Young black spaniel lost on Burton Dassett on 19 February 2024. Please call 07915 029 230 with any sightings.

As you may already be aware, the UK’s telephone network is changing. By the end of 2025, most phone providers will have moved their customers from landlines served by the old analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to new upgraded services which use digital technology. This is commonly referred to as the ‘Digital Switchover’.

Why is this happening?

The PSTN or ‘copper landline network’ is nearing the end of its life. It is becoming increasingly unreliable and more expensive to maintain. The new digital network will provide a more resilient, reliable, sustainable and energy-efficient phone service for decades to come.

It will also provide customers with other benefits including clearer calls and extra features that will include blocking most scam and nuisance calls, offering customers better protection against fraud.

When is this happening?

Around 90% of all Warwickshire residents and businesses currently receive their service from one of the ‘big four’ fixed landline providers: BT (BT Business & BT Consumer Group), VMO2, Sky and TalkTalk.

VMO2 have already completed the switchover for the vast majority of their Warwickshire customers, while those in the Atherstone area of North Warwickshire due to be migrated in August 2024.

The situation with Sky and Talk Talk is slightly different. As most of their customers do not receive their phone services via the PSTN network that Openreach is switching off, there isn’t the same requirement to switch their phone lines over.

As for BT Consumer Group – the largest provider of residential fixed line phone services in the UK, they will start the migration of customers to their Digital Voice network in the Solihull and Warwickshire areas in February 2024.

They have a number of drop-in sessions planned across the region in the coming weeks to address any issues or concerns that customers may have about the switchover process. More information on events in your area can be found by visiting: Digital Voice Events | Digital Home Phone | BT

Each of the phone service providers has extensive plans in place to notify affected customers well in advance of their switchover date. This includes providing them with easy to understand step-by-step instructions of what they will need to do on the day to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.

Drawbacks and further advice:

One of the main drawbacks of the new digital network is that differences between the two technologies means that there is a risk that devices that currently rely on the old network – such as telecare devices – will not necessarily work when switched over to the digital one.

All telecoms providers have plans in place to provide extra support to their more vulnerable customers and all have now signed up to a charter agreeing that they will not migrate vulnerable customers over to the new digital network until they are sure that a compatible telecare solution is in place.

However, if you think that you or someone you know may be affected by this, we would advise that you to get in touch with the phone service provider to ensure they are aware of the situation.

Another drawback is that your new digital landline may not work if there is a power cut. Openreach are working with the government and the power networks to help make the digital phone network more resilient in the event of any power outages.

Those with access to a mobile phone are advised to ensure these are sufficiently charged so that in the event of a blackout, calls – including those to emergency services – can still be made.

Battery back-up solutions can also be purchased and OFCOM has stated that if an ‘at-risk’ customer does not have any other means available, their telecoms provider must offer a solution to allow calls to be made to the emergency services. Your phone service provider will be able to provide more information on this.

Finally, it is worth noting that BT Business are following a totally separate migration rollout plan for their customers compared to BT Consumer Group. If you are a BT Business customer, we suggest you contact them to discuss the migration of your phone services to the digital network.

Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has distributed two ‘Dead Slow’ boards to Avon Dassett to help improve the safety of horse and riders whilst using roads in the village.

The boards, produced in partnership with the British Horse Society and Warwickshire Horse Watch, ask drivers to pass horses wide – two metres – and slow – 10mph or less.

This reflects the new 2022 Highway Code that is now specific about what drivers and motorcyclists need to do to safely pass horses. Those travelling on two wheels such as off road bikes and motorbikes with a loud engine can be particularly challenging for horses. These road users should be prepared to stop and turn their engine off.

The signs have been erected just over a year after an accident where a rider was seriously injured and her horse was killed in Kineton.

Have you seen a dangerous pothole that needs fixing?

Report it to Warwickshire County Council here and they aim to report back within 5 working days.

https://services.warwickshire.gov.uk/report-a-pothole/

Advance notice of a local road closure:

• Dassett Road, Avon Dassett will be closed between 15/04/2024 and 17/04/2024

More details will follow including any diversions.

The latest newsletter from the Southam Safer Neighbourhood Team is now available with information on local property crimes and suspicious vehicles, as well as advice on road safety, wildlife and romance crime!

The bridge between junctions 7 (M6 J4) and 6 (NEC, Resorts World, Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International Railway Station) was struck on two occasions earlier this month. Since then, the southbound carriageway has been reduced to two lanes for safety
reasons.

The bridge, which has been hit some 20 times in the last 10 years, is due to be removed under a full closure of the M42 from 9pm on Friday, 9 February to 5am on Monday, 12 February.

Weeknight closures: 29 January – 9 February (10pm – 5am)

To prepare the site for the works, there will be full overnight closures on the M42 between junctions 6 and 9 in both directions from 10pm to 5am each weekday night, between Monday, 29 January – Friday 9 February.
Full weekend closure: 9 – 12 February

The bridge will be removed under a full closure of the M42 between junctions 6 and 9 from 9pm in both directions on Friday, 9 February to 5am on Monday, 12 February.

A clearly signed diversion route and signage will be in place over this period to help remind motorists of the closure.

You can still get to where you need to go but you’ll need to follow the diversion, plan ahead and leave more time for journeys.

For more information see this leaflet:

• M42 Closure

Entries are now open for Avon Dassett Soapbox Derby which takes place on 22 June 2024.

The Soapbox Derby is an exciting race, at high speed, on a challenging, twisty course.

See here for entry forms and race regulations.

Save the date for a brilliant, free, family day out!

Warwickshire County Council is responsible for around 1700 miles of public rights of way. These paths are both in the countryside and urban areas. They are important for enjoying and exploring, for travelling to work or school and for health and wellbeing. They are part of what makes Warwickshire a special place to live, work and enjoy.

A public right of way is a path that anyone has the legal right to use. There are four types:

• Footpaths for walking, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• Bridleways for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• Restricted byways for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs and horse-drawn carriages
• Byways for all modes including motorised vehicles

Every council that is responsible for public rights of way must have a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). This is a strategy which sets out how public rights of way meet the needs of the public, now and in the future. Our current Rights of Way Improvement Plan dates from 2011 and now needs to be reviewed.

We’d like to know about your experience of using our public rights of way, how important they are for you and what we should include in the new Rights of Way Improvement Plan. Your feedback will help to develop the priorities and actions of the new Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which will be produced later in 2024. Once the new Rights of Way Improvement Plan has been finalised and approved by the council it will be published on Warwickshire County Council’s website.

Please complete our survey by 7 April 2024:

• Link to survey

If you require a paper copy of the survey or an alternative format or language please email wccrowip@blackwoodbayne.co.uk or  paths@warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 413427.