Editorial Welcome to the Autumn ‘05 edition of Arley News. Firstly I need to say that this may be the last edition of the newsletter. I have now been producing the newsletter for a year and with a new baby on the way, it is now time for me to pull out. The editorial team have put a lot of work into the magazine and I hope that the torch will now be carried by someone else, who can take it forward. It will be a shame if it folds, as I do think that it is an important way for the community to communicate and hear what is going on in the parish. Another summer has passed and it was great to see the community out at the ‘Fun Day’ in August on the recreation ground in New Arley. The day raised over £200 to go towards the youth of the village (and with this in mind, it was a shame that it ended in the way it did.) However, all in all, I think it was a good step forward for the village to host such an event – full report later in this issue. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to this issue of the magazine and offers of help from individuals. It is much appreciated and makes the magazine much more of a community affair. Should anyone like to contribute to the magazine, contact details as always are: arleynews@hotmail.com or leave details in one of the boxes situated at the Post Office in New Arley or at Rowley’s Butchers in Old Arley. If you feel that you can take over the editorship, or help with the production/delivery of the newsletter, please get in touch. Local Radio Ga-Ga? Emma Snodgrass would like to introduce you to your new local radio station… A new BBC radio station for Coventry and Warwickshire is being launched in September 2005. The station will be based in a state of the art building in Priory Place in Coventry, near the Transport Museum. Thousands of people have already visited our new open centre, which offers free internet access and free courses on everything from Photoshop and radio editing to Samba music! Please feel free to drop in if you are in the city centre. I live in Hartshill and will be based in Nuneaton library from mid-August. So please pop in and say hi – or contact me by email at emma.snodgrass@bbc.co.uk or by telephone on 07921 648 205. Vital Villages is dead – Long live Vital Villages The SRB5 Vital Villages project formally concluded in March 2005. The final total for grants awarded in Warwickshire was £395,000, which, it must be noted, was more than matched by other funds and volunteer time. Thus, including the matched funding, in excess of £800,000 has been invested in small Warwickshire communities. The average size of grant was £3400, but more than 50% of applications resulted in grants of less than £1500. The final evaluation report on the Vital Villages project observed that, “The main legacy…is the real benefits and improvements in rural communities and these will continue long after the programme has finished. Quite often all that is required is a small financial investment, advice and facilitation.” However, notwithstanding the legacy of Vital Villages, the conditions that prompted the programme still exist and will continue to need to be addressed. For those who are not familiar with Vital Villages, it was a project that sought to ameliorate the loss of services in small rural communities – particularly the village shop. Although SRB5 Vital Villages has ended, some of the Warwickshire partners, notably the County and Borough councils, have agreed to continue funding the post of Project Officer for a further year. Unfortunately there are no more dedicated grant funds available, which means that viable projects will need to be even more inventive in raising finance. However the ethos of Vital Villages will live on and there are other funds that may be used. So, if there’s a problem in the neighbourhood, who ya gonna call? – No, not ghost busters – call Steve at Warwickshire Rural Community Council. Tel. 02476 531284 or email stevep@wrccrural.org.uk For Mail-Lady Mandy We had to write this poem It’s for our friend called Mandy Whatever is the weather We all sit there just waiting Her cycle wheel’s in view now She takes the box out from her bag Her job complete she’s made us glad So Mandy we’d like to thank you Keep Your Newsletter Running Urgent help is needed to keep this newsletter running. This is the last magazine to be produced under the current editor and we need a new editor and contributors for articles and to the team to keep the magazine in production. If you have a few hours to spare and believe that it is important to keep this magazine running, please contact arleynews@hotmail.com Allotment Update 1500 questionnaires were distributed with Arley News on behalf of NWBC about the future of the allotments; 127 (8.3%) were returned. Of these, Trading Standards If you wish to alert our Service to a scam you can do so on our website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/reportascam A comprehensive list of the latest scams and more information on common scams is available at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/latestscams If you run a web site please feel free to link our pages to yours. Arley Community Association News THE LOCAL PLAN INQUIRY - GOOD NEWS? Miners Welfare Site - Site 33 Proposal for 42 units of 100% affordable housing. Rectory Road (Old Arley) - Site 1 * Sites in Category 3 are seen as suitable locations for housing but are subject to constraints that render them either unavailable or undeliverable within the current plan period. However the inspector does not rule out sites in category 3 if the constraints identified have been suitably resolved. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SITES? Although North Warwickshire Borough Council do not have to accept the Inspector’s recommendations, it is unlikely that they will not do so. If they wish to allocate either site under the current plan, they will have to undertake a further period of consultation. We, as a community, will be notified of this. The Inspector considers that more than 100 new affordable dwellings in New and Old Arley would not be justified given the size of the villages as it would inevitably lead to social exclusion, and so it seems unlikely that development will go ahead. Site of the Miner’s Welfare Hall Of the two sites, this is regarded to be the most suitable for housing (especially for accommodation for the elderly) because it is near to shops and services. The Inspector recommends that there should be an appraisal of the community’s open space needs and consideration of whether replacement community facilities should be sought. He recommends that the number of dwellings on the site should be reduced if community facilities are to be located here, with the proportion of affordable dwellings also to be reduced. This would mean around 21 units of housing for the site, 8 of which should be ‘affordable’. Rectory Road, Old Arley - Site 1 This site was included in the First Draft Deposit of the Local Plan and was only open to consultation at this stage thus ACA were unable to comment. For further info re Site 1 - Rectory Road please contact NWBC’s Forward Planning Department on 01827 715341. Information on the site of Arley Miners Welfare Hall Members of ACA have given very careful consideration to whether we should publish this extract from ‘A Case For Investment’. We decided to go ahead on the basis that ACA was set up represent residents’ views and to fight NWBC’s proposals for the Miners Welfare site. We know that people expect us to keep them informed of progress and we feel that this is significant new information. We have published the section on Hilltop in its entirety; you can to make up your own minds about the content. Taken from: A joint project by:- Published here without comment. Pages 24 and 25: Background Of the 50 properties, 44 are owned by the local authority and 6 are owner-occupied. There are no large-scale private landlords who own properties on the estate. Property Condition The Environment Community Safety Residents Access to services Recommendations Redevelopment on these sites would provide new properties for tenants, help sustain the village services and provide additional homes for rent. Discussions have led to the possibility of building new community facilities and a new doctor’s surgery. The Housing Corporation approved funding for this proposal. However, during consultation it was found that there was very little support from those living in Hilltop to move to the villages. In addition, there was hostility from residents of the village to the proposed scheme for new housing. The result is that work will have to be undertaken to meet the minimum Decent Homes Standard, but it is unlikely that this can address the wider environmental issues or modernise the properties. A full copy of the report can be downloaded here. Alternatively you could contact: ACA Family Fun Day The family fun day held on the 20th of August was a great success with hundreds of local people enjoying both the activities and the weather. Attractions included: circus performers, surf board simulator, bouncy castle, games, refreshments, tombola, bounce and rhyme, story sessions and sports coaching. Memorable moments included so called respectable grown ups ‘playing’ on the new skate ramp and falling off the surf board simulator! Although the aim of the day was simply to provide some fun activities for the children and young people of Arley, we still managed to raise around £200 which will be used to support local youth / children’s groups. The Arley Over 60s club also raised a considerable amount of money with their tombola. There was an informal ‘get together’ for those involved in organising the fun day at the Fir Tree afterwards. I suspect that this occasion will be remembered for some truly terrible dancing, loads of fun! Thanks to the Fir Tree for the use of the room. Many thanks also to everyone who supported us: Rowley’s Butchers, ASDA, Community Education, A – Plant Nuneaton, Warwickshire Library Service, Warwickshire Police, Community Education, North Warwickshire Borough Council’s Call 4 Sport Team and Arley Leisure Centre. Particular thanks to Positive About Young People and Warwickshire County Council who provided funding for the hire of equipment. Lastly we’d like to thank ACA members involved in organising the day, Jayne Stephen for providing the refreshments, the Revd Peter Allan for allowing us to use St Michael’s Church and Arley Parish Council for the use of the playground. Help make new Field of Hope memories Marie Curie Cancer Care is calling on local residents to help create a new Field of Hope at Riversley Park, Nuneaton. Sam Dancy, Community Fundraising Manager for Warwickshire & Coventry, said: “We are delighted to be working with Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council to create new a Field of Hope. We hope to plant over 3,000 bulbs and we are asking local people to sponsor the bulbs and help to plant them on Friday 4th November. It is set to be a fantastic and poignant day that can be enjoyed by the whole family, so grab a trowel and come and join us!” All donations received will help fund the local Marie Curie Nurses who provide high quality nursing, totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families. For every £1 donated, two daffodil bulbs will be planted. Marie Curie Cancer Care is calling on local schools, businesses and individuals to get involved and help bring a spring-time splash of colour to Riversley Park as the new Field of Hope bursts into bloom next spring! You can help by sending a donation to Gun Hill School Gun Hill Infant and Nursery School ‘opened for business’ again in September and were pleased to see the return of many old faces ready for the new school year, as well as the new nursery children, experiencing their first taste of life at Gun Hill. The school have already set some dates for your diary and cordially invites local residents to join in their Harvest Festival celebrations on Thursday 13th October at 9.30am at their Harvest Festival Assembly. They also have planned their Christmas Fair, with Santa making an early visit this year on the 24th November from 6.00pm. Please come along to the school and join in the festivities as well as helping to raise vital funds for the school. Compost At Home Campaign Warwickshire County Council is part of a nationwide ‘Compost at Home’ campaign. The campaign encourages residents to transform their kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost for a blooming garden. Residents are being encouraged to put their compostable kitchen and garden waste to good use by ordering one of the scheme’s subsidised compost bins. The Council have teamed up with WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) to provide the bins – along with a free guide to composting and a handy sticker highlighting what can and can’t go in – delivered direct to people’s doors. The Warwickshire scheme will play its part in the nation-wide drive covering 6.5million households across England and Scotland to promote the recycling of kitchen and garden waste and reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. WRAP is helping to provide Warwickshire residents with compost bins starting from £5, including delivery. People eager to start home composting should call 0845 073 2001 to order their bin. Nearly two thirds of kitchen and garden waste can be tipped straight in the compost bin. You might be surprised to discover that it’s not just fruit and vegetable peelings and prunings that can go in either – cardboard, eggshells and teabags make for great compost too. Composting means hugely cutting down on the amount of waste we put out for collection – not to mention a beautiful garden to enjoy as well. A Home Composting Advisor is working closely with Warwickshire County Council. Local residents can call 0845 600 0323 for advice and information on home composting, or visit www.recyclenow.com/compost For further information contact: Age Concern Befriending Service This project aims to visit lonely and isolated older people and offer friendship to those who need it most. It will rely on volunteers giving 2 hours a week to visit older people. If you can help or would like to know more about the service, contact Kate Richmond on 01926 458114. Just For Fun QUIZ 1 Q1.How many landing beaches were they in the Normandy landings? Check your answers in: Arley News, Winter 2005 Church News Two Years On I’ve been your Rector two years now and I thought it about time I shared with you why I am here. No I don’t mean why I am in Arley but why I am your Rector. Surely there must be easier ways to pay the bills (unless you think I only work on Sundays!). So let’s go back to the beginning. It all started when I was just 16. Sitting rather reluctantly in church on a Sunday morning I started wondering about my future. Where was I going? Who would show me the way? I began to see Jesus as a model and inspiration. 35 (plus!) years on, I still find the personality of Jesus amazingly exciting. I like the way Jesus welcomed, chatted with and went home with everyone –, the tax official, the religious leader, the prostitute, the good, the bad, the rich and the poor. I fail often but I want to try to welcome and accept all regardless of wealth or race, age or ability, popular or despised. Second I like Jesus’ way with people. He would ask, plead, urge, even command but at the end of the day it was each person’s right to say ‘no’. He would never force people to do anything against their will. How much easier it would be if we could push people into the way of Jesus. The invitation is to all. And everyone has the freedom to say ‘Thanks but no thanks’. I want everyone to know that they too can enjoy following the way of Jesus but the choice is entirely theirs. And finally I am amazed by Jesus’ willingness to serve. When he could quite easily have asked his friends to wait on him he took a towel and washed their feet. How often people of power expect others to look after all their needs! Jesus - the person who welcomes, invites and serves. How painfully aware I am that so often the Church has been about excluding not welcoming, compelling not inviting and power not service. I want to try to do my best to ensure that the values that Jesus lived and taught are at the heart of the Church and especially the church here in Arley, that we, with all our failings, may try with God’s help to put them into practice. – Peter Allan, Rector St. Michael’s, Gun Hill and St. Wilfred’s, Arley Do join us at our Sunday Worship: St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Spring Hill Arley Wesley Hall Methodist Church and Community Centre In memoriam Keith, David and family would like to thank friends and relatives in Arley for their kind consideration given recently at the passing away of their father Dennis Walton. Thank you for all the kind words and flowers. Arley Angels Play with Pride and Passion Arley’s local netball team the Angels are eagerly awaiting the start of the netball season. They have trained hard for the last five months & are now ready for the Coventry league. The progress made by the team & by individual players has been fantastic. Every single player has improved their fitness & skill level. The club trains on a Monday night between 8.15-9.15 pm at Old Arley Sports centre. These sessions have proved very popular & the atmosphere is one of fun & competition. The Angels main aim is to promote confidence & inspiration to all the ladies in the village. Thus everyone is made to feel welcome so please come along if you want to get fit & have fun because I can guarantee that if you are team player we are the team for you ! Local businesses POLA & Purple flame have dipped into their pockets to sponsor the club so gratitude is conveyed to them. Local Activities Midweek Activities at: Arley Wesley Hall Methodist Church and Community Centre Pop – In for Tea, Coffee and Cakes or just a chat, 3.00pm On the First Thursday of the each Month. Activities at St. Michael’s Church, Gun Hill, New Arely
Locally, what the new station means to North Warwickshire is that the BBC is trying out a new way of working that involves the community more. I’m the journalist appointed as dedicated correspondent for Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire and over the next few months I hope to meet many of you as possible to hear about any issues you want to raise, or aspects of life that might make a nice feature. The idea is really to celebrate life more – and also to get a lot more stories from this (often neglected) area to air. There are also dedicated correspondents for Rugby, Leamington and Stratford – all of whom are people who live and work in their patch.
with human help of course
‘cos pens and keyboards aren’t designed
to be used by those with paws!
who visits us each day
When post she brings its time for treats
from her own purse she does pay.
she’ll arrive on time the same
To dribbles, sniffs and licking lips
Of us cats and dogs of Church Lane.
then our nostrils catch the scent
Treats sure smell good, not long now
But we can’t stand the torment!
there’s a sudden gush of air
as excitement sets our tails to wag
If you’re standing near beware!
and we’re handed treats in turn
The speed we eat we’re sure to all
end up with some heartburn.
as she smiles and rides on by
All treats have gone from her postal bag
So we then give out a sigh.
you really make our day
And to you we give 3 cheers (woof, meow, woof)
then a hip hip hip hooray!
Maria
1. 68% knew there was an allotment site at Gun Hill
2. 79% would like to see it re-vitalised
3. 26% would consider taking a plot
4. 32% would like to know about growing fresh fruit & vegetables
5. 77% were interested in it being used for a community garden, orchard or wildlife area
6. Of those interested in having an allotment, only 15% would know who to contact to ask.
For further information, contact Fran Poole at NWBC Tel. 01827 719346 or email: FrancinePoole@NorthWarks.gov.uk
Inspector’s recommendation: “I place this site in *category 3 and recommend that the plan be modified by the deletion of site 33”.
Proposal for 65 units of 100% affordable housing.
Inspector’s recommendation: “I place this site in *category 3 and recommend that the plan be modified by the deletion of site 1”.
Residents have made several suggestions about the future use of the site and the Inspector recommends further consultation before a decision is made. He suggests that this might best be achieved through a Parish Plan and Community Strategy.
Whilst this summary represents our understanding of the Inspector’s report, please remember that none of us are planning experts. The full report can be viewed on NWBC’s website: www.northwarks.gov.uk
Copies can be purchased from North Warwickshire Borough Council for £10, their contact centre number is: 01827 715341.
The Parish Council has copies of the report, please contact Mr Jerry Bough, Clerk to Arley Parish Council: 01676 542563
A Case for Investment
Former National Coal Board Housing Estates
in South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire
February 2005
Cannock Chase District Council
Lichfield District Council
North Warwickshire Borough Council
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Hilltop, Arley and Whitacre ward, North Warwickshire
Hilltop was built in 1904 by one of the local colliery companies. It passed into the ownership of the National Coal Board at the time of nationalisation, and was acquired by the local authority in the 1970s. It consists of two long terraces of 50 properties facing each other. The site is in a very isolated location, remote from the villages of Old Arley and New Arley and sits in on top of a hill surrounded by Green Belt. The estate and its lack of sustainability is a major concern for the local authority.
The properties need considerable repairs and improvements to their internal layout. The bathrooms consist of a single skin brick extension. Voids are expensive to repair, as there are problems with floor subsidence and roofs require repairs.
There is no off-road parking. This leads to the road being “cluttered”, with cars parked either site. Back gardens are separated from houses by a service road.
The estate has a history of neighbour disputes. A number of “troubled” or “problem” families have been housed there.
In terms of length of residence, the estate is polarised between those who have lived on the estate since before it was acquired by the local authority, and those whose housing careers are much more mobile. Turnover is generally high, as a significant number of families are housed on the estate under homelessness legislation. This has included “problem families.” Of the 44 Council-owned properties, 23 households are in receipt of Housing Benefit.
The estate is very isolated with very poor access to services. An hourly bus service, the number 735, travels from Ansley Village to Coventry bus station. It travels via New Arley Village. The nearest railway station is in either Coventry or Nuneaton. There are no facilities at all on the estate itself. A post office, general store, a primary school, a doctor’s surgery and a working men’s club are located in the village of New Arley which is approximately one mile from the estate.
The Council recommends that the estate should be demolished and rebuilt in a different location – the greenbelt prevents redevelopment on the current site. There are two possible sites in nearby villages, one owned by the Council and one being the former site of the miners’ welfare club.
Peter Oliver, Director of Housing and Environment at North Warwickshire Borough Council.
The Fields of Hope are special sites planted with daffodils, the emblem of Marie Curie Cancer Care. As the daffodil bulbs are planted in memory of a loved one, they serve as a touching reminder to a special person. The feeling of hope that the daffodil brings makes it the perfect symbol to represent the improved quality of life offered to people by Marie Curie Nurses.
Sam Dancy, Marie Curie Cancer Care Warwickshire Fundraising Office, Unit 9, Mobbs Miller House,
Ardington Road, Northampton, NN1 5LP
Penny Holmes, WRAP, 07985 953184
Email: penny.holmes@wrap.org.uk
Q2.What is the name of the main river in Bosnia?
Q3.Why did Boscastle make the news on August 16th 2004?
Q4.What is the chemical symbol for Iodine?
Q5.Which state in America has the nickname, The Hoosier State?
Q6.What is the connection between a brick wall and a plate glass window?
Q7.What is the capital of Fiji?
Q8.Which country has the international vehicle registration letters FR?
Q9.Does a Mosquito have teeth?
Q10.Has a bachelor ever been president of the United States of America?
Q11.Which country is the Khyber Pass in?
Q12.How many years have you been married if you’re celebrating your Iron anniversary?
Q13.Which country is the port of Bushire found?
Q14.Where in London is Queen Mary’s garden?
Q15.Which port did the Titanic set of from to go to New York?
Q16.Which car firm made a model called the Super Snipe?
Q17.How many virtues are there?
Q18.What is the highest rank in the Metropolitan police?
Q19.What is a group of Owls called?
Q20.From which country did the umbrella originate?
Peter Allan (Rector) 02476 399070
St. Wilfrid’s Old Arley – 9.00am Holy Communion every Sunday
St. Michael’s New Arley – 10.15am 1st and 3rd Sundays Holy Communion; 2nd 4th and 5th Sunday’s All Age Worship.
Fr Stephen Day 02476 392365
Sunday Mass 11.00am
St Joseph’s is served from –
St Anne’s Catholic Church, Camp Hill Road, Chapel End, Nuneaton
Mass Every Sunday at 9.00am
Minister: Rev Hubert McKenzie. Tel: 01827 715600
(For Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, Visits etc.)
Family Service: 2nd Sunday of the Month 10.30am
Other Sundays:
Sunday school: 2.30pm
Evening Worship: 6.00pm
Anyone interested in being the next Miss Neville ( England’s GA ) please contact Karen on 01676 549035.
Tuesdays: Sparkle Club for 4 -7 Year Olds 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Youth Club for 12 plus 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Wednesdays: Mother and Toddlers 1.00pm – 2.30pm
Line Dancing 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Thursdays: Jaffa Club for 7 – 12 Year Olds 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Fridays: Sequence Dancing – 2.45pm – 4.45pm
Mondays and Wednesdays 1.00am – 1.00pm Challenge. (Challenging Alcohol Abuse)
Tuesdays and Fridays 12.30 – 2.30pm Minimikes (preschool)
Tuesdays 6.00pm North Warwickshire Rural Youth Project
Thursdays 11.00am St. Michael’s Over 60’s Club
Thursdays 1.00pm – 2.30pm New Way Credit Union
Fridays 7.00pm – Megamikes
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