parish council fulford Parish Council News newsletter Issue 428

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1 Autumn Chairman Cllr. Barry Shaw Parish Council News Clerk to F.P.C. Stephen Beck Office mailto: stephen_beck@btconnect.com Parish Precept The Parish Council has decided not to increase our Parish Precept for 2013/14 and has applied for the same precept as last year - 50,000. The Parish Precept is the money raised by the Parish Council through your Council Tax to cover the cost of services provided by the Parish Council. Any increased costs for these services will be absorbed without the need to reduce those services provided currently. Annual Parish Meeting Our Annual Parish Meeting is to be held on Thursday 11th April, 7.00pm, at Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall, immediately prior to the normal monthly Parish Council meeting. The Annual meeting is a special one at which residents of this parish can raise any item of business, relevant to the parish, for discussion. Also, residents will be able to hear reports about the activities of the Council over the previous year. All residents are invited and we look forward to seeing you there. Proposed Development for Gypsy Families [ Woodview, Hilderstone Rd.] We reported, in our last, that this application had been refused by Stafford Borough Council [SBC] and that we were pressing SBC to take enforcement action against the development which had already taken place on the site. However, we have been informed that the development consists of ancillary outbuildings connected with Woodview and these buildings can be erected under permitted development rights without the need for formal planning permission. Therefore, they are not in breach of planning control. We do not agree with this interpretation of planning regulations and we are seeking clarification on this matter. 1

2 Chairman of the Council Residents ask, from time to time, why the occupancy of the position of Chairman of the Council changes so frequently. The Council s policy is to rotate this position annually and ward by ward. This gives an opportunity to any member of the Council to become its chairman, although not all councillors choose to do so. Any councillor appointed as chairman will serve for a year, and then hand over to a newly appointed chairman. However, a councillor with many years of service on the Council could occupy the position of Chairman on several occasions. Since my current term as Chairman comes to an end at our AGM in May, this report will be my last that I present before I hand over to the next Chairman. W R BETTELLEY Funeral Directors A caring independent family business, est Personal 24 hr service Nationwide repatriation service Green and Eco-friendly options Pre-paid funeral planning Full advice service and home visits Floral tributes and catering arrangements Help with claims from D.S.S. Social Fund 315 Uttoxeter Rd, Longton ST3 5LQ Tel:

3 Cllr. Richard Mycock Cllr. Mrs. L. McPherson Cllr. Kath Brayford Cllr. Deborah Barker Cllr. Shirley Wheat Blythe Bridge Ward News Springcroft School Springcroft children have a special interest in the outdoors and in nature. This term they have taken part in the Great British Bird Watch and Y4 have become very proficient at identifying garden birds. The whole school met an assortment of animals brought into school by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - a fox, a hare, a snake, a barn owl and a scorpion. The children found out how to classify animals and about life cycles too. Y5 spent an adventurous and exciting week at Laches Wood Outdoor Education Centre participating in canoeing, climbing and orienteering to name but a few of the activities undertaken. Stafford and Rural Homes have asked the children to help plant bulbs in March, so look out for them armed with trowels and poised to help out in the local community. Internet Safety has been very much to the fore too. As the internet is a part of all our lives, whether it is using games consoles, computers, phones or tablets it is very important that the internet is used safely and with peace of mind - a useful website is A valuable evening in February was spent with parents, staff and governors finding out about the dangers and how to protect the entire family. This is just a snapshot of some of the things that take place on a day to day basis in a local school. As you can see, education nowadays covers a wide range of activities and opportunities for our children. Litter and Dog Fouling The dropping of litter and dog fouling has become worse during the past months in the Adamthwaite and Ridgway Drive areas of the Blythe Bridge ward. If you see anyone dropping litter or allowing their dog to foul the pavements and you can identify them please contact the officer responsible at the Borough council. If you think we need more litter bins please lets us know and where they are needed. 3

4 Would you also please keep your dogs on a leash when out walking as even the most well behaved of dogs can be unpredictable at times. Portland College (Aynsley School) The rebuilding and renovation of Portland College has now been completed with just a few minor works to be finished. In September almost half the pupils were new to the school and they have adjusted well to their new school. Portland College is now working with Blythe Bridge High School on projects in the community. It is good to see our schools working together on community projects and sharing each other s expertise. The Jubilee Year The Parish Council has been given permission by Stafford and Rural Homes to plant two trees outside the flats on Uttoxeter Road to replace the two that died earlier in the year - these will be planted soon as the weather is now improving. A50 Most of you will be aware of the multi vehicle accident that happened on the A50 recently. This is one of many that has occurred since Christmas; most of these accidents are caused by the speed at which the vehicles are travelling. This will be on the agenda for the Parish Council meeting in March when we will be asking for a speed reduction on this stretch of road to 50 mph so that it is the same speed for the whole of the A50 around Blythe Bridge. We will also be asking for an update on the repairs to the fencing on the slip road at the Creda roundabout as the black tape they used is now coming off the polythene sheeting on the fence. Parking Parking on the spare ground by the Tesco roundabout is as bad as ever - County Councillor Parry has said that he will provide a barrier for this site, as yet we don't know when this will happen. Roads We were asked during the recent bad weather about the lack of gritting on the estate roads. The highways grit the main roads and the bus routes and try to keep these clear so that people are able to get to work and to the hospital, unfortunately they are not able to grit side roads. If your bins are not emptied leave them out and they will be emptied at a later date. Door to Door Sales People Please beware of letting people into your house unless you know who they are, also don t give out your bank details over the telephone as there are several scams going on at the moment. Blythe Lodge Blythe Lodge has vacancies for the over 55, if you would like more information or if you are interested in having a look at the vacant flats in the lodge please contact

5 Cllr. Martin Oxby Cllr. Steven Evans Cllr. Tony Holmes Cllr. Frank Colclough Fulford Ward News Fulford Primary School In the last few days of the Autumn term at Fulford Primary School there was an the Ofsted inspection with the report published on the Ofsted website on 21st December which shows that the village has a good school, which is something to celebrate. This is a good school are the simple words that summarise the findings of the inspection. In each of 4 key areas the school is rated good and that is translated into 7 short paragraphs that amplify the findings. Teaching is good with some outstanding lessons. There are good relationships between pupils and teachers, who have high expectations of the pupils he writes. The inspection report notes good behaviour and attendance, and also that the school makes good provision for children with special needs. The role taken by the governing body is complimented, saying that they have worked relentlessly to ensure the teaching is at least consistently good and that they have a clear vision for improvement in the school. Stallington The Hall has a new owner, although the pool and gardens are not included in the sale. It is hoped some progress will now be made with the Hall. Broadband Residents will be aware that their connection speed is poor compared to other areas due to our distance from the Blythe Bridge exchange. BT has announced that it will be upgrading 99 further exchanges with superfast fibre technology before or during spring next year. Blythe Bridge exchange is included in this phase, but Hilderstone is not. Fulford will still be reliant on the Staffordshire County Council project contracting to bring the fibre connection into the village via the BDUK Broadband Delivery Project in 2015: CT/BroadbandConsultation/BetterBroadba nd.aspx 5

6 Fulford Village Group With financial support from the Parish Council, a village sign has been commissioned and erected on the Village Green to commemorate the Queen s Diamond Jubilee and celebrate the village community. The Fulford sign content was put together as a group effort, reflecting the Church, the dairy farming, the wildflowers and the origin of the name of the village. The sign also incorporates the Jubilee and the Staffordshire Knot and is made in black steel with gold decoration on an oak post. A plinth of local stone will contain a time capsule containing items reflecting 2012 and with contributions from the village schoolchildren. Fulford will again be entering the Best Kept Village competition hoping to improve on last year s achievement of Highly Commended. The full judges feedback is available on with the concluding item: kept, together with telephone box, bus shelter, play areas and open spaces. The schedule of Clean Up dates for 2013 and other village events is also on their website. Fulford Village Hall The Committee with its own funds and with a grant from Stafford Borough Council s Jubilee Fund has had the outdoor rear area to the hall resurfaced and extended which will benefit hirers in the summer and also the pre-school which operates from the Large Hall. The AGM of the Management Committee will be held on Wednesday 24th April at 8:15pm new members are always needed and welcomed! The village was very clean and tidy throughout the judging period, with evidence of good community spirit pervading. There was very little litter except for some left by village hall visitors and no dog mess. There is a tremendous amount of community spirit in the village and excellent BKV awareness and publicity, children s posters, recycling and dog fouling awareness. The churchyard was well 6

7 Cllr. Howard Monks Cllr. Barry Shaw Cllr. Roy Taylor Cllr. Angela Noblett Cllr. Daryl Lightfoot Meir Heath Ward News New Councillor We are pleased to welcome a new councillor, Daryl Lightfoot, who was coopted onto the Council for the Meir Heath ward, at our February meeting. Daryl lives in Meir Heath and has lived in the area for over 20 years. We are looking forward to working with her on parish matters. Car Wash Signage. [Grindley Lane] - Update You will have noticed that the signs fronting the Car Wash/Tanning Centre site have been removed. The signs were erected without planning approval and when, eventually, a retrospective application was made, it was refused by SBC. We are continuing to monitor the situation with regard to the discharge of waste water from the car washing operations and, once again, we ask you to direct any complaints on this to SBC. Dog Fouling We have come to expect that, at this time of the year, because of wintry weather and dark mornings and evenings, there will be an increase in the number of dog owners failing to clean up after their dogs. The number of complaints that we receive about this emphasises the point. Although conditions may be inclement, it is still unacceptable and an offence not to clean up when your dog fouls in a public place. Persistent offenders should be reported to SBC, in order that they may take action against them. If there are areas which are badly affected by dog excrement, SBC [STREETscene] can be contacted and they will arrange for the area to be cleaned. The STREETscene telephone number is on the back page of this. 7

8 Grindley Park - New Signs - Update The new signs have been erected adjacent to the adventure play area, warning dog owners to keep their dogs away from this area. It seems like common sense to do this but some dogs have been allowed to stray into this area. Hopefully, they will now comply with this request. Finally, a reminder that dogs need to be kept under close control at all times in a public place. Grass Verges - Grindley Lane The condition of some of the grass verges in Grindley Lane is disgraceful because of the driving/parking of vehicles on them. Understandably, we have received many complaints from residents about this. The Parish Council does not have the authority to take action against the offenders, so we have asked Staffs County Council [Highways] to do so. This has been a continuing problem for many years which is why we have considered, in the past, installing posts or planting shrubs/trees as a means of deterring the inconsiderate parking of vehicles on grass verges. This would be a costly process and might not be successful in achieving its objective. However, if things don t improve, we may have to reconsider preventive measures. Please Report it! The Parish Council reports problems to the relevant authorities when we observe them. However, we would encourage members of the public to submit individual complaints or observations directly to the Borough or County councils as appropriate, for instance, potholes, flooding, via the Highways Hotline, and fly tipping, rodent infestation or similar to STREETscene. The authorities may often have to prioritise which problems need their attention first, and one of these can be simply the number of complaints received, so the more people who complain, the more chances of a positive outcome. We had an example of this in February when the Parish Council reported flooding on Hilderstone Road and when several members of the public subsequently complained, the matter was attended to very quickly. People Power? We d like to think so! This magazine is delivered to over 2500 homes in the parish. If you would like to advertise, please contact the Parish Clerk Rates are from 20 to 80 per issue. 8

9 Cllr. Andrew Lovatt Winter Work on the Common Whether walking on the common or travelling along Lightwood Road it can easily be observed that changes have occurred, as a considerable amount of work has taken place over the winter on our Common. As mentioned in the previous edition of this Newsletter, paths on the common have undergone work to improve them for public use. Parish & Borough Councillor Tony Holmes has been busy along with Stafford Borough Council s Bio- Diversity Officer ensuring that along with improved paths the common can now also boast new steps and finger posts. In addition, wooden bollards have been put along the Lightwood Road side of the common and an access gate on Little Lane to discourage unauthorised vehicle access. A great deal of scrub has been cleared from the top common and this has really opened up the space for walkers and created a much more attractive outlook. Overall this much treasured resource is doing very well. The presence of the cattle on the bottom common over recent years has massively improved heathland plants Cllr. Joy Bennett Cllr. Mrs. Wendy Jennings Rough Close Ward News and our four legged friends will be making a welcome return, for the sixth year, sometime in April. Bill Waller, Bio-Diversity Officer for SBC continues to care and plan for the welfare of the wildlife and flora of the common. Property Maintenance Plumbing, Electrical, Joinery PVCu Doors, Windows, Fascias & Soffits Kitchen & Bathroom Installations info@speedy-fix.co.uk 9

10 Now working with Natural England he looks to the long term future of this invaluable site. Events For All 1. As spring gathers pace the annual SPRING LITTER PICK is due. This will take place on Sunday 24th March at 10am. Everyone is welcome and all help is gratefully received. Litter grabbers and bags will be provided. Do come along and enjoy this community event while you get some gentle exercise and make a huge difference to your local environment. 2. The above mentioned Bio-Diversity officer has arranged a brand new event for Rough Close which is to take place on the common on the morning of Sunday 16th June at 10am. Everyone is invited to take part in a SMALL ANIMAL SURVEY. This event has been arranged by Mr Waller with Staffordshire Mammal Group and it is sure be fun for the children of the parish as well as enlightening and interesting to the adults. Again, please come along all welcome. This is a fantastic opportunity to have some fun and learn from experts about the wildlife that surrounds us. Friends Wanted Walkers, countryside and wildlife lovers, local historians and all with a interest in our treasured heathland are asked to give of their time and / knowledge and join together as a group of FRIENDS OF THE COMMON. It is envisaged that a committee of volunteers be formed to look after the interests of the common in conjunction with the Parish Council and SBC s Bio-Diversity Officer to monitor, care and deal with issues as they arise regard this site. Be involved as little or as much as you like. Calling All Walkers Walkers who are familiar with the common and local area are requested to volunteer as LEADERS to lead a series of planned walks for the community at all levels. Anyone wishing to know more about this initiative should contact Cllr. Tony Holmes on , their Parish Councillor or the Clerk on the relevant telephone numbers given within this publication. Dog Fouling Unfortunately dog fouling in the village has become a problem again. Please clean up after your dogs. It is a fineable offence not to do so and an anti-social practise in the extreme. Fly Tipping Many residents have raised concerns with regard to the re-occurrence of fly tipping on the site of the old George & Dragon pub and the Parish Council shares those concerns. This matter is in hand with SBC s Environmental Health Department and we hope to have a resolution of the matter shortly. Please be vigilant and help us to stamp out this practice in our village. 10

11 Report from County Councillor More road safety for Meir Heath School - Meir Heath 20 is Plenty Campaign I have arranged for Meir Heath Primary School to be included in a new scheme to reduce speeding outside schools. New signs including a speed indicator sign will be positioned on Hilderstone Road near to the school to reduce traffic speeds. The signs will be active during the morning and afternoon school opening and closing sessions. This follows the introduction of the scheme last year at Fulford Primary. Next I hope to get Springcroft included. Council Tax Bills frozen again You will find that this year s Council Tax Bill from the County Council and Stafford Borough, Police and Fire are all frozen. In fact the County Council has now the cheapest council tax of any county in England. We need more foster carers We now have record numbers of children being placed in local authority care with Staffordshire County Council. We want to avoid children being placed in residential homes and instead live in family settings with foster parents. This provides the stability and nurture to help children to do well. The County Council is currently seeking new foster parents. A program of training and high quality support is available. If you think you could foster a child or young person please contact Staffordshire County Council visit telephone or text Foster to There are lots of myths about who can or cannot foster; You need to own a house, have a job, be married or be a certain age. None of which is true so we have also set out to dispel commonly held misconceptions about adoption eligibility. Bus travel for retired is still free all day We are making sure that Staffordshire's older or disabled residents can get free bus travel. Unlike Stoke, Staffordshire residents can travel free all day, everyday. And anyone who is eligible for a pass but who can't travel unassisted may also be able to get a 'companion pass' which will allow their carer to travel free too. For the under twenties there is also the 'Your Staffordshire Card'. This lets eligible young people travel anywhere within the council s boundary for just 1 per journey. And as a bonus, many Staffordshire businesses are now making great offers for card holders. 11

12 Reporting highway defects or potholes We have put an extra 0.5 Million to tackle the backlog of potholes after the really bad weather. That means extra repair teams working to get the repairs done faster. The easiest way to report a defect is to call our help centre Community maintenance teams The parish gets a visit from a County Council maintenance team 2 or 3 times a year. Their role is to fix the small highway or footpath tasks such as cleaning signs or repairing a verge. If you see small tasks like this please let me or the Parish Clerk know so that we can include it in a future planned visit by the team. Please contact me if you need help with any local problems or issues involving the County Council Ian.parry@staffordshire.gov.uk You can also get latest news by following my Twitter posts twitter.com/ianparrycc 12

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15 Bulletin Board Delivering Key Information Quickly EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY (EXCEPT BANK HOLIDAYS), the Clerk of the Parish Council will be present at the annexe to the MEIR HEATH & ROUGH CLOSE VILLAGE HALL, GRANGE ROAD, MEIR HEATH between 9.30AM and 12.30PM to discuss any problems or issues which the Parish Council may be able to help with. The contact telephone number is where you can also leave a message. Fulford Parish Council has a website which is run and updated by the Newsletter Committee of the Parish Council. Please log on to see and find the latest information! Contact via the Clerk stephen_beck@btconnect.com The project, a partnership between Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Perkins Engines Company Limited and the Caterpillar Foundation, will give people the opportunity to get stuck into practical conservation projects such as tree planting, coppicing and habitat creation on wetland sites across the borough. Volunteers/participants can also take part in organised wildlife walks, giving everyone the chance to explore and learn more about local wildlife, as well as taking part in a range of fun activities such as bug hunts and surveys. More events are planned for Spring and Summer including Family Bug Hunts and more practical conservation sessions. For more information on the project, contact Shaun Rimmer Community Development Officer on or s.rimmer@staffs-wildlife.org.uk Wild About Stafford Nature lovers from across Stafford Borough can now get closer to their local wild spaces by taking part in a new project. Wild about Stafford will give people the chance to get involved in a range of educational and practical tasks aimed at enhancing and maintaining local wild spaces include numerous Stafford Borough Council Local Nature Reserves. Furniture Mine Furniture Mine collects unwanted furniture such as beds, wardrobes, sofas, mattresses and tables, plus electrical goods such as washing machines, freezers, fridges, cookers and other household items etc. We then provide these items to individuals and households who are on low incomes or benefit dependant that are in need of these items. Electrical items don't have to be working to be of use to us as we have our own repair 15

16 Hands & Co. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Need a helping hand? For all your BOOKKEEPING PERSONAL TAXATION & BUSINESS NEEDS Telephone juliethands@handsandco.co.uk shop where we ensure that the items are repaired and are in good order before we allow them to be reused. Furniture Mine minimises the environmental impact of disposal of furnishings and electrical goods making them available for people who are in need. The charity joined the Aspire Group last year and we are committed to developing it further to the benefit of local people. We are keen to increase donation of unwanted furnishings which we collect free of charge and the local people who can benefit from the service. Tel: MSWMAINTENANCE Domestic and Commercial Property Maintenance Reg. No Mark Walker Tel: Mob: Coombe Drive, Meir Heath, Stoke-on-Trent. ST3 7LB 101 for Non-emergency Police Calls Communities across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent now have access to 101, the national non-emergency telephone number for the police service in England and Wales. The introduction of the 101 number will help communities to keep their neighbourhoods safe by giving them one easy way to contact their local police force to report non-emergency crime and disorder. Calls to 101 will cost 15 pence per call, no matter how long you are on the phone - this applies to both landlines and mobile phones. In an emergency, the public should continue to call 999, such as when a crime is in progress, when there is danger to life 16

17 or when violence is being used or threatened. for health advice and information: The Staffordshire Police current number ( ) will remain in place while our communities become familiar with 101. People should call 101 to report less urgent crime and disorder or to speak to their local officers. For example, you should call 101 if your car has been stolen, your property has been damaged or you suspect drug use or dealing in your neighbourhood. You can also use 101 to report a minor traffic collision, give the police information about crime in your area or speak to the police about a general enquiry. 111 for medical help fast NHS 111 is a new service soon to be introduced (date TBA in Staffordshire) to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time. You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it's not a life-threatening situation. 111 will get you through to a team of highlytrained advisers, who are supported by experienced nurses. They will assess your symptoms and guide you to the right local service. Until this service is available in Staffordshire, use the NHS Direct Helpline D S Building Services Over 30 years experience Advanced City and Guilds Qualified All Building Work Undertaken EXTENSIONS, GARAGES, PROPERTY REPAIRS, POINTING, GARDEN WALL AND FEATURES, ROOF TILES, DRAINS, GUTTER CLEANING, SLABBING, BLOCK PAVING, MODERNISATION AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE Reliable Friendly Service All Work Guaranteed / Free Quotes Also Labour Only Quotes Available Contact Dave: Mob

18 Blue Bin Recycling Service In the Inner Caddy: Newspapers, magazines, brochures, catalogues, junk mail, yellow pages, shredded paper. In the Bin: Cardboard (flattened); Aerosols - eg shaving gel, polish, deodorant; Plastic bags - must be empty; Wrappers - food, cellophane and clingfilm; Foil - food trays and tin foil; Cans - food and drink; Glass - bottles and jars; Plastic bottles eg milk, soft drink, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and household cleaning fluid bottles - shampoo, bleach etc; Waxed cartons - food and drink [Tetra Pak] eg juice, soup and milk cartons. All items must be clean, empty and have the tops removed. No longer must textiles be put in the blue bin as it has been found that textiles have become contaminated with broken glass etc., which means that they cannot be reused. Townswomen s Guild Meets at Meir Heath and Rough Close Village Hall on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 2.00pm. There is a speaker each month followed by tea and biscuits. The group would welcome new members or visitors. For further information contact Meir Heath Windmill Preservation Group Windmill Grade II Listed building 1775 The Meir Heath Windmill Group has published a local history book called Behold a Giant The story of a Windmill. It is A4 format, 175 photographs, 160 pages with 16 pages colour. Available for 12 from the Post Office at Meir Heath or from G Swift on The money raised from the sale of the book is to pay for the 7,000 needed for aluminium guttering to be put on the windmill to make it dry inside and used it as heritage centre. The Group are delighted to have received a request for five books to be put into the Bodleian Library at Oxford, The Cambridge University Library, The Edinburgh Library, The Library of Wales and the Dublin Library. These Libraries as you know are the most famous in the UK and our group are honoured to have been asked to send copies. You may have seen the Michael Wood BBC programme called "All Our Stories", where people all over the country are producing local stories. The Lottery fund has helped and we can now begin to film people and their memories. Our group have raised, in the last six years, 34,000 approx and used it to get the windmill off the At Risk Register. We all have to look after this very special building in our area 18

19 Members of the Council Finance and General Purposes Committee Cllrs. Mrs. Bennett, Colclough, Holmes, Mrs. Jennings, Taylor & Mrs. Wheat Chairman and Vice-Chairman ex-officio Planning Committee Cllrs. Colclough, Ms Cuncannon, Evans, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. McPerhson, Mycock. Chairman and Vice-Chairman ex-officio Representatives to Outside Bodies Fulford Primary LEA Governor: Frank Colclough Portland School & Specialist College (formerly Aynsley Special School) Governor: Cllr. Mrs. Brayford Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall: Cllr. Mrs. Jennings Fulford Village Hall: Cllr. Tony Holmes Springcroft Primary School LEA Governor: Cllr. Kath Brayford, Cllr. Richard Mycock Cllr. Linda McPherson Staffordshire Parish Councils Association: Cllrs. Mrs. Brayford, Holmes and Mrs. McPherson Sustainability Committee: Staffordshire County Council - Stone Rural Councillor: Ian Parry Stafford Borough Council - Fulford Ward Councillors: Michael Dodson Tony Holmes Peter Roycroft Dates for 2013 Parish Council Meetings Thursday 11th April (Annual Parish Meeting) Location: Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall Thursday 9th May Location: Fulford Village Hall Thursday 13th June Location: Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall Note: All meetings start at 7.15pm with an opportunity for any local government elector from the Parish to ask questions of the Parish Council relating to any Parish issue. At the formal meeting, which follows at 7.30 p.m., these matters will then be considered; the publuc may also attend but are not usually invited to join the debate. Alternatively, write to the Clerk such that the matter can be raised. SHELLTECH SERVICES The complete support team Electrical, Plumbing, Joinery, Landscaping, Drains, Roof work, General Maintenance. Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom installations. ti Alarm Systems Appliance Repairs. Domestic, Commercial & industrial Maintenance See for more details or call Tel: Mobile: Big jobs, Small jobs, Odd jobs We do them all. 19

20 Civic Amenity Visits The dates for the next visits of a REFUSE LORRY for the collection of household items will be available in the next issue of this. Check our website for the information when it becomes available. Household Recycling Centres At recycling centres in Staffordshire there are facilities to recycle newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, glass bottles, jars, fridges, freezers, scrap metal, car batteries and oil. Stone - The recycling centre is on Beacon Road, Stone Business Park, off the A34 Stafford Road at the roundabout with the A51 Butterhill Bank Road - about 1 mile from Stone Town Centre. This centre is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Cheadle - This centre is on New Haden Road, Cheadle, off the road to Draycott, and is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Police Contact numbers In an emergency, where life is in danger or a crime is in progress, call 999. For non-emergency calls and general enquiries contact us on the new 101 number service (replaces the ). Based at Stone Police Station are the Community Beat Officers and Police Community Support Officers for our area, PC 5506 David Perry, PCSO 8849 Becky Powell and PCSO 6643 Emma Kempson. You can speak to your local officer by calling them direct on Follow the simple instructions and enter the officer s personal collar number. Or call 101 and speak to the operator. Call Crimestoppers - Tel This telephone number can be used to pass specific information about crime or criminals without fear of reprisals or direct contact with the police. Calls are FREE from land lines and most mobile phones. The service is anonymous and rewards of up to 1,000 are available for information which leads to an arrest and charge. Stafford Borough Council Customer Contact Centre Open 8.30 am pm Monday - Friday Tel: (01785) or Planning queries: planning@staffordbc.gov.uk Staffordshire County Council General Enquiries Tel: This is a new number replacing the former switchboard number of The new phone number is charged at local rate. Highways Hotline (formerly CLARENCE) Safety Defects, such as potholes, ice, flooding and broken street lighs should be reported directly to the Highways Hotline on to highways@staffordshire.gov.uk or on-line via Report Faults Online STREETscene ONE phone call, one solution The special hotline means that a wide range of environmental issues, such as littering, graffiti, dog mess, sharps, fly tipping and problems with children s play areas, can all be reported with just one phone call. You can contact the Streetscene team in the following ways: Phone the contact centre on Text in with your problem on contactcentre@staffordbc.gov.uk 20