Community

Enjoyable Carols Around The Christmas Tree on Wednesday 21st December, it was nice to see a good number of residents plus our local Safer Neighbourhood Team from Bromsgrove Police joined in with the festive singing.

On Saturday 5^th May 2023, King Charles will be crowned in full splendour in a ceremony that has remained essentially the same over a thousand years, and last seen in the United Kingdom in 1953.

For some people this ceremony may be the only coronation that they will ever see.

As a community, how do we mark the accession and coronation of King Charles III?

Do you have any suggestions for initiatives that can celebrate the life of the late Queen and the good health of our King?

How should we celebrate the coronation?  With a single event of a weekend full of events?  What would you attend?

Or, dare we ask, not bother?

The coronation may be 5 months away, but planning must start today. Please email your suggestions to admin@fvca.org.uk

The next Community Association Committee Meeting is on Wednesday 23rd November 2022 at 7.30pm in the Barton Room at the Village Hall.

Below the agenda, which appears long, but most are one/two-line updates.

Item 5: A step-by-step guide to setting up a charity can be found at https://www.gov.uk/set-up-a-charity At this stage, we are considering whether to register a charity, and if it is agreed further work will be required, which will need to be approved by the FVCA committee before putting to the Community. If it is agreed by the FVCA committee and approved by the Charity Commission that we become a Registered Charity, any application to become a Registered Charity and change to the constitution would require a motion at an AGM or EGM, and if approved, committee members would become charity trustees; our next AGM should be in March 2023. Should it be decided that we do register as a charity – and should we be accepted by the Charity Commission – in addition to being able to apply for more grants, we would also be able to claim gift aid.

AGENDA

1. Apologies

2. Approval of minutes of previous meeting

3. Chair’s Report

4. Finance/Treasurer’s Report

5. Consider registering as a charity

6. Highways Update

7. Postbox Update

8. Wildmoor Quarry Expansion

9. Pepper Wood Extension

10. Activities/Initiatives: Update & Future Plans

a. Newsletters

b. Neighbourhood Watch

c. Keep Fairfield Tidy

d. Dining Group

e. Social Saturdays

f. Foodie Fairfield

g. Festive Fairfield

i. Village Christmas Tree

ii. Village Advent Calendar

iii. Santa’s Grotto (3rd December)

iv. Carols Around The Christmas Tree (21st December)

v. NYE Party (31st December)

h. Fairfield Walkers

i. Social Wednesdays

j. Harvest Festival

k. Remembrance Sunday

l. Pancake Race 2023 (18th February)

m. Picnic 2023 (9th July)

n. Summer Fete 2023 (19th August)

o. Recording History

p. Coronation of King Charles (6th May & B/Hol 8th May)

q. Fairfield Flicks

r. Brewery Events

s. Inn in the Hall (The Forfeld Inn)

11. Proposed Expenditure:

a. Purchase of Lindr Machine

b. Purchase of Publicity Materials

c. Book Speakers/Activities for Social Wednesdays

12. Growing the Committee

13. Any other business

14. Date of Next Meeting

Residents gathered on Remembrance Sunday (13th November) for a short service at the village war memorial.

Wreaths were laid by Bromsgrove Police (our local Safer Neighbourhood Team), Fairfield Village Community Association, Fairfield First School & Fairfield Womens Institute.

The collection raised £82.10 for the Royal British Legion.

Following the service, residents enjoyed refreshments & cake inside the village hall.

The following dates have been arranged where members of the public can help plant some trees:

Afternoon of Weds 7th Dec (from 1.30pm until 4pm)

Morning of Saturday 10th Dec (10am until 2pm)

If volunteering, please park at the village hall and walk to Swan Inn car park where site directions will be given.

Email received 3rd October from Deborah Buey, Escalated Resolution Team, Royal Mail:

“I have leased (sic) with the Manager, he has advised this has been passed to the company Romec that place the Post Boxes on behalf of Royal Mail. I am sorry to advise at this time we do not know when this is going to be sited in the village.

I am sorry that I can not be of any further assistance at this time.”

No further information is known, we do not know which of the four suggested sites have been identified, but it does look like that progress is being made to restore a postal collection service in the village.

According to the Royal Mail website, Romec was launched in 2002, by Royal Mail as a fully-fledged facilities management company and in 2017 “the Romec and Royal Mail Group Property companies combined and are known as ‘Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions’.” About Us | Royal Mail Property & Facilities Management Services (royalmailpfs.com)

After the success of the last two years, and many residents wishing to see it again, Fairfield will once again recreate a neighbourhood Advent Calendar.

What is a Village Advent Calendar?

On a given date, something festive is placed in the window (or garden) of a property in Fairfield, that can be viewed by people passing by.  The display staying in place until the end of Christmas day.  Examples of displays are: Christmas wreaths, The whole Nativity Scene, Candles, Father Christmas, Twelves Days of Christmas, Santa & Rudolf in the snow, Winter tree wonderland, and so on.

How can I take part?

Email admin@fvca.org.uk with your address details, your preferred “unveil” date (1^st to 24^th December) and an outline of your display (to reduce likelihood of duplication – it would be fantastic if we had at least 24 different displays).  We will then confirm your calendar “unveil” date.

For the Advent Calendar to works, displays must not be unveiled until the stated “unveil” date.

Then, during December, residents and visitors can wander around the village, enjoying the festive displays.  We will publish a map of properties taking part in late November, this can be downloaded from the village website’s Festive Fairfield page Festive Fairfield – Fairfield Village Community Association (fvca.org.uk), a map will also get posted on the village hall (outside) noticeboard.

If you visit a display, take a photo and share on our twitter feed @Fairfield_Info or email it to us admin@fvca.org.uk

If you are looking for inspiration, checkout some of last year’s Advent Calendar Windows CLICK HERE

The annual service of Remembrance will take place on Sunday 13^th November, starting at 10.50am, at the War Memorial in front of Fairfield Village Hall.  The short service will be led by St. Mark’s Church. Donations received will be given to the Royal British Legion.

In the evening, we are screening OPERATION MINCEMEAT (12A), starting 7.30pm, admission £5.00.

During the school half-term break, from Monday 24th October, why not take part in our Pumpkin Trail?

All you have to do is paint or carve a pumpkin and leave it on display for other people to see.

During the week villagers and visitors can walk around the village admiring our spooky displays.

If you spot a pumpkin in the village, post it on Twitter, tagging in @Fairfield_Info

Message from the Chairman, Fairfield Village Community Association

This evening, residents mourn the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth, a sovereign that had led by example, and her service to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth will never be forgotten.

Residents of Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge are in deep shock, and reflecting on what Queen Elizabeth means to them.

Queen Elizabeth touched all our lives, she was a constant thread, and she will be known as Elizabeth The Great.

The crown has passed to her son, now King Charles 3rd. Our thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty and the Royal Family.

We wish His Majesty good health and long may he reign over us.

God Save The King

Are you a parent who wants to go out to a social event or attend a Fairfield Flicks cinema screening/Live Music night but are unable as you have a young child to look after? Then the answer is a reliable babysitter.

Lukas is a sensible 17-year-old, and lives in the Fairfield. He is available for babysitting in the village and the surrounding areas as he drives. He has experience, as he already sits for others in the village.

Interested? Message him directly on 07727 677595

You are all invited to join us at Bromsgrove Golf Course on Monday 19th September, meeting from 12.15pm for a 12.30pm meal.

Our monthly lunchtime gatherings are a great way to meet other people living in our community and in the surrounding area, or a catch up with friends.

If you are interested in joining our lunchtime meal, please contact Pat, by Tuesday 13th September, on 01527 832360, or email pasteward7@outlook.com

Macmillan coffee Moring on Saturday the 24th of September, 11.30am – 1.30pm, at Fairfield Village Hall, hosted by Fairfield Preschool

Everyone is invited – Enjoy a Slice of Tea and a Cup of Cake in aid of Macmillan.

Cake donations would be massively appreciated.

It has been noted that there is an increased amount of litter along our lanes and open spaces, which will become more noticeable as the vegetation dies back for winter.

If you like living in a grot free village, please join on Saturday 10th September as we tackle the litter that has accumulated in Fairfield & Stoneybridge. Meet at the Village Hall 10.30am, wear suitable clothing and footwear. IF WE ALL GAVE ONE HOUR OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE GROT FREE.

The launch of Foodie Fairfield on Saturday 3rd September was a success, huge thanks to all local food producers, BRMG Radio and to all our customers & supporters. We look forward to seeing you next month (1st Sat. of each month) and we are aiming to keep Foodie Fairfield “fresh” with some additional stalls.

There have been some positive comments on social media:

• ‘The food and drink we purchased today are delicious and great quality’,
• ‘Very good thanks to all organisers and contributors’
• ‘Great visit to Fairfield Food Fest today – wonderful bread – fresh veg and of course cake!!!!’
• [the sourdough] ‘it really is yummy’

If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved, email admin@fvca.org.uk

Fairfield Village Community Association is launching a new food market – Foodie Fairfield – to provide an opportunity for people in the Bromsgrove area to buy good quality local produce direct from the producers.

The stalls at Foodie Fairfield will show just how much great food is produced in or around the Bromsgrove area.  There will be a wide range of locally-sourced bread, meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruit along with a host of other items such as savoury pies, cider, fruit juices, honey, jams, cakes, and many other goodies.

A spokesperson for the Association said that local people are keen support local small businesses.  Foodie Fairfield will help those people to reduce their food-miles by enabling them to buy food from local farmers and artisans.

Foodie Fairfield will be held in Fairfield Village Hall on the first Saturday morning of each month.  The first event will be on Saturday, 3rd September.  The event will be held in Fairfield Village Hall and the doors will be open from 9 o’clock until noon.  There is ample, free parking behind the hall so buyers will not have to struggle carrying their purchases a long distance.

Further details about Foodie Fairfield can be found on the village website (www.fvca.org.uk) or on our Facebook page.

We need three residents of Fairfield, Wilmoor & Stoneybridge to join the committee, meeting approximately 5 times a year, each meeting usually lasting an hour, in the evening at the pub.  Your role will be to help provide the required checks on the Chairman & Treasurer, to act as a sounding board, put forward suggestions and represent the views of the community.

The Association has done a lot of good work in the community, whether it is organising events, keeping our village tidy, coordinating Neighbourhood Watch, SmartWater rollout and lobbying for improvements. Please do give five hours a year for where you live.  If you can help email chair@fvca.org.uk

Fairfield Village Community Association

Annual General Meeting followed by a screening of “The Duke”

Wednesday 20th July 2022, 7.30pm

Venue:  Fairfield Village Hall

1. Welcome
2. Apologies
3. Chair’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Elections
   “The committee shall consist of a chairman, treasurer and secretary and up to three other members with power to co-opt up to three other members to the committee as and when it sees fit.”
   • Chairperson
   • Secretary
   • Treasurer
   • Officers x 3

Bumble Hole Foods have announced the return of their charity egg stall for one day -Friday August 12 from 10am-2pm. This is one off fundraiser for the Primrose Hospice and the Family Support Centre London Marathon runners, The CornflowerCoppers.

The price of the eggs is now a minimum suggested donation of £3 for 30 free range eggs, which is still significantly lower than supermarket prices, but 100% of all money raised will support this wonderful local cause.

Bumble Hole Foods, David Hewston Way, Rocky Lane, Bournheath, Bromsgrove, B61 9HU

We’ve been nominated to be part of the Asda Foundation Green Token Giving online vote

The vote is now live and voting will close at midnight on Friday 30th September 2022. The cause with the most online votes will receive a £500 donation with second place receiving £400 and third place £300.

Vote for Fairfield Village Community Association by visiting www.asda.com/green-tokens and selecting Bromsgrove from the drop-down box. You will be able to vote once every seven days, so please return and revote in the coming weeks.

Over the weekend 4^th-5^th June, three events were organized to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, bringing members of our community, family and friends together at the Village Hall.

On the Saturday we held an Afternoon Tea and Live Stream of the Epsom Derby, the sandwiches were fantastic, the cakes were magnificent, and the complementary prosecco flowed

In the evening we live streamed the Jubilee Concert from Buckingham Place, which saw people singing along to George Ezra’s “Shotgun” and being spellbound by the Queen’s sketch with Paddington Bear.  The bar was provided by our friends at Woodcote Brewery.

To end the festivities, on the Sunday, there was the traditional Platinum Jubilee Party with games, a quiz and the live streaming of the Jubilee Pageant.  People left with a complementary bottle of beer.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that came to our celebratory events and decked properties Red, White & Blue to help celebrate this historic event.

Another HUGE THANK YOU to all the volunteers who organized the weekend events, organized the scavenger hunt, made the sandwiches, baked cakes. washed up, the list goes on.  Without YOU the events would not have happened and being a success that will be remembered for many years to come.

If you have any photographs of our community festivities, email them to admin@fvca.org.uk for archiving. If you have any information regarding who is in the photograph please share in your email.

In years to come people will be very grateful for your photographs, which will bring back many happy memories and will also be a reminder of who lived in our community.

For photos of our Afternoon Tea visit our Pictorial History page

If anyone is walking past the village planters, could they take a bottle of water and pour over/around the plants please.

Let’s keep our village display alive.

We have received an update from County Cllr Webb. Highways have raised an order to supply and fit new GPRS timers and aerials to both school flashing warning signs.

After over a year, it looks like we may be having working warning lights again.

Royal Mail are considering suggested site options and have said that if proposed sites are acceptable it could take up 12-weeks to restore postal collection services.

We are on a mission to improve the state of footpaths that are alongside the roads across Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge and we need your help to identify pavements that need repairing or have become difficult to use.

Unfortunately, we do not have the power to make the required improvements, but we will certainly lobby Worcestershire County Council.

You can report pavements that need attention by emailing  admin@fvca.org.uk or pop along to a Social Gathering, 1st Wednesday of each month at the Village Hall, 10am – 12noon.

Thank you to everyone that responded to the Community Survey, your answers will be used to help shape local policies and, where possible, improve local services.

Some suggestions will need assistance with delivery and people to support so that initiatives can become sustainable.

Below, presentation video of the slides shared at the Community Gathering on Saturday 7th May. Each slide will automatically move on after 7 seconds. Please stop the video if you wish to spend more time reading each slide.

Royal Mail has sealed up the Priority Post Box in the centre of Fairfield. Please help to get this reinstated or moved to another location in the heart of the village by signing this petition. Many thanks.

https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-fairfield-post-box

Royal Mail have provided the following update:

“I’d like to take this time to inform you that; as part of our regulatory requirements, we must ensure that there’s a post-box within half a mile of at least 98% of all ‘delivery points’ (usually a customer’s letter-box) nationally.

If the current posting facilities in the above-mentioned area [Fairfield] already meet these requirements, the post box may not be relocated or replaced.

If the Manager believes the area warrants the installation of a new post-box, we’ll be required to liaise with the Highway Authority to obtain clearance for the proposed site, as well as contacting the utility companies to ensure that the proposed site doesn’t interfere with existing pipes or cables, etc. This process can take up to twelve weeks should your request be approved.

With the above in mind, if a post box hasn’t been installed within 25 weeks from today, it’s likely that the current facilities in the area already meet our requirements and a new post box isn’t warranted.”

For details of the work being done to date, feedback from Saturday’s public meeting & to watch our presentation, visit http://fvca.org.uk/fairfield-community-shop/

Last Thursday night/Friday morning, the post box in front of the Salon/Cafe/former Post Office was sealed.

There are two ways to take part in our Community Spring Clean:

All hands-on-deck on Saturday 9^th April when we will be giving our community a Spring Clean.  Volunteers are needed to help clean our road signage, tidy the church yard, as well as litter pick those areas that are often forgotten.  Meet up at the Village Hall 10.30am.   To help with washing signage, please bring a bucket and sponge.  Litter picking equipment will be provided.  If we all donate an hour, our community will sparkle.

Alternatively, do your own Litter Pick and signage wash at time that suits you. It would be great if you could email admin@fvca.org.uk with details & locations of the areas you have litter picked and/or signs you have washed, plus any photos you have taken that we can share.

All hands-on-deck on Saturday 9th April when we will be giving our community a Spring Clean. Volunteers are needed to help clean our road signage, tidy the church yard, as well as litter pick those areas that are often forgotten. Meet up at the Village Hall 10.30am.

To help with washing signage, please bring a bucket and sponge. Litter picking equipment will be provided.

If we all donate an hour, our community will sparkle.

The responses to the recent Community Survey will be shared with residents at the Social Gathering on Saturday 7th May 10am.

We will explore comments received, address any points that have been raised and, where needed, start the process of delivery.

Please do join us.

Over the past few months a working group consisting of representatives from FVCA, Parish Council & our District Councillor have been gathering information with regard establishing a Community Shop and Post Office.

At the Social Gathering on Saturday 2nd April, the working group will share its findings at a public meeting that will be held at the Village Hall, starting at 10am.

The purpose of the meeting is for the community to agree whether we should take the next steps towards establishing a Community Shop and Post Office, and to ask for volunteers to join the working group. Please do join us.

At the Saturday Social on 5th March we will be discussing how we can mark this historic occasion and looking for your ideas as to what we should include in our Platinum Jubilee Lunch on Sunday 5th June.

Should we look for entertainment? Should we have a competition?

It’s over to you.

Do please pop along to the village hall, 10am.

Over the next 10 days, all dwellings in Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge (that are in the Parish of Belbroughton & Fairfield) will receive a Community Survey, which we encourage residents to complete and return.

The results of the survey will help make informed decisions, provide evidence to challenge key stakeholders and develop a community that meets the needs of the people that live here.

It is your community, so have YOUR say, and help make a difference that enhances the environment, amenities, and quality of life where you live.

During the afternoon of storm Eunice (Friday 18th February), a tree fell down blocking Stourbridge Road, in the holloway between Stoneybridge Island and the Swan Inn.

Thanks to a group of residents, plus assistance from a passing motorist, the fallen tree was cut up, removed, road swept and the highways became passable. There is some debris on the footpath, which we will request is cleared away.

Thanks also to West Mercia Police for managing traffic.

On Friday 18th February, The Woodland Trust completed the purchase of land that will enable an extension of over 125 acres to Pepper Wood.

In an email to FVCA, Paul Jarczewski, The Woodland Trust Site Manager for Central England, wrote “I would like to thank you [FVCA] for the help you’ve given us to reach this point, as I know you have championed this locally.”

“I would be very grateful if you were able to pass on thanks to other local residents who have supported us, through any of your communications. Thank you.”

The Community Association would also like to thank the many residents who have helped promote the Pepper Wood extension and have donated to the fund, it is very much appreciated. In the coming months/years, there will be opportunities for residents, local organisations & school to get involved in the extension delivery.

Volunteer needed to get the community partying to help mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

In early January, Wildmoor Quarry requested a Scoping Opinion with regard their intention to extend existing mineral extraction, to quarry adjacent land and to import inert material. For the scoping notice CLICK HERE

Responses to the Scoping request have been given by FVCA, the Parish Council, District Councillor May and others.

Below, presentation given at the Social Saturday community gathering on 5th February 2022, outlining the proposal as detailed in the Wildmoor Quarry’s Scoping Request, plus images taken by FVCA to help residents understand what could be happening.

At present, there is not a full planning application and so there is currently no consultation. The purpose of this presentation is to make residents aware of what could be happening, and should a full planning application be submitted that they have the information to make an informed decision as to whether they wish to support or oppose the planning application.

It is the intention of FVCA to hold a meeting once the full planning application has been published, and FVCA will request an extension to the consultation deadline.

Presentation: slides will move to next slide after 6 seconds

Photos of Wildmoor Quarry – 2nd February 2022