Dear All

Western Power have put up signs in the Snailbeach and Stiperstones area stating that the road will be closed for 10 days from 3rd April

Local residents were supposed to get letters from Western Power explaining what was going on but few did. Those who did either thought it was about their electricity supply and possible outage or were confused about where it was happening. This communication does not appear to have been a consultation and has left everyone confused about what is actually happening. They did not consult me or the pub and shop.

Residents in the villages of Worthen and Brockton in the west of the County are to enact a whole string of measures to try and curb speeding traffic and increase safety for residents. A meeting was organised by Heather with Shelve Parish Council to gather ideas and start to make things happen.

Heather said: "The problems are that the road has straight stretches which encourage irresponsible drivers to put their foot down on the way into, through and out of the villages. We have narrow pavements which make mums with buggies walk on the road and people with mobility scooters travel down the road. We also have large numbers of HGV's travelling through the area."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a major overhaul of the powers of local councils to meet the goal of ensuring that everyone in Britain has a home.

The package, passed by the party at its Spring Conference in Southport, calls for new powers that will see local authorities able to build and invest in more affordable and social housing. This includes greater access to borrowing for local authorities, strengthened powers to bring empty homes back into use and the power to direct the use of otherwise unwanted public land. Alongside measures to allow local government to abandon Right to Buy and to require that profit from council house sales is invested in new social housing.

These proposals would empower local communities to provide the affordable and social housing that Britain needs and tackle the housing crisis head on.

Cllr Heather Kidd, who spoke in the debate, said:

"Having a place to call home is a basic human right. In the face of a national housing crisis we are failing as a country to fulfil that right. It is clear that the private sector cannot be relied upon to deliver affordable homes for those struggling to get on the housing ladder."

"Social housing is one of the pillars that underpin our welfare state. It is a vital safety net for tens of thousands of families who cannot afford to rent privately, let alone ever buy their own homes. We need local government and housing associations to provide new social housing directly.

"The Tories seem content with presiding over an end of social housing. Their ideology is ownership, they don't believe we need social housing at all."

"We need to move away from providing shadowy land banking and towards greater housing provision. That is why the Liberal Democrats are empowering local councils and communities to provide the housing that is needed."

A consultation will start tomorrow, 16^th March, from the Forestry Commission

See below:

This email is intended for the following Parish Council areas:-

• Minsterley
• Pontesbury
• Church Pulverbatch
• Ratlinghope
• Worthen with Shelve
• Chirbury with Brompton
• Longden
• Frodesley
• Ruckley and Langley
• Cardington
• Church Preen
• Longnor

Following the recent extreme weather residents in the West of the County are demanding that the Council finally agree to start gritting school routes in their area.


Heather Kidd, said:
"This is a long running dispute with Shropshire Council about gritting routes taken by school minibuses in bad weather. Areas like the Lordstone and Gravels Bank near Bentlawnt are used by up to three minibuses taking children to school (in Bishops Castle, Minsterley and Worthen) most weekdays. These roads are in steep hilly areas where the roads quickly get treacherous in snow and ice.

Dear All

We have very considerable issues around road safety in Brockton and Worthen and have done for years. Now with 3 schools on one site we have an even greater duty to solve this.

I will be holding a meeting (and with your Parish Councillors) for anyone interested

on Saturday 17^th March

at 10am - 12 noon.

The next meeting is being held on Thursday 1^st March, 2.30 - 4pm at the Six Bells in Bishop's Castle.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting to find out more information about the group and proposed field visits.

No archaeological experience necessary, just enthusiasm!

If you are interested. Please email Mike Greene shamcommunityarchaeology@outlook.com

The 'Marches Sew'n'Sews' are a lively, social group who just happen to enjoy crafting in its many forms, be it sewing, quilting and embroidery in particular but not exclusively - many also bring along knitting and crochet projects or explore other aspects of the world of textiles

There are also Days Out and Workshops to look forward to - a series of Free Motion Quilting Workshops are planned in the New Year

The school recently had its first OFSTED inspection for a number of years. The good news is that it kept its 'Good' rating despite the challenging funding situation that all small schools are finding themselves in. Heather said "As Chair of Governors I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all the staff and my fellow governors for all the hard work they have put in to make this happen."

SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CHANGING ROOM REFURBISHMENTS AT SpArC WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 19^TH FEBRUARY AND 9^TH MARCH. THE POOL WILL BE CLOSED FOR THESE 3 WEEKS.
The refurbishment will involve work to combat saturated flooring and a faulty stop tap in the ladies changing area. It will hopefully encompass the root causes of what has been a very long-standing problem and should result in transformed changing facilities. Shropshire Council have committed capital monies of circa £100k to refurbishment works at SpArC, the first stage of which was replacing the dehumidifier, which was completed before Christmas. New lockers will be provided by the SpArC charity.
A spokesperson for Shropshire Council apologised for the delay in completing the changing room works and endorsed the future commitment of the Council to SpArC as a tier one leisure provider.