Local Updates from Shifnal, Tong and Albrighton

I have again this week received a lot of correspondence regarding local issues including highways, lighting, and maintenance of green spaces. If you want to report a matter directly to me, please contact me at ebirdshropshire@gmail.com.

Issues Reported

I reported a broken utility cover in Station Road, Albrighton following a post on Facebook.  I am pleased to say this has now been fixed.

I have reported flood risks at the top of Barclay close which affects several bungalows in the road.  Residents were extremely concerned as previous flooding had affected their ability to obtain flood insurance for their properties. 

Shropshire Council have responded to my recent enquiry about lamp columns outside 1 and 2 Barclay Close, Albrighton. They have confirmed that they currently have 2 live jobs with their contractors, Kier.  One fault is for Lamp column 1 situated between house properties 3 & 5 the other for lamp column no. 2 outside property no. 4.  Both jobs are to install complete new 6 metre columns with LED lanterns on the top. 

I have notified Shropshire Council of my concerns about an overgrown area of land near Windsor road, Albrighton.

Finally, I am hopeful of a positive resolution for residents of Hubbal Lane, Tong, who complained about HGV vehicles regularly driving up and down the lane, sometimes during anti-social hours.  I have received unconfirmed reports that the business concerned are planning to cease activity at that location. I have been lobbying on behalf of residents who consider this area unsuitable for HGV vehicles.  https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/shifnal/2021/03/24/residents-of-narrow-country-lane-near-shifnal-claim-hgvs-make-life-a-misery/

I will continue to deal with and act on any issues raised with me right up to the election on May 6^th. If you would like to contact me with your concerns, you can email me at ebirdshopshire@gmail.com.

Shifnal Town Council

This was a comparatively short meeting, dominated by the news that four members of the council will not be seeking re-election, most notably the Mayor, Robert Harrop.  Councillor Harrop has put a lot of time and effort into improving Shifnal over the years, not just in chairing the Town Council, but many of its various committees and in undertaking other civic duties.  He has led many initiatives for the Town, most recently in redeveloping the old police station at the back of the library, which we hope will provide a permanent base to West Mercia police.    

In other business:

• A locum clerk was appointed for the meeting to cover for the full time Town clerk.
• Designs for a new rain garden were approved.  I would like to commend Cllr. Zoe Turner who has led on this excellent initiative to replace the slabbing at the front of the Millennium Sensory garden near Innage Road, through the Estates Committee.
• The wall collapse at St Andrew’s has received quotations as required.  It was suggested that all parties should come together to discuss the current situation there.
• The office has received a communication by email from the Royal British Legion and permission was granted to site a tree in St. Andrew’s Churchyard. This is now in situ.

You may also have seen on the notice board and on Facebook that the Annual Town Meeting will be held online on Tuesday 4^th May at 7pm.

The agenda is as follows:

1. Welcome by the Mayor of Shifnal, Councillor Mr. Robert Harrop
2. Questions from the public
3. West Mercia Police
4. Rain Garden
5. Millennium Sensory Garden
6. Shifnal Carnival
7. Shifnal Help
8. Shifnal & Priorslee Medical Practice
9. Local Plan
10. Mayor’s Report

Latest coronavirus news – as of 29 April

54 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Shropshire between 16-22 April. 

Despite the increase, we continue to have one of the lowest infection rates in the region with 16.7 cases per 100,000, and once again there was zero COVID-19 deaths in our hospitals. 

However, this serves an important reminder that we must all continue to follow the Government guidance, get the vaccine when invited, and use a Lateral Flow Test twice a week – even if you have had the jab. 

Hospitals reintroduce access for parents of babies at Neonatal Unit

Parents and guardians of babies receiving care on the Neonatal Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford will be able to spend time with their baby whenever they want after restrictions brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic were relaxed.

Two parents, or a parent and named guardian, are now able to visit the unit together and have access to the unit at any time, day or night.

Visiting arrangements in care homes

Yesterday (28 April), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) updated the guidance on visiting arrangements in care homes to clarify that named visitors should be tested using rapid Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) on the day of every visit.

Earlier this month, DHSC also updated the information on essential care givers and added a new section on visits involving children and young people aged under 18 and guidance on what steps providers can take to reduce the risks around a visit outside of a care home.

Information, advice and support

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating or shielding), visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus for information, advice, guidance and support available for residents and businesses in Shropshire no matter what your circumstances.

Letter to councils on High Court judgment – council meetings

On 29 April, the Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall MP, wrote to council leaders in England about yesterday’s (28 April) High Court judgment confirming that the Local Government Act 1972 does not permit councils to hold meetings remotely.

The High Court concluded that existing legislation specifies that council meetings must take place in person at a single, specified, geographical location and being “present” at such a meeting involves physical presence at that location.

In the letter, the Minister also confirmed that regulations which have allowed councils to meet remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak, do not apply to meetings after 6 May and added that, as explained in his letter of 25 March, the government has concluded that it is not possible to secure primary legislation to extend the regulations to meetings beyond this date.