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.

Other News and Newsletters

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 .

Bidford Rural Cinema

The rural cinema presentations, currently running twice a month at Crawford Memorial Hall, are proving a great success. Why not come along? You'll enjoy great, value-for-money, entertainment and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the facilities.

Bidford Firefighters Cheque Presentation

On Wednesday 29 December 2007, a presentation of a cheque for £1,500 was made to Bidford Firefighters for the Warwickshire Firefighters Families Funds.

Christmas Lights Switch-On 2007

Bidford Christmas Lights presented the annual 'switch on' on Sunday 25 November 2007. The celebrity for this year was Richard Shelton, who played the evil Dr Adam Forsythe in Emmerdale.

Jubilee Close Play Area

In September 2007 the play equipment on the Jubilee Close Play Area was installed.

Chairman's Report 2007/08

As mentioned at last year's Annual Parish Meeting, following the award for Calor Warwickshire Village of the Year 2006, Bidford was entered into the Regional and National competition. Regrettably, Bidford did not win the ultimate prize, but our IT skills were acknowledged, and Bidford was awarded the Calor Central England ICT Award 2006/07, accompanied by the £500 prize.

The summer of 2007 will regrettably, always be remembered as an infamous one: the flooding of both rivers Arrow and Avon caused great devastations to many in the Bidford, Broom and Marlcliff - many residents have only just moved back into their homes and some are still waiting to do so. We have been informed that this was a 1 in 200 year event and we can but pray that this is right.

The Parish Council, together with its partners, Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and Stratford District Council (SDC) will continue to do all it can to ensure all the correct information is given to those householders at risk.

The Council is aware that the Environment Agency, together with SDC is looking into whether it is possible to improve the drainage in Marlcliff and Severn Trent are also working to see if they can improve the existing pump. The Environment Agency is also looking into protecting Millers Bank in Broom and the Council is awaiting the latest report on this.

In the meantime, vulnerable householders can obtain valuable information from the Parish Council's website: www.bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk – under notices, you should be able to locate the National Flood Forum's blue Directory - please note the National Flood Forum is an independent charity. If you prefer a hard copy this is available from the Parish Council Office @ £2.50 ex. P & P.

Over the last year, the Parish Council has continued its improvements throughout the village:

• New play area in Jubilee Close - with thanks to SDC for its £15,000 grant.
• Supported the 30 mph speed reduction in Barton, contributing £5000 to the scheme that allowed it to be brought forward by approx. 12 months.
• 5 more streetlights have been replaced, continuing the rolling programme.
• 3 new streetlights were erected to improve the CCTV. The Parish Council should like to thank SDC for its assistance in this.
• 2 solar powered streetlights have been installed in the footpath by Broom Railway Bridge.
• The new foot/cycle path on The Bank has been cleared of weeds and new shrubs planted.
• An extensive clearing has been carried out to the St. Laurence Churchyard which should be looking its best this Spring/Summer.
• Another extensive clearing has been carried out to the field at the rear of Dugdale Avenue - fences have also been repaired and litter removed.
• 2 benches have been replaced - Jubilee Close and the Big Meadow.
• A Community Computer was made available to all residents who do not have this facility at home - it is in the lobby outside the Parish Council Office and is connected to the internet.

The Rural Cinema finally came to Bidford in November 2007 with its first screening Shrek 3. Together with the Crawford Memorial Hall Committee it was agreed to screen twice a month: on the second and fourth Friday at 7.00 pm The aim was to offer a children's and adult option every month. Tickets are £2.50 and there are refreshments - sponsored by the local supermarket Warner's Budgens. All who have come have enjoyed there night out at the movies - why don't you give it a try?

Posters for the next film are posted on the website, notice bards, Warner's Budgens, the Crawford Memorial Hall, the library and the Parish Council Office as well as being published in the local newspaper. If you need further information, please contact the Clerk on 778653. One small word of warning,, though - if you want to keep the Rural Cinema, then you have to use it!!

Buried under Bidford - this project which was very ably and enthusiastically, led by Christina Evans at WCC's Museum Dept. took place in and around Bidford-on-Avon and gave people the chance to experience some hands on archaeology and learn more about the heritage of the Bidford area. It included:

• Fieldwalking
• An archaeological comic for children
• Training sessions on how to use documentary sources and how to identify archaeological items.

The project took place between February 2007 and ends next month and has brought together a number of residents interested in the history of Bidford. A number of Roman items have been found and we eagerly await to receive the final verdict!

In the meantime, the Parish Council is being donated all the display panels created for the project. The Parish Council would like these to be permanently displayed - however, there is no room either at the Parish council Office or the library and members would welcome ideas from residents.

Bidford Youth Action finally came into being in 2008, the columniation of many years of working together with various local groups, WCC, SDC, the school and churches, and Warwickshire Police and of taking forward the results of the Village Appraisal process begun in 2001. Bidford Youth Action is independent of the Council, although it has its support; its Chairman is P.C. Tony Lambert and the Treasurer is Di Bennett, who has dedicated many many years to the Youth Club (together with her two brothers James and Jezz plus Brian and Miranda who run the canoe section, due to the lack of volunteers). Its remit is to raise funds to improve the play facilities for the teenagers of the village. It is currently looking into rebuilding the Youth Club as the present building is not fit for purpose, and to improving its facilities. It has received grants from WCC, SDC and the Parish Council to carry out the feasibility studies as well as for developing the strip of land at the rear of the Fire Station which WCC has leased to the Parish Council for a period of 10 years.
Bidford Youth Action recently held an event in the Parish Council Meeting Room where an 'intergeneration' film was shown - youngsters talking with the older generation of the village. The film, which was produced and edited by the youngsters was a great success.

As a means to minimize anti social behaviour in the village, the Parish Council would like to encourage more intergeneration projects, and is very grateful to Joanne Rooke, Community Engagement Officer at SDC for bringing Prof. Matt Kaplan, to this evening's meeting. Prof. Kaplan, is a member of the Beth Johnson Foundation which aims to support intergeneration practices, and has offered to carry out two work session on this subject in Bidford during June.

During 2007 we regrettably lost to councillors - Cllr. Smith and Cllr. Ms. Varga. The Council was very pleased with the response it got when it advertised the vacancies - 7 residents applied. Members met with the candidates and agreed to co-opt Cllrs. Hill and Williams, letting the others know there was an election on 1st May. I was, therefore, somewhat disappointed to learn no one, apart from the sitting members, had put their name down. So the current Parish Council remains unchanged and I can assure you it will continue to do its best to serve all the communities of Bidford-on-Avon, Barton, Broom and Marlcliff to the best of its ability.