News and Newsletters

Newsletters from the Parish Council, from the Warwickshire Police and from Stratford Online can be found on this page, as can other snippets of news from in and around Bidford-on-Avon.

Parish Council Newsletters

Community Policing Team Crime Newsletters

These crime summaries from the Warwickshire Police Force take a look at the crimes of public interest that occurred on the Bidford, Great Alne and Long Marston policing area over the last 14 days.

Bidford and Alcester Community Forum Notes

Other News and Newsletters

Christmas Lights Switch-On 2008

Bidford Christmas Lights presented the annual 'switch on' on Sunday 30 November 2008. This year's celebrity was David Neilson, alias Roy Cropper of Coronation Street fame.

New Solar Street Lights

In February 2008, the Parish Council had installed two solar panel street lights on the footpath by the railway bridge between Broom and Bidford .

See Previous News Items

Chairman's Report 2008/09

In September 2008 the Parish Council was advised that it had achieved Quality Status. As the accompanying Certificate states the Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme is a government initiative for all parish and town councils in England and is a Charter Mark awarded to a Parish or Town Council that is well run and working effectively on behalf of its community.

One of the requirements to obtain quality Status is for the Clerk to obtain a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) which she successfully did in May, and, with the support of the Council, she is now studying to obtain a Certificate of Higher Education in Local Policy from the University of Gloucester.

I would also like to congratulate the Clerk to Salford Priors, who is a Bidford Resident, and who has also passed his CiLCA with flying colours! Another requirement is that at least two thirds of the Council be elected, and I can confirm that, following the May 2008 elections, ALL members of the Bidford Parish Council are elected.

As Chairman of the Parish Council I would like to thank members of the Council, the Clerk and the Responsible Financial Officer for all the hard work they put into achieving Quality Status and can assure all of you that we will continue to work to improve the village and the quality of life of its residents.

At the Parish Annual Meeting of 2006, I was able to announce that, thanks to the hard work of Bidford residents, the plan to extract sand and gravel from Broom Court Farm, by Marriage Hill, had been withdrawn. However, as you are all well aware, the consultation on the Minerals Core Strategy: Revised Spatial Options is currently on going (the consultation date was extended to 8th May, thanks to our District Cllr. Kim James).

You should all have received a Newsletter, published by Bidford and Salford Priors Parish Councils, explaining the situation and urging you all to write opposing the proposed sites in the very close vicinity of Broom, as well as Berry Coppice by Hillers Farm in Dunnington.

On behalf of the local community, the Parish Council will be writing opposing the sites and also requesting Broom Court Farm be removed from the existing Minerals Local Plan (1995).

Another important consultation that has taken place during this year is the District Council’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy 2011-2026 which included proposals for developments in the land between Waterloo and Victoria Road and Bowood Fields, land between Victoria and Salford.

Following a morning of consultation, when residents were invited to give their comments, the Parish Council replied to this consultation objecting to any further developments, at least until such time as Friday Furlong is fully developed, as it does not believe this will be sustainable. Furthermore, these large developments are unacceptable according to the adopted Parish Plan.

Over the year, the Parish Council has continued with its village improvement programme:

• 5 more streetlight have been replaced.
• 2 more streetlights were installed in the village centre to improve the quality of the CCTV pictures.
• At the request of some of our more elderly residents, benches have been placed in strategic places, which allow them to sit and take a rest when returning from Budgens, the village shops, post office and bank.
• Marleigh Park play area has had a Dragon Fly see saw and a Cone installed and, as requested by residents, will remain a play area for the under 11. A picnic bench was also installed for the benefit of parents and grandparents.
• Planning permission allowing the change of use to the small site to the rear of the fire station was granted, allowing it to become a much needed youth shelter area. This has now been finalized, with a surrounding fence and lockable gate – and only the landscaping phase remains to be completed. This will take place in September. The area has been declared alcohol free and, as resolved by the Parish Council, the gate will be closed at 10.00 pm during the next 6 months when the situation will be reviewed. In order for the Parish Council to be assured the gate is locked every night, this has been contracted out at an initial cost of £457.50- this being the most competitive quote.
• A number of picnic benches have also been installed along the riverside on the Big Meadow, which have proved very popular with both residents and visitors.
• Extensive tree work has been carried out at Millers Bank, in Broom as some of the willow had grown and become a danger to the public. Likewise a poplar tree.
• Working together with County Council, the Parish Council has supported a Speed Aware scheme for Broom High Street and Mill Lane, as well as a speed reduction to 40 mph from the railway bridge in Broom to Bidford. It is hoped this will ensure motorists will keep to the 30 mph limit within Broom.
• The Parish Council is also supporting a proposal led by a couple of mothers with young children, to make crossing the road to the south of Bidford Bridge safer. As we all know, we have to cross the bridge on the left hand side – but the Big Meadow and its facilities are on the right, hence the problem – something the monks did not foresee when they built the bridge some 800 years ago!
• When SDC suspended its green waste recycling during the winter months, the Parish Council agreed to organized five collections : two in November (autumn leaves etc); one after Christmas (trees etc) and two in March (grass etc). These took place on agreed Saturday morning at Wards Lane Car park in Bidford and the car park at the Broom Tavern in Broom (I should like to express our thanks to Mr. Steve Smith of Broom Tavern for allowing us the use of his car park). These were very successful and I know residents appreciated this facility, the cost of which was £1,500.

When preparing the 2008/09 budget, the council agreed to earmark £10,000 for work to be carried out by a 'lengthman'. It took this decision in view of the reduction in the services being carried out by County and District Councils: grass cutting, gully cleaning, verge clearing etc.

The Council had to give the contract to a County Council approved company, as it would often carry out work on highway. During this last year it has carried out the following work:

• Clearing of the verges along Salford Road – from the roundabout to Budgens.
• Clearing of the ditch by the Anglo Saxon car park.
• Gully clearing.
• Weed killing on the footpath by the school as well as The Bank.
• Keeping the 'god cakes' by the roundabout clear of weeds.
• Cleaning of pathway in Millers Bank.

The rural cinema continues to be a great success. There are two screening per month at the Crawford Memorial Hall – on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, and films are chosen to cater for both youngster and adults. Due to the increased administration costs made by SDC, with no consultation with the various venues throughout the district, and after some investigation, it was agreed that Bidford Rural Cinema be formed and become independent from Moving Pictures.

So far this has been a success, particularly with High School Musical 3, which was screened during Half Term, and Slumdog Millionaire, which attracted many from far afield. However, the BIG STAR was, without a doubt, Mamma Mia. It appears you could not get enough of it. Bidford Rural Cinema is here to provide entertainment to the local community and offers excellent value for money. So we look forward to seeing you all at the Crawford Memorial Hall.

Newsletters: the Parish Council has a monthly newsletter published in The Connect magazine, which is distributed to all households in the parish. It also edits, publishes and prints a quarterly newsletter The BIG Newsletter (which resulted from the Intergeneration Workshops we had last year) – and invites residents – individuals and groups/associations – to contribute.

Articles, letters, points of views etc can be e-mailed to bidford.paper@yahoo.com or to info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk. Again the BIG newsletter is distributed to all households by the Bidford Young Firefighters, paid for by the Parish Council.

Residents can also subscribe to the Village e-mail group – Information on forthcoming events, weather updates and other pertinent advice is sent by email on a regular basis. Should you wish to be included, please advise the clerk by emailing her on info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk – your e-mail address will not be disclosed.

Bidford Youth Action Group is working to raise monies to build a new youth club, as the current one is really unfit for purpose. It is made up of:

• Members of the Parish Council,
• the Clerk, Bidford Youth Club
• Members of the Bidford Community Group
• Baptist Church
• St. Laurence Youth Group
• Stratford District Council
• Village Liaison Officer

Its Chairman is PC Tony Lamberts, Warwickshire Police Liaison Officer.