Plans for Shrewsbury’s
North West Relief Road were recommended to be shelved
at a Shropshire Council scrutiny meeting last night.
The Development Services Scrutiny
Panel agreed to recommend to the full Council no further
work should be done on developing the North West Relief
Road.
Andy Boddington, Chairman of CPRE
Shropshire said: “This is a good result for Shrewsbury
and for Shropshire. The public were absolutely clear
in their responses to the Council’s consultation
that their priorities are improving public transport
and cycle facilities, making life better for pedestrians
and enhancing park and ride.
“Shropshire Council’s
own plan for the next 20 years directs it to promote
“quality public transport, cycling and walking,
and help reduce car dependency.” We are calling
on the Council to deliver this commitment by going one
step further. It should strike this destructive and
unnecessary road from their plans forever.”
Preparations are now almost
complete ahead of a Crime Prevention Roadshow that is
taking place on the Forest Glen Car Park at The Wrekin
on Saturday 17th July.
The event – which will run from 10am until 4pm –
has been organised by PC Judith Macpherson – Local
Police Officer for the Wellington Rural ward – and
the Local Policing Teams based at Wellington Police Station
with support from Telford & Wrekin’s Safer and
Stronger Communities Partnership and the Shropshire Wildlife
Trust.
PC Fred Jones – West Mercia Police’s Crime
Risk Manager in Telford - and Telford’s Neighbourhood
Watch Administrator Mrs Anne Walker will also be on hand
to speak to the public and offer tips on how to keep your
valuables safe and secure.
Speaking about the event, PC Macpherson said: “The
main aim of this roadshow is to remind people using The
Wrekin they should do all they can to protect themselves
against becoming a victim of car crime. The Wrekin often
becomes a hot spot for vehicle crime during the summer
because opportunist thieves know that people will be parking
their cars up and then going for long walks meaning their
vehicles are unattended for some time.
“With that in mind, this crime prevention event
will be targeting people using The Wrekin and reminding
them about the dangers of leaving expensive items in unattended
vehicles – especially if they are left in full view.
Items generally stolen in this type of incident include
mobile phones, sat navs and wallets or handbags and it’s
a fact that most offences are carried out by opportunist
thieves.
“By removing anything of value from your vehicle,
the risk of it being broken into is significantly reduced.
Leaving valuable items inside, especially if they are
on show, is an open invitation for thieves to break in.
“We have been working with the Shropshire Wildlife
Trust for some time to ensure we have posters and warning
messages displayed on noticeboards in more rural, secluded
areas where vehicles might be at risk. We are very grateful
for their support in helping us with our awareness campaign.
“It takes just seconds to smash a window and remove
items. It also takes just seconds to take everything valuable
with you when you leave your vehicle. Even a simple act
like wiping the sat nav sucker mark from your windscreen
will further reduce the chance of your car being attacked.”
To find out more about keeping your vehicles safe and
secure, please log on to the West Mercia Police website
at http://www.westmercia.police.uk.
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Firefighters visit Shropshire householders to give
fire safety advice especially on the urgency of
having working smoke alarms. |
A
family is trapped when fire breaks out in their
home because they didn’t have a working
smoke alarm – that is the stark message
for Shropshire householders in an eye-catching
demonstration of a house fire - the first of its
kind at the centre of a busy housing estate.
Actors will recreate the family’s panic
while smoke fills the three-bedroomed semi of
an empty Wrekin Housing Trust property in less
than two minutes in the drama due to unfold on
July 29.
Firefighters deliberately chose a Telford housing
estate in Donnington – an area hit by a
high number of property fires – to highlight
that most people have a smoke alarm but only a
small number test they work properly.
“People are unaware that you are more than
twice as likely to die in an accidental house
fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm,”
said organiser Ian Leigh, Blue Watch Manager who
has co-ordinated the unique Shropshire event with
the help of the Donnington Partnership, including
police, Wrekin Housing Trust, residents and Telford
& Wrekin Council.
“We aim to help people understand the dangers
and consequences of not having a working smoke
alarm by showing what happens when you do have
a working smoke alarm and then comparing it to
a home without one.”
Firefighters and ambulance will arrive at the
scene in Park Road at around 6pm as smoke billows
out of the windows with actors, who regularly
help in training exercises for the emergency services,
rescued blackened and choking from the home while
paramedics attempt to resuscitate a child actor.
A sharp comparison will be made with the same
family earlier escaping unhurt from the same premises
alerted by the alarm which detects the smoke in
time for them to get out safely.
Constable Nikki Scott of the Local Policing Team
said: "This will be an excellent way of educating
residents in the Donnington area on the need for
smoke detectors in the home and also help target
anti social behaviour and fire setting which sometimes
occur in the area.
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House fires across the county have reduced considerably
since Shropshire firefighters initiated a pioneering
scheme a decade ago to promote smoke detectors
in county homes. They were among the first fire
and rescue services in the UK to do so. Since
their campaign, thousands of Shropshire homes
now have them installed – but not enough
check them regularly to ensure they work.
“Having a smoke detector is one thing, making
sure it works is another. It is difficult to get
over the nature of a house fire and how quickly
smoke spreads and just how important it is to
get out quickly. In this demonstration we aim
to show just that,” added the firefighter.
The fire and rescue service’s Outreach education
vehicle will be at the scene to give information
to residents after the event including advice
on testing smoke alarms weekly or installing one
with a ten year battery life which should be tested
annually.
Statistics for Shropshire reveal that about 47
per cent of homes have a smoke alarm installed
but the number of non working detectors rose last
year from 12 to 20 per cent.
Free home fire safety checks are offered to all
by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service on 01743
260298 or call a community fire safety officer
on 01743 260260 or visit the website www.shropshirefire.gov.uk
Three roads with access
to a section of Park Road will be closed to vehicles
between 5.45 and 8pm on the day. |
Police in Oswestry are appealing for information
after a man was assaulted by two men outside a house
in the town.
The victim, who is in his 30s, was walking up the driveway
to the address in Unicorn Road between about 7.10pm
and 7.15pm on Saturday when two men got out of a black
or dark coloured Volkswagen Golf.
They attacked the victim, knocking him to the ground
and punching him to the face, before getting back in
their car and making off towards College Road.
One offender was wearing a light blue jacket and the
other a white or light-coloured top. Both appeared to
be in their early 30s.
The man suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital
for a check-up, but was fortunately not seriously injured.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information
as to who the two offenders are is asked to contact
police on 0300 333 3000. Information can also be passed
on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where
a reward is sometimes offered and the operator will
not even ask for a name.
Government education inspectors say a Telford secondary
school is “rapidly improving” thanks to
substantial improvements in teaching and learning.
They say work by staff to improve the management of
teaching and learning at the Lord Silkin School in Stirchley
has resulted in students making much better progress
since the last inspection.
The OFSTED inspection of the 584 pupil school, which
took place in June, graded the school as satisfactory
overall.
The report said: “As a result of good management
of teaching and learning, inspectors saw mainly lessons
that were good or better and the satisfactory lessons
contained significant strengths.
“Students work hard in lessons because teachers
maintain a high pace and learning is regularly reviewed.”
It also points to positives such as robust monitoring
of students’ progress, students having positive
attitude to learning and taking pride in their work,
which in turn has led to good behaviour.
Councillor Stephen Burrell, cabinet member for children
and young people, said: “The school has made significant
strides since its last inspection and this positive
report has to be welcomed.
“We are aware there are still areas that require
work by both staff and pupils but all the signs are
that Lord Silkin is going in the right direction.
“As part of our programme to transform educational
sites across the borough, a new Sports and Learning
Community will be built on the site with two primary
schools co-located there along with community facilities
and specific sports specialisms.
“This exciting new development will provide state
of the art facilities for young people to learn in and
for the community to use and the current improvements
in the standard and quality of learning and teaching
will pave the way for a positive future.”
The new site at Stirchley will be known as the Lakeside
Sports and Learning Community and will incorporate the
existing Three Oaks and Stirchley Primary Schools as
well as the current Lord Silkin School.
AFC Telford United are encouraging supporters to attend
this Saturdays friendly against Unibond division one
north side Prescot Cables.
Admission to the game is free and the club are asking
supporters to pass the word on in an attempt to encourage
as many fans as possible to attend.
Please pass on the word amongst family, friends and
colleagues. Admission is FREE and entry is via any turnstiles
in the North and West Stands. Car parks and programmes
will be charged at normal prices.
Kick off is 3pm – help raise the profile of the
club by bringing along as many people as possible.
The Learning Centre Bar will open at 12.30.
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Councillor James Gibson - Chair of the StrettonDale
LJC and Local Member for Church Stretton and Craven
Arms division and Councillor Cecilia Motley, Local
Member for Corvedale division outside the entrance
at Acton Scott which will be the venue for the open
tour. |
Acton Scott Farm Museum will be the setting for
a stimulating open tour and meeting to explore
how all the visitors pulled in by the Victorian
Farm TV series can be tempted to make the most
of other attractions and facilities in the area.
The StrettonDale Local Joint Committee meeting,
which is due to take place on Thursday 22 July
at 5:45pm at the Farm Museum, will offer anybody
interested in promoting tourism in the area, as
well as members of the general public, the opportunity
to learn what the visitors to the museum want
and need from the Strettons area.
Councillor James Gibson, Chair of the StrettonDale
LJC said: “We know that visitors come from
miles around to visit the museum and places like
Cardingmill Valley.”
He added: “We want to find out what the
various tourism groups and initiatives in the
area think needs to be done to encourage these
visitors to stay longer and contribute to the
local economy. Some want the tranquillity, others
want physical excitement or family fun –
we can supply all of these in abundance.”
The evening will start with a free tour of the
museum guided by Michael Turner, Visitor Services
Manager of Acton Scott Farm Museum. After refreshments,
there will be presentations and discussion about
local tourism initiatives and the kind of investment
that could stimulate the local visitor economy.
Later the meeting will consider applications for
funding from The Rushbury School House Trustees,
the All Stretton History Group, the Mayfair Stroke
Group and the Silvester Horne Institute Charity.
For further information on the working of the
Local Joint Committee and grants please contact
Peter Dunhill, Shropshire Council’s Community
Regeneration Officer for the area on 01746 713230
or 07837 718556 or by emailing peter.dunhill@shropshire.gov.uk
The closing date for the next round of grant giving
is 27 August 2010. |
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Eleven colleagues from
Sainsbury’s on Telford Forge Retail Park
have been recognised by the company for their
success in completing Job related qualifications.
A Job Related Qualification
is a retail based award equivalent to 5 GCSEs
A*- C grades. It is a work-based learning programme
that fits directly into the training a colleague
receives in their role, and is free for them to
do.
Sandra Kingscott who achieved
her award this year, said “I’ve worked
for Sainsbury’s for 14 years and this is
the first time that something like this has been
available to colleagues. It fitted in well with
my regular work and will enable me to progress
in my career at Sainsbury’s”.
Gemma Garbett, Tina Booth,
Kerris Francis, Jane Green, Sarah Hester, Rob
Priestley, Sandra Kingscott, Lesley Ferriday,
Raj Kaur, Celly Green and Faye Lamb all completed
their NVQs and are some of the first colleagues
in Sainsbury’s to achieve them.
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Linda Kiggell, Store Trainer said “We’re
delighted that the scheme has been so successful
and look forward to seeing more achievements in
store”.
Also
in the photograph is Store Manager, Ian Sutton and
Linda Kiggell, Store Trainer. |
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Ian Richards with some of the Dormer hangers.
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A leading Irish company with a Shropshire connection
has been defying the effects of the recession
and enjoying success at home and abroad –
by launching an innovative new product, and setting
up a new online retail venture.
Based in Castlebellingham, a small town 45 miles
north of Dublin, Smallwares Limited is a family-run
firm that designs and manufactures a wide range
of plastic products for the retail, construction
and food packaging sectors. The company employs
30 people.
And one family member helping to ensure the success
of the company is Ian Richards, 36, from Shrewsbury,
a qualified accountant who moved to Ireland after
marrying Smallwares’ Managing Director Ann
Jevens in 2004 and who now helps to run the firm.
Smallwares’ main products include a range
of plastic clothes hangers for retailers –
including the new ‘Dormer Hanger’
– the world’s leading fully-recyclable
clothes hanger, designed specifically for dry
cleaners.
The hanger is made from recycled plastic that
was originally used to make products such as car
bumpers or contact lenses. It can be reused multiple
times as it does not lose its shape.
At the end of its life the Dormer Hanger can be
ground up to make another hanger or another plastic
product. The metal hook can be recycled and used
in another hanger.
Launched in 2009 the Dormer Hanger is being sold
to a growing number of dry cleaners in Ireland
and UK. There is also strong interest in the USA.
Initial trial orders have been sent to dry cleaners
in New York and a dry cleaner in Beverley Hills
has just placed an order - so the hangers will
soon be off to Hollywood!
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The hanger is promoted through Dormer (Ireland)
Limited, Smallwares' sister company, which is the
leading supplier of dry cleaning and laundry products
across Ireland.
To expand their customer base, and help protect
the jobs of their staff during the economic downturn,
Smallwares has recently launched a brand new company
- www.babywearbrands.com
- offering well-known branded clothing, toys, gifts
and accessories for babies and children up to the
age of 12.
Ian Richards was born in Shrewsbury and attended
Priory School in Shrewsbury, and Shrewsbury Sixth
Form College. After graduating from Bangor University
he trained as a Chartered Accountant with Shropshire
firm Whittingham Riddell.
His wife Ann inherited the business from her father
William, who in his retirement is still busy designing
new products.
Ian said: “Moving from Shropshire to live
and work in Ireland has been an exciting and enjoyable
time for me, and helping to run Smallwares, particularly
during the worst of the recession, has been a challenging
but extremely rewarding experience.
“We’re delighted with the success of
the Dormer hanger so far. Smalllwares is conscious
of promoting environmentally- friendly products
wherever possible and the aim is to replace the
wire hanger traditionally used by dry cleaners which
easily loses shape, often entering landfill after
a single use, and also which provides poor garment
presentation.
“We estimate from our knowledge of the dry
cleaning sector that at least 50 million wire hangers
are used in Ireland and UK each year, and most of
these will be used only once before entering the
waste stream.
“We are also very excited about our new venture
- babywearbrands.com – which offers the opportunity
to increase our customer base significantly and
our target market is both Ireland and UK.
“Our knowledge of the retail sector showed
that more and more clothing and toys are being sold
online. Also, as many of our customers are quieter
because of the recession, we wanted to expand our
range of products and our customer base, supplying
consumers rather than only supplying businesses.
“Importantly we also want to protect the 30
jobs at our site in Castlebellingham. With the benefit
of 60,000 square feet of warehouse space we have
plenty of room for storing garments and can therefore
offer very competitive prices.
“Selling online will only grow as people get
more and more used to shopping from the comfort
of their home at any time of the day. This suits
the busy lifestyle that most people have nowadays.
“Being born and bred in Shrewsbury it would
be fantastic to find some new customers in Shropshire!” |
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