Stratford District Council have produced this helpful leaflet explaining the help available with the rising energy prices:

• 2007 Energy Price Rise Leaflet

Dear Residents

The recent Parish Plan identified that Avon Dassett’s natural beauty and unspoilt nature was overwhelmingly the main reason why people enjoyed living in the village. It also recorded that the main improvements that residents wanted were for increased amenities, for example, the most requested was for allotments followed by a dog walking field as well as improved play activities, wild areas and village orchard.

A once in a lifetime opportunity has arisen for the community to purchase land in the centre of the village which would ensure the survival of the natural landscape as well as providing many opportunities to increase village amenities. The land is currently regularly  used by the village for walking and exercising dogs, so therefore there is proven evidence of heavy usage.

A steering group has been established to take this forward. The Parish Council have designed a questionnaire which will help provide evidence and input from residents for any community purchase. A Parish Council meeting on 7th March was well attended and encouraged the Parish Council to assist in taking this forward. As the auction is time tabled to go ahead before the end of the month, there is very little time. The Parish Council and steering group are exploring ways in which they can gain more time.

Please complete the questionnaire that has been delivered to you and add your support to safeguard the village environment.

Many Thanks

Trevor Gill

Michael Blakeman

Liz Hirst

Phil Baxter

Darrell Muffitt

             Public Health is currently working on a survey about local pharmacies to try and understand resident’s needs from their pharmacy service. The survey is open to everyone and only takes a couple of minutes to do.  If you would be able to complete it or circulate it, it would be very much appreciated.

Last chance to have your say on local pharmacy services.

Warwickshire and Coventry councils are asking residents to share their thoughts on their local pharmacy services.

The survey is open now and closes on 13^th March – have your say here.

Whether you use a pharmacy or not, your opinion is important to help us understand and deliver a service that meets local needs.

Your feedback will support the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment which will shape pharmacy services across both Coventry and Warwickshire.

The survey is available online, however, if you need a printed version please email your name and address to PNAsurvey@coventry.gov.uk or call 08085 834333

To find out more about the PNA, click here.

Please see a link to the latest newsletter here:

• https://fennycomptonandsheningtonsurgery.nhs.uk/patient-news/winter-2022/

The Local Government Boundary Commission is proposing that  Stratford on Avon District Council be represented by 41 councillors in 37 wards. Avon Dassett would join a new 2 member ward: Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton and Napton which will represent a projected electorate of 5,800. The government now need to approve the recommendations which will come into force for the local elections of 2023.

A new waste collection service will be delivered jointly to both Stratford-on-Avon District and Warwick District residents. This service will start in August 2022 and will introduce a 123+ service across the two districts.

What is the 123+ service?

1. Weekly food waste collection using food caddies (a small caddy for inside your property and a larger caddy to use outside and for collection).

2. Fortnightly dry recycling collection

3. Three-weekly refuse collection (using your existing grey wheeled bin).

+. Fortnightly chargeable garden waste collection .

Why are we doing this?

The current waste collection contracts for both councils will end at the same time, which means we can implement a combined service across the whole of South Warwickshire, serving 126,000 households

What are the benefits?

They are both environmental and financial:

• The 123+ service will support residents to be even better at recycling and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill or incineration
• The cost of treating and disposing of rubbish will reduce
• It will support the ambition of both councils to achieve carbon-neutral status by 2030

Recycling rates statistics

Our household recycling rates currently exceed the Government’s target of 50%. However, it is hoped that by moving to a 123+ system with weekly food waste collections, two weekly collections of dry recycling and three weekly non-recyclable waste collections, that we can do even better.

The combined service goes hand in hand with both councils’ commitment to tackling the issues around climate change and the environment. The new contract will bring with it more efficient vehicles and smarter routing as well as changes to food waste collection processes which will reduce the volume of harmful greenhouse gases entering our waste streams.

Further information

Frequently asked questions and answers will be updated regularly.

• 123+ frequently asked questions 

Contact

• Email: streetscene@stratford-dc.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01789 260616

Following on from the latest government announcements regarding Covid restrictions, the dedicated Avon Dassett Covid Helpline phone number, and it’s associated cost, will shortly be discontinued.

However, the email address (covid19@avondassettparishcouncil.com) will continue to be monitored for a further period and the volunteer WhatsApp group will also continue under a more general title.

If anyone has any Covid-related concerns or questions going forward where the Parish Council can assist, please continue to use the email address above, or contact Trevor Gill,  Chair, Avon Dassett Parish Council on adpc.chair@icloud.com  or by phone on 07775 762927.

Thanks to everyone who came to St John’s on 6 February. There was a good turnout and discussion of the results. For those unable to attend, the exhibition of the results will be able to view in the Reading Room during post office opening hours.

Many thanks to Candy and Anna for the delicious cakes and to Dave for the lights and much needed heating!

Next Steps

a) An action plan will be drawn up with the parish council

b) A draft report will be compiled and submitted to Stratford District Council for assessment

c) A final report will be published and submitted to Avon Dassett Parish Council for approval

d) The report will be distributed to each household in the village

e) The report will be submitted to Stratford for adoption

f) Once adopted the parish council will report annually on progress against the action plan

Can you help?

If you have any photographs of the village and/or its activities that could go in the final report please contact Liz Hirst or Sarah Richardson

A reminder to come to St John’s on Sunday 6 February between 11 and 1 to see the results of the Parish Plan questionnaire. Just to reassure people that there will be no formal votes on actions (we already have statistics from the questionnaire itself). There will be a fun activity though where visitors can put smiley or sad faces against particular actions and also add comments.

WHERE: St John the Baptist Church

WHEN: Sunday, 6 February, 1100-1300

REFRESHMENTS: Tea, coffee and cake will be served

Many thanks for completing the parish plan questionnaire. They have now all been analysed by Stratford District Council and there will be an exhibition in St John the Baptist Church to see the results.

You will be able to vote on some proposed actions and suggest others.

A formal report and action plan will be produced which will then go to Avon Dassett Parish Council for adoption. Each household in the village will get a copy of the report.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE EVENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR THOUGHTS ON ACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE VILLAGE.

If you are able to make a cake, please contact Liz Hirst on lidhirst@yahoo.co.uk or 07811 343556