News and Stories of interest to people who live and / or work in the Hartshill Division of Warwickshire County Council

Ridge Lane Post Office.

Post Office Limited [POL] have put forward proposals to close Ridge Lane Post Office. I believe that POL have not taken into full account the real isolation of this community and the large numbers of older and disabled people with no means of getting into Atherstone. People have a real affinity with Atherstone and not Nuneaton as POL assumed. The bus service to Atherstone is very poor and not really an option for people. Ridge Lane Post Office is the only local shop so the community will loose both if the closure goes ahead. We are currently in a period of consultation about the closure which ends on Monday 4 August. Local people are encouraged to write to POL with their own experiences and what the closure will mean to them. These letters, short, to the point and personal, could well make a real difference to the final decision. The address for these letters is [no stamp needed]

National Consultation Team. Post Office Ltd. FREEPOST – CONSULTATION TEAM.

If you live in Ridge Lane or know someone who does ...... please encourage letter writing.

As County Councillor, Richard Grant has .... produced a brief guide to encourage letter writing. Copy attached. written to POL stating reasons why Ridge Lane Post Office should remain open. Copy Attached.

The Atherstone Herald have this issue as their front page story in the 24.07.08. edition. It is also on their Website. www.tamworthherald.co.uk You may need to use the Search facility to locate this story.

Speed Limits on A&B Roads.

Formal notices to change speed limits on the A444 [Weddington], B4111 [Mancetter Rd, Hartshill to the A5] along with Witherley Rd and Mancetter Rd, Mancetter have been published. Closing dates for objections is Friday 1 August 2008. Details in Newsline 0080.

The original formal notices for the B4111 in Mancetter area carried some errors of detail. New corrected formal notices have now been issued. This should not affect the overall timetable for progressing this matter.

Consultation about engineering works such as interactives, speed cushions, dragons teeth to support the effectiveness of the new speed limits will follow in the next couple of months. The range and type of engineering works [if any] to be proposed varies for each location.

Community Development Fund

This 2008 version of this fund is to be launched on Monday 28 July. Grants of up to about £5,000 are available to groups with projects which develop their community. The criteria on which the assessment of each application are made are issued with the application forms. Generally speaking communities with high deprivation factors, those where a range of partners are working together and those which develop community capacity are more likely to succeed. The closing date is Friday 12 September. following assessment and evaluation the final list will be presented to the North Warwickshire Area Committee later in the year for approval. Each application requires support from your local county councillor. Please let Richard Grant know as soon as you decide to start the application process ...... If you leave it to the last minute things can get a bit hectic. North Warwickshire WCC contact person is Alistair Rigby, Localities & Communities Officer phone: 01827 719409. e-mail: alistairrigby@warwickshire.gov.uk

Judkins and Contaminated Soils.

There is much public concern about this issue. I have spoken to Nuneaton County Councillors about the matter. One of the basic concerns is the unknown nature of the soils to be processed and what might happen in the future should the development go ahead. There are far too many 'What if's'. Careful consideration is being given to whether the WCC Regulatory Committee's decision can be overturned. What is certain is that given the level of public concern and hostility, the company concerned must be seriously considering if they really want to locate in this area. From that point of view alone it's really worth registering your opinion.

The Agenda papers and minutes for the Regulatory Committees held on 6 May, 9 June and 22 July which deal with this topic are on the WCC Website.

Newsline is now to have a short summer break.

County Councillor's Surgery Arrangements. County Councillor Richard Grant is available for consultation and / or advice about all matters related to the County Council. There are no fixed times / dates for County Councillor's surgeries, instead fix your own time and place to meet locally.

Post: 73 Fair Isle Drive, Nuneaton. Warwickshire. CV10 7LL Phone: 024 76 349 789 e-mail: richardgrant@warwickshire.gov.uk

The Hartshill Division, Warwickshire County Council. The Hartshill Division is made up from the following Wards and communities - Atherstone South, Caldecote, Hartshill, Mancetter and Ridge Lane.

Richard Grant Councillor Newsline is an e-mail news service from County Councillor Richard Grant which gives news and information to people of all ages who live and / or work in the Hartshill Division based on Warwickshire County Council services. To ensure your confidentiality and security your e-mail address will not appear in the circulation list of ‘Newsline’. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk for more news stories and information.

Please spread the news about this e-mail Newsline. If you know of someone else in the Hartshill Division who might benefit from this Newsline send an e-mail to richardgrant@warwickshire.gov.uk