Ruyton PC Safer Roads Group update As you may have noticed the Parish Council has installed gates at the entrance to the village on Olden Lane. (Pictured above.) This is aimed at making motorists aware that they are approaching a village settlement; and should slow down... "20 is Plenty!"
BEWARE - The Volunteer Speed Watch Team is now fully trained by West Mercia Police and armed to catch any would be speed merchants in the village.
Our thanks to these local heroes who are helping to keep our roads safer.....should you want to join the team or find out more please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Clerk for more information.
The Parish Council would welcome your feedback on the website; which has been kindly designed by a member of the community and is at the moment in its infancy. So please be patient!
We are looking to add digital photos of the parish to the website and would welcome any contributions from enthusiastic amateurs. If interested please email David Shearan your pictures at dave.shearan@icloud.com
THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
1st May 2018 at 7.00 p.m. at The Victoria Room, Ruyton XI Towns
Local people are invited to the meeting which is held annually with the aim of keeping people in touch with what is happening in their local community.
An Award is to be presented to the Parish Council for what you may ask ? Why not come and find out...
A short presentation will be given on "Sex Exploitation"..to find out more please attend. You won't be disappointed.
Local reports will be given by the Chairman of the Parish Council, Safer Roads Group; Local Police Team; Your Local Shropshire Councillor; Village Hall Committee; Local Charity and Ruyton XI Towns Primary School.
An agenda and copy of the Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council Receipts & Payments Account for 2017/18 can be downloaded from the Parish Council's new website: http://www.ruytonxitownsparishcouncil.org.uk/
Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council Chairman's Report - By Andrew Johnston
It's been a busy first quarter of 2018 for the Parish Council (PC) with the installation of the village gates which have been well received and which will be complemented by seasonal flowers to welcome careful drivers.
The PC will once again be sponsoring flower baskets throughout the village; as parishioners and visitors appreciate them. However we are acquiring fewer baskets and engaging a local contractor to look after them.
There are currently two important campaigns which the Council is concentrating their efforts on resolving:
Firstly, Dogs Fouling - Our pavements and play areas in the village are being continually contaminated with this mess. There will now be regular visits from the Shropshire Council Dog Warden so please do always clean up after your pet or risk being reported and fined for your negligence and lack of respect of shared spaces.
Secondly, Speeding Vehicles are still a major problem and the PC is now working with the Safer Roads Partnership to monitor, identify and contact drivers who exceed the limits through the village.
On a more positive note Birch Grove play area is to be enhanced shortly with the installation of a basket swing which has now been purchased.
The Council is commencing on a programme of replacing and upgrading its street lighting with appropriate LED equipment. The capital investment in these programme is estimated to be between £15 - £20,000; practically the annual precept; so please be patient while we endeavor to get this right!
A major and exciting development is that the PC has now agreed to purchase thirty two acres of the Cliffe from the Bradford Estate for the benefit of the Parish and to secure it as a Public Open Space. Costs have been minimised as the PC had already budgeted for spend on the site; this has been redirected to its purchase; together with a grant received from Shropshire Council. The PC looks forward to working closely with its Community and Shropshire Council Countryside to help maintain and enhance this amenity for future generations.
Please do always contact either myself or my fellow councillors with any suggestions or proposals for the benefit of the village we are always open to suggestions.
There are currently TWO parish councillor vacancies and the PC would welcome any additional new members. For more details please contact myself or the Clerk in the first instance.
RUYTON XI TOWNS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES
Tuesday 1st May 2018 - Annual Parish Meeting 7.00 pm & Annual Parish Council Meeting follows approx 8.15 pm Tuesday 5th June 2018 Tuesday 3rd July 2018 Tuesday 28th August 2018
Council meetings usually commence at 7.30p.m. and are held at the Victoria Room on Little Ness Road at Ruyton. A public session is always held at the beginning of the official meeting, which is intended to encourage residents to attend and bring up any local issues.
Clerk's Contact Details: Sue Hackett can usually be contacted on Tel 01743 719012 or by email ruytonxitownspc@icloud.com
The official business address of the Council is Gonsal House, Condover, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY5 7EX. If you are unable to contact me please contact the Chairman Andrew Johnston.
OSWESTRY LIBRARY UP & COMING EVENTS IN MAY 2018
Mondays 10-12 &Fridays 1.30-4 Various days Family and Local History Group drop- in sessions for help with your family and local history enquiries Free weekly IT help sessions 1:1 sessions for help with your computing problems. Book with Library staff. Tuesday 1 11am-12pm Wednesday 2 10am-12pm Reading/Writing surgery with Reader/Writer in Residence Dave Andrews. The surgery is an opportunity for anyone interested in writing to talk informally with Dave about their own work or ideas. Dave is also happy to talk to readers about his particular interests - literature and language. Free drop in event. Hearing Aid Clinic run by NHS volunteers – Free drop in clinic. Tuesday 8, 22 2-3pm Time to Listen - Relax and listen in friendly company as library staff read aloud stories for adults. Free drop in event. Tuesday 9 12.30-1.30pm Finding Your Own Power with PJ Roscoe – Finding your true self in a world full of negativity can be difficult – but you are worth it. Author PJ Roscoe leads the talk. £3. Please book with library staff. Friday 18 12.30-1.30pm Humanism: What is it and why is it important? – Over 50% of the population say they live without religion. Most of them have humanist beliefs, even if they do not call themselves humanists. £3. Please book with library staff. Tuesday 22 12.30-1.30pm Dementia Awareness – George Rook will be speaking about how he is living with dementia, how it was diagnosed, and how he deals with it on a day to day basis. £3. Please book with library staff. Thursday 24 10-1pm Friday 25 12.30-1.30pm Wednesday 30 1.30-3pm Oswestry Makes – Felted Flower workshop – Come and learn how to make felted flowers using wet felting technique. All materials provided. £5. Please book with library staff. The Oswestry Heritage Comics – Helping to bring history to life – Join local artist and archaeologist John Swogger as he talks about his year-long series of newspaper comic strips. £3. Please book with library staff. Knit for Life – come along and knit for charity. Free drop-in event
For full details contact Library Services Tel 01743 250351
Future Fit Up and Coming Public Consultation
We want as many people as possible to respond to this 12-week consultation. You can do this by completing our survey online at http://www.nhsfuturefit.org or completing a paper copy. Please return your completed survey free of charge to FREEPOST NHS FF CONSULTATION.
For further information Harriet Hopkins Communications and Engagement Specialist NHS Future Fit Programme Tel: 01743 277576 or Mob: 07970 354113
The Parish Council have received the following information from Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Defend our NHS:
"The Future Fit 'preferred option' will mean the closure of the A&E and Women's and Children's at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, and the closure of Planned Care (routine surgery and treatment) at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Future Fit is about more pressure on the A&E that is left, and on the ambulance service. Future Fit is also about deep cuts to hospital staff and services (with 300 fewer nurses, for example); and a reduction in the number of medical beds. The claim is of patients being treated in the community instead – but community NHS services and social care are already facing cuts of their own. Even that £312 million of 'new investment' for Future Fit is nothing to celebrate. It is a loan, not a gift, and will have to be repaid with interest. Part of it will be from a private funding scheme similar to PFI. And it is funding for hospital buildings – but those buildings will provide less patient care. Future Fit is about NHS cuts – and for some of us, those cuts will cost lives.
We believe the NHS must meet patients' needs. In our area - 3½ times the size of Greater London – a single A&E and a single acute hospital cannot be enough. And the 'Shrewsbury versus Telford' battle that health leaders expect to see is divisive and destructive. We need BOTH our A&Es, BOTH our hospitals – and an end to the NHS cuts that are eroding local healthcare."
The Parish Council has no opinion on these proposed changes and relies on individuals to respond to the consultation.
GDPR - CHANGES WHICH MAY AFFECT YOU !
A free event to help businesses prepare for the realities of the new laws and the measures they can take in the weeks ahead of the GDPR May 25th deadline has been organised:
Registration &Tea/Coffee on arrival: 9:30am - presentation followed by a question and answer session.
Facilitator, Neil Hambley has over 25 years' experience in data management, CRM and data protection, working across some of the UK's biggest brands (Halfords, Aga, Land Rover, Time Warner, Capita and more). The event provides an overview of the legislation, and a 'hands-on' approach to Data Protection, dispelling the myths and emphasising the immediate steps to align and adjust to the new era.
Free to eligible businesses located within the Marches area.
Ruyton XI Towns PC use an e-newsletter campaign, which will contain the latest local news and information relating to our Parish.
The Parish Council are very grateful for the excellent work Yoland Brown & Margaret Lycett carry out keeping residents informed and would like to say a special thank you to them for their efforts.
If you would like to sign up to this official Parish Council newsletter mailing list then you can do so by clicking the link below you are also at liberty to deselect receiving this newsletter. The choice is yours.
Ruyton XI Towns will not be sharing your email address with any third parties and aims to be compliant with Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR Act 2018. To find out more about our privacy arrangements please go to the Council's new website http://www.ruytonxitownsparishcouncil.org.uk/council-policies/
THE PARISH COUNCIL SPONSORED THE POPPY APPEAL BY ADDING POPPIES TO ITS STREET LIGHTS THIS YEAR
Chairman's Report - Cllr Andrew Johnston
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of our Parish Councillor Mick Berry in October and our thoughts and prayers are with Jo, his wife, their two young children, family and friends.
Mick was a stalwart member of Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council having joined early in 2015 and served both as Vice Chairman and as Chairman of the Safer Roads Working Group. Mick was a committed member of the PC, using his professional experience to great effect in both financial and legislative areas and represented the Council at numerous meetings and events as well as being a Governor of the St John the Baptist Primary School in the village.
It was a privilege to know and work with him and his loss will be widely felt throughout the community.
THE TEAM - YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS
Mr Trevor Allison...........Tel 260899 E : eta-06@tiscali.co.uk
Mr Andrew Johnston(Chair) T 260991 E : andrew@quillerbooks.com
Mr David Spicer...........T 260163 E : luke.spicer@btinternet.com
Mrs Avi Sanders Royle ...Tel 261262 E : avi@rxit.org.uk
Mrs Andrea Hall...... 07713 520245 E: andrea.c.hall@outlook.com
Mr Simon Gittins.....T 260273 E: simonjohngittins@googlemail.com
Mr Ryan Harrison.......07736 577955 E: rharrison804@gmail.com
Mr Scott Denyer..........07357701234 E: denyerscott@gmail.com
Robert Edwards.......Tel 260451 E: linbob451@btinternet.com
All above land line telephone numbers are prefixed with STD code 01939
There are now two parish councillor vacancies, should you be interested in applying please contact the Clerk Sue Hackett in the first instance. Contact details can be found below.
RESULTS OF THE SEPTEMBER 2017 COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE
The total number of respondents were 85; 25 from paper form and 60 online respondents. Over 90% of the respondents were from Ruyton XI Towns and the age range was spread out, however a large majority of respondents for the paper questionnaire were 70 and over. 59 respondents were female and 25 male. Housing Majority of respondents' believed that more affordable housing is necessary for the parish. More bungalows for older residents was also discussed. Over 80% of respondents owned their own home, while 8.3% were in social housing. 58% of those who rented wish to own their home, with money highlighted as the main obstacle. Services Only 16% of respondents used village on a daily basis, with 37% occasionally. Times of opening was called as the main reason for not using services. Café Eleven was recognised as the most used with 40% of respondents. 63% never use the bus service and the vast majority believed the bus shelters were adequate. 55% of respondents believe the Parish is clean, with dog fouling and littering cited as problems. 60% believed the hanging basket scheme should be expanded upon and 93% agree with the switching to LED for streetlights. 64% are happy with broadband and 55% happy with mobile signal. 48% of people are in full time employment with 35% working in Shrewsbury. Roads 77% of respondents claim they do not experience problems parking in the parish. 67% say the current speed restrictions are adequate, however 52% claim they not happy with road safety arrangements in the village. With pavement parking, Shotatton crossroads and speeding vehicles being raised as significant concerns. Leisure The Cliffe is the most used "leisure facility" in the parish and 71% of respondents said they use local Rights of Way and 78% of people say they are well maintained. 25 people said they are interested in joining organised walks. 59% of people agree with the decision to financially help the youth club in Great Ness. 73% of people claim that the services for young people are not meeting their needs. However 84% feel the activities in the parish are sufficient for older generations. Precept 70% agree that it is reasonable for the Parish Council to increase its portion of the Council Tax.
As a result of these outcomes the Parish Council will continue to focus on Road Safety and for the present its recreational sites, having already financially assisted in the renovation of the Memorial Hall i.e. the very popular Cafe Eleven. As those who follow our Council website have noted The Cliffe is now "For Sale", and the Parish Council is currently focusing its resources on discussions with the owner Bradford Estate and Shropshire Council; to ensure this open space much valued by local residents is retained for the benefit of the Local Community.
The Parish Council & Police still receive complaints of vehicles parking on pavements within the village; particularly where the highway is narrow and the footpath is used. Needless to say, both the Police and Parish Council will continue to patrol the village and monitor this issue, but please be warned……if your vehicle is found causing an "Unnecessary Obstruction" you will be dealt with accordingly.
Ruyton PC Safer Roads Group update
Our Safer Roads Working Group have met several times to examine possible measures for traffic calming in the village and have built on the feedback provided by the Questionnaire.
Following on from a speed monitoring survey carried out in September and recent Police speed monitoring checks the Group is appalled at the results; which highlights the seriousness both in terms of frequency and speed of most vehicles.
The most appropriate way forward is to :
BAN ALL TRAFFIC IN RUYTON
however given that this will not be popular the following are being considered:
Traffic monitoring system which captures film of vehicles speeding enabling the Police to issue fines to those who exceed the speed limit
Raising the height of the pedestrian crossing
Creation of a gated village entrance at Olden Lane; effectively highlighting to vehicle users that they are entering the village centre
Creating a Voluntary Community Speed Watch Team
The latter two are in the process of being implemented.
Will anyone interested in volunteering on the Speed Watch Team please contact the Clerk Sue Hackett; whose contact details can be found at the end of the newsletter.
World War I Beacon Lighting & Ceremony
This time next year we will have had a beacon lighting and ceremony to commemorate the ending of WWI. We are looking for a local person who is directly descended from one of those lost during that conflict as well as anyone directly descended from a local person who served in WWI and survived.
Once identified they will have a chance to become the honorary guest at the beacon lighting and may be chosen to light the beacon itself. The beacon lighting ceremony will take place on:
Sunday 11 November 2018 at 7.00 pm; in a prominent place in the village. Those named on the existing plaque are: Samuel Braddick John Brayne Charles Cunningham James Edwards Edward Hanmer Albert Haste Benjamin Jones Richard Jones Harry Kilvert Alec Lewis George Morgan Sidney Morris John W Owen Richard Sadler William Stant Edward Vow Harry Walker
The names we intend to add to a new plaque are: Charles H Hanmer Ernest Lloyd Alfred Rogers
Please contact the Clerk Sue Hackett or myself should you be that local person or require further information about the event. Lead Councilor Avi Sanders Royle
RUYTON XI TOWNS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES
Tuesday 5th December 2017 Tuesday 2nd January 2018
Tuesday 6th February 2018
All council meetings usually commence at 7.30p.m. and are held at the Victoria Room at Ruyton. A public session is always held at the beginning of the official meeting, which is your chance as residents to bring up any local issues.
Clerk's Contact Details: Sue Hackett can usually be contacted on Tel 01743 719012 or by email ruytonxitownspc@btinternet.com Please note I work part time and there may be a delay in the time I take to respond to you; however if you need a response immediately please contact the Chairman or Vice Chairman in my absence.
The official business address of the Council is Gonsal House, Condover, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY5 7EX.
Local Plan Review - 'Preferred Scale and Distribution of Development' Consultation Shropshire Council is continuing to progress with its Local Plan Review. To inform this review, Shropshire Council is now seeking comments on the second stage of consultation on the Local Plan Review, This consultation ends Friday 22nd December 2017. The 'Preferred Scale and Distribution of Development' Consultation:
Sets out the preferred distribution of growth;
Identifies housing and employment growth guidelines for the strategic centre and each principal and key centre;
Confirms the methodology which Shropshire Council proposes to adopt to identify a settlement hierarchy in Shropshire;
Lists the settlements which form part of this hierarchy, including those that will in future be identified as 'Community Hubs';
Proposes draft policies for the management of development within 'Community Hubs' and 'Community Clusters'.
Identifies other development requirements which may need to be addressed as part of the Local Plan Review.
OR post to: Shropshire Council, Planning Policy & Strategy Team, Shirehall, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
The Parish Council will be agreeing their responses at their December meeting; should you wish to contribute to this please contact your local parish councillor.
Please find below the Police Commissioners October newsletter:
Healthwatch Shropshire encourages the local community to have a say on the health and social care in Shropshire. Their 'Hot Topic' for November and December is podiatry/chiropody services. They are asking those who use such services for comments about the services, positive and negative, are passed on anonymously. Contact details:
Finally the Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council would like to wish " Everyone a Very Merry Christmas" and remind you of a few local events we can look forward to in the forthcoming weeks....
Saturday, 2nd December: There is a Coffee Morning to be held by The Friends of Ruyton XI Towns Church hosted by Mrs Sue Corfield and Mrs Gwennan Jones in Church Thursday, 7th December Cliffe Garden Club: Christmas social evening. Victoria Room at 7.30pm Tuesday, 12th December Ruyton WI: Film and Christmas Party Friday, 15th December Friends of Ruyton Church: Christmas Tree Festival with Carols, Canapés and the Cliffe Community Choir Wednesday 20th December Santa's sleigh arrives in Ruyton some where between 5.00 - 7.00pm..weather permitting...
Our special thanks to those who have contributed and donated to the "Village Christmas Tree", which will be erected by the Parish Council outside Cafe Eleven..very soon!
Ruyton XI Towns PC are continuing with this e-newsletter campaign, which will contain the latest local news and information relating to our Parish. However paper copies will be made available in Cafe Eleven and the Victoria Room.
The Parish Council are very grateful for the excellent work Yoland Brown & Margaret Lycett carry out in keeping residents informed and would like to say a special thank you to them for their efforts.
