In 2021 the parish council is launching the Pontesbury Parish Strategic Plan.  The purpose of this plan is dual purpose.  We hope the plan will provide the residents of the Parish with a clearer understanding of the Council’s activities and legal responsibilities.  The second purpose is to involve you as a community in setting the priorities and objectives for the next four years for council work and monies spent.   The Strategic Plan will be a “living  document” which will be reviewed with the community each year.  The aim is to launch our draft plan, for your feedback, at the Annual Parish Meeting 2021, which will be held later in the year (when Government guidelines allow).   At the Parish Meeting we also want to celebrate all of the wonderful community spirit shown throughout 2020, bring together all of the great local groups and societies who do so much in the community and launch the Pontesbury Parish community awards. Please download the draft Strategic Plan by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Plans for the year ahead include:

• Continued  conversion  of  all  our  streetlights  from Sox to Led to save energy used, in line with our carbon zero ambitions
• Continuing work on maintaining and updating our very popular play area
• Improvements to the pedestrian safety at the junctions on Hall Bank.  This work will also include measures to help alleviate flooding
• Taking forward the ambition for a bus  park at Mary Webb School 
• Continuing work on the Pontesbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan
• Drawing up an action plan for reaching carbon zero by 2030 through work with the Pontesbury Climate Emergency Action Group

and of course we will be having our local elections in May

Employed or self-employed people on low incomes who are told to self-isolate, but whose income would be hit by staying at home, can now claim a £500 support payment.

From Monday 12 October 2020, Test and Trace payments of £500 will be available to those who meet the eligibility criteria and have been told to self-isolate on or after 28 September 2020, either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

To be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment, an individual must be:

• asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because they’ve tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• employed or self-employed
• unable to work from home and will lose income as a result, and
• currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

You can find out further details and submit a claim for the scheme 

www.shropshire.gov.uk/benefits

There is still time to give us your views by completing the Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire – either the paper copy delivered to your house or online!

The Pontesbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan will set out policies to help ensure a sustainable, vibrant and thriving community for the foreseeable future. For instance, helping to protect the Parish against inappropriate and unwanted development, protecting our green spaces, and supporting new community initiatives.

It is being put together by volunteer residents for the benefit of everyone in the community.

Earlier in July a survey was delivered by post, to every household in the parish. Please take time to complete and return it by Friday 31 July 2020, and let us know what kind of community you would like to live in.  You can also complete the questionnaire online at www.pontesburyneighbourhoodplan.org.uk.  If you have the option of completing it online please do so, as your answers won’t need to be transcribed and it will save costs.  However, we do realise that this is not an option for everyone and we really want to hear the views of as many people as possible so there is also a freepost envelope included for  you to return the print questionnaire.

Many thanks and we look forward to hearing your views.