We are very sorry to announce the death of Reg Watts (1926-2021) who passed away on the 11th September, peacefully in his sleep.
The funeral and wake will take place in the grounds of his home on 15th October from 12 noon.
Reg Watts at the launch of Avon Dassett Local History Group’s project on WW1 in 2018
We are sorry to announce the death of Edward (Ted) Cooper. He was the last Cooper living in Avon Dassett, who had also been born here, bringing to an end over 500 years of Cooper family history in the village.
Ted was born at 2, Lower End in 1937. He moved, with his parents, to Devonia, in the 1930s, where his family still live today.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership is asking all road users to please #ShareTheSpace as part of a national NPCC campaign between 6 -19 September 2021 that aims to improve the safety of the increasing numbers of cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and motorcyclists using the county’s roads.
During the campaign Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership will be distributing hi vis tabards and other hi vis items carrying the ‘Let’s Share the Space’ branding and Community Speed Watch groups will also be active to monitor speeds in local communities as lower speeds help to reduce death and injury on our roads.
Since lockdown we have seen a huge increase in the number of walkers and cyclists and people generally using our roads for leisure and this looks set to continue. The Government has said that in 2020 the number of miles cycled on British roads increased by 45.7% to 5bn.
Exercise is great for our mental and physical wellbeing and something we all want to encourage. However these road users need to feel safe and we are asking the public to be aware of these less protected road users and to give them more time and space in order to ensure their safety on our roads.
When we look at national road casualty statistics, the number of pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and horse riders that are fatally injured is low. However when we look at this per mile travelled more motorcyclists die on our roads each year than any other road user, followed by pedestrians and cyclists. This really puts things into perspective.
Even during lockdown in 2020, when less people were using the roads, 2 (4 in 2019) cyclists, 3 (12 in 2019) bikers and 2 (8 in 2019) pedestrians lost their lives on Warwickshire’s roads.
Vehicle drivers looking out for vulnerable road users is only part of the picture however. During the campaign we will also be offering advice to cyclists, walkers, horse riders and bikers on what they can do to help keep themselves safe on the roads.
This includes reporting and submitting digital footage showing potential moving traffic offences including dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists to Warwickshire Police via Operation Snap https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/operationsnap
PS Shaun Bridle said “Pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and horse riders do not have a metal shell around them like a driver does sitting in a vehicle and even relatively minor contact can seriously injure them. That’s why they need vehicles to ‘ShareTheSpace’ on the roads and pass pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders wide and slow.
“September is a peak month for motorcycle collisions and that’s why the campaign is happening now. The campaign also coincides with children returning to school after the summer break.”
WRSP Chair and Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, Philip Seccombe said “We are encouraging cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and bikers and all road users to take part in the current public consultation on the proposed road safety ‘Strategy to 2030’ as we need feedback from all road users. We all benefit from making it easier for people to cycle, walk and ride not only because of the huge benefits to people’s health by staying fit, but active travel also helps road congestion, improves air quality and the environment so please look after other road users and ‘ShareTheSpace’.”
The public consultation on Warwickshire’s road safety ‘Strategy to 2030’ can be found on the WRSP website www.warksroadsafety.org
WRSP also welcomes the publishing of the new version of The Highway Code in the autumn with a range of anticipated updates including a new hierarchy of road users that ensures road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others and strengthened pedestrian priority on pavements and when crossing or waiting to cross the road. WRSP is also anticipating new guidance on safe passing distances and speeds and around ensuring that cyclists have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead.
Please follow and like us on Facebook @WarwickshireRoadSafety and on Twitter @WarksRoadSafety or search #SharetheSpace. Please remember, we need your help to make our roads safer for everyone.
FREE mixed media arts workshop at the Graham Adams Centre, Southam, Thursday 26 August, 2-4 pm. Bring an object that reminds you of the pandemic.
For more information and to book email jenny@artsuplift.co.uk or phone 07946 585978
For all those who walk, cycle, ride and drive on the county roads.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership asks public for views on new road safety Strategy to 2030
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership (WRSP) is asking the public for their views on how the county’s roads can be made safer by taking part in a public consultation on a new Warwickshire road safety ‘Strategy to 2030’. The public consultation starts today 18 August and can be viewed here www.warksroadsafety.org
Key partners, including Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire and Highways England are developing the strategy together with external consultant Agilysis and now need the public’s input.
WRSP Chair and Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire Philip Seccombe said “This is an important document as it sets out the long term vision for Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, detailing the activities, structure and objectives up to 2030 and also includes how road safety activities will be evaluated.
“To continue to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Warwickshire’s roads, we need the public’s support and involvement. That’s why we are keen to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this public consultation to have their say.”
WCC Councillor Wallace Redford, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning said “The partnership is keen to harness the increase in cycling and walking rates during 2020 due to the global pandemic and UK lockdown. These active travel choices bring many health and wellbeing benefits as well as a positive impact on the environment. Promoting active travel forms part of the new Strategy to 2030 and we would like to hear the public’s views on this.
The proposed Partnership vision is:
‘Using an evidence based Safe System approach, we will strive to eliminate fatal and serious casualties, thereby creating a safe road environment which will encourage active and sustainable travel.’
Warwickshire Police Chief Constable Debbie Tedds said “Whilst it is pleasing to see a downward trend in the number of people killed or seriously injured on Warwickshire’s roads and the impact and devastation this causes to individuals lives, as a partnership, we need to see this continue to reduce further. This new Road Safety Strategy to 2030 adopts an ambitious target of a 50% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2030, working towards ‘Vision Zero’.
“Whilst protecting all road users from harm continues to be one of our priorities for our officers and staff, the number of road fatalities and severe injuries has plateaued in recent years which is why, as a partnership we are proposing a new approach to help protect people on our roads.”
The partnership is proposing a new ‘Safe System’ approach where the whole system is designed to help protect people on our roads.
This definition from ‘Towards Zero Foundation, 2020’ explains what a Safe System is.
To help build a safe road system that is forgiving of mistakes, investment needs to be made in the creation of Safe Roads, Safe Speeds, Safe Vehicles, Safe People and Post Collision Care to put layers of protection around people to keep them safe from death and serious injuries on the road. All parts of the road system must be strengthened in combination to multiply the protective effects and if one part of the system fails, the other parts will still protect people.
Highways England Assistant Regional Safety Coordinator, Marie Biddulph, said “Safety is always our number one priority and we believe no-one should come to harm when travelling or working on our roads.
“Highways England are responsible for maintaining the motorways and major A roads, including the A45 and A46, in Warwickshire and we are committed to meeting a target of zero injuries or deaths on our UK road network by 2040. That’s why we fully support the ‘Safe Systems’ approach and would welcome people’s thoughts and input on it.”
Chief Fire Officer Ben Brook “We are really looking forward to working with local communities in Warwickshire to help create a safer road environment for everyone. The partnership will be looking at how vehicles, roads and roadsides can be improved to protect people and we will also be looking at how we can encourage the public to play their part too by using the roads safely.
It’s also important to remember that whilst the strategy paints the broad picture, due to the length of time it covers, the detail will need to be flexible to take into consideration factors such as shifts towards cycling and walking, and away from public transport as well as the financial environment.
To take part in the public consultation please click here www.warksroadsafety.org The consultation closes on 15 September and the final WRSP ‘Strategy to 2030’ will be published in October 2021.
The popular village coffee mornings will resume on 8 September at 11 am and thereafter every first WEDNESDAY in the month from 11-1 in the Reading Room
The coffee mornings are sponsored by Avon Dassett Parish Council.
A planning application that proposed to build two large houses on farmland adjacent to the Grade II listed, historic house of Avon Carrow was refused by Stratford District Council on 18 August. Avon Carrow was built by Cecil Boyle at the end of the nineteenth century. It was bought by the Profumo family in 1926 and it was from the Carrow that John Profumo escaped the press when the spy scandal was exposed in 1963.
The planning officer at Stratford recommended that the application be refused on two grounds:
1. The placement of new residential development outside of the existing settlement pattern detracted from and confused the legibility of the established characteristics of the village Conservation Area. The proposal, thus would negatively affect the existing experience of Avon Carrow as the dominant element within the landscape on the south east side of the village. As such, harm would be caused to the buildings’ special historic and architectural interest and the development would therefore fail to preserve the setting of the Listed Building.
2. The proposal would introduce residential development into an open and green agricultural setting and not be sensitive to the Special Landscape Area.
In proposing the motion to support the planning officer’s recommendation and refuse the application, Councillor Louis Adam (Long Itchington and Stockton) said that he had to take into account the numerous objections from local residents. Councillor Bill Fleming(Bidford West and Salford) who seconded the motion noted that over 20 objections had been received which was striking for such a small village.
The proposal to refuse the planning application was carried by 6 votes to 2.
There will be a pleasure ride around the farmland of Avon Dassett on Thursday 19 August at 6 pm. Meet at Oxbow Farm, Avon Dassett. Cost: £20
Our next pop-up market will be on Saturday September 4th, 0930-1130 at The Yew Tree.
Support these great local businesses!
The Yew Tree will be serving breakfasts and the Shack hot drinks, ice creams and smoothies.
The market is supporting Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance
Come and have some Summer fun at Avon Dassett Village Social on 29 August at 3 pm.
There will be a village rounders match (runners provided!) followed by a BBQ (please bring your own food and drink, BBQs will be provided for cooking food)