Useful Information

PROTECT YOUR GARDEN SHEDS ETC.

WITH AN INCREASE IN THEFTS FROM GARDENS AND SHEDS IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THESE PROTECTIVELY MARKED USING "SMART WATER".

SIGNS CAN BE SUPPLIED FOR SHEDS/OUTHOUSES IN ORDER TO ADVERTISE THAT YOUR EQUIPMENT IS MARKED.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT COMMUNITY SAFETY TEAM, P.C. TONY LAMBERT on 01789-414111 ext. 4540

or email tony.lambert@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk or alcesternorth.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk.

ADVERTISING ON PARISH WEBSITE & NOTICE BOARDS

Regarding the publicising of events within the Village, the following decision was made by Mappleborough Green Parish Council at the meeting on 3rd December 2007 that

As long as the event is open to the Village as a whole
The organisers of the event are named
To whom the proceeds go is made clear

then it is acceptable for such advertising can be publicised.

Community Forums

The Community Forums are an advisory body, which act as a key vehicle for community engagement within the locality. Members of the public can raise issues of concern and wherever possible, together with relevant agencies, solutions to those concerns can be worked out.

Dates for 2010 are 11th February, 1st July, 7th October and 16th December. Check the "Whats On" page for venues and detailsor go to www.stratford.gov.uk under "Community & Living" heading – Community Forums.

If you have a specific concern or problem, then come along to the local surgery from 7.00pm – 7.30 pm, where you will be able to speak to your local Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team, Warwickshire County Council or Stratford-on-Avon District Council Officer.

If you would like to suggest an issue for a future Community Forum meeting, or get involved, please contact the WCC Stratford Area Office on 01789 290784 or e-mail.

Advertise on the Parish Council Website

Would you like to advertise your organisation on the Parish Council Website?
For a small fee your details can be posted on the website with a link to your own.
For more details please contact the Parish Clerk.

Disclaimer: Neither the Editor or Council can be held responsible for the failure of advertisers to provide services or products as advertised and in no way the inclusion of these on the Website/on Notice Boards should be taken as a recommendation for the products or services advertised.

NEW WEBSITE ON PUBLIC SERVICES

Oneplace is a new Website enabling the public to check on "how well Warwickshire is delivering public services and and tackling important issues".

Click here to visit the Oneplace website

ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS

View old photographs of the warwickshire and much more via the Useful Links page.

MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE 2010 TIMETABLE

The Mobile Library will run on Fridays stopping at Pratts Lane at 11.40am-12noon.

To read or download the 2010 timetable click here.

USEFUL/EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Download a list of useful and emergency telephone numbers

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As mobile phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency).. The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call.

He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognised name for this purpose.

In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE'. Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest.

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc

PLEASE PASS THIS AROUND AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS THIS CAN HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.

(This information was forwarded to us by Warwickshire County Council)

WEATHER FORECASTS - MET OFFICE

For weather updates click here

SAND BAGS

A small suppy of unfilled sand bags are held by Cllr. Green, Cllr. Regan and the Parish Clerk.

In an emergency please contact them.

"GET-SET-GO" Activities

Stratford-on-Avon District Council have appointed two Active Communities Officers who are encouraging residents aged 45 and over to "get more active".

Paula Watson and Kally Laity are fitness professionals who are developing a range of activities under the heading "Get-Set-Go" including sports and activity sessions, free guided health walks and "Go Green" exercise initiatives.

For information on the programme, contact 01789-260648/50 (Active Communities Team)

Police Contacts

For information regarding meetings, events, up-to-date local news and how to contact your local Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, please visit
www.safer-neighbourhoods.co.uk.
or click for More info...

FLOODING - Prevention and Advice

The Emergency Planning Unit of Warwickshire County Council have notified us of Guides available to give advice and help.

These can be downloaded from www.warwickshire.gov.uk/epu (click onto "flooding")

or hard copies ordered from Rachel Mullens, Environment Agency - 01454-624478

The Floodline number is 0845 988 1188

LINk - LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORKS

HAVE YOUR SAY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE.
LINk will be a network of local people, organisations and groups that want to make our services better.

For full details visit
www.dh.gov.uk/patientpublicinvolvement (Department of Health)
www.nhscentreforinvolvement.nhs.uk (NHS - The National Centre for Involvement) Register on the Home Page
www.cppih.org (Shaping Health) Go to the Knowledge Management System 9KMS) Go to Changing NHS: LINks, Early Adopter pages
www.csip.org.uk (Care Services Improvement Partnership) Search for "Local Involvement Networks"

Complaints Procedure - Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Use the Useful Links page - open Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Go down to "Council & Democracy" click "Complaints"

HOME WOODCHIPPING SERVICE

A service is available from Warwickshire County Council at a cost of £15.00 inc. VAT each visit (maximum 1 hour). For details ring 01926 738827 Mon.-Fri. 9.00am-12.15pm

TRADING STANDARDS

From time to time the Parish Council receives details of 'scams' taking place in Warwickshire - if you would like to view these, please either contact the Parish Clerk or log on to Warwickshire Trading Standards website - www.warwickshire.gov.uk/latestscams.

VOLUNTEER CENTRE - Stratford-on-Avon District

We have received correspondence from the above requesting volunteer drivers. If you can help, please ring Clarissa Roberts on 01789-262886 for details

Wheelchairs on loan for up to a month - if this could be of use, telephone the Volunteer Centre on 01789-262886 Monday-Friday 9.30am-1.00pm / 2.00pm-4.30pm

The Parish Biodiversity Action Network

Why bother with biodiversity?

It is sometimes difficult to see how the decline of a rare tropical species or habitat thousands of miles away affects us locally, but on our doorstep our own biodiversity is suffering a similar fate. For example, in just six years between 1984 and 1990, 20% of the UK's hedgerows were destroyed. Since the 1930s, 97% of our flower rich meadows have been lost and as habitats are destroyed, so too are the plants and animals which depend on them. The house sparrow and starling, once so common they were considered as pests, are now considered to be of national conservation concern. These are species and habitats which we often take for granted, but which could be found in almost any parish.

We can all take action to improve our natural environment and local wildlife.

The Biodiversity Action Plan for Parishes

The Parish Biodiversity Action Plan was developed as an adaptation of the Warwickshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan, which sets out how we will conserve our wildlife and wild spaces for the future. It was produced by the Local Biodiversity Action Plan partnership, an alliance of over 50 organizations involved in nature conservation around Warwickshire and including Stratford District Council.

The Parish Biodiversity Action Plan booklet has been tailored specifically for use by local communities to help translate the countywide conservation priorities into practical action. It includes a series of case studies to highlight what other communities have achieved and how they have gone about it, such as management of the churchyard at Oldberrow for wildlife and the restoration of a village pond at Bourton-on-Dunsmore. There are also hints and tips on getting started, including resources available to parishes, and ideas for identifying funding sources.

We can support each other in taking action to improve our environment and local wildlife.

The Parish Biodiversity Action Network

The Parish Biodiversity Action Network aims to bring people together who are concerned about the natural environment in their local area. The network will provide mutual support, information and enable people to share ideas as well as encourage local people to care for their local wildlife.

Our first meeting is on Monday 20th April at 7pm, Elizabeth House, Stratford.

Join us!

For more information on the Local Biodiversity Action Plan please see the website

Why NOW is the Best Time to Compost at Home

Stratford-on-Avon District Council new recycling service, when fully implemented from April 2009, will include food composting service in your green bin. Until then, here are some useful facts and tips about composting at home and reducing biodegradable waste going to landfill.

A staggering 60% of the rubbish we generate is biodegradable!

Composting your bio-degradable waste at home means considerably less rubbish has to be collected and transported to disposal sites plus you have the compost to use on your own garden.

Compost bins and heaps - take garden waste and uncooked vegetable and fruit scraps from the kitchen and can produce a compost that is useful in the garden.
Wormeries - take cooked and uncooked vegetable and fruit scraps and some small amounts of meat scraps. They produce fine compost and a liquid plant feed that when diluted with water can be used to feed pot plants and hanging baskets.
Digesters - take all kitchen scraps and plate scraps, uncooked or cooked, including meat, fish, bones, dairy products and fruit and vegetable remains. Digesters do not produce any compost, they simply provide a way to dispose of kitchen scraps without putting them in the bin by turning them into water, carbon dioxide and nutrients.

These methods and practices contribute towards;

lower transportation costs
lower use of non renewable fuel
less pollution
fewer lorries on our roads
less pollution from landfill site and means that our requirements for these sites will be reduced

Autumn tips on composting:

Problem: too many autumn leaves
Solution: Leaves take a long time to break-down and therefore add them sparingly to the compost bin or heaps. The smaller the leaves, the better they will break-down, so try to cut them up with the blades of your lawnmower before composting. Leaf mould is a fabulous, cheap and easy to create soil conditioner. Information about making leaf mould can be found on the BBC website
Problem: too much windfall fruit
Solution: Squash the fruit to help it break-down and place it on your compost heap mixed in with dry materials such as cardboard, fallen leaves, wood chippings, lavatory rolls and tea bags to trap air and to increase decomposition in your heap.

Please note that Household waste recycling centres will still be accepting green waste. To find your nearest site click here.

For information on compost bins and purchasing, please click here.

For tips on composting, please click here.

VEHICLE RESTRICTION POLICY AT HOUSEHOLD WASTE SITES

Warwickshire County Council's Vehicle Restriction Policy at the county's nine Household Waste Recycling Centres was relaxed in the spring of 2009. A 12 month review of the policy changes and service improvements has recently been conducted resulting in the following key adjustments:

A maximum trailer bed length of 1.83 metres (6 feet)
Exemption for unaccompanied bulky household electrical and electronic equipment delivered in vans to most recycling centres (fridges and freezers not accepted at Wellesbourne)
Exemption for larger trailers – up to 2.5 metres in length – for the disposal of unaccompanied compostable green waste on weekdays before 12 noon (not Bank Holidays)

The revised policy, updated webpages and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) together with a downloadable vehicle permit application form for residents owning a car-derived van or twin-cab pick-up is at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/vehiclerestrictions

Vehicle permit application forms are also available from the Customer Service Centre on 01926 412593.

HOUSEHOLD WASTE SITES

Because the Redditch site is no longer accessible to Warwickshire residents, the following information gives details of those sites nearest to Mappleborough Green. Recycling Shops are at these sites

BURTON FARM, BISHOPTON, Nr. STRATFORD (off A46) Telephone 01789-292047

Opening Hours:

October - March: 8.00am-4.30pm Monday-Saturday, 9.00am-4.30pm Sunday
April - September: 8.00am-6.00pm Monday-Saturday, 9.00am-6.00pm Sunday

Only cars, pick-ups and small vans (not Transit size and only if it is the only family vehicle) can use this site. Permits are required for pick-ups and small vans, call 01926-412593 to arrange this.

PRINCES DRIVE, LEAMINGTON SPA CV31 2PH (nr. Forge Foundry) Telephone 01926-430775

This site takes both Household and Commercial Waste. Vans will have to cross a weighbridge and be charged accordingly.

Opening Hours: 8.00am - 4.00pm

COLLECTION OF BULKY WASTE - this can be arranged by Special Collection Service of Stratford District Council - telephone 01789-260616 (Streetscene)

Items such as old sofas, washing machines, fridges etc. can be collected but not old kitchen units, bathroom fittings or builders/garden rubbish

The service will operate between 6.00am - 6.00pm - white goods on Tuesdays/Wednesdays and other items on normal collection days.

The cost of this service is £17.00 for a maximum of 6 items. Full details will be given on booking.

COMMUNITY TRANSPORT

The Parish Council have obtained details of transport facilities which are available.

Friday Shopper - a service run by Johnsons Coaches through Studley Parish Council, which stops ast the Village Hall each Friday between 10.00am-10.15am to Redditch. This is a private service for use by residents over 50 years of age and there is a fee of £1.00 return. Check with the driver for return times.

Community Links Social Transport Project - this service has previously been reported on and notices posted. To quote, it 'operates a small fleet of vehicles, each with full disability access, to offer a 'door-to-door' service for people stuck for transport to get to and from their nearest town or village; or to visit friends locally; or to travel to and from Stratford.'

The service operates between about 9.15am and 2.45 pm and for this area (West) would be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The area covered is Bidford, Alcester, Studley, Henley, Tanworth and Stratford and surrounding Villages. Please check for current prices Carer's travelling with a passenger is free of charge. Vehicles have disability access.

If you are interested or know someone who may benefit, telephone Community Links on 01789-264491 for information.

The scheme runs in addition to Volunteer Centre Medical Journey Scheme for doctor, dentist and hospital appointments - contact Clarissa Roberts on 01789 296344 for information and prices. Also, Back & 4th Transport hire of minibuses with drivers to social and community groups - contact Judith Hill on 01789 471595 for information and prices.

DOORSTEP SELLERS

Just a reminder that stickers are available from the Parish Clerk which have been supplied by the Trading Standards Service of Warwickshire County Council. The reverse of the stickers gives a reminder of taking care when opening the door to strangers and also details contact numbers.