Aircraft Noise
As a result of the recent clearance of vegetation, especially trees, the Parish Council has received reports of increased noise from aircraft taking off from the A45 end of the main runway at the airport. In order to provide documented evidence of this, the Parish Council would like to invite all affected residents to contact the Parish Clerk with details. Councillor Roger Waring is preparing a map to show the before and after effects of these clearances. Information as to time of day and the perceived level of increase would be helpful. Please email roger.waring@hamptoninardenparish.gov.uk or write to him via the Clerk at the Fentham Hall office.
Petty Theft – Station Planters
Train travellers will know that there are a number of wall mounted plant troughs at the station. Plants for these are paid for by the Parish Council and are maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers from the village gardening club throughout the year. Unfortunately, a number of these plants have now been dug up and stolen, presumably to be planted at the thief’s own home. We hope you enjoy them!
The Great British Spring Clean
The Parish Council are joining forces with the Hampton Wombles and Solihull MBC on the 26th March to take part in the Great British Spring Clean 2022! This national initiative looks to involve local communities in tidying up their local areas and carry out a litter pick.
We would love for as many residents as possible to take part. We will provide all the necessary equipment – all you need to do is turn up! Please meet at the Parish Meeting Room (next to the Beeches) at 10.30 am on Saturday 26th March. We hope to see you there!
Motorway Service Area (MSA) at Junction 5a, Solihull Road, Catherine de Barnes – Update
As many of you will now the appeal closed at the end of November and the Planning Inspector is now reviewing the evidence and likely to come to a decision soon. On the last days of the enquiry the Transport Select Committee issued a report on All Lane Running on Smart Motorways which recommended a number of urgent actions to Parliament, one of which was to halt the further rollout of All Lane Running until 5 years safety data has been established. This MSA project depends on All Lane Running for its successful operation. Following the publishing of the report the Parish Council in conjunction with the Catherine-de-Barnes Residents Association has had several meeting/discussions with our Ward Councillors concerning this latest development. Following these meetings, they, and the Parish Council, have written to both the Secretary of States for Transport and Levelling Up, Housing and Communities making them aware of the planning appeal and its relevance to the Select Committee’s Report. In addition, a request has been made seeking the appeal be ‘recovered’ which would means it would be decided by the Secretary of State following a recommendation from the Planning Inspector rather than the Inspector making the final decision. We await developments.
HS2 News – Diddington Lane
The Parish Council have now received an update from HS2 regarding the detailed design for Diddington Lane which we had hoped could be closed to through traffic as part of the HS2 works. A number of residents had reported that site clearance was underway in the area and were asking if this related to the proposed diversion of the lane.
We can report that the site clearance is related to the diversion as the lane is to remain open after HS2 construction – not what we were hoping for! Detailed design will be complete in November 2022 and a Stage 2 highway safety audit will then be undertaken as one of the final activities of the detail design. We will continue to lobby for closure of this road. The results of this audit will then be shared with Solihull MBC and the Parish Council. We will keep you posted.
Register Your Interest For Fibre Broadband
We thought readers would be pleased to hear that BT has laid the infrastructure for Fibre To The Premises (FTTP) within Hampton-in-Arden and Catherine-de-Barnes. Most internet providers (such as Plusnet, Vodafone and EE) have confirmed that they will offer FTTP to villagers in these two locations if they have the local demand.
We would urge residents to enquire with their internet provider on the availability of FTTP and register their interest.
Conservation Group – A Call For New Members
The Conservation Group comprises a number of volunteers who meet regularly to help maintain the Spinney and Recreation Ground. The group, led by David Grimshaw is affiliated to the Hampton-in-Arden Society with occasional financial support for equipment from the Parish Council.
Time has taken its toll and the number of volunteers has decreased substantially over the past couple of years. There is now an urgent need for more, and preferably some younger, volunteers to join the Group and anyone interested is asked to contact Parish Clerk Julie Barnes for more information.