Parish Council News. newsletter. Issue 438. Affordable Housing: Planning:

Transcription

1 fulford Summer Autumn Chairman Cllr. Kath Brayford Parish Council News Clerk to F.P.C. Stephen Beck Office mailto: stephen_beck@btconnect.com Affordable Housing: Following a Housing Needs Survey, carried out by Stafford & Rural Homes in early 2011, a report showed a demonstrable need for additional affordable homes for local people, for rent and shared ownership. These findings were accepted by Fulford Parish Council and a decision was made to look for potential sites within our parish to try to meet this affordable housing need. A site in Meir Heath is now being considered which is on land occupied previously by Heather s Nursery on Hilderstone Road. Stafford & Rural Homes are having discussions on the proposed development with Stafford Borough Council s planning department and this will be followed by a consultation process with the residents of this parish, about the details of any proposals, before proceeding further. Notification of this consultation process will follow in due course. Planning: At the latest Parish Council meeting, members of the public expressed dismay at the owners of Woodview, Hilderstone Road, appealing against Stafford Borough Council s decision to refuse their application to turn the site into one which would be suitable for use as a Gypsy family home. This would include the erection of three mobile homes. The is firm in its long held opposition to this proposal, and the appeal. As it is heading towards a public hearing by the Planning Inspectorate, at a date yet to be decided, we have given written advice to all residents of the parish as to how to make individual comments if they so wish. We have found, on past experience, that individual responses are the best way to influence the Planning Inspectorate in these sorts of cases. 1

2 fulford Summer 2013 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. 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 Summer 2013 fulford Cllr. Richard Mycock Cllr. Mrs. L. McPherson Cllr. Kath Brayford Cllr. Deborah Barker Cllr. Shirley Wheat Blythe Bridge Ward News A50 The Parish Council has again asked for a speed reduction on this stretch of road to 50 mph to reduce accidents (and noise) so that it is the same speed for the whole of the A50 around Blythe Bridge. We are still waiting for the patched up sound barrier to be completed, it looks such a mess, not a very good entrance to Blythe Bridge as you come off the slip road by Grindley lane. Potholes If there are any potholes in your street please report them to the HIGHWAYS HOTLINE, tel number on the back page, or to one of the Parish Councillors. Civic Amenity Visits The next visits to Mayfield Drive, Blythe Bridge will be 27 July, 28 Sept. Cold Callers Please be aware of cold callers, do not allow any strangers into your home without a prior appointment. Also telephone calls seem to be on the up again; do not buy or sell on the telephone, please do not give out bank details over the phone. Litter Seems to have improved, please use the bins, it is good to see a tidy estate. Litter and Dog Fouling If there is an area with this problem, please ring Streetscene and they will attend to the problem. 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 3

4 fulford vacant flats in the lodge please contact Estate Walkabout The next one is on Thursday August 22nd 10 am at Mayfield Drive car park. Please come along and have your say. Summer 2013 singing at the Victoria Hall with all the other local primary schools, a fabulous experience. Mrs Linda Hancock will be retiring at the end of this term having spent 32 years at Springcroft. Mrs Hancock has been a highly valued member of staff and we wish her a long and happy retirement. Springcroft School Springcroft children have been learning lots about Road Safety this term. Year 1 have incorporated road safety into their geography project Around Our School and learned how to keep safe on the pavement as well as finding safe places to cross the road with a grown up. Year 3 have completed the Stepping Out project where they learn to cross a main road with the crossing patrol and a side road by themselves. Year 6 are involved in the Ziggy Zaggy project. They are out and about weekly with our local PCSO ensuring that parents are parking safely and within the law. Along with the 20 is plenty sign we hope that the roads around Springcroft are becoming safer. Springcroft try to give the children as many different experiences as possible to make school life exciting. Years 3 and 5 have had drama workshops, Samuel Pepys has been to visit, and all the juniors have had science based days. Visits to the Manchester Museum, Apedale, the Brampton, Sudbury, Wolseley Bridge, and to the Blue Tiffin have been enjoyed. Years 5 and 6 are looking forward to 4

5 Summer 2013 fulford Cllr. Martin Oxby Cllr. Steven Evans Cllr. Tony Holmes Cllr. Frank Colclough Baulk Lane Fulford Ward News Stallington Car drivers should be aware that this is an Access Only road it has been noted that drivers are using it as a through route, and at inappropriate speeds. The County Highways authority monitored the traffic using this lane two years ago but with an average of about 10 vehicles in each direction per day, and due to the lack of road lighting and its conservation status, Baulk Lane would not be suitable for traffic calming measures. Some improvements to the signage were made but the speeding still occurs. The police should be informed of offending vehicles such that they can take action against identified vehicles. Saverley Green A new parish notice board is to be provided to replace the old wooden one. 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 during next year. Blythe Bridge exchange is included in this phase, but Hilderstone exchange is not. Fulford and Hilderstone will not be in BT s commercial roll out and thus are included in the intervention area, for the BDUK Staffordshire Superfast Broadband project which has recently signed a contract with BT. Again the timelines are unknown at 5

6 fulford present although the project is set for completion by 2016: oadbandconsultation/betterbroadband.as px If you wish to monitor the roll out of superfast broadband across Staffordshire you may like to use the BT Openreach website, that will be updated periodically as this huge logistical exercise unfolds over the next couple of years: Summer 2013 Commended. All villagers are encouraged to support this initiative. A REFUSE LORRY will next be available for the collection of household items between on Fulford Village Hall car park 20 July, 21 Sept. Fulford Village Group With financial support from the Parish Council, the village sign that has been erected on the Village Green to commemorate the Queen s Diamond Jubilee has had its plinth of local stone constructed. It has been formally dedicated by the cutting of a ribbon by Barry Shaw, Chairman of the Parish Council, assisted by Mrs Pauline Redfern who has lived in the village all her life. After the blessing of the sign by the local vicar, the headteacher of Fulford Primary School, Mrs Tarr, talked about the thoughts and memories of 2012 the children had put in the time capsule before it was sealed, not to be opened for 50 years. Fulford has again entered the Best Kept Village competition hoping to improve on last year s achievement of Highly 6

7 Summer 2013 fulford Cllr. Howard Monks Cllr. Barry Shaw Cllr. Roy Taylor Cllr. Angela Noblett Cllr. Daryl Lightfoot Vermin: There is still a problem of rat infestation in the area of Hilderstone Road/Woodlands Grove/Blacklake Drive, and we are asking residents to take the strictest care to arrest this growing problem. Please follow the normal advice given by the Borough Council pest control department, including strict garden hygiene, no ground feeding of birds, etc. etc. More information can be found on (local call rate), or pestcontrol@staffordbc.gov.uk. Grindley Park: Meir Heath Ward News wild flowers and fauna, so it will not be a replica of a typical urban garden for instance. Grass Verges on Grindley Lane: The state of some of the verges along the Lane continues to be a disgrace and we agree with those of you who have complained about them. We continue to ask the County Council (the relevant authority) to act on this endemic problem and, currently, await their reply and/or action on this matter. Progress on providing kiddies play equipment is rather slow at present, due mainly to financial issues having to be sorted out before we can begin the installation process. Rest assured that we are fully committed to completing this much needed facility as soon as possible. The wildlife meadow on the park is slowly coming to life now. The purpose of the meadow is of course to encourage the growth and preservation of our traditional Dog Fouling: This continues to be a problem in some areas due, unfortunately, to a small minority of offenders (and it is an OFFENCE) who seem to have no sense of responsibility or public pride. Please, if you witness this going on, report it! A couple of hefty fines might bring some sense to those people! 7

8 fulford Summer 2013 Cllr. Andrew Lovatt It is with sad news that this summer Newsletter commences as our much valued Rough Close Councillor, Joy Bennett has left the Parish Council. Sincere thanks are extended to her for her service on behalf of Rough Close residents and councillors alike. Joy s hard work, support and humour will be missed by all. VACANCY Cllr. Mrs. Wendy Jennings Rough Close Ward News Meanwhile, Mr Bill Waller is pursuing obtaining High Level Stewardship status for the common. This government backed initiative would provide funding for the next decade. The Common Thanks to Stone Ramblers who have been very busy on our common. They have volunteered to help with ground works and signs and their work has been invaluable. Walkers will all benefit from their hard work. Are you concerned about the future of our common? Would you like your views to make a difference? Would you like to help keep this valuable heathland safe for years to come? Please call Cllr. Tony Holmes on to discuss joining our Friends of the Common Group. We don t want your money but we DO want your input. Property Maintenance Plumbing, Electrical, Joinery PVCu Doors, Windows, Fascias & Soffits Kitchen & Bathroom Installations info@speedy-fix.co.uk 8

9 Summer 2013 Recurring Problems The problems of dog fouling and littering in our village are sadly difficult to eradicate. While littering has reduced a little recently, people are still allowing their dogs to befoul our pavements and verges. As has been stated in previous Newsletters, this is a fineable offence and offenders will be reported to the appropriate authority if detected. Windmill Hill You may have noticed that the small section of land on Windmill Hill, between Windmill Close and West View has recently been cleared of the dead hawthorne trees fulford and other stubble. This is preliminary action to clearing the remaining weeds from the site and further work to enhance the appearance of this entrance to our village. It is intended that this work shall be completed within the next two months. Vacancy The resignation of Cllr. Joy Bennett has produced a vacancy for a Parish Councillor in Rough Close. Please contact the clerk, Mr Stephen Beck at the number on the front of this publication, him at the address provided or pop into the parish office on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning to discuss the position. May you all have a super summer. Report from County Councillor 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 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 The parish gets a visit from a County Council maintenance team 2 or 3 times a 9

10 fulford Summer 2013 HOMEGUARD INTRUDER ALARMS YOUR LOCAL SECURITY COMPANY ESTABLISHED 32 YEARS SPECIALISTS TO BS4737 INSTALLATION / MAINTENANCE UPGRADES / REPAIRS FIRE SYSTEMS SECURITY LIGHTING / CCTV TRAINED BY FORMER POLICE OFFICERS FREE QUOTES ON BLYTHE BRIDGE GARDEN SERVICES COMPETITIVE PRICES HEDGE CUTTING CONIFER TRIMMING ONE OFF GARDEN TIDY UPS LAWN SCARIFYING HOLLOW TINE LAWN AERATING MOSS & WEED KILLING FREE ESTIMATES 10

11 Summer 2013 fulford Professional Driving Tuition With Martin Williams BSc. (Hons) A.D.I. (Associate Franchise to B.S.M) Offering Simulator Lessons Pass Plus Courses Track Record of Progress Hazard Perception Training Plus Much More Theory Support Mock Practical Tests Motorway Tuition Grade 5 Assessed Instructor For further information call: or Enjoy all the convenience and benefits of having a local instructor with national backing PROMOTING SAFE DRIVING FOR LIFE. APB PLUMBING & TILING Professionally trained in: Domestic Plumbing WRAS Water Regulations BPEC Part P Electrical Wall & Floor Tiling From dripping taps to full Bathroom refits Call Paul Twigg on or for free estimates, no hidden charges and competitive rates. 11

12 fulford Bulletin Board Summer 2013 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 St Francis Church, Meir Heath invites you to Join in the fun, everyone welcome to our COMMUNITY FESTIVAL on 12th. 13th and 14th July. Find full details on The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the talent and commitment present in our local community and it will be held in St Francis Church and grounds on Sandon Road. 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 or when violence is being used or threatened. 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 12

13 Summer 2013 Hands & Co. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Need a helping hand? For all your BOOKKEEPING PERSONAL TAXATION & BUSINESS NEEDS Telephone juliethands@handsandco.co.uk fulford 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 introduced 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. MSWMAINTENANCE Domestic and Commercial Property Maintenance Reg. No Mark Walker Tel: Mob: Coombe Drive, Meir Heath, Stoke-on-Trent. ST3 7LB 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. 13

14 fulford 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 Summer 2013 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 RSPB Coombes Valley, a jewel in the crown regards to RSPB reserves and right on your doorstep. To coincide with our latest campaign giving nature a home, we want to encourage you to get involved and make space for nature in your gardens and community, who knows what you will discover? We at Coombes Valley are on hand to help, running guided walks and free events throughout the summer. Find us at: RSPB Coombes Valley Nature Reserve Six Oaks Farm Bradnop Leek Staffordshire ST13 7EU Or visit: coombeschurnet/index.aspx to find out more. 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

15 Summer 2013 Members of the Council Finance and General Purposes Committee Cllrs. Colclough, Holmes, Mrs. Jennings, Lovatt, Shaw, Taylor & Mrs. Wheat, Chairman and Vice-Chairman ex-officio Planning Committee Cllrs. Colclough, Evans, Mrs. Jennings, Lovatt, Mrs. McPherson, Mycock, Miss Noblett, Shaw, Chairman and Vice-Chairman ex-officio Representatives to Outside Bodies 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 Staffordshire County Council - Stone Rural Councillor: Ian Parry Stafford Borough Council - Fulford Ward Councillors: Michael Dodson Tony Holmes Peter Roycroft fulford Dates for 2013 Parish Council Meetings Thursday 11th July Location: Meir Heath & Rough Close Village Hall Thursday 8th August Location: Fulford Village Hall Thursday 12th September 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 public 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. 15

16 fulford Civic Amenity Visits A REFUSE LORRY will next be available for the collection of household items between : Fulford Village Hall car park - 20th July, 21st September. Mayfield Drive, Blythe Bridge - 27th July, 28th September. Common Lane, Rough Close - 3 August, 5th October. 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. You can speak to your local officer by calling them direct on Follow the simple instructions and enter the officerʼs personal collar number. Or call 101 and speak to the operator. 16 Summer 2013 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 lights 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 childrenʼs 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