Sambourne Parish Council - the perception in Middletown
There appears to be developing a lot of misunderstanding regarding the way Sambourne Parish Council (SPC) regards and treats Middletown.
- The Parish Council is locally responsible for the entire parish of Sambourne - the map showing the boundary is on the website.
- This website, funded and administered by SPC, is denoted sambourne.org.uk expressing that it related to Sambourne (Parish); the .org domain name reinforces its purpose.
- SPC has been accused of neglecting Middletown and that the residents feel "unloved". Items for Middletown either funded by or resolved by SPC include
- Middletown has one of two notice boards in the parish. SPC funded a replacement and maintain the board; re-varnishing and recently, a substantial renovation.
- SPC funded the features on the Middletown "Green" - including funding for stocking with plants . Funding from SPC when requested in subsequent years.
- SPC devoted effort to negotiating with WCC to alleviate flooding. Meeting with director from WCC and produced full list of points discussed.
- SPC completed the forms to seek grant to fund phase 1 of the agreed plan - clearance of the ditch.
- Negotiating superfast broadband provision. The last 18 months of the scheme were devoted to Middletown - the rest of the parish had already been upgraded.
The pending gateway traffic calming scheme also seems to have caused misdirected and ill-founded criticism and comments .
The scheme, first raised as a candidate for funding from delegated budget at SPC meeting in September 2019, was designed by the consultants at Traffic Group at Warwick County Council.
There are numerous rules and regulation which apply to, for example, the location of the gateway signs which must be at least 500mm from the edge of the road plus 900mm for the sign - a total of 1.4m This condition means that at two sites where it would be appropriate to position gateway signs, the verge is too narrow to satisfy the 1.4m ruling. There are two locations in the scheme where this is the case: site 3 (Sambourne Lane) and site 7 (Middletown Lane).
The latter site has been the cause of much controversy and misunderstanding. After a requested visit to site to assess the verge, WCC have clearly demonstrated that this verge is too narrow to accommodate a gateway sign. This fact has sparked off comments regarding the treatment of Middletown and the clandestine administration of the delegated budget.
The delegated budget operates as follows. Each year every WCC county councillor is allocated a sum - the same for each person. No money changes hands. It is loosely earmarked for road safety improvements and a proposal from a PC or (with PC backing) from an individual is evaluated as to its merits and may (or may not) be funded from the councillor's delegated budget.
Essentially when the proposal is made reality the required sum is taken from the councillor's delegated budget. No more and no less. The monies are never in the parish council's account and never appear in the accounts; all funding is exclusively within WCC.
This misunderstanding has produced a series of vexatious comments especially on social media.
This has resulted in extra work for the council clerk at a busy time producing documents to comply with good practice of the accounts and aggravated by the consequence of COVID-19.
If anyone has any serious comments or questions please email with details.
Sambourne Traffic-calming Gateways
Traffic Group have issued today - 28th July 2020 - drawings of the proposed scheme. To examine the proposals please follow the link. Sambourne Parish Council requested the addition of signing to help deter HGVs using the lanes.These signs were added to the gateway scheme.To view the locations click the link.
Help available during the "Stay at Home" period
Flag flying on the Green, Sambourne
The Sambourne and Middletown Matters FaceBook page are organising The Sambourne Good Neighbour Scheme.
Those who are unable to access this closed group and who need help (or want to volunteer or comment), please read on...
Anyone in the parish who cannot arrange with family, friends or neighbours to help them is welcome to get in touch with the scheme. If you can offer your help or need help, please email with details. Your contact will be passed to the organisation.
If you already help a neighbour out and have to self isolate, this could be a good place to find someone to replace you.
There is plenty of advice available on the internet.
One example is
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
With restrictions on movement, the usual distribution of The Link could not take place.
Instead, it had been made available as a download from The Link June 2020
Election to the Sambourne Trust
Laurence Evans has been appointed to the Trust for a four year term.Logging street problems requiring attention
To report issues like flooding, potholes, crumbling road edges or blocked drains use the website
FixMyStreet .
Warwick County Mobile Library Suspended due to COVID-19
Sambourne War Memorial
The accompanying image shows the dedication of the memorial, which is now a listed monument.
This took place 100 years ago on Christmas Day 1919.
Power interruptions
These are caused by high voltage supplies tripping and being automatically re-routed from elsewhere - hence the short outage.
The problems are almost certainly caused by tree branches being blown into power lines by the blustery winds.
Western Power would be grateful if anyone seeing a possible issue reports it.
If you are concerned that a branch may be close to a power line, please call 0800 096 3080
If there are definite signs of a problem - sparking, burning or smoking please use the emergency number 0800 6783 105 .
FTTP Superfast Broadband in Middletown
From Middletown to The Bromsgrove Road can now be connected to Superfast Broadband.
The service is called Fibre To The Premises (FTTP) which means no copper wire in the route - fibre the whole way.
CSW have provided a couple of links which may help residents.
The CSW website .
There is also the diary entry by someone who had FTTP installed .
This is very detailed and describes the installation, mentions possible issues and gives advice about shopping around for a service provider deal.
A resident in Sambourne has recently had FTTP broadband installed with no problems.
What speed is the service providing? A breathtaking 100+ Mbps!
Public Rights of Way in Sambourne
- On the website Village is selected
- In the box above where it says Search type Sambourne and then click Search.
- It shows a 2 entry list . Click Sambourne Warwickshire.
- The Sambourne map will be displayed. The pathways are shown in blue.
- Clicking on a path shows the Parish, the Designation e.g. AL122 and the length in metres.
An interesting list of alternative walks in the area is available on Walking in England website.
Studley Bulk Waste Facility
The Parish Council has now signed up to this scheme so it is officially open to Sambourne residents.The facility is at the rear of the Pool car park. It is there on 1st Saturday each month from 10am to 12 noon.
No collection takes place in January.
They accept just household waste - not paint, oil, car batteries, concrete blocks, or building material such as bricks.
YOU MUST PRODUCE A VALID PERMIT TO USE THIS SERVICE
As from December 2018 anyone wishing to use this service will be required to show a permit. This will be the only proof of entitlement that will be accepted.
The permit will be in the December edition of The Link in an enclosure titled Studley Voice. This will be distributed in late November.
The permit is printed on the inside back page of The Studley Voice. It has an embossed foil symbol - to prevent photocopying.
Please keep this safe as the issue is a one-off and no spares will be available.
Progress to Superfast Broadband in Sambourne
Details of the progress achieved by Sambourne Broadband Action Group can be seen following the "Organisations" tab at the head of this page.
End of November 2018
A red letter event!
Middletown Lane and Middletown - from The White House to Five Trees are connected to Superfast Broadband.
You can check to see if it's available on your phone number using
the link to the dsl checker .
Alternatively, your ISP can tell you and what packages they have.
Bus service in Sambourne
Details of UBUS and all other public transport schemes are listed here.
Sambourne Trust Public meeting July 29th 2015
The public meeting was called to present outlines of the proposed development of two semi-detached houses on the Trust land in Sambourne Lane.
Notes of the discussion at the meeting can be viewed by following link.
Social Events in Sambourne
If you would like to receive regular emails with details please contact Village Association
Wildlife in Sambourne
There is month by month log of wildlife seen in Sambourne.Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch updates are on a separate page.You can read the police reports at the safer neighbourhood section of their website then follow "Newsletter" in menu on LHS
Police Surgery in Sambourne
The police visit Sambourne so
people can discuss concerns with them. They usually park in the lay-by by the Church Hall from 12:00 noon until 12:30..
This site is owned by Sambourne Parish Council and will be developed over time.
If you are interested in making a contribution please contact us.