STRETTON-ON-FOSSE PARISH
COUNCIL NEWS SHEET
September 2009
COUNCILLORS: Chris Howe (Chairman) 664605 : Isobel Hazelwood (Vice
Chairman) 661816 : Penny White 663811 : Russ Braithwaite 661839 : Jason
Kristunas 662313 : Parish Clerk - Sue Finlay 661157
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR:
Philip Seccombe 01295 680668
COUNTY
COUNCILLOR: Christopher
Saint 01608 662290
Useful
phone numbers:
Highways Customer Services
– 01926 412515
Shipston Leisure Centre – 01608 662354
Shipston Library
– 01608 661255
24/7
Book Renewal – 01926 499273
Trading Standards
– Business advice line – 01926 414044
Consumer advice line – 08454 040506
Shipston Police Station (non-emergency)
– 01608 661415 or 01789 444670
Community Links Transport
– 01789 264491
Abandoned Car Clear – 0800 1699900
Back
and 4th Transport
– 01789 471595
Electricity – Central Networks – 08000855156
PHILLIS Support Team
(for over 50s) – 01926 731144
Waste/Recycling Centre
(Shipston) – 01608 663560
Water
– Severn Trent – 0800 7634444
Stretton on Fosse
Parish Council Chairman’s Report
2009
As in
previous years, this council has tried to take a relatively low-key role in
village affairs. We see our role as maintaining those village facilities
that fall into our realms of responsibly. We do not seek to take on major
new projects or create new facilities and we are keen to ensure that we
perform our role at the lowest possible cost to the local council taxpayer.
There have
been a few significant achievements within the year, which we hope have
brought or will bring significant benefits to the village.
The
Fosse Junction – for
many years this has been a dangerous junction and there have been several
minor accidents involving people turning out from the village onto the Fosse
Way. We have regularly sought action on this matter and finally some
funding became available that was allocated to this cause.
Councillor
Braithwaite lead the initiative and held several meetings with the Highways
Planning team to introduce several different “traffic calming” measures.
There are
still of course those who drive along this stretch of the Fosse in an
inconsiderate and dangerous manner but from personal experience I believe
that the changes have had a positive impact on the safety of the junction.
Housing
Association Houses –
the village, like so many others, has a severe lack of low cost housing that
is available for local families to rent or buy. During the last twelve
months a planning application was submitted to build a small number of new
properties at the top of Harold’s Orchard.
The
application had our complete support and we are pleased to say that
construction should start fairly soon. Councillor Hazelwood put a lot of
time and effort into liaising with the Housing Association and Planning
teams on our behalf to ensure that the properties were not only of an
appropriate design but are also built to high environmentally efficient
standards.
Other
items that take up much of our time include the general oversight of
planning applications. Our level of authority in this area is distinctly
limited and where possible we will always look to support applications,
which do not cause offence or disruption to others.
Obviously
we do look to preserve the character of the village as much as possible and
will always represent the views of residents if they are given to us. On
occasion we do strongly object to applications in which case we will request
that they get sent to planning committee but we try to limit the number of
times that we do this since it increases our credibility when we really need
to exercise that right.
Parking
has been a long running problem in the village and is unlikely to be less
so. The real problem is that, with such limited space, careless parking can
cause offense to other people but we have no power or authority in this area
whatsoever. In the end these are matters that can only be resolved between
neighbours in a friendly and considerate manner.
There are
other groups within the village who should be recognised for their energy
and contribution to village life. It is all too easy to live in a village
like this and forget that it is only due to the efforts of those who
volunteer their time that the quality of village life is sustained and often
improved. The village can always do with more, willing volunteers and
anyone wishing to increase their contribution to village life will be given
a warm reception.
At risk of
excluding people, which is most certainly not my intent, I would like to
thank the Village Hall committee for they continuing efforts to maintain the
Village Hall as a hub of community events.
Wendy
Temple and the team are making progress towards the creation of a village
plan, which can be a vital tool in the management of, amongst other things,
planning and development and hence the sustainability of the village.
The
Biodiversity group continue to work to ensure that the rich diversity of
plant and animal life is documented and protected, and where possible
encouraged expand.
I have
already thanked Russ Braithwaite and
Izzie Hazelwood and would also like to thank Penny
White for her continued efforts in the community and Jason Kristunas who
saves us a lot of money by applying his practical skills to the construction
of things like notice boards and the maintenance of the play area. Sue
Finlay continues to support us exceptionally as secretary.
Finally
credit should be given to Philip Seccombe and Chris Saint, our district and
county councillors who tirelessly contribute their time and act as wise
counsel to us on the more complex issues of governance.
Chris Howe
Chairman

STRETTON ON FOSSE
PARISH PLAN QUESTIONNAIRE
You will
recall that earlier this year you were asked to complete a questionnaire on
those matters that were important to you from a list of 49 questions under
the headings of Essential Services and the Environment: Facilities: The way
we want to be. We received over 100 completed questionnaires which was an
excellent response and thanks to all of you who returned them.
The Parish Council now wishes to move on and produce a
Parish Plan for Stretton on Fosse which links in to Stratford District
Council’s Community Plan.
Members of the Steering Group working on this will be
available at the following functions to answer any questions you may have
and would like to hear your views on the parish now and in the future.
6th June Presentation by Trevor
Russel at The Plough 10.30 – midday
(coffee and biscuits will be
available at a cost
of £1.50)
11th June Silver Club
Teas/Sales 3.30 – 5.00 pm
28th June Cream Teas in Village
Hall 3.00 – 5.00 pm
12th July Cream Teas in Village
Hall 3.00 – 5.00 pm
23rd August Cream Teas in Village
Hall 3.00 – 5.00 pm
We will also be asking you to complete another
questionnaire which is based on the responses we received from the first one
and goes into more depth in seeking your views. The Steering Group is
conscious of people’s concerns over the environment. It is for this reason
that we have decided not to post a questionnaire through every letterbox as
it is unlikely that all will be returned, thus wasting valuable paper.
Questionnaires will be available at each of the above
events and anyone not attending can request a questionnaire from Wendy
Temple at The Lexdens, by phone 01608 661698 or by email
wendy@lexdens.demon.co.uk.
We would appreciate the return of completed
questionnaires by the end of August.
New
Affordable Housing
We are advised that the purchase of the land by Jephson
Housing has been delayed whilst issues concerning the adoption of the
surface water drainage are resolved with Severn Trent.
Stratford
Planning Department