Webmaster Annual Leave Notice

This web site will not be updated from 19 June to 12 July inclusive, due to annual leave by the webmaster.

Please notice that the Parish Office is open and functioning as normal during this time (see exception below).

Parish Office Closed Dates

The Parish Office will be closed on Wed 15 and Thu 16 July 2009.

If you need to contact the Parish Clerk by email or telephone, see details on the Contact Us page.

Your Local Hospice Needs You Now!

Do you have some free time?

Want to use your IT and admin skills to help us? Could you help us at our fundraising events? Could you organise an event with the support of the Fundraising Team?

Why not join us for an informal chat on 10th July at 10.00am or 2.00pm at the Hospice, Church Lane, Shottery or ring Linda, Community Fundraiser for more information on 01789 416950.

The Shakespeare Hospice - for everyone touched by a life limiting illness: the highest standards of care, provided locally.

PRESS RELEASE: 'GUARDIAN ANGELS' SUPPORT GROUP

Guardian Angels tender has been won by South Warwickshire Carers' Support Service.

Read Press Rehease here (May 2009)

JOT - Jobs on Tuesdays

Starting on Tuesday 12 April and subsequent Tuesdays from 10.00am to 2.00pm at Church House, Butter Street, Alcester.

A drop-in centre with tea/coffee for those fearing redundancy and those who are unemployed and seeking work.

Access to Job Centre, Employment lawyer, HR Specialist, councellor, Credit Union, etc.

If we cannot help we will point you in the right direction.

Nominations for the Forthcoming Elections

Persons nominated for election as a County Councillor for Bidford-on-Avon

Parties/Persons nominated for European Parliamentary election for West Midlands

More than 90 Warwickshire walks to download and print FREE!

There's no doubt about it, walking is good for you. It's good for your heart, it's good for your lungs, it's good for the muscle and bone growth of your children and it's good for your feeling of wellbeing!

Strong scientific evidence now supports the many benefits to health of regular walking – it is recommended that we take at least 10,000 steps a day.

Studies show that walking can:

• Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce high cholesterol
• Reduce body fat
• Enhance mental well being

Walking offers a great way to help kids get the active habit. If parents express excitement about the prospect of a walk in the countryside, they are more likely to transmit this feeling to their children. It's important to treat the walk as an exploration or adventure and to go at the child's pace, no matter how often they want to stop and look at things; take treats to eat and plenty to drink; and head for some landmark that will appeal to them such as a castle, a playground, an ice cream van or a boating pond. If children experience walking as part of a fun activity they are more likely to want to go again.

So, how do you find out what is on offer? John Harris, a keen walker, got fed up with the lack of information on walks that were going on in the County. So, he decided that if he couldn't find what he was looking for – he had better create it! So www.walkinginwarwickshire.co.uk came into being.

www.walkinginwarwickshire.co.uk gives you all the information you need for the best walking in the County: Details of more than 90 walks to download and print free, details of all the Warwickshire walking groups, maps and walk books – plus loads more information.

So check out the website and get walking!

Sunday Morning Runners

We are calling for all runners from beginners to marathon runners to join us on a Sunday morning for a run!

We will meet at 9.00am at Budgens car park.

We have two young runners that are also keen to meet fellow runners so nobody is restricted by age. We are not a running club(yet) but are aware that there are plenty of keen runners in and around Bidford on Avon.

For an informal chat or more information please contact Karen on 07919181002 or 01789 491091 or by email

Big Meadow Opening

The Parish Council is pleased to announce that The Big Meadow will open from Thursday 9 April 2009 (Maundy Thursday).

There will be a traditional Fun Fair over the Easter Holiday.
Hours: Thu 6.00 to 9.00pm. Fri to Mon 2.00 to 9.00pm

How Recycling Works

A presentation on the process and benefits of recycling, by Pure Recycling, can be read below:

See the PowerPoint presentation here
Read the presentation in pdf format here

Broom High Street Speed Analysis

A further analysis of the speed survey data on High Street Broom, based on the speed survey carried out on 26 November 2008 following further concerns by residents into traffic speeds on the High Street, can be read below:

Read the report here

Policy for Grant Applications (and Application Form)

The document below explains the Parish Council's policy for grant applications (for financial assistance by voluntary organisations and groups), and includes an application form.

Grant Applications Form (Word version)
Grant Applications Form (pdf)

Barton Traffic Volume and Speed Survey

A Traffic volume and Speed Survey was undertaken on Welford Road for a period of seven days from the 26th November 2008.

The results of the survey are summarised in the report below:

Read the report here

Still Remembered Grave Tending Services

A quite unique service to the community has been recently started for the West Midlands and Warwickshire areas of the UK specifically designed to help those who are unable to look after the graves of their friends or loved ones themselves.

Read more details here, or see www.stillremembered.co.uk or contact Mike by telephone on: 0247 6590924 or 07970 159085.

Broom Traffic Calming – Feasibility Report

Following a meeting with the Parish Council and Councillor Barnes in July 2008 in High Street Broom it was agreed that Speed Surveys should be carried out to establish the level of speeding in Broom and surrounding roads in Bidford on Avon.

The results of these surveys have now been analysed and a course of action recommended.

Read the report here

The Chaucer Experience

A proposal to present Chaucer's masterpiece The Canterbury Tales in the manner of medieval story-telling.

This will follow the way that Chaucer himself would have read them to small groups of friends or guests as after-dinner entertainment. A group of 3-4 persons will present the Tales jointly as narrators/story-tellers, and will present the various characters as they occur in each Tale. This reflects the entertainment style of the 15th century medieval troubadours and their 'Interludes'.

Ten of the Canterbury Tales have been arranged for this style of presentation. These texts follow original Chaucer but they will be presented in modern English; some Tales have been shortened. The Tales can be presented singly or in groups of 2-3 Tales in a particular evening.

This style of presenting 'authentic' Chaucer in the manner of medieval story-telling would draw on the presenters' own intuitive skills and experience of narrative story-telling within a family or small group of friends. These basic skills can be developed using appropriate acting techniques.

It is envisaged that these presentations will take place in a drawing room where a local Host invites friends and neighbours for a social occasion as in Chaucer's day. The audience size would be kept small and probably not exceed thirty people in order to maintain the intimate and authentic style of the period. Appropriate music might be added. The events may be used as opportunities for fund-raising for the Host's particular charity or good cause.

Other venues might include schools, libraries and museums. Medieval chambers and 'heritage' buildings would also be appropriate where performances might then take the form of 'living history'.

There is also significant potential for the development of these opportunities and events beyond The Chaucer Experience.

Initially, an absolute minimum of two ladies will be needed to initiate the project but a larger company would enable further development. It would be particularly useful to find a production assistant/PR person to assist with the foundation work in establishing the group and making contacts with potential Hosts.

For more information please contact Roy Tabor on 01789 772181.

Information on the Fire and Rescue Service

Below, you can read information regarding the Fire and Rescue Service sent by the Portfolio Holder Cllr Hobbs in September 2008.

Read full report here

Notice of Completion of Audit

Notice is hereby given that the Audit for Bidford-on-Avon for the year ended 31 March 2008 was completed on 25 September 2008.

Elisabeth Uggerløse
Clerk to the Parish Council

Quality Parish Council

The Quality Parish Status (QPS) is a Charter Mark awarded to a Parish or Town Council that is well run and working effectively on behalf of its community. Councils attaining Quality Parish Status may take on extra functions for the benefit of their communities, if they wish, by negotiating with County and District Councils for the devolution of functions and services down to grassroots level.

Bidford Parish Council is delighted to have achieved this status.

Parish Council Newsletter

Bidford Parish Council is establishing a new Newsletter, which will come out either bi-monthly or quarterly.

We would welcome contributions from residents, such as letters, snippets of information, events, etc.

Please email any contributions to: bidford.paper@yahoo.com

St Laurence's Church, Bidford

Rev. David Hall has been the Vicar of St Laurence's at Bidford-on-Avon for fifteen and a half years. Having attained the age of sixty five, he has retired. His last service was Friday 18 July 2008.

The Parish has now entered a period of Interregnum. Roughly translated from the Latin, this means a period of 'between rule' or 'between reigns', ie. that length of time when St Laurence's will be without a priest. Interregnum is normally never less than six months as a series of legal procedures have to be observed, followed by the process of interviewing and selecting of a new priest.

Meanwhile, the running of the church is in the hands of the two Church Wardens, David Brittain and Linda Shrimpton, with the help of an Interregnum Steering Group. The church will continue its normal pattern of worship etc (unless otherwise stated) using retired clergy and members of the laity.

Should anyone wish to make contact with St Laurence's for any reason, the Churchwarden's telephone numbers are: David Brittain 01789 774021 and Linda Shrimpton 01789 772653.

Information on Dredging Rivers

This information from the Environment Agency is about dredging rivers, particularly in regard to flooding

• Leaflet on Dredging and Flood Risk
• Presentation on River Dredging and Flood Defence

Local Involvement Networks Explained

This leaflet from the Department of Health explains the concept of Local Involvement Networks (LINk) - a network of local people, organisations and groups that want to make care services better.

Read LINk flyer here.

National Flood Forum's 'Blue Pages'

This is a directory of flood protection products and services put together to advise and inform you of the range of products available to help you protect your home or business against flooding.

Whilst the National Flood Forum cannot endorse any of these products they are happy to provide a platform to enable the public to make informed decisions.

Read the NFF's Blue Pages here

DVD of the Floods

The DVD of the floods is now available at many of the local shops. Price £8.99. It is entitled 'Bidford-IN-Avon: The record flood of July 21st 2007 at Bidford-on-Avon'.

Great Britain Online have filmed before and after the floods, and done some research into previous (historical) floods.

DVD is also for sale at www.greatbritainonline.co.uk

Your Photographs

We are delighted to announce a new addition to this web site - a showcase for your own photographs of the parish.

The photographs can be seen on our new Bidford - Your Photos page.

If you would like to submit your own photograph(s) for this page, please email them to the Parish Clerk, and don't forget to include your full name and provide a short title for each photograph.

Alcester Hospital Consultation

Below are various documents relating to the Alcester Hospital Consultation.

• Statement read by Councillor Eric Payne at the Warwickshire PCT Board Meeting on 30 Jan 2008.
• Report to the PCT Board presented by Paul Maubach.
• Presentation 'Healthcare in the Alcester area' made to Alcester Town Council.
• Presentation 'Commissioning for a Healthy Warwickshire' by David Rose, Chief Executive Warwickshire PCT.

Response to Questions Asked by Bidford PC to the Community Protection Overview and Scrutiny Committee

In respect of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Services Review, the Parish Council asked three questions. The responses from Warwickshire County Council are shown below:

Q1: We asked that no decision will be made before a full and proper consultation has taken place and the consultation to include the closure of specific stations with full and detailed reasons to be given for any benefits forthcoming from the proposed closures.

• Response: The County Council will ensure that meaningful consultation is undertaken with residents regarding all proposals. Detailed information regarding benefits of all proposals will be publicly available.

Q2: We asked that the talks are restricted to Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue and not, as has been speculated in the press, with Staffordshire, Hereford and Worcester and the West Midlands to create a West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service similar to what was created for the ambulance services.

• Response: In line with the Cabinets decision on 6th September 2007 discussions will focus on a possible combination scheme with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

Q3: We asked that no resident in the County will suffer due to any changes made ie. the service provided to each and every household and/or business will remain the same or be improved.

• Response: All possible options will be impact assessed to ensure there is no adverse effect upon service delivery.

Fire Fighters' Appeal

Following the tragic event last weekend at Atherstone-on-Stour, which resulted in the death of four local fire fighters, Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council is supporting a Fire Fighter's Appeal.

Collection boxes are available in the following places: Card Shop, Post Office, Bulls Head, Salon 44, Bakers, Newsagent, Hardware, Alan Ball, Annandos, The Bridge Inn, Frog & B, Cottage of Content, Budgens, Broom Post Office, Peter Dickenson, Gordons (butchers)

OUR LOCAL FIGHTERS RISK THEIR LIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY – LET US SHOW OUR APPRECIATION

Donate on-line at WCC web site

Read our Poster

Bidford Fire Station Update

QUESTION TO THE COMMUNITY PROTECTION OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE TUESDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2007

Following the decision at the Council Cabinet meeting of 6th September 2007 to accept the recommendation to positively explore the viability of joining forces with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Services, (HWFRS), and, bearing in mind the numerous rumours circulating in the local press throughout Warwickshire and neighbouring counties, can the Council assure the residents of Warwickshire that:

• No decision will be made before a full and proper consultation has taken place (we do not want a repeat of the ambulance services consultation, when the decision clearly predated the consultation).
• The consultation to include the closure of specific stations with full and detailed reasons to be given for any benefits forthcoming from the proposed closures.
• The talks are restricted to HWFRS and not, as has been speculated in the press, with Staffordshire, Hereford and Worcester and the West Midlands to create a West Midlands Fire and Rescue Services similar to what was created for the ambulance services.
• No resident in the County will suffer due to any changes made i.e. the service provided to each and every household and/or business will remain the same or be improved.

Fire and Rescue Service Review

Read the independent review of the medium to long term plans of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service - dated August 2007.

Notice of adoption of the Code of Conduct for Parish and Town Councils

Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council adopted the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 No. 1159 for Parish and Town Councils, including Paragraph 12(2) on 20th August 2007.

Copies of the adopted Code of Conduct are available at the Parish Council Office, situated in Bramley Way, Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 12.30pm and on the Procedures page of this web site.

Bidford-on-Avon - ICT Award Winner (Calor Village of the Year Competition) 2006/07

Bidford-on-Avon is a village with a vibrant community and groups and associations catering for all ages and interests.

The village has an extensive range of local businesses employing many local people and by increasing tourism with natural attractions such as the river, the economy is benefiting. Businesses are also evident in helping support the community with significant sponsorships highlighting strong relationships.

Accessibility to Bidford couldn't be easier. Their website is easy to use and navigate and very up to date. Due to the large number of companies in the village, broadband access has facilitated an innovative approach to use of ICT within the village. The library offers five free computers and free lessons, the youth club members have three complementary computers, and silver surfers meet every Friday. Bidford's wide scale use of free IT involves all local residents who navigate cyberspace with ease.

Young and old are kept active with groups, outings, events and even a Young Firefighters initiative that is enthusiastically embraced. The 'Jolly Teapot', aptly named, is used as a venue where members of the Bidford Community Group can meet to express their views over a cup of tea. These meetings are also regularly attended by the Parish Council which takes this opportunity to hear the views of residents and improve village life.

Bidford is blessed with natural beauty and its history dating back to Roman and Anglo Saxon times makes it ripe for conservation. Preservation is the villages focus with the three P's – Parish, Paths and Partnership, driving this by encouraging walkers with way marking, path improvements and guidebooks and maps.

The village also has extensive allotments which encourage green fingers to produce beautiful vegetables and fruit, so much so that there is a waiting list. Recycling and energy schemes are also prevalent with the Parish being lit by 'green energy'.

Bidford has a lot to shout about and has just appointed a Village Crier to help pass on information about all the events and activities going on in Bidford for all the 4,950 local residents and visitors.

Calor Village of the Year Awards

Internet Computer for Residents' Use

The Parish Council has recently been awarded a computer under the Warwickshire County Council Community Computers scheme.

This computer, with internet access, is now available for the use of residents at the Parish Council Office, Bramley Way.

Residents will be asked to sign a Register Book and to adhere to the Access Guidelines.

The Parish Council trusts this extra facility being offered will be welcome and looks forward to it being widely used.

Save Your Fire Station

In 2006 Bidford fire appliance attended more building fires than any other retained (part time) fire appliance in the Stratford District Area.

In Bidford's area the population continues to increase. Industry has increased. But Fire Cover has not!

Read this flyer, then write to Councillor Richard Hobbs at Warwickshire County Council by 14 July 2007

Users of the Jubilee Close Play Area

The Parish Council is planning the reinstatement of the play equipment on Jubilee Close.

It has obtained quotations for various possibilities, and has applied for a District Council grant.

Members are seeking the views of the residents who use this play area and invites them to visit the Parish Council Office to look at the planned equipment and make their comments before the end of June.

Please note the Parish Council Office is open daily from 10.00 am – 12.30 pm, or by appointment if these hours are inconvenient.

Car Parking at the Big Meadow: Important Notice

Please note that ALL cars must pay the £2 Parking Fee unless they hold a FREE PASS.

Residents of the Bidford-on-Avon Parish can have this reimbursed at the Parish Council Office, Bramley Way (next to the library) when applying for their Free Pass.

Please note that Free Pass Applications Forms are only available from the Parish Council Office, or you can download one here.

Five Good Reasons to Compost at Home

1. Reduce the amount of rubbish you put out for collection and send to landfill.

2. Produce a fantastic free fertiliser for your garden, vegetable plots, patio planters and hanging baskets.

3. Save money by reducing the amount of compost you have to buy for your garden.

4. Help to reduce the production of methane – when organic waste is sent to landfill, it rots without oxygen producing methane – a powerful greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming.

5. Save time and petrol on taking garden waste to the tip.

The most important tips for making good compost are:

• Ensure that you get a good mix of wet (eg. food scraps, grass clippings) and dry (eg. paper, card, straw, leaves) materials. The dry materials will trap air spaces in the compost, which it needs to work properly.
• Do not include meat, fish, dairy or cooked food scraps. These are the things that might attract unwanted visitors to the bin!

Compost bins can be purchased at subsidised prices. The Recycle Now Home Compost programme is a partnership between Warwickshire County Council and WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). Three designs of bin are available, starting at £8 including delivery.

For more information or to order a compost bin visit the website: www.recyclenow.com/compost or call: 0845 077 0757

Don't forget that you also have a local composting advisor – Penny Holmes - who attends events, gives talks and works with schools to promote successful home composting. If you have an event that you would like the advisor to attend please email: penny.holmes@wrap.org.uk

Vulnerable Household Scheme: DO YOU HAVE A WATER METER?

The vulnerable household scheme is a capped charge, which is intended to help metered customers who are experiencing difficulties as a result of high water usage or low income.

If a member of your household is on receipt of benefits and has a medical condition that makes you use more water, or you are in receipt of benefit and have three children under the age of 19, then you may be able to apply for this scheme.

For further information to see if you qualify for the scheme, please telephone 0845 7500 500

Application forms are now available at the Parish Council Office. Help to complete the form can be obtained from the Bidford Benefits Advice Group - please contact Mike Gerrard on 01789 778493.

Coventry and Warwickshire Learning Consortium

WANT TO DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS? BE A BETTER WORKER? SHORT OF SKILLS? WANT A JOB?

Get yourself a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

Coventry and Warwickshire Learning Consortium are offering NVQ courses at heavily discounted prices - many of them absolutely FREE. To apply you must:

a) Work in a voluntary community organization; b) Be working in, or moving into, an administrative or management role; c) Be aged 19 or over.

You can qualify in Business Administration, Team Leadership, Retail skills, Health & Social Care, Child Care & Development, and other valuable capabilities with NO CHARGE at the lower levels and at only a fraction of the normal cost for the higher level qualifications.

Information sheets may be obtained from the Parish Council Office, Bramley Way (next to the library) open daily from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm or downloaded here

Calor Village of the Year Awards 2006

County's Top Villages Revealed

Warwickshire's top villages are celebrating as the county results of the 2006 Calor Warwickshire Best Kept Village and Village of the Year competitions have been revealed.

Over 80 communities took part this year in one or both competitions, which are run by Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC) and sponsored by Calor - the UK's leading supplier of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

The Warwickshire Best Kept Village competition, which also incorporated the Best Kept Churchyard competition this year, encourages communities to work together to keep their surroundings tidy and well maintained. The results of this competition are as follows:

• Best Kept Small Village Winner
  - Sambourne
• Best Kept Large Village Winner
  - Leek Wootton
• Best Kept Churchyard Winner
  - Church of St Peter and St Paul, Butlers Marston

The Warwickshire Village of the Year competition judged villages of up to 5,000 residents on six key aspects of village life with categories covering Building Community Life, Business, Young People, Older People, the Environment and Information Communication Technology (ICT). Thanks to continued competition support from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) at both county and national level, the winning village in the Building Community Life category will benefit from £500 prize money. The results of this competition are as follows:

• 2006 Calor Warwickshire Village of the Year
  - BIDFORD-ON-AVON
• Information Communication Technology Winner
  - Barton-on-the-Heath
• Building Community Life Winner
  - Middleton

As the 2006 Calor Warwickshire Village of the Year, Bidford-on-Avon has the added honour of being nominated to go forward and represent the county in the prestigious national Calor Village of the Year® for England competition. More than 40 villages across the country will be competing in the competition, which has a total prize fund of over £39,000 and a top prize of £7,000. Bidford-on-Avon will initially be representing Warwickshire in the Central England region of the competition against villages from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland and Staffordshire.

The Warwickshire Village of the Year winners will be presented with their prizes at the Annual General Meeting of the WRCC on Saturday 14 October at Bidford-on-Avon Village Hall.

Competition organiser, Ariadne Uslu, commented: "This year's competitions have once again highlighted some excellent communities here in Warwickshire. Standards have been very high throughout and our judges had a difficult task selecting the final winners. We very much look forward to celebrating with representatives of the winning villages."

For further information on the competitions please contact Ariadne Uslu at WRCC on 02476 303232, or email her at ariadneu@wrccrural.org.uk.

Rural Outreach Fund Criteria

General

• The fund will only be accepted with the support of a VLO
• The fund can only be used to support projects which will provide additional resources, or enhance existing resources, not subsidise existing services or resources, other than in exceptional circumstances
• Projects should demonstrate that they address rural isolation and/or improve access to services or facilities
• The fund will only support projects which are to the benefit of communities or organisations where a VLO is present.

Only bids which fall/come under the following headings will be supported by the funds:

• Improving access to services & facilities
• Improving access to information
• Provision of training
• Building the capacity of community groups
• Support to Voluntary Organisations
• Community safety initiatives

Questionnaires are available at the Parish Council Office, Telephone 01789 778653

Silver Surfers Warwickshire - A Village Liaison Project

Come and learn to use the Internet with Silver Surfers. It's free of charge and no need to book - just pop along!

Every Friday from 10.00 am to 11.00 am at Bidford Library

This service is offered to you by Silver Surfers Volunteers who are available to offer support. Why not pod down to the library next Friday and see what it's all about?

Notice Regarding Planning Applications

It has come to the notice of the Parish Council that not all neighbours receive advice of planning applications. Full details of planning applications are available at the Parish Council Office (next to the library), which is open daily from 10.00am to 12.30pm. If you believe an application has been sent in and you have not been notified, please contact the Clerk.

All applications received by the Parish Council are discussed at its monthly Planning Meeting or its monthly Parish Council Meeting. Dates of the meetings are on this web site and the Parish Council's Notice Boards and Agendas, giving details of the applications that will be discussed, are also published on the web site and the notice boards.

Please feel free to contact the Clerk on 01789 778653 if you would like any further information.

Free Fire Home Safety Check

Bidford Fire Station is offering a Free Home Fire Safety Check, which includes free smoke alarm fitting.

To arrange a visit, please contact Stratford-upon-Avon Fire Station on 01789 293271, ask for Area Risk Team and give your details - these will be passed on to members of Bidford Fire Station who will contact you to arrange a suitable time.

Alternatively, you can contact Bidford Fire Station direct on 01789 772223 Wednesday or Thursday between 7.00 and 9.00 pm.

Age Concern Services

The following documents detail the services provided by Age Concern in these districts:

• Stratford upon Avon District
• Warwick District
• North Warks and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough

Are You Over 60? Or Know Someone Who Is?

The Citizens Advice Bureau would like to offer help to people in this age group.

• We would like to give you information about pension credits and other financial help available.
• If poor health is an issue we can discuss this too.
• We can complete the forms with you and post them for you.

Everything can be done in the privacy of your own home.

For more information, please phone Patricia on 01789 295399 (this number is often covered by an answering machine, but please leave your name and number and I will call you back).

Housing Needs Report

A detailed investigation into the housing needs of Bidford-on-Avon was carried out by Warwickshire Rural Housing Association at the request of the Parish Council.

Read the full report here - Feb 2005

Bogus Caller Initiative

The Warwickshire Police aim to make our county 'The Safest Place to Be'. They have launched an initiative to educate the public on what to do if somebody calls at your door who you do not recognise.

Read the Bogus Caller Information Sheet - which also includes a notice that you can show to callers. This information is also available at the Parish Office and the Library.

Flood Watch

Flooding is a serious issue. Around 6,000 properties are at risk of flooding in the Warwickshire area. While the Environmental Agency aims to provide advance warning of flooding, and local authorities may provide assistance, the person who can do most to help is you! Below is some useful information and guidance.

Information Sheet - This sheet from the Environmental Agency explains your local flood warning service and lists important contact numbers.

Leaflet - This leaflet, aimed at older residents, helps you plan ahead and reduce the risk to you and your belongings.