Two cyclists were injured
after being knocked off their bikes by a car, which
failed to stop following the collision.
The incident, which happened on Monday July 5 but was
not reported to police until last Friday, took place
on the A4179 Much Wenlock to Telford road at about 7.30pm.
A red Vauxhall Astra is reported to have tried to overtake
the two cyclists on a bend towards the bottom of Buildwas
Hill. All were travelling towards Telford at the time.
A car was coming in the opposite direction and the Astra
driver pulled back in, colliding with the two cyclists
as they did so.
The driver did not stop and police have appealed for
anyone who knows his or her identity to contact police
as a matter of urgency.
Both men on the bikes were taken to hospital by ambulance.
One suffered hip and shoulder injuries and severe grazing
to his elbow and back.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information
which could assist the police investigation, especially
the driver travelling towards Much Wenlock that the
Astra driver pulled in to avoid, is asked to contact
police on 0300 333 3000.
Information, including that of the Astra driver’s
identity, can also be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers
on 0800 555 111, where a reward is sometimes offered.
Telford & Wrekin Council has announced that
free swimming for people aged 19 and under and over
45 will be extended until at least the end of the summer
holidays.
The council is also working on exploring potential alternative
sources of funding to allow the scheme to continue further,
although no guarantees can be given.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s announcement that
the free swimming scheme will continue for borough residents
through the summer holidays comes in the wake of a decision
by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to withdraw
national funding due to the poor state of the nation’s
finances.
Councillor Stephen Bentley, cabinet member for active
lifestyles, said: “While I am disappointed that
the government funding is to be withdrawn, the council
recognises that the decision taken at a national level
was based on evaluation of the outcomes of the first
year of the scheme.
“As a council, we very much recognise that in
times of hot weather, young people in particular are
drawn to water so it seems sensible and responsible
from a health and safety point of view to find a way
to extend the free swimming scheme throughout the summer
holidays.
“Therefore I am pleased to announce that the current
offer will be extended initially until the beginning
of September.
“This means that young people aged 19 and under
and people aged over 45 will be able to swim for free
over the summer and free family swim sessions will also
continue during this period.”
The extension of the scheme for borough residents only
is possible because of free swim funding carried forward
from the last financial year.
Central government grant funding was originally offered
to all local authorities in England to provide free
swimming for the over 60s and people aged 16 and under
for a period of two years from April 2009.
The council succeeded in extending the scheme by securing
additional funding through NHS Telford and Wrekin, which
meant that it was able to offer free swimming to people
aged 19 and under and over 45.
Councillor Bentley added: “We are awaiting confirmation
from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as
to the level of funding the council will receive up
until the end of July.
“In the meantime, the council will do everything
it can to ensure that those people disadvantaged by
the withdrawal of funding have access to a swimming
programme.”
Abandon the North West Relief Road and follow public
opinion by improving bus, cycle and park & ride
facilities. That’s the message from campaigners
against the North West Relief Road after Shropshire
Council published its report on its recent consultation
exercise.
Andy Boddington, Chairman of CPRE Shropshire says: “The
consultation gives a clear message. Two thirds of people
who responded to the survey say that public transport,
walking, cycling, and park and ride facilities should
be the top priority. Less than half list the North West
Relief Road as their main priority and nearly a third
of those who commented say the road should not be built.”
65% say that public transport, walking, cycling, and
park and ride facilities should be the top priority.
45% list the North West Relief Road as their main priority.
31% say the NWRR should not be built.
Andy continues: “This is a really exciting result
from the consultation. Even though more than half the
people consulted said they would like to see the North
West Relief Road built, the public are clear that their
main priority lies in environmentally friendly transport.”
Geoff Black, convenor of the No Way! Group believes
the survey gives the Council the arguments it needs
to throw the road proposal out for good. “On Tuesday
evening, Shropshire Council has an opportunity to call
a halt to this environmentally destructive project.
But while the road still exists in council plans and
planners’ imaginations, it will draw financial
and staff resources away from the public’s main
priority. That priority is improving alternatives to
driving.”
The Development Services Scrutiny
Panel will review Shropshire Council’s involvement
with the NWRR on this evening at 7pm.
Geoff continues: “Improving
cycling, walking, bus and park and ride facilities provides
a relatively low cost solution to Shrewsbury’s
traffic issues. They are solutions that can be implemented
now. There will be no money for the North West Relief
Road in the current financial climate. Even when public
finances improve, it is unlikely that this road will
be a priority against other more pressing needs.
Tonight, the council has the opportunity to say “no”
to this road. It must do so and concentrate its limited
resources on more effective and environmentally friendly
solutions.”
A Telford nursery school
and children’s centre has been hailed as “outstanding”
by government inspectors in a glowing report.
The Oakengates Nursery School and Children’s Centre
was inspected by OFSTED towards the end of last month
and the report says it has made significant progress
since its last inspection.
It is the second top rating the centre has received
from OFSTED this year after its day care service was
also rated as outstanding by a previous inspection.
“The school’s emphasis on nurturing children’s
personal, social and emotional development lies at the
heart of children’s outstanding achievement,”
it says.
“Children are exceedingly happy, secure and safe.
They are very content and at ease with the well-established
daily routines.”
It also says that the children’s spiritual, moral,
social and cultural development is outstanding and their
behaviour is excellent.
The leadership and management of the school and centre
are also praised in the report. The staff have been
encouraged to continue to increase the depth and breadth
of children’s vocabulary.
Head teacher Kay Darlington said: “We are delighted
that the hard work of everyone involved in the school
and the centre has been recognised. We will of course
be striving to maintain our existing high standards
and improve even further.”
Councillor Stephen Burrell, cabinet member for children
and young people, said: “The centre and the school
deserve a lot of credit for the start in life they are
giving the children that attend there and this report
is a vindication of the work they have put in.
“It is an excellent centre and the report makes
very positive reading for anyone connected with early
years provision in Telford and Wrekin.”
Residents living in Tibberton
near Newport are being reminded about a PACT Meeting
that is being held in the ward tonight.
PACT (Partners and Communities Together) will be staging
the meeting in a bid to allow members of the public
to discuss community issues with the various represented
organisations.
The meeting will take place at Tibberton Church Institute
starting at 7.30pm. PC Dave Hancocks, from the Newport
Rural Local Policing Team, has encouraged as many people
as possible to attend and share their thoughts with
the partner agencies in attendance.
He said: “Meetings like this act as a platform
for the residents of Tibberton to air their views about
any pressing issues they may have.
“Representatives from a number of agencies including
Telford & Wrekin Council and the Wrekin Housing
Trust will be attending the meeting alongside members
of the Newport Rural Local Policing Team.
“If you have anything at all you would like to
discuss, please come along on the night and talk to
us. By attending this meeting and sharing your views
you can make sure that the issues that matter to you
really are the ones that become our priority.”
Two Shrewsbury schools have written to police praising
the assistance given by a group of community support
officers who assisted with walking pupils to events
at the town’s theatre.
CSOs Ivan Collumbell, Lyn Birch and Derren Tomlinson
helped escort about 50 children from St George’s
Junior School in Woodfield Road to a concert at the
Theatre Severn at the end of June.
And on two other occasions, CSO Collumbell and Birch
were joined by CSOs Mark Barnes and Rob Taylor to help
up to 400 preparatory and senior pupils from Shrewsbury
High School to the same location to hold celebrations
for the 125th anniversary of the school.
Teachers from both have since written to West Mercia
Police to praise the officers for their actions.
The letter from St George’s said: “This
is just a quick note to say what a fantastic service
we received from three CSOs. They arrived very promptly
at school, discussed the route we were to take and then
we set off.
“The CSOs were great. The safety of the children
was vastly improved by their presence. They controlled
the traffic and crossed the group very professionally.”
And further praise came from Shrewsbury High School,
who turned to the police for help when staff realised
the difficulties in moving such a large group through
the busy town centre.
“The assistance we got from the community support
officers, in particular Ivan Collumbell, was outstanding,”
the letter said, praising the “exemplary attitude”
of the four officers.
“We were offered advice as to route planning,
we escorted along New Street during the heavy morning
traffic and along the towpath and brought back.
“At all times the officers were courteous and
helpful and we were delighted that this difficult situation
had been so successfully addressed.”
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Younsters on drill with Sgt Mark Fairhall
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Staff
at RAF Shawbury has been putting local youth groups
through their paces at the north Shropshire Airbase
on a series of Force Development Exercises.
The exercises focus on broadening
the social outlook of various youth groups through
a set of exercises designed to encourage good
behaviour through enjoyment and learning.
The visit was designated as Exercise 'Flying Start'
and included teaching by the Station Regiment
Flight in areas such as drill, weapons training,
setting up and living outdoors, high ropes, sports
and helicopter operations. The 2 day exercise
also included an exercise designed to encourage
team work and leadership.
The Exercise was organised
by Flight Lieutenant Kev Place, the Station Youth
Activities Liaison Officer in co-ordination with
WPC Lesley Mitchell and Community Support Officer
Liam Heathcote of the Wem Rural Police Team.
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Flight Lieutenant Place said,'RAF Shawbury is pleased
to be able to work with local Police and Community
Support groups to provide a 2 day course designed
to encourage teamwork and socially acceptable behaviour
through a range of exercises designed to be enjoyable
but with a serious learning point. Those who have
participated have had excellent time learning a
great deal from the Instructional staff.' |
Staff at RAF Shawbury has been putting local youth groups
through their paces at the north Shropshire Airbase
on a series of Force Development Exercises.
The exercises focus on broadening the social outlook
of various youth groups through a set of exercises designed
to encourage good behaviour through enjoyment and learning.
The visit was designated as Exercise 'Flying Start'
and included teaching by the Station Regiment Flight
in areas such as drill, weapons training, setting up
and living outdoors, high ropes, sports and helicopter
operations. The 2 day exercise also included an exercise
designed to encourage team work and leadership.
The Exercise was organised by Flight Lieutenant Kev
Place, the Station Youth Activities Liaison Officer
in co-ordination with WPC Lesley Mitchell and Community
Support Officer Liam Heathcote of the Wem Rural Police
Team.
Flight Lieutenant Place said,'RAF Shawbury is pleased
to be able to work with local Police and Community Support
groups to provide a 2 day course designed to encourage
teamwork and socially acceptable behaviour through a
range of exercises designed to be enjoyable but with
a serious learning point. Those who have participated
have had excellent time learning a great deal from the
Instructional staff.'
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The
Hive music and media centre in Shrewsbury is host
to an exciting performance of a classic Children's
tale this August.
If you’re looking for a fun activity for
a Tuesday afternoon during the summer break, join
The Hive on 10th August at 2pm, where the Sea
Legs Puppet Theatre Company will be performing
a new take on the traditional story that has inspired
many generations!
The story man goes in search of a new tale to
tell and his journey leads him through a Russian
forest, where he meets the grandfather of a boy
named Peter – who tells him the fascinating
story of the day his grandson caught a big hungry
wolf!
Tickets for this interactive performance are only
£6.50 for adults and £4.50 for children
– and the Hive recommends you book tickets
as soon as possible, to avoid any disappointment.
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The
Hive is also host to other exciting childrens theatre
shows throughout August; visit the Hive’s
website at www.hiveonline.org.uk
for more information.
To book tickets for Peter & the Wolf, contact
the Hive on 01743 234970 or come and see us in the
town centre, at 5 Belmont. |
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