Author: FVCA

Thank you to everyone who came to our Community Challenge & AGM last night, Wednesday 20th March. 

Despite not many people attending, those present enjoyed the wine & nibbles, and the Community Challenge rounds, which were great fun, some people got carried away with the nursery rhymes.

The committee for the year ahead was elected.  We still have a few spaces if you would like to join us (it’s only 4 or 5 meetings a year).

To view the draft minutes for this year’s Community Association AGM visit https://fvca.org.uk/community-association/

Every year, it is disappointing that not many residents attend our AGMs, which celebrates us as a community and that shows its appreciation for all the volunteers who work hard to benefit Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge.   If you don’t agree with what others in the community are doing to benefit where we all live, tell us, and if you appreciate what is being done, by attending this annual event, and occasionally others during the year, it will mean so much to the team.

Dog fouling is an issue that is often raised with the Community Association, and we keep asking that people pick up their dog’s mess from the footpath, verge, farmland and other people’s gardens.

Dog excrement, in addition to it being messy and smelly, can carry bacteria and worms that can be harmful to humans and livestock.

When it comes to the law relating to dog fouling, ignorance is NOT bliss.

Dog fouling in public places is included in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, introduced in 2014.

Public places covered by the law include:

• roads, pavements and public footpaths
• parks and green spaces
• town centres and shopping precincts
• car parks
• playing fields, playgrounds and school grounds

Dog fouling can be reported to Bromsgrove District Council https://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/residents/my-place/street-cleaning/dog-fouling/ . The penalty for not clearing up dog fouling can be up to £1,000 if taken to court, but there is also provision for a fixed penalty scheme.

Exceptions to the offence are:

• The person in charge of the dog has a reasonable excuse for not clearing up. (Being unaware of the fouling or not having the means to clean up is not an excuse.)
• The owner or occupier of the land has consented to the faeces being left
• The person puts the faeces in a bin on the land
• The person in charge of the dog has a registered visual impairment

There are some areas where picking up is not a legal requirement (unless a specific order or bylaw has been placed), and these are heathland, woodland, land used for the grazing of animals.  However, farmers/landowners can seek a private prosecution, using a relevant piece of legislation.  Remember, excrement in the grass and feed can kill livestock, abort unborn lams & calves and can end up on the food that you eat.

With regard the incident that mentioned.  Even though it is fitting that the dog mess should be picked up the legal bit is unclear and whether the mess should be legally picked up will depend on where the dog mess was, i.e. if the dog mess was adjacent to that part of Wood Lane that is a track between Wood Lane Farm and the entrance to Pepperwood that land is private, does not belong to Worcestershire County Council and is designated a bridle path, therefore, it is up to the landowner to say whether he permits dog fouling on his land.

In response to a request from a group of residents, the Community Association gathered responses requesting a Community Governance Review.

The number of responses requesting a Community Governance Review did not achieve the required number of responses and have now been shredded.

Even though responses did not achieve the threshold, it was clear, from the number of responses received, that there are residents who wish that a review to take place.

Earlier today (Monday 27 January 2025) residents and children from Fairfield First School & Fairfield Preschool came together to plant the Coronation Orchard on the Recreation Ground. Huge thanks to everybody for giving up their time.

This project has been made possible thanks to support received from Worcestershire Council and our Divisional County Councillor, Shirley Webb, plus permission to use the Recreation Ground from Belbroughton & Fairfield Parish Council.

In the autumn, the Community Association will be calling on volunteers to help plant daffodil and snowdrop bulbs amongst the orchard trees, and eventually an information board will be erected giving details of each fruits tree and what each fruit can be used for, e.g. a culinary apple or a dessert apple.

The Community Association would also like to thank ACERTREES, who are based in the village, for providing beech chippings that have been used as mulch.

Are you a dog owner and do you care about their welfare?

Think about what could happen to you and your dog, if it is allowed to be loose around livestock.

West Mercia Police have recently had a number of reports of livestock worrying across North Worcestershire.

Livestock worrying is when loose dogs chase or attack farmed animals and it is a serious problem. Even well-behaved dogs can exhibit predatory behaviour around livestock like sheep or cows. This behaviour can cause the animals to become extremely stressed or injured, and can be fatal.

Livestock worrying isn’t just a risk to animal welfare; it causes significant distress and financial losses to farmers.

Responsible dog ownership is essential in preventing livestock worrying. You should always keep your dog under control and on a lead when around livestock, even if you believe your dog is well trained. This shouldn’t just be considered when out and about with your dogs, you should also remember to ensure that your property or boundaries are secure enough to prevent your dogs escaping and venturing into agricultural land.

As well as an owner being prosecuted for an offence, it is worth remembering that a farmer does have a legal right to shoot a dog in order to protect their property. None of us would like this to happen.

Further information about how to safely enjoy the countryside can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors