Heathers Report for August
BROADBAND – Marton
I asked ‘Connecting Shropshire’ (The BT/Council partnership charged with bringing Broadband to the County) when and if Marton will be getting a Superfast Broadband Cabinet. This is important as Broadband will only be available within 1.2 km of one of these cabinets. Chirbury and Worthen are both getting cabinets which should go live in September.
The good news is that they have confirmed that Marton will get a cabinet but couldn’t give a date when one would be installed.My guess is it will be 2017 but I will keep on pressing for an early installation.
A490- Part of the A490 from Chirbury to Churchstoke is in the schedule for resurfacing. I will keep you updated when a date become clear.
COYBROOK BRIDGE -The bridge repair to be carried out on the Coybrook Bridge which carries the unclassified road over the Coed Brook between Whittery and Priest Weston will need a road closure. The work will involve taking down and rebuilding part of the downstream elevation of the bridge and filling in a scoured area of the embankment with large boulders. Other works will include the improvement of the road drainage in the vicinity of the bridge and replacement of the timber parapet. The road will be closed from Monday 7 September 2015 for a period of up to 3 weeks. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and dismounted cyclists throughout the work.. The diversion will be via Little Weston and down to Whittery.
BENTLAWNT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
Shropshire Council Planning Department are making a complete hash of determining this application. I’ve been pressing them since last autumn, but staff cutbacks at the Council have decimated the planning department leading to a very, very slow turn around in applications. It is totally unacceptable that this application has taken 14 months to reach this point.
I have now been promised a final response by early September. As soon as I have word I will forward the decision to you by e-mail and leaflet the village.
ROAD THROUGH STIPERSTONES
By the time you read this the contractors should have finished resurfacing work through the village. The standard of the work looks pretty good but I know that there have been some issues Please let me know of any problems that may be outstanding..
PROPOSED HOUSING IN STIPERSTONES – The owner of the bus depot brought a proposal to the last Parish Council meeting to build ten 2-3 bed roomed houses on this site. What do you think of this proposal? Let me knock on the e-mail or phone number below.
PLANNING – There are a number of planning application in our areas that have not been ‘Determined’ (i.e. decided) by Shropshire Council’s Planning Department . Many are months overdue following heavy cuts in Departmental staff. The good news is that the Council is now taking on more staff to try and clear this backlog. I am in constant talks with the portfolio holder and the planners to get decisions on these applications as soon as possible.
BROCKTON BRIDGE
Repair work has started on the bridge. I have also been pressing the Council and Environment Agency to clear the gravel and silt which is building up underneath the bridge and causing much of the flooding in the immediate area. It would be really useful if anyone could give me photos (photocopies or scans) showing the bridge in the past as I need evidence to persuade the Environment to take action.
MILL STREAM HOUSING, Worthen
The developer who is acquiring the former sheltered housing site at Old Mill Close has indicated that he wishes to build four 4 bed-roomed houses on the site. This is not in line with the parish plan or the outline planning permission which wanted smaller family homes for local people. I am in urgent discussion with the planning department of Shropshire Council on the issue. No planning application has been received so far but when one is received I will organise a public meeting to organise a response from those of you concerned but this change.
ROAD RESURFACING BROCKTON
After a lot of pressure from residents and myself the Council has agreed to resurface the road from the Leigh Road junction to the bridge in Brockton next year. They will also refurbish the drains at the same time. I have asked them to look in to the possibility of putting a pedestrian footpath on the bridge which is also now a priority for the Parish Council too.
THE MARTON ROAD SAGA.
Ringway/Eurovia’s fourth attempt at resurfacing the road past Marton Church looks better than their previous dire attempts. There are still deficiencies though – the drains and manhole covers need raising for example. Council Highways Officers are also unhappy and as we go to press they are putting pressure on these contractors to finish the job properly. I will keep you posted.
I send out regular updates on local issues such as roads, planning, broadband etc. If you would like to be included on my e-mailing list, drop me a line at the e-mail address below.
Best wishes
Heather Kidd
Shropshire Councillor for Chirbury and Worthen
07980635518 heather.kidd@shropshire.gov.uk www.heatherkidd.org.uk