Shipston Online

I think it is very good news that the District Council Cabinet have agreed to lease their building in Telegraph St. to the Shipston Town Management Partnership, this will enable the development of  a Community One Stop Shop.  I have supported this project ever since the same District Council Cabinet confirmed their decision to close their Area Office.  Local people will now have the opportunity to create a service for the community.  I do have to say though, that it is a pity the County and District Council’s could not have seen fit to develop a ‘One Stop Shop’ 12 months ago.

I am dismayed to learn that the County Council are to close the Registrar’s office in Clark House Shipston , at the end of March.  This is yet another service being removed from Shipston and the surrounding area.  I have written and objected to this decision, which will mean that people from this part of South Warwickshire will have to travel to Stratford to register the births and deaths of their loved ones.
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Many of you will have noticed that the lights at the swimming pool and skate park are ‘going out’.  I have been chasing this matter for some time now since the students from the High School raised the issue at the last Community Forum meeting in the Autumn.  At that time there were only 3 lights ‘out’, the other evening I counted 10!  I will keep in touch with the staff at the District Council but it does seem that they have quite a difficult technical problem to solve.

There is a retrospective planning application for the signs on the outside of the Pizza Bar at Bondgate House, West Street.  If you wish to view or comment about these signs the application can be seen on the District Council web site or at the office of the Town Council, Clark House, West Street. The application numbers are 09/02323/LBC and 09/02322/ADV.  Comments must be made by 11th. February for the LBC and 4th. February for the ADV.

Finally, may I remind you of the Community Forum meeting that will be taking place on Thursday 25th. February at 6.00 pm., in the Community Lounge, at Shipston High School.  Of importance to many of us will be the attendance of representatives from the Environment Agency who will present their report into the flooding of the River Stour in Shipston.
There will be other issues relating to our local community discussed, including policing issues, as the local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team also attend these meetings.