Local Plan adopted

We have adopted a new Local Plan for the district.

It sets out our strategic planning strategy and shows how we aim to meet the social, economic and environmental needs of the district. The Local Plan identifies where development sites for homes and business will be. It also sets out the services and infrastructure needed to support them.

Adopting a Local Plan was one of our key strategic actions as part of our Corporate Plan for 2021-2023.

It was adopted at a special full Council meeting on Tuesday 26 April.

Localism in action

Our localism strategy is about bringing services closer to communities. We are supporting town and parish councils and other local organisation to take ownership of assets or to run services their communities value.

Our latest project has seen the handing over of the toilets at Riverside Meadows in Stourport-on-Severn to Stourport Town Council. They took responsibility for the facilities on Thursday 28 April.

Later this month, we are expecting to handover Bewdley’s Load Street toilets to Bewdley Town Council.

Picture shows (left to right): Stourport Town Council's Chairman of Localism Working Party, Councillor Howard Williams, Mayor of Stourport Town Council, Councillor Danny Russell and our Cabinet Member for Operational Services, Councillor John Thomas.

Council Tax Energy Rebate update

Last Friday (29 April), following final checks on direct debit accounts, we started to make payments to eligible household in council tax bands A-D who pay by this method.

These payments were made by BACs and will be credited to bank accounts this week. To be considered a direct debit payer the Council Tax account name must match the bank account name we hold. The last direct debit request must also have been successful.

More people have signed up to pay by direct debit throughout April. If you are among them, we will pay your rebate as soon as we’ve had a successful Council Tax payment in May.

We’ll then move on to sending vouchers to the remaining households who are eligible for an energy rebate but do not meet the criteria for a direct payment. This includes those who qualify for a ‘top up’ payment as part of our discretionary scheme.

A one off payment of £150 will be made to households in council tax bands E – H and who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction.

We’re intending to send Post Office vouchers in May. Anyone who does not redeem their voucher will have their Council Tax account credited with £150.

Celebrating Eid

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating today (Monday 2 May)!

Hire our tree gang!

If you are having a Spring tidy-up in your garden and need a hand with your trees, our tree gang can help. They are fully qualified and specialise in all types of tree surgery and tree maintenance.

Their services include tree surgery, stump grinding and removal, tree felling, pruning and reshaping, crown reduction, thinning, and dismantling and tree removal.

You can request a quote for free and there’s no obligation.

Bewdley Town Council by-election

On Thursday (5 May) there will be a by-election for Bewdley Town Council.

It will be a chance for residents who live in Bewdley Wribbenhall ward to have their say on who represents them on the town council.

The polling station at Wribbenhall Parish Room, Kidderminster Road, Wribbenhall, Bewdley, DY12 1DQ will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Postal voters who haven’t sent back their ballot paper, can hand it into the polling station or drop it into Wyre Forest House before 10pm on Thursday.

Helping victims of domestic abuse

Do you have a self-contained 1 or 2 bedroom accommodation available to lease in the district? If so we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking for properties so we can provide safe accommodation for victims of domestic abuse. We want to make sure they are given the support and help they need to live their lives free from abuse and harm.

If you can help, please email our Housing Project Officer, Rachel Symons.

Join in our Landlords’ Forum

We are hosting a forum for landlords across Worcestershire to hear briefings on the latest legislation. The event is on Thursday 5 May, 1.30pm to 3pm.

It is being delivered in partnership with the National Residents and Landlords Association. Energy will be the focus. Topics including efficiency standards, improvements, and funding support are being discussed. There will also be a chance to speak to Wyre Forest representatives.

The event is free and open to all landlords. If you can not make the live event, you can still register as this will give you access to watch a recording.

Please help our crews

It is becoming more common that we can't empty bins due to residents parking their vehicles inconsiderately. If the streets are blocked our vehicles can’t get to the properties.

If we are struggling to get through - emergency vehicles will too.

Please help our crews by:

Parking close to the kerb

Leaving enough space for our bin lorries, a fire engine or an ambulance to pass

Leaving extra room near tight corners

Folding in your wing mirrors

Last month, eight of our amazing Conservation Volunteers repaired the set of steps that lead from The Rough to the recreation field at the back of Layamon Walk.

If that wasn’t enough, they also gave the car park a Spring clean and completed a full litter pick of the area.

We would like to thank our volunteers for all their brilliant work.

If you want to get involved, our rangers run volunteer days on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm.

Our Wednesday group is full at the moment, but our Thursday group has spaces available.

Bewdley Museum

Painting the World (almost)

Glynis Wilson’s Painting the World (almost) exhibition is on at Bewdley Museum until Sunday 22 May. The paintings illustrate Glynis’s time spent living, studying and travelling throughout the world.

Vikings Fact and Fiction

From Saturday 28 May you can explore all things Viking! You can find out about how they impacted the world, not just through raiding and conquering. The exhibition looks at how their craft-making and trading brought change too. From the clothes they wore to the activities they did for fun; experience 1,000-year-old artefacts that help paint a vivid picture of Viking life.

Paranormal investigation and guided tour

Get involved in a paranormal investigation and tour of Bewdley Museum on Saturday 28 May from 9pm to 2am.

The museum buildings have had various uses over the years. This includes a meat market in the 1770s, a brass foundry dating back to the 17^th century, 200-year-old jail cells, a morgue and a police and fire station.

During the night you can explore the museum’s historic buildings. You will find out about the stories they hold, the people who worked there and the tools they used.

Refreshments and light snacks will be available during breaks.

Tickets £27 each. Booking is essential.

Brinton Park’s Jubilee Flower Fest

Are you a keen knitter? Can you crochet? Help decorate Brinton Park by making as many flowers as possible in the run up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

Friends of Brinton Park would like knitted or crocheted flowers in red, white, blue and purple. They will be put up on the gates and railings in the run up to the group’s Jubilee Fete on Saturday 5 June.

For knitting patterns, advice and information about how to display your flowers, please click the button below.