Churchill & Blakedown
Parish Council Newsletter

CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2008

Parish Council Members are working towards the Parish Council becoming a Quality Parish Council. A regular newsletter is part of this process, keeping residents informed of its activities.

The Parish Council is supporting the preparation of a Parish Plan, which seeks ideas & concerns from residents. The first period of consultation is to start shortly; please submit any comments or views to the Parish Plan Working Group.

Since the election in May 2007 there are several issues which have been regularly discussed at Council meetings, including;

• Improvements to Station Drive and the control of car parking in the vicinity
• Action to improve the safety at Churchill cross roads
• Improvements to the access to the Shoppers car park
• Action to control speeding vehicles along Belbroughton Road
• General policing presence in the Parish
• Monitoring the national proposals for reducing the number of post offices and to support the retention of Blakedown Post Office

The Parish Council does give financial support to organisations in the Parish and since May 2007 grants have been given to the Friends of Blakedown Playground (towards the playground refurbishment), Millennium Green Trust (insurance), Sports and Recreation Committee (mowing and pavilion repair) and the churches at both Blakedown and Churchill (churchyard maintenance).

Mark Jones, the parish handyman and lengthsman, works hard to keep the parish tidy and the minor roads clear of standing water, leaves and overhanging branches.

The Parish Council raises most of its revenue through its precept. This coming year the Council is very keen to continue its programme of maintaining the appearance of the whole parish (through the handyman/lengthsman) and to give financial support to parish organisations, and to do so has agreed that the precept is increased by just over £5,000, to £18,000.

Parish Council agenda and minutes: - www.churchillandblakedown.co.uk,

The Parish Council:

Blakedown Ward:
Mrs Sallyann Cartwright (700808),
Simon Charman (700507),
Peter Dearden (Vice Chairman) (700603),
Tim Gardiner (701204),
Jim Long (701168)
Vickie Swindells (01384 440071)

Churchill Ward:
Mrs Pauline Hayward (700476),
Brian Pitt (700819),
Bob Whiston (01384 560606) (Chairman)

Clerk to the Parish Council: Roger Gurney (01905 830756)