Safer Speed Shropshire

For the first time in both Shropshire and the West Mercia Police area, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are going up in three villages this week in a bid to deter speeding drivers, following the award of an £18,600 grant from the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner.

Pontesbury, Minsterley and Great Hanwood parish councils made a successful joint bid for the funding as part of efforts to tackle speeding traffic in their villages. It’s the first such funding award in the West Mercia area.

This money is being match-funded by each parish council and is the result of the many requests received to try and persuade drivers of all vehicles to slow down when passing through these rural villages, which all lie on the A488. 

The funding means one ANPR camera will be placed on a Shropshire Council street-lighting column in each village, in locations that will benefit most from a reduction in speed.

The cameras are being installed on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 March, on the approach to each village. They are being fitted to Shropshire Council lampposts so their locations can be changed without notice, making them even more effective.

Each camera uses the very latest in ANPR technology. Unlike conventional ‘speed cameras’ ANPR can record a vehicle’s speed, number plate, time, date and photograph it. The software can also record offenders, who could be visited by the police.

They can and will also be used to fight rural crime, and build an intelligence picture.

In a joint quote, the chairs of the three parish councils and the local Shropshire Councillors  – Geoff Rogers, Duncan Fletcher, Roger Evans and Nick Hignett, said:

“The three parishes of the Rea Valley and local Shropshire Councillors have formed a partnership, SAFER SPEED SHROPSHIRE, and have worked closely together to get this scheme implemented and we are extremely grateful to the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner and Shropshire Council who have all been instrumental in getting it off the ground. We are also grateful for the assistance provided by Charles Pedrick, who has been involved in a similar scheme in Gloucestershire.

“Information from local residents and accompanying data show that many drivers exceed the speed limit when passing though the villages. These new cameras are vital to ensure the safety of our residents, and those using our roads.

“ANPR is ground-breaking for our local communities as it actually records a registration number - something can be done without inflicting the full force of the law.

“We hope motorists will see it as less heavy handed than an instant fine and a deterrent to them speeding in future.”

Richard Marshall, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for highways, said:

“We know that speeding traffic is an issue of real concern to residents across the county. I’m delighted that these three parish councils have been successful in their bid for funding and that we’ve been able to support them in their plans to install these new cameras – which I hope will make a real difference to improving road safety.”

John Campion, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, said:

“Road safety is a concern to communities across Shropshire. As PCC, I am resolute in tackling the issue of speeding and working with communities to make our roads safer.

“Through the introduction of the automatic number plate recognition cameras in these three Shropshire villages, communities will see an improvement where they live. I remain committed to supporting West Mercia Police, communities and partners to make a difference to the safety of our roads, and ultimately reduce the number of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.”

It’s hoped that more such cameras will be introduced in Shropshire in the future.

NOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 (Section 87(2))

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for Cruckton Ward of Pontesbury Parish Council, following the resignation of Councillor Colin Robinson

Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the parish [ward] in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to fill the vacancy.*  That request must be made within FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with the rules,** of the date of this notice.  The fourteen-day period ends on 11^TH APRIL 2022.               

What if a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?

Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply.  The Parish Council must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

The Returning Officer’s address is:  Electoral Services, Shropshire Council, The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6ND

The telephone number for further guidance is 0345 678 9015.

This notice is dated 22nd March 2022.

Debbie Marais, Parish Clerk   clerk@pontesburypc.org.uk  01691 661157

If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor please contact the Parish Clerk.  Some useful information is included in the links below.

*   There is no form of words for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as “We the undersigned being electors for the [Ward of] … Parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the [death][resignation] of …”.  A template entitled “Request for an Election” is available to download from Shropshire Council’s website – www.shropshire.gov.uk - under “Current Council Vacancies”.  It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses. 

**             In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a Bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice. Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION AND
DEFINITIVE MAP AND STATEMENT MODIFICATION ORDER
HIGHWAYS ACT 1980
WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981
SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL
THE SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL (FOOTPATH 14 (PART) PARISH OF
PONTESBURY)
PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER 2022.
This Order is made by the Shropshire Council (“the Council”) under
section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 (“the 1980 Act”) because it appears to
the Council that in the interests of the landowner of the land crossed by the
footpath described in paragraph 1 of this order it is expedient that the line of
the way should be diverted.
This Order is also made under section 53A (2) of the Wildlife Countryside Act
1981 (“the 1981 Act”) because it appears to the authority that the Shropshire
definitive map and statement require modification in consequence of the
occurrence of an event specified in section 53 (3)(a)(i) of the 1981 Act,
namely, the diversion (as authorised by this Order) of a highway shown or
required to be shown in the map and statement.
BY THIS ORDER:
1. The public right of way over the land situated at Lower Mill Kennels
and shown by a bold continuous line on the map contained in this Order and
described in Part 1 of the Schedule to this Order shall be stopped up on the
date that the Council certifies that works have been carried out to bring the
site of the new footpath described in Part 2 of the Schedule to this Order into
a fit condition for use by the public and thereupon the Shropshire definitive
map shall be modified by deleting from it the public right of way to be stopped
up.
FP 14 Pontesbury
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Order statutory undertakers
shall have the following rights over the land referred to in paragraph 1 above,
namely: where immediately before the date on which the footpath is diverted
there is apparatus under, in, on, over, along or across it belonging to statutory
undertakers for the purpose of carrying on their undertaking, the undertakers
shall continue to have the same right in respect of the apparatus as they then
had.
3. There shall on the date of confirmation of this Order be a public
footpath over the land situated at Lower Mill Kennels described in Part 2 of the
Schedule and shown by bold broken lines on the map contained in this Order
and thereupon the Shropshire definitive map shall be modified by adding that
path to it.
3A. The Shropshire definitive statement shall be modified as described
in Part 4 of the Schedule to this order.
4. The rights conferred on the public under this Order shall be subject to
the limitations and conditions set out in Part 3 of the Schedule.

Where can I find the Parish Plan?

Either inside the March edition of the Pontesbury Parish Newsletter or it will be available to view online at pontesburyneighbourhoodplan.org.uk

How can I feedback my comments?

The consultation period runs from 1^st March – 12^th April 2022.  Your response forms can be found in the newsletter at the end of the draft plan – return it via:

• The Pavilion postbox
• Fill in a form online at the website
• Publicised events at The Pavilion during the consultation period

This is your chance to have your say on the future of development with our Parish so please take the time to respond.

All entries will be entered in the prize draw to win an original framed illustration of Pontesbury village by local artist Emma Lawrence.

During the past year the Steering Group consisting of residents and parish councillors has,  with the help  of a planning consultant, worked hard to shape the wishes of the community into a workable Neighbourhood Plan for the whole parish.

The emerging Pontesbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan gives its residents the opportunity to influence future development to a much greater extent than previously. Within the Parish is part of the Shropshire Hills AONB, conservation areas at Plealey and Habberley and many other unspoilt, tranquil and beautiful landscapes.

Working alongside the Revised Shropshire Local Plan the Neighbourhood Plan aims to safeguard the beauty and character of the Parish landscape and buildings as well as the opportunity to enjoy them.

Change and future development are inevitable but the scale location and character of these will be influenced by the Plan. Providing that proposed development contributes to beauty, Parish character, well being and carbon reduction Pontesbury Neighbourhood Plan will support it.

Hence the guiding principle of the Plan is BIMBY [ Beauty In My Back Yard ] not NIMBY [Not In My Back Yard ].

Key policies in the Plan relate to services, landscape, housing, movement, business and carbon reduction. Consultation on these policies takes place between 1st March and 12th April 2022. All residents and other interested parties are encouraged to respond to the draft Plan which will be issued with the March edition of the Pontesbury Newsletter. The full Plan may be consulted at www.pontesburyneighbourhoodplan.org.uk

Anyone who has not received a written copy of the draft summary may request one from clerk@pontesburypc.org.uk