News

Please be aware : Incident 147 of 6 January – Warmington At some point before 1.30pm on 6 January, offenders stole a large quantity of heating oil from a storage tank at a rural home in Warmington, Banbury.

New CSW Broadband cabinets announced and map updated
The latest iteration of the rolling 12-month plan is now available on the project website. This
includes 38 new cabinets across the project area, which will start to go live from now. Remember,
though, that each Phase can take up to 6 months to complete! The rolling 12-month plan can be
found here: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/where-when/rolling-12-month-plan
We’ve also updated the rollout map which now contains a very healthy coverage of green –
indicating those areas where the cabinets have been upgraded. The mapping is generated using
postcodes, and telecoms infrastructure does not follow postcodes so one cabinet may cover many
postcode areas or one postcode may contain many cabinets. For a more accurate understanding of
what connectivity is available to your own property and to establish which cabinet your property is
connected to please use the DSL checker (www.dslchecker.bt.com). For the best results you will
need to be able to enter a BT landline number for your property. Otherwise you can use your
address, but it may be less accurate. Do not use the postcode checker, as noted above, that covers
too wide an area to be of any use.
PLEASE NOTE: The new map shows the rollout under Contract 1 only. We will not be able to map
coverage under Contract 2 until the spring – see below.
The tender for Contract 2, Part 1 is now being evaluated and we hope to be in a position to sign
contracts by the end of January. We can then start to map the information, and that should be
available during the spring.
Contract 2 is going to be in a number of parts, as funding becomes available. In part 1 we have the
rollout for £3.68m Warwickshire County Council funding, plus £380k from Solihull Metropolitan
Borough Council. The

St Laurence Church Services for the Christmas Period

Chistingle Sunday 14th December at 4.30m. Normal 8.30am Holy Communion Sunday 21st December

Carol Singing around the organ 24th December at 4pm

Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass at 11.30pm. Sunday 4th January 2015 normal service at 8.30am Holy Communion

Shotteswell Parish Council

A further opportunity to learn how to perform CPR has been arranged for Saturday 18^th October at 9.30am in the Village Hall.

Everyone who attended the last session found it to be of immense benefit, it is even good for children to learn how to resuscitate. Please come along and find out how to save a life.

Theft of and from Vehicles, Cropredy Village – Overnight Monday – Tuesday 14^th October
Offenders have stolen a Car from Church Lane, Cropredy between 7-8pm Tuesday 14^th October.
Offenders have broken into two vans and stolen tools. One in Station Road and another on The Green, Cropredy.
Please alert neighbours and remain extra vigilant. If you saw anything suspicious in the area or have any information that can assist with police enquiries, please telephone Banbury Rural Neighbourhood Police Team on 101 with information or 999 for immediate police attention
Alternatively if you have information that could help us but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police Advice

Please be aware there has been an increase in oil thefts in the area. Tips on how to keep safe are available on the notice boards and on the web site

https://shotteswellvillage.co.uk/news/police/police-rural-watch-scheme/

The Parish Council has arranged for a Cremark session to be held on Saturday 29^th November between 11am and 1pm at the Village Hall. This is a free property marking session for bikes, tools, lawn mowers, riding equipment etc. So do come along and take advantage of the session, no limit to the number of items.

CREMARK offers a unique Overt Property Marking system that clearly marks the ownership of your possessions, in order to deter thieves and aid the recovery of stolen property.

Visible deterrent. Easy to use. Reduces the appeal of items to thieves. Stolen property can easily be identified With no requirement to register details on any database!

The clearly visible security coding which uses your Postcode and the house number or first two letters of your house name makes the item identifiable and traceable. This marking is then made permanent by coating the markings with CREMARK’s specially formulated protective lacquer.

CREMARK has been designed for use in a wide variety of areas, including home and garden, trade and industry, office and education. Additionally, recreational pursuits such as caravan/camping, boating and fishing can all benefit with the use of CREMARK and give you ‘INSTANT THIEF PROTECTION’.

We are pleased to report that the Parish Council has been notified that once again we have a clean audit and that no areas of concern have been found.

Further information on any of the above items is available on the web site www.shotteswellvillage.co.uk or for those not web enabled please contact any member of the Parish Council or call

01295 730203

L Faulkner Chairman of Shotteswell Parish Council

Broadband News

Shotteswell has some good news

See broadband page for further details

Crime Reduction News

CPR Session planned for Saturday 18th October at 9.30am,( Village Hall)

Notification of Appeal for Wind Turbine at Mollington,

Please see Planning page for further details. Type of appeal Written submission

PUBLIC NOTICE WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, SECTION 14TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF D2718 SNUFF LANE, SHOTTESWELLWarwickshire County Council has made a Temporary Traffic Order closing D2718 Snuff Lane, Shotteswell from the junction of Mollington Road to the junction of Middle Lane, to vehicular traffic.The closure is required for carriageway patching.The Order will commence on 25 September 2014 and will last for a period of 18 months, or until the works are completed, whichever is the earlier. However, it is anticipated that the works will be completed by one day.Pedestrian access to and egress from properties and land situated adjacent to the length of road to be closed will be maintained at all times. Vehicular access will be maintained where possible.TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF D2720 CORONATION LANE, C114 MOLLINGTON ROAD & D6427 SECOND TURN, SHOTTESWELL

Road	Description	Dates	Alternative route
D2720 Coronation Lane	Between Black Hill and Chapel Lane	15 to 16 September 2014	First Turn, Banbury Road, Second Turn (and in reverse order).
C114 Mollington Road		17 to 19 September 2014	Mollington Lane, Village Road, Banbury Road, First Turn (and in reverse order)
D6427 Second Turn	Between Coronation Lane and Banbury Road	19 September 2014	Coronation Lane, First Turn, Banbury Road (and in reverse order)

The Contractor dealing with this matter is Pete Wills for Balfour Beatty (Tel: 07837 319322).

The Council regrets any inconvenience that may be caused. The person dealing with this matter at Warwickshire County Council is Benjamin Hill, County Highways (Tel: 01926 412515).

Further road closure planned for 26th September to 30th September Mollington Road for water repairs

“On Sunday August 3rd at 8.30am in Shotteswell Church there will be a Short Service of Prayers and Readings to Commemorate the passing of 100 years since the beginning of the First World War.”

Free electric blanket tests

Warwickshire Trading Standards will provide electric blanket tests FREE OF CHARGE, for Warwickshire residents aged 50 or over, between Monday 29th September and Friday 3rd October 2014.

Although electric blankets are manufactured to strict standards, wear and tear can leave them more vulnerable to developing a fault and faulty electric blankets can catch fire and cause harm.

Testing is by appointment only and only available to Warwickshire residents age 50 or over. There are limited appointments which are allocated on a first come first served basis. A two blanket per person maximum has been set.

• Rugby Library, Monday 29th September 2014
• Nuneaton Fire Station, Tuesday 30th September 2014
• Leamington Spa Library, Wednesday 1st October 2014
• Kenilworth Library, Thursday 2nd October 2014
• Stratford Briar Croft, Friday 3rd October 2014

Electric Blanket Testing 2014 (PDF, 1.47 MB)To book an appointment, call the Trading Standards Service on: 01926 414016 (Monday to Friday) or email: ebtesting@warwickshire.gov.uk

If you are unable to take advantage of the testing programme you can check your own and look for the warning signs

PLEASE be aware of a scam currently doing the rounds at the moment!

If you receive a call from “Windows Technical Help” advising that you have a slow computer or that you have problems with your computer please IGNORE this and put the phone down!

This is a SCAM and they will try to remotely take over your machine and will DEMAND vast amounts of money from you to “FIX” non existent problems.

Fenny Compton Farmers’ Market Launching 6th September 2014

https://shotteswellvillage.co.uk/diary/events-in-neighbouring-parishes/

Firefighters set to strike on eight consecutive days

Following the result of the Fire Brigade Unions (FBU) national ballot for strike action, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has received notification that FBU members will take strike action on the following dates:

• Monday 14th July: 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 15th July: 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
• Wednesday 16th July: 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
• Thursday 17th July: 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
• Friday 18th July: 6am to 8am and 11pm to 1am
• Saturday 19th July: 11am to 1pm and 11pm to 1am
• Sunday 20th July: 5pm to 7pm
• Monday 21st July: 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm

During this times, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue to provide an emergency response service, albeit at a reduced level. It is therefore essential that local communities and businesses take extra care and endeavour to prevent emergencies from occurring.

Operation Hindhead – Fenny Compton, South Warwickshire

Warwickshire Police have been targeting criminals in a multi-agency operation to tackle, Scrap metal thefts, Distraction Burglaries, and rogue trading offences.

Operation Hindhead, which took place on the A423 Coventry Road and on the M40 North Bound yesterday (Tuesday 8th July) and was a multi-agency partnership event aimed at preventing crime, by stopping suspicious vehicles which may be involved in criminal activity such as metal theft including the carrying of un licensed materials and distraction type of offences within the area.

This operation was part of a large scale intelligence gathering mission to gain a greater understanding of the habits, movements and activities of those criminals targeting the most vulnerable members of our communities and saw officers from the Stratford District Safe neighbourhood team (SNT) work in partnership with colleagues from the Tasking Team, Patrol, Teams HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), Trading Standards, and Stratford District Council Licensing

The operation ran throughout the day and saw officers stop vehicles on the A423 Coventry Road, Fenny Compton and made use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

Officer from Stratford, Wellesbourne, Southam and Shipston Safer Neighbourhood teams, along with staff from the Warwickshire’s Tasking and Patrol teams all took part in the above Operation to target vehicles carrying scrap metal.

Supporting these officers were Stratford District Intelligent’s team, two Police Staff Investigator’s from the Criminal Investigation Department, and a dedicated controller for the duration of the operation.

There had been a total of 25 vehicles stopped, 11 were found to have some defects:

– Two vehicle seized by HMRC as found with 4700 litres of alcohol,

– One vehicle seized by Police for driving without insurance

– One driver was fined £544.00 by HMRC for driving on red diesel

– Five prohibition orders given by VOSA (2 x immediate unable to leave site.)

– Two drivers given summons for defective tyres

There were two vehicles stopped carrying scrap metal however these were all in order.

Sergeant Richard Thomas, from the Stratford Safety Neighbourhood Team, said: “The operation was very successful and provided a platform to showcase partnership working at its best, to tackle organised crime and especially to target and dismantle crime groups within the Warwickshire area committing; rural crime such as metal theft and it’s associated off shoots.Warwickshire Police takes all crime very seriously and will target those criminals who use the road networks within Warwicksire. We will use all the powers and technology to bring offenders to justice in order to keep our communities safe as we possibly can.The operation used ANPR technology and the vital intelligence gathered by working together with our partners, has helped us to identify and target the hot spot areas that criminals have been operating in.The use of such operations in future should send out a strong message that Criminals are not welcome within the Warwickshire area, and that we take a strong approach to protecting our communities against such activity, by working closely with our partners through the exchange of information we can create a better working relationship to tackle crime.”

Crime Stoppers, which is an independent charity working to fight crime, is also being promoted during the operation. Anybody can call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 to give information in relation to crimes or criminals.

Written By:

Kieren Bodill -Warwickshire Police

Rural Watch

We have a few incidents to make you aware of today.

Firstly there have been 7 thefts of catalytic converters since 30th June from vehicles on the Shipston sector which borders our patch in the villages of Alderminster, Newbold on Stour, Tredington, and Shipston itself.

Police are following a number of leads in relation to this but please be vigilant especially if you own a 4×4 or any vehicle with higher than usual ground clearance as these tend to be the thieves preferred choice.

Secondly a Silver Hyundai 110 was broken into at WARMINGTON garage between 18:30 and 20:30 on Wednesday 2nd July.

A brown canvas bag was stolen from the car’s footwell containing cash, keys, and various cards.

Please don’t leave items on display as thieves are looking for easy targets especially in the quiet rural villages.

And last but certainly not least a suspicious incident has been reported in Farnborough road RADWAY where a white van – possibly a Ford with yellow and orange stickers has been seen at least twice driving around stables. 2 males – one white and one black were in the van and when challenged claimed to be looking for batteries. One male had a .camera Incident 250 0f 02/07/2014 refers. Please notify us on 101 if you see this vehicle and or its occupants, obviously use 999 if you feel an offence is being or is about to be committed.

Road closure June 2nd 2014

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, SECTION 14 TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF C114 MOLLINGTON ROAD, SHOTTESWELL

Warwickshire County Council has made a Temporary Traffic Order closing C114 Mollington Road, Shotteswell, from outside Corner Cottage to outside Squirrel Cottage, to vehicular traffic. The closure is required to facilitate a Fire Hydrant rebuild.

The Order will commence on 2 June 2014 and will last for a period of 18 months, or until the works are completed, whichever is the earlier. However, it is anticipated that the works will be completed in one day on 2 June 2014. Pedestrian access to and egress from properties and land situated adjacent to the length of road to be closed will be maintained at all times. Vehicular access will be maintained where possible. An alternative route will be signed and is available via: D2821 Bakehouse Lane, D6426 Bury Court Farm Road, D2720 Coronation Lane (and vice versa). The Contractor dealing with this matter is A Star Traffic Management on behalf of Severn Trent Water (Tel: 0800 783 4444).

The Council regrets any inconvenience that may be caused.

Wind Turbine application Mollington, has been refused permission on the grounds of Heritage, Landscape, Aviation and Equestrian at the Cherwell District Planning Committee tonight 24th April 2014

Many thanks to all the people who took the trouble to write in with their comments.

Shotteswell Bingo night

Saturday 15th March at 7pm in Village Hall

Bangers, Bingo & Beetles

Tickets £6 for Adult and under Elevens £4 contact 01295 730687

Bring along your own choice of drink, Bingo Cards £1 per book available on the door & raffle.

Proceeds to Shotteswell, St Laurence Church

Shingles vaccination

A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease is now available on the NHS to certain people in their 70s.

The shingles vaccine is given as a single injection for anyone aged 70 or 79. Unlike the flu jab, you’ll only need to have the vaccination once.

The vaccine is expected to reduce your risk of getting shingles. If you are unlucky enough to go on to have the disease, your symptoms may be milder and the illness shorter.

Shingles can be very painful and uncomfortable. Some people are left with pain lasting for years after the initial rash has healed. And shingles is fatal for around 1 in 1,000 over-70s who develop it.

It’s fine to have the shingles vaccine if you’ve already had shingles. The shingles vaccine works very well in people who have had shingles before and it will boost your immunity against further shingles attacks. SEE THE FLU JAB PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Shotteswell Gardners

Warwickshire County Council are keen to promote home composting. It is a great way for gardeners to make their own compost and it diverts garden and food waste from the waste stream saving Council tax money.To encourage residents of Warwickshire to either start composting or help existing home composters improve their knowledge, the County Council’s waste management team are running a series of free home composting workshops across Warwickshire. Each resident attending the workshop will receive a free 330 litre compost bin. (Limited to one free bin per household)Each workshop will last approximately 45 minutes consisting of a 30 minute presentation by two County Council officers with an expertise in home composting and waste management plus a question and answer session.The workshops will take place as follows:Bedworth – Wednesday 29th January Bedworth Civic Hall, Bedworth 6.00pm – 6.45pmAtherstone – Saturday 5th April Lower House Farm Recycling Centre, Baddesley Ensor, Atherstone, CV9 2QA 10.00am – 10.45amStratford – Thursday 10th April Holy Trinity Church Centre, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon 6.00pm – 6.45pmNuneaton – Wednesday 30th April Nuneaton Town Hall, Nuneaton 6.00pm – 6.45pmWarwick – Tuesday 6th May Hill Close Gardens, Bread and Meat Close, Warwick CV34 6HF 6.00pm – 6.45pmRugby – Saturday 10th May Rugby Library, LIttle Elborow Street, Rugby, CV21 3BZ 10.00am – 10.45amTo book on to a course either:

Book a place online at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/composting
Email the Waste Management Team at composting@warwickshire.gov.uk
Telephone 01926 412593

If you have any queries about the workshops please let me know using the contact details below.

Katey Stoneman Waste Projects Officer Waste Management Warwickshire County Council 01926 412724 kateystoneman@warwickshire.gov.uk

Mobile Library changes for 2014

January 14th 2014 3.20pm, thereafter the library will visit on A Tuesday at 11.20am, by the Village Green

January 14^th – 3.20pm	February 18^th^– 11.20am	March 11^th – 11.20am
April 1^st – 11.20am	April 22^nd – 11.20am	May 6^th – 11.20am
May 27^th – 11.20am	June 3^rd – 11.20am	June 24^th – 11.20am
July 15^th – 11.20am	August 5^th – 11.20am	August 26^th – 11.20am
September 16th –11.20am	October 7^th – 11.20am	October 28^th – 11.20am
November 18^th– 11.20am	December 9^th – 11.20am	December 30^th – 11.20am

Shotteswell Residents be aware : Warwickshire Fire & Rescue,

Announcement of intention to strike

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced that its members in England and Wales will take strike action again next weekend, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December, both from 18:00 to 22:00. These will be the fifth and sixth strikes since the end of September over its ongoing dispute with the Government over proposed changes to pensions

Rob Moyney, Area Commander for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue said:

“Sadly the FBU has announced further strike dates for the evening of 13th and 14th December and we await developments as to what action short of a strike may entail locally. I can only repeat how regrettable this is and our hope that this national dispute would have been resolved by now.

“Warwickshire FRS will once again implement its contingency plan to provide the best possible fire service to the community whilst strike action takes place.

“This strike will be held on Friday and Saturday evening when people may be out doing their Christmas shopping or be out visiting friends so we want the public to be extra vigilant and take extra care on the roads.

“Equally people may be relaxing at home putting up their Christmas decorations with lights and candles, whilst we want people to enjoy this time in the run up to celebrations, we also want people to be safe in their homes.

“Again to remind people we will be taking 999 calls during the strike but we won’t be able to respond to all requests as we anticipate a reduced level of cover. We have run a number of exercises to test our contingency planning to prepare for the strike.

“Our focus will be to prioritise calls where a life may be at risk or if someone needs to be rescued, our response must be to those most in need of our assistance.

“We would ask people to make 999 calls wisely so that only emergency calls are made but if in doubt then they must not hesitate to still call 999.

“We want the public to take extra care and have put safety information out and this can be viewed on our websitewww.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue .”

Please be extra vigilant during the strike in the run up to Christmas with our top tips:

Christmas Fire Safety Tips

1. Never leave candles unattended. Keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper away from candles, fires, lights and heaters.

2. Make sure you switch off fairy lights. Unplug them before you go to bed, or leave the house.

3. Ensure you have a working smoke alarm installed on all levels of your home. Test your smoke alarms weekly and never remove batteries to power presents!

4. Never leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking whilst drunk. The majority of fires start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area. Always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.

5. Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment (This safety device can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault and can be found in any DIY store).

6. Don’t overload sockets – ensure only one plug per socket. Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers.

7. Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly and never smoke in bed. Put it out, right out.

8. Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas to ensure their safety.

9. Keep candles, lighters and matches out of reach of children.

10. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598) as these can go quickly out of control.

11. Make sure you have an escape plan. Remember to keep escape routes clear.

12. And finally, in the event of fire: get out, stay out and call 999.

Shotteswell Church of St Laurence, Christmas Services

Sunday 15th December Holy Communion at 8.30am

Sunday 22nd December, Christingle at 4pm. Mince pies and mulled wine following service

Tuesday 24th December, Carol singing around the church organ at 4pm

Tuesday 24th December, Midnight Mass with Holy Communion at 11.30pm

Everyone most welcome

Would you like to save £74.90 per 1000 litres of heating oil? Butler Fuels won the November order negotiated with local suppliers by Warwickshire Community Oil Syndicate and members saved a huge 7.49pence per litre against the average market price (and a massive 23pence saving against the market high). What a result! Our members paid only 53.8pence per litre – what did your supplier charge?In addition our LPG cylinder prices haven’t risen for seven consecutive months whilst our LPG bulk is still being offered at 43p per litre despite rises across the industry.As a charity that works exclusively in Warwickshire’s rural communities we are delighted with these results and hope you might be tempted to join us. Email oil@wrccrural.org.uk or call Sarah on 01789 472611.

Shotteswell residents – Flu jabs

One in three people in Warwickshire are entitled to a free flu vaccination this winter – are you one? In Warwickshire one in three people are entitled to a free flu vaccination, yet every year thousands of people run the lottery of catching the potentially deadly illness rather than have the ‘flu jab’. GPs offer their patients the flu vaccination from Tuesday, October 1. The best time to be vaccinated is at the start of the flu season from October to early November, so it’s good to get in early and get flu safe in time for the winter.

I am aged over 65

The flu jab is free for people aged 65 years or over including those becoming age 65 years by 31 March 2014) The flu jab is an annual one-off vaccine. The flu vaccine changes every year to fight the latest strains of flu, so even if you had a jab last winter you need another one this year to stay flu safe. Please don’t underestimate flu – make an appointment with your local GP surgery or pharmacy and get your jab now to protect yourself all winter long. The flu jab is completely safe and doesn’t carry the live flu virus so it can’t give you flu Contact your GP if you think you should have a free jab or find a local pharmacy that can offer you a free jab.

I am an adult with asthma, diabetes or another health condition

If you have a health condition, catching flu is the last thing you need. It can lead to hospitalisation and serious complications such as pneumonia. Flu jabs are free for people with certain health conditions:

Diabetes
Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, including severe asthma (using a brown inhaler), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis.
Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure.
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5
Chronic liver disease
Chronic neurological disease, including Stroke or TIA, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or Motor Neurone Disease
A weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)

Flu can knock you off your feet for a couple of weeks, making it difficult to look after your children or go to work. The flu jab is an annual one-off vaccine. The flu vaccine changes every year to fight the latest strains of flu, so even if you had a jab last winter you need another one this year to stay flu safe. Please don’t underestimate flu – make an appointment with your local GP surgery or pharmacy and get your jab now to protect yourself all winter long. The flu jab is completely safe and doesn’t carry the live flu virus so it can’t give you flu Contact your GP if you think you should have a free jab or find a local pharmacy that can offer you a free jab.

I have a baby or child with asthma, diabetes or another health condition

If your child has a health condition, catching flu is the last thing they need. Poorly children can miss out on school days and exciting times over Christmas. Flu can lead to hospitalisation and serious complications such as pneumonia. Flu jabs are free for children aged 6 months to 16 years with certain health conditions

Diabetes
Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, including severe asthma (using a brown inhaler), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis.
Chronic neurological disease, including Stroke or TIA, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or Motor Neurone Disease
Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure.
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5
Chronic liver disease
A weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)

The flu jab is an annual one-off vaccine. The flu vaccine changes every year to fight the latest strains of flu, so even if your child a jab last winter they will need another one this year to stay flu safe. Please don’t underestimate flu – make an appointment with your local GP surgery or pharmacy and get your jab now to protect your children all winter long. The flu jab is completely safe and doesn’t carry the live flu virus so it can’t give you flu. Contact your GP if you think your child is eligible for a free jab or find a local pharmacy that can offer them a free jab.

I am a pregnant woman

Women at any stage of pregnancy are advised to get the flu jab, as they are more likely to develop complications from the flu. The flu jab is free for all pregnant women, including those women who become pregnant during the flu season (October to March). Flu can knock you off your feet for a couple of weeks, making it difficult to look after your children or go to work. Speak to your midwife or GP about the flu jab or contact your GP surgery to find out flu jab clinic times, or make an appointment or find out if your local pharmacy is offering free jabs. The flu jab is completely safe and doesn’t carry the live flu virus so it can’t give you flu. Further information about flu vaccination here: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/flu-jab-vaccine-pregnant.aspx You can also have a free Whooping Cough (Pertussis) vaccination. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant.aspx

I have a child aged 2 or 3

From September 1 2013, a new annual nasal spray flu vaccine will be offered to all children aged two and three years as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.Flu can be very unpleasant for children. They have the same symptoms as adults – including fever, chills, aching muscles, headache, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat lasting up to a week.Children are good at spreading flu, because they tend to sneeze everywhere and don’t use tissues properly or wash their hands. The new nasal spray flu vaccine will not only help to protect your child from getting flu, it will also stop the disease spreading from them to their family, carers and the wider population.The vaccine is given as a nasal spray squirted up each nostril. It’s quick and painless and will mean your child is less likely to become ill if they come into contact with the flu virus. The nasal spray flu vaccine will initially be offered routinely on the NHS to all children aged two and three on September 1st 2013 i.e. children born on or between 2nd September 2009 and 1st September 2011. Over time, as the programme rolls out, all children between the ages of two and 16 will be vaccinated against flu each year with the nasal spray. Children with long-term health conditions Children with long-term health conditions are already offered an annual flu injection and may be offered a nasal vaccine if available in the practice. Those children with long-term health conditions aged between six months and two years will continue to be offered the annual injectable flu vaccine as the nasal vaccine is not suitable for children under 2 years of age. The injectable flu vaccine is not suitable for babies under the age of 6 months. Are there children who shouldn’t have the flu vaccine? There are a few children who should avoid the nasal spray flu vaccine. It’s not suitable for children who have:

a weakened immune system
egg allergy
severe asthma
active wheezing at the time of vaccination

Children unable to have the nasal spray vaccine may be able to have the flu injection instead. How to get the flu vaccine for your child You’ll be automatically contacted by your GP or your child’s school in September/October about getting your child vaccinated before the winter. If you don’t hear anything, or you want more information about when and how your child will be vaccinated against flu, talk to your GP, practice nurse or your child’s school nurse. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/child-flu-vaccine.aspx

I am a registered carer of a family member or friend

Flu jabs are free for people who are registered as carers with their GP.The welfare of an older or disabled person may be at risk if the carer falls ill. Getting a flu jab protects the carer from getting flu, but also prevents them from passing the virus onto the vulnerable person in their careThe flu jab is an annual one-off vaccine. The flu vaccine changes every year to fight the latest strains of flu, so even if you had a jab last winter you need another one this year to stay flu safe. Please don’t underestimate flu – make an appointment with your local GP surgery or pharmacy and get your jab now to protect yourself all winter long. The flu jab is completely safe and doesn’t carry the live flu virus so it can’t give you flu.Contact your GP if you think you or the person you care for is eligible for a free jab or find a local pharmacy that can offer you a free jab.

I am a resident in a nursing or care home

Many people living in long stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities will often get a free flu jab because they are over 65 or have a health condition, however there may be some people who do not fit into these groups but are still eligible for a free jab.This does not include, for instance, prisons, young offender institutions, or university halls of residenceThe flu jab is an annual one-off vaccine. The flu vaccine changes every year to fight the latest strains of flu, so even if you had a jab last winter you need another one this year to stay flu safe. Please don’t underestimate flu – make an appointment with your local GP surgery or pharmacy and get your jab now to protect yourself all winter long. The flu jab is completely safe and doesn’t carry the live flu virus so it can’t give you flu.Contact your GP if you think you or the person you care for is eligible for a free jab or find a local pharmacy that can offer you a free jab.

I am a health or social care worker

Outbreaks of Influenza can arise in health and social care settings with both staff and their patients/clients being affected when influenza is circulating in the community. As well as protecting themselves, vaccination reduces the risk of staff passing the virus to vulnerable patients, staff and to family members. Vaccination of healthcare workers with direct patient contact against influenza has been shown to significantly lower rates of influenza-like illness, hospitalisation and mortality in the elderly in healthcare settings. Vaccination of staff in social care settings may provide similar benefits.Vaccination of these essential health and social care workers also helps reduce the level of sickness absenteeism that can jeopardise the NHS and care services. This is essential in the winter when pressures on the NHS increase.Link to definition of personal careWarwickshire County Council is offering a free flu vaccination to directly employed staff who provide personal care, if that member of staff is not eligible to receive a free flu vaccination NHS Employers will again be running an annual campaign to promote flu vaccination for NHS workers: http://www.nhsemployers.org/HealthyWorkplaces/seasonalflucampaign/Pages/seasonal-flu-campaign.aspx

Announcement of intention to strike

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have confirmed that Firefighters in England and Wales will take strike action on 25 September for a four hour period from mid-day to 4pm over its ongoing dispute with Government over proposed changes to firefighters pensions. Andy Hickmott, Chief Fire Officer of Warwickshire said: “It is regrettable that the FBU have now announced strike dates but we hope that this national dispute will be resolved swiftly. In the meantime we want to ensure that the people of Warwickshire are kept safe and I can reassure all members of the community that we have robust plans in place to continue to provide an effective fire and rescue service to the whole of the county. “We will also be urging residents and businesses to take extra care and we will be putting out safety awareness messages to make people more vigilant. We will also be asking the public to think and to make any 999 calls wisely. “We have been working with partners for some time to ensure that there is effective business continuity and to minimise any risks but we will need the communities support. This is a testing time for the UK fire and rescue service but we are taking every precaution to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.”

For further information please contact the newsteam 01926 413727

Updates re proposal on Gaydon’s new village/town available on Parish Council page

Warwickshire County Council will once again be opening Chesterton Windmill to the public this September. Following the success of last year’s opening, the windmill will be fully operational (weather permitting) for one weekend, planned for 14 & 15 September 2013 in conjunction with national Heritage Open Days. The opening is the result of a partnership between Warwickshire County Council Museum Service and local residents. Many of the stewards for the event are volunteers from the local community. Volunteers will also be responsible for direction signs and facilities for visitors on the day. They have also been involved in much of the preparation to make sure that the windmill is fully ready to receive visitors. The windmill will be open between 10.00am and 4.30pm on each day (last entry is at 4.00pm) and there is a suggested donation of £1 per person. Please note that access is via a steep stairway. The windmill is situated approximately five miles to the south of Leamington Spa, just off the B4455 Fosse Way, map reference SP 348 595. There will be limited parking at the site depending on the weather. The nearest village is Harbury. Michelle Alexander, Manager of Museums & Natural Environment said: “The opening of Chesterton Windmill has been a very successful event in the past and we are delighted that the event is able to happen again this year. Warwickshire County Council Museum Service would like to thank the local residents who have so enthusiastically offered their services as volunteers and ensured that the opening takes place” Malcolm Murphy, organiser of the local volunteers, said: “The local residents are very proud of Chesterton Windmill and we are pleased to be able to offer our support to this worthwhile event.”

Shotteswell/Warmington local pub the Wobbly Wheel/Premier inn

Fire ripped through the building today around 3pm, 5th September 2013 Firefighters from Oxfordshire, Warwickshire Northamptonshire and West Midlands battled the blaze. There are thankfully no casualties. Much of the rear of the building has sadly been lost. picture by kind permission of Jason Pritchard, from the Banbury Guardian

Shotteswell Help with fuel costs:

Time to start thinking about the cost of heating!Sadly the last days of Summer are with us and cooler days and nights are just around the corner so it’s a good time to start thinking about the cost of heating.Last month our members saved £58.80 per 1000 litres against the average market price, paying just 55.75 pence per litre of heating oil. How did your supplier compare?Our bulk LPG members are saving between £150 and £260 per annum and we are also able to offer great savings and free delivery on LPG cylinders.WRCC is a long-standing local charity that provides support and advice to rural communities throughout Warwickshire. We receive no funding to operate the Warwickshire Community Oil Syndicate so charge a nominal annual fee though the cost of this is more than covered by the savings our members make.If you would like to find out more about reducing the cost of your heating oil or making a saving on your LPG please email oil@wrccrural.org.uk or call Sarah on 01789 472611.

CSW Broadband Update As you will already have read, the CSW broadband project entered into a £14.57m contract with BT in June this year. The money will be spent on bringing improved broadband to those areas that will not be uplifted through the commercial plans of BT and other providers. The targets for the project are 100% coverage at the Universal Service Commitment (a minimum of 2Mbps, which could in practice be up to 23 Mbps), and 90% coverage at Superfast speeds, which is over 24Mbps. Some areas will get considerably more than 24Mbps, and the actual speed achieved depends on a number of factors such as geography, topography, current infrastructure etc This project is a stepping stone, as the EU has even more demanding targets for 2020: 100% at 30Mbps and 50% connected to and using 100Mbps, and it will be noted that the lower EU threshold is higher than the upper UK 2015 target! Therefore it is essential that any money spent under the current project will contribute to meeting the 2020 targets, and the only way to do that is to get fibre as far as possible. We will achieve fibre to 93% of our area under the current project and are awaiting additional funding to take it further From the start of the project we have taken a pro-active approach to keeping people informed and to engaging with both residents and businesses, and our communications strategy has been held up as national best practice by BDUK, the government body charged with delivering the rural broadband programme. As soon as the contract was signed we published maps giving indicative locations for the rollout of superfast broadband under the current funding, although it is not possible at this stage to be specific as there is a considerable amount of work taking place to determine what will be possible on the ground. This work involves looking at the existing network, which has grown up in a piecemeal fashion over a number of years. In some cases, therefore, it is likely that the fibre will follow a different route from the existing copper network. This will not affect telephone/voice services. Some properties within our area are fed from exchanges or cabinets in other counties/project areas, and these are also being investigated to ensure that the best solution is provided that will help to ensure that we can achieve the 2020 targets. Once the re-alignment planning work is complete we will be publishing a 12-month rolling programme of works, which will be updated on a quarterly basis, and which will show which exchanges, cabinets and other infrastructure are to be upgraded next. All information is available through the project website http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/ and the website itself is currently undergoing considerable work to make it even easier to find the huge amount of information that is there.

Shotteswell village residents can now view our District Council’s magazine click on picture below

Shotteswell Residents can avail themselves of new compost bins at discounted prices

Residents of Warwickshire can now buy reduced priced compost bins from the Reuse Shops at the Household Waste Recycling Centre across the County. It is hoped that the 330 litre compost bins, sold for £10 for the first two bins and £15 for any further bins, will encourage residents of Warwickshire to start composting at home. The scheme is run with the assistance of the charity run reuse shops based at the Recycling Centres which receive a small donation to their charity for each bin sold. The reuse shops support local charities through the sale of goods donated to the shop and are an excellent way to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. A waste analysis carried out earlier in 2013 showed that households in Warwickshire were throwing away 1,200 tonnes of waste in their grey wheelie bins rather than using their green wheelie bin or composting at home. This costs the tax payer £96,000 a year to dispose of this waste at landfill. It is estimated that each compost bin will divert 150kg of waste a year, each saving £12 on waste disposal costs each year. For more information on the scheme or home composting please contact Warwickshire County Council’s Waste Management Team on 01926 412724 or go to http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/composting. The bins are available from the following sites:

Lower House Farm Recycling Centre, Baddesley Ensor, Atherstone reuse shop run by Warwickshire Community Recycling
Hunters Lane Recycling Centre, Rugby reuse shop run by Age UK Warwickshire
Stockton Recycling Centre, Rugby reuse shop run by Warwickshire Community Recycling
Princes Drive Recycling Centre, Leamington Spa reuse shop run by Sue Ryder Care
Cherry Orchard Recycling Centre, Pipers Lane, Kenilworth reuse shop run by Warwickshire Community Recycling
Wellesbourne Recycling Centre, Loxley Road, Wellesbourne reuse shop run by Warwickshire Community Recycling
Burton Farm Recycling Centre, Bishopton, Stratford-upon-Avon reuse shop run by Shakespeare Hospice
Shipston Recycling Centre, Brailes Road, Shipston reuse shop run by Warwickshire Community Recycling
Second Chance reuse shop at Weddington Terrace, Nuneaton, run by Second Chance.

Proposed new settlement adjacent to Gaydon and Lighthorne Heath

Find out more about the proposals and meet officers from the District Council

When: Tuesday 13^th August 2013 – 6 pm (there will be an opportunity to view proposals between 4 pm and 6 pm)

Where: Lighthorne Heath Primary School

The consultation document can be viewed on the District Council website www.stratford.gov.uk/csnew2013

The closing date for comments is 5.00pm on Friday 13 September 2013

Hanwell Fields Community Centre World’s largest

Coffee morning

25th September 9am to 11.45am. Stalls and coffee morning

The summer months are statistically low blood donor months so we would like your help to recruit Summer Superhero blood donors. Do you know someone with superhero potential? Find out more about our appeal here http://bit.ly/11x7pIP

Parts of the West Midlands may experience ‘heatwave’ conditions over the next few days, according to Met Office forecasts

Level 3 heatwave alert means people should be aware of the actions to protect themselves from the possible health effects of hot weather, and social and healthcare services are advised to take specific actions that target high-risk groups.A Level 3 is triggered as soon as the Met Office confirms there is a 90 per cent chance of heatwave conditions, when temperatures are high enough over threshold levels to have a significant effect on health on at least two consecutive days.Level 3 heatwave alerts were issued in Yorkshire and the Humber and in the South West of England in the past week. Other parts of the country have Level 2 heatwave alerts, meaning ‘be ready’ as there is a 60 per cent chance of heatwave temperatures being reached.Following this latest Met Office alert, Public Health England is continuing to remind people to be aware of the health risks of hot weather.Key public health messages for staying safe:▪ try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm▪ if you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat▪ avoid physical exertion▪ wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes▪ drink plenty of cold drinks▪ if you have a health problem, keep medicines below 25°C or in the refrigerator▪ look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses▪ never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animalsRemember that it can get uncomfortably hot indoors too. Try to keep your bedroom and living space cool, by closing the curtains on windows that receive the sun and opening your windows at cooler times of the day and overnight when safe to do so. Turn off non-essential lights and electrical items as these generate heat.Health and social care workers in the community, hospitals and care homes are advised to regularly check on vulnerable patients, share sun safety messages, make sure room temperatures are set below 26°C, ensure patients have access to cold water and ice and that medicines are stored in a cool place.Dr Angie Bone, Heatwave Plan lead for PHE, said: “In this continued hot weather, it’s important to remember that high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses.“During very hot weather, pregnant women and people who have chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal conditions, diabetes or Parkinson’s disease, may experience discomfort if indoor temperatures are particularly hot and in using public transport. Employers should ensure indoor areas are kept cool and consider allowing these individuals to travel to or from their place of work during cooler or less busy times of the day. For those working or exercising outdoors, strenuous physical exertion during the hottest part of the day should be kept to a minimum.“The key message for healthy individuals is to follow public health messages on how to enjoy the sun safely by staying cool, drinking lots of cold fluids and checking on those you know are at risk.”Dr Paul Cosford, director for health protection at PHE, said: “Local authorities and the NHS should now be familiar with PHE’s Heatwave Plan, which aims to reduce health risks related to heat. Those looking after schoolchildren or pre-school children during the hot spell should ensure they’ve read the guidance in the plan, which includes specific advice on how to keep children safe on very hot days.“While hot weather is enjoyable for most people and uncomfortable for some, sadly experience tells us that exposure to excessive heat can kill, with most cases of illness and death caused by heart and lung disease. Because we are not used to these very hot temperatures in England, it’s important that local plans are in place to reduce the impact of harm from very hot weather.”PHE has a number of surveillance systems it uses to collect data on GP consultations and NHS telephone helpline calls. This system operates throughout the year and is used to see what diseases are circulating and what environmental events, including heatwaves, may be affecting the general population. PHE will continue to monitor this surveillance and will produce regular updates on the impact of the heatwave on health.

Follow Gas Safe Register and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Services’ advice:

Never use a smouldering or lit barbeque (charcoal or gas), gas stove, light or heater in a tent, caravan, room or cabin, or under an awning unless it is a permanent fixture that has been installed and maintained correctly. Even if you have finished cooking, your barbeque will still give off fumes for some hours after use.
Remember the six main signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and don’t confuse it with food poisoning or another holiday related illness – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness. If concerned, seek medical advice.
If using a gas appliance, check that it is in good order, undamaged and, where present, that hoses are properly attached and undamaged. If in doubt contact the owner to get the hoses replaced or do not use it. If you are unable to contact the responsible person and have to change the cylinder yourself, make sure the gas taps or cylinder valve are turned off before changing the gas cylinder and only do this in the open air. Do not over-tighten joints.
If you are staying in rented accommodation where there are gas appliances, check there is a current gas safety check record displayed. If you cannot see one, ask the owner if the gas appliances in your accommodation have been safety checked and serviced within the last 12 months. In the UK, the owner must do this by law.
Recognise the signs of dodgy gas appliances. Black marks or stains around the appliance, yellow lazy flames instead of crisp blue flames, and too much condensation are all signs gas appliances aren’t working properly.

For more information on CO safety on holiday and to download a fact sheet visitwww.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/holiday.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is recruiting

July 9, 2013

Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service are asking residents from across Warwickshire if they have what it takes to be an on-call firefighter. Local emergency services form an important part of any community and on-call firefighters are a key element to that. The Service is currently recruiting on-call firefighters to become part of a team ready to face any emergency. This could range from fires, floods and road traffic collisions to chemical spillages and community fire safety activities. Many on-call firefighters will already have full or part-time jobs working within their local community, but when the call comes, they have to be ready to go. Working alongside full-time firefighters, on-call firefighters are fully trained to save lives and protect their community. There is a shortage at the moment of people who are able to turn out and help in an emergency, particularly in the south of the county. Currently the service is accepting applications for the following stations

Kenilworth
Fenny Compton
Bidford
Wellesbourne
Shipston
Henley in Arden
Southam
Atherstone
Polesworth
Coleshill
Bedworth
Stratford

To become an on-call firefighter all you need is to be fit and healthy and live or work within five minutes of the fire station currently recruiting. Because you cannot predict when you will be needed, you have to be flexible and available at short notice. On average, you will be called out two or three times a week for a couple of hours. You will also be expected to attend weekly drill nights and occasional training courses. So if you think you’ve got what it takes, this is your chance. For further details and to submit an application please visit www.wmjobs.co.uk. If you have any queries around joining the Retained Duty System please contact Leeanna Kostka on 01926 852223. The closing date for all applications is the 22^nd July 2013.

Read about the proposed library changes here :

Facing the challenge 6pp gatefold final (3) (1)

Community Safety team support socially isolated people in Stratford

June 19, 2013

People in the Stratford area who feel isolated have a link to the community with new drop-in sessions. If so, visit The Buzz Café in Stratford-upon-Avon on Tuesday and Thursday between 10:30 and 12:30. Warwickshire County Council’s Community Safety team are working in partnership to deliver the Stratford Link Project. Partners include:

Bromford Support
Stratford District Council
Stratford Town Trust
Warwickshire Police
ESH Works
The Recovery Partnership

Stratford Link is an initiative to provide support for anyone in the community who is socially isolated and experiencing specific issues such as financial difficulties, alcohol & substance misuse, is out of work or training, or has a lack of positive outlets and opportunities. The Buzz Café provides a relaxed and neutral environment for people to engage with others and access the facilities. Two laptops are available to access the Internet, Stratford District Council have given access to a vegetable patch, and there are additional courses to attend depending on individual interests. Breakfast style food and drink is available to those who attend and is free of charge. Pop down to the Café at St. Gregory’s Hall, Henley Street, between the hours of 10:30-12:30 in order to view the project and to find out more. There is parking in the Windsor Street Multi story car park opposite (note a pay and display).

Warwickshire Fire & Rescue

Quiss fired up to support Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service

Quiss Technology plc, has been working with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) since October 2011 to provide a range of IT support services.

The WFRS Network, which is supported by Quiss on 24/7/365 basis, is used to collect and deliver information to and from a number of systems, both in-house and external, whilst linking all the fire stations spread across the Warwickshire County Council area to a command and control centre. Servers supported by Quiss in the central repository, receive data from a number of sources and make it available to front line users in a secure, resilient and timely manner. A number of systems are hosted on these servers such as premise risk information; fire fighter availability, fire hydrant management information; guides to cutting almost every make and model of vehicle, including European vehicles; chemicals database listing all chemicals and their safe handling; maps; and a wealth of information that allows service personnel and the public to be kept safe. The WFRS network is used as a primary means of dispatching Fire Appliances to all emergency incidents. The WFRS network has other important roles; to update the information held on mobile data terminals (MDT) fitted in each of the WFRS fire appliances. The MDTs hold safety and operational critical information relevant to almost any incident the crews are likely to face. The WFRS Network allows Equipment Management System Scanners to read bar codes on each item on board every Fire Appliance and transmit this information to a central Assets Management System. When the fire appliances are in the station, the MDTs connect to a secure wireless network and receive scheduled updates. These updates are made twice daily, weekly or monthly depending on the data being updated and ensure the information held on the MDTs is current and comprehensive. Quiss engineers designed, built, installed and now support the servers and the WFRS network. They understand the importance of it never suffering a technical issue. For the majority of clients a problem is inconvenient, but here things can quickly transition from inconvenience to tragedy if the essential information is missing due to technical problems. Quiss network engineers proactively monitor the network, the systems and infrastructure to detect issues and correct them before they become a problem. Quiss work closely with the small IT team at WFRS to ensure the network is secure, available, robust and resilient. WFRS, IT and Communications Manager, Abdul Rashid commented: “We need absolute confidence in the network and systems. It forms a vital part of our service delivery to keep Fire Fighters and public safe, be these resident of Warwickshire or any one driving through Warwickshire County on our Motorways/ road network. “Quiss Technology has the skills and resources available to provide 24/7 support. The switch from ‘pay as you go’ to an unlimited support contract, including pro-active monitoring offers significant savings over the lifetime of the agreement. “Currently, we are working closely with Quiss to ensure that our network attains Airwave Code of Connection (CoCo) compliance certification from the Cabinet Office, which will allow WFRS to work in partnership with 4 other UK Fire Services and other Government Agencies to deliver an efficient and Church Summer concert poster

Kineton High School diary dates

25th&26th June – Year 6 Induction days at Kineton High School

26th June – Year 7 Exhibition All Year 5 students are invited to come have a look at what it is like being a Year 7

15th July – New Parents’ Evening for those with students due to start school September 2013

19th July – School closes for the summer break

3rd September – School opens for the autumn term

Superfast broadband: To 91% and beyond . . !

A £14.57 million project to transform broadband speeds for homes and businesses across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire was announced today. CSW Broadband, a partnership of eight local authorities led by Warwickshire County Council, has agreed a deal with BT to help deliver superfast fibre broadband to around 91 per cent of premises by Spring 2016. The deal was celebrated at a launch event at Warwick’s historic Lord Leycester Hospital that was attended by many of the Local Broadband Champions who have helped the project, together with ex-servicemen who reside at the facility. The project will build on BT’s on-going commercial investment in fibre across the area, which has already pledged to bring faster fibre broadband to more than 1.7 million homes and businesses across the counties of the West Midlands by the end of Spring 2014 as part of its UK-wide £2.5 billion programme. As a result of today’s new partnership around a further 40,000 premises should have access to broadband speeds of 24Mbps and above by the end of the project. On completion of the rollout, the aim is for all premises within Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to receive a minimum of 2Mbps but with a vast majority achieving higher speeds well in excess of this. The project will transform broadband speeds across the partnership areas narrowing the bandwidth gap between urban and rural areas. According to Ofcom, Warwickshire’s average downstream speed is currently around 12Mbps whilst approximately 13 per cent of the population receive less than 2Mbps. BT was awarded the contract following a procurement exercise through the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) framework .The company is contributing £5.67m towards fibre deployment in “non-commercial” areas whilst the CSW Broadband Project is contributing £4.45 – £3m from Warwickshire and the balance coming from other local authorities – with a further £4.45m coming from BDUK funds. Openreach, BT’s local network division, will now begin the work on the ground with engineers surveying locations around the county and analysing the best way to roll out the network across the county. Following initial planning and survey, the CSW Broadband Project should be in a position to connect the first premises in early 2014. Fibre to the Cabinet will be the main technology deployed. This delivers wholesale downstream speeds of up to 80Mbps and upstream speeds of up to 20Mbps. Fibre to the Premises technology – delivering speeds of up to 330Mbps – will also be deployed in certain areas and will be available on demand throughout the whole of the fibre footprint should local businesses want the ultra-fast speed it offers. Speaking on behalf of CSW Broadband, Warwickshire County Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Alan Cockburn, said: “This is a major landmark in securing the future competitiveness of our area. We have been working for a long time to get to this stage and, thanks to the information provided to the team by our local broadband champions and by residents and communities we have been able to negotiate the best possible deal. “Good broadband connections are essential to modern life, whether for work, leisure or learning. Our rural businesses need broadband to be able to compete in today’s increasingly global environment, and in a rural area like Warwickshire travelling can often be difficult, so that being able to work or learn from home can make a real difference to the quality of peoples’ lives.” Bill Murphy, Managing Director, BT Next Generation Access, added: “The Normandy landings marked a turning point in world history so it is fitting that we are signing this contract here at the Lord Leycester Hospital, which is home to many ex-servicemen.” “In its own small way the launch of fibre broadband marks a historical turning point, albeit a technological one, for this region, bringing a host of economic and social benefits.” “The economy of Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire has seen considerable change, with the emergence of more knowledge-based businesses and changes to the manufacturing base of the area, which is embracing new technologies and new ways of working These are where future growth will be but only with a world-class communications infrastructure to support them which is where fibre broadband will play a vital role.” BT’s network will be open to all communications providers (CPs) on an equal wholesale basis – currently around 80 CPs are using fibre over BT’s network – and so consumers and businesses will benefit from a highly competitive market, in turn bringing greater choice and affordable prices. For local businesses, the fibre broadband network will underpin the introduction of many new services and applications. Users will be able to run multiple bandwidth-hungry applications at the same time and receive large amounts of data much more quickly and efficiently. Computer processing and storage of files will also become more sophisticated and secure using “cloud computing” technology. There will be faster back up of computer systems and wider use of high quality video conferencing within firms and between them and their customers.

What will be delivered?

The first question that everybody will want to know is “What will you be delivering, when and where?” Unfortunately there is no easy answer to that as the rollout will depend on the results of detailed surveys. However the charts below show the level of coverage broken down by upper tier Local Authority and by individual Boroughs and Districts.

Click graph for larger image

Deployment using BDUK and Local Authority Funding is under investigation in areas highlighted in amber above. Detailed surveys will establish the feasibility of deploying in these areas within available funding. These charts will appear on the website and will be updated as the project progresses to show the percentage of each area that has been upgraded. This map shows in broad terms where the CSW Broadband project will be delivering NGA services. Specific outcomes will be subject to survey. Regular announcements will be made about the telephone exchange modernisation programme and when specific BT cabinets are upgraded so that superfast broadband becomes available in each locality. We will be updating the map regularly on our website as the project progresses.

Woodgreen open air pool now open

Details on sports page

New addition to pages, weekly bulletins from the vestry, includes services and events, filed under church pages.

Warwickshire Community Oil Syndicate

Warwickshire Community Oil Syndicates is delighted to be in a position to offer reduced prices for LPG (liquid petroleum gas) as below: 13kg Butane – £26.00 inc vat 19kg Propane – £28.00 inc vat 47kg Propane – £58.00 inc vat Bulk LPG prices can be priced on an individual basis. Benefits: – Fixed price to the end of July 2013, offering price stability. – No minimum order requirements. – Orders can be placed on a weekly or monthly basis. – Deliveries take 3-5 working days but can sometimes be sooner if the supplier is within the local area. – Depots at Coventry and Birmingham cover the whole of Warwickshire. – The environment benefits too due to reduced vehicle movements around the county. How to join? Complete and return a membership form, pay your annual membership fee (£20 per household) and start making savings from your first order. Orders will be placed each Friday for delivery the following week. Email oil@wrccrural.org.uk for further information.

James Bond flying machine lands at KingsburyThe world’s most exciting water based flying machine is now ready to take off in the Midlands on Hemlingford Lake at Kingsbury Water Park.

Based on the famous James Bond jet pack from the film Thunderball, the Jetlev-Flyer is the ultimate adventure for thrillseekers who want to experience the adrenaline rush of flying across the water. Take off for the new venture at Kingsbury Water Park starts from June 1 and bookings are now being taken. The Jetlev-Flyer has become a popular attraction for holidaymakers in America and Dubai and has recently landed on these shores – the Kingsbury Jetlev will be one of two operating in the country. It has already been seen in action by TV viewers on Channel Five’s Gadget Show and the BBC’s Daredevil programme. The Jetlev-Flyer is now available to hire at Kingsbury for £100 for a 30 minute flight under instruction. Wetsuits and safety communications are all provided for participants to learn to fly the Jetlev-flyer under the supervision of qualified Jetlev pilots. Places can be booked on the ultimate flying experience by email to gary@jetlev-flyeruk.com or calling 07842 348 185. Paula Cheesman, Country Parks Manager, said: “To be the one of the first venues in the country to be home to the Jetlev experience will certainly make a big splash for Kingsbury Water Park. “We anticipate that this new venture will attract lots of people wanting a ‘red letter day’ or maybe a special birthday event. It offers something completely different to what is already on offer at the park and we look forward to seeing it in action on June 1. “And even for those not flying, the Jetlev will make for a good spectator sport!” The 600 acre North Warwickshire park is already home to a popular jet bike hire along with other visitor attractions such as pedal boats, miniature railway, fishing and much more. For more information about the Jetlev visit the website at www.jetlev-flyeruk.com

Broadband update

Topics in this edition: Contract update 10,000^th Survey response How was it for you? Case studies required – download location to be added Top questions this month Don’t forget to complete the surveys on our website: www.cswbroadband.org.uk Contract update We are still working on this and now expect to make a contract announcement in June. It has been a long haul so far and we need to make sure that we get the best possible outcome. Until the announcement is made there is nothing more that we can add. 10,000^thSurvey response We now have over 10,000 responses to our surveys – a fantastic number. Thank you to everyone who has completed the forms. The 10,000^th response was sent in by Brian Young of Bearley near Stratford. Amazon vouchers to the value of £20 are on their way to him. We still need surveys to be completed, especially as we approach the time when we start to roll out the network. How was it for you? Case studies required We are seeking residents and business who would be prepared to become case studies to show the impact that moving to superfast broadband has had on their family, work or business. We have prepared simple templates that will gather information and on receipt of the information we will prepare a case study that would be approved by the subjects before publication. The idea is to show real-life, LOCAL, examples of how superfast is being used. If you would be prepared to help out, the templates can be downloaded from: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/get-involved/case-studies/ Top questions this month When will you be announcing the contract winner? We should be able to announce the contract winner in June. The actual tendering and contracting timescales are determined by BDUK, but we have already advised them that we are likely to be behind the BDUK timetable in signing a contract as we have had a number of clarifications and issues to work through. Unfortunately we are tied down by commercial confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements so cannot expand on the delays except to assure you that we are doing everything we can to make sure that we get the best possible outcome for our project. The slight delay should not affect the rollout programme. When will we start to see something happening on the ground? Survey work is likely to start quite soon after contract signing, and installation of the new network should commence towards the turn of the year. We will be making announcements on a quarterly basis as the project progresses about activity to be undertaken for the coming period. Send this email on to all your contacts! We need to reach as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Please send this email to your contacts and encourage them to send it further. It’s probably best to remove the contact details above our logo at the top of the email otherwise it could get to be a very long string before the email itself appears! CSW Broadband now on social media – come and join the conversation We are now on the major social media channels and are already creating a buzz. Join in for up-to-date information and an opportunity to influence how the project develops Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/CSWSuperfastBroadband Twitter – https://twitter.com#!/cswbroadband

Kineton High School

Get Me Into… Summer Holidays

Bookings now being taken for:- Mon 22nd July – Friday 9th August Get Me Into Ltd will be hosting three weeks of activity at Kineton High School. There will be various activities available throughout the day including team games, arts & crafts and sports and the opportunity to use the heated outdoor pool. Open to children aged 8 – 12 years. The activities will run from 10am to 3pm and the cost will be £12 per child. Additionally a breakfast club will be available from 8.30am for an additional cost of £5 per child, and an afternoon club available from 3pm to 5pm for an additional cost of £5 per child. Please note children need to be provided with a packed lunch. For further information and booking details please see our website http://www.getmeinto.org or contact us on jo@getmeinto.org or 01926 640621.