Remembrance Day
A short service of remembrance will be held under the Corn Exchange, commencing just before 11am on Saturday, 11th November 2023. Members of the community are welcome to attend. A small service will also be held at the cemetery for children from the primary school on the morning of Friday, 10th November. The silent soldiers and lamp post poppies will be on display around the town. The Poppy Appeal launches on 26th October 2023 and there will be a stall under the Corn Exchange during the appeal period.
Christmas Lights Switch-on
This year’s Christmas lights switch-on will take place on the evening of Thursday, 23rd November in the town centre. There will be music and festivities in the Square from 5.30pm with opportunities for late night shopping. We hope residents will be able to join us for the switch-on event and enjoy the display throughout the festive period.
The Guildhall – 2nd December 2023
There will be an opportunity to visit the Guildhall on Saturday, 2nd December, the day of the Christmas Fayre, when there will be a craft display with a selection of work by local crafts people for sale. Visitors will also be able to view the historic court room and impressive Council chamber. Entry is free.
The Guildhall is closed to the public during the winter and re-opens in the spring.
Council Surgeries
The next Town Council surgery will be held on Saturday, 11th November 2023 between 10.30 am and 12 noon at Much Wenlock Museum. Members of the community will have the opportunity to raise matters of concern with a Town Councillor, Shropshire Councillor and member of our local policing team. No appointment is necessary.
Town Council Meetings
The next Town Council meeting will be held on Thursday, 9th November at 7pm at the Guildhall and the following month’s meeting will be on Thursday, 7th December. Other meeting dates and agendas can be found on the Town Council’s website and notice board.
Picnic on the Green – Celebration of the King’s Coronation
Sunday 7th May – 2pm onwards
Much Wenlock Town Council are organising for Much Wenlock residents – Picnic on the green – bring you picnic blankets, chairs, gazebos and a picnic to the Holy Trinity Church green to celebrate the Kings Coronation. There will be a bar, tea coffee and cakes available to buy along with entertainment from a DJ, Ukele band, Got2sing choir and also storytelling from Get A Word In Edgeways. There will also be an inflatable obstacle course and a climbing wall available.
Residents’ Survey on Planning & Traffic
Thank you to all residents who completed the recent survey on planning and traffic issues, either on paper or online. We distributed 1800 questionnaires and received 329 returns, a response rate of 18.2%. The results have now been collated into a short report, which can be viewed on the Town Council’s website: HERE
65% of respondents thought that future proposals for development in Much Wenlock should be shaped by a refresh of the Neighbourhood Plan and 73% thought that the town’s infrastructure was insufficient to allow development of 200 or more houses. Traffic management was flagged as a priority for investing in the town, followed by improved health facilities. The main transport concern was traffic delays and congestion at the Gaskell corner and drivers cutting through to avoid the corner. The results will inform the Town Council’s preparation of its case for the Examination in Public of the Draft Local Plan as well as the development of proposals for future traffic management.
Draft Shropshire Local Plan (2016 – 2038)
Dates have now been set for the Examination in Public of the Draft Shropshire Local Plan, with the first hearings being held in July. The Town Council is continuing to prepare a case to present to the Inspectors and has held useful meetings with other objectors. Residents can follow the progress of the Plan on the Shropshire Council website:
https://shropshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-planning/local-plan-review/
Car Parking in Much Wenlock – Proposed Increase in Charges
Shropshire Council is consulting on proposed changes to the car parking charges across the county. Increases in all charges are proposed for the car parks in Much Wenlock. For example, for St Mary’s car park the hourly rate will increase from 50p to 60p, the one month season ticket from £58 to £70 and the 12 month residents’ permit from £320 to £384. The Town Council has agreed to object to the increases as well as urging Shropshire Council to promote the availability of season tickets and residents’ permits. Residents are encouraged to comment on the proposals by 20thMay 2022 via the Shropshire Council website: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/changes-to-car-park-charges-and-restrictions/
The proposals do not affect the Town Council owned car park at the rear of the Corn Exchange in Back Lane. This is for the use of occupants of the Corn Exchange (permit holders) and for short stay parking for one hour only, aimed at those wishing to shop in the High Street. Please note this is not a long stay car park for all day parking.
Visit from Philip Dunne MP and Councillor Lezley Picton, Leader of Shropshire Council
Councillors have been pleased to welcome two recent visitors: Philip Dunne MP met Councillors to discuss issues of concern to the town and its community and Councillor Lezley Picton, Leader of Shropshire Council, attended the April Town Council meeting. Councillor Picton gave an overview of Shropshire Council activities and answered questions from Councillors.
Local Policing
The Town Council has recently confirmed that its priorities for local policing for the next six months continue to be theft, especially from outbuildings, drugs and speeding and our local policing team will focus particularly on these concerns. Residents are encouraged to sign up to Neighbourhood Matters, an easy tool which allows residents to be receive updates on crimes, latest information about on-going incidents and learn more about what the policing team is doing in our community. You can sign up by following the link: www.neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk
Town Council Administration
The Town Council aims to operate in a transparent way and to keep members of the community informed about its activities. Much information is available on the Town Council’s website and Council meetings are open to the public. If you have questions or concerns about the Council’s operations, please contact the Council office directly and staff will do their best to help. The Town Council is subject to both internal and external audit every year, when Council finances and procedures are independently checked. Please note that we do not monitor individual Facebook pages and are unable to respond to queries raised in this way.
Mayoral Service of Thanksgiving
A Mayoral Service of Thanksgiving and presentation of St Milburga Awards will be held on Sunday, 1stMay at 6.30 pm at Holy Trinity Church. All are welcome to attend.
Guildhall Exhibition
The Guildhall is open to the public during the summer, Friday to Monday, 11.00 am to 4.00 pm and entry is free, although donations are welcome. The exhibition for May is by Elena Cassidy-Smith, an interdisciplinary visual artist. Her current work is focused on the ontology of time: can we touch the past like it never really went away? What does it feel like?
Council Surgeries
The next Town Council surgery will be held on Saturday, 14thMay between 10.30am and 12 noon at Much Wenlock Museum. Members of the community will have the opportunity to raise matters of concern with a Town Councillor, Shropshire Councillor and member of our local policing team. No appointment is necessary.
Town Council Meetings
The formal Mayor Making ceremony will be held on Thursday, 5thMay, with the business of the Annual Town Council Meeting on Thursday, 12thMay at 7pm at the Guildhall. Other meeting dates and agendas can be found on the Town Council’s website and notice board.
Issued by Trudi Barrett (Town Clerk) 01952 727509 townclerk@muchwenlock-tc.gov.uk www.muchwenlock-tc.gov.uk
Contact details for Town Councillors can be found on our notice boards and website at: https://www.muchwenlock-tc.gov.uk/council-members/
