Livestock thefts occur throughout the year, and there are times when it it more prevalent.
Last year there were several occasions in and around our community where livestock were stolen or butchered on site.
Please help stop livestock thefts. If you see suspicious activity – REPORT IT, tel. 101.
We have received the following from Angelique Cremer in the Netherlands:
“For the English War Cemetery in Brunssum the Netherlands I am (still) looking for relatives of Reginald Farmer. Mr Farmer died during WW2 and is buried in the Cemetery. He was with the Worcestershire Regiment, 1st bn. His date of birth should be around 1915.
The only thing we know about him is that he mentioned his ‘Auntie Ada Hancox’ in his soldier’s Will. I realise she doesn’t have to be his actual aunt. Ada Hancox was living at 1 Woodlane Fairfield Bromsgrove in the 1940’s.”
Angelique would like to inform Reginald’s family that his grave is well looked after and that he will never be forgotten by the Dutch people.
To help trace the family of Reginald Farmer, we are trying to trace the family of Ada Hancox to see if Reginald was a family member.
The Community Association have been doing some research and have found the below leads. Do you know anyone who is mentioned, perhaps they or any memories that you may have may shed some light on our enquiries.
According to the 1911 census, a family by the name of George Ernest Hancox (28, born about 1883), Ada Selina Hancox (24, born about 1887) and Lizzie Hancox (48, born about 1863) lived in Fairfield. George Hancox is recorded as a Glassworker and Ada as Charwoman, but this has been crossed out.
In the first quarter of 1910, George Ernest Hancox married Ada Selina Evans, in the Bromsgrove registration District.
Ada Evans, according to the 1901 census, lived with parents and siblings, at Bournheath Glassworks, which would have been on Parish Hill. The family at the time consisted of: Thomas R Evans (40), Mary Evans (35), Ada Evans (14), Lilly Evans (11), Esther Evans (7), Albert Evans (5) and Ralph Evans (6 months).
It could be that after her husband’s death in 1940 (see below), Ada moved back to Fairfield to be nearer to her family, possibly living in one of the Wood Lane Alms Houses.
Unfortunately census records for 1921 are not yet online.
In the 1891 census, a family by the name Hancocks is recorded living in Belbroughton: Abratha Hancocks (68), Rose Hancocks (68), Elizabeth Hancocks (28) – Who we are assuming is Lizzie – John Hancocks (26), Earnest Hancocks (8) – we are assuming is George Ernest – Ellen Hancocks (4) and John Hancocks (2). It is quite possible that the enumerator spelt the family name incorrectly.
A further search (1939 War Register), we have found that a George E Hancox (56) and Ada S Hancox (53) – date of birth being about correct – lived in Brierly Hill, Staffordshire, George Hancox was an Agricultural Heavy Worker. The 1941 Probate Register records that a George Ernest Hancox (17 Queen Street, Wordsley, Staffordshire) died 20th December 1940, leaving £421 5s to his widow, Ada Selina Hancox.
Residents may wish to see the notice that has been placed on the FVCA website today (10th March 2021) detailing the proposed revised 40 mph plan, please do have your say and inform WCC if the revised plan is acceptable, http://fvca.org.uk/notices/tro-update-revised-proposed-plans/.
FVCA have pushed for a 40 mph buffer to the planter from Stoneybridge Island, and so welcome this more sensible proposal.
Of course, more needs to be done to reduce the speed of vehicles entering and driving through the community.
The Parish Council are considering the proposal to replace the VAS with one that displays the vehicle speeds. If installed it will use the current VAS site and electricity supply.
It has been suggested that we should adopt a gated entrance, and funding has been offered to part support the purchase of the gates – an offer that been made previously from our County Councillor’s Divisional Fund. To date, both FVCA and the Parish Council have been reluctant to spend any additional money on what studies have said may be ineffective. Studies have shown that gated entrances can reduce speeds by up to 6% should certain other road conditions be met and if sited in the correct position. The entrances of our village do not meet the required conditions. And, with the speed that some vehicles enter the village at (in excess of 50 & 60 mph), any speed reduction needs to be greatly more than 6%. Another factor to consider is that regular drivers through a community get so used to seeing the gates that they take no notice, driving on “autopilot”, and most driver found speeding through our village are regular users of Stourbridge Road.
FVCA strongly believes that meaningful traffic calming should be adopted that will actually slow down all vehicles, preferring Road Speed Tables that have the support of the emergency services and other groups. The Road Speed Tables just before the village, near the planters, will reduce vehicle speeds entering the village and will slow down vehicles exiting the village, making the road safer for residential properties nearby. Road Speed Tables could also be installed at other strategic locations, but with regard to properties and minimising any unintended consequences. Should Speed Tables, or any traffic calming measures, be considered by Worcestershire County Council, FVCA believes that residents should be consulted.
Residents may wish to read https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-calming-ltn-107 which gives the Department of Transport pros and cons for various traffic calming measures. Hopefully by reading this document you will understand why we have not pushed for some other traffic calming measures.
It is worth noting that when discussions have taken place with County Cllr Shirley Webb and Richard Clewer (Worcestershire Highways), they have both refused any traffic calming works (except gates). FVCA and the Parish Council’s Traffic Calming working group have even turn round and said if they will not fund Speed Tables, what will they fund and install, so far the answer is zilch.
In the past 5 years, not one traffic calming measure, including visits by the Police Speed Enforcement Unit, has been supported. FVCA battled for the speed enforcement visits to take place. Until nearly 5 years ago, even though 30 mph signs were displayed at both ends of the village, the police would only stop and give you a verbal warning if driving above the speed limit, they could not fine a motorist as the TRO was non-compliant. Thankfully FVCA lobbied for the TRO to be compliant, MR. Clewer arranged for the installation of the appropriate signs in the correct locations and now motorists are fined, etc if found exceeding the speed limit.
County Council election will take place on 6th May. Candidates/existing Councillors need your votes, perhaps saying what you want to hear. Something that you could do is ask the candidates for a written/email commitment that they will not oppose and will fight for meaningful traffic calming engineering works in Fairfield Village. If they agree and provide the statement then do not honour their written commitment that can be held against them, perhaps at a future election.
Fairfield Village Community Association have now received sight of the original and draft revised plans to create a 40 mph buffer between Stoneybridge Island and Fairfield village along the Stourbridge Road.
The initial proposal, as detailed below, was to have a 40 mph buffer to Orchard Farm. As previously reported the Community Association, Worcestershire Highways have admitted that there was a procedural error with the original consultation.
As further consultation is required, Worcestershire Highways are taking the opportunity to consider a revised proposal, having taken account of concerns expressed by some local residents. The revised proposal is for the 40 mph buffer from Stoneybridge Island to the (north) village planter, where the current 30 mph zone commences, see image below.
A formal consultation is required, and we await the public notice that should details the Traffic Regulation Order, which will include the exact legal start and finish of the new 40 mph zone.
Residents may wish to comment on the draft plans. Any objection/representations you may have must be sent in writing to Thomas Pollock, Head of Commercial Law, Legal and Governance at County Hall, or email roadtrafficregs@worcestershire.gov.uk
The National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) have been made aware that unsolicited text messages are being sent to members of the public purporting to offer a COVID-19 Grant due to the current lockdown. The text includes a link to “claim” the grant
and starts with the words GOV.UK and ends with govuk.com, suggesting the text message has been sent by or on behalf of the government and is therefore an authentic message. Open source checks confirm that the number from which the text
appears to be sent is associated with other fraudulent attempts. These can be forwarded directly to 7726, which goes to your mobile provider.
| There have been several reports of scam text messages and emails claiming to be from a well-known delivery service such as Royal Mail, FedEx, UPS, Yodel and Hermes. |
| Messages state that a delivery has been missed and that the recipient will need to rearrange a delivery or that it has a shipping fee associated with the package. It will contain a link which will direct the consumer to a phishing website designed to look like the official website where consumers can make payment. |
| If in doubt, don’t click the link. Take Five and think about what is being asked; are you expecting a delivery? Would it require a shipping fee if you have? |
| Royal Mail will only send email and SMS notifications to customers where the sender has requested this when using their trackable products that offer this service |
| The only time Royal Mail would ask customers to make a payment in an email or SMS is if a customs fee is due. In this case, they will also leave a grey card telling them there’s a fee to pay, either for the international customs fee or a surcharge for an underpaid item before they can release the item. |
| You can forward suspicious text messages to 7726 and suspicious emails on to report@phishing.gov.uk |
| Nationally, there has been a 250% increase in reported Scam telephone calls, and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) needs your help. |
| The ICO would like you to report the unwanted scam and nuisance calls that you receive to them. |
| Download and complete the Phone Call Log, Phone Call Log (friendsagainstscams.org.uk), record details of the call that you receive, with as much information as possible, and periodically return the log to the National Trading Standards Team (address can be found at the top of the Phoned Call Log. |
| We have been notified that Worcestershire Highways have acknowledged that there has been a procedural error regarding the B4091 speed change between Stoneybridge Island and village entrance, a new consultation will take place. |
| Please keep an eye on the County Council’s Public Notices page, CLICK HERE. Residents are encouraged to respond. |
| It is understood that Worcestershire Highways are now prepared to consider keeping the start of the 30 mph zone at the planter, rather than move the start to the entrance of Orchard Farm, should it be the wish of the community. It is very important that you have your say. |
| Fairfield Village Community Association would like to thank all those residents that emailed the Legal and Governance department at County Hall, your actions have helped focus the minds of the people behind the TRO amendment. |
Reported blocked gullies in Third Road have been cleared.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Swan Lane; a couple have been cleared, one has had the mud cleared from the top of the grid yet there is still mud just below the grid, a couple have been partially “wiped over” and there are still hidden grids that are beneath the mud that has slid from the roadside. The broken gully grid has still not been replaced and the gully by the gas pipeline is still blocked.
Whether another return return visit is being scheduled, who knows?
There is still no news regarding repairs to the Swan Lane pot holes and road erosion.
Fibre optic cables have been laid underground to nearly all the telegraphs poles that are connected to the Mount Road junction box in the south of the village.
Work is expected to commence in the next two weeks laying fibre optic cables underground to those telegraph poles in the north of the village that are connected to the Mount Road junction box.
Once underground fibre optic cables have been laid and connected, properties will be contacted to arrange the final Fibre To The Property journey.