Category Archives: Stratford District

Look and listen when you walk and talk

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The green cross code appears to have been rewritten as more as more pedestrians seem to stop, change a track, and make a phone call, than stop, look, and listen when crossing the road.

Using MP3 players, mobile phones and similar devices when walking near roads is a major distraction for pedestrians so a new road safety poster campaign has been launched to remind people to avoid danger by giving traffic their full concentration.

In 2011, 33 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Warwickshire and a further 122 suffered slight injuries. It’s unclear how many of these deaths and injuries were the result of pedestrian distraction, but road safety professionals are concerned that this plays a part.

The campaign to reduce distraction is running across Warwickshire and West Mercia. It urges pedestrians to ‘stay alert to traffic’ and to avoid using phones or other similar devices when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

Traffic is the biggest cause of accidental death of 12 to 16 year olds so campaign posters will be distributed to secondary schools across Warwickshire over the coming weeks to warn young people of the potential dangers. Parents are also being asked to support the campaign by talking to their children about the dangers of not paying attention to traffic.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, portfolio holder for community protection said: “The immense popularity of mobile phones and other portable devices presents a major risk to pedestrian safety. It’s not uncommon to see pedestrians so completely absorbed in their phones that they are entirely oblivious to where they are and what’s going on around them.

People are increasingly using mobile phones on the move to perform complex tasks that demand a huge amount of attention, such as texting, accessing emails and the internet, updating social media or making use of apps. If you are focused on texting or selecting a play list you can’t be fully aware of traffic. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Warwickshire Police Head of Incident Resolution, Superintendent Adrian McGee added: “This may appear to be a trivial issue to some but the risks are clear. It is all too easy for an inattentive pedestrian using a mobile phone to take a quick glance before stepping off the kerb to cross when they should take the time to look both ways properly. This makes it easy to miss an approaching vehicle.

“Similarly a pedestrian listening to music impairs their ability to hear approaching traffic. Pedestrians need to be aware of the risks they are unknowingly taking and ask themselves how important is that text , everyone needs to take more responsibility for their personal safety.”

Little People, Olympic Achievement

Village Primary School’s Song on National Television This Week!

When a quiet Warwickshire village school decided to record an original song inspired by the London 2012 Olympics, little could they know how far their voices would carry!

The 106 children (aged 4-11) of Ilmington Primary School only released Rings Around The World on 21st April, yet it has already been filmed to be shown on BBC1 TV’s iconic Songs of Praise.  The programme will be broadcast nationwide this Sunday, 13th May, just days before the Olympic Torch begins its journey around the UK.

The song has been played on regional radio, will be featured on BBC Radio 2 and has attracted attention from far and wide.  On hearing the single, legendary magician Paul Daniels immediately tweeted the link to his 41,000 followers!

”Rings Around The World” is a rabble-rousing, heart-pumping, world-uniting anthem that demands to be listened to. Its message of global love and hope will bring tears from a nation standing proud, not just soppy mums and dads.  (Forget the bygone image of a cutesy kids’ choir, like St. Winifred’s School Choir’s “Grandma We Love You” in 1980.)

In this most amazing year, with a once-in-a-lifetime global sporting event at its heart, how much further will these children’s dreams carry them?

The CD (which includes a video of the 106 singers) is currently available at HMV Stratford-upon-Avon and via the website www.ringsaroundtheworld2012.co.uk.  The song is also available on iTunes.

“Rings Around the World is the kind of going-for-gold, inspirational anthem that makes you want to jump, cheer and do a triple somersault with a half pike. A perfect song to celebrate the Olympics,” said Steve Sutherland, former NME Editor.

Line the Streets for the torch

The Olympic Flame starts its’ epic 70 day journey around the UK this month and to mark the occasion Warwickshire County Council is urging as many people as possible to ‘Line the Streets’ when it arrives in the county on July 1.

Local Leaders of the 2012 Games and community groups are already getting their neighbours, friends and family together to support their Local Torchbearer and show the world how proud they are of the place where they live.

Games organisers are urging people to make maracas and shakers, hang bunting, bake flame ‘cone-cakes’, plant golden marigolds, dress up in gold and make some noise to welcome and celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch. Downloadable toolkits, posters and save the date cards are available to help along the way from the Line the Streets webpage at www.london2012.com/join-in/local-leaders/line-the-streets/

Julie Crawshaw, Warwickshire County Council’s Olympic co-ordinator, said: “The Warwickshire weekend on July 1 is our opportunity to get into the Olympic spirit and welcome the torch as it makes its way through the county. There are many events being planned and we hope our residents will line the streets in their thousands.”

On Sunday 1 July and Monday 2 July communities in Alcester, Newbold-on-Stour, Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington, Kenilworth, and Rugby will share in the excitement of the Relay as it travels through Warwickshire.

The route takes in major streets in the county including Shipston Road in Stratford, West Street in Warwick, The Parade in Leamington, Castle Road in Kenilworth and Lawford Road into Rugby.

The streets along the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay can be viewed in full at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay, which gives street-by-street details and proposed start times for when the Olympic Flame will travel through Warwickshire. Residents living in and around the county can find out when it will be travelling along their nearest high street, through their town square or past their local village shop.

The county council is encouraging as many people as possible to sign up as Local Leaders at www.london2012.com/localleaders and help organise the celebrations in your local area.

Residents are also being asked to tell the Games organisers how they are celebrating, so they can use their examples to inspire others. To do this all they need to do is email TellTom@london2012.com

Flood news for Alcester as defences stand firm

The flood protection put in place in Alcester is holding firm despite the recent poor weather.

Drains installed in recent years and increased storage capacity of waste water is containing the recent downpours and the two high-powered water pumps installed following the floods of 2007 are not currently being called upon.

The Regional Flood Defence Committee, which is represented by Warwickshire County Council, Stratford on Avon District Council and Alcester Town Council, secured funding and flood protection issues in the Alcester area were put in place.  £2.5million was spent to protect the town from inundation from the river, run off from the land and run off from the sewage.

Town drains have been upgraded, an underground storage tank with capacity to store 3.25m litres of sewage has been installed and two pumps, capable of pumping 2000 litres of water per second are on standby in the town.

Cllr Mike Gittus, who represents the county council on the Midlands Flood Defence Committee, has been delighted with how well the improvements have coped with the heavy downfalls.  He said:  “I am pleased to say that the improvements to the drainage have been enough at this stage to cope with the extra water from the constant rain.

“With two rivers nearby, the town is particularly vulnerable to flooding.  However, so far so good.  The improvements are doing their job and averting any repeat of the damage that was caused in 2007 by the floods.

“We have yet to need the pumps, although obviously we are ready should the need arise. Residents can take a lot of reassurance that the work that has taken place to protect the town is standing up to the test.”

Graeme Smith, Warwickshire’s Chief Fire Officer, is Chair of the local resiliency forum Warwickshire Prepared which brings together all the agencies involved in protecting Warwickshire from emergency situations.

He said that, whilst he was delighted that the measures in Alcester were doing their job, residents should still be aware of measures to take in order to protect themselves and their homes from the worse effects of flooding.

“When weather brings emergencies, the best way to protect yourself is to be prepared.  Knowing what simple steps to take can make all the difference.  I urge residents to look at our webpage and know what to do if there is a flood warning.”

Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/prepared for advice on receiving warnings, getting sandbags, agencies to call in the event of flooding.

Have your say on the county’s heritage and cultural services

Warwickshire County Council is looking for people interested in the county’s history and future to take part in discussion groups which will help evaluate and shape services.

Three facilitated sessions will be taking place in Warwick over the next couple of weeks to get the views of local people who have previously used Warwickshire County Council’s Heritage and Cultural Services, including Museums and Heritage Education.

Hopkins Van Mil has been commissioned by the county council to undertake this review into people’s experience of services they have used. It is hoped these discussions will result in suggestions to improve local services and come up with ways to make services more resilient in the current economic climate.

The sessions for people who have used heritage and culture services are taking place at Northgate House Conference Centre, Saltisford, Warwick CV34 4JL on the following dates:

Tuesday 8 May          – 2pm to 3.30pm

Wednesday 9 May    – 11am to 12.30pm

Tuesday 15 May        – 5pm to 6.30pm

A further session for people who have not used heritage services in the last three years will take place on either Tuesday 8 May from 5pm to 6.30pm or Tuesday 15 May from 2pm to 3.30pm depending on the preferred availability those who express an interest in attending.

To take part in one of these lively and interesting sessions please email Henrietta Hopkins at Hopkins Van Mil henrietta@hopkinsvanmil.com or call 07985 514638 stating which session and date would suit you best.

Places are limited so do express your interest as soon as possible.

All participants will receive £20 to cover expenses and other costs incurred. This is funded from Hopkins Van Mil’s project budget.

Jailhouse Jive live

On Saturday 2 June 2012, Warwickshire County Council’s Heritage and Culture are hosting Jailhouse Jive – an authentic 1950’s night-out to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

From 7:30pm for an 8pm start, the night will go on until 11pm with a licensed bar.

The event will offer a unique opportunity to dance the night away to great live music within the historic surroundings of the Old Courts in Northgate Street, Warwick.

Authentic rock n’ roll and jive music will be provided by the local band Phoenix. Guests will also have the fantastic opportunity to learn how to jive with our expert dance teacher Beverley Drew, of Planet Dance and her demonstration couple.

For just £15.00 a ticket, a free buffet is included. Tickets are available from the Warwickshire Museum shop at Market Hall and at St Johns House Museums, or at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/jailhousejive, by post (see bottom for address), or by calling 01926 412069.

Tickets are non-refundable once purchased and will be posted within 7 working days of payment being received; in the event of cancellation by Warwickshire County Council, a full refund will be given.

To purchase tickets by post, please address the letter to ‘Learning and Community Engagement Team, St John’s House Museum, St John’s, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 4NF’.