Councillor Natalie Gist has put together a leaflet with information on the local and national organisations that support people who are struggling with their mental health:
The leaflet may also be found on our Health and Well-Being page.
Use Alexa to Manage Your Refuse Collection!
Stratford District Council have created an Alexa Skill that can be used on Amazon devices that are enabled with Alexa.
The skill is called Ask Stratford District Council and is free of charge, but you do need an Alexa enabled device and an Amazon account to use it.
The skill covers the Recycling and Waste service, and you can ask questions such as:
- Alexa, Ask Stratford District Council: When is my recycling collected?
- Alexa, Ask Stratford District Council: Can I recycle (then say the item)?
At the moment, the Amazon smart speaker is the only system we are working with. The skill is currently not available under Google Home or Apple HomePod.
Setting up and using the Alexa skill
Residents of Stratford-on-Avon district can now use their Amazon Echo device to find out information about our recycling service. For example, when their recycling collections are due.
To use the skill, it needs to be enabled first. This can be done in a number of ways:
- Via the Alexa App on your smart device. The Alexa App can be downloaded free of charge from the Play/Apple store.
- From the Amazon website
- By saying “Alexa, enable Stratford District Council” to your Echo device.
To use some of the skills functions, you will need to access the skill settings via the Alexa App.
Once the skill is enabled, you can use either the Alexa device or App to ask questions by saying:
Alexa, ask Stratford District Council
- When is my recycling collected?*
- How do I recycle (item or material)?
- Tell me about the Green Waste collection?
- What can I place in my recycling bin?
- What can I place in my green bin?
- How much is a bulky waste collection?
*requires your address details to be in the Alexa App
Please remember to use the phrase “ask Stratford District Council” after saying Alexa.
Privacy
The Alexa skill was made in conjunction with Cloud 9 Technologies. Their privacy policy can be viewed on their website.
New Community Meals on Wheels Service
We are pleased to announce that Warwickshire Rurul Community Council plans to launch a new Community Meals service.
Initially, the service will be very similar to that run by Apetito – we will deliver a hot meal to you during a specified time slot, check you are well and plate up your food where necessary. However, we do have ambitious plans for the future.
We have attempted to answer a few questions below, but you need to register your interest so we can keep you informed. You can do this by:
Telephone: call 01789 842182
Post: return the completed form by post
E-mail: send us an e-mail to cff@wrccrural.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is WRCC?
WRCC is a local registered charity that aims to support communities in Warwickshire and Solihull, focussing on rural communities. We’ve been around since 1937 and currently run community transport services, Warm Hubs, an oil buying syndicate and work in affordable housing and village halls. You can find out more about us on our website: www.wrccrural.org.uk
How will the new service work?
We hope it will be very similar to the way Apetito has operated in the past, though we have big ambitions to improve the service in the future.
What will the new service offer?
The service will offer similar food options. You will still be able to order special dietary choices. In time, you will also be able to order an evening snack. Where necessary, our staff will come into your home to plate up your meal and check everything is OK.
Who will be visiting my home?
All our staff will be fully trained and DBS checked.
When will the service start?
We hope to make the service available again in late July 2023.
How much will it cost?
When Apetito decided to stop running the service, Warwickshire County also decided not to commission a community meals service. Unfortunately, this means that the meals will not be subsidised anymore and we will also have to charge VAT. This is likely to increase the cost of the service to around £9.50 per meal, but we are working hard to reduce this if we can.
Register your interest and we will write to you with more details as soon as possible.
New Policing Model for Warwickshire
One of the drivers for a new policing model is to maximise the benefits of having the largest number of officers in Warwickshire in force history to meet ever-increasing demand effectively, and to provide the very best prevention, engagement and investigation services for communities.
Looking specifically at demand: the police are experiencing significant levels of demand on our 999 and 101 phone lines. While they will always prioritise answering 999 calls, the increased demand means an increased wait time for 101 calls, which causes many people to abandon their calls, to call again, or call 999 instead when they don’t really need to. This, in turn, impacts our ability to respond to the people who most urgently need police attendance.
They are therefore making changes to improve our ability to meet demand. The briefing below provides more detail on the new triage process for 101 calls, further improvements we are planning to make, and the positive impact we hope they will have for our communities.
Heritage Open Day Events Near Avon Dassett, 8-17 September
There is lots going on for the heritage open days (8-17 September 2023), with many sites normally closed to the public opened:
Upton House, Upton, Banbury, Warwickshire, OX15 6HT
Ladbroke Church, Church Road, Ladbroke, Warwickshire, CV47 2DF
St Anne’s Catholic Church, Wappenbury, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9DW
Church Hill, Bishops Tachbrook, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9RJ
Hanwell Castle, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 1HN
Louisa Ward Close, Marton, Warwickshire, CV23 9SA
Cemex Rugby Cement Plant, New Rugby Works, Lawford Road, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2RY
Princethorpe College, Leamington Road, Princethorpe, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9PX
St James Church , Park Lane, Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 0JA
All Saints’ Church , Church Road, Ladbroke, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV47 2DF
Chedhams Yard, Church Walk, Wellesbourne, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV35 9QT
Moreton Morrell Tennis Court Club, Moreton Morrell, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV35 9AL
Avon Dassett Digital Communications Survey
As a response to the 2022 parish plan a village communications strategy is being developed with the aim to simplify communications and ensure the needs of those who use the different channels are being met. The parish plan revealed that there is no ONE preferred method to receive information about news, events and groups/societies. This means that the communications strategy will continue to encourage multiple ways of reaching people (both online and on paper/in person methods).
Turning to online communication, there is a perceived willingness to rationalise existing websites to meet the needs of the parish council and the wider community. Thus a number of questionnaires are being circulated to understand the needs of people who use village websites and village social media to help us improve all forms of communication:
- Leaders of village groups and societies are being contacted separately for specific feedback
- Village residents are being circulated with a paper questionnaire and can request an online version
- External users can request an online version of the questionnaire.
If you would like an online version of this questionnaire please email drsarahrichardson@gmail.com stating if you are a village or external user.
PLEASE COULD ALL QUESTIONNAIRES BE COMPLETED/RETURNED BY 31 AUGUST.
By completing questionnaires you are consenting for the information to be collated, retained and used by the parish council for the purposes of improving communications in the village
Sarah Richardson (project lead) and Avon Dassett Parish Council Projects Group
Shenington Surgery Road Closure – Useful Information
There have been a lot of enquiries from patients following a sign that was placed on Stocking Lane (branch surgery) to state the road was closed from 6th to 15th September. The practice had not been formally notified of this either. The council have now confirmed that the road will have access and the surgery will be open as normal. Thank you.
Village Ready for Dassett Country Show on 5 August 12-5 pm
The Dassett Country Show Committee are working hard to ensure the 2023 event is bigger and better than before.
The show opens at 12 and the main ring schedule is:
- 1200-1230 Dance Troupe Performance
- 1230-1245 Avonside Scentwork
- 1245-1345 Ceilidh Band and Dancing
- 1345-1445 Fun Dog Show
- 1445-1500 Sheep Shearing Demo
- 1515-1530 Warwickhsire Hounds Parade
- 1530-1545 Alpacas Parade
- 1545-Finish Ceilidh Band and Dancing
Lots of stalls, classic and vintage cars, licensed bar, tea tent, burger tent, pony rides, grow & show competition and much more!
Compton Verney Triathlons 23 July 2023
Do3 Coaching and Events operates the open water swimming sessions held at Compton Verney each Tuesday and Thursday night as well as on Sunday mornings. We are a triathlon coaching company that also does pool based swim squads.
As we have done for the past couple of years, we are organising a triathlon on Sunday 23rd July at Park Farm, Compton Verney. There are two different race distances, as follows:
On The Edge Middle Distance Triathlon www.do3.co.uk/on-the-edge-middle-distance-triathlon
~100 participants
A middle distance race featuring a 1.9km swim in the lake at Park Farm, an 90km bike ride around the Warwickshire countryside and a 21km run around Compton Verney/Combrook, on the trails and local roads
A zoomable map for the routes can be found here:
Bike https://www.strava.com/routes/3114096675258528188
Run https://www.strava.com/routes/2927244529547543890
Compton Verney Sprint Triathlon
https://www.do3.co.uk/compton-verney-sprint-triathlon
~200 participants
A sprint distance race featuring a 400m swim in the lake at Park Farm, a 21km bike ride around the Warwickshire countryside and a 5km run around Compton Verney/Combrook on the trails and local roads
A zoomable map for the routes can be found here:
Bike https://www.strava.com/routes/2819955789911069372
Run https://www.strava.com/routes/2923924748954485966
We have sought permission from the landowners where we will be using the public footpaths, and the local highways agency for the use of the roads, as well as farmers whose livestock may be affected.
There will be marshals on key junctions on the routes to assist, we have a private first aid company with two ambulances, and a bike breakdown vehicle. There will be signage for where a marshal isn’t required. The race is being overseen by British Triathlon and we will have a technical official present at the event and motorcycle officials on the bike routes.
We will be putting up signage and aim to take this down within 2 days after the event. If we miss one, please do let us know and we’ll remove it asap.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership announces results of seatbelt campaign
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has announced the results of a seatbelt road safety campaign in May and June.
The campaign used the well-known phrase ‘it doesn’t take a brain surgeon’ to demonstrate that wearing a seatbelt is simple not requiring much effort and asked drivers and their passengers, to check everyone always wears a seatbelt on every journey.
Although simple to do, 86% of men (37 men) and 14% women (6 women) in the 39 vehicles (17 cars and 22 vans) stopped by officers during the National Police Chief Council seatbelt enforcement operation 12-25 June 2023 had chosen not to wear a seatbelt – even though it is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to reduce the risk of injury in a collision to yourself and your passengers.
As a result, 6 people were given words of advice and 37 people received Traffic Offence Reports. The vast majority – almost all – were over 25 years old.
PC Simon Dalby, Operational Patrol Unit said “Most people we see during our patrols do wear a seatbelt because wearing a seatbelt is such an easy thing to do and it could save your life. But seatbelts only work if you are wearing one and there are still a reluctant or forgetful few that don’t. That’s why we will continue to run regular operations to detect those not wearing a seatbelt to help educate drivers and passengers.
“Our work with National Highways on operations such as Tramline is particularly important because we target some of the fastest roads in Warwickshire looking for driver and vehicle offences and shockingly seatbelt offences make up around 20% of these. That’s why new technology such as the National Highways Sensor van that uses AI is so exciting. It is a game changer as it can look at extremely high volumes of drivers on our roads and detect whether they are wearing a seatbelt. With all these changes we really would urge the most reluctant drivers and passengers to please belt up.”
To help encourage the final few people that don’t currently wear seatbelts, PACTS the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety is calling on the government to increase the penalties for those not belting up.
Philip Seccombe, Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire and Chair of WRSP said “Most people wear a seatbelt because it’s such an easy thing to do. Camera detection technology is coming on in leaps and bounds and it won’t be long before we can detect every driver who is not wearing a seatbelt. If you are one of the minority that doesn’t belt up please take responsibility for your own safety on the roads and the safety of your friends and family in your vehicle by always wearing a seatbelt. “
During the campaign information and daily facts were shared on social media about seatbelts and how to travel children safely.
Whilst over 14-year-olds, are responsible for their own seatbelt use, small children are extremely vulnerable and need to be transported by adults with great care.
Between 22-26 May 2023, free child car seat checks were offered to parents, grandparents and those responsible for safely transporting children and young people at supermarkets or garden centres in Rugby, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Nuneaton and Atherstone by ‘Car Seat Ladies’ who are experts in the field of car seat safety and IOSH accredited in car seat training.
They demonstrated how important it is to get your child car seat checked because they found that 80% of the child car seats checked were not correctly fitted.
Over the 5-day period, a total of 130 seats were checked and only 26 were fitted perfectly with no adjustments needed. The average age of children attending the event was 2 years old.
The Car Seat Ladies made adjustments on 99 occasions (76%) to make sure the seat and/or child left the location perfectly fitted.
One child had no seat at all, yet was under 12 and under 135cm tall – he was in fact only 2 years old!
The most common issue found with seats was the car’s own headrest interfering with their fitting. With children, the major two areas of concern were because the headrest of the child restraint was in the wrong position and child harnesses were too loose.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service also attended the child car seat events to offer vehicle safety and maintenance advice, including checking tyres, oil and screen wash levels. The team also supported drivers to undertake these checks themselves.
More child car seat checks are planned, and these will be promoted in local media and on social media. Please follow us on Facebook @WarwickshireRoadSafety and Twitter @WarksRoadSafety for road safety information and advice.