Stratford District Council meetings on YouTube
Stratford-on-Avon District Council records certain council meetings and publishes the YouTube recordings the day after the meeting.The trouble-maker persists. [Updated March 2024}
In excess of 20 formal complaints relating to SPC members were made to the Monitoring Officer (MO) at SDC. All but one were rejected. The total cost of investigations exceeded £26K. It is striking that the majority of complaints appear to be authored by one person - the errant councillor (the EC).
The EC's narcissistic reaction to the MO's ruling was to look for ways of discrediting the process: he has questioned the quality of the
investigators, the waste of money , the manner of awarding contracts and the competence of the Monitoring Officer himself.
Had the decisions found in his favour then it would have been wonderful value for money and all concerned would have been lauded!
Clearly this is the work of an inveterate trouble-maker who now portrays himself as a sort of the would-be-hero-cum-victim as he celebrates the pyrrhic "victory".
None of these attempts to discredit the process has any relevance to the actual complaints, extracts of which can be seen
here : the accusations, the responses of complainee and witness statements.
A perusal reveals that none of them required a high-calibre investigation - many need none at all.
And yet the EC claims the investigations were flawed! Was the Monitoring Officer pressed to investigate?
Aspects of the email sent within SPC by the then-chairman which formed the basis of the one complaint can be seen here.
It is rank hypocrisy that the EC accuses members of SPC and the clerk of inaction regarding the emails and thus of complicity. He himself said and did absolutely
nothing despite having received the same emails over the same period. He thereby condemns himself as complicit by his own argument!
The EC complained to the police about the emails. They, after interview under caution, ruled that the then-chairman had "no case to answer".
In light of this ruling any mention of criminal content or "incidents" is libellous/slanderous and will be treated as such.
Since 2020 the EC has resorted to: mis- and disinformation, insinuation, overstatement, exaggeration, misleading interpretation and over-reaction, malicious communications,
bullying, intimidation, conning and potential criminal acts (blackmail, harassment, slander, libel and breaches of Data Protection
legislation). The intention of the EC was to create as much trouble, misplaced suspicion and division as possible.
Many examples of this behaviour have been
chronicled .
This is the same person who - via proxy - publicly stated in September 2021 that "I hope there now can begin a process of healing and reconciliation and that we can all move on to more peaceful times in our beautiful village.".
Utterly unbelievable duplicity!
Apparently the complaints against SPC continue with a recent - mid-September 2023 - submission to the MO. Is this the trouble-maker again - causing more unpleasantness and wasting public money?
Will this improve the 1 in 20+ result?
Updated November 2023.
The campaign against Sambourne P.C. continues with several bizarre questions masquerading as Freedom of Information requests.
These are recorded in item13 in the minutes of November 2023 meeting of SPC. Click to view.
Mental Health Charter
BT will retire PSTN by end 2025
By December 2025 BT will have retired Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) services - essentially landline phones connected to the exchange over copper wires.
Broadband using copper lines will be unaffected.
For more information select this link.
Update 31/01/24BT Consumer Group - the largest provider of landline phone services in the UK will start migrating their customers in the West Midlands region from February 2024.
Help available to fix or install/fix central heating
Anyone with a chronic or acute health condition or disability which is made worse by the cold (such as respiratory conditions, arthritis, diabetes or heart disease)
can apply for help.
Warm and Well in Warwickshire has got funding available to help install - or fix - boilers and central heating systems. Income criteria applies but it's well worth residents contacting the partner Act on Energy to see if they can help.
Call 0800 988 2881.
Warwick County Council "Report It" Website
This service offers a way of reporting an issue directly to WCC. The category is selected from a list and it takes you through reporting form(s) and finally submitting. Optionally you may wish to create an account - this enables you to keep track of your case and to change your details at a later date. Of particular interest to Sambourne residents is the category "Report flooding or drainage problems".
Sambourne's County Councillor adds"WCC are in line for government funding to distribute to local people who's houses have flooded. But they need evidence that this is happening and reporting it is the best evidence we can offer. You can report property or highway flooding. Information on both is very useful in getting problems solved. you can report house flooding or other flooding on your property. Again, both are very useful in getting problems solved. As you can see, this is the link to use for reporting to local councils on many other matters. It goes direct to the council and IS monitored."
[Feedback: To check, reported Middletown Lane flooding problem 18th January, response (from human, not AI bot) mid-morning 19th.]
The response read:
I can confirm that I am already aware of this issue, and we carried out some jetting work just before Christmas to clear the blocked gullies. When we carry out jetting work, following the completion of the job we receive a jetting report which will advise us on what possible further work is required. I am currently awaiting this report. Once I have this report, I will be able to look in what else we can do to help solve this problem. I will update you accordingly as soon as I am able to do so.
Sambourne Village Association events for 2024 - to be published when available.
Warwickshire Police Crime Prevention Handbook
The handbook contains useful information and advice is aimed at helping to reduce the opportunities for crime and the likelihood of you or your family becoming a victim.
Topics range from Neighbourhood Watch through Home and Vehicle security to Hate Crime and Domestic Abuse.
Big Butterfly Count 2023
Remember the count back in July?
The returns have been analysed and can be seen on the Butterfly Conservation website.
Sambourne War Memorial
The accompanying image shows the dedication of the memorial, which is now a listed monument..
This service took place on Christmas Day 1919.
Substantial restoration was carried out in 2014. This was organised by SPC councillor Roy Davies.
A bid for funding made to the War Memorials Trust was successful - £1300 (50% of cost of work) was awarded.
Ownership needed to be formally established - confirmed in the SPC minutes archive of 1920 when it was formally transferred to Sambourne Parish Council.
Details of the monument listing and this substantial restoration can be seen on the War Memorials Trust website..
Alcester North Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) community engagement surgeries
Studley Village Hall (for residents of Studley, Sambourne, Mappleborough Green)
- Thursday April 11th: 15:00 - 16:00
- Tuesday May 14th: 13:00 - 14:00
- Wednesday June 12th: 16:00 - 17:00
Middletown Lane as it was...
Middletown Lane viewed facing east.
All very different when captured using what was probably a Kodak Brownie box camera.
By zooming in the "Sambourne" banner sign can be seen (but not read!). What looks like a car can be seen descending the slope by the pumping station.
Date? Unknown. Part of a batch of photographs borrowed from the WI and scanned for the Parish Plan.
Sambourne Election 2023 Results
To view select the "Past & Present" tab on the menu or select this link. .
Heart of England Forest
HofE Forest are creating 20 acres of native broadleaf woodland this season in our area (Nov 22 – Jan 23), planting 11,450 trees and shrubs.
The updated image shows the completed planting across to Perrymill Lane.
The field adjacent to Middletown Lane is not included.
The charity's website can be found at.
Please note: the removal of the hedge from the gateway opposite the Sambourne sign down to Cain brook was NOT done by HofE Forest. (Try more local.)
It has left a complete eyesore. There has been a casual gesture to restore some level of security but the site is vulnerable.
Hopefully, this time the brash will not be burnt on site. It should be taken away so the acrid smoke does not fill the properties in Middletown Lane.
Fibre2 Broadband
Fibre2 with typical performance speeds of upload 15-20 Mbps download 75-80 Mbps is available in Sambourne.
Cost? Expect a £10 setup fee and £1 per month extra charge.
Contact your Internet Service Provider for specific information and charges.
South Warwickshire Local Plan - SWLP
Details of the plan can be seen by selecting "Past & Present" tab on the menu then SWLP from the drop down list.
Currently - as of June 2023 - we are at stage 2 in the timetable.
Chris Clews June 2023
Public Rights of Way in Sambourne
Please note: the response from the site may be sluggish at times but worth the wait.
- 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.
Roy Edwards - a former Redditch garage owner - has made several videos of walks in and around Sambourne.
Sambourne Lane To Coughton Park public footpath walk.
Astwood Bank to Sambourne Public Footpath walk.
Sambourne Walk Trying out some fake drone shots.
Sambourne Warks Public Footpath walk.
Sambourne To Middletown Lane Public Footpath Walk.
The History of Speeding Traffic in Sambourne
Until the mid 1990s most of Sambourne was derestricted – i.e. 60 mph; except in the centre where it was 40 mph.
Subsequently, parts of the 60 mph zones were reduced to 40 mph.
The Speed Limit review for Sambourne which was completed in 2010 produced the scheme in place today: the location of speed limits was changed and signing installed.
Community Speed Watch started in December 2010. Sambourne was the first village in Warwickshire to be allowed to operate the scheme.
The gateway scheme was installed in 2020/2021.
Community Speed Watch is due to be resumed – the first volunteers are to be trained in early July.
Automatic Traffic Count (ATC)
This is the system that uses twin black pipes across the road connected to a processing/recording box. It not only counts individual vehicles but also determines their speed and the detection date and time. When the data is retrieved it is used to present various analyses.
Over time SPC has acquired copies of much of the recorded data held by WCC.
The majority of the historic measurements were made in Middletown Lane by the noticeboard.
Extracts from the data are shown below
| Year | Mean Speed mph | Total Vehicles | Peak Vehicles (8:00-9:00) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ***September 2020 | 32.5 | 2166 | 261 |
| July 2013 | 32.8 | 2043 | 164 |
| October 2011 | 38.0 | 1980 | 169 |
| November 2010 | 36.0 | 1430 | 183 |
| May 2010 | 36.9 | 1878 | 211 |
| June 2009 | 39.6 | 1850 | 194 |
| November 2008 | 40.3 | 1810 | 216 |
| June 2007 | 40.5 | 2033 | 233 |
| November 2006 | 35.7 | 1893 | 234 |
| February 2005 | 39.5 | 2188 | 256 |
***The 2020 figures for Middletown are from the ATC data recorded at site 6 prior to the gateway installation.
See the ATC site location plan
. At a later date, ATC data would again be recorded to enable comparisons to be made and to get an idea of the effectiveness of the calming measures. Like many other proposals this was impacted by Covid19.
WCC Traffic Group it was stated that :
Traffic Group were informed during lock-down that no surveys (that includes speed surveys) would be undertaken in Warwickshire until traffic started to return to some semblance of normality expected around the end of May beginning of June 2021. Further works are being planned in Sambourne as detailed on this website. These consist of roundels on the road surface and 30 repeater signs at identified points - as agreed between Traffic Group, Sambourne PC and Charles Farran who made the initial suggestions and comments. It is sensible to carry out this further calming work before undertaking taking the second phase of measurements.
The 2020 pre-gateway data was gathered at 6 sites – locations as shown on the ATC site location plan .
The data has been analysed for each site into categories of vehicles’ speed:
- 30 mph or less
- Between 30 mph and 40 mph
- Between 40 mph and 50 mph
- In excess of 50 mph
- averaged over all ranges.
Finally an analysis of the totals at each of the sites is shown .
The range of possibilities for traffic calming was described in the March 2020 meeting of SPC under item 6 Speed Awareness Update. It shows that currently there are no further measures that can be deployed in Sambourne.
Warwick County Mobile Library Service 2024 Schedule
- 19 April 2024
- 17 May 2024
- 14 June 2024
- 12 July 2024
- 9 August 2024
- 6 September 2024
- 4 October 2024
- 1 November 2024
- 29 November 2024
Layby, Middletown 10:30 to 10:45
Green Dragon, Sambourne 10:50 to 11:05.
Please note the changed times.
Roundels and Repeaters
Suggestions to improve aspects of signing in Sambourne were made by Mr Farran under Public Participation in the January 2021 meeting of SPC . These have subsequently been discussed with SPC and an agreed list of suggestions and proposals produced.
A virtual meeting was held involving Traffic Group (WCC), Sambourne PC and Charles Farran to discuss this list.
The discussion produced an agreed scheme of works mainly involving roundels on the road surface and 30 repeater signs at identified points. Details of the items can be seen on the site location plan and the general arrangements layout . Additional details are shown in the sign designs PS01 and PS02-PS03 .
Sambourne Trust Thursday Bus
This service resumed on Thursday 3rd June 2021.
Starting point is as usual: Sambourne Park (St Josephs) at 10:00 - please note this is a slightly different time.
The route is the same: Green Dragon and along Middletown Lane.
The service uses a white 16-seater minibus Mr Taxi.
Sambourne Parish Council Budget 2021-2022
The Draft Budget was discussed at the Parish Council meeting on 2nd December 2020.
At this point, the Draft Budget was confidential and was, therefore, not made public.
As the financial year 2020-2021 will end on 31st March 2021, the Budget can now be put on the Sambourne Parish Council website.
The Parish Council has not incurred any debt during the financial year. However, to guard against any unseen expenditure in the months from December 2020 to March 2021, it was considered prudent to move money from reserves to the current account. Parish Councils are strongly advised to hold a reasonable amount as a reserve against contingencies.
A meeting is held every November/December to set the Precept for the following financial year. The Precept has not been increased for many years,
which has resulted in a fall in our reserves.
The Parish Council Risk Assessment concerning Financial Management and Asset Management must show that we have sufficient funds to meet any unforeseen expenditure.
This document can be viewed on the
Parish Council website.
The increases in the budget for 2021-2022 are shown in the budget document.
Following requests from residents, additional funds have been allocated to street furniture and tree maintenance. Employment, maintenance and training costs have all risen. In addition, we have been strongly advised by SDC to budget for election and legal/professional fees.
Once we are able to build on our reserves it is unlikely that the Precept will need to rise again in the near future.
Update on availability of UBUS bus service (including Sambourne)
Full details of the service appear on WCC website. search for Sambourne
Final Drawings for Warwickshire County Council Gateway Scheme for Sambourne Parish
[041020 11:50] The final drawings are linked as below:
Site location plan - seven sites
Site location plan - two sites
HGV sign locations
Sign design PS01 (Middletown Lane)
Sign design PS02 (Sambourne Lane)
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.
Logging street problems requiring attention
To report issues like flooding, potholes, crumbling road edges or blocked drains use the website
FixMyStreet .
Studley Bulk Waste Facility Withdrawn
The parish council’s bulky waste service used to operate from the Pool Road car park on a Saturday morning. It has been well used over many years by Studley residents but due to operational changes that include lack of availability on Saturday mornings and restrictions on what will be accepted at the final destination point, Biffa have advised they cannot continue.There is no change to the bulky waste collection service provided by Stratford District Council .
Bus service in Sambourne
Details of UBUS and all other public transport schemes are listed here.
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.If you are interested in making a contribution please with your suggestion.