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Author: FVCA

FVCA Response to Amending TRO from Stoneybridge Island

Fairfield Village Community Association have become aware of a report given by our County Council to the Parish Council at a meeting of the Parish Council that was held on Monday 1st February, the minutes state:

“C.Cllr. Webb advised that the Traffic Regulation Order (Speed limit reduction from National Speed Limit to 40m.p.h.) for the Stourbridge Road from the Stoneybridge island to the circa the Fairfield village boundary had finished its consultation process, with no objections recorded. She will advise when the signage is to be erected.”

Is “circa the Fairfield village boundary” the planter or as previously suggested moving the 30 mph sign to the entrance of Orchard Farm?

Fairfield Village Community Association have today (1st March 2021) sent an email to Legal Services at County Hall, the contents of our email are below.

If you wish to question that a fit and proper consultation has not taken place, email legalservices@worcestershire.gov.uk (if you could keep us in the loop, it would be appreciated).

Thomas Pollock

Head of Commercial Law, Legal and Governance

Worcestershire County Council

Dear Mr. Pollock,

On Friday 26th February 2021, we became aware of the draft Belbroughton and Fairfield Parish Council minutes of 1st February 2020 that records during the item “County and District Councillors reports” the following:

“C.Cllr. Webb advised that the Traffic Regulation Order (Speed limit reduction from National Speed Limit to 40m.p.h.) for the Stourbridge Road from the Stoneybridge island to the circa the Fairfield village boundary had finished its consultation process, with no objections recorded. She will advise when the signage is to be erected.”

Fairfield Village Community Association and residents that we have spoken to over the past few day are unaware of any formal consultation taking place.  Please tell us:

  • What was formally being proposed and has been allegedly agreed?
  • What consultation took place, including dates of consultation and who was approached?
  • What public media was used to promote the consultation and how were members of the public notified of the plans to amend the TRO?

Fairfield Village Community Association had wind of a possible amendment of the TRO in 2019, voicing our concern at a Parish Council working group meeting.

The Association mentioned the possible amendment of the TRO in our email to Mr. J. Hobbs, Director of Economy and Infrastructure, Worcestershire County Council, dated 9th February 2020:

“We are informed that there are plans to reduce the speed limit on the approach to the village from Stoneybridge Island.  This proposed reduction to 40mph is welcomed, however, we strongly object to moving the 30mph marker closer to the village, to the entrance to Orchard Farm, which is at the brow of the road.”

On 5th May 2020, we received a copy of a report that County Councillor Shirley Webb sent the Parish Council (email below, report attached) in which Cllr. Webb writes:

“TRO from Stoneybridge Island, consultation has started to reduce speed from 60 to 40 mph up to nearby Orchard farm when the speed will then change to 30MPH.  Relining of the road will also take place to give the impression the lane is not as wide.  New painted road signs will also be done at the same time.”

On the 15th May 2020 we sent Cllr. Webb a response to her report, which includes our comment regarding amending the TRO:

“You state that a consultation has started. As yet the community have not received official notification of what is being proposed. We look forward to receiving and circulating the consultation document. From briefings received to date, we have strong reservations regarding increasing the speed limit from 30mph to 40mph on that stretch of Stourbridge Road between the north planter and Orchard Farm, a point on Stourbridge Road that is a blind spot with brow in the road and nearby access points from residential properties, a farm and a pub.”

According to the Parish Council minutes of 7th December 2020, Cllr. Webb advised:

“The Traffic Regulation Order to reduce the speed limit on the entrance to Fairfield from the Stoneybridge island was due to start its six week consultation process. Provided there were no objections this should come into force by the end of January 2021.”

Fairfield Village Community Association regular view the County Council’s Public Notices webpage https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/directory/34/public_notices_directory/category/105   where other TRO consultation notices are listed, we have not seen any notice regarding amending the TRO on Stourbridge Road.

As regulations require consultation with ‘such other organisations (if any) representing persons likely to be affected by any provision in the order’, any decision that has been made is must be considered null and void, and an appropriate consultation should take place that includes a full risk assessment due to hazardous nature of what is being proposed.

We look forward to your timely reply.

Yours sincerely,

Conrad

Conrad Palmer

Chairman

Fairfield Village Community Association & Neighbourhood Watch Group

  • March 1, 2021 by

AGM 2021

The Community Association’s AGM, which usually takes place in February/March annually, has been postponed and, subject to Government guidance permitting and our own local assessment, will be held later in the year, when a Face to Face meeting can take place that all members of our community can support.

The annual accounts for year 2020 have been uploaded, see the below attached document.

  • February 23, 2021 by

Vigilant Resident Reports Possible “Crash for Cash”

Saturday 20th February – A resident witnessed two cars been driven suspiciously around Stoneybridge Island.  It is thought that the drivers of the vehicles were trying to instigate a slow speed rear crash, and it was third time that these vehicles, a silver Mercedes and a black Alfa Romeo saloon, have been seen in the area been driven in a suspicious manner.   The police have been notified.

If you witness any suspicious activity, please report to Home | West Mercia Police

  • February 20, 2021 by

Suspicious Activity Pepper Wood

With the rise of dog thefts nationally, a dog walker has contacted us to share an experience that made them feel uneasy in Pepper Wood recently.

“It was around 5 and I was walking with two dogs down the centre path towards the car park. When I approached the car park I saw a white van with a couple (could have been two women could have been a man and a woman). They were standing outside the van smoking cigarettes and chatting. As I got closer they started to walk towards the path without any dogs. I was turning around anyway to walk back but something just felt uneasy. The woman was not wearing the type of clothes you associate with walking in the woods. I felt quite nervous so started walking at speed and within around 5 minutes they had turned back.”

There is nothing saying that these people have done anything wrong, they may have just been out for a walk.  This experience highlights the need for vigilance at all times, if you do feel threatened or the activity appears to be suspicious please report to the police  CLICK HERE

  • February 20, 2021 by

Are You Blue Light Aware?

Do you know what to do should you be in driving along and you see blue lights and hear a siren?

Solid white line systems and traffic islands often cause confusion for drivers when an emergency vehicle is behind them. Stop? Carry on? Speed up?

Please watch this awareness video and help our emergency services.
  • February 17, 2021 by

Royal Mail Delivery Scam

A resident has received the below email, if you receive similar email do not respond to it, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk and then delete.

Please tell others of this scam.

  • February 16, 2021 by

Thieves target cars for catalytic converters

Thieves and organised gangs are continuing to target catalytic converters from vehicles across West Mercia. This is also an international concern with forces across the world reporting a recent increase in reported catalytic converter theft. The rise in the value of the precious metals they contain is thought to be the reason behind the spike in this offence.

Inspector Andy Tanner said: “Thieves tend to target vehicles such as vans and 4x4s that have a higher ground clearance making the converters more easily accessible. However, all types of vehicles are vulnerable.

“The illegal market for the metals that the converters contain is strong and each converter can make a thief hundreds of pounds, but take only a few minutes to remove from a vehicle and can cost thousands to replace.”

“We are actively investigating several cases and would ask people to please take a few steps to reduce the chances of their vehicle being targeted. One of those steps is to please report any suspicious activity around parked vehicles that you may see or have recorded on mobile devices, CCTV or in-vehicle cameras.”

Tips on how to protect your vehicle:

  • Keep your vehicle in a garage if you can
  • If you park it on a driveway, install motion activated lighting
  • Otherwise, park in a well-lit, populated area
  • Forensic security marking kits are available to mark your catalytic converter
  • Locks are also available that can be fitted to your converter
  • Use high visibility signage to deter thieves

For crimes in progress call 999. For non-emergencies report online at www.westmercia.police.uk/report 

Speak to your Safer Neighbourhood Team and for more information, visit https://www.westmercia.police.uk/

  • February 15, 2021 by

Littering Is No Pooh Joke

Please share, verbally and through social media, and ask your friends to share this message far and wide to all dog walkers:

“If you Bag It, Bin It, Don’t leave It”.

Once again, dog pooh bags have been left on the ground in Pepper Wood; on Monday 15th February 4 bags were picked up from the bottom of the “welcome” sign at the Wood Lane entrance plus a purple bag left adjacent to the bridle path.

Some people say that they leave a bag to pick up later, the purple bag had been left for over two weeks.

It is NOT acceptable that volunteers have to clear up other peoples’ laziness.

We are fortunate that in Fairfield village you are no more than 1/2 mile from a dog waste bin. Also, if your dog does a mess in Pepper Wood off the path you can leave it, Mother Nature will work her magic and in a few days it is gone.

  • February 15, 2021 by