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Notices

Suspicious Tradesman

”Man aged 45-55, 5ft 10 to 6ft, short dark hair and stocky build called at my door and offered garden furniture for sale at a discount price following it being left over from a new build project in Fairfield! He offered no ID. He was wearing a green sweater with company name Worldwide Gardens and a logo on the left hand side of the sweater. After asking him some prices I then asked him where was the new build in Fairfield exactly and he could not be specific and was not sure as he said he was not local as he was from Suffolk.  He was in a large black Peugeot van registration MA19 ***.  He did not call on any of my neighbours. The incident has been reported to 101.” N

Police and Village Hall Need YOUR Assistance

On Sunday 21st April the Village Hall entrance gate was unlocked so that the car park could be used for the Easter Sunday morning service at St. Mark’s church.  Unfortunately the padlock was hooked over the open the catch post and when the gate was checked later in the day the padlock was found to be missing.

The gate was then locked using the “twin padlock”

Two days later, Tuesday 23rd April, the regular Tuesday evening hirer unlocked the entrance gate and when they went to lock up found the padlock missing.  They usually clasp the lock, but on this occasion they did not.

Today, the elderly Welcome Club arrived at the Village Hall to find the entrance gate padlocked, someone had replaced the stolen padlock with another padlock lock prevent Hall users from having access to the car park.  Bolt cutters were used to remove the padlock.  The elderly ladies are, understandable, worried and anxious (youngest member is 82 yrs, oldest will 93 yrs next month).

These incidents have been reported to the police and the Village Hall’s solicitor. 

If you know who is committing these acts or you have seen suspicious activity please telephone the police 101, crime ref:  289S240419

Wildmoor News

Download the latest newsletter from Wildmoor Residents’ Association .

WRA Newsletter 2019Download

The first page promotes the Association’s AGM and invited speaker.

The next two pages are an update on pending and proposed quarry planning applications and an invitation to the annual WRA garden party. 

Location of Existing and Proposed Quarry Sites

How long does it take litter to rot?

How long does litter take to rot if we carelessly throw it away?

Two Weeks – Apple Cores

Although this is a rapid decomposition time, throwing away cores and other pieces of fruit can encourage rodents.

Four Weeks – Paper towels, paper bags, newspaper

With these items, decomposition time can vary enormously depending on how they are disposed of.

Six Weeks – Cereal boxes, banana skins

Banana skins can take longer than this to decompose if the weather is cold, as the skins are designed to protect the fruit inside. They are full of cellulose which is the same material from which cellophane wrappers are made.

Two – Three Months – Waxed cartons, cardboard

With such items, the decomposition time will vary depending on the thickness of the carton.

Six months – Cotton clothing

Of all textiles, cotton is the most biodegradable. Cotton can be composted and if the conditions are damp and warm enough, a piece of light cotton clothing can biodegrade in as little as a week.

One Year – Light woollen clothing

Light woollen clothing such as pullovers and socks. Wool is a natural product, so when it decomposes it releases into the soil useful nutrients such as protein keratin.

Two Years – Orange peel, plywood, cigarette ends

Cigarettes contain more than 600 ingredients, of which the longest lasting is cellulose acetate which takes a very long time to biodegrade.

Five Years – Heavy woollen clothing

Ten to Twenty Years – Plastic Bags

Many newer bags are designed to decompose when exposed to sunlight, though the majority are made from high density polyethylene. This is made with refined petroleum and it is not easily decomposed. The natural micro – organisms in soil don’t recognize the chemicals as food, so don’t break them down.

Thirty to Forty Years – Nylon, Carpet, Disposable Nappies

While they are convenient, disposable nappies are pretty toxic items, even if they haven’t been used, as they are treated with many chemicals.

Fifty Years – Tin cans, Car tyres, trainers, leather.

Seventy-Five to Eighty Years – Crisp Packets

With many packets made from metallised plastic film, they last a ridiculously long time.

One Hundred Years – Plastic Ring Holder

These are particularly hazardous to animals, as the rings can get trapped around their necks and choke them.

Two Hundred Years – Aluminium Drink Cans

It is more beneficial to recycle aluminium as it can be done indefinitely and the energy of recycling cans is far lower than creating new ones. Twenty recycled cans can be made using the same amount of energy it takes to make one new can and recycling just one can, can save as much energy as it takes to power a television for three hours.

Five Hundred Years – Plastic Bottles

Petrochemical products like these never fully biodegrade and the chemicals will remain in the soil.

One to Two Million Years – Glass Jars and Bottles

It could well be that these may last indefinitely. Glass is mainly composed of silica, which is one of the most stable and enduring minerals on the planet. The greatest problem with waste glass is that it is breakable and shards can do serious damage to creatures who eat or lick any food or drink residues.

And Even Longer – Batteries

While the thin metal casings break down eventually, the chemicals inside such as zinc, lead and mercury stay in the ground and can be extremely toxic.

Pooper Snooper: a free app to tackle dog fouling

A new app designed to encourage dog owners and wider communities to take responsibility for tackling dog fouling in their local area has been launched.

Pooper Snooper, a free smartphone application and website aims to build public awareness and inturn increase social pressure on dog fouling, and to identify problem hotspots to allow for better targeted enforcement activities.

To achieve these aims, the mobile app, designed by Natural Apptitude, enables you to quickly and accurately record the locations of dog fouling on an interactive map, providing an overview of dog fouling hotspots. Any dog fouling incidents that are cleaned up can be marked as resolved, and bin locations can be recorded within the app, with a “find nearest bin” function helping you locate bins in unfamiliar areas. To help raise public awareness you can share your records along with an overview of dog fouling in the local area, on Twitter and Facebook. The app also has a gamification element to encourage sustained public engagement via the inclusion of leader boards and personal profile pages on which a user’s stats appear.

Natural Apptitude CEO, Dave Kilbey, said: “Our main hope for Pooper Snooper is that in years tocome it will actually cease to be necessary. A dog poo free environment may seem like fantasy, but it shouldn’t be that way. We hope that Pooper Snooper can start to turn the tide on this modern-day scourge by actively engaging people with the problem and by raising awareness of the sheer scale of the issue. Ultimately, what is required is a cultural shift around dog fouling; from tacit acceptance to zero tolerance, regardless of where it takes place. Dog poo is not only unpleasant, but a form of hazardous waste that can have serious repercussions for the health both of humans and livestock.”

The supporting website enables local authorities and other interested parties to see dog foulingincidents on an interactive map based on local authority boundaries. This is designed to further raise public awareness and promote engagement on the issue. Anyone can export the data to enable enforcement effort to be targeted where most required.

In Bristol, about four tonnes of dog faeces is produced every day and on average there are 11 to 26 faecal deposits per kilometre of pavement. Evidence has found these are concentrated around schools and in the first 300 metres of paths in parks and nature reserves.

Councillor Steve Pearce Cabinet member with responsibility for waste, said: “Dog fouling is simplynot acceptable, and we need to see everyone taking responsibility for our city and how it looks. We hope that this initiative will go some way towards addressing dog fouling in Bristol and help to change the attitudes of those who think it is appropriate to leave dog mess on the streets for anyone to stand in.”

For more information, go to https://poopersnooper.app/

What did you get for Christmas?

A new bike? Tools? Something a thief would like to acquire?

Have you thought about the security of your garden shed?

Consider marking your property and secure the shed with a sturdy lock 🔐

SmartWater property marking kits can be obtained from FVCA – for residents of Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge FREE OF CHARGE admin@fvca.org

Bromsgrove District Council SCAM Alert

Bromsgrove District Council have been made aware of a SCAM email being sent to some of their residents which appears to be from their Council Tax department regarding over payments.
 

The link in the email takes you to a very good copy of the gov.uk website or the Council’s website and asks for lots of details – including mother’s maiden name etc.
 

Please be aware that this is a SCAM and the Council does not operate in this way. The Council will NEVER ask you for details like this. If you have any concerns or suspicions about correspondence ‘from us’ then please get in touch with the District Council to query it.
 

Please make family, friends and neighbours aware of this SCAM.

Formal consultation on the expansion of Fairfield First School

Proposal to increase the capacity of Fairfield First School

Worcestershire County Council is proposing to expand the school buildings at Fairfield First School to provide sufficient accommodation for an increase in the Published Admission Number of the school from 23 to 30. The current capacity of the school is 115 and the proposed capacity will be 150.

As part of any proposal of a community school that would result in an increase in the capacity of the school by more than 30 places and 25%, a formal consultation must take place.

Have Your Say

In accordance with the guidance document from the Department for Education – Making ‘prescribed alterations’ to maintained schools (April 2016), a further consultation into expansion of Fairfield First School is now underway in which anyone with an interest can express their views. The Public Consultation (Autumn 2018) document can be viewed on the County Council website at http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/schoolconsultationsYour comments are most welcome and can be made using the online form which is also available via this website link.

A hard copy of the consultation documents can be obtained by contacting: Bosko Medakovic, Capital Accommodation Officer, County Hall, PO Box 73, Worcester, WR5 2YA. Telephone 07983965299 or email bmedakovic@worcestershire.gov.uk

Representations in response to the consultation must be received by noon on Friday, 7th December 2018.

 

Letter from Head Teacher School Expansion Letter from Head

Public Notice School Expansion Consultation  Public Notice Expansion of Fairfield First School

Consultation Overview Formal Consultation Proposal Document

Operation Snap

Members of the public can submit (via a secure online form – https://www.nextbase.com/en-gb/national-dash-cam-safety-portal/) digital footage showing potential traffic offences.

This can range from driving dangerously or carelessly to overtaking on solid white lines, using a mobile phone while driving, ignoring traffic lights or dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists.

Your submission will be sent to West Mercia Police where the evidence will be reviewed by one of their road traffic officers, who will enforce against any offences committed.

Any footage submitted through the portal can also be used by the Police to help educate other road users and to advise on case results.

Free Rollout of SmartWater® Kits – PLEASE ACTION

Free Rollout of SmartWater® Kits – PLEASE ACTION

Fairfield Village Community Association & Wildmoor Residents’ Association have teamed up with Belbroughton & Fairfield Parish Council and West Mercia Police to make Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge a “We Don’t Buy Crime” community by supplying all households with a SmartWater® kit to protect their homes.

To be eligible for your FREE SmartWater® your house MUST be in the Fairfield Ward of Belbroughton & Fairfield Parish. If not, e.g. your house is in Wildmoor, Bournheath, please contact your Parish Council.

SmartWater® is an easy-to-apply liquid that enables the Police to trace valuables back to the owner. Full details of what’s Smart Water is visit What is SmartWater.

Two “drop-in sessions” are being held where villagers can collect their kits:

 Wednesday 19th September 7pm – 9pm Village Hall (Barton Room – Enter by the rear side door)
 Saturday 22nd September 10am – 2pm Village Hall

If you are unable to collect your kit on the above dates, please contact: email fvcommunityassociation@outlook.com or tel. 01527 833583

Kits cannot be collected by people not residing at the address that the kit has been allocated to.

If you already have SmartWater® please do collect a second kit.

The Parish Council have obtained a grant from the Police Commissioner as well as part-funding the cost of the packs to provide them free of charge to all residents.

Our aim is to ensure that every household in Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge is equipped with a SmartWater® pack.
Subject to 80% of dwellings sign and return the SmartWater® registration form, there will also be signage installed in the village to send a clear message to criminals that our community is united and determined to protect our valuables against acquisitive crime. It is, therefore, vital that all residential properties support this initiative to help make our community safer.

In addition to SmartWater® and the signage, we need vigilance to deter criminals from visiting our community, if you are suspicious that a crime is being committed in Fairfield, Wildmoor or Stoneybridge, please help your community and contact West Mercia Police to report it.

In an emergency use 999. However, for less urgent matters for example; if your car has been stolen, if your property has been damaged, if you suspect drug use or dealing; or to give the police information about crime in your area please ring 101.

To share your suspicions with others and raise an awareness so that others do not fall victim of being a crime, Fairfield Village Community Association is the verified Neighbourhood Watch Group for Fairfield & Stoneybridge.

Livestock and worrying dogs in the countryside

West Mercia Police sometimes receives calls from farmers, landowners and members of the public reporting farm animals being chased by dogs.

Sheep can be savaged and killed by dogs or have to be put down by a veterinary surgeon.

The impact this can have on a rural business can be devastating. Not only does the farmer incur expensive veterinary costs but for pregnant ewes there is the risk of aborting their unborn lambs.

This can incur further veterinary expense but also the loss of income from a depleted flock.

The advice on this page is for dog owners, residents, farmers and landowners about their responsibilities and what happens when livestock are worried by them.

Legislation

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

”If a dog worries livestock on any agricultural land, the owner of the dog, and, if it is the charge of a person other than the owner, that person also shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.”

What is ‘Worrying’?

Worrying means attacking livestock or chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce. Also being at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.

What does ‘livestock” mean?

Livestock means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses or poultry and for the purposes of this Act ‘cattle’ means bulls, cows, oxen, heifers or calves, ‘horses’ includes asses and mules and ‘poultry’ means domestic fowls, turkeys, geese or ducks.

What is ‘agricultural land’?

Agricultural land means land used as arable, meadow or grazing land, or used for the purpose of poultry farming, pig farming, market gardens, allotments, nursery grounds or orchards.

This legislation does not apply to a dog owned by or in charge of the occupier of the field or enclosure or the owner of the sheep or a person authorised by either of those persons. Neither does it apply to a police dog, a guide dog, trained sheep dog, a working gun dog or a pack of hounds.

Penalty

The maximum fine £1,000.
The Animals Act 1971

Section 9 of the Animals Act 1971 provides that the owner of livestock, the landowner or anyone acting on their behalf, is entitled to shoot any dog if they believe it is the only reasonable way of stopping it worrying livestock. Such action must be reported to police within 48 hours (telephone 101)

Dog Owners

If you are walking your dog in the countryside:

  • Do not allow your dog to enter a field on its own and keep it under your control at all times.
    Keep your dog on a lead when crossing through fields that contain livestock. However don’t hang onto your dog if you are threatened by cattle, let it go as the cattle will chase the dog.
    Stick to public right of ways.
    When at home:
    Make sure you know where your dog is at all times.
    Ensure that your property is secure and that your dog cannot escape day or night.
    If you know your dog has previously chased or attacked sheep then take responsible measures to prevent it happening again.

Farmers, landowners, livestock owners

  • Dial 101 to report incidents of livestock worrying to West Mercia Police and:
    Take photographs of injuries to the livestock.
    If you are able to, secure the dog until the police arrive so that evidence can be gathered to identify the owner of the dog.
    Put signs up on gateways alerting dog walkers to the presence of livestock in the fields.
    If sufficient evidence is available the police can prosecute the dog owner on your behalf.
    Compensation for damage caused is a civil matter between you and the dog owner.

Village Hall Gates

In response to anti-social behaviour and illegal activities, which has involved the police, the Village Hall trustees will be installing gates at the entrance & exit to the car park and parking post in the service road.

Gates will only to be opened for the duration of the hire period and will be locked at the end of each hire. This will prevent unauthorised vehicles accessing the car park and deter anti-social & illegal activities, which have included drug dealing.

To restrict vehicle movements during a hire period, hirers will be allowed to shut the gates.

With several users reporting near misses of vehicles using the service road to do a “u-turn” and an intervention by the local police, posts will be installed prohibiting vehicle access. The posts will only be retracted for emergency vehicles or with the authorisation of the trustees.

The Village Hall trustees appreciate that the gates may inconvenience some motorists, however, our duty is to provide a safe venue for Hall users.

Dog Fouling in the Village

In response to residents’ concerns, volunteers from the Community Association have this morning cleared dog faeces from the cut grass verge along Brook Road.

For some having a dog leave its mess on the path, cut grass verge, recreation ground or on someone’s garden appears to be a laughing matter. Last year an elderly resident stepped in some dog mess, unfortunately unknown to the resident there was a slight cut on her foot and she became infected, subsequently requiring hospital treatment.

Please spread the word, clear up dog mess after your dog has defecated.
Place dog poo bags in the bin, not on a tree, hedge, railings, side of road etc.

To report dog fouling please complete the online form http://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/my-place/street-cleaning/litter,-street-cleaning,-dead-animals-and-street-name-plates.aspx

Is crime harming your community?

If you have any information about criminal activity and you know who is responsible but you feel that you can not go to the police because you are scared that it would mean going to court and giving evidence, or you are scared of what might happen to you or your family if those responsible find out? You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and tell them what you know. You will remain 100% anonymous.

Always!

Just tell them what you know, not who you are.

Contact Crimestoppers about crime anonymously:

Tel: 0800 555 111
Website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Twitter: @CrimestoppersUK

Using SMS to contact the 999 service in an emergency

Do you know about the EmergencySMS service?

It is a valuable tool that can be shared with our communities, partners and even families and friends.

It assists anyone who may have communication difficulties with contacting the police or other emergency services.

The service is free and allows you to use text messaging to get in touch with any of the UK 999 services (police, ambulance, fire and rescue or coastguard).

It is available for anyone who finds making a voice call difficult, has communication difficulties, is deaf and includes members of the autistic community.

To use the service you need to pre-register your phone on the website. For further details go to – http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/

Traffic Issues – Background and Update on What Is Being Done to Address the Issue

During a visit to a FVCA meeting in February 2017, the Chief Constable recognised that there was an issue with regard speeding through the village and suggested that the following measures needed to be adopted:

1. Psychological interventions e.g. signs,

2. Enforcement and

3. Engineering work.

The first two have been achieved, with better signage in the village, a speed limit that is now enforceable (at the time the Traffic Regulation Order for Stourbridge Road was non-compliant) and now visits by the Mobile Enforcement Officer. The Safer Road Partnership found that the road through the village was of concern, in fact the speeds can be so high that it is deemed unsafe to operate Community Speedwatch.

The last things that needs to be done is Engineering Works. FVCA in partnership with the Parish Council, having considered the options and the community impact (residents, school, businesse, etc), have suggested suitable works for consideration by Highways. It is vital that any works are effective and have minimal negative impact on the community (residents, businesses, school, etc).

Residents, School Parents, Commuters etc are invited to email Cllr Alan Amos, Cabinet Portfolio holder for Highways, detailing their experiences and personal observations. This will help focus his mind as he considers our suggested works, i.e. works before the entrance to the village to slow down traffic and a traffic table between school drive and the post office. Please email Cllr. Amos at AAmos@worcestershire.gov.uk Please copy your email to Cllr Shirley Webb swebb2@worcestershire.gov.uk

Of course, people will be wanting more. A systematic step by step approach is required.

It is worth noting that a pedestrian crossing was considered in 2016, the cost would be £100,000 + (cost of build, consultants, electricity, etc) and the County Council said that there was a long waiting list. The works that are being proposed would provide traffic calming across the village (Stourbridge Road), whereas a pedestrian crossing provides a one-point piece of calming that in reality will only be effective when someone wants to cross the road.

Even though the County Council have trialled 20mph zones outside schools located on minor roads, the Council will not adopt a similar policy on a main B-road, i.e. Stourbridge Road.

Parking restrictions do have a part to play with regard accessibility for pedestrians, especially for enabling safe accessibility for young children, the elderly and people with mobility issues. FVCA are urging Highways to adopt strategically placed lines that have minimal negative impact. Before adoption, any further parking restrictions will need consultation.

Lastly, the Parish Council have agreed to consider an extension to the Recreation Ground carpark. Unfortunately, we need someone with planning experience to help guide us through the maze that is Green Belt regulations. If you or you know anyone that can assist us do please contact fvcommunityassociation@outlook.com

318 Bus Update

13th July 2018

Kev’s Coaches have been awarded the contract to operate the 318 Service from 2nd September.

Kevin will be at August’s Community Meeting (Monday 6th, 7.30pm, Fairfield Villa Club House) to discuss community requirements and issues – please attend.

14th May 2018

Update received from Cty Cllr Webb “The replacement service is currently out to tender and an extension has been agreed with Diamond buses to align the start dates, the service will continue with Diamond bus until September.”

21st February 2018

Diamond Buses have acquired Central Buses – From Monday 26th February 2018, Central Buses services will be operated by Diamond Buses.

Diamond last year announced that they would be withdrawing from the 318 service, the service was re-tendered and awarded to Central Buses, delivering the 318 service from 26th February 2018.

The County Council’s commercial team have been in discussions and have decided not to novate the contract to Diamond buses but to re-tender the 318 again. The County Council have agreed to an extension of the 318’s current operation with Diamond buses until the 3rd June 2018 to allow the commercial team time to complete a tender exercise.

5th January 2018

Central Buses will replace Diamond to deliver the 318 bus service. There will be no break in service.

4th December 2017

Diamond will continue to operate the service to the current timetable including Fairfield until the 25th of February 2018, the County Council will be going out to tender for a longer term option.

1st December 2017

Diamond Cancels 318 Bus Service: Linking Fairfield to Catshill, Bromsgrove, Belbroughton & Stourbridge

It was announced by Worcestershire County Council on Thursday 30th November 2017 that Diamond are withdrawing this partially subsided and partly commercial service. The County Council are in discussions with operators to provide a replacement contract for a similar service on Mondays to Saturdays.

County Hall have confirmed that Diamond are withdrawing from the 318 bus service with effect from 2nd January 2018, i.e. the scheduled last Diamond Bus Service will be on Saturday 30th December 2017.

FVCA has raised concerns with local County Councillor Shirley Webb. Withdrawal of the bus service will impact many residents, including school children and the elderly.

FVCA have been informed that the County Council are considering replacement services, further details are not known. Cllr Webb has said she will update FVCA when she has further news.

In the meantime, FVCA has asked the Parish Council to discuss the issue as a matter of urgency and it will also be discussed at the FVCA meeting on Saturday 9th December (10am, Village Hall), open to all residents.

Financial Support For Elderly Residents

Did you know that Belbroughton United Charities provides grants for the relief of poverty for the elderly residents in the Parish of Belbroughton & Fairfield.

If you know of an elderly resident in the Parish struggling to pay their bills, keeping their home warm or have little food to eat Belbroughton United Charities offers one off grants.

To apply or for more information contact:

Pauline Jones

Telephone: 0121 453 7785

Email: pjones45650@btinternet.com