In the spring of 2025, the Community Road Safety Officer will be introducing a road safety resource for mature road users.  He is looking at delivering this to groups of ‘Over – 60’s’.

The talks will provide road safety information, as well as ‘Planning your driving retirement’, and he would like to hear from groups who are already formed, and meet regularly,  who would be willing to organise this into their diary.  

The talks can take place at a location of your choice,  with the workshop lasting for about 2 hours with a 30-minute tea and biscuits break.

The plan is to pilot the delivery of this resource to 4 or 5 groups in the spring, ideally to groups of 30-40 mature road users; car drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, mobility scooter users. 

Kevin Wilcox | Road Safety Officer
Communities & Road Safety
Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street,
Stafford, ST16 2DH
Mobile:07855 336922

kevin.wilcox@staffordshire.gov.uk
www.staffordshire.gov.uk

Shenstone Environment Group

Shenstone Environment Group have a thermal camera to loan out to anyone from across the Parish interested in exploring whether or not their homes have a heating issue. A condition of the loan is that borrowers must hold a current Staffordshire County Council Library Card.

The camera uses infra-red radiation to take images of buildings which, instead of giving a lifelike photograph, effectively provide a “temperature map”. These images can then be used to help identify points of heat loss, which may be either internal or external.

The images could reveal problems with, for example, insulation, draughts, damp, or clogged radiators and underfloor heating. Once any such locations have been identified remedial action can then be taken which results in improvements in comfort, financial savings, and a reduction in the building’s carbon footprint. Often there are simple solutions which the home owner can implement, but more complex ones may require professional help.

The heat loss images of the exterior of a building are best obtained when there is around a 10°C temperature difference between the inside and outside. Consequently, we are running the loan scheme from November to mid-April.

The camera is housed in Shenstone Community Library and loaned out from there, generally for 7 days, from Saturday to Friday. However, the camera will only be available once a borrower has received instruction in its operation, and this will be provided through evening training sessions held in the library.

You can express your interest in borrowing the camera either at the library desk or by Emailing pete.hedges@btinternet.com. The first training session is planned for 6.30pm on Wednesday 23^rd October, with further sessions scheduled for Wednesday 8^th January and Thursday 6^th February 2025.

It has been several months since the Management Committee of the Playing Fields resigned en-bloc. At that point to ensure that the day-to-day management of the facilities was able to continue, the Parish Council, as Custodian Trustees, took responsibility for what was hoped would be the short term. It has turned into much longer than anticipated for the reasons outlined below:

1. The replacement of the Management Committee.

In order to proceed with an EGM and the formation of a new committee we require confirmation from the Charities Commission as to which of the previous Constitutions they consider is the correct one. Despite several long telephone conversations, letters and the intervention of our M.P to speed up the process we have not been given any indication as to when the required decision will be made so cannot act.

Applications for the vacant positions have been received and, once the constitution is confirmed, those community bodies with representation will be contacted. As soon as we have more clarity, we will share it accordingly.

2. The Country Club lease. Residents may or may not be aware that the lease under which the tenant has control of the building is due for renewal at the beginning of the New Year. Under normal circumstances, negotiations would have been well advanced, and it was certainly the hope of the Parish Council that a new Committee would address this as a priority. With only three months of the current lease left the Tenant may now serve notice for the continuation of the lease on the existing terms. This is not something that the Parish Council can allow to happen as the lease is not fit for purpose & a much improved outcome must be secured for the future of the Playing Fields. Therefore, the Parish have had to appoint a quorum of Councillors to work on this as well as appointing Legal representation and a surveyor to ensure everything is dealt with thoroughly. Negotiations have already started for a newly constructed lease with improved rent and better clarity in respect of the boundary of the property, access, security, the tenant’s responsibilities and what will be the new Management Committee’s responsibilities. The tenant is very keen to work with us on a new lease building on the strong, positive mediation position proposed earlier in the year.

A further update will be issued as soon as the next steps are established.

Shenstone Parish Council.

Click here to access the final draft  document which represents the Neighbourhood Plan Review for Little Aston. It represents one part of the development plan for the neighbourhood area over the period 2024 to 2040, the other part being the 2015 Lichfield District Local Plan.

Use this link to access the The Website Response form. Please download  or print off to fill in your comments and return to the Parish Clerk either by post to the parish office in Shenstone or by email to:-
admin@shenstonepc.pcwpreview.co.uk

The Parish Council (PC) and Shenstone Playing Fields Committee (SPFC) issue this joint statement to clarify the situation regarding the future of the SPFC following the adjournment of the SPFC AGM on 17^th June.

Appointment of Trustees:
There had been concern raised regarding the method of appointing Trustees as it was discovered that the previous committee had used the unrevised constitution in error. The Parish Council subsequently worked with members of the SPFC in an effort to regularise those concerns.

Representatives:
There have been recent changes to the SPFC governing documentation with the intention of giving residents more of a voice. Whilst the SPFC had sought advice from the Charity Commission on the most recent changes it is agreed that a more thorough process should have been followed.

Resignation:
All the Trustees of the SPFC have made the decision to resign from their positions on the charity in support of one another. The Trustees state they have had strong support within the village and are very grateful for the many messages of encouragement. However, they acknowledge that despite reassuring the community on their appointment and in relation to the ongoing negotiations with the Country Club, due In part to misinformation, trust has broken down with some members of the community.

The outgoing Trustees have offered to provide a full and thorough handover to the Parish Council until the appointment of the new committee and will happily make themselves available if needed.

Appointment of a new committee:
The Parish Council as Custodian Trustees give reassurance that they will manage the essential day to day running of the Playing Fields short term and will arrange an AGM so a new committee can be appointed.

The application process for becoming a trustee committee member of the charity will be reopened and managed by the Parish Council.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT

Football Bookings:
All current football bookings and holiday camps remain in place. It has been confirmed that Sophie Baggott will very kindly continue to act as Bookings Secretary for all football related schedules, matches and enquiries and that pitch maintenance will continue as normal.

Playground:
There is strong support for the renewal & rejuvenation of the play area and the Parish Council will support the new committee in its endeavours to achieve this.

Shenstone Country Club:
There have been ongoing rumours that the SPFC have issued an eviction notice to their tenant, Shenstone Country Club. The Parish Council can confirm that an eviction notice has never been served. The Parish Council will support the new Committee to ensure that the ongoing legal issues with the Shenstone Country Club are resolved in the best interests of the charity and in accordance with the tenant’s lease. 

Shenstone 10k fun run:
The SPFC was resurrecting the Shenstone 10k fun run in September to help raise money towards the new playground. 

The outgoing SPFC Trustees have discussed the different options and have proposed that the event still goes ahead. The PTA of Greysbrooke School have very kindly agreed to take on the remaining work needed to organise the event. However, instead of the profits being used to go towards a new playground, the profits will go to Greysbrooke School. All sponsors and runners will be approached by the organisers and will have the opportunity to consider whether they still want to sponsor / take part in the event. The Parish Council Chair will propose that a contribution will be made from the Parish Council to help towards the loss of revenue to the Playing Fields.

It is hoped the sponsors and runners will continue to support this event to allow it to be a great success!

If you are unable to access any of the documents referred to, please use this link for contact details for the Parish Clerk

Here are links to other useful N.P. documents

Use this link to access the Introduction Document.
Use this link to access the document providing information on planning and residential housing development.
Use this link to access the document providing information on other miscellaneous, N.P. related topics
Additional background information can be found by following this link.

24.03.24 – Following the recent, successful feedback, drop in sessions at the library, regarding village issues including traffic and parking etc. The following documents give residents who could not attend, an opportunity to add their views to those collected at the drop in sessions.

For context, to access the village overview map
please click here.

To view the current “observed” parking issues map
please click here

To access the blank feedback form form to record Parking Issues you have observed, please click here for the Word document or here  for a PDF version. The Word version of the form can be downloaded to your device; updated directly, and forwarded electronically to: admin@Shenstone-staffs.gov.uk. Or it can be printed off and updated manually and sent to :- Shenstone Parish Council, 25C Main St, Shenstone WS14 0LZ

To view the current “observed” traffic hazards map
please click here

To access the blank feedback form form to record Traffic Hazards  you have observed, please click here for the Word document or here  for a PDF version. The Word version of the form can be downloaded to your device; updated directly, and forwarded electronically to:- admin@Shenstone-staffs.gov.uk. Or it can be printed off and updated manually and sent to :- Shenstone Parish Council, 25C Main St, Shenstone WS14 0LZ

To access the blank feedback form form to record any other Local Issues you have observed, please click here for the Word document or here  for a PDF version. The Word version of the form can be downloaded to your device; updated directly, and forwarded electronically to:-
admin@Shenstone-staffs.gov.uk. Or it can be printed off and updated manually and sent to :- Shenstone Parish Council, 25C Main St, Shenstone WS14 0LZ

To access the feedback Questionnaire form form to record your views, please click here  for the Word document or here  for a PDF version. The Word version of the form can be downloaded to your device; updated directly, and forwarded electronically to:-
admin@Shenstone-staffs.gov.uk. Or it can be printed off and updated manually and sent to :- Shenstone Parish Council, 25C Main St, Shenstone WS14 0LZ

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a vacancy has arisen in the office of Councillor in the STONNALL Ward of the Parish of SHENSTONE.

An election will be held to fill the vacancy if so requested by TEN local government electors for the ward. Such a request must be in writing and must be delivered to the Returning Officer, District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield WS13 6YU within fourteen days from the date of this notice
(calculated in accordance with the Local Elections (Parish and Communities) Rules 1986 (as amended).

If no election is requested the vacancy will be filled by the Parish Council in accordance with the said rules.
Dated: 12th March 2024
Signed:
Clerk to the Parish Council

If you are unable to access any of the documents detailed below, please contact the parish Clerk 

You are invited to “Drop In” to Shenstone Community library on 19th March from 3.0 pm until 7.0 pm to find out more about Shenstone’s Neighbourhood Plan.

However,  If you are unable to attend the drop in consultation on Tuesday19^th March but would like to comment, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01543 481 947 admin@shenstonepc.pcwpreview.co.uk”.

Use this link to access the Introduction Document.

Use this link to access the document providing information on planning and residential housing development

Use this link to access the document providing information on other miscellaneous, N.P. related topics

Additional background information can be found by following this link.

STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 (AS AMENDED)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Staffordshire County Council being the highway authority responsible for the  repair and maintenance of Ashcroft Lane in Lichfield are satisfied that it is necessary to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding in that length of Ashcroft Lane from its junction with Lynn Lane to Raikes Lane for a period of 1 day but no more than 5 days from 1st May 2024 because of the likelihood of danger to the public during tree maintenance works being undertaken by SCC / Amey Highways.
Access will be available for pedestrians and for vehicles being used in connection with the works and for emergency services vehicles and for vehicles requiring access to properties on the length of road which is closed. An alternative route for traffic is available and will be signed on site.
https://one.network/?tm=137832996
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE CLOSURE WILL BE IN PLACE ON 1ST MAY 2024.
John Tradewell
Director of Corporate Services
4th March 2024 Tel: 0300 111 8000 https://one.network