You have a chance to comment on the new Worcestershire Local Transport Plan over the next few weeks, with a roadshow in Pershore today – full details below.
 
In this issue:
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The Public consultations for Worcestershire's next Local Transport Plan (LTP4) are now underway, details of which can be viewed at http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/LTP.
 
We have received late notification of the public roadshow in Pershore, which takes place today (Wednesday 25th January) in Pershore Town Hall between 10.00am and 12.00 noon.
 
Questionnaires are available from libraries, council HUBs and the public roadshows, to be returned by Friday 17th March.
 
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The next Cuppa & Chat takes place on Wednesday 1st February, from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. Come and enjoy tea, coffee and cake in Birlingham Village Hall – an opportunity to meet friends and catch up with the latest news.
 
All are welcome and transport can be provided if required. For more information, please contact Adrianne Woodward on 01386 750936.
 
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Services at St James’s Church during February will be held at the following times:
  • Sunday 5th: Family Service, 10.30am (with David Bray)
  • Sunday 12th: Holy Communion, 10.30am (with Rev. Janet Robbins)
  • Sunday 19th: Bulb Sunday Service, 3.00pm (with Rev. Claire Lording). Tea in Birlingham Village Hall after the service
  • Sunday 26th: Holy Communion, 10.30am (with Ven. Chris Liley)
The annual Bulb Festival starts this weekend, 28th and 29th January, with displays of flowers in the church. Tea, coffee and home-made cakes will be served in the Village Hall from 11.00am until 4.00pm each Saturday and Sunday until the end of February – apart from Sunday 5th February, when neither the church nor the Village Hall are available.
 
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Birlingham Photography Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday 7th February. The meeting will consist of three peer-led mini-workshops: Abstract Photography, Multiple Exposure and Classic Cameras. The workshops aim to help photographers understand how their camera works and how to move on from auto settings!
 
BPC meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month (second Tuesday in March), 7.00pm – 8.30pm, in Birlingham Village Hall, £3 per person (to include light refreshments). For more information please contact Angela Fitch on 01386 751682.
 
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At its meeting on 18th January, Birlingham Parish Council discussed a number of issues, including the following:
  • The war memorial on the village green has now been listed. As a result, grants for its future maintenance will be available.
  • Now that work on laying underground electricity cables is complete, Church Street is to be resurfaced this year.
  • The Parish Council has set its budget for the coming year. The Parish Council levy on Band D properties will be £34.16, an increase of £3.38 per year.
  • The Safer Road Partnership (part of West Mercia Police) will be carrying out speed monitoring and enforcement in Upper End over the next few weeks. In addition, they will be providing 30mph wheelie bin stickers for all residents.
  • This year’s litter pick will take place on Sunday 5th March – more details later.
Full minutes of the Parish Council meeting will be available shortly.
 
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Rev. Claire Lording writes:
Thank you to everyone who helps to make St James the warm and welcoming church that it is. It’s great that we can have a service every week and also have the opportunity to welcome people for special services. Behind the scenes there are lots of people doings lots of different jobs to make all this happen.
 
One of the most important roles is that of Churchwarden. At last year’s Annual Meeting for St James, Ann Maxwell and Felicity Collier both said that they didn't want to be churchwardens for too much longer. Felicity would like to end this April and Ann the following April. So we need someone who can step into this role and share in the leadership of the church.
 
We are also in need of some new sidespeople. This job is all about helping to get the church ready for services and welcoming people as they arrive. It’s a really significant role and one that helps people to know that we are a friendly church.
 
Can you help? If you want to know more about any of these jobs please contact Ann (01386 751662), Felicity (01386 751194) or me (01386 552071).
 
With many thanks, Claire.
 
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Ian Yates writes:
The latest meeting of the groups working on the Village Design Statement was held on 9th January. Following the Open Day in October, the working groups have been analysing residents’ feedback and drafting their sections of the VDS. This meeting was an opportunity to review progress and the development of the first five sections of the document. There is still a great deal of work to be done but the plan is to complete a first draft of all working group sections in February. This will provide the background information required for the section entitled ‘Guidelines for Planning’, which can then be developed during March. Following further editing and input, it is hoped that a final draft of the document will be ready for residents to review and comment on during April.
 
The workgroup volunteers have given many hours of their time already and I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved so far. As well as being a guide to planning, the VDS should provide a fascinating snapshot of life in Birlingham, which I am sure will be of interest to future generations.
 
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A house in Eckington Road was broken into between 12:00 noon and 4:00pm on Friday 13th January. The front and rear doors were jemmied to gain access.
 
If you saw anything suspicious during that period, please pass the information on to the police (dial 101) as soon as possible, quoting Incident Reference 0509S 130117.
 
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