state. They identified a few priority improvement jobs and, with the help of the County Council, they are working through those.

The biggest challenges have been created by this years weather. The wettest winter since Noah, and a warm / damp Spring which encouraged an undergrowth spurt of jungle proportions, made simply walking the paths a trial. Having spent the first part of the year updating way-markers and re-instating sign posts, they are now busy slashing and strimming the worst of the undergrowth covering the paths to enable better access. If anyone identifies a problem with any of the paths within the Parish, please email [email protected].

Chris has also taken on board the task of updating the main Parish Walks (as featured on our website), along with creating hand-drawn maps to aid less experienced walkers. He is hoping to have completed this task by the end of this year, and something relating to this will be included in the Spring 2015 issue of this Newsletter (to coincide with the better Spring weather(?)). 4 COUNTY COUNCILLOR CHRIS BLOORE - NEWS UPDATE

In my last column for this Newsletter, I spoke about my concerns for the future of our local bus service. The '141' is a key link between the parish and town centre, and is the only public transport available to local residents. The threat to the service came from an original decision by the County Council to consider removing all bus subsidies to public transport which meant many semi-rural services were at risk.

I am delighted to say that thanks to a tremendous response from local residents, we managed to save the '141' service. A minor change has been proposed to remove the latest weekend service but, as the tendering process starts, we are hopeful that this might be reversed.

Two large petitions were handed in by myself with the help of the Parish Council against the proposals and we were amongst only a handful of communities to put up such resistance against the cuts. I would like to thank all parishioners who signed the petitions or wrote to the County Council.

In other news, speeding remains a key concern for many local residents in the area. Two new speed activation signs are to be placed on the Hanbury Road and Road approaching the Puddle Wharf Island. Further- more, to help alleviate flooding on the Redditch Road, works have started to improve drainage and try to stop the constant flooding local residents in the area have been subjected to.

I was delighted to be able to help two excellent local community projects using my 'Divisional Allowance'. Firstly, I contributed £1,500 to help pay for a defibrillator to be placed at the home of Meadow Park football team. This defibrillator is a community asset and can be accessed by emergency services at all times.

Secondly, I continued to help fund the fantastic Stoke Parish Youth Club. Many local parents will already know how successful this club has been and I would like to pay tribute to Parish Councillor George Verney and his team for their hard work in providing such a warm and welcoming place for children to attend.

Finally, as I write this update, two recreation areas have recently been subject to illegal traveller incursions and formal legal proceedings were instigated to remove them. The District Council have since started a 'root-and-branch' review of all public spaces and other areas, such as car parks, which may be vulnerable 5

to such incursions. Recreation Ground has been the first to have new bollards and protective measures implemented to avoid further incursions. I hope that, where necessary, this will be repeated across the District to stop a repeat of recent events.

As ever, if you need my help on a local issue then please don't hesitate to contact me on 07905 612710 or cbloore@.gov.uk.

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR JAN!

Tribute to Jan Evans, former Head Teacher of Stoke Prior First School

"To meet the increasing demands in a rapidly changing world, a new school in Ryefields Road was opened in 1987 by [then MP] Sir Hal Miller. Some seventeen years ago, a young teacher - Jan Evans - joined the Staff, succeeding Mrs. Powell as Head Teacher. Gradually, Stoke Prior First School took over her life, and Jan has devoted her time and energy to ensure that the children are happy and safe at school, and eager to learn.

That she has achieved that ambition is reflected in the support and encouragement she received from both the teaching and administrative staff, the parents and the Governors. Having achieved her life's ambition with the Outstanding OFSTED accolade, she has decided the time is right to allow a successor to take control of the school in order that she may explore other interests and challenges that she has not been able to pursue due to lack of time. Bromsgrove Golf Club was the recent venue for her leaving party when the opportunity was taken by many to pay tribute to her magnificent contribution both to Stoke Prior First School, and to the local community."

(adapted from Chairman of Governors' John Tidmarsh's 'Summer 2014 Review' of Stoke Prior First School) 6

Check Your Home is Fire Safe! & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service [HWFR] provide advice to every- one and, for the more vulnerable, a free of charge fire safety check in the home.

Our evidence shows that people who are more at risk of an accidental house fire are older people, people who live on their own, people with reduced mobility and individuals who may not be able to respond quickly to a fire. We all like to think this will never happen to us but unfortunately, from time to time, it does and sometimes with terrible consequences. Our aim is to keep you safe.

As its name suggests, a Fire Safety Check in the home involves representatives from HWFR calling at your home to offer safety advice specific to your household and personal circumstances. During the visit, they will check your smoke alarms and install new ones if needed, and will ensure that you are doing all that you can to avoid the risk of a fire in your home. They will also help you work out an escape plan in the event of fire.

We would urge anyone who might be vulnerable themselves, or who knows an elderly family member, friend or neighbour who lives on their own or has reduced mobility that might benefit from a visit, to get in touch using the Freephone number below and request one on their behalf. To see if you qualify for a FREE Fire Safety Check contact the Community Safety team on 0800 0321155, and quote reference PN14. Please note that those doing the Fire Safety Checks will always make an appointment in advance of their visit, and will always carry identification which they will be very happy to show you.

If you would like to run a free (and fun) session for an older peoples group looking at "Keeping Safe From Fire As We Get Older," please contact [email protected] or ring 01905 368251.

Forthcoming Parish Council Meetings The Parish Council will meet on the following dates over the next few months: Monday 1st September 2014 } Monday 13th October 2014 } all at 7.30 p.m. Monday 3rd November 2014 } Avoncroft Arts Centre Monday 1st December 2014 } A full meetings calendar is available online at http://www.stoke-pc-worcs.gov.uk/?q=node/46 7

. Contacts 8

John Ellis 07504 127668 Planning, Communications, Resources Working (Chairman) Group, Fete Working Group, Stoke Heath recreation area, Worcestershire CALC

Jonathan Miller 01527 831942 Planning, Communications, Stoke Works recreation (Vice-Chairman) area, Ryefields Road recreation area, CPRE representative

Susan Abel 07808 053556 Planning, Communications (Chairman), Fete Working Group, Resources Working Group

Sarah Banham 07967 700145 Planning, Communications

Diane Brown 01527 821692 Planning, Resources Working Group, Fete Working Group, Picnic Site

Paul Eden 01527 759573 Resources Working Group, Stoke Works recreation area

Jillian Howe 01527 570274

Art Lavelle 07859 353554 Resources Working Group, Fete Working Group

Keith Shakespeare 01527 575003 Resources Working Group, Fete Working Group

George Verney 01527 876044 Fete Working Group

Maryna Walker 01527 577097 Stoke Prior Village Hall representative

Peter Williams 07970 782690 Planning (Chairman), Communications

Parish Clerk Patrick Callaway 33 Meadowvale Road, End, Bromsgrove, B60 1JY Tel. / Fax: 01527 871861 E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Parish Clerk Andy Stephens Tel: 07833 702024 E-mail: [email protected]

Parish Website www.stoke-pc-worcs.gov.uk Twitter www.twitter.com/Stoke_PC_Worcs Facebook www.facebook.com/StokePC Comments and Articles E-mail: [email protected]

District Councillors Stoke Heath Del Booth (Conservative) - Tel: 01527 833064

Stoke Prior John Tidmarsh (Conservative) - Tel: 01527 831959

County Councillor Bromsgrove South Division Christopher Bloore (Labour and Co-operative) Tel: 07905 612710 E-mail: [email protected]

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