Call to help young

Bridgnorth councillors have called for a block on building more “expensive” homes in the town.

Instead, they want to see greater emphasis placed on meeting the housing needs of local and young people.

The views form part of a package of recommendations being forwarded to Shropshire Council and which were drawn up at a meeting of the town council’s planning committee.

The town council has said it wants to see affordable housing schemes and housing association homes playing a major role

The move is a direct response to Shirehall’s ‘Site Allocations and Management of Development’ document which is a blueprint for building across the county up to 2026 and which is currently out for consultation among local councils and organisations.

The town council has said it wants to see affordable housing schemes and housing association homes playing a major role in any proposed new developments.

The report also stated that employment opportunities should match the number of properties being built to help reverse the trend of Bridgnorth being labelled as a commuter town.

Councillors would like to see land set aside as part of a plan to increase employment in the area and are asking the unitary authority to contact businesses in a bid to encourage them to move to the market town.

Members of the planning committee voiced their disappointment with a consultation exhibition staged in Bridgnorth’s Castle Hall last month which they claimed was “unprofessional”.

And they are calling for more consultation exercises to be carried out in various areas around the town, in addition to presentations being made specifically to the grass roots authority on any future proposals.

The council has already called on Shirehall chiefs to refrain from building any more houses in nearby Much Wenlock, claiming that the town is already overcrowded.

High fliers’ delight

The sky was the limit for thousands of visitors who descended on RAF Cosford to take in the thrills and spills of the annual air show.

A Harrier Jump Jet takes off at the show. Picture: Gary Kearney

Around 50,000 people flooded to the Albrighton base to witness dozens of aircraft take to the skies in some spectacular displays of air power.

The acrobatic antics of the Red Arrows, who were a last minute addition to the packed programme after being cleared to fly, were as popular with the crowds as ever.

One dampener on the day was the onset of torrential downpours in the late afternoon, which forced some displays to be cut short.

The main casualty of the deluge was the 70th anniversary Battle of Britain finale, which would have featured a Spitfire and two Hurricanes.

Museum needs new curator

Bridgnorth’s Northgate museum may have to close unless a new curator can be found for next year.

“The curator and his team have transformed this museum into a prizewinning showpiece, but his retirement is imminent,” said Michael Plead spokesman for Bridgnorth and District Historical Society.

“Now the time has come for a volunteer to be trained, by the curator, to take over his post, so that the good work can continue otherwise the museum may have to close,” he added.

Mr Plead urges people to step forward to ensure the long-term future of the historical and civic societies.

Anyone who is able to help either group is invited to contact David Cooper on (01746) 762487 for the civic society and chairman Edward Marshall on (01746) 763860 for the historical society.

Friends battle to re-open hospital theatre

The future of Bridgnorth Hospital’s operating theatre was in the spotlight at a meeting last week.

June Patel, managing director and executive nurse with Shropshire Primary Care Trust, visited the town’s community centre by invitation of the Bridgnorth Senior Citizens’ Forum.

The meeting was arranged following the ‘temporary’ closure of the theatre, which has been shut since January.

The PCT claims it falls below national standards, but a previous plan to upgrade it has proved too expensive, forcing a return to the drawing board.

It also comes at a time when staffing levels of maternity wards across the county are being reviewed, although the body has dismissed fears that the Bridgnorth unit could be closed.

Meanwhile, a petition spearheaded by the hospital’s League of Friends calling for the theatre to re-open has now been closed.

League chairman, Brian Mayhew-Smith, thanked everyone who had been involved and who signed the petition, which will be sent to the trust.

“Hopefully it will show our determination to see the re-opening of the operating theatre” he said.

June Patel revealed recently that the theatre environment falls below national standards, particularly in relation to infection control.

But the league has pledged to give £250,000 to help get the theatre up and running again, providing the PCT guarantees its future.

Disability network launch

It’s three cheers for the new Shropshire Disability network website.

The launch of a brand new Shropshire Disability Network website will see some of the 28,000 people with disabilities and those with longterm illnesses in the county given a central point of information, support and guidance for the first time.

The site, www.shropshire-disability.net, is the brainchild of a local, not-forprofit organisation and has taken over a year to collate and design.

“There was nothing like this available before our launch, so while people with disabilities in the county could access information via general search engines, they had to know what they were looking for and it often took multiple visits to a variety of organisations to gather all of the details required” explained Shropshire Disability Network’s Chair, Geoff Forgie.

“The new site has been designed with the end user very much in mind, and is a central point of information.

Housing schemes under spotlight

SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL IS SET TO stage open days at two of its supported housing schemes in the Bridgnorth area.

The event, which is designed to promote two of the authority’s programmes, kicks off on Tuesday 20 July at Greenfields Court, Bridgnorth, with the second being held on Wednesday 21 July at Sheldon Court in Albrighton.

Each day will run from 10am to 3pm with refreshments provided.

As a result of the changes within the council, the schemes have evolved from being sheltered housing, to supported housing.

The idea behind the open days is to raise awareness of their location and purpose and how prospective tenants can apply for accommodation.

The aim of supported housing is to provide independent living in a safe environment for anyone who is 60 years old and above.

Housing support officers work with older people by helping them to live full and independent lives in their own home with staff available from Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm.

                                                                 Security

The tenants also have the added security of a 24 hour emergency alarm service when members of staff are off duty.

As well as providing individual accommodation with their own separate amenities each scheme provides a community room, laundry room, bathing, communal kitchen, guest rooms and beautiful surroundings all of which are close to local amenities.

There are also a number of on and off scheme activities including tenants and residents’ meetings, coffee mornings, Age Concern clubs and outings.

For more information contact Sharon Beddow at Greenfields Court on 07779159671 or Tracy Corbett at Sheldon Court on 07779160451.

Ele comes to rescue

AN ELEPHANT KEEPER AT WEST Midlands Safari Park received a little help from one of his fourlegged friends when his vehicle spluttered to a halt in the animal reserves.

Within minutes ‘Five’, an 18 year old African Elephant, was on the scene to assist her human pal.

Director of Wildlife, Bob Lawrence, said, “Five and her keeper are a real team.”

The safari park has three African elephants that often engage in a variety of unusual pursuits, such as creating works of art and playing football.

Murder most horrid!

SOME PEOPLE WILL DIE FOR their art. In Shifnal they’re prepared to murder for it in an attempt to raise money for the town’s first art festival. 

Shifnal’s Haughton Hall is the venue for a unique mystery murder evening to raise funds for Shifnal Festival. Professional actors will take guests through the twists and turns of a baffling death which occurs around dinner at the historic hotel, and ask them to unmask the murderer, or murderers, in their midst.

Suzi Rixon, one of the professional actors in Shropshire-based Two’s Company, which is leading the evening, says: “It’s about playing the detective rather than lots of fake blood. It’ll be a witty and dynamic evening in which the diners use their intelligence to work out who, and why, this dreadful death took place.’

Murder at Haughton Hall, which includes a three-course meal and bubbly, takes place on Saturday, 3 July, with money raised going towards the town’s first art festival, which runs from 18 to 26 September.

The programme of events already includes street performances, a day of dance, a Shifnal’s got Talent competition, poetry recitals, a choirs’ evening and a classical concert. There will also be arts and photographic exhibitions, creative workshops and films.

Tickets for Murder at Haughton Hall are available from Tony Stringfellow on 0790 503 5513 or Eira Moore on 01952 463819. E-mail shifnalfestival@blueyonder.co.uk